breathe
wow guys. last week I was completely overwhelmed. I haven’t been that stressed in a LONG time. I was pulling my hair out half the time but at least i’ll be getting a lot of overtime this week. Phew. I hope this week is a lot more calm. Since I had such a crazy week, taking pics of all my food didn’t really happen. I happened to grab some shots but wasn’t as diligent with it seeing that I was so busy I didn’t really have time to sit down and enjoy my food, just had to eat it while I was still working.
I spent kinda alot of money on food last week. I should have been more prepared, but I was never sure how long i’d have to stay at work past 5. This led to two whole foods trips to the hot bar, which I can’t complain about too much, but my wallet didn’t really enjoy it. My fav thing I found from whole foods was definitely the general tso’s vegan chicken. oh man this was amazing, and personally i think tasted better than real chicken! DELISH. One day was an asian day on the hot bar, the next a bbq theme.
On Saturday I finally got to relax and enjoy myself and went to Wine in the Woods in Columbia. This is an annual event that I’ve never been able to go to because I was still in school or wasn’t 21 yet. Well, this year I finally went! It was held at the concert pavillion by my parents house, and its in a wooded area so its perfect for events. There were about 20 wine vendors there and I met up with some of my friends and had a blast. The weather worked out perfectly and didn’t rain until we were leaving. Later that night I went out with my friend Britt and had a great time. So happy to finally relax and enjoy myself after a stressful week!
I got in a few runs over the week and also shredded, but i have an update on the 30 day shred.
I’ve been trying to do my best to listen to my body lately. I want to figure out what works and what doesn’t, and push myself but also reign myself back in when something isn’t working. I REALLY wanted to do the shred all 30 days. I missed 2 days this week, and made up for it by doing jillians 40 minute no more trouble zones dvd. Also though, when I missed the shred by run the next day was SO much more enjoyable. My legs didn’t feel like lead and they actually felt great. I’ve realized that I need diversity. When I did the no more trouble zones I loved the fact that I was doing somethign different. I know that the 30 day shred is an amazing workout, but I was getting used to the workouts and 10 days per level was just getting to be the same old. I want to surprise my body and do things that it doesn’t expect. I also believe that my legs will do much better if I take a day off here or there. I’m sad to say that I won’t be completing the 30 day shred. I feel like i’m wimping out and just quitting in a way, but I know that I’m doing this to make my body feel better. I am going to change things up, do lots of different dvds, go running more, because thats what I enjoy. I love experimenting with different programs and videos, and want to keep doing that. I will DEFINITELY be doing the shred still, but just not the 30 day program. I belive that its an amazing workout for just a short 20 minute period that I want to do if I don’t have more time to commit to my workout. Thanks for listening to my ramble 🙂 and thanks for your always continued support.
Lots of food for you guys! I will just post all the pics bc writing out descriptions for them all would just make this the longest post everrrrr. I’m back on the bandwagon and will be regularly posting again now that hell week is over!
breakfast scramble burrito
pb and banana french toast
Love you guys and now i’m going to finally get to comment again and bring down my google reader… this thing is about to break its so full!
Daily Goods 
Wow…I’m glad you survived the stressful week! AND you had a chance to wind down at the festival…looks like fun!
All of the food looks AMAZING!
I just discovered the Shred workout and this is my second day. I needed to switch things up from my boring treadmill. So far my body is feeling the switch. We’ll see how long I last.
Whatever that first wrap is, it looks yummy!
you look fabulous at that festival.
i absolutely adore those paaaaants!
I was so glad to see you posted today, I missed reading your posts 🙂 I’m sorry this week has been so stressful! But it looks like you had a great time unwinding at the wine festival. I heard about that! I bet it was amazing!
I think anything at Whole Foods is worth the money 😉 haha usually! But yeah, anything at their hot/cold food bar is definitely a must-have for a busy day. I also think it’s great that you’re listening to your body – I hear a lot on the blogs about the 30-day shred, but really, you just gotta do what you can, and not injure yourself, or put any more stress on your body than it needs.
I hope you have a lovely Monday!
Love,
Meg
altho it is pricey, i LOVE the WF hot bar! mmmm.
that event sounds like fun! that is rad you finally got to go enjoy it. super cute photos of you and your girls!!
i don’t think you are quitting by not doing the solid 30 day shred, i mean you are still getting some type of work out in and sometimes our bodies need the variety to keep us guessing and prevent a plateau. plus it sounds like you know what works best for you and that is what is most important. keep up the good work 🙂
and yummmm to your burrito!
Sounds like a crazy week, hope things get less stressful for ya. The wine festival looked like so much fun!
hey lovely! Glad you survived the week – I hate those weeks, but I’m sure you’re glad it’s over!!!
I TOTALLY hear you on the workouts/listening to your body. That is THE most important thing. Do not feel like a failure/quitter…b/c you’re NOT! 🙂 You’re doing what’s best for you and that’ awesome!!!
Kaneil, balanceisbest
Hi Ashley!
I wanted to say I love your Blog, and you’re absolutely adorable!
The Wine in the Woods event looks like it was a lot of fun! And I’m seriously craving that French Toast now… 🙂
Thanks for your fun pictures and updates!
– Ann Q
I think you should definitely listen to your body and clearly doing the 30-day shred everyday isn’t the best thing!! No worries!! I’m still going to try for the 30-day challenge I think even though I am getting SICK of it, I just moved onto level 2 and today was day 13!
You should do a review of the trouble spots DVD of Jillians, I’ve been thinking about getting it. Is it good/worth it??
Hope this week goes better for you, girl!!
Your WF buys look so much better than my experiences to the hot bar have been. There must be an art to when to visit it…
Um I’m going to need more info on the pb banana french toast please.
Glad you got to relax this weekend.
The wine event looks so fun! Glad you finally got to relax! I hear ya about that 30 Day Shred. I started off by doing it almost 20 days in a row but I stopped because I got bored with it. It is much better to switch up your workouts like you said!
ok so your week last week sounds like mine right now…I’m feeling so overwhelmed that instead of starting I am readin gyour blog and thinking hmm that bread looks really good
ooh! i see korean food :D!!! glad you survived the week, and enjoyed your weekend!
At least you gave the shred a try! I agree you need to mix it up quite frequently! I cant wait for summer and to go to a wine tasting with the FF since hell finally be 21! Everything looks great and you look so cute and comfy with your friends! Glad you had fun!
Haha gotta love the days when the google reader is about the explode! Glad youre less stressed! Whole Foods is a great way to feel better haha
I’m glad you’re back and made it through your crazy week! Your photos of the festival are so cute.
I think your decision about the shred is great if it’s what works for you. You want to still be able to run!! 😉
I get stressed out when my reader starts to build up, too! Don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere!
Sorry for the stressful week but glad you could get out to the wine tasting with your friends. 🙂 Love your cute outfit!
I think your decision about the 30 day shred is smart. One workout isn’t going to be the best for everyone, so if you feel like you need to mix it up, you shouldn’t feel badly!
Have a great week girlie!
Sorry about the stressful week, hope this one is better!
I’m glad you got through your hell week at work! Love WF hot bar.. at least you got good eats in! Wine in the Woods looks like so much fun!
I love the Whole Foods salad bar! I almost always get their spicy eggplant. If they have it at yours and you haven’t tried it you should!
WF’s General Tso’s Vegan Chicken is THE BEST! MamaJ always buys a pint when I come home, and we’ll just stand in the kitchen, eating it cold from the container. So delicious!
Honeybunny, I hope you have a less hectic week! It sounds like you were all over the place! Glad you got to have a relaxing weekend, though 🙂 Missed that gorgy face!
Hopefully this next week isn’t so hectic, and you get a little down time to relax 🙂
Love the looks of the pb & b french toast sandwich 😀 Yummy!
awww! so sorry about all the stress! at least you got to load up with some good eats from whole foods annnnnnd the wine in the woods event. you looked super cute, as always!
hope this week is better!
oh I felt the same way with running and shredding. Shredding was a great sweat at first but then when I skipped it and ran, my legs felt so much better! I did the 30 days but I don’t feel like my body changed – I feel I get better results when I lifted on my own strength training and kept runs long etc.
So I agree- it is great to have for a random change but good for you for listening to what you really need & want!
What a fun time that wine festival must have been! I too always miss the ones here.
I made pb&j french toast the other day!!!! The melty pb is soooo delicious in it!
That burrito looks awesome too!
hey, I hope the stress days are over for you!
I spy some korean noodles there! my mom always makes that for pot lucks!
hey ash! i had the same experience with the shred…I actually made it a 15 day shred and upped my level every five days. I think it made it a bit harder, but I was just getting too bored. You too a good job maintaining a healthy appetite even during stressful periods. You go girl! Hope your week gets a little easier…at least the overtime pay will help to supplement the WF bill. It’s Indian night every night at my WF, but I’m not complaining. yummo.
Catch you soon 😉
Listening to your body is definitely a good thing!
I love No More Trouble Zones, definitely a butt kicker.
props to you for listening to your body! it’s so hard to do but definitely the best thing to do. last time I ignored mine I ended up getting injured and having to take a few weeks off, which was horrible!
Whew! So much gorgeous food! What kind of bread do you use?
all the food looks so good especially the PB french toast, yum!
Sorry about your crazy week! I hope you are getting to breathe and relax a little bit now. You look so cute at your wine outing!
Hi!! Thank you so much for the lovely comment!! I gotta tell you, I was a little bit afraid of posting my stats and the before pic…but it’s done 😉
That Wine in the Woods thing looks awesome! I wish I had that around here 🙂
Sorry about your stressful week – hope this week is better!