I was talking to a friend yesterday who has started my course, & she said, “This course feels more like an at home retreat than anything else! That’s what you should tell people it is!”

And I said… “Yes!! That is exactly what I wanted!” And also… why didn’t I think of that before!?

What I love about that is that my one & only goal with this course is to radically shift your life. I am just your guide on this journey, but you are the one who will make that shift happen.

Every retreat I have ever been on has shaken up my life in a huge way, and I do consider this course to be retreat-esque in all of the ways!

After a yoga retreat 3 years ago… I decided to do my 300-hr yoga training and never looked back!

After a yoga retreat 5 years ago… I finally broke up with my on & off boyfriend who it just wasn’t working with. I cleared up space to finally BREATHE & just be (and eventually call in my twin flame of course).

After a 40-day transformation at my yoga studio 10 years ago… I decided to move to LA for college rather than stay in Northern California where I was comfortable.

So basically what I am saying is, this course is meant to shift your life. It’s meant to wake you back up to who you truly are inside.

Essentially, a retreat is a reprieve from life. A place to work on yourself, unapologetically take time for you, and come to understand new truths about yourself that will catapult you to the next level you have been waiting for.

Also, we have 20 more spots left in the *big giveaway* that includes product from REBBL, OSEA Malibu, Open Heart Apothecary, Liquid I.V., Cured Nutrition CBD, Lil Bucks buckwheat groats, Blender Bombs (best smoothie additions ever), & more. So the next 20 people to sign up will receive ALL of the above.

Plus 5 huge giveaway baskets for people who sign up in the next two weeks, plus new addition giveaways like Philosophie Love + Piper Wai natural deodorant!

To learn more about diving into this beautiful at home retreat for yourself, head here!

Lastly, I created a payment plan after receiving a lot of questions about it. Head here to pay for the course in 3 installments.

All my LOVEEEEE cosmically & beyond,

Ah, it feels so good to be back on the blog. I know I said I was planning to blog from Bali, but guess what? My laptop crashed and wouldn’t turn on all throughout our trip, so my post from China was the first and last update I was able to write from vacation.

While retrograde hit me hard and I was super bummed at first, it was actually such a blessing in disguise. Without a computer or the ability to do any work, I was able to get so deep into my relaxation and completely check out in the trip, which re-inspired and invigorated me in so many ways.

More to come on all of that. I will do lots and lots of Bali recaps as I finally ease back into real-life over here, but today I wanted to bring you a matcha recipe featuring my FAVORITE new Vital Proteins Matcha Collagen… and I’ll tell you why.

Why Matcha for the Coffee Addict?!

When we were traveling around Bali I allowed myself to pretty much eat and drink whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. For a control freak with food allergies and a past with eating disorders… food freedom on vacation is always AMAZING for my mind, but very tricky waters for my body.

My body is sensitive AF. I can eat as I please for a few days, which still includes my staple musts like remaining gluten-free, dairy-free, and having no refined sugar. But after a few days, things start to feel funky in my body. My digestion starts going out of whack, my stomach starts hurting, I don’t sleep well, the bloat is out of control, on and on.

So when I am on a 14-day trip eating some of the yummiest foods I’ve ever had in my life, you can imagine things went a little wonky for my bod! I was eating foods I know I have allergies to like eggs, gluten-free toast (#yum), alllll of the coffee, certain veggies, lots of fruits, ridiculously delicious desserts, and more.

And if you’re thinking I’m crazy for doing that while KNOWING how it would make me feel, I probably am. But also, a girl’s gotta live and I do believe in the mental freedom of easing up on our rules every so often, especially in a new country where the food is fresh as can be and MIGHT not cause the same issues, so it’s always worth a shot.

By our 10th, 11th, and 12th days… when we were staying at Nihiwatu, otherwise known as the #1 rated resort in the WORLD (more on that later), my physical reactions to food were getting so bad it was really hindering the trip. My body was freaking out and I had a perpetual migraine / headache that wouldn’t go away.

In other words, I felt like SH*T.

But this was another blessing in disguise, because I finally noticed exactly what kinds of foods I need to stay away from, and which ones I can be more lenient with.

While we were in Ubud and I was eating mostly raw vegan foods, I felt great. I was full of energy and unless I had the random red pepper or mushroom in my meal by accident I was completely fine and felt abundant and wonderful.

But it was when we left Ubud (otherwise known as “the holistic city” #swoon) and I started really loading up on the coffee, getting super lenient with gluten-free breads (all the hotels had SUCH GOOD homemade gluten-free breads!) and eggs and desserts that things started getting real bad.

In Nihiwatu I ate it all, falling back into my old trap of, “Wait, WHY am I feeling this way? I eat so well! This isn’t fair!” But in hindsight I was doing it to myself. It’s unfortunate to have to be so careful, but if I want to feel well then it is an absolute must.

Because of that, when we left Nihiwatu I made a promise to myself and to Jonathan (who was so patient and amazing and sweet with me while I complained and cried and laid in bed with a migraine and felt like crap for days on end): No more coffee. No more grains (even g-free grains). No more eggs. No more desserts with real sugar. Until I get this stomach issue back on track.

he is so patient with me

Processed with VSCO with c1 preset

I will share a lot more details when I go into more detail about the trip itself, but THAT, my friends, is why I am on the matcha train right now.

In fact, I have always loved matcha. I usually even drink matcha after having coffee! But my body is really loving and thriving off of cutting it way back on the caffeine train and sticking to matcha.

I use Vital Proteins Matcha Collagen which I am hosting a GIVEAWAY (!!!) for right now on Insta. We are giving away three canisters to YOUUU GUYS as long as you’re in the U.S. and Canada. All you have to do is comment on my photo with the matcha, tag three friends, and tell me why you want to win!

Processed with VSCO with e6 preset

So let’s talk about some matcha facts:

+ matcha green tea is packed with antioxidants, which can help fight free radicals in the body and promote long-term health.

+ rich in fiber, chlorophyll and vitamins

+ enhances mood and aids in concentration

+ calms the mind and relaxes the body

+ the powerful polyphenol EGCG in matcha is known to boost metabolism and burn calories (just an added bonus to the health benefits

+ provides slow & sustained energy versus the jolt and jitters that coffee gives us, so it’s also easier on our adrenals + hormones (the BIGGEST plus for me)

and then the additional health benefits of the Vital Proteins Matcha Collagen are the collagen benefits…

+ the most abundant protein in the body.

+ responsible for the maintenance of healthy connective tissues, such as bones, joints, skin, hair, and nails.

UMMMM, yes please.

My favorite way to enjoy matcha is either with hot water or steamed with warm coconut milk. My favorite yummy matcha holiday recipe is below!

Holiday Coconutty Matcha // TBB Style

Ingredients:

+ 1 scoop Vital Proteins Matcha Collagen

+ 1 cup warm coconut milk (easy to find at Whole Foods or any healthy grocery store), heated up on the stove or in the microwave

+ 1 tablespoon coconut butter

+ a few shakes cinnamon

+ a few shakes pumpkin pie spice

Method:

+ heat the coconut milk on the stove or in the microwave

+ melt the coconut butter if you want it to blend smoothly

+ add all ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend until smooth

ENJOY this creamy and delicious holiday treat! I like to have this first thing in the morning and then have breakfast about an hour or two later.

Matcha is so much easier on our hormones than coffee is, so even though I am saying goodbye to my BELOVED coffee for now… my adrenals, liver, skin, and energy levels will thank me. Trust me, nothing additional needs to be messing with my cortisol levels right now!

I hope you all enjoy this recipe, and I am sending so much love to you this holiday season! Thank you for baring with me while my posting schedule has been all over the place… Spirit Juice and the blog will be much more consistent in 2018 and I can’t wait. <3

And don’t forget to enter the Vital Proteins giveaway on Insta for a chance to win! It will be open until the day after Christmas! Thank you to Vital Protein for sponsoring this post and providing such healthy deliciousness for us all. I continue to feel so lucky to partner with brands I adore. XX

So guys, let’s talk about BULLETPROOF COFFEE. (With Earth Balance Buttery Spread in it because YUM and DAIRY-FREE and VEGAN and NON-GMO! Sorry for all the caps, but v excited.) I am big into plant foods right now… the healing properties of plants, plant-based alternatives, and much more. I’m not going #vegan on you (trust me), but plant medicine is a massive part of my life right now that I will be sharing more and more on very soon.

So, #GoPlantMade butter couldn’t be coming into my life at a better time. And butter in my coffee is my daily staple, which you probably know if you follow me because I am freakishly into it and all of its health, brain and energy benefits.

A lot of people on the Internet call this delicious, metabolic amazingness “Butter Coffee” which is, well, right to the point because BP coffee is most definitely buttery coffee. For the purpose of today’s post, I will be using that term to celebrate the use of the BUTTER we are giving away on social media today!

People ask me all the time, “What is Butter Coffee and WHY do you drink your coffee this way?!”

What Is It? It’s coffee (I like to use cold brew) with a tablespoon of butter in it, a tablespoon of MCT oil, and in my recipe… cinnamon, stevia (or monk fruit) sweetener and usually a dash of adaptogens like ashwaganda (helps with the coffee jitters) or chaga!

Why Drink It? This combo of butter, MCT oil, and coffee (an herb, at its core!) works in unison to kickstart the body’s metabolism, supercharge your brain function (with the power of those Medium-Chain-Triglycerides and the healthy fats!), and create fat loss with no cravings. The fat keeps you full, and helps your body run off of fat versus off of glucose (sugar).

Of course, I am not militant with this lifestyle. Homegirl likes food. At some point in the late morning, I need breakfast. I love to wake up with a nice cold Buttery Coffee (yes, some people like it hot! You can totally do it either way!) and work, work, work or meditate, meditate, meditate or flow, flow, flow (can you tell I’ve had my coffee already? LOL) on those MCT’s, healthy fats, and caffeine, and then eat something once my bod starts to get hungry.

It’s important to note, for a lot of women we need collagen and/or protein in our Buttery Coffees to keep our hormones stabilized and keep our blood sugar from going out of whack. Especially if you’re prone to cortisol spikes and dips (yep, like me), then I recommend adding a healthy dose of collagen peptides into your coffee for hormone stabilization and blood sugar maintenance.

You can also use a yummy protein powder of your choice if you thrive off of protein first thing in the A.M.! Noteworthy: collagen peptides have quite a bit of protein as well.

So now… let’s talk about the BUTTA!

I like Earth Balance Buttery Spreads because they’re vegan (a.k.a dairy free), lactose-free, non-GMO, gluten-free, have 0 grams of trans fats, no MSG, and are an excellent source of omega-3’s. Those omegas are part of what help kickstart our brain function in the morning and get that Butter Coffee to do its job!

The butter mixes great with the MCT’s, which are a unique form of fat that require less energy and enzymes to be digested when compared to another type of fat known as long-chain triglycerides. MCT’s also have powerful anti-fungal abilities, which I am all about right now more than ever with my candida overgrowth and general hormone imbalances.

Drinking Butter Coffee first thing in the morning does put us into a ketogenic state (depending on what else you add to your coffee, or what time you eat dinner the night before) which is also important to note if you’re playing around with going in and out of ketosis or want to see the benefits on your brain and hormones from the keto lifestyle!

Again, I am not militant about keto whatsoever. I like to put almond milk in my morning coffee sometimes to make it extra rich and creamy and delish and filling, which technically wouldn’t keep me in keto. Which, for daily purposes, is fiiiiiine with me.

I am however mixing ketosis into my healing process from candida, hormone imbalances and food allergies… but that’s another story for another day!

Now! Who wants this recipe?!

TBB’s Fave Butter Coffee Adaptogen Tonic //

Ingredients:

8 oz cold brew coffee

1 tablespoon butter (Earth Balance Buttery Spread!)

1-2 tablespoons MCT oil (start with 1/2 tablespoon if you’re brand new to this product)

2-3 drops of stevia, depending on how sweet you like your bevvies

2-3 shakes of cinnamon or pumpkin spice (especially with Fall coming up… #pumpkin is a fave!)

a sprinkle of Ashwaganda, and a sprinkle of Chaga (loving Four Sigmatic as always)

*Optional: A scoop of collagen peptides and/or protein powder

Method:

Pour all ingredients into a high-speed blender, and blend! If the butter is solid, you’ll want to melt it first and/or mush it up so it blends nice and smoothly. This Buttery Spread is perfect for blending purpose, because it is silky smooth to begin with.

So babes, there you have it! My favorite, go-to, EVERY DAMN DAY, morning drink! With a plant-based butter spread to boot.

Also… is it just me or has this been the fastest week in all of existence, thanks to LDW? I can’t believe I live for MGB‘s Revitalize tomorrow, and I extra can’t believe I am teaching yoga there on Saturday morning! I am so excited, and will definitely be loading up on my BUTTA COFFEEEEE to get me all PUMPED UP!

Lastly… thank you for the love on my FULL MOON post yesterday, I really enjoyed writing it and will be sharing a lot more content like that from here forward.

Oh & be sure to enter our Insta giveaway of this EARTH BALANCE BUTTERY SPREAD! I love giving products away to you guys that I genuinely use and adore. MUAH!

SaveSave

In case you skim this post, be sure to enter our GIVEAWAY by posting an Instagram where you are in nature, tagging @Toms_Of_Maine and hashtag #JordansChoice and #NaturallyInspired, sharing with us in the caption how nature inspires you to make changes in your life and/or change your mood. One winner will be selected to win a year’s supply of the new Tom’s of Maine Natural Body Washes and Beauty Bars!

Now, LET’S DO IT.

My loves!! Ah, I have been back in LA for a week and a half or so and I am already missing the island life of Bora Bora — the laid-back pace, the incredibly friendly culture and community vibes, and of course… waking up every day and laying in the sun with the turquoise water glistening all around me. I mean, you can’t really beat that.

It’s crazy, because while I was in Bora Bora I realized a few things — one, is that I work TOO HARD and too much. Does that sound weird? Part of my blog is all about sharing how I’ve built my brand and wanting to help you guys do the same… so I’m telling you I work too much? Weird, right?

Well, I’ll get into it more in a later post — but I realized while I was there that yes, while it’s great to work hard and I still plan on working my butt off, life is meant to be ENJOYED above all else, and it’s not necessary to sit around and respond to emails the moment they come into your inbox. It’s just not.

As creatives, we get inspiration from being one with our minds and stepping AWAY from the screens. Through travel, being with people we love, going on rad adventures, reading a good book in the bath, getting heavenly Thai massages and foot reflexology (one of the most heavily moments of my trip…!) — NOT from working all the dang time.

Anyway, one thing that I realized when I tapped into my creative mind while traveling was that I want to share more wellness-focused products with you guys. I have made it one of my 2017 goals to live a natural, healthy lifestyle minus JUST eating well and exercising, including using products on my body that are free of  artificial ingredients, parabens, sulfates, GMO’s, etc.

NATURAL !!

One of my absolute favorites that I’ve come across in my quest is Tom’s of Maine. I’ve known about them for years because I have been using their natural toothpaste and deodorant ever since I began my wellness journey when I was in college — and now they’ve come out with a bunch of YUMMMYYY smelling and organic botanical-rich body washes that I am utterly obsessed with.

OBSESSED.

You know I get really into things I love. So obviously after I discovered the new Tom’s of Maine body wash I lugged it with me to Bora Bora just in case there weren’t natural options at the hotel. All of the Tom’s of Maine ingredients are sourced directly from nature, and they feature four total variants that help maintain our skin’s natural moisture with their gentle, sulfate-free formulas.

The ingredients are all premium and totally trustworthy for putting onto our bods. Organic botanicals like virgin coconut oil, raw shea butter, and Moroccan argan oil (you guys know how into argan oil I am right now… I am putting it on my face non-stop as a natural moisturizer along with my foundation). They also use 100% natural, on-trend fragrances like lavender, coconut (YUM!), and orange.

Yes, zero of these fragrances are artificial. They use legit, natural ingredients and NO animal testing. Ever since I got my Huddy kitty, I am staunchly and extremely against animal testing when it comes to body products (and anything, when I can help it). I love that Tom’s of Maine prioritizes this and also that they GIVE BACK to the community by donating 10% of their profits to organizations that support people and the planet.

More bonuses? Their packaging is 100% recyclable, the products contain zero animal ingredients (so yes, they’re #vegan), the products are gentle and mild for sensitive skin, and they are packed full of nature’s most trusted NATURAL botanicals.

I brought the Orange Blossom Body Wash and Beauty Bar with me, but I would say my fave is the Creamy Coconut because you know how I feel about coconut anything. I also LOOOOVE the Lavender Tea Tree because it puts me in such a relaxed mood.

You can purchase this AMAZINGGGGNESS at Target, so yep, it’s literally that easy.

Be sure to check out my Instagram post with a GIVEAWAY of Tom’s of Maine body wash and cleanser (I am giving away SIX bottles and SIX bars to one lucky winner — all you have to do is post your own Instagram, tag @Toms_Of_Maine and hashtag #JordansChoice and #NaturallyInspired, sharing with us how nature inspires you to make changes in your life and/or change your mood.

Thoughts?! Have you tried Tom’s of Maine before? I am seriously considering moving to Bora Bora after taking a look at all of these pics… I am so madly in love.

A lot of you know that I use Collagen Peptides in my coffee every. single. morning. Ever since I started using it and posting about my undying love for the product, I have gotten a lot of questions about what collagen peptides are and what the health benefits and purpose of using them are!

I have learned a lot about the subject in the last few months due to working closely with Vital Proteins, and getting the lowdown on allllll the benefits from their awesome team. Plus, my skincare guru Lisa Hyde (listen to my podcast episode 8 to soak in her wisdom!) has been telling me about the benefits of collagen forever, and so has my nutritionist Kelly Leveque (podcast episode 5!).

( Sidenote, after I told the VP team that I was suffering from longtime hormone issues, they also sent me a bunch of Beef Liver, which has been a godsend, and I will be writing a separate post about that next week! Collagen ALSO helps hormone balance — but mainly it helps to balance out the negative effects of hormone imbalance like hair, skin, nail, bone issues! )

But today is all about COLLAGEN — so let’s dig in.

ALSO, we are doing a GIVEAWAYYYY of this RAD AMAZING PRODUCT below, so if you are skimming this post — just giving you a heads up so you don’t miss the opportunity to enter!

I’ll be real, I first learned about Vital Proteins & their collagen peptides by closely following (i.e. stalking) Jeannette Ogden of @shutthekaleup. If you are looking for an insanely inspirational + fun human to follow on Insta who has ALL of the best eats + wellness tips, check her out. She also loves rap music and has a freakishly cute baby so she is basically the best person to follow ever. (She will also be on the podcast this month!)

Just had to say that because I am so pleased that she kept posting about Vital Proteins, because I became intrigued by the product AND by their super cute + sleek branding, and had to see what they were all about for myself.

Skip ahead — I reach out, they send me product, I fall in love, I bring the collagen peptide stick packs with me everywhere, I sneak collagen into my parents’ coffee, I include the product on my holiday gift guide, I add it into my every day Bulletproof coffee recipe + routine, I include it in ALL of my photo shoots (“I’ll definitely wanna have these photos on hand, K Ash?” – Me) and I basically become a walking ambassador for the product because I bring it up to people on the daily.

So how could I not share the deets with you today!??!?

Let’s talk health benefits!

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides are sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine hides (so no, they’re not vegan — sorry veg peeps!), which ensures a natural, high quality, and sustainable source of nutrients. While they are not vegan, they are totally Kosher, Gluten Free, dairy-free, paleo and Whole-30 approved!

The main thing to know about collagen is that it is the most abundant protein in the body, as it supports the vitality of our skin, hair, tendons, cartilage, bones, and joints. When we do rigorous workouts or pound the pavement (runners, listen up!!) it breaks down the collagen that our body produces — so it’s extra important to take that extra step to replenish by adding it to our diets.

Collagen is SUPER hydrating to the skin, because it adds nourishment into the deep depths of our skin that are impossible to reach through topical skincare, healthy lifestyle etc.! Upon ingestion collagen is absorbed in our small intestine and then delivered to our skin through the bloodstream. Once we strengthen the collagen network in our skin from the inside out, it can better hold in water and hyaluronic acid (also key for glowy skin + keeping moisture in).

Also, it’s good to keep in mind that collagen is much better absorbed when we ingest it rather than using topical forms of collagen or relying on the body’s sole production of it. Collagen molecules are actually too big for our skin to absorb from the outside! So ingesting it, bringing it to the inside — to our small intestine and then our bloodstream — is the most effective way for our skin, hair nails, bones, cartilage and joints to reap the benefits.

Amazing, right?! Now let’s talk flavor.

The main question I’ve gotten from you guys is HOW does it taste, and does it have a taste at all? Great question!

Vital Proteins has two different types of Collagen Peptides — their new vanilla (HEAVEN!) and O.G. unflavored. When you add the unflavored into your coffee or a smoothie or juice, as long as it’s properly mixed or blended in, then you don’t taste it at all. It does add a bit of consistency to the liquid, sort of like a smoothie powder, but it’s nothing super noticeable. If anything, I enjoy the consistency it brings to my coffee!

The vanilla does have a flavor. It’s similar to a vanilla smoothie powder and also has a hint of coconut to it. In my opinion it tastes extremely natural and reminds me of vanilla bean ice cream and you can even see the little Madagascar vanilla bean flecks in the powder itself.

Both flavors have 20g of collagen per serving, which is an amazing source of nutrients for our bodies / skin! 1 scoop also has 90 calories, and 18g of protein. Pretty unreal, especially for exercise junkies like myself who are always looking for extra ways to sneak in the protein.

The Vanilla Collagen Peptides also have probiotics in them, which are of course great for our gut health and digestion. No wonder starting my day with Collagen Bulletproof makes me feel so dang ah-mazing.

There are NO fillers and NO preservatives in these products. Total staples in my diet, as I would never want to put anything fake into my body that I use on the DAILY.

So, to wrap it up:

If this was a lot of info for you to digest, let’s keep it simple and recap:

1. Collagen is amazing for our hair, skin, nails, tendons, bones and cartilage.
2. Collagen is best absorbed by ingesting it, so adding pure & natural sources of collagen into our diets is the way to go if we want to reap the benefits from the inside out.
3. Collagen promotes youthful, hydrated skin, hair + nails by diving deep into our layers of skin after being absorbed straight into the bloodstream.
4. You can choose between flavors, if you prefer the unflavored variety and just want to enjoy the health benefits, OR go with the vanilla if you’re looking for a yummy flavor to switch up your coffee or smoothies with.
5. Each serving has 20g collagen, 18g protein, and 90 calories. The nutrient profile is here is INSANE, if those numbers don’t mean much to you upon first glance!
6. The product is gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher, paleo, Whole-30 approved, totally natural with no preservatives or fillers, and FULLL of nutrients that your body and skin will be obsessed with.

GIVEAWAY!

Vital Proteins has been kind enough to partner with me to do a GIVEAWAY for you guys of this amazing product!!!

To enter, follow both of us on Instagram (they’re @vitalproteins, I’m @thebalancedblonde… which you probably know if you’re here, hehe) AND comment on THIS blog post + my INSTAGRAM post about why you want to try this product and how you think it would enhance your life.

(Bonus points if you take a sec to “rate + review” my PODCAST on iTunes, where I will soon be talking more about collagen and other similar types of supplements for our diet!)

I really only host giveaways for products I freakishly love, so this is a fun added bonus I am super stoked to be sharing with you guys. Will be choosing a winner a WEEK from today, so enter up!

Lastly…

I have to close out by saying that while I am extremely lucky and grateful to be partnering with Vital Proteins on my blog & social channels, I would have written this blog post and continued posting about them on social media REGARDLESS of any type of compensation. I wholeheartedly believe this is a product everyone should know about, and I do believe that adding Collagen Peptides into your diet is 150% worth the investment.

For those who have mentioned that they are bummed the product is not vegan due to the bovine hides, I just have to point out that there are no clean, efficient sources of collagen for the body that are 100% vegan. If veganism works for you, amazing! I personally experienced a lot of skin problems and nutrient deficiencies when I was vegan — and I wish I knew of a product I could recommend that would help with that. (You could try b12 supplements but they don’t work quite the magic that these peptides do!).

YES!!! So check them out, show them some love, enter our GIVEAWAY, and please let me know what you think of the product if you choose to introduce it into your life! You will NOT be sorry!! MUAH! #MOISTSKINFORLIFE

*PS if you’re not a coffee person and you want to get on the Bulletproof  / Collagen train, I would add MCT oil + collagen into a hot green tea or a clean protein shake!!!

I am so excited to have partnered with ASICS again (who remembers my ASICS Vine Body Sole Half Marathon with them, a.k.a best weekend ever?) — this time to participate in their super rad Remix Your Workout Challenge!

The cornerstone of this challenge is to try 5 new workouts in 5 days… and obvi, as a workout obsessed fitness freak, I took them up on that with no hesitation.

However, with my insanity schedule… it’s been more like 5 new workouts over the duration of November in general, with a LOT of yoga mixed in to keep myself sane.

The other (and perhaps most exciting) cornerstone of this challenge is a CONTEST we are running to give away a pair of ASICS’ brand new fuzeX TR sneaker! They have donated the shoes for this giveaway… so not sponsored by them, just legit realness!!!

THEY ARE SO COMFY, YOU GUYS. And supportive. I wore them for a bunch of my different remixed workouts this month, which I will share all about with you below!

But first… how to enter //

All you need to do is snap a photo or video of yourself remixing your workout and using the hashtags #RemixYourWorkout and #TBBmademedoit for a chance to win! I will be going through your photos and vids and choosing a winner who I think really extra killed it in the challenge.

I know you’ll ALL kill it, as you always do, so I really can’t wait to see what you come up with!

The reason why this challenge is near and dear to my fitness-lovin’ heart is because I am someone who can REALLY and truly get stuck in a stagnant routine if I don’t challenge myself to keep switching it up.

It took joining a marathon team with SIX very serious coaches (and one VERY, VERY serious coach who happens to be my next-door neighbor constantly checking in on me) to make running a regular part of my routine.

And it took committing to my 300-hr yoga training to re-dedicate myself to my yoga practice the way that I love to and that makes me feel best.

So, I imagine if it’s hard for me to switch it up, then other people may experience the same problem?

Let’s do this together & hold ourselves accountable! Whether it be 5 new workouts in 5 days, or ONE new workout this month… hop on it, my boos! I mean, you can win THESE SHOES — how cool?!

And if you live in LA… you can come take my class at So Cal Hot Yoga, or we can do CorePower or Playlist Yoga together! Endless options to keep it fresh & fun.

How I Remixed MY Workouts This Month //

This season has been a little funky for me with workouts. I am a self-certified exercise-a-holic. I mean, have you read my “Am I Even Fit?” blog post or my “Fitness Addict = Best Thing Ever” diatribe?

Yeah, you get the picture. I’m into it, and I’m pretty extreme.

So this season I actually chose to remix my workouts in a different, very self-care oriented way. I chose to SLOW it DOWN… which, honestly, has been a goal of mine for a very long time.

After the extremely wonderful self-care vibes during the entire week of my Panchakarma in September & after this podcast episode where Hudson straight up told me animal-communicator style that if I don’t slow down I’ll miss everything I want in life… I thought: shit, I *need* to slow down.

SO! Thanks to ASICS challenging me to mix it up, I thought HERE is my chance! Here are 5 new things I tried this November to remix my workout:

1. YIN YOGA: 

Okay, so this is a big one. I have never been one to get very into restorative yoga. As a yogi, I always felt self-conscious about this. Like, as someone who is so serious about the practice and traditions of yoga… WHY can’t I relax into long, slow, juicy holds and get myself to go to a yin class on a Sunday night instead of power through a super sweaty 75-min vinyasa flow followed by a 5-mile run?

This month, I have gotten INTO the yin lifestyle. Not only have I taken several yin classes at studios in my neighborhood, but I have also been TEACHING yin, which I will get to below! The ultimate form of relaxation and self-care.

2. LIGHT JOGGING:

This is another big one for me. When I run, I tend to push myself as hard as humanly possible. I get sort of competitive with my times, so especially when it comes to a 5k or 10k race… I push, push, push.

The light jogging lifestyle is something I have always yearned for and thought would be so nice, but I always ended up pushing myself so hard on a run that it was anything but meditative!

This month, I’ve been challenging myself to keep my runs short, slow paced, and reflective. Since my LIFE has been so high-intensityand fast-paced lately, using jogging as a tool to reflect on the day, get creatively inspired for new projects, and brainstorm ideas has been AWESOME.

In HIIT studio classes, I have tried to be okay with the light jogging rather than sprinting on the treadmill. It’s actually been VERY freeing!

3. PLAYLIST YOGA:

Playlist Yoga is THE BOMB! Yoga may not seem like a “remix” to my workouts, but you have no idea how routine I get with the yoga studios I go to! I have been going to YogaWorks and CorePower (and now So Cal Hot Yoga in my neighborhood) for YEARS… and almost never allow myself to switch it up because I’m a routine kind of gal — and because I usually only work out in Brentwood.

Playlist is sort of a drive for me because it’s in West Hollywood. But I love the studio and find myself thinking all of the time WHY I don’t go there more often! So this challenge was the perfect excuse for me to get my booty over there and take a sweaty, music-driven vinyasa class with their awesome instructor Jake!

4. TEACHING YOGA, vs. always practicing hardcore:

It has been such a DREEEAAAM come true to start teaching yoga in a studio! I have seriously fantasized and dreamt of this day since I was 14-years-old, but never fully took the plunge until immersing myself in my 300-hr training this year and beginning to teach at So Cal Hot Yoga this month.

It’s been scary, exhilarating, challenging, exciting, soul-nourishing, sweaty (I mean, it’s hot in there…!) and rewarding AF.

Because my schedule is nuts right now, whenever I commit to teach (I am mainly subbing right now, and I say “yes” to every sub opportunity hat I can) that usually means I forego my own workout for the day.

For a workout nut, do you have ANY idea how much of a remix that is? Committing to teach instead of practice? It means I’ve developed more of a consistent home practice… which is the ultimate letting go for me, since I always considered that to “not be a real workout” in the past.

It’s also the ultimate form of self-care, because this has been a goal of mine for EVER. It feels pretty awesome to dive in, even though it’s meant taking on a massive schedule shift for me!

5. DEEP STRETCHING POST-WORKOUT:

Since I am a go-go-go kinda gal, I usually tend to rush through my post-workout stretches — at the expense of being very sore and tight later on.

Through this ASICS challenge, I have committed myself to DEEP STRETCHING after every major workout… including yoga!

I did try some new workouts this month — boxing, barre and Zumba — and those required major stretching afterward.

It feels good to finally dedicate myself to something I know is so good for my body and so necessary for feeling my best in general as an athlete, a yogi, a runner, and a PERSON who is trying to keep it all together with a very insane schedule of current life commitments.

So guys!! JOIN ME & remix YOUR workout with ASICS this season! Share your workout photos + videos on social media with #RemixYourWorkout & #TBBmademedoit, and I will be choosing a winner by the end of the month!

XO

Photo credit to Ashley Streff for all of the beautiful photos in this post! And thank you to ASICS for sponsoring this blog post and getting me out of my usual bubble of high intensity!

There’s also a GIVEAWAY (!!!!) in there of my current favorite beverage, soooo keep your eyes peeled.

LOVING LATELY ► ▷ ▸ ▹ ►

Partner Yoga: I think I’ve mentioned a time or two how obsessed I’ve gotten with The Southern Yogi & Jessica Olie on Instagram. Their partner yoga has inspired me to try new things in my practice, especially since yoga is becoming such a big part of my life again (300-hr training starting in June — ahhh!). Luckily my BFF Alexi is down to try a bunch of poses with me, and we’ve been having so much fun playing around with them. We snapped a few of these pics last Sunday… More to come! WITH matching outfits next time. We aren’t messing around.

Cooking at HOME: I go through waves with cooking at home. I really, really like to do it, and I feel so much better when I am consistently eating home-prepped meals, but I also let time get away from me and end up eating out so much. I make plans to meet friends for dinner, grab lunch while I’m out after a workout or in-between meetings, etc. This past Sunday I spent a ton of time at the farmer’s market picking out things that I knew would be perfect for a good meal prep sesh.

I ended up filling about 8 tupperware with sautéed veggies, ground chicken and this delicious sun-dried tomato and egg white dip that I found at the farmer’s market. I made some black beans and brown rice on the side that I’ve been incorporating too. Then I made the BESTTTT muffins that are a play on my superfood cookies dough balls — I will share the recipe once I perfect it a little more!! They taste amazing now but need a little more density to their consistency.

Aloe Gloe: Okay I am downright obsessed with aloe water right now, and the brand Aloe Gloe is organic, made in California, low in sugar, and full of more than 200 biologically active amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants, enzymes and minerals. Aloe water is great for your skin, cardiovascular system, and your digestion/tummy!

They have been kind enough to partner with me for a GIVEAWAYYYY so that one of you guys will get to try a box of their four different Aloe Gloe flavors! They have original (my favorite), white grape, lemonade, and coconut.

To enter, simply comment on this post telling me why you’d like to try the product — and bonus parts for following them on Instagram!

People Who are KIND + GOOD VIBEY: Some people suck my energy, as I am reminded from time to time. Luckily I am surrounded by people who have great energy and shine so much light and positivity. Occasionally when I am not, and I spend a good chunk of time with someone who sucks my energy out of me, it reminds me to pour even more energy & love into those people who have proven time and again to be so wonderful. The reminder of being around energy-suckers isn’t always fun, but it happens to the best of us and I think its only necessary to remind us WHO/WHAT is important in our lives!

Cute graphic tees: We are going through a little TBV Apparel rebrand right now, which I am so beyond stoked about. But that doesn’t mean I don’t also fall in love with / get inspiration from other lines sometimes. I am totally in love with this Ohm Boy tee from Rie + Ryn. The line is designed by two best friends who share a mutual love for yoga and music — YES — and is all about street to studio wear. My kinda stuff! I love, love.

Rocked it yesterday at Bondi Harvest in Santa Monica with my TBB team discussing new APP developments!! EEK!

Spotify’s “Discover Weekly:” I may have been the last one to the game on this one, but I’m obsessed with it right now and have discovered some major gems… Including a song called “Weathered” by Jack Garratt. It’s so good and I wanna find a way to incorporate it into one of my videos!!

OKAY. That’s it for now because I’m running out the door to make it to OrangeTheory to work out with some of my BFF’s this morning. What are YOU loving lately?! Oh, and be sure to enter the Aloe Gloe giveaway!! XO 

Satya’s team helped us come up with our Vibes Don’t Lie phrase for our grey pullover, which not only remains one of our best-sellers but has also become such a cornerstone life mantra for our brand to abide by. Not to mention a phrase I throw around in my personal life & relationships like it ain’t no thang.

Really though… You should hear some of the conversations we have in a typical TBV meeting. If we don’t whip out a “Vibes don’t lie,” “Namaste or Whatever,” “Buddha for Prez,” “High on Good Vibes,” or “Just Let That Shit Go, Homie,” in straight up regular conversation then it wouldn’t be a normal day for us.

The perks of having really high vibrational awesome good energy t-shirt phrases. I try to surround myself with nothing OTHER than good vibes in every area of my life — ask any of my friends or fam. I am all about that soul cleansing + space creating + nooooo room for negativity or non-genuineness.

Why We Love Satya

Satya Jewelry is meaningful, inspiring and beautiful — their business is rooted in the high vibe life just like ours is, and they are globally conscious on top of their timeless style. Their mission is to inspire each person’s own individual truth, and I couldn’t feel a more real or personal connection to that. In both TBB and TBV Apparel, that is what I strive to do on a daily basis, and to see other companies with such down to earth and purposeful missions makes my heart sing.

Below I am wearing my favorite Satya pieces with our Buddha for Prez swoop– you can shop the whole outfit on their site!

TBV x Satya Round II – GIVEAWAY!

Which brings me to our new collab with Satya. We had so much fun with the first one, we figured why not bring the power duo back and do something new and fun together. It’s so great in this online sphere to find other brands that align so closely with your own mission, and when you do — you gotta take advantage of that synergy and create awesomeness together!

This time we have partnered to sell TBV Buddha for President tees on their site, and they will be giving away one stretch bracelet with every sale!

Additionally, we will be giving away TWO Buddha for President tees to two separate winners chosen at random on social media. The contest will be open for 7 days, so I will choose a winner ONE WEEK from today! All you have to do to enter is…

1. Repost one of the photos from this blog post
2. TAG @tbvapparel & @satyajewelry
3. Hashtag #TBVxSatya #tbvapparel #satyajewelry
4. Write a fun little caption telling us why you’d like to win the shirt! (IT’S SO COMFY & CUTE YOU’LL DIE.)

PS… If you follow my snapchat (@jojoyounger), then you know that I recently gifted the gorgeous Scorpio Zodiac necklace to my assistant Danika because it fits her personality so mucho. It looks amazing on her and I am so thrilled to gift a few others to come of my favorite Zodiac-savvy lady loves in my life.

Who’s ready to enter! Head over to INSTAGRAM and get to postin’… If you don’t have an Instagram, feel free to comment below and I will include you in the list of winners that I chose from! Xx

Satya doesn’t look half bad with our Oh Kale Yes swoop either.

I don’t know what I expected to see… Perfect days that included jet-setting to Europe or frolicking around a beach in the tropics. Meeting the love of your life or attending a blowout red carpet event. Suddenly waking up with the vocal talent of Adele or with the rock hard abs of a fitness model. I didn’t expect any of that, but somehow it also took reading the unity in your responses in order for me to see how much power there is in the simplicity.

One of my lovely readers, Trista, wrote this poignant response in the comments section of the post:

“As I read through many of the responses to your question: What is your perfect day? I realized that so many of us have many of the same desires. Several readers wrote that their perfect day includes sunny weather, feeling well rested, enjoying delicious meals, soaking in quality time with loved ones, and getting to be active. It is pretty incredible to think that no one envisions lavish escapes via private jets to an exquisite island when they describe their perfect day. Clearly we all have little perfect pieces in all of our days that, when strung together, create the absolute perfect day. Simple, but powerful.”

How freaking awesome is that? We are envisioning our perfect day, and it seems like to the vast majority of us that day simply includes waking up well rested, sipping our morning coffee, spending time with loved ones, engaging in things that inspire us (reading good books and blogs, journaling, meditating, yoga, stretching in the morning), hitting up our favorite restaurants, cooking heathy food in the comfort of our own home, breaking a sweat and having nowhere pressing to be. I thought I was an old-soul weirdo for ending my perfect day with an early night in reading a good book or cuddling on the couch with someone I love. But it seems like we all love and crave that type of simplicity, and that makes me extremely happy to hear.

It mainly makes me happy because if our perfect days are so attainable, that means that a lot of us are already leading lives that we love — or at least that ultimate contentment is within VERY close reach. Sure, it can be hard to block out a full day to have no external responsibilities… But having days like those are so necessary to our health, happiness and wellbeing. If you’re like me and have the tendency to overcommit, start thinking about what you say “yes” and “no” to, especially when it comes to your free time.

What if you could block off a day or two every single week that would be your exact perfect day? A beautiful balance of getting rest, being active, spending time with loved ones, doing things that feed your passions, eating well and doing what you need to do to feel inspired?

And the cool thing is — the contents of that perfect day are allowed to change. Sometimes you might need more you time, more rest, and more reflection. Other days, you might be in the mood to be surrounded by people who lift you up and to be super active. I have “perfect days” that consist of doing absolutely NOTHING other than reading books on my couch, watching Netflix and cuddling with Hudson. I have other perfect days that are more outwardly productive, active and social as can be.

It’s a balance.

Surprised to hear me say that?

Honestly, thank you so much for sharing your perfect days with me. It is not only inspiring to read what makes you guys happy, but it’s also incredibly fulfilling for me to hear that many of the things I cherish most in life are also cherished by you guys. In the fast-paced world we live in, I think it can be easy to undervalue the art of simplicity sometimes. Just because our perfect days include it, doesn’t always mean that it sounds most exciting or glamorous in the moment.

But it is glamorous. It is glamorous to be in love with your life, whatever that looks like for you. And if nothing else, that’s what I want for myself, for you and for all of us. Creating space to be happy means that we unlock our full potential for creativity, loving those around us and being our best selves.

Thanks so much for sharing with me, and if you haven’t shared yet — feel free to share YOUR perfect day below! I will never get tired of reading what you have to say.

And as for the winner of the MZ Wallace giveaway, even though ALL of your perfect days are so incredibly awesome, I am choosing miss Trista Johnson as the winner. Her perfect day included an amazing mix of inspiration and taking action in her own life — and her observation about all of our perfect days being rooted in simplicity inspired this entire post. If you want to read her response, head to the comments section of Tuesday’s post & search for her name!

Lots of love! I hope you all find yourselves having a perfect day this weekend.

Seriously, you can ask my mom (hehe), because I keep forwarding some of the nicest emails to her since you all are so good to me you make me want to pinch myself to make sure all of this is real!!! Is it real? I still don’t fully believe it…

If you haven’t pre-ordered yet (which most people haven’t, since I posted about tit on Saturday and lots of people don’t check the Internet on Saturdays– unless you’re crazy like me – or AWESOME like a bunch of you!), you can do so here: Breaking Vegan Pre-Order!!!!

Also, within hours of my posting the book reached a #1 Best-Seller on Amazon in the “Vegan Diets” section, which I find ironic in so many ways — I mean, you all know why it made me giggle. But still PRETTY darn cool nonetheless!

With the book cover & pre-sales finally out there into the world, I feel like I can really get a move on with what I am MOST passionate about: sharing this story with all of you, in hopes that it helps you find BALANCE and happiness in your own life. Whether that be balance through healing an eating disorder, balance in quitting a job you don’t like in order to follow your heart and live fully, balance to stop being so extreme in a certain area of your life (exercise! food! relationships!) or just balance in general in this crazy big jumbled but wonderful thing we call life.

ALSO, while I really wish that the book was available now– it is still publishing on November 1st. It’s just the way the publishing world works — but really November is right around the corner! That’s why I have developed lots and lots of cool things to keep you satisfied in the meantime, like: the Breaking Vegan GIVEAWAY (nine different prize baskets!!! read the post below to find out more), the FREE recipe ebook everyone gets for pre-ordering the book, the weekly email list specifically for everyone who pre-orders, annndd 500 signed book plates for the first 500 people who pre-order. (Yes, there are still spots! So pre-order for a personalized signed book plate from me!)

I am also Skyping with the first 10 awesome people who pre-ordered the book and emailed me. I can’t wait to see your shining faces!

Other than all that, I want to keep you all very updated on this journey via VIDEO & the bloggy. Send in any questions you might have for me about the book, and I will answer them in a Q&A video either tomorrow or Wednesday, depending on how many q’s roll in! Write them in the comments below, on my Instagram or email me. I will be on the lookout.

Keep talking to me!!! I have spent the whole entire day responding to emails from people who have pre-ordered, and I don’t want to stop now! I can’t possibly think of a more fun or amazing way to spend my Monday.

Lastly: This Just In!!! We are adding a 10th giveaway to the giveaway basket for people who pre-order, which is a month’s supply of SUJA JUICE! Order away, my lovies!!! (For a recap of the rest of the giveaway prizes, see post below! I will also be highlighting each prize over the next 2 weeks so you can learn all about them!)

I can’t tell you how incredible it’s been to take an Internet break for a whole entire WEEK! I just opened my email in a second tab and seeing the rising numbers flashing (let’s just say we’ve reached quadruple digits) would normally give me an unreal amount of anxiety, but I am surprisingly calm. I will get to them when I get home, and this time in Costa Rica, surrounded by incredible souls & basically living on the ocean, has been invaluable for my mind, body and heart.

I needed a vacation more than I realized. And the fact that this was a vacation with a killer group of yogis who are allll here for different reasons but we all love the same thing (y-o-g-a) made this trip totally different from what I am used to and really helped me unwind. I turned my texting off for nearly the entire week — say whaaattt?! Yeah. Amazing.

I have a few fun Costa Rica posts lined up (in my mind) for when I get back… but today I want to share something else with you. It’s a two in one because it’s my go-to vacation smoothie recipe, especially on this trip, AND it also includes a giveaway hosted by the awesome Bai antioxidant infusion drink company. You should remember them by now if you spend time on this bloggy, because I work with them quite frequently. (Read: I am obsessed with them. It’s a mutual love affair. For the record, their Molokai Coconut flavor is my all time favorite.)

Giveaway!!!

Bai & I have teamed up to do a pretty amazing giveaway if you ask me. As a part of their fun Smoothie Madness campaign, they are giving away $1,500 total to Whole Foods, 40 free cases of Bai, a Vitamix, a year’s supply of Bai, and a FLVR shirt.

To enter, all you have to do is post a smoothie recipe with Bai in it & tag them on social media. Simple as that! I will be choosing the Blogger’s Favorite award, which is $100 to Whole Foods + 10 free cases of Bai! Hell to the YEAH!

And in honor of the giveaway, I am sharing my favorite banana shake recipe with you. We have all been drinking it here in Costa Rica because, well, let’s just say that the food and water isn’t 100% agreeing with all of us here… And bananas + rice milk together are so unbelievably tasty, healing, full of nutrients and easy on the tummy.

One of my BFFs that I am here with likes this with whole milk (or maybe it’s 2%? We can’t tell) and it legitimately tastes like a milkshake. He was shaking his head while I was sipping on it during this lil’ photo shoot, because we all know what dairy does to my tummy… NO bueno.

Warning: This recipe is very simple.
Double Warning: That’s the awesome part about it.

Banana Shake Recipe:

1 banana

1 cup rice milk (or any type of dairy-free milk)

1/2 cup ice

Optional: a few pinches of stevia or coconut sugar

I’m telling you guys, it’s REAL good.

Head over to Instagram to enter the contest– you could be the winner of $100 to Whole Foods + a free case of Bai! Oh, also, CONGRATS to Miss Emily Korengold for winning my Suja giveaway of $500 to Whole Foods + a Breville juicer!!! FUN FUN! I will be choosing a winner on May 15th!

Alright, love you all so much. This was fun. I’ve missed blogging. But now I am all recharged and energized and excited to hop into next week with some fun posts for you all!