Top Blog Posts of 2016 (So Far)

Last year, at the beginning of every month, I shared the most popular posts of that month, as determined by pageviews. I let that little series die in 2016 but still wanted to check back in now that we’re halfway through the year and recap what posts have seen the most traction on the blog in 2016 so far!

It’s always interesting for me to take some time to see what interests you and these little recaps help inspire some of my future blog posts as well. Since many of the popular posts are actually from months (if not years) ago, I hope you’ll find some new posts to check out that you may have missed on PBF in the busyness of everyday life!

Though my recipes claimed the vast majority of the most popular posts in my top viewed pages, I wanted to include a variety of content in this roundup for you guys, so I broke everything up into categories and shared the top five most popular posts in each category below! Thank you so much for reading!

Top Blog Posts 2016 (So Far)

RECIPES

• Three Minute Egg White Oatmeal

If you have five minutes in the morning, you have enough time to make yourself a bowl of fluffy, filling and oh-so-tasty banana egg white oatmeal. This 2014 recipe is an easy one and perfect for oatmeal lovers who want to include a little more protein in their morning bowl of oats.

• Egg White Oatmeal Protein Pancake

I still constantly make this 2013 recipe and it’s a go-to for me because it’s a tasty protei pancake recipe that does not require a blender or food processor or protein powder. Sometimes simple is best!

• Oatless Oatmeal with Zucchini (Paleo Oatmeal)

Made with egg whites, ground flaxseed and almond milk, this recipe for oatless oatmeal is a nutritious and tasty alternative to traditional oatmeal for those who may be gluten-free, Paleo or simply looking for a satisfying high-protein breakfast.

• Easy Baked Chicken

Go figure that a totally random recipe with not-so-beautiful photos ended up being one of my top-pinned recipes of all time on Pinterest! This easy baked chicken recipe is still a go-to in our house and perfect for Sunday afternoon meal prep. An added bonus? The leftovers are wonderful in salads, sandwiches, quesadillas and more!

• Customizable Egg Muffins

Almost every Sunday you can bet I’ll be prepping either a batch of these egg muffins or a frittata for the week ahead. A quick tip I’ve picked up along the way: Silicone muffin cups or a silicone muffin pan work really well for removing the egg muffins with relative ease.

WORKOUTS

• Collection of Boot Camp Workouts

Boot camp workouts are my favorite and this workout roundup post includes a bunch of them in one place for easy reference.

• At Home Workouts

Looking for a handful of workouts you can do at home with little to no equipment? This post includes a bunch of at home workouts that will have you working up a sweat in no time!

• No Gym Workout

No gym? No problem! This total body workout is a great one to keep in your back pocket for days when you’re looking for a bodyweight workout that does not require any equipment. (It’s great for a hotel room workout, too!)

• Killer Cardio Total Body Tabata Workout

If you want to work up a sweat in a minimal amount of time, look no further than this tabata workout. It’s a cardio killer!

• Upper Body Drop Set Workout

This upper body drop set workout is one of my go-to workouts! I have this one saved on my phone for days when I want to challenge my upper body and target my biceps, triceps, shoulders, chest and back.

FITNESS

• Best Pandora Workout Stations

Sometimes I get sick of the music I have downloaded on my phone and I will turn to Pandora to power me through my workouts with some seriously motivating music. This blog post features some of my favorite upbeat Pandora workout music stations, featuring everything from rap and hip hop to BPM and dance music.

• Best Spinning Climb Songs

As a spinning instructor, I put a lot of time and energy into creating motivating playlists for my classes and know that the music that pops up during a climb is crucial for keeping the class feeling the energy and flow of a workout. This post includes a handful of my favorite climb songs.

• 8 Fitness Apps To Try

I frequently rely on fitness apps for my workouts (especially when I travel!) and this blog post includes eight fitness apps you must check out if you are looking for workout inspiration!

• Pure Barre Clothing For Less

I put together this blog post after falling in love with Pure Barre and realizing a lot of the clothing sold at studios for top-dollar could actually be purchased elsewhere for a lot less! This blog post gives ideas for where to find Pure Barre brand-name favorites – Beyond Yoga, Splits59 and more – for more affordable prices. (Tip: NordstromRack.com is a go-to for me!)

• Spinning Instructor Certification Overview

I typed up this blog post after I went through my spinning instructor training and certification and recommend it for anyone out there who might be interested in obtaining a spinning certification in the future.

PREGNANCY / BABY

• What I Wish I Knew Before My Baby Was Born

This was one of my favorite blog posts to write this year. I tried my best to share a handful of things I wish I would’ve known before Chase was born and the comments from everyone on this post are definitely worth reading!

• First Trimester Pregnancy Favorites

When I was pregnant, at the end of each trimester I shared a list of some of my pregnancy favorites and this blog post dives into some of my first trimester must-haves.

• Our First Baby Sleep Training Experience

It took us a solid six months before we were really ready to work on establishing better sleep habits with Chase. This blog post recaps our first sleep training experience when Chase was six months old.

• Flying With A Baby For The First Time

Flying with a baby is undeniably stressful. I headed off to Denver on my first flight with Chase solo and after my return to Charlotte, I recapped the experience and tried my best to incorporate tips and tricks that worked well for me, as well as a handful of things I wish I would’ve done to make traveling with a baby a bit easier.

• Our Baby Registry (Based On Your Advice)

You guys basically created our baby registry for us thanks to all of your amazing advice. This blog post shares almost all of the items we included on our baby registry, based largely on your recommendations.

EXTRAS

• Bachelorette Party Question Book Game

For a while there, it felt like I was heading off on a bachelorette party every month! I love bachelorette parties and the fun games that come along with them and this question book game is always a hit! It’s a great way to incorporate the groom into the festivities in an entertaining way.

• Why Rose Hip Seed Oil Is My Natural Beauty Rockstar

Rose hip seed oil is fantastic and something I continue to use on a daily basis. I shared this blog post to dive into the benefits and uses of one of my favorite natural beauty products.

• What To Pack For A Trip To Europe

This is such an old blog post (hello 2011!) but it continues to be one of my most popular posts! Following a family trip to Europe, I wrote this blog post to share a little bit about what I packed for our vacation and how I managed to fit everything in a carryon suitcase.

• Date Night In: Valentine’s Day Gift Basket

Before Valentine’s Day this year, I shared this gift basket idea for a fun date night in!

• 10 Books For Your Summer Reading List

This blog post is a very recent one that seemed to interest a lot of my fellow readers out there! I love reading and sharing book recommendations as well as hearing all of your recommendations, so this was a fun one to put together.