Cupcakes and Yoga Pants: Top 15 Posts of 2015

How can it be the end of December already? In August, I gave my five year old food blog, Whole Foods Living, a makeover. After a new URL, new name and new focus, Cupcakes and Yoga Pants was born! I’ve also started a Facebook group and Pinterest board dedicated to sharing even more healthy, indulgent ideas and tips.

Since this past summer, I’ve shared over a hundred posts. Of course a few have been more popular than others, so here’s a recap of the top 15 posts of 2015. Read, share and comment on the topics that are of interest to you!

15. Are You Writing and Reading on Medium?
What’s your favorite online hangout? Facebook? A blog? Medium?
If you haven’t heard of Medium yet, it’s a two-year-old platform that’s recently taken off publicly. It allows writers to post articles and blog posts in a Facebook-meets-Instagram type setting. You can click hearts to like a post, leave comments, share and follow other users. READ MORE.

14. Wild for Whimzees
Each night after dinner, the dogs get a treat. Usually it’s a crunchy dog biscuit or a chewy dog jerky treat. Last night Belle and Orion were spoiled with one of their favorite durable chews, Whimzees.
The gluten-free, vegetarian dental chews are one of the longest lasting edible chews we’ve found for our two large breed dogs. READ MORE.

13. A Bit of Doga
My weimaraner loves yoga. Or, at least she loves napping on my yoga mat!
The other day when I was trying to get a photo for my “You Don’t Have to Be Flexible to Do Yoga” post, she was very interested. We down-dogged together and she eventually fell asleep during the supported bridge pose. READ MORE.

12. First Foodie Magazine Byline
Well, y’all know I love to cook. And, I’ve written several recipes for my old blog, Whole Foods Living. I’ve also shared recipes with some of my brand clients, like Tom’s of Maine and Wayfield Foods.
But, it finally happened. THREE of my original recipes have been published in a print magazine!

Update: The link for this post has been removed. I deleted the article to ahere to regulations in my writer’s contract.

11. 3 Ways to Avoid Workout Burnout
Is this you? You decided to make some healthy changes, bought some cute workout clothes and stuck to it for maybe a week or two.
Then, you got bored. Exercise was becoming a chore. You started dreading going to the gym and when you looked at your sneakers you rolled your eyes.
It’s OK. We all get fitness fatigue on occasion. READ MORE.

10. Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins
I’ve got fall fever. That means, I’m spending way too much time in the kitchen making pumpkin-flavored treats. I’ve already whipped up and eaten an entire pumpkin pie, and it’s only Labor Day.
One of my favorite recipes is a pumpkin muffin made with ground almonds, bananas and honey. They are gluten-free and have an amazing fluffy, moist texture. Here’s my recipe! READ MORE.

9. Black Dot For Awareness
Have you seen the black dot movement? There’s a new campaign going around Facebook that is supposed to help women in domestic violence situations get help.
If you meet a woman with a black dot drawn on the inside of one of her palms, that’s a signal that she is in an abusive relationship and her abuser is watching over her, so she can’t say anything or ask for help. READ MORE.

8. Why I Do Yoga
Last summer I was determined to get more out of my gym membership. So, I tried yoga.
I noticed a flyer in the locker room advertising a beginner’s yoga class, so it was the perfect time to bite the bullet and graduate from living room yoga poses guided by my Wii Fit.
I had been hesitant to try yoga for years, because I was worried about the strain it would put on my wrists and ankles. I have rheumatoid arthritis and experience pain and swelling in my joints almost daily. But, thanks to regular exercise (including yoga), losing excess weight and eating a healthy whole foods diet, my symptoms have decreased. READ MORE.

7. 8 Random Things Parents of Weimaraners Say
When you’re a parent of a wonderful weimaraner, you have to get used to their cunning, sneaky ways. They’re large and all too often in charge of everything around the house.
Here are a few random things the hubby and I have said to our beautiful girl, Belle. READ MORE.

6. Name This Mystery Plant
Earlier this spring, I stopped at Menard’s in search of a cucumber plant for the garden. They were sold out. So, I continued browsing in the garden center.
I found a table of droopy clearance plants and decided to pick one out. Of course, none of them were labeled. READ MORE.

5. Back to Blogging Basics
Remember when blogging started?
Originally called web logs, “blogs” were essentially online diaries. People shared their thoughts, ideas and tips with the world.
Today, blogs are more polished, professional and written by everyone from mommies to corporations. Blogs are used to share stories, explain how to do things, educate readers and help people unwind. Blogs can be whatever you want them to be, really. READ MORE.

4. Mental Workout: The Complete Brain Exercise Book
When’s the last time you gave your brain a good workout? Have you challenged yourself to read about a complex issue or worked your way through a stack of crossword puzzles?
Dr. Fraser Smith, BA, MATD, ND is determined to help you get your brain in shape and stay sharp with his new book, The Complete Brain Exercise Book.
When I started looking through Dr. Smith’s ideas, I was thrilled to see he goes beyond the usual mind-bending games. This book offers so much more. READ MORE.

3. I’m Addicted to Pinterest
My rabbit hole is Pinterest.
Whether it’s the cute dog pictures or the scrumptious dessert recipes, I can spend way too much time on that social media platform. READ MORE.

2. Apple Pickin’ Day
It’s apple season!
Yesterday the hubby and I took the two dogs to Autumn Grove Orchard just outside of Sioux City and spent the afternoon hand-picking fresh apples.
Belle and Orion enjoyed investigating each row and sniffing out the ripest, reddest fruit for our bag. We ended up with Gala, Fuji and Golden Delicious apples. I can’t wait to turn them into homemade applesauce. READ MORE.

1. My Magic Writing Goggles
I started wearing glasses two weeks ago.
No, my vision hasn’t changed. I still have freakishly good eyesight. It’s like 20-30 or something. The optometrist is always shocked when I can read the very bottom line of his chart.
I’m wearing my new glasses by choice! READ MORE.

Do you blog? Did you create a list of top posts from this past year? Please share a link below and I’d be happy to check it out!