by Jen
on January 11, 2012
It’s Wednesday, it’s raining and I’m kind of grumpy. Despite multiple cups of coffee, crawling back into bed seems like a much better option than braving the day. I need some sunshine in my life. And a tropical vacation. Definitely more coffee.
I just at this for breakfast. Peanut butter, honey, banana and cinnamon on whole wheat cinnamon raisin walnut bread.
Last night I met a friend for yoga and dinner. For the yoga portion of the evening, we attended “Kick Your Asana” at Charlotte Yoga. The practice featured multiple Rhianna songs while our instructor danced around the room asking us why we let fear control our lives. It was actually the perfect combination of serious and lighthearted and exactly what I needed.
My friend is Colombian and I was so excited when she suggested grabbing dinner after class at her favorite Colombian restaurant, Pio Pio.
Pio Pio is known for for their rotisserie chicken but they offer a large menu of Colombian and Peruvian cuisine. It is Columbian owned and it was so fun to hear my friend chatting away with all the staff in Spanish.
She insisted that I start with one of the juices so at her recommendation I tried the lulo juice. Lulo is a tropical fruit and popular in Colombia. It’s citrusy with a little bit of a lime flavor and was very refreshing post-yoga.
I ordered a combination that included the most amazing chicken soup, half of an avocado, rice and fried plantains. All of the meals also come with two really good sauces that you can put on the rice or plantains. This was one of the best meals that I have had out in a while and I will definitely be frequenting Pio Pio in the future. I am already craving this meal again!
And I leave you with this. While some of us have to be productive on a rainy day, this furry one will be lounging around the house hoping for a belly rub.
Have a good day!
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July 22, 2026
I am such a creature of habit when it comes to breakfast. 95% of the time I’m craving a breakfast that is on the sweet side. That mostly alternates between smoothies or yogurt bowls with overnight oats, chia pudding or oatmeal occasionally thrown in there. On the rare occasion I go savory – it’s scrambled [...]
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July 19, 2026
I want to bottle up this summer and make it last forever (well, maybe minus the wildly hot and humid weather that makes running a big thumbs down). I mentioned this in my last post…but I am really enjoying the slower pace and the days that feel like they have more space. While I’m trying [...]
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July 10, 2026
Happy Friday! I hope this post finds you well and enjoying the summer. We are in the dog days of it over here in Charlotte – the heat and humidity is off the charts – but it’s something I’ll embrace because I deeply appreciate the massive slow down that summer has brought. A lot of [...]
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June 21, 2026
I recently traveled to Big Bear Lake, California for the inaugural Big Bear Peaks + Pines three-day stage race hosted by TransRockies Running. This was my third TransRockies event in 12 months (see also Colorado + Moab) and I’m here to tell you that they can do no wrong when it comes to race organization [...]
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May 30, 2026
Happy weekend! Another week in the books! I got three runs in (6.5 miles, 5.5 miles, 5.5 miles) and I have a trail run planned for tomorrow. Total weekly mileage will end up around 30-35 miles depending on if I go for 13 or 17 tomorrow! I’m 16 weeks out from the Golden Ultra so [...]
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May 23, 2026
Happy Memorial Day Weekend. It’s a very rainy one here in Charlotte and while I am a little bummed not to be spending the weekend in Florida with the fam or by the pool at our swim club (just opened for the season!), I’m also welcoming a slower pace and time at home. It’s been [...]
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May 3, 2026
Hi and happy May! As we roll into the first full week of a new month, I have almost a month’s worth of lunch ideas for you. It’s a great mix of sandwiches, bowls, salads and wraps. I hope you enjoy and find some inspiration for your midday meal! Open-faced chickpea salad sandwich on toasted [...]
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