I am laying in bed this morning feeling VERYYYY affected by daylight savings (just me? anyone else? please tell me) and literally feeling like I have traveled across the world due to the ‘jet lag’ vibes I am feeling, lol. And I really don’t feel like doing anything but blogging, so let’s go!

Anyway, before we begin, how are you feeling? Check in with yourself and just take a moment. A deep breath. A hand over your heart. You deserve it. We move through life SO fast and lately my mantra has been all about slowwwwing down. Slow slow slow. It’s very hard to do but I believe when we are able to master that practice, everything can shift. Everything.

It seems like there are so many things happening in the world of TBB (and in my personal world) lately, and since my 12 things Tuesday posts are usually more all over the place & deep, I felt like we needed a post *specifically* for all of the happy things going on in the brand lately. (And omg — my word count is stuck at 201, my lucky number, you can’t make it up. My WordPress has been doing this since I started blogging eleven years ago. Just wowwww.)

Thank you for being here & letting me share these happy things with you!! Tell me your happy things below. I always want to hear!!! ♡

8 Happy Things & Life Updates & Beyond! ♡

1. Tonight we have a super special live event with my medium, mentor, and dear friend Nikki Novo. She is the celeb psychic we all know & love, the woman who taught me how to channel, and she has a waitlist of over 1,000 people. This evening you can hear from her directly in my membership platform, and you can do a live Q&A with us, learn how to channel and tap into your intuition via Nikki and her teaching, and so much more. This would normally be a $500+ experience, and you can join for literally $11.11 if you join my monthly membership. OR less than $10/month if you join yearly. Like honestly even if you join for this event & nothing else for the entire year, it’s so worth it. Even though I believe you’ll fall in love with the content once you’re in there!

2. I am 21 weeks pregnant with my baby girl and the time is FLYING. My bump app tells me she is the size of an endive today (lol, what a funny comparison) and I feel her kicking and moving all the time! We had our anatomy scan last week and it was so fun to see her sweet face. I feel like she already looks just like Atticus, but in her own feminine way. I can’t wait to welcome her into the world in 19 short weeks… or less! Gah!!

3. Yesterday we had a new solo episode drop, and it is a new favorite!! I am LOVING doing solos even more than usual and have honestly contemplated transitioning my show to 90% solos at some point. Let me know if you’d be into that. Tune into episode 361 to hear all about the 15 things I’ve learned since raising my vibration. It’s a riff off of my blog post from the other week, but we go way deeper on the pod because I can really talk through everything. There are also tips for raising YOUR vibe in there. Would love to hear your thoughts & if you’ve listened!! Listen in here or wherever you like to get your pods!

4. I dropped a few hints about this in the podcast episode, but I am embarking on a somatic training later this month. I am so excited. I have felt called to somatic healing for a long time, but never felt like it was the right time to dive into something new. I am mostly excited to dive into this training so that I can use these practices in my own life and for my own healing, but I am equally excited to share my learnings in the platform & infuse all of the somatic exercises and goodness into meditations, flows, affirmations, pep talks, and beyond. If you are interested in the training itself, you can go here to see the one I’m doing, and the code BLONDE will get you $1,000 off of your training. <3

5. New TBB MERCH is coming! I am hoping early April but am still waiting to hear back from the vendor on whether that soon is for sure feasible. The designs and styles are my favorite we have ever done by far — I feel like they’re the most universal and that you guys are going to absolutely love. Who is ready to add to their collection?!

6. I have been wrestling with a big decision for nearly two years and this week, that decision was taken off my plate by things outside of my control… which was actually amazing. This was something that would have been *huge* for my career, but I am not so sure it would have been great for my mental health, my family, or my wellbeing… at times the choice to say “no” seemed like a no-brainer but the workaholic in me (and the girl within me who is always up for an adventure) kept wanting to say “YES.” All in all, the opportunity fell through for reasons that had nothing to do with me — and although there was minor disappointment, I trust that the universe did this for a reason. I deeply trust that it was the right thing. And I am grateful to no longer be ruminating on that decision AND to not have to second-guess myself for any decision that I made, whether it was a yes or a no.

7. The most exciting & happy thing by far (other than the pregnancy) in my life right now is CHANNELING for the platform!! I always felt like I would have a platform where I could channel my deepest knowings, magic from higher realms, all things Pleiaidan, life-changing and quantum-shifting meditations, and so much more… and it’s finally arrived. Having our amazing community in there only makes it that much sweeter. Join here if you feel called, I FEEL like if you haven’t, it’s time!??!

8. We created a super fun quiz for you to receive your own CUSTOM meditation schedule within the platform! And you don’t even have to be a member to do it!! Go here to take the quiz & claim your custom routine. <3

Also, thank you for all of the love on my health stuff the last few weeks <3 you guys are my people, and I am so thankful beyond words.

Love love you all! Let’s get into it! PS just because all of these brands are linked, doesn’t mean this is sponsored. Some of them are affiliate links, which does help me a lot if you purchase through them, but these are my tried and true recs and a lot of them are not affiliates!! So shop knowing I’ve got your back and you can fully TRUST.

12 TBB Must Haves:

1. I have been going back to my roots and using the very trendy but also very, very good Canon G7x camera again!!! If you’re a content creator, business owner, or you just want to capture cute memories of your family & life, I highly recommend it. I actually have two lol because I have had one for years, and then I decided to get a new one because I thought it would inspire me to have the latest version. Then it came and I realized it’s the exact same version I have always had. But I love having two because I am prone to losing things. Anyway, it’s the best camera, we shot the new merch on it, and I highly recommend!

2. Tomoorrrrow the newest TBB MERCH launches, and it is our much awaited & anticipated ANGEL NUMBER COLLECTION! When I tell you that we have been working on these designs for half a year, that would be an understatement. I have also been envisioning it for YEARS, basically since I was pregnant. Set your alarms for 10am tomorrow — two tees, one iconic hoodie, and the best mug of all timeeee. Angels are always with you. Never forget it. <3

3. I have been writing a lot about the various back braces, sciatica stretchers, foam rollers, etc. that I have been living and dying by lately. This stretcher thingy is my favorite thing to sit on or put on my lower back when I am working/writing, driving, and even podcasting. I brought it to the studio this week! And then this back brace I wear whenever I am home and doing stuff like sitting, doing dishes, chasing Attie, etc. Helping a lot with posture.

4. Having a KINDLE has been legit life changing, beyond words. I always thought I was more of a real, tangible book girly (and I always will be that too) but the kindle has been so perfect for reading 2-3 books at once like I like to do, and then getting immediate suggestions for *similar books* after I finish one I love. I have SO MANY faves, which you can find on my Amazon shop book page!!!

5. My STANLEY! Like I have literally never drank more water in my life, I have the rose gold one and it is my favorite thing ever. I have the biggest size but also the next size down is good too. I love it because it’s certified lead-free (very important to become TBB approved) and it’s the perfect size, the bottom fits in the cup holder, and it’s also chic. I don’t care that it’s basic, why not embrace being a basic girly in some areas? Basic girlies know which products are best anyway….!!

6. The sheet mask life has been incredibly good to my skin lately. I have been doing them every day, but you could even incorporate them once or twice a week. It gets pricey to do it every day but you know what, I am considering it an investment in my skin so there we go These MediHeal ones some of my faves right now… the Korean beauty hack of a lifetime! I had never heard of the brand but they are the best I have found, and my skin has been glowing lately and I feel like it’s been rejuvenating from the inside out.

7. Speaking of skin, my THERAFACE PRO is legit my life. It has so many incredible elements – from micro current to facial massage to red light, blue light, and a pink-ish infrared. It also has so many other elements I haven’t even explored yet, but I do the facial massage every night with red light + blue light! It has helped my eczema a lot!

8. Having a good chiropractor is literally everything for all of the back and neck issues (basically a lot of spinal misalignment) that I have been going through lately. This isn’t a product but rather a suggestion to all: find a great chiropractor, acupuncturist or bodyworker!! In LA I see Dr. Jeremy Brook, “Spine Checker” on IG! He is everything. Also my brother in law Dr. Jeff Tirsch in the valley is the BEST Chiro of all time if you live in LA. They have me doing daily head, neck and spine stretches that are already changing my life.

9. If you are looking for the best red light there, it’s LUME BOX. It is everything. My link here will get you $250 off (massive deal, righhhhttt?!) and this will change the game when it comes to skin, muscle recovery, anti-aging, cell rejuvenation, healing and injury relief, and so much more. It was designed by an MD and I find that it helps a lot with mood & energy as well as the skin and healing benefits. I also use it to light up our room at night for that red light vibe before we go to sleep!

10. Something I have learned this year is that most of us are incredibly low in essential amino acids, which means that it is hard to put on muscle, appear toned, and overall become our stronger and most hormonally balanced selves. Kion Aminos has changed my life, and I drink 1-2 scoops in water literally every day. I LOVE the mango flavor & the watermelon flavor! Use this link right here for 20% off!!! You can also use it to get their MOLD-FREE coffee or decaf coffee — the brand I trust the most and is 10000% TBB approved! PS the founder has been on the pod and he has the most inspiring story ever if you wanna listen!

11. The BEST non-toxic, hypoallergenic, baby & pet safe, one million percent TBB approved HOME CLEANING PRODUCTS — Branch Basics (code BALANCED for 15% off)! I have been using these for years, and I have turned our whole family, our housekeepers, our nanny, and everyone onto these products. I love their Starter Kit, their easy peasy refill system, and their oxygen boost!

12. Skincare game changers: Clearstem everything (code BALANCED), Kosas makeup (revealer concealer, glow IV, could setting powder), & Pai organic chamomile & rosehip facial moisturizer — which has changed my skin & Jonathan’s and both of the rashes we deal with!

13. (A bonus for ya hehe) — Joe Dispenza meditations, Melissa Wood walking meditations, and the soon to be launched TBB MEDITATIONS ;)))) for the best medi’s in the game!

What did I miss?! Have you guys tried the above?! And whooooo has marked their cals for TBB MERCH DROP TOMORROW MORNNNNN!?!?!? 

All of that to say, I had an amazing few days offline with my fam!! It was Attie’s second 4th of July, and we had so much fun. We went to the beach, had a picnic with friends, and he was in bed long before any fireworks went off whatsoever ! It was great. I love watching the world through his eyes. It is truly something special. ♡

How was everyone else’s holiday?! Can we believe it’s already MID July?! How in the hellllll?

PS thanks for all the love on last week’s 12 things about detox!! I am so glad it helped you guys — I know when I was really struggling with my health, a post like this would have been a serious game changer for me. 

Let’s get into today’s 12 things!!

1. What are our thoughts on THREADS?! No, not the cosmetic procedure. The new app created by Instagram!! I am freaking loving it, which is probably pretty obvious because I feel like any words-based app was made for me. It’s like Twitter, but elevated and new and fresh. What I love about it is that IG is connected to it, so you can automatically follow everyone who you already follow on Insta. So rather than trying to lead people to a new app, you already have your community. (I joked on there that I have been trying to get people to notice my TikTok for years, so this is a nice change, lol!). Anyway I didn’t think I’d be a fan of yet *another* social platform, and overall I do think we all need to focus on spending LESS time online, but I do think it’s a really refreshing & fun way to connect!! I have been posting up a storm there!! Come hannggg!! If you’re part of the 12 things Tuesday fam, tell me on there & I will repost you! ♡

2. We are deep into working on the next round of TBB Merch, and it looks like we are shooting for a September launch!! EEK! This is one I am SOOOO excited about. Our last launch was Spiritual Mom’s Club which was sooo special, but I know it didn’t get to reach *as* many people because we have so many people in our TBB fam who are not moms or not-yet moms. This one is for everyone, and it’s so so up all of our alleys. I also hired a designer who does all of Nikes coolest designs to do this (I splurged, it’s fine, lol) and… let me tell you, it’s gonna be earth shattering. AHHHH!

3. I have been reading up a storm lately. I am currently juggling like 12 books on my kindle, which even for me is too many, but I am so excited by a lot of different subjects right now. I am loving all of Edgar Cayce’s books — he was a clairvoyant in the late 1800s and early 1900s and he came into my life in a very synchronistic way a few weeks ago. I had a 102-year-old doctor on my podcast, and she mentioned him (she knew him personally!!), and I had this deep inner knowing to download his books. He reconnected me to the Akashic Records, and I’ve been channeling it like crazy. It’s been amazing! More on that below.

4. Ok so the Akashic Records. Ahhh. My light and my love of the moment. It is technically the energetic library of information that contains the details of our soul and its journey through the past, present, and future. There we can connect with our guides, loved ones, ancestors, higher self, teachers, and the masters of the records themselves. I have found it a POWERFUL way to channel, as it really works to ground me in a particular dimension while I am channeling. I have been drawn to it forever, and had channeled it many times before, but the way its come back into my life in a big way over the last few weeks has been more powerful than I could ever describe. Timing is everything. So much more to say on this.

5. I am LOVINNGGG my Somavedic EMF blocking device!! I’ve had one for years, but a few months ago Atticus picked it up and dropped it, and it shattered. Sad. So we got a new one, and we went with the amber model this time. It’s technically a “recovery frequency therapy device.” It helps to mitigate the harmful effects of EMF’s, and has a therapeutic effect on our cells from the inside out. You can use my link here for a discount, or the code BalancedBlonde16!

6. Speaking of other healing devices that I love, I was sent the TheraFace device by TheraPro and I am freaking obsessed. It has red light, blue light (great for inflammation and acne), micro current, sculpting, percussive massage, cleansing, and more. I actually cannot believe how many things it can do for such a small device. It is SO cool. This isn’t sponsored at all but if you’re willing to splurge a bit on a product for your face, this would be it. It’s literally everything all rolled into one… like an at-home facial!

7. We got our photos back from the family shoot we did about a month ago, and I AM OBSESSED!! I will be sharing all over Instagram in the coming weeks, and don’t be surprised if I spam you guys because they’re soooo good. The most special photos we’ve ever taken. Attie was such a natural model I will never get over it.

8. I have SLOWLY been adding a little bit of caffeine back into my life after not having a single sip since January of this year. I started with iced green tea and then started having a really small amount of coffee every few days. It feels nice to be able to tolerate it again without it seeming to increase my panic or anxiety at all (so far), and it also feels really good to not be dependent on it anymore. It’s not the first thing I have when I wake up and I am not relying on it for energy. My current rule if I do coffee is to never have it two days in a row!! I have rediscovered how much I love iced tea, and how much of an energy boost that gives me too!! My adrenals have been very grateful for the massive caffeine break, that’s for sure.

9. I had the most transformational weekend in Topanga recently, where I ended up writing at least half of my book. It was everything I needed and more. If you are looking for a sign to take a solo trip in nature… this is it. ♡

10. Happy cancer season!! I have so many cancers in my life. My mom is the 9th, Huddy is the 6th, my best friend Danielle is June 24th, and no joke 90% of my family in general was born in July. I love cancers so much. I feel like they’re a perfect counterpart to my Libra airiness, and we are similarly emotionally driven. Any cancers reading this post today?! Tell meee!

11. I am LOVING eating meat again. I know, I know. You probably never thought you’d hear me say that. But it’s kind of insane how much better my body has been functioning and how damn good I feel eating this way. I have so much love for the plant-based world for life, but the more I have been learning about our bodies and how they function (from sources like The Skinny Confidential, Paul Saladino, Organic Olivia, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon & more), and HOW much protein can help our bodies function as women, the more gung-ho I have been to play around with adding even more protein and see how it makes me feel. So far, it’s making me feel incredible. I am a huge fan… can’t rave enough about it. Following my intuition into eating this way also reminds me, our diets aren’t supposed to be sensational and sexy. A real, true, healthy lifestyle isn’t always labeled perfectly. Ya know what I am saying? I want to do a whole post and a whole podcast ep on this!!!

12. I am obsessed with listening to this 444 Herz frequency music on YouTube. It plays 24/7 while I am writing my book. Tune into it to get a taste of my current vibe.

13. Speaking of playlists, I created this special Spotify playlist for us for the Summer! The first of many!! Follow me there and come listen, fam!! What songs am I missing?!

Okay, that’s it for today! I hope everyone is having a fab week so far! How are my besties doing?! I missed you last week!! XO 

1. Ok so, you all know that Vanderpump Rules is one of my main personality traits at this point. I literally opened last week’s blog post by talking about it. This weekend we went to a bar for one of our friend’s birthdays, and WHO DO WE SEE?! Ariana, Katie, and Daynaaaa from VPR!!! Dayna has become a dear friend of mine so I was thrilled to see her. But also, running into them at the height of all of this reunion madness?!?! It felt too good to be true. Literally made my life. All of my friends are joking that the *one* time I walk into a bar, of course this happens. I mean I literally hadn’t been to a bar in years so this was just the most wild & amazing synchronicity.

2. Speaking of synchronicities, I really feel when we start being open to the universe providing them to us, we become a magnet for this kind of thing. I call myself a synchronicity magnet. You can be too. What has been your wildest synchronicity lately?

3. At the very same bar, a magician walked up to our table and asked us if we wanted him to do some magic tricks / energy stuff with us. So of course I immediately volunteered. And his gifts were SO talented and crazy — I posted a clip to my IG story that’s now saved in my highlights (the most recent highlight titled “Life”). Check it out and tell me that is not WILD!

4. I took a THREE. HOUR. NAP. yesterday. I am shook because I can honestly count on two hands the amount of naps I have taken in my entire adult life. It is next to none. But I have been napping so much recently (four times in the last two weeks…), does anyone else feel extremely fatigued lately? At first I felt weird about it because when I woke up I was super groggy and out of it, but my energy has been so much better ever since so I know I really needed it. Working on not judging myself for any amount of rest my body needs. <3

5. Voice notes are superior to texting. I am so over texting, lol. But I voice note my besties day in & day out. It is my favorite thing ever.

6. On that note, I have had the same phone number since middle school. I have recently found myself thinking that WAY too many people have my phone number. You’d be scared if you saw the amount of texts I can sometimes receive in a day. I am not saying this like “OMG I am so popular,” I am saying like I should not be giving out my phone number to people I barely know it is starting to feel like a real boundary issue on my part. I am thinking about getting a second phone that only my closest people have the number to, and using this current phone as my work phone. Thoughts? Has anyone else done this?

7. Happy GEMINIIII season!!! Taurus season was very good to me. I loved the grounded-ness of it and I loved the magic that it had for me. But I feel right at home in an air-sign season, as a true Libra. I feel like very good things are going to come this month.

8. I recently got my hair highlighted and I swear it makes a world of difference to have fresh hair. It just makes me feel so much more on top of my sh*t and makes me feel put together even when I’m not. Similarly I need to get my nails done soon but it has been a lonnnggg time since I have. I have only had two manicure/pedicures since I got married in 2019 which is kind of unacceptable in my opinion lol.

9. What are your favorite blogs to read?! Who else still blogs these days?! Tell me so that I have some good ones to read through! I have so, so, so missed the blogging life. I used to read like 20 blogs every morning before doing anything else. I find it to be so much more in depth & lovely than social media on its own.

10. I just got my DUTCH hormone test back &… holy moly. My hormones are WAY out of whack. I need to do a whole podcast episode on this. I was actually happy to see how out of whack they were, because it accounts for a lot of the anxiety I have been having and how off balance my body has felt. I am getting on a new routine to combat it and work with it and praying it will all help!

11. As far as jewelry goes, I am a RING girl. I am not really into bracelets, watches, etc. I do love necklaces. But I would wear a ring on every finger if I could. What about you guys? I was just thinking about it because I am watching my fingers as I type and noticing that I am wearing 6 different rings right now! They’re all super special to me.

12. Tomorrow’s podcast episode is a reeeeeal good one. We are talking about the ebbs and flows of friendship. Spilling the tea. Relationships as mirrors. It’s juicy and deep and I am THRILLED for you guys to hear it. Who is ready for it?!

Hope everyone is having an amazing day so far!!! How are my fave people doing?! Love you all so, so much. <3 

Ok why don’t we hop into it?!

1. I decided to keep calling this weekly post 12 things Tuesday because it just has a ring to it that I freaking love. I am still going to likely include 13 things each time (because hello, I can never stick to just 12) but I just love the title 12 things!! Maybe I am a creature of habit too, yeah there is definitely a little bit of that hehe.

2. Oh my goodness, launching Spiritual Moms Club last week has been so insanely special. THANK YOU to everyone who has supported, left nice comments, bought the merch, shared on your stories, sent to your mama friends… I see you! I have been dreaming up matching mom & baby merch since before Atticus was born, and seeing it come to life has been one of the highlights of my year truly. Sharing it with you guys makes it all a reality though, so thank you endlessly for being here. <3

3. On that note, Atticus in front of the camera at the merch photoshoot?! Oh my god. It was the cutest thing ever. He had the time of his life posing and running around with mama. He also LOVED the shoot location which was a beautiful content studio/house vibe in Venice with three stories, so he went up and down the stairs like it was his job. This age, 16 months, definitely requires a full-time sprint to keep up with him. But it is also my favorite age yet and so much fun. So now I want to get Atticus into modeling (because why not?!) but Jonathan is really adamant about not wanting him to do anything like that while he is so young. I am torn. What do you guys think? I think a good rule of thumb is that he would only do it if I was involved too… for all things mom/baby. Thoughts?!

4. I feel like not enough people know about the starseed quiz on the homepage of my website. If you haven’t taken it yet, it is a MUST. I recently retook it to see if I would continue to get the same result, and yes… the answer was yes, I did. I will forever be a fully Pleiadian gal. It’s who I am. Take the quiz here & let me know what you get below!

5. I am very excited to be in Costa Rica this week. I have only been one other time, and it was for a yoga retreat about 8 or 9 years ago… I went with my ex-boyfriend Tommy (he was even my ex at the time and we went as friends) and it was kind of a dysfunctional situation. Love Tommy, loved that retreat, but we definitely shouldn’t have been traveling together at that time. A fun memory though is that we shot a lot of old school TBV Apparel on that trip… so we are bringing the whole merch thing full circle, now!

6. I am working with a fantastic book editor on bringing my book to life right now and I have to say, hiring someone to help me with accountability and organization who also sees and understands my vision and is my perfect counterpart in terms of strengths and what I am lacking… OH my goodness. GAME CHANGER for life. I am so grateful for her. Danielle, if you are reading this, I love you!

7. This process of book writing has been an awakening like no other. I have realized more about myself in this process than anything else I have ever done, truly, aside from becoming a mom. The ways in which I have avoided certain elements of writing this book but also the way that the timing has been divine all along, because I am so clear that it was not supposed to be written any earlier than this. The mental health stuff that I have been through this year HAS to be in the book. It is all happening at the perfect time.

8. If you have been following my caffeine-free journey and the saga of trying to find something that satisfies me the way that coffee does in the morning, I finally found a combo I am loving! I kind of made this combination up and it is the best, and makes me excited to get out of bed and drink it in the morning. It’s a blend of Teeccino, Dandy Blend & a bit of cacao powder. I make it in a French press and steep it in water for about 15 mins, and then drink it warm. Sometimes I add almond milk. It is soooo good, especially with the chaga chocolate muffins I have been having for breakfast lately.

9. The hardest part of doing any project is just STARTING. This has been my year of actually making things happen again, project-wise and content-wise. And honestly the most challenging step is to just begin. If you are dreaming of doing something, take that first step. I promise you will not regret it.

10. One of the greatest benefits that I received from ketamine therapy and the mental health breakdown/awakening that ensued from there was that I truly became free of so many blocks. I had mental blocks for YEARS that felt like patterns where I was stuck on a loop. For example, fretting about friends and having an extreme need to always be liked and to please others. This has finally been healing for the first time in my life and it feels so, so amazing. I truly feel brand new and I can’t wait to see where healing in this area continues to take me!

11. I am currently reading the book Stolen Focus by Johann Hari (you can find it here on my Amazon page) — it is literally life changing. I actually got the recommendation from one of you guys in the blog comments a few weeks ago! I am so grateful. The book is about how our focus has been stolen from us in this day and age. It’s actually wild to think about how much technology has progressed in the last 10ish years alone, and what a different landscape it is that we are dealing with now. I am feeling really inspired to take back my time, and am putting a huge emphasis on this right now.

12. I am soooo excited for you guys to see what I have been working on BTS for a meditation & affirmations hub… it has been in the works for a long time, but it is finally going to come to life soon and I cannot tell you how elated I am about it.

13. Tomorrow’s podcast episode with Ramit Sethi is going to CHANGE YOUR LIIIIFE. His book will also change your life! He talks about finance in a very approachable, non-financey way and he is just goals. His new Netflix show is also amazing. He is killing it! Set your alarms because you are not going to want to miss this episode.

Okay, that’s all for today! How are my favorite people doing?! Have you checked out Spiritual Moms Club yet? Hint, hint: it will make the perfect Mother’s Day gift for any mama in your life, and if you order now you will still receive it on time!!!

I LOVE you all, tell me how your week is going and tell me if you tuned into last week’s solo episode on anxiety hacks, my thoughts on SSRI’s, how I have been dealing with my anxiety lately, and beyond. Please share all of your thoughts & feels & moods below. <3

13 Things Tuesday, Baby!

1. I have been in Ojai for the last day and a half and it has been so amazing. We are here celebrating my best friend Jill’s 32nd birthday — aka her reverse golden birthday, as she turned 32 on the 23rd! My Taurus girl. I realized recently that I don’t have a lot of earth signs in my life, but she is truly my perfect counterbalance. Are you an earth sign?! And do you have a lot of air signs in your life, if so? I think it’s such a good balance!

2. Ojai has been soooo beautiful. I am sitting outside at my favorite restaurant in the world right now the Hip Vegan. It’s a vegan restaurant and the address is 201, aka my lucky angel number. I always get the “traditional burger” here which is made out of tempeh. It is INSANELY good — I am even bringing one home for Jonathan!

3. We played pickle ball this morning at the Ojai Valley Inn! It has been one of my intentions to get back into tennis this year, and I have been lagging on even starting that process this entire year so far. To even be out on the pickle ball court felt so fun, aligned, and synchronistic. It is also fun to learn something new and pick hip new hobbies at this age. I highly recommend it. We had so much fun.

4. I HAVE NEW MERCH LAUNCHING THIS WEEK! Ahhh! I promised you guys some teasers, sooo… this merch is for the mamas! Launching just in time for Mother’s Day. I would show you some BTS but the merch *still* has not arrived to my home yet and I am trying to be patient because our shoot is at 3:30pm today… my impatient, anxious self is literally dying inside over this lol. I cannot wait to show you snippets on my IG stories over the next few days, stay tuned! Launch date is 4/28! If you are a mama, if you have a mama, if you love a mama, this is for you.

5. DID I MENTION WE ALSO HAVE TODDLER MERCH? I am flipping the f out over this. So my shoot today is planned around Atticus’s nap schedule, because you better freaking believe that he is going to be a part of this shoot!

6. I cannot wait to report back to you guys and tell you how Attie’s first official TBB shoot goes. OMG. I am dying with giddiness just thinking about it.

7. I got a spray tan for the shoot today and let me just tell you, getting an airbrush tan (organic of course) is an INSANT mood-boost hack. I always feel ten million times healthier, cuter, more put together, and confident when I have a tan. I go to Sugared + Bronzed in Santa Monica… as far as spray tans go, it’s as natural as they come. And they always do an amazing job!

8. I LOVE having open days in my schedule. I had so many busy days back to back recently and then a surprisingly free day last week where I got to stay in bed and write, clean our space, catch up on messages etc and it felt so unbelievably freeing. I need more of that in my life, for real. Who else feels this way?!

9. I have been subscribed to House Inhabit’s Substack for a few months now and she delivers the most quality content. She’s a journalist who is not afraid to question all angles of a story (unlike the mainstream media… ahem…) and she’s an amazing writer. I have even felt like maybe I will start a Substack one day soon to continue my thoughts off of the main blogosphere and really have the chance to go even deeper, do more research, etc. Who would be into that?! Do you guys subscribe to any substacks?! (Yes, this would be paid, I feel like it is the future of blogging. But this blog will remain here too for free obvi as well.)

10. I am going to Costa Rica this weekend! I am so excited! I absolutely cannot wait to be there. I am already sad to be away from Atticus, but I know this time filling my mama cup will be so divine and will benefit all of us in the long run. I am also so excited to WRITE and be in the flow! I haven’t been to Costa Rica in about 8 or 9 years so it will be such a treat to be back… it’s such a special place full of the best energy.

11. Are you a cat person or a dog person?! Huddy will have my heart forever and forever. I cannot wait to get home and see him today. I cannot believe he will be 8 years old this July. He is a Cancer… July 6th baby!!

12. I am really so interested in the fact that so many people are absolutely obsessed with all things diet/food related. I don’t think that is the fault of any individual, but rather where our culture puts an emphasis these days at large. Ever since I shared that I haven’t been vegan in recent months, people have had so much to say. When I started sharing that I had bad eczema again, I must have received hundreds of messages saying, “Maybe you should be plant-based again?!” and yes all of these messages were well-meaning and none of them were super radical, but I still think it’s so intrusive to assume you may know more about someone’s body than they do?

13. Like if being fully vegan was still totally working for me and helping me stay rash-free, I probably would have noticed, right? Especially because I am so obsessed with noticing every detail of how I feel. Anyway just food for thought… can we stop commenting so much on people’s diets? I love plant-based and I am sure I will return one day (maybe even soon) but it is so so so not my main identity. I think letting our identities be totally free of our dietary labels is gonna be the next wave of healing. And we talk about this on an upcoming pod ep with Alyssa Lynch, you guys are gonna love it!

This year we are going to focus on all of the things we love most over here on TBB, from wellness to spirituality to straight up cosmic magic.

And I had to get the guide up **today** because now through midnight on 12/5, we have a cyber week sale happening on TBB celestial club merch!!! Everything is 15% off and it’s so, so, so the vibe for anyone in your life who loves astrology, the pod, manifestation, visualization, farmer’s market shopping days, coffee, the list goes on… <3 

I love writing this guide every year because there is nothing I love more than picking out special gifts for the people in my life & letting them know how special they are to me. <3 It’s not about the dollar amount, but the thought that goes into picking something truly unique for each person.

For example, if you have a coffee loving best friend, putting together an organic “coffee kit” with a mug, organic mold-free coffee, a cute French press or thermos, and even a cute breakfast-themed basket with gluten-free pancake mix, etc. How CUTE is that?!

Or if you have a cosmic, out of this world bestie, they need the Not From Here sweatshirt with the Not From Here mug, and/or the Lily Ashwell Heavenly Bodies Astrology Deck!!!!

Without further ado, let’s get INTO IT!! If this looks familiar to my previous gift guides, it’s because these items are TRIED & TRUE. I added new ones though, lots of good current stuff, and you can always check out my SHOP page for all of my rotating faves year-round!!!

TBB Holiday Gift Guide 2022 //

I tried to sneak in enough variety for everyone, so that you can go big or small when it comes to budget, but all of this is quality AF and the best of the best when it comes to the brands !!

Sweatshirts & Mugs:

I mean, I would be remiss if I didn’t start with TBB merch. Need to stock up on gifts for the holidays for a celestial friend?! Feel like treating yourself to a cozy, buttery soft & chic sweatshirt for the winter season?! Or maybe a Visualize It mug is just what you need to drink your morning coffee or adaptogen latte?! I am LOVINGG drinking my morning frothy cold brew latte (recipe needs to come to the blog stat) in the mugs. And I legit haven’t taken the sweatshirts off since I got them. They are so cozy, so fun, & they are the VIBE in every single way. Also, the phrases on them make people smile. Conversation starter for days!

Again, I am SO excited to bring these to you guys. These lived in my head for so long. & thoughts become things, and things come to life and eventually become our full blown reality. Don’t even get me started on how this merch came to me on my ketamine journey yesterday… that’s right, it literally showed up DURING my ketamine therapy. I was in a different realm, and entered the realm of my brand. It was so special. Do I need to do a podcast episode on this?! I feel like I do.

Right now you can receive 15% off all TBB celestial club merch until 12/5!!! Please LMK if you order, I will be elated!

Juicers & Blenders:

Nama Juicer – 

You guys know I am not being dramatic when I say this, that this juicer changed my life. I got their original Vitality juicer right when it came out a few years ago and it CHANGED the juicing game for me. It is so easy to use, simple to clean, and doesn’t take up a counter space and a half in the kitchen — it’s just the perfect size. Juicing has been the hugest part of my health and healing journey. And NOW they have their new J2 juicer (I have it in white!!), where you can juice whole produce with ease. Game-changing new technology allows you to load your entire recipe and walk away so you can multi-task in the kitchen with less prep time. The J2 is changing the way people juice… including me! Check out my IG story highlights to see how you can place the produce in & then walk away. Use the code BLONDE for 20% off. Head here to shop! (The juicer also makes NUT MILKS & sorbets… it’s one of a kind in every way!).

PS I have gotten this juicer for my mom and dad (one for their house in Sac and one for their place in LA), my sister, so many friends, my nanny, basically whoever I can convince to start using it. It will change your life and your health. And the code I have for you is priceless!

Vitamix Blender –

This is my tried & true go-to blender. I get asked pretty much daily which blender I recommend for smoothies & soups, nut milks and TBB nacho cheese sauce (literally the best I never go without it) so I couldn’t not add a Vitamix to this list. This is my go-to Vitamix because it has all the bells & whistles. If you are going to go all out on a Vitamix you may as well get one with the highest quality. This will last you forever, I have had mine for probably close to 7 years now and it’s not even close to slowing down. I use it every day! You can also use it to make blender muffins, pancake batter, literally all the things. If you are looking for a life changing blender, I got you!!

EMF Blocking Devices & Blue Light Glasses:

SOMAVEDIC EMF BLOCKER –

Another product I get asked about daily is my top favorite EMF blocking device. I love my Somavedic because it creates a coherent, life-supporting field of energy that expands in a radius of 100 feet in all directions. It mitigates EMF radiation (4G/5G, WiFi, phones), oxidative stress, free radicals, and can even harmonize and structure tap water. If you are like me and you are just a wee bit concerned (ok a lot concerned) about the EMFs running rampant in our homes and lives these days, you will want to get one of these stat. I noticed a huge difference in the way that I felt when I started using mine. I keep it near my podcast equipment in the living room because trust me when I say wearing those headphones everyday is a LOT. You can use the code BLONDE20 for their holiday sale or the code BalancedBlonde for a discount at any time!! Shop here!! THEY ALSO have an additional cyber week sale going on right now where you will get additional $$ off, using the code BLONDE20!!!!

**Atticus is obsessed with this EMF blocker & crawls to it every day!! When babies are drawn to something… you know it’s extra special & getting the job done!!!!

BLUELIGHT BLOCKING GLASSES –

If you are into mitigating the EMFs in your life, blue light blocking glasses are also a great gift or self gift. I found these cute ones on Amazon (super affordable), or some other options I love would be Warby Parker or DIFF Eyewear! I have a bunch of all of the above laying around in every room so that I always make sure to have them nearby! Especially at night, mitigating blue light can help you sleep a lot better and help to regulate your circadian rhythm. In the new year I will be working with BluBox, and their stuff looks really good too.

The Best Sauna in the Game:

I meannnn you guys have heard me talk about the most game changing sauna of all time, the CLEARLIGHT! When I’m not pregnant I live in my sauna. The benefits of infrared sauna range from detoxification to increased metabolism to healthy weight loss, muscle pain relief, skin elasticity, healing and beyond. It has been such a big piece of my healing toolkit. You can use the code BLONDE for $450 off + free shipping at healwithheat.com, and huge bonus — they are the kindest people ever.

Books:

You can head to my Amazon shop page for a big list of my current fave books & reads that have changed my life this year — and I honestly recommend any & all of them! I have been super into healing and psychedelic books this year & I feel like books always make a great gift. On the top of my Amazon page you will see my latest loves all about *psychedelic therapy* – I have been so into that topic this year, among many other things. Highly recommend for all of the book lovers in your home!! There is also tons of fiction on the list!

Among the list that are other top favorites right now that I would highly recommend gifting would be…

+ The Daily Stoic (& The Daily Stoic Journal) by Ryan Holiday — This book is for one of your more deep & philosophical friends, but don’t be worried, it’s still a very easy read when it comes to philosophy. It’s curated so that each day of the year is matched with a quote from one of the ancient Stoics. Stoicism is an Ancient Greek school taught that virtue, acting from the highest good, and living in harmony with nature and with others. If you’re looking for a great way to start your year off on a new and inspired foot (or if anyone in your life is, GO WITH THIS BOOK & the accompanying journal!!!!). Also, he was on the podcast last year — take a listen here!

+ My 22 Day Detox Ebook — I created this last year to help people heal, find balance, find food freedom, enjoy delicious plant-based vegan food, embrace the SOS-free lifestyle, and overall live a beautiful anti-inflammatory life. It goes deep on spirituality, emotional eating, tips for eating out on an SOS-free diet, meal plan ideas, beautiful food photos, stories, my journey, and more. It also has more than  50 Exclusive Healthy, Plant-Based, SOS-Free Recipes To Enhance Your Life, Help You Find Food Freedom, And Fall In Love With Your Lifestyle.

+ Bringers of the Dawn by Barbara Marciniak. I get asked daily how and where you can dive deeper into the teachings of the Pleiadian light beings, and this is the top book that I recommend. Her book offers key teachings about the original records of the Earth that are filled with power, love, and clear intention about how to reach a new stage of evolution. I revisit it often, and it has a permanent spot on my bedside table. I have recently re-read this book and it is LIFE. CHANGING.

+ Louise Hay’s: You Can Heal Your Life.

If you’ve been following me for a while then you know, I swear by this book because it legitimately changed my life from the inside out. I was first introduced to Louise Hay’s work when I got diagnosed with Lyme many years ago, and her words just clicked for me. They made complete sense. When I sauntered into the Mystic Journey bookstore on Abbott Kinney (RIP to the best bookstore ever) the book nearly jumped off the shelf because it had to be in my life, I kid you not. Read this one to change your life & become your own healer.

Spiritual Gifts:

+ Waking Back Up To Your Own Soul // The Course: My 9 week audio course that can be listened to like a podcast! We go deep on 5D consciousness, healing ancestral trauma, healing pain in the body, manifesting, channeling, opening up psychically, the Kabblah, the Law of Attraction, and beyond. Essentially, it aligns us with what lights us up, helps us to relearn our inner cosmic power, and to reclaim the true essence of who we are.

+ CRYSTALS! My absolute favorite place to shop crystals is Energy Muse, which was founded by the amazing Heather & Timmi who have been staples on TBB Podcast. Not only do I love their crystal gift bundles to give to people, I also love their jewelry! They have beautiful bracelets that come with intention setting exercises that I love gifting to people in my life (you can choose a set of Love, Health, or New Beginnings). I also love gifting their Energy Clearing Kits to my friends and fam that comes along with crystals, sage, and a singing bowl! You can now receive a discount off of Energy Muse products & crystals with the code BLONDE!!!

+ JOURNALS! I 100% love receiving journals as a gift. It’s definitely the writer in me but there has never been a holiday season where I haven’t gotten a journal from my parents and I love the tradition so much. There are so many cute ones online so just surf the web, support a small designer on Etsy, or the one I linked is super cute!

+ The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Deck & Guidebook! You can find these on my Amazon shop book page and OMG, you guys. THESE ARE SO FUN! My bridesmaids & I pulled these cards at the beginning and at the end of my bachelorette party in Tulum, and they were SO SPOT ON. The first time we pulled, I was the Golden Egg card which is a spirit card and it spoke to my heart so truly and in such alignment it was just WILD. Then, we pulled them again the morning of my wedding! Now it is a tradition to pull cards at all of my best friends’ weddings — it wouldn’t be a wedding without the deck.  HIGHLY recommend these as a gift, along with a journal and a book for a fun bundle, or on their own depending on who you’re gifting to!

+ Not From Here sweatshirt!

+ You can always gift an EXPERIENCE to your friends, like a phone call with a medium, a session with a Reiki master, a sound bath experience, a trip to a kundalini class or yoga class, or a yoga retreat together! The options are endless!! My best friend and I are going to see a medium together for our gifts to each other this year… and I am SO EXCITED.

CBD & Supplements:

Cured Nutrition CBD –

You can use the code BLONDE for a discount! What would a holiday gift guide be without a little CBD?! So, for the record, CBD doesn’t get you high. CBD is a phytocannabinoid found in cannabis plants that has been found to help alleviate anxiety, boost cognition, and help with movement disorders and pain. I LOVE using CBD for joint pain, to help calm my anxious mind, and to help me fall asleep at night.

Cured Nutrition is my faaaavorite CBD brand for so many reasons – one, because their founder is amazing and I have had the chance to get to know him well over the last few years. Two, because it’s simply the best brand I have found on the market so far (and trust me, there are SO MANY right now, it’s kind of insane and can be overwhelming to choose). Products of theirs I love specifically are their MINT TINCTURE, and their hemp-infused max salve for pain (it has shea butter in it and literally smells and feels amazing on the skin… I use it when my hands start to really hurt from some major joint pain I have).

I even got my dad started on it with his arthritis, and it is helping him a lot. So if you have a parent or a friend in your life who suffers from arthritis or pain, get them hooked on the salve!! It’s NEXT LEVEL. & use that code BLONDE for a discount!

MaryRuth’s Organics – 

You probably heard the founder of MaryRuth’s Organics on TBB Pod earlier this year (she was actually one of the FIRST people I told that I was pregnant, because she was over the week I found out and I wanted all of her expert tips!!). I AM OBSESSED with their products. From their Liquid Probiotic, to the Prenatal Liquid Iron (it tastes like candy OMG), to their bundles & gummies… literally all of it. I really believe they are changing wellness from the inside out, and I am so honored to be along for the ride. Code BLONDE25will get you 25% off and extra bonuses for their pre Black Friday sale!! Try their Winter Health Bundle — it will change your world!! And if you have kiddos, they have so much good stuff just for kids!!

New Mama Magic:

This cozy, sleek robe! SKIMS is life.

Our Place pans!!! Non toxic & have been a true game changer.

Personalized baby mug. HOW CUTE IS THIS! NEED TO MAKE AN ATTICUS ONE.

All things SOLLY BABY!!

I mean, who doesn’t want a SNOO?! (Splurge but maybe a gift for your daughter / best friend / sister if they are expecting! Or go in on it with some other people!)

Calming, organic bath salts for a nice soak in the tub.

Puffy under eye patches for those up-all-nighters!

Mom’s Floral One Line a Day memory book! So cute.

Cozy Barefoot Dreams Blanket that I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN / sleeping with constantly!!

This Barefoot Dreams long cardigan is so chic & sleek & I am in love (someone get this for me? LOL)

Spell It Out Custom Throw with baby name on there…. SO CUTE!

The Skinny Confidential ice roller!! Made by my sweet friend Lauryn- the best of the best. Every new mama (every human) needs one of these!!!

For the Baking Bestie (We all Have One.. or a few!!):

These adorable copper measuring cups!

French kitchen marble rolling pin with stand!

Our Place Pans again bc so gorgeous. I love the BLUE & the pink! Non toxic FTW forever.

All things Caraway Home. Also non toxic & amazing for all things kitchen!

Vitamix makes an appearance here too bc duh!!!

OKAY well as usual I added more than I thought I would!!! I hope this gives you a great starting + jumping off point, and I will keep adding things as I think of them!! As always, so grateful to have you all here & love you so much. Happy early holidays. LMK what you’re thinking of shopping from this list!

I am also sipping on my coffee from my NOT FROM HERE mug (!!!) & it is literally giving me life. Oh, and I am wearing my Celestial Club sweatshirt & have already had two of you come up to me this week saying you’re part of the tbb fam, recognizing the sweatshirt before even seeing that it was me hehe. I cannot tell you how much this fuels my soul & spirit — and how each and every order means SO MUCH & is SO FELT.

Keep sending me your screenshots & tagging me in your stories of you ordering/receiving your merch — it means more than you will ever !! know !! & the more we sell, the more we can do bigger collections (think SWEAT SETS) next year… so truly every single sale means the world & enhances the bigger vision for our community.

So back to the blogging frequency thing. I am not sure why but my soul felt like it needed this blog revamp & switch-up with the site in order to really get back in the flow with my regular cadence of blog posts. It’s some kind of block I have had for the last few years, also mixed in with overall lack of energy & then wild life changes (becoming a mom being the main one! podcasting, writing books, etc!) – but I want you to know I am back in action. Blogging in this way is feeding my soul again, and that’s how I know I am back to stay.

So what will the new cadence be?! I am thinking it will be 1-2 blog posts per week, so please do send in your topics. We have also made COMMENTING on blog posts easier again by moving them back to the WordPress commenting style. Please do leave comments, they’re so fun and so OG blog life, & I promise to always write back.

 My ! Current ! Diet !

Ok so let’s get into the topic of this post. My current DIET!! Everyone wants to know, and it has been a hot topic of conversation everywhere from IG to the main question people ask me when I go on podcasts, etc. And I totally get why. It was less than two years ago that I released the Celestial Diet, and posted frequently about recipes, “what I eat in a day” videos, and even lots of YouTube recipe videos with Jonathan. Not to mention I used to be The Blonde Vegan!! & then talked a lot about intuitive plant-based eating for many years.

More recently I have felt less called to talk about my diet online, which has felt really good. As my soul continues to ascend in the spiritual realms and I continue to find a deeper rooted connection of who I am at my core, I have found it more exciting to talk about things beyond food. I have also been back and forth with how I define the way that I eat during this postpartum period of my life, which is only natural because postpartum shakes up so much.

I also don’t believe so much in blanket definitions for all people in general because they can be confining & stereotypical, but in some cases they make sense — and in my life they have often made a lot of sense & are more mentally freeing than confining. However, we are all different!

I will share all the deets with you guys, and it is kind of shocking to myself that I am even doing this today. But I want to dispel the myths and also continue talking about what I genuinely care about, and weave the plant-based recipe content back into this blog and my IG slowly but surely, because I know many of you guys ask for it. & I also deeply enjoy bringing it to you! Plant-based kids recipe ebook, anyone?!

Ok, so how am I eating now?

I was very vocal about having a plant-based pregnancy, and I absolutely loved it. My body thrived, my baby thrived, I felt really good and ALL of my cravings during my pregnancy were for fruit & veggies. The only thing I had during pregnancy that wasn’t vegan was my prenatal, which had fish oil in it. As I have always said, I resonate with all sides of veganism but I prefer to use the term “plant-based” because at the end of the day I do choose certain things to put my health first. For me, that is what I have found to be the most healthy & non-dogmatic way of going about it.

Then came postpartum. Wow, was that time of life a SHOCK to my system. I found the way that my body was dumping hormones wildly (think: night sweats, panic attacks, insomnia, raging hormonal stress, pp anxiety, cravings, rashes galore) in the weeks and months postpartum to be VERY jarring. Like I said, I had a healthy & balanced pregnancy — minus the debilitating sciatica. So hormonally this was extremely tough on my body.

Also, there was breastfeeding! I had a feeling that I wasn’t going to produce a whole lot of milk due to the fact that I have had various surgeries over the years and health issues that leave my body with minimal energy leftover. And lo and behold… I was right! So while I did breastfeed Atticus for 4.5 months, it was hard on my body to do so and didn’t come with a ton of ease. I loved the act of breastfeeding, but pumping became soul sucking and also sleep depriving and well, all the difficult things you would imagine it to be.

During postpartum I developed SEVERE food aversions. It’s kind of like what people talk about in pregnancy, but I had this way more intensely postpartum. The hormonal shifts taking place in my body felt more radical than actual pregnancy did to me. One of the things that started happening for me was a massive aversion to ALL fruit & 90% of veggies that were normally my staple diet. All I could eat was bland food… bread, kitchari (my saving grace), pasta, soup… kind of like food you eat when you’re sick. And that’s how I felt a lot of the time, very queasy and nauseous. For MONTHS. Like a chronic queasiness that I actually still feel even in this moment. & a MASSIVE lack of appetite. If it weren’t for breastfeeding, I wouldn’t have been able to make myself eat at all. My appetite still feels like this postpartum.

A few times in early postpartum I tried to eat fruit because I normally love it and it’s always such an easy snack, and I would just gag every time and it would come right back up. Not an exaggeration. Now, nearly 11 months postpartum, I am JUST starting to eat bananas again. If you’ve followed me from the beginning, you know that bananas (as snacks & in smoothies) have been my MAIN food group for basically my whole life. So yes, this threw me for a loop. And when you’re breastfeeding, you have to eat. & when you can’t eat your normal foods, you have to consider switching it up. It was hard, but I had to listen.

During this time I was craving some nutrients from foods I hadn’t been eating that were completely undeniable. To be honest, I was craving animal protein. At first I ignored and ignored this feeling. And after months of not having any animal products other than some ghee, the occasional egg dish, and a horrible bout with bone broth because I simply don’t enjoy bone broth… I decided to open up my mind and incorporate some wild caught fish.

Also, make no mistake because this is not a confessional. Thankfully, the world has changed a LOT since my first book came out 8 years ago. It’s not going to break the internet that I had a little bit of fish. This was healthy for me, and goes along with my non-dogmatic approach to my life. I think where we can get in trouble and get “stuck” in things that no longer resonate for us is when we hold so tightly to labels that we over-ride our intuition. And by the way, I did branch out from there and try a few other animal foods that my body guided me to trying.

This is how it went for a few months. I slowly pulled back from talking about being plant-based as much because I always want to be 100% truthful online. But keep in mind: I have a vegan husband, a vegetarian baby, and my SOUL vibrates with the frequency of plant-based life for mind, body, soul reasons. So I always knew and felt that I would make my way back to being plant-based when my body was ready. However, rather than FIGHT my body… I wanted to be at peace with my body. Give her what she was calling for. It wasn’t a “craving” so much as a NEED. Like my body needed something different and I opened to that.

Now, this brings us to present day.

Now let’s bring us to present day. I have NOT been feeling well. Many of you guys know that. I have full body hives and recently found out I have had a staph infection that my body has been fighting without medication for almost a year. I am finally on antibiotics for it and they seem to be helping. I am also in the middle of an epic series of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy sessions that are CHANGING my life. In fact, that is what my next blog post will be about!

Anyway, the ketamine sessions keep showing me something: I am vibrating out of alignment with my soul. Even down to the way I am eating (which has not been entirely plant-based) and I hit an earth shattering realization: it’s time to return to it. In a way that feels really good. And this is for me, not for anyone else. My body has finally told me it’s ready, and for this I am very happy and very grateful.

Something specific took place recently that really put this into perspective for me. My husband is vegan and we really enjoy being plant-based together. I have been known to say it is one of my favorite things about our relationship!! Because we have so much fun cooking, exploring plant-based restaurants, and traveling the world to healthy places because of it. We also have a passion for raising our kids plant-based (at least for the time being). And I have been totally deviated from that, and that has been hard for him. The thing that happened recently showed me just how hard… and that broke me.

Without my support and basically with me floundering in the wind, it has been harder for Jonathan because rather than us as a vegan couple or vegan family — it’s been him sticking to what we believe in but with me all over the place. And when I get “all over the place” I really don’t do well mentally. That’s a whole other thing that has come up in my ketamine journeys. Not to be morbid, but a part of me has been dead inside because of the lack of energy and health issues and autoimmune concerns and I have just been coasting along this year, not being entirely one with myself and who I really am.

So, my awakening to bring me back to plant-based has felt really good. And it has brought me to this place of being able to share this journey with you today. I didn’t want to share it in the middle when I was confused, because I FELT confused. I think there is a power and a freedom to listening to our bodies and testing the waters from time to time to make sure that how we are eating is really rooted in true intuition rather than pure dogma, pattern, or pressure.

And in certain times of life, i.e. postpartum times, all options for feeling better sometimes need to be tried out. I really needed to do this for myself because I was feeling so, so, so not well in the early postpartum days. & perhaps it helped and gave me what I needed. But now, it’s no longer helping and it’s also making me feel very out of alignment with myself.

I also share this post to share with you my journey and the inner workings of my own soul! We are all so different. I really don’t encourage people to take the plant-based path because they feel like they have to or they should, but only if they want to. If you want to, it is a beautiful door & gateway to many things. From health and joy and healing and spiritual vibration to a specific way of life and beyond. But I believe in bio-individuality and different seasons of life, I really do. The diehard vegan mentality is not at all my vibe — mostly because I have seen certain vegans be so damn MEAN to other people about their diet choices and that’s not EVER what I believe in.

I believe in intuition and following the intuitive pings that live within. I believe that we all know what feels best for us, our bodies, and our specific biochemistry. Not to mention… for our souls! It feels very good for my soul to be plant-based, and I feel the most ME when I eat this way. This is also related to my astrological birth chart and my Human Design! I am such an open channel as a Reflector, such an air sign with so much air & water in my chart, and I gravitate toward the ethereal parts of life. This is all very in alignment with a plant-based life. I also love inspiring others to be plant-based, and I do feel this is a soul calling that goes beyond just this one lifetime.

And when I say I wanted to dispel the myths with this post — I got the WEIRDEST & cruelest message on Instagram last night telling me that the reason I had a harder time breastfeeding was because I wasn’t eating animal protein. The funny thing was, I was eating animal protein at that time! And didn’t post about my diet at all during that time, so this message was such an assumption, such a projection, and I will pray for that person because there was a lot of nasty energy wrapped into it. But I do feel it’s time to share all the deets with you guys.

Another thing about all of this is, I used to be the kind of person who shared all the details of my life in the middle of the shit storm. Now, I am really resonating with sharing it once I have more resolve and resolution. Because I live my life for me and not for other people’s opinions. I never wanted or needed other opinions during this time, aside from my functional medicine doctor — who was showing me that my hormones and nutrient levels were so depleted that I did need animal protein during this time. Hence, the medicinal aspect I spoke of.

With all of these medicine journeys I am now doing, I see so deeply how we are all souls having human experiences. Soul experiences cannot always be defined in one way. And in most areas of my life I am trying to get away from labels and definitions. However in this one part of life, having boundaries feels good. I think of it as a boundary and a choice rather than a rule. Recently I have been bending my boundaries way too far, and I am grateful for it because what it tipped me into made me realize I want to have a strong boundary here. For myself, my husband, and my family — but mostly for me because it all starts there. It feels empowering, not limiting. I am starting to feel like me again. <3

Plus, thanks to these ketamine journeys I am finally thinking clearer again… so I can actually make legit decisions again. & this is one of them. But that is another story for another day.

So that’s the dealio and the scoop! I am thrilled to have made my way back home to my truest self, my essence, my inner plant-based hippie crunchy mama. That is who I am. I sobbed in ketamine about wanting to get back to her, because that’s the real me. And again, this post is not a confessional. I am not feeling like I need to prove myself to anyone. It’s just a story, my story, in hopes that it will shed light on where I have been and perhaps inspire you in some way. <3

Would love your thoughts below. Please share. & let’s get a comment train going about it all!

P.S. if you shop TBB Merch today and tomorrow, you will still receive your pieces by Thanksgiving!! And now is a great time to get ahead on holiday shopping. <3 Dive in and shop here, and tell me what you are loving from the collection! Yiipppeee!

Since my last post, we announced the gender of our baby on Instagram, and you can watch that video here! My parents planned an incredible surprise scavenger hunt as a gender reveal and it was hands down one of the most special days of my life. That was over two months ago now (WOW how the time is flying) and so much of my brain space is being taken up by dreaming of becoming this baby boy’s mama, and how much our lives are about to change and shift in 5 short months.

Other highlights are, we planned a baby moon in Kauai for September! I am so excited to be back in one of my favorite places in the world. The last time we were there is when we got engaged three years ago… talk about how quickly time is moving. Time is an illusion anyway haha, but still!! I am very excited about the new project I am working on. It is going to encompass so much of what I have been through in these last four or so years of healing, and signifies to me that it’s officially time for a new chapter of life. I am ready for it, and I am so happy it’s here. Aside from that, more than 5 of my closest friends are getting married this fall, so you can catch me & my growing bump in a lot of bridesmaids dresses at beautiful locations all over the country.

Before I share with you my super cheesy, creamy, nostalgic, delicious & MUCH requested cauliflower cheesy sauce recipe, I want to tell you some second trimester updates! This post will be followed up by a full second trimester update post soon enough, but here are the main happenings.

Second Trimester Updates:

– I am still giggling that I thought I would have a full baby bump early on in my pregnancy, because I am now at almost 19 weeks and still barely any sign of a visible bump. The moment I found out I was pregnant back in April I checked daily for that growing bump that in my opinion is arguably one of the cutest things in the world. Now I am just laughing that I thought I would pop back then, when I haven’t even popped yet to this day! If you have seen any photos of my baby bump on IG it’s mostly because we’ve caught it at the end of the day, after just the right amount of food. But it doesn’t mean this baby isn’t growing!! He has a full, healthy, growing body in there and by this weekend he will be the size of a mango!! I have a feeling in the next week or two, the belly will be popping.

– That said, it has been such an interesting and beautiful journey with my body thus far. I have said this many times, but after living with late stage neurological Lyme disease the whole “vanity” thing pretty much went out the window. I learned to appreciate my body based off of my sheer survival, and every day grew to love my body even deeper for the strength it had given me during the rockiest times of my life. I have been in a really good space with absolutely loving my body, genuinely, for many years now. Then, insert pregnancy. It has made my love and awe for my body even deeper, but it has also brought back some old feelings. I mean, my boobs have basically quadrupled, lol. Not necessarily comfortable! And then there is the whole sciatica thing that has made it really hard for me to even walk most days. It has tested me, and it has been a challenge of a brand new kind to love my body while it is rapidly changing. I didn’t get the cute baby bump overnight, but in its place I got a lot of other things (oh the joys of pregnancy lol) and I am learning to embrace them and take it all day by day!

– I mentioned this above, but SCIATICA. Holy mother of God. I know everyone gets different pregnancy symptoms, and my pregnancy overall has been quite chill so I am deeply grateful, but I also know that my sciatica pain must be in the 1% or something because it’s searing, intense, never ending, impossible to relieve, and has been a constant daily thing since week 9 of pregnancy! So it’s not related to a growing pregnancy belly or anything else like many other women’s sciatica pain, but instead it’s related to the hormone relaxin. I have learned to take the pain as a gift (I mean, if I can do that with Lyme I can do that with anything, right?) and it has definitely taught me a lot. I am working with all of my own tools to move through the emotions and fear that I have found in the pain. I have also found incredible prenatal chiropractors and body workers who have been a total godsend!

– Cravings. Still FRUIT! Green juice daily, açaí bowls, tons of nut butter, bananas & PB, and at night… cauliflower Mac n cheese. My appetite is also slowing down. In the first trimester & beginning of the second, I was eating basically double the amount of food that I usually do. Hormones were wacky and I was always hungry. Lately at least, my appetite is all but gone. I am finding ways to pack in the nutrients every time I eat (loaded up smoothies have been helpful, I will share my favorite recipe soon!) and also supplementing with great pre-natals and supplements from my TCM doctor.

– REST! I have been so, so immensely tired. To give you an example, it is Thursday afternoon and I haven’t left my house since Monday morning for a Chiro appointment! I think I might be fighting something off this week, but regardless my body is screaming out for rest so I am listening. I read an entire fiction book this week (Malibu Rising, it’s SO GOOD), and I am starting to feel like that is what my body wants more of during this pregnancy. Rest, hydration, books, and being easy on myself. Taking the pressure off.

– Introspection & spirituality. I found it a bit hard to follow my usual spiritual daily lifestyle in the beginning of my pregnancy. So much newness just had my head spinning, and while I wanted to meditate and connect with the baby, my mind was ALL over the place and I went into a different mode there for a while. A mode where I felt the constant need to distract myself and just not get overwhelmed with so much change happening. Now, I finally feel like I am really, really in tune and aligned with this baby’s soul and my spirituality again. I have my 120th day of pregnancy coming up, which is the day we will call in this spirit’s higher SOUL into my body. That is this Saturday. I am so excited to do a beautiful ceremony with my kundalini teacher Tej. Do you guys want me to do a post on this after we do it?!

Cheesy Cauliflower Creamy AF SAUCE:

Ingredients:

1 head of steamed cauliflower (or about 3 cups)
1 cup low sodium vegetable stock
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
2-3 tbsp tahini
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Juice of 1 lemon (2 lemons if you want it super zesty!)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp red pepper flake

Method:

Blend in a high speed blender, and pour over rice pasta (or any gluten free pasta you’d like), mix in some steamed spinach, too with more red pepper flake, and enjoy! Voila!!

Will you try this?! You will LOVE. It is so decadent and zesty and creamy, and definitely hits the spot for that old school Mac & cheese deliciousness. If you want it to look more like Mac & cheese (for example if you have a kiddo in the mix!!) you could also add a few baby carrots, or a few sprinkles of turmeric… or both! You could also try using rainbow cauliflower, which my friend Cait did when she tried this recipe and hers looked fantastic!

Okay, I hope you guys enjoyed this update! I promise to get back on here more regularly! Do me a favor & let me know below that you are a BLOG READER, because sometimes with the fast paced social media world now it is hard for me to tell who legit reads the blog vs. all of the social content. If you are here, and you want more, then I will deliver. This is my favorite place to be, anyway. XO 

How are you feeling this week? It’s more than okay to be feeling all over the place. In fact, if you’re not feeling all over the place… tell me your secret. The climate is heavy right now. Very. And if you’re here I am guessing you may feel similarly to me and be feeling the stress in your body. My sensitive stomach issues are RAGING right now, from IBS to bloating to severe stomach pain and indigestion, and let’s be real IT AIN’T PRETTY! So today’s post is all about what I do in a flare.

You flaring too? If so, you are in the right place! This also feels like going back to my roots of blogging because it was my stomach issues after all that spurred + inspired the start of this blog back in 2013. It only feels right to bring it full circle today.

There is a lot going on right now. Important issues in our world are being discussed and brought to light — and between BLM, COVID, tragic losses, an extremely long stay-at-home order (are you guys still doing this? Would love to hear), a never-ending dramatized news cycle, many well known people and brands getting “cancelled” for many different reasons, and so much more… us energetically sensitive & empathic beings are feeling it big time.

I mean, I can read a mean comment on someone else’s Instagram and swallow it up like it was addressed to me because I am so freaking sensitive… and that kind of stuff really multiplies and amplifies over time. Not to mention the mean comments I actually do get but we don’t have to go there. I know we’ve all experienced it and it’s never fun. What I am getting at here is… there is a major climate of stress right now, on and off of the Internet and everywhere in between. Much of this is for a GOOD REASON (fighting for justice!!! and equality!!!! and hope for the new world!!!!) but it doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

Stress, stress, stress!!!

And if you’re anything like me, when you start to feel stress then your stomach starts to hurt. I have been this way my whole life, truly since birth. I’ve gotten a lot of messages on Instagram from people wanting to help me figure out my stomach issues this week, pinpointing things like my recent water fast, me starting to drink coffee again, my vegan diet, and beyond. I always appreciate the concern but I am not looking for answers, because whenever something like this happens I tune into my body and my body guides me straight toward the root cause.

I also think that because digestion, plant based healing, and healing through food is something I teach and share so much about, people expect that if I am experiencing these issues myself that means something must be really wrong in my body. I am not immune to stomach issues just because I have found ways to ease my symptoms in daily life, and I am just as prone to flares as everyone else. Sadly!!! But it’s ok because it is all part of my journey.

So I just want to say before we even dive in — I can say without a shadow of a doubt what’s causing my stomach issues right now is a combo of STRESS, emotions, and residual Lyme + parasite issues. When you’ve lived with stomach issues your whole life it’s not a matter of “what’s causing this?” but rather “how can I remedy this and start feeling my best again?” I believe healing on all levels is possible and I also believe & KNOW our bodies are extremely interconnected with our minds. For some of us when we feel stress or overwhelm we break out, for others our stomach turns into knots, and for others we put on weight or lose weight or get hives or can’t sleep or a million things in between.

The mind body connection //

It’s almost wild to me how quickly stomach issues can pop up once we start feeling stress in our bodies. And that’s not to say stomach issues will be the problem for everyone. My body has specific issues that tend to flare or feel off when I start to feel stress, and for me it’s always my stomach, my skin, and raging insomnia. All of which are definitely in a flare right now.

The first thing I always turn to when my stomach is in a flare is Louise Hay’s book You Can Heal Your Body (which can be found here on my Amazon shop page) — it’s an amazing book that details not only the mind body connection but also how we can heal each individual symptom with affirmations and by getting to the root of the issue, which is never physical to begin with. What Louise has to say specifically about stomach problems is…

STOMACH & INTESTINAL PROBLEMS: Dread, fear of the new, or not feeling nourished.

Affirmation: I digest life with ease.

So the first thing I do is repeat this mantra to myself, either in a meditation, in the bath, or when I am out walking in nature. Or even while I eat! I digest life with ease. I breathe, and send love into that area of my body. In my waking back up to your soul course, I teach you how to speak to specific parts of your body, ask them what they need, and give them the space to respond. This is done best with your hand placed on that area of your body and deep in meditation (the meditations are provided in the course, too!).

Doing things throughout the day that take the focus off of the food and put the focus back on my mental health such as going on a long walk, taking a bath, doing a yoga flow, sitting in my sauna, or catching up with a friend all lower my stress and cortisol immeasurably, which helps with digestion. And I do not, I repeat EVER, scroll through my phone or watch TV while enjoying my food!!

Then I look at my food & how I feel while I’m eating it //

The next thing I do is turn to my plate. I ask myself what I am eating, what I am doing when I am eating it, what I am drinking, if I am giving myself space to rest and digest, or if I am shoveling food in my face as a coping mechanism a.k.a emotional eating.

As human creatures we tend to use food as a crutch, a coping mechanism, and as a means to feel “full” (even if that means spiritually full, or full of serotonin, full of love, or full of, you know, chocolate… it all applies). And while the goal is always to feel nourished and satiated and fueled, using food as a distraction to avoid feeling or getting to the deeper root of why you feel the way you do is never what we want.

It’s okay to do use food as a distraction, recognize that we’ve done it, and choose again, but until we determine WHY we are doing it, it’s just going to keep happening!

So whenever I feel a craving pop up for something I know does not make me feel good… i.e. a few too many healthy desserts, or adding a bunch of nutritional yeast to my veggies (love me some nooch but my stomach really can’t handle a ton of it), or having a big frothy coffee BEFORE I have had my green juice or something alkaline in the morning, I tune in with myself and ask if that is something I really want or if it is just a distraction from something deeper.

9 times out of 10, it’s a distraction from something deeper. Sometimes it’s a legit craving and if so, I go for it. I am not about deprivation in the least.

Lately my thing has been coffee. I love, I adore it, it makes my world go round. I didn’t drink coffee for pretty much the last year while healing from Lyme (I go off and on with it all the time) and after my recent water fast I made the decision that incorporating something I LOVE as much as coffee was a good decision for my heart and soul. It was also a very good decision for my digestion, given that I am very, very prone to IBS-C and especially in times of stress! And coffee helps keep things flowing! I will do a whole post soon on how I tuned into my body and worked with my guides to come to the conclusion that coffee was a big intuitive YES for me right now. #intuitivelyguidedalltheway

My only downfall with coffee is that I crave it first thing in the AM, when I really know I do better with lemon water and a green juice upon waking up, followed by coffee. But the truth is right now I am trying to be super easy on myself. I have implemented a new schedule where I wake up at the same time every day and I am waking up much earlier than I have been for the last few years since I have mostly just been prioritizing SLEEP anywhere I can get it during my Lyme healing journey. But now I am waking up every day at 8am without fail so that I can get my body back on a more normal schedule.

I still suffer from extreme insomnia, so waking up at 8am isn’t necessarily meaning I am falling asleep any earlier! I am still up until 1, 2, 3am most nights trying to find my groove with falling asleep peacefully. So my alarm goes off every morning and I am exhausted!!! And what do you want when you’re exhausted!??! COFFEE.

Not to mention, waking up for the last few weeks hasn’t exactly been pleasant. Between the news and the stress and my deep desire to support BLM and learn as much as I can every day while still being very new to this conversation and very much deeply afraid to slip up and accidentally “do it wrong,” I am also not jumping out of bed with ease and craving my usual green juice! I am craving the heartier foods that make me feel grounded… like oatmeal, chocolate smoothies, and yes my delicious coffee.

SO… all of this to say… I go for the coffee in the morning when I feel this way. Because it’s good for the soul and I am living for my routine of waking up, having my delicious coconut cold brew (recipe coming!) with sesame seed milk and cinnamon, and reading a book or journaling or doing something that brings me joy first thing in the AM.

Coffee tips for best digestion: cold brew mixed with a nut or seed milk because the coffee by itself on your tummy may not be best (but you know yourself best) mixed with cinnamon for blood sugar balancing & keep it to one cup so as not to overwhelm the body. If you are into low-acid coffee, try Kion!! I just ordered it + am really enjoying it when I don’t go straight for my cold brew!

And then I have my juice and water and do all of the above INTUITIVELY. I don’t force the green juice down just because it’s “better for me” that way. The emotional state we are in directly affects how we digest our food. So turn to the food you are eating and ALSO how you are eating it.

The food itself //

It is no secret that I swear by food combining, a plant based diet, and living SOS-free (salt-oil-sugar-free), all of which you can learn about in my 22 day detox if you would like to go deeper!

Eating this way, and particularly the food combining portion, has helped so much with my IBS, bloating, inflammation, and painful stomach issues. BUT… it is not a cure all. The cure all comes from within, from your mental state and how you are speaking to yourself. From your spiritual connection to the way you talk to your body to whether you are allowing space for resting and digesting or rushing through your meals while scrolling through your phone.

A few foods I turn to when my stomach is in a flare that have been extremely comforting and easy to digest lately are… avocado toast on AWG Bakery Bread (the only g-free vegan bread I have found that doesn’t upset my stomach), oatmeal with bananas (bananas are the slowest digesting fruit so the best to pair with oats if you are going to pair your oats with a fruit), rice pasta with a bit of TBB nacho cheese (recipe in my ebook), Reflector Muffins (recipe in ebook, original recipe by my dear friend Jenna Zoe), green smoothies with banana and probiotic powder, and easy to digest veggies like squash, steamed zucchini, and sometimes steamed cauliflower and broccoli.

Also tons of SOUPS like a carrot/potato combo you can find on my IG Story highlights, my coconut curry soup I will be sharing soon, and my broccoli potato cheesy soup that can be found in this video. I am also eating a lot of salads but making sure to massage the lettuce with avocado, lemon, and/or coco aminos so the fibrous part of it breaks down and it is easier to digest.

Also, all of the fruit. But always on an empty stomach. Fruit is always my go to and I find the easiest fruits for me to digest are overripe bananas, ripe papaya, and sliced mango. Dates are good for digestion too as they are one of the most magnesium-rich foods on the planet! Just make sure to drink a lot of water when you eat dates as they are drying and you don’t want to dry out your colon if you are having digestive issues. <3

My daily go-to right now… all of the avo toast on g-free vegan bread! YUM.

And TONS OF GINGER TEA !! And mint tea !! And smooth move tea !! Oh and red raspberry leaf tea because I also have acquired a UTI through this difficult time which is…. just peachy right. Liquids are always a good idea.

Also, ANTI INFLAMMATORY SPICES ON EVERYTHING!! Turmeric, ginger, and kitchari spice are some of my faves to douse on… well… everything!! Also, PORTION CONTROL. I am doing like 4 smaller meals a day rather than 2-3 bigger ones like I usually do- this is helping a lot because my tummy cannot handle any big meals right now, especially with a lot of roughage.

A few other go to’s? My favorite Seed probiotic (code BLONDE for a discount) which you can read all about here, coffee enemas & chlorophyll enemas (more info here), and doing lymphatic stomach massages on myself. That all helps a TON. Plus taking it easy in the mornings because anyone with IBS knows the morning can be the absolute toughest, especially if you’re in a rush.

The biggest thing for me is tuning back into my spiritual practice. Listening. There is always a deeper meaning for our health issues and pain that pops up. I am not just experiencing stomach issues but also my usual jaw pain and other body pains that indicate… my guides are trying to wake me the f up to go DEEPER. I am listening. <3

And with food right now to be honest with you, it’s the toast and the soups and the rice pasta that is going down the easiest. Is this my typical diet? Is this the diet I teach and share about in my programs? Not really, no. But at the end of the day what is most important to me to share is intuition and eating for your REAL LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES. This is a lifestyle. It’s not always going to be a perfect day of green juice, salads, and nourish bowls (although all of that is amazing too!!!) — do you and do what FEELS GOOD.

Do what works!!

I will be sharing a lot more info and insights on this in the coming weeks and months. I am working on developing an intimate coaching experience with me for becoming SPIRITUALLY FULL, something I feel is of the utmost importance, now more than ever.

So tell me! Are you experiencing stomach issues right now, IBS, bloating?! Do share below! What is helping you? We are all in this together!!

I for one am excited that it’s May although I really did enjoy the month of April. I enjoyed slowing down, spending time with my boys at home, using this time to come up with new creative ideas and start new projects (like YouTube & TikTok! And my plant based nutrition program) and most of all just give my nervous system the time to calm down and REST… I needed it. My healing needed it. And to be honest this time has helped me remember what’s important in life and has made it a lot easier to let go of the little things that I thought were so make or break but really never were.

What we really need in life is truly simple. I am going to do a podcast episode on the best things that have come out of this quarantine so stay tuned for that soon – and today we will keep things light and focus on these insane life changing peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.

The inspo for these came from one of my favorite farmer’s market stands where I’ve been buying vegan, gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies for years. My sister started buying them when I first went vegan back when I was in college, and we all became completely hooked. But as the years have gone on and I stopped eating refined sugar and other refined things like vegan margarine… these cookies became more of a decadent treat for me than a healthy option. Then once I was diagnosed with Lyme and really stopped with the sugar – I couldn’t eat them at all anymore!

The other day I was in my kitchen and it hit me, “I can recreate these! It shouldn’t be that hard!” and you guys I know my taste buds have changed but I honestly believe these cookies taste pretty much 100% like the real thing — and maybe even, dare I say, BETTER?!

And it’s not just me who thinks that! Jonathan says they are the best thing I’ve ever made, even beyond snicker’s pie (from my detox ebook), which is huuuuuge. There’s a video of him saying it is on my IG story highlights under “Recipe” – you gotta see!

OKAY now for this recipe… it’s gooey, it’s sweet (but not too sweet), it’s simple, it’s easy, it’s HEAVENLY, and watch out because these will go FAST!

I always joke that Jonathan eats all of my baked goods within one day of me making them, and that’s very true, but this time he ate a bunch right off the bat and then I FINISHED THE ENTIRE BATCH… within 24 hours! I ate them with my breakfast, I dipped them in my smoothies, I had them for dessert – and poof, they were gone!

THEY ARE THAT GOOD.

I also tried out making them in two different sizes… for one size I used a small ice cream scooper and then for the second batch I cut that size in half to make mini ones. Jonathan and I both agreed the bigger ones tasted better — they really nailed that pillowy, peanut buttery texture and vibe you want in your PB cookies. The other ones were delicious as well but they didn’t have that same soft, doughy, pillowy texture. So stick to a one inch ball or bigger when making these!

OH AND THEY ARE ONLY FIVE INGREDIENTS (not including baking powder and baking soda), so double win!!!!

LIFE CHANGING PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES //

INGREDIENTS //

1 cup organic peanut butter

1/4 cup maple syrup

2/3 cup granulated monk fruit sugar (I like the brand Lakanto)  *If you don’t have this on hand you can likely sub with another granulated sugar but I haven’t tried so I can’t say 100% for sure. You could also try 3/4 cup maple syrup total instead!*

2 flax eggs (2 tablespoons flax meal mixed with 6 tablespoons water)

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup vegan sugar-free chocolate chips (I like Lily’s)

METHOD //

Preheat oven to 350.

Add flax egg ingredients together and let sit for 5-10 minutes.

Add all of your ingredients into a large bowl and mix thoroughly. If it’s too thick, you can always add a tablespoon or two of nut milk. But once you pour in your flax egg it should get nice and gooey!

Add in your chocolate chips last, and then top your cookies with some extra chocolate if you prefer. I always do!

Pop them into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until slightly golden around the edges. These cookies will still be soft no matter what so don’t worry if they seem a bit soft when you take them out.

Let them cool, and the TRICK is putting them in the refrigerator after this! You don’t absolutely have to, but it will make a world of difference. I think they taste sooooo much better cold, and the texture can really firm up in the fridge. We keep ours in the fridge and I even kept a few in the freezer and they were delicious too! Don’t skip this step, thank me later.  

ENJOY! These are literally insane and I cannot wait for you to make them! You’re going to LOVE and I hope your family does too (if you’re quarantined with them right now — if not, enjoy all on your own! Yay!)

Okay, tell me how everyone is doing! Will you make these? How are you feeling? I am here for you, and I am sending you love!