Current faves: Visiting the city of Davidson, a hilly 5K run, life these days and exercises

Hi, good friend! Happy Friday! How’s your week?

My week has been good! Just the standard group health courses, mother stuff, tennis, work and even a pals’ wine evening (we do these on the second Thursday of the month, so I all the time have that to stay up for). This upcoming weekend, we’re fairly gentle on plans outdoors of a bit of barbecue with some pals. I’ll even be placing collectively a brand new barre routine for subsequent week and performing some work.

Let’s get proper into the faves of the day …

Adventures

Exploring Davidson, North Carolina on a good looking day

We have, admittedly, not completed an incredible job of exploring the encircling areas of Charlotte during the last two years — spending most of our time in south Charlotte, the place we stay. But we need to change that.

Last Sunday, Dave, Brady, my mother and I made the 40-minute drive to Davidson, North Carolina, simply north of Charlotte. Davidson is a cute little city, which is house to Davidson College (the place Steph Curry performed, for those who’re a Warriors basketball fan). And it’s proper close to Lake Norman too.

Before we left, Dave had gotten a number of suggestions from co-workers on some eating places, so we had a unfastened plan in place. We drove by Cornelius (one other little city in north Charlotte), then made our technique to downtown Davidson.

We discovered some avenue parking and walked down the principle drag to have lunch at The Pickled Peach. The Pickled Peach is a cute and informal sandwich and salad store, and when you order on the counter, you head to a desk to attend to your meals. They even have a market inside, and Brady loved testing the merchandise.

It was actually probably the most lovely day once we have been in Davidson, so sitting outdoors was important. The sky was a vibrant blue, there was a cool breeze, and it was very snug within the solar in gentle lengthy sleeves.

We ordered our meals and sat outdoors the restaurant whereas folks watching (a favourite exercise of Brady and mine). I ordered a burrata salad with hen (all the time including further protein to my orders now, as I discussed in this post) and a roll, Dave had a tasty ham sandwich, my mother had soup and Brady had a grilled cheese. We all cherished our meals. My salad had the lightest flavors, however they have been so pleasing — I hadn’t had something prefer it in a while.

After lunch, we walked down the principle avenue (which is definitely known as Main Street, by the best way), and we stopped into the cutest native ebook retailer known as Main Street Books. My mother wished to purchase Brady one thing, so the 2 of them picked out a bit of ebook about animals, which Brady was enthusiastic about.

From there, Dave and I went to Summit Coffee and ordered some lattes. I had an oat milk latte with lavender, and we took these drinks on the stroll with us. We discovered Brady and my mother in a present store, and the 4 of us walked only a couple minutes down the street to the Davidson College campus.

Davidson College is tremendous small, and it had loads of fairly brick buildings surrounding an enormous grassy subject. We later discovered it was spring break, so that will be why there have been hardly any folks round.

We stayed on the campus strolling round for nearly an hour, and it was such a calming and good day to do it. Also, Brady was actually into taking photos with my cellphone and stored asking to take photos of us and issues — which is seemingly a brand new curiosity of his.

(Once once more, I’m sporting this henley top, these sunglasses and these sneakers.)

We have been solely in Davidson for about 2.5 hours, however we noticed all there was to see within the little downtown space and we’d positively return once more — there’s a very talked-about dinner restaurant known as Kindred in Davidson that’s on our listing.

And subsequent up on our agenda for exploring is the Lake Norman space. Even although Lake Norman is a part of the higher Charlotte space, it’s all the time appeared like so distant from us in south Charlotte.

Fun

Ladies’ film evening

Last Friday evening, I placed on a sequined blazer and joined my neighborhood girlfriends for a enjoyable evening. We met at a good friend’s home for drinks and appetizers, then we went to see the brand new Magic Mike film, “Magic Mike’s Last Dance.” We needed to go about 20 minutes away to search out it enjoying on the Ayrsley Grand Cinema, and Ayrsley is one other space I hadn’t been earlier than.

If you’re not accustomed to the “Magic Mike” franchise, (that is the primary time I noticed one of many films, however I did see the stay present in Vegas a number of years in the past), it’s a couple of male dancer. That’s all I actually need to share, as a result of the main points aren’t protected for work nor protected for weblog evaluation.

As anticipated, the film was not superb (I imply, it was entertaining, simply removed from high quality cinema), however we nonetheless loved the night. There have been solely a pair teams of girls in our theatre, and the group was chatty and enjoyable.

After the film, we went to a close-by spot known as The Corner Bar, then again to our assembly place to hold for a short time longer. I laughed so exhausting this evening from all of the humorous issues within the film and in our conversations, and it was good for the soul.

Running my first 5K outside race in years

I don’t suppose I’ve run in an outside race since earlier than Brady was born. I’m fairly certain that the final time I actually ran a race was a downtown San Francisco Turkey Trot a few years in the past, again when Dave and I’d run quick collectively — one time, we completed in 24 minutes, which I don’t suppose I might do now.

Although I work out loads, I hadn’t run in any respect in months, so I used to be a bit of nervous to see how my legs would really feel in my first 5K this previous weekend. Well, on the morning of the race, I wasn’t as anxious about my legs. Instead, I used to be simply drained, as a result of we stayed out too late the evening earlier than at our film evening, and that 5:45 a.m. wake-up name got here shortly.

(I’m sporting this tank, these leggings and these sneakers.)

Luckily, the climate was extremely lovely, and our group of 4 women took on the hilly golf course race course collectively. It was a chocolate-themed run, so we bought a chocolate medal, some sizzling chocolate and a chocolate run race t-shirt for our efforts. I haven’t worn my race t-shirt but, however I’ll quickly.

The course was tremendous powerful although, and I awoke with sore ankles the following morning from all of the uphills and downhills we needed to tackle. We ran the entire time, aside from one little water break, and we completed in a bit of over half-hour (there have been no bibs, thus we didn’t get an official time), so it wasn’t precisely a dash, however it was enjoyable. We have been happy with ourselves for doing it, and it was cool to have it below our belt earlier than 8 a.m. on a stunning Saturday.

And these are the faves to report. Good instances, with good folks.

Workouts

My exercises from final week

I wish to share a recap of my earlier week of exercises. I share this to indicate you the way I attempt to get variety of motion in my week, and the way I all the time take a relaxation day or an lively restoration day.

But bear in mind, I do some bit greater than the typical individual, as a result of I’m a bunch health teacher. You completely don’t want to match your motion to mine.

Workouts from the week of two/27

Monday: Taught 1-hour barbell class, 9:45 a.m.
Tuesday: Taught 1-hour barre class with gentle weights, 9:30 a.m., took 90-minute tennis clinic, 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday: Taught 45-minute barbell class, 8:30 a.m., taught 45-minute barre class with gentle weights, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday: Taught 45-minute combo class, 9:30 a.m., took 60-minute tennis clinic, 11:30 a.m.
Friday: Taught 45-minute barbell class, 11:30 a.m.
Saturday: Ran 5K, 7 a.m., did 30-minute full-body weights exercise, 9:30 a.m.
Sunday: Rest day (took 75-minute neighborhood stroll, 5 p.m.)

This previous week was fairly full! I taught six courses, I performed tennis twice, I ran in a really hilly neighborhood 5K (which left my ankles fairly sore), and I simply barely slot in my solo exercise.

I nearly skipped it this previous week, however I knew I wished to maintain that promise to myself. So on Saturday morning, after my 5K, I went to my neighborhood gymnasium for some deadlifts, push-ups and core work, and I had it completed in lower than half-hour. It wasn’t good, however I didn’t skip it no less than. Overall, I loved this week of motion, particularly switching it up with my outside 5K.

Best learn of the week

Here’s a well timed article that I felt like sharing with you …

How to avoid wasting on groceries. The final couple of months, I’ve observed that just about the whole lot I purchase on the grocery retailer has gone up in worth. Our grocery payments are outrageous, and so they appear to maintain rising. This is a simple and timely article on a few ways to save on your grocery bills, and I have to do a greater job about following the following tips. For occasion, the authors of this text recommend sticking to 1 retailer, and I’m responsible of typically going to 4 per week. How many shops do you go to commonly? Give this one a read, for those who want some assist saving on groceries like I do.

Quote of the week

Here’s an incredible thought for you …

Blog archives of the week

Let’s look again at a pair posts …

Self-development ebook evaluation. I’m proud that I completed studying this ebook, and I spent loads of time pulling out a number of the prime issues I realized on this one, so you will get a CliffsNotes model with out getting by all 500 pages … “What I learned from reading “Awaken the Giant Within” by Tony Robbins (a book review).”

Postpartum train. This publish is from a number of years in the past, however it’s nonetheless tremendous related to any mommas on the market … “Five things no one tells you about postpartum exercise.”

Thanks for coming by the weblog right now, good friend! Be nicely!

Please go away a remark, ship me a direct message on Instagram or Facebook, or electronic mail me at ashley-at-aladygoeswest.com when you’ve got any publish requests/suggestions/feedback or questions.

P.S. For my clean-beauty lovers, for those who shop Beautycounter today, there’s an enormous reward with buy, for those who spend greater than $125. And additionally this weekend, for those who’re available in the market for Les Mills fitness equipment, use the code MARGIFT for a free $99 reward once you spend greater than $400 or use the code STRONGER10 for 10 p.c off the whole lot besides bundles.