I wanted to pop on to give you guys a little update on where I’m at with life, healing, blogging, everything. If you’ve been here for a while then you probably know that I blogged DAILY for years, and then multiple times a week for many more years, and last year + this year my posts have been a bit fewer and further between.

As a perfectionist at my core… at times it has freaked me out, like “Jordan hello, this is your livelihood and your joy, why aren’t you writing more for the blog itself?!?” But honestly when I get down to it I know exactly why. For one, this year in particular, I have been TIRED. I have wanted to get onto the blog to write about how I feel about a million things, how I’m healing, what it feels like approaching 30, and then some, but a lot of times I am wary because the internet, now more than ever, has gotten to be a judgey and weird place.

There is a lot of judgment and darkness online these days, and as much as I try to ignore it and turn the other cheek it’s almost impossible to do that sometimes. Sharing my heart isn’t as light hearted and free as it used to be, and that seems to be a sentiment among a lot of us who blog and share our lives. I think back to the early days and reminisce HARD, because sharing life online was a novelty and the people who found it were genuinely interested and hungry to hear more. It’s no secret that blogging has changed a lot since then, so I am kind of working out in my mind how to bring that “secret sauce” back so I can both enjoy it as much as I used to, and so YOU GUYS can enjoy it as if it’s still novel as hell! Does that make sense?

For example… when I first started blogging I would read other blogs RELIGIOUSLY like Cup of Jo, PB Fingers, Chocolate Covered Katie, and others — people who shared their life more or less every single day. I was so obsessed with that. There was some secret sauce to that OG blogging life and I miss it so much. Like so, so much. I think because of the blog world changing so much I have also been contemplating how to make it feel genuinely SPECIAL again. I am all ears for tips & requests on that front.

Also, ever since about May/June I decided to take a little step back and evaluate how much I put myself out there and protect myself from the endless negativity flying around. It was getting dark. Now, after some time of doing that, here I am and I feel more invigorated than I have in a long time. Today at least.  And I am so well aware that my sentiment and energy toward what’s going on in this world is shifting daily, so I really would love to share more of that with you guys because I know I am not the only one feeling that way.

On top of my reasons above for stepping back from the blog a bit, over the years Instagram has become a place where I micro-blog the shit out of my day to day!! If I have something pressing to say, I usually hop on there and do that. It’s a great place to connect and so immediate. But like, too immediate? Lol. I like that the blog is a forever hub where things don’t run the 24 hour cycle but truly STAY. And not to mention the podcast, where I pour my heart out every week and give a lot of my energy in that direction. SOOO I guess 2020 has been a year of re-centering and re-evaluating.

And after doing a lot of that, I feel like making my way back to blogging on my actual blog is going to be a thing. Even being here writing right now feels extremely therapeutic. It feels like home.

Oh also, when I say I have been TIRED this year… I mean like bone tired. Healing from Lyme has been a full-time job for the last several years. Sometimes I look back and think, “How the HELL was I healing, blogging, podcasting, Instagramming, working, getting married, maintaining my life, and simultaneously feeling like I was going to die every damn day?” And I can truly say that almost every morning for the last week 8 weeks or so I have woken up, thought about writing a blog post, and then decided not to because the energy output sounded too extreme.

I am so glad I gave myself that downtime. A few years ago, I absolutely wouldn’t have. I am the ultimate, “Just push through, get it done” kind of gal. I also think through writing. So when I am not writing, I kind of get to a standstill in my mind. And I think I needed that standstill to really think about my life and where I see it going, as well as how I see my blog going along with it.

The good news is… I will never stop blogging. In fact, I only see blogging becoming more and more prominent in my life as I now feel a bit of a calling to step back (a bit) from being ever-so-present in every moment on social media. The blog is my safe space, my hub. I’ve missed laying in bed, sipping my coffee, and pouring my guts out to you guys. This year just got weird and I felt the need to draw inward. I have, however been journaling up a storm and working on some other writing projects I will share eventually.

Also… BALANCE. Blogging every day doesn’t have to be the goal, I now realize. Also blogging when I only have something major to say doesn’t have to be the goal. How about like popping in and saying hi?!?! That is so fun to me. So I’m gonna do a lot more of THAT.

What do you guys think about getting that secret sauce back? What do you love most about blogs and wish there was more of in the blogosphere?

I would love to hear it and incorporate it into this secret sauciness comeback. Love you guys so much. Thank you for sticking with me. I am endlessly grateful and endlessly pouring love into you all. XO 

I was laying in bed reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle, halfway trying to ignore the searing pain pulsing through every muscle, joint, and bone of my body. Halfway feeling the pain’s presence, always feeling its presence because it is always, always there. It felt so blissful to rest, like really rest. For once even though I was in excrutiating pain my nervous system somehow felt comfortable and relaxed, and I allowed my entire being to breathe deeper and sink into my pillowy bed.

Despite feeling relaxed, in the back of my mind there is always one thing blaring loud and clear: I’m sick, I’m sick, I’m sick, I’m in pain, this is not normal, will this ever end, how will I go on like this, suck it up, you have to deal with it, this is your reality. On a never ending loop.

This prolonged quarantine time has been interesting for me with Lyme disease because all I have hoped for and fantasized about with my schedule for the last handful of years has kind of come true (in a weird way)… having nowhere to be, with no additional pressure to be “on” or to say yes to things that my body in many ways just cannot and will not do.

Now with starting to be out and about again a bit more and re-entering the world in my own way, my body is on high alert. I feel exhausted all over again, without the exhaustion ever having gone away in the first place.

And when I say exhausted I don’t just mean tired… I mean like ravished deep in my bones exhaustion, impossible to lift an arm for a glass of water, bone deep, crushing fatigue. It is terrifying. Do I talk about it a lot? No. Do you see it on my social media when I am laughing and jogging with my husband and recording podcasts and trying to be a functioning human adult? No. But is it there, behind my smile, every waking second? …Yeah.

So you can imagine my shock when I got to a passage in Glennon’s book where she writes about her first encounter with Elizabeth Gilbert. Two of my favorite writers, so first of all it is my nerdy author dream to think about them meeting let alone lay my eyes on what the passage actually said!!

In the passage Glennon describes their first conversation, when Liz asked her what brought her to Naples, Florida. Glennon’s response is, “I got neurological Lyme disease a few years ago. My entire body shut down, and I was in bed for two years and popping fifty pills a day. I went to stay in my friend’s place in Naples, and I felt so much better. I moved there temporarily, and I was able to ditch the pills, so I just stayed. I’ve always known I wanted to live by the beach. I guess women have to almost die before we give ourselves permission to live how we want.”

I GUESS WOMEN HAVE TO ALMOST DIE BEFORE WE GIVE OURSELVES PERMISSION TO LIVE HOW WE WANT.

UMMMM !!!! GLENNON !! HELL TO THE YES.

You guys, I was shook. I am still shook.

First of all, I did not know that Glennon had suffered from neurological Lyme. I have been a fan of her writing for years, but I somehow missed this key piece of info. Secondly, this line of writing spoke to my very core in a way that is truly indescribable.

The Messy Truth

Those of you who have followed me throughout my Lyme journey, and even before I got sick with Lyme, have witnessed my unbecoming. I am not who I once was. I have had a handful of near death experiences being sick, but none of those quite come close to feeling half dead every single day of my life.

I know, it’s depressing. I wish it weren’t true and I hate writing it. It’s just a fact. And while I really dislike being anything but positive and optimistic with you guys, as my dear friend Biet Simkin reminded me the other day, “Babe, feel it all. You are not a robot.”

When I showed Jonathan that line about having to almost die before giving myself permission to live how I want to live he instinctively said, “No, that’s not you,” at the thought. And I said, “…Yes it is.” And trust me, I get it!! It is so f*cking hard for the people who love us and show up for us every day and see us at our best, our worst, and everything in between to accept how much pain we are really in. Because to accept it means feeling the hurt too.

I would hate to know anyone I loved was in this much pain. But reading Glennon’s book is reminding me that pain is beautiful. Pain is feeling. Pain is human.

This year in particular I have gone through a lot of phases in relation to Lyme. I have experienced the “I am not going to talk about being sick anymore and I regret ever sharing about Lyme on my blog / social media at all” phase to the “I refuse to be sick and I will only acknowledge my good days both publicly and privately” phase to the “I am doing one more goddamn treatment for Lyme if it’s the last thing I do and then I am done treating it and living in the hell of it forever” to “okay I actually feel like scum of the earth and as a Reflector being I can’t keep this to myself anymore no matter how much I try” and so many other phases. On and on. Another loop.

Anyway, in reading that line I really broke down. I tend to look at everyone I admire (Glennon Doyle being way high on that list) and think, “What an awesome, amazing, inspiring life. If only I had that kind of energy. I miss having that kind of energy. Will I ever have the energy to be a real human again?”

So reading that she, Glennon Doyle, one of my biggest inspirations and one of the world’s most powerful women no doubt, had to overcome the same Lyme-sick exhaustion I am now having to overcome… that hit me right in the heart. And it affirms so much to me — I really feel that we get sick in order to be woken up. Spiritually, emotionally, psychically, all of it. And if you know much about Glennon then you know she is spiritually AWAKE and living her best, most aligned, most human, most real and raw and messy-beautiful life.

I have given myself permission to do a lot of things since getting sick. Like SLOW WAY DOWN, take so much more time for myself, say “no” to things it previously would have horrified me to say no to, cuddle Hudson for hours upon waking up rather than jump right into “being productive,” take several baths a day, focus on the integrity of my brand vs. growing a large company, do a lot lot lot less… but I really have so much more to do on this front.

There is so much I yearn for that I am not currently doing. Writing this soul-deep kind of stuff is one of those things. But if I were to really look in the mirror and ask myself what I still need to give myself permission to do … a lot of things would come right up.

So today Glennon Doyle inspired me to share the truth with you guys. Because positivity is great but honesty is so, so much greater. The truth is…

Some days I am just not okay. Some days I am really, really, really not okay. I worry constantly that this pain will never go away, that I will never again have the energy to spend an entire day out of bed without wanting to gauge my eyes out, that I can go to a family event and not have to curl up on the couch watching everyone talk and spend time together and wonder how they do it… how they have the energy to be in their bodies, present, like living life ain’t no thang.

I wonder if I will ever be able to make plans without having to worry that I’ll have to cancel them, or the much deeper stuff like what kind of mom I will be able to be or how my body will handle being pregnant in the hopefully near-ish future if I can’t even handle the way I feel right now. I also wonder when my stomach will not feel like it has daggers piercing my intestines every time I eat or even look at food?

It’s a lot of worrying, I know. Sometimes I put the worrying away and live in the moment and go on a magical walk with a friend and it feels great. Sometimes I just don’t have that luxury. Some days are great, some days I really feel amazing. I choose to share those days with all of you, and I am happy to do that because it gets me through the harder days.

The truth is… messy. If I were to tell you the whole truth it would fill up pages and pages and pages of a whole book. That is my plan.

In the meantime, trying to tell the truth via one Instagram post, blog post, or email newsletter is just… hard. It feels incomplete. But I guess that is what happens when you commit to sharing your soul with the world. It is always going to feel a bit incomplete and then these heart spill moments will give some insight into what’s going on on a deeper level.

I do feel on the precipice of something deeper, a new level of unbecoming. It has been knocking on my door for a while. It HURTS. It is probably why I find myself crying every day lately, why the ache of it all feels so much stronger than it usually does. I am face to face with it. That’s the real, not fun, but real truth.

I have so much more to say, but I hope my little truths today can spark some awareness or at least some inspiration to face your own truths. In the midst of everything going on in the world right now, I know we are all feeling hard. The truth can be difficult, messy, and feel a bit impossible sometimes. But the beauty is that we are never alone.

Thank you Glennon for reminding me that I am not alone even when I feel like I am the only freaking person in the world who feels the way that I do. I will be manifesting the same wide open awareness to live the exact life I want to be living. Thank you for inspiring me.

I hope so much that I can do the same for you, my sweet reader. I love you all so much. XO

Hey beauties. If you follow this bloggy on a regular basis, then you’ve probably noticed I’ve been a little MIA lately. A post here, a post there, a vacation here, a vacation there… And sometimes a week or so between posts.

In an ideal world, I’d like to post every day of the week. In a realistic yet still pretty ideal world, I like to post every day Monday through Friday! In my current world, I have been posting 1-2 times a week for the last month or so. See how that compares to what I WANT to be doing? Yikes…!

Well here’s why, in a nut shell:

I am SUCH an all-or-nothing person (this is why I’m the balanced blonde… because every day I strive for balance. STRIVE, not necessarily achieve, lol) that it’s really, really, really hard for me to pour my full energy into a bunch of things at once. I can handle it when they’re all interconnected– like the bloggy, TBV Apparel, my cleanse programs, my book, my YouTube channel, my new #TBBTribe newsletter (so stoked on this BTW), ya know. That kind of stuff.

But when I start doing a whole lot of things that don’t fall under the same semi-similar umbrella, it’s really hard for me to juggle. Exhibit A: I have been apartment hunting for the last week or so, and it has absolutely consumed me. I have hardly been able to eat or sleep or even shower (I’m weird, I know, I have issues), and I have gone days without exercising or making time for myself. I know it probably sounds silly to those of you who are able to focus on a bunch of things at once & don’t get so extreme about things, but for people like me it is TOUGH to have such a huge, unresolved, pressing issue on your plate that you can’t immediately handle.

I like to solve things and make them better immediately. RIGHT away. It’s probably a method of deflecting but I’ll deal with that eventually, lol. I also have super high standards for myself & where I want to live, so those two contrasting things started driving me MENTAL.

On top of it, I’ve also had lots of fun free-lance projects, cool TBV Apparel happenings & a few little mini-vacays. Between all of that, when I sat down to blog I. Couldn’t. Do. It. I couldn’t muster the creative energy or sense of self that I need to actually write passionately to you guys and let it flow.

Annddddd I’m never going to half-ass anything with my bloggy blog, so I kind of took a mini hiatus.

But here’s the good news. The really good & exciting & actually kind of freaky (I’ll tell you why) news… I found an apartment that has everything I am looking for, and I put my application in this morning! I am a notoriously picky person. VERY picky. Like I said, very high standards. My intern Danika gave me the most wonderful, yet unintentional, compliment a couple of days ago. She told me that I never settle for things that don’t make me extremely happy. Apartments included. And not even “settle,” but basically I can’t function if things are not 100% the way I want them to be. So even though it consumed my whole entire being for a fretful week or so, that’s okay because I came out with a place I love a lot.

I find out for sure if I get the apartment or not on Monday, but I have a pretty good record soooo I think they’ll be okay with me. Unless of course they realize my whole life is available to read on the Internet and then I’m just doomed.

Jk. I’m still pretty darn innocent.

FREAKY STORY!!!

Anyyyywayy… Let me tell you what’s FREAKY about this apartment. When I lived in Italy coming up on four years ago, a lot of interconnected things started happening with the number 201. Every hotel I stayed in, I was put in room #201. Every hostel, #201. My apartment in Florence, #201. My bar tab, $20.10. I would look up while I was walking out of the blue and see huge painted numbers of 201 everywhere. Several times a day. 2:01a.m. or p.m. both times a day too. WEIRD. And my best friend & Italy roomie Clare had the same experience. (Well, we were together the whole time so of course we both did.) Also, once we put it together we realized we had both lived in two separate room #201’s our sophomore year of college too.

When I returned to the states to finish the rest of college, it kept happening. Everywhere I went I saw 201’s. Especially when something big was happening in my life. When I was in the cab about to appear on Good Morning America to discuss my transition from veganism, I saw a huge painted 201 directly outside of the building I was walking into. It felt like such a sign, even though I didn’t know what exactly it meant. When it came time to move back to LA from NYC, I knew the situation was right when my friend Laura had an open bedroom in her apartment for me… Apartment #201. Last year, when my grandpa was moved into the dependent wing of his retirement home, he was in room 201, RIGHT after I finished telling my dad about all of my freaky 201-ness at 2:01p.m. For real.

I see it everywhere to this day, and everyone around me knows it because I can’t help but point it out. It’s awesome because good things always seem to happen to me at 2:01, both a.m. and p.m. So here’s the freaky thing…

I have toured a LOT of apartments in the last several days. I mean a lot. I have hardly even looked at the apartment numbers and addresses because they literally all blend together at this point. When I set foot into the apartment I ended up falling in love with and put an application in for today, I didn’t even notice at first… Then, as I was walking out to check out the hallway, I saw it.

2 0 1.

Apartment number two, zero, freaking ONE.

I couldn’t help but gasp and then flip a shit. The realtor wasn’t sure what to do. I could hardly get my words out to explain what an INSANE coincidence it was, and that I had to have the apartment immediately.

“You don’t get it, this apartment, this number… I ALWAYS LIVE IN 201’s. ITS MY LUCKY NUMBER. This is weird. This is weird. This is so weird. I knew I loved it. I mean… I have to have it. I need this apartment.”

He definitely thought I was certifiably insane (I know this because in the end he told me so), and I knew I was walking away with a damn good apartment.

That’s another reason why I know that even though I don’t hear back until Monday, it is going to work out. I just have a feeling. And immediately, everything feels so much lighter and so much more in place.

So now it’s time to start packing my stuff, organizing & MOVINGGGG from 201 to 201. I am staying in the same neighborhood, but now I will have my own apartment which will rock because I really do need my own space to do what I do. Work from home, blog, film vids, develop recipes… All that jazz.

So, please tell me. Do you have a weird, recurring number or situation in your life?! A lucky number, occurrence, person, place, thing? I need to know. I NEED to figure this out. If you are spiritual & know the meanings of numbers, living spaces, etc… Pleeeease share. I am curious for some answers, and more than tempted to get the numbers tattooed on my body because there is an outer force telling me that these numbers are a part of me!!

Create + Cultivate gathers the next generation of curious creatives, entrepreneurs & business leaders to enlighten, entertain and inspire across multiple categories such as fashion, design and business. Many of the speakers & panelists were top bloggers, celebs & writers that I have admired for years, and a few others were my friends who are amazingly cool & inspiring enough to entertain a room full of curious creators who are killin’ it.

Also, while I was there I was freaking out because what a lot of the bloggers were saying on stage about their experiences are exactly what I find myself saying to my readers, friends and other growing bloggers all the time. Seeing such distinct similarities between my daily blogging lifestyle and those of Julia from Gal Meets Glam, Geri from Because I’m Addicted, Shea from Peace Love Shea, Devon from Devon Rachel and more was an outstanding and eye-opening feeling.

Naturally, the decor was unbelievable (I mean, hello, a room full of bloggers & creative cultivators… what’s to be expected?), the Photo Booth was a BLAST (especially because it was hosted by my Be Social PR babes a.k.a my management company), the pop up shops were on point, the SUJA was a’flowin’ (I think I spent more time hanging out with Sam in the Suja booth than anywhere else!) and even the break time activities were pretty glam… I mean that literally, there was a glam squad onsite!

The only thing I could possibly complain about, and this is only because my sensitive tummy makes things a nightmare for me sometimes, is that I was running on zero food all day because I couldn’t eat any of the snacks or the lunch that was provided! (I just started on the FODMAP diet to try to cure my latest tummy probs.) But that’s my own fault for not bringing my own snacks or being more prepared… Whoopsie.

Here is a walkthrough of my day & some of my biggest takeaways from the experience:

A) The first person I saw when I was walking into the conference at the ripe hour of 8:30 a.m. was the beautiful Betsy Jones. She had been at my Orange Theory event the night before because of our mutual friend & yogi master Laura Conley, but we didn’t get the chance to meet. We both recognized each other on the street from the event the night before, and we couldn’t help but freak about how serendipitous the run-in was. She is a killer woman, and I am so glad we got to hang throughout the day yesterday! And of course we snapped this selfie to send to Laura!

B) After checking in & exploring the cool digs, it was time for panel #1: Julia Engel, Geri Hirsch, Gabi Fresh & Vanessa Flaherty. I loved hearing them speak and talk about their inspirational stories from transforming blogging from a hobby into a business for these top bloggers. The best part of this experience was finally getting to meet Julia Engel from Gal Meets Glam, since we have chit chatted back and forth for a long time & I totally idolize her and all that she has grown her blog into!

C) After that we had a panel on the art of styling/branding, where we were introduced to the app “A Beautiful Mess,” where after much trial & error (lol Kaitlynn & Priscilla!) I came up with this “digital business card” which I used precisely zero times yesterday but perhaps I will start using it from time to time. I got super into it and it reminded me that I need to get back to my crafty roots more often on the bloggy.

D) After that panel discussion we had a lunch break whereeee unfortunately I wasn’t able to eat the food they had because of my tummy, but I did have a blast in the Photo Booth… You know I love a good photo booth!

E) Next was small group mentoring where we got to pick two different mentors to sit down with and ask all of our burning questions! I met with the incredible Devon Rachel & Erin Weinger from Pretareporter. They were both super cool, down to earth, authentic and sweet. I loved their personalities and it was easy to see why they have both become so successful. I also loved hearing Erin’s story about how she came to start working at The Hollywood Reporter, especially since it included juicy tidbits about her shamelessly introducing herself to some of her journalism idols which eventually won her jobs at their companies. Yesss for being a persistent, confident go-getter! I am all about it.

F) In between every panel I bounced back over to the Suja booth because for 1, my love Sam was working the booth and I wanted to hang with her, and for 2, I desperately needed hydration and sustenance because I was starting to get dehydrated & hangry.

G) The next panel was headed by YouTube sensations Mr. Kate, Chriselle Lim & more! Super interesting for me since I am working on growing my YouTube and am currently in love with anything and everything on-camera! They had some great tips. One of their tips was how Snapchat is the newest up & coming form of social media and connection. (On that note, add me on Snapchat!!! I’m @jojoyounger. I’ve been having a blast with it.) Also, I found out that the lovely girl behind Mr. Kate went to LMU just like me– smallll & amazing world!! I love love the connection.

H) Next were the absolutely sensational Julianne Hough, Whitney Port, The Fat Jewish & Shea Marie. I adore each & every one of these rockstars– both the IG stars and the actual stars! Hearing where they all came from & their thoughts on the art of Instagram was super cool. And The Fat Jewish had everyone rolling on the ground laughing.In fact… I also took a selfie with him post-show and sent a bunch of texts to my friends who love him. He was hysterical and most definitely unlike anyone else I’d ever met before. Don’t mind my green tongue… I told you that all I had to eat that day was Suja juice!

I) After that were Aimee Song & Alex Taylor of Who What Wear which was fun to watch because I know Alex personally and she inspires me to no end. And Aimee is an awesome, kickass, successful blogging businesswoman whom I also adore!

J) Anndddd there was more, but then I absolutely had to bounce because I was dying of starvation at this point and needed some major food in my life. Also, my awesome friend & graphic designer (she designed my TBB logo!) Jess Hannah spoke, but I was in a different track so I didn’t get to see her! However, just for fun & in honor of her massive accomplishment, I am sharing this hilarious old photo of us from our high school days. Clearly we thought we were ravers.

My main takeaways from the day…

1. “BE AUTHENTIC!!!” -Everyone who spoke, especially the killer Julianne Hough + Devon Rachel who were both super passionate about authenticity. My JAM!

2. Don’t get ahead of yourself by taking on too many projects too early. Wait for the best things to come, and if you work hard then they will. –Julia Engel

3. Snapchat is going to be the next big thing. -Almost everyone who spoke, especially Geri Hirsch + Mr. Kate

4. “Having a real job, is like, so 90’s.” – The Fat Jewish. LOL I agree

5. Don’t ever respond to haters. Just delete & report abuse! -Whitney Port

6. It’s not ALL about video quality, sometimes a good “day in the life” vlog shot on your own computer is just as wonderful, interesting and endearing. – Chriselle Lim + Mr. Kate

7. I need to bring snacks with me everywhere I go… haha, but really.

8. I want to start speaking at more conferences/panels!

9. Being around like-minded individuals inspires me and makes me incredibly happy.

10. I love hanging with my blogger babes… Hi, Kaitlynn!

In conclusion– follow your dreams to create & cultivate. They WILL come true if you put in the time, effort, work, love, passion and energy.

Feeling more inspired than ever to kick ass with TBB + keep creating fresh, new, fun, aesthetically pleasing and well-written content for you all.

But really… Thank you for reading. Without you, there would be no bloggy!

Xox, TBB

Now that we have that out of the way, I want to share some exciting news with you. Now that I’m finished writing my memoir (available for pre-sales in May… Pinch. Me.), I have had some big brainstorming sessions about what I want to do to take TBB to the next level.

Yes, I’ve experienced success in the blogging world, but there is always a next level. I think & plan on a massive scale, I can’t help it; it’s my creative and entrepreneurial brain calling the shots! I want this blog to continue to be a hub for health, fitness, passion, lifestyle, bohemian style, travel, following your heart & the like– for as long as humanly possible! A.k.a for as long as you guys keep reading.

I guess you could say balance means all sorts of things to me. From health to living the wild & free lifestyle I am so into promoting. The Balanced Blonde is a handy dandy little medley.

So, what am I doing to reach that next level, you ask? Let me tell you some goals I have in place that I am hoping will do just that!

How I’m Taking My Blog to the Next Level…

1. My YouTube channel: This one is ridiculously exciting for me, because I love being in front of the camera and expressing myself to you in new & different ways– ways that are so tangible and relatable because you can actually hear my voice and see my face! I have a lot of great videos lined up to share with you guys this year, so subscribe if you like it so you can help me grow! If you are not a subscribing type, I totally get it. I wasn’t either until I had my own YouTube! Here is an example of one of my videos:

2. RewardStyle: This platform is probably the coolest thing in the world when it comes to bloggers monetizing our websites. I was thrilled to join RewardStyle a few months ago, but because I was so hard at work on the book & maintaining the blog, clothing line & everything else TBB, I haven’t had the chance to use it as much as I would like. From now on I am going to be using it a lot more, especially as a way to incorporate more lifestyle & fashion posts into TBB.

Maxi // Similar dress // Similar but shorter

3. Hiring a full-time photographer/videographer: Okay, this is a huge step for me. I have been hesitant to do this for a while because I am so hands on with the blog & its hard for me to delegate and commit to switching up the way I run things… but it’s time. I see that what’s standing in front of me and the top blogs that I admire is that I don’t have nearly as much professional photo content when it comes to outfit posts / food photography / product reviews and everything of the sort. That being said, I’m not letting just anyone in on the craziness that is my TBB brain! It’s someone I have worked closely with throughout the whooooole TBB process — and I am freakishly excited for us to get going. This means SO MANY COOL PHOTOS & VIDEOS coming your way. I can’t waaiiitt. Kinda like this but every dayyy:

4. Consistency: I feel that I have been consistent all along, and I know that consistency is key. Having a posting schedule, even though spontaneity is definitely my natural inclination, is hugely important and I plan on carrying that out even more seriously these days.

5. Events: Well, this is a given. You guys know I LOVE events. From TBB App Launch Party to my Gingersnap’s Organic events in NYC, I looove getting out there in the community and connecting like-minded individuals. I have some fun things in the works with friends like Valley Brink Road, The Chalkboard Mag, my Orange Theory peeps & more. Not to mention the epic HEALTH RETREAT I’m planning.

6. Working on Sundays: I know, I said it. I like to work on a “day of REST!” I think the reason I love working on Sundays is because I can simply work on exactly what I enjoy. I don’t have the pressure of meetings or deadlines interrupting my work, because no one sets deadlines or meetings for a Sunday. I can get ahead with my blog writing, do fun planning for future collabs & have special me-time focusing sessions. Maybe this classifies me as a workaholic, buttt if that’s true I will roll with it because I see how much it helps me get ahead during the week — and saves me time to continue doing things I love/need, like yoga & Orange Theory!

7. Collaborations: It’s ALL about the collabs, my friends. Not only is it super duper fun to work with people you enjoy and admire, it also helps expand both parties into newer audiences. I love collaborating with friends & blogging powerhouses like The Skinny Confidential, The Whole Tara, Philosophie and more. Plus, it makes this oftentimes highly introspective job more fun & social.

8. Keeping the Passion Alive: If something isn’t working anymore, I am not going to force it. For instance, I was hosting my Recovery Series posts every Friday, but curating the interviews & putting them together each week proved to be too much for my jam-packed schedule. I still love getting those posts up, but I saw that making them happen each week took too much of my time that could be better used elsewhere. I am constantly switching things up to remain as passionate as humanly possible– that’s where the magic happens!

9. Travel: I don’t know about you, but I love reading about travel & looking at gorgeous travel pics. There are a lot go #TBBtravels on the horizon, and many of those were planned with YOU guys in mind & what you want to see on the bloggy!

10. Keeping It Real: The hugest thing to me is keeping the core of the brand connected to who I am & what I stand for. You will never see me selling out in the name of making $ of gaining popularity. Every move I make will be related to my core goals & mission statement!

So, with that being said– thoughts?! Do any other bloggers agree with me? What do you all want to see more of on TBB in the coming months?