I am headed back to Bali TONIGHT for the rest of the month of April… and I am so unbelievably excited I could burst.

I will be writing a full blog post about why I am going on this solo trip and what has inspired me to embark on a new way of life — a life I will be contemplating in Bali and diving deep into so that when I return I will be able to incorporate my new way of living into my daily life.

The SHORT STORY: I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I have not been well this year, which you can read the most about here.

The FULL STORY: Coming soon. Not sure how soon, because I am playing my blog writing schedule very much by ear while I am there. Could be Day One, could be deep into the trip. We shall see!

Anyway, I wanted to share one big ol’ LOVING LATELY post before I head out on my trip to leave you angels with all sorts of things I have been loving these days!

LOVING LATELY // 3.4.18

DIGITAL DETOX & LUCID DREAMING //

Lately I have been taking an hour to two hours off of from my phone before I go to sleep, largely thanks to Jonathan for being really good about reminding me how important it is and how much I want to stay on top of it.

I won’t lie, when he’s not with me I still have a tendency to check my phone like a maniac right up until I get in bed. What can I say, I love responding to you guys and commenting back on IG and scrolling all of the accounts that I love. But I will say, that is more of a daytime thing and not something I want to focus on at night anymore.

The last several nights Jonathan and I (and Huddy, of course) have stretched, done yoga on the floor, meditated, written poetry, and just soaked each other in rather than being on our phones or staying in workaholic mode. It has been so nice, and has reminded me what this life is all about. It’s about CONNECTION… in real life, not on the screens.

Anyway, thanks to taking time off of my phone before bed, I have gotten into this incredible subconscious pre-dream DREAM MODE before sleep every night. It’s this incredible frame of mine where I am able to exist with so much awareness inside of my subconscious. I have seen so much from Tibetan Sanskrit texts that I was able to READ (no joke — past life memory of sorts?!) to random memories from childhood that have been lodged in my subconscious for years, to dream state ideas and places that I go while asleep — but WHILE I am awake.

Sometimes I am jolted back to reality because my rashes have still been so terrible that I will remember that my entire body is itchy and on fire. If you’ve ever had eczema, you know that nighttime is the worst. My acupuncturist says it’s because it’s the YIN time of day, which is the time of the blood. Since rashes are inflammation of the blood and blood flow constriction, it makes a ton of sense.

Regardless, I dive back into my lucid dreams pretty easily once I am able to re-relax myself, and for a chronic insomniac like myself… it’s been an amazing way to drift back off to sleep and avoid insomnia.

If you’ve never done it… TRY IT! I promise it isn’t that hard. Meditate before bed, light some candles, clear your mind, brain dump your day into a journal, and see where your mind takes you when you lay down.

LIVING IN SWIMSUITS & COZY CLOTHES //

I am sooooo into living in swimsuits lately. Maybe its the fact that my body has been broken out in head to toe rashes for 4 months straight (you can def see them in these photos) so anything that BARELY covers my skin is key, or maybe its the fact that something in me ignited this year and I have never been more comfortable in my skin or proud of my own body before. Regardless… I am ABOUT the swimsuits right now. And the beachy clothing.

And living at the beach. I know so man of you reading don’t live near the beach so you may not feel me on this one, but you know what it feels like when it’s summertime. Now envision summertime pretty much year round — and that’s been life in LA lately. It’s been the warmest, sunniest winter. And now that I am heading to Bali I am just going to take the beachwear to the next level!

Lately I have been LOVING the site Backcountry annnddd I’ll tell ya why. The main thing I love about them is that you don’t have to sacrifice fashion for function when it comes to swimwear. When you have boobs like this sista over here (oh hey), the last thing you want is a super flimsy (yet cute, but flimsy AF) bathing suit where you have to worry about your boobs falling out of if you even stand up from your lounge chair. I don’t know about you, but I’m about the surfing, paddle boarding, beach yoga, and ocean dips. Ya feel me?

I also love Backcountry because they have not only Swimwear but the cutest Spring Lifestyle Collection. You babes are going to love what you see — some of my most favorite brands there are from Seafolly to Vitamin A, and I even got these badass ray bans there! So PINK and so fun!

Also, these Prana shorts are my fave. Fun fact? I hosted an event with Prana in Manhattan Beach back in the day when I was a new yoga teacher! They are the kindest company, and SoCal locals.

And I highly doubt it will come as a shock to you guys that I am a Birkenstock person. I mean… isn’t it written all over me?

Anyway, long story short, Backcountry is your one stop shop for all things swimwear, spring looks, and comfy beachy clothes. You guys are always asking me what I am loving on the fashion front so I wanted to share more!

MANIFESTATION //

Let’s talk about manifestation. It is SO REAL. Check out this Manifesting 101 post I did a few months back for the basics.

But now I wanna update you some of the things I have manifested into my life!

For one, a few months ago I told Jonathan I was going to manifest having Trevor Hall on my podcast. He has been one of my spiritual idols and my #1 favorite musician since I was about 14 years old. I had no connections to him when I told the universe I wanted him on the pod, but very shortly after I started meeting people who knew him. One thing lead to the next, and I had him on for the first time back in December.

Fast forward to today… my SECOND (not first, but second!) episode with Trevor came out today. On today’s episode we are talking everything from his spiritual practices, to his latest album (check it out, it’s everything), to how he met his wife. CHECK OUT the ep, and let us know what you think!

Secondly, several months back all I wanted in my life was to be surrounded by healers, intuitives, and conscious doctors who could help me get to the bottom of my health and skin issues. Lately, my days are filled with appointments with incredible healers from shamanic facialists, to shamanic medicine readers, to straight up shamans, to reiki masters, medical mediums, kundalini gurus, and more.

These are not necessarily people I have sought out! Almost all of these people have come to me in one form or another to be of service in different areas I am struggling with. It has been incredible not only from a healing standpoint, but also just from a high vibe standpoint of being surrounded by such magical humans.

Also, this trip to Bali was 100% manifested!

I have also booked about 5 more DREAM GUESTS on the podcast to the point where its almost making me laugh how accurately the universe responds when we send it the message that we KNOW what we want.

MY YOGA HOME PRACTICE //

I have not been able to go to my regular heated yoga studios for MONTHS because of everything my skin has been going through. Truly, right now, I have bright red welts all over my chest, arms, stomach, and legs. It feels like they’re on fire. One of the worst things I could do for my skin is move and twist and sweat in a hot room.

It’s been ROUGH, because yoga is a part of my identity. I didn’t miss a single day at the yoga studio for years. YEARS. This is no exaggeration, this is legit how much it means to me.

But the blessing in disguise is that I have really created a yoga home practice in a brand new way. Last year I got pretty into doing yoga at home because I was doubling up on the yoga during my teacher training — yoga at home, yoga in the studio, teaching yoga, all of it. That is how I created my Soul on Fire Yoga E-Book, purely for people who wanted to practice at home but weren’t sure where to begin!

I have been loving practicing on my floor lately, in the comfort of my own home where I can hang with my Squeak, stretch, flow, make up my own flows, blast my own music, improve upon poses that I have always wanted to master but don’t get touched on often in classes, and more. It has been empowering in a big way, and so enjoyable.

JADE ROLLING & GEMSTONE ROLLING //

I wrote this post on jade rolling and if you haven’t checked it out, pop on over there! Jade rolling, gemstone rolling, and all around lymphatic drainage has been an absolute game changer for my skin lately.

I have also been getting weekly FACIALS from the best of the best in LA. I am working on a fave facials in LA blog post that will be up very soon! Not sure how soon… since I am going to take time to myself in Bali, but it will be up whenever it’s supposed to be.

Boom! What are YOU loving lately?! TELL MEEEE.

Also, check out Backcountry and their amaze swimsuits and Spring looks! If you get this Seafolly suit from this post, SEND ME A PIC! Tag me on IG #tbbmademedoit and it will make me smile. Functional and adorable, all at the same time. You can shop the looks below!

WISH ME LUCK on my flight to Bali toniiiiiight!! So, so, so ready to be there and bliss the F out. Will take you all along for the ride, in whichever way feels the best. <3 ALL OF MY LOVE.

It’s time to add onto my “WHY ___?” series, featuring some of the fab wellness practices & go-to’s you guys ask me the most about. Because let’s be honest, I am obsessed with all of it, and I never stop searching for all of the high vibe amazingness to add to my routine.

We’ve covered “Why Probiotics?” “Why Panchakarma?” & “Why CBD?” to name a few… and now it’s time to hit up one of my favorite skincare practices!

This skincare must is also BUDGET-FRIENDLY, because I never want to neglect or alienate those who are dying to incorporate all things wellness & high vibe into their lives without breaking the bank.

You can buy one of these bad boys for about $8 on Amazon, and if you take good care of it, it will last you for a longggg time. There also more expensive options, depending on your preferences which I will link to throughout!

So, what is this skincare technique that I am raving on about?

Drum roll please…

JADE ROLLING.

Or should I say, gemstone rolling in general!

We all know I love crystals, so the first time I heard about putting crystals on my face for SKINCARE, it pretty much sounded like the most exciting idea ever.

Jade rolling has so many benefits for our skin, from the spiritual to the scientific. Of course I fell in love with it for the woo-woo reasons initially (crystals… I die for them), and wound up reaping the very pragmatic skincare benefits on top of it.

So let’s dive right into the WHY //

+ SPIRITUALLY… gemstone rolling has been an Eastern skincare practice for centuries, as jade is associated with protecting against negative energy and helping to balance our body’s energetic life force (or chi).

+ In Traditional Chinese Medicine, jade rolling is right up there with acupuncture & cupping when it comes to balancing us out where we are out of whack. Think anxiety, fatigue, pain, exhaustion, female problems, skin issues, etc.

+ SCIENTIFICALLY… jade rolling increases blood circulation, assists in lymphatic drainage, and diminishes the appearance of fine lines.

+ It also helps serums, lotions and cleaners soak more deeply into our skin (right now I am loving my Botanics facial oil from their Organics line, CLEARstem anti-acne stem cell serum (created by my girl KAYLEIGH CLARK), Natura Culina cleansers, and all things Cocokind — especially the Turmeric Stick)

+ Personally I have found that jade rolling and rose quartz rolling for 10 minutes in the morning, and 10 minutes at night has reduced the puffiness in my face TENFOLD. It helps to drain the lymph so the bags under our eyes are not quite so dark / puffy, our cheekbones pop, and overall our face is slimmer and more naturally contoured.

+ It helps to stimulate collagen, brighten your complexion, and due to the energy-balancing properties can even boost your mood.

+ Our facial muscles store a LOT of tension (especially if you’re a grinder like me… #TMJproblems) so the roller helps to release those muscles and iron everything back out.

+ My facialist told me the other day that when her clients have terrible acne she spends the majority of time with them doing lymphatic drainage massage. The massage is extremely light to the touch since the lymph is directly under our skin, and it helps stagnant energy and fluids under the skin start moving to clear the way for releasing toxins.

And then there is the HOW //

+ The traditional way to do it is to roll the jade or quartz roller in an upward motion (we never want to pull our face down — gravity is already doing that LOL), working from the neck toward the forehead. Then move in an outward motion so the toxins and buildup are able to drain through the lymph nodes. (We have glands on either side of the neck, under the jaw, and behind the ears.)

+ Also, moving in the upward motion will help the skin cells absorb more product because of the way that they are shaped. Our skin is so sensitive, it will be so happy for the extra absorption boost.

+ You can do it for as little or as long as you’d like, but my preferred timing is 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes at night, when I have the time. That is when I really see the most benefits. Then when I am able to work regular facials into that routine, the benefits sky rocket!

+ It is shocking SIMPLE! It also feels REALLY GOOD and I like to spend a lot of extra time around my jaw line because of my TMJ.

Does it Actually Work? //

+ The most common question is… does it ACTUALLY work? (My BFF Rachel Mansfield asks me this daily, lol.) I think as with everything, we have to try it for ourselves and see if the practice resonates with us. For me personally… the answer is YES! Many of you know I struggle with hormonal acne and extreme skin disorders due to autoimmune responses, and this practice has greatly reduced inflammation, redness, puffiness, and acne… as well as contoured my face and made me feel more like ME!

+ There is no denying that it stimulates blood flow and collagen, because once you roll for about 10 minutes the proof is in the pudding. Your face will SHOW YOU what’s up, and it will feel and look very “drained” (lymphatically, not the tired kind of drained) and awake.

– If jade rolling doesn’t do it for you, I am also obsessed with this rose quartz roller. Rose quartz is all about LOVE, self-love, and self-care… so if you are trying to up your self-care vibes, this is a great place to start and will equally stimulate blood flow and reduce inflammation.

PRO TIPS //

+ Store your rollers in the fridge for an extra anti-inflammatory effect and a really delicious feel-good cooling facial massage… especially if you’re prone to redness and breakouts!

+ Meditate with the rollers once you get them and give them a purpose. Just like all crystals, your gemstone rollers will want to be given a unique purpose in order for the spiritual healing benefits to be ignited. You can even sage them or use Palo Santo to cleanse the energy when they first arrive to you!

+ Clean them under boiling hot water every few days to get the germs, products & toxins off — especially since you’re using on your face daily!

Options //

I linked to the $8 roller that I think is amazing. Take good care of it because I have noticed the wiring is a bit delicate so mine broke in my travel bag (sad) but then again I could have wrapped it up nicer before traveling and that wouldn’t have happened!

This is my personal fave rose quartz roller, and it works extremely well.

This is the jade roller I bought after my first one broke and it comes with a Gua Sha massage tool as well… which I also love!

YOU HONESTLY CAN’T GO WRONG so don’t feel obligated to spend more $ — they are all equally good in my opinion.

Should I do a YOUTUBE Tutorial for How to Jade Roll?! I just ordered a new vlogging camera and I am so freaking excited.

Thoughts?! Into it?! More skincare posts?!

Currently working on a FACIALS IN LA post that will likely go live this week… annndddd hosting a GIVEAWAY of one of my fave skincare serums (BOTANICS!) on my latest IG… go enter! You can enter as many times as you’d like!! XOXO

P.S. MY BLOG SUBSCRIPTION NEWSLETTER IS COMING BACK. I AM SO FREAKING HAPPY I COULD CRY. I LOST IT FOR TWO YEARS. Subscribe below to get back on the list. <3

[yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ title=”1″ description=”1″]

LOVE Y’ALL HAPPY MONDAY!

(P.S. if you’ve never rated & reviewed a podcast, all you have to do is type ‘The Balanced Blonde Podcast’ into the iTunes Store Podcast section, click on ‘Ratings & Reviews’ and then click on the stars to rate and ‘Write a Review’ to review! Simpler than it sounds.)

SO STOKED, because I am a firm believer that everyone needs to get cupped and see for themselves how amazing the practice is. Kara uses & sells heart-shaped cups (she and her mom invented them) so that’s why her sessions are called love cupping sessions.

We tried to answer as many FAQ’s about acupuncture, cupping, Oriental Medicine, herbs, treatment for eczema / hives / female issues / hormones as possible… so let us know below if you have further questions!

Now it’s time for a LOVING LATELY, my longtime favorite way to connect with you guys on the blog. If you’re new to the bloggy, these posts are basically where I share in list format what I am obsessed with lately, things I think you’ll like to check out, etc. It’s fun. I love a good list.

Loving Lately // 2.21.18

1. Checking my email ONCE a day or less! 

Okay this might sound crazy for any entrepreneur / business owner, but checking my email once a day OR LESS has been the hugest saving grace & most amazing positive change in my daily life. For YEARS I felt like I was chained to my email, which was a shame because I built this blog & lifestyle so that I could have a super flexible schedule with lots of time to be creative, play, do yoga, connect with people who inspire me, reflect on new ideas, meditate, create content, the list goes on. That list does not really include email.

Of course emailing is a facet of my business and any business, so it’s gotta get done & also get done in a relatively timely manner, but if someone is getting a response within 24-48 hours of sending a request or message… I think that is pretty darn timely. And if I miss a window of opportunity because something was super urgent, it probably wasn’t my kind of opportunity to begin with. This is something I really learned to accept when I was in Bali — when I took TWELVE DAYS away from email completely — because I did miss a lot of cool opportunities and brand partnerships that needed immediate responses, and it was pretty amazing to me HOW EASY IT WAS FOR ME TO ACCEPT that those opps weren’t meant for me in the first place.

No sweat off my back, at all. Because when we take the approach that life is abundant, that there are an abundance of opportunities that are meant for us and will make their way to us when we are open to them, there is no such thing as a missed opportunity. Because it literally wasn’t meant for us in the first place. And I am here to say for everything that I “missed” because I wasn’t able to respond while on vacation in Bali with the love of my life… ten times bigger & better things have taken their place. Because those original things simply weren’t for me — and I hope whoever those opportunities went to had their lives & workflows enhanced because those opps were for THEM.

The solo hike I went on this week (and it started RAINING out of NOWHERE! It was so beautiful I cried) because I ditched my email for the afternoon to ground & EARTH.

Anyway, I digress. Checking my email once a day has opened me up to do all of the things I always dreamed of doing but felt I didn’t have time for. Getting outside daily, either by solo hiking (where I get all of my best thinking done), going on a walk with one of my best friends, going to the beach, or taking myself on an adventure where I feel completely in the flow. It also gives my brain a rest to wake up and know that I am not going to be chained to my email — I can wake up, do my morning routine, take a yoga class, give Huddy my undivided attention, write a blog post, record a podcast episode, and THEN check email for an hour or less… it’s brilliant and why wasn’t I doing this ALWAYS?!?!

This book really helped me when it came to learning how to use time more efficiently and not be 100% tied to my email. Highly recommend!

2. Spending time offline with my love at the Ojai Valley Inn last week & weekend! 

Between the two of us and our crazy schedules, getting away to a quiet, serene, relaxing area awayyyy from the cities every so often is exactly what we need. We got to relax, ride bikes, get massages, see Nicola (you can listen to my podcast episode with her here, she is AMAZING) for energy alchemy sessions, try out some delicious vegetarian restaurants in downtown Ojai, explore, and soak in each other’s love.

The hotel is truly one of my favorite places in the world. I stayed there for the first time about a year ago for my best friend Danielle’s birthday, and we all feel deeply in love with the serenity, the stunning grounds, and the way it somehow feels just like home.

Their apothecary is truly GOLD! I could get lost in there for hours. And our room was right across the way!

They were also super accommodating with all of my food sensitivities & difficulties right now (try coming off of a full Panchakarma + liver cleanse and having hives / eczema / parasites / more and then going right into a vacation… #eek) which I so, so, so appreciate.

The Ojai Valley Inn has offered this code: TBB2018 for 15% off of your stay if you book before May 31st, 2018 (the trip can be anytime from now until July 31st, 2018 — it just has to be booked by the end of May)! They are offering midweek trips but you can also do as we did and extend that stay through the weekend so you’re still getting a deal on some of your nights AND staying for part of the weekend. #TBBhacks

Pre-massages with my boo. The only thing we wished is that the massages were 10x as long because they felt SO GOOD – lol. The spa is also so nice… afterward I soaked in the steam room & sauna for HOURS, meditated, and blissed the heck out.

3. Starting to eat more foods again after my Panchakarma!

I started the Panchakarma diet about a week before my PK in January, which means I have pretty much been eating kitchari for every meal of 2018! I was even lucky enough to find an Ayurvedic restaurant in NYC to cater to my Ayurvedic obsessions. And more than just obsessions… important food preferences because of all of the health & gut stuff I have been going through lately.

I still kept up my kitchari & veggie routine in Ojai, but when I got back to LA something came over me and I knew I was ready to branch out a bit. I truly believe our bodies SPEAK to us and tell us exactly what they need, so I was fully ready to listen.

This smoothie was so delicious I can’t even handle it. I will share the full recipe soon but it’s very easy — butternut squash, spinach, almond milk, one date, mint leaves, blend!

I haven’t gone too crazy yet because my system is highly sensitive right now, especially after the liver cleanse I did last week, but I have been incorporating some smoothies (without ice so they don’t get too cold — cold is not good for my digestion), some super light granolas (I love a brand from Erewhon right now that is called Canopy Clusters), a bit more fruit (bananas, dates, apples), and a few super healthy desserts (of course, also from Erewhon). I missed the dessert life so much… we all know I’m a chocolate junkie.

I am also back on my elixir train, drinking my beloved dandelion tea and chaga! I have a lot of fun RECIPES to come… expect some of the ingredients in my below fridge photo to be included.

So many of my faves lately below…!

4. So many discounts & codes for you guys lately! 

I have had so many awesome podcast sponsors & brand partners lately I thought it would be easy to put a bunch of the codes & links in the same place so you can get some free + discounted stuff! Ready?

• FOUR SIGMATIC: Go to FourSigmatic.com/BLONDE for 15% of all mushroom coffee, matcha, medicinal shrooms, ALLL the goods! I literally live and breathe this brand. Current faves are caffeine-free chaga, and the new mushroom hot cacao blend!
• THRIVE MARKET: Head to ThriveMarket.com/BLONDE for $60 worth of free groceries (literally no strings attached), free shipping, and a free 30-day trial on their website! They are an online marketplace for premium food, home products, body products, etc. I buy almost all of my groceries & home products there at this point!
• WOO FOR PLAY: Head to WOOFORPLAY.COM and use the code BLONDE at checkout (this one is not a link, but a code!) for 10% off of all products. This is the coconut oil based lube I was talking about in last week’s episode… 100% natural, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and it feels amazing (and will make sex feel 10x better, I promise).
• HUM NUTRITION: Go to HUMNUTRITION.COM and use the code SOUL for 20% off of your first order. They are an amazing line of all-natural supplements (think beauty, sleep, anti-aging, skin, detox, etc.) that I have been taking for YEARS and swear by. My fave is the “Skinny Bird” because it always helps clean me out.

5. COLLAGEN EVERYTHANNNGGG!

Now that I am able to incorporate my usual supplements, powders, teas, elixirs, etc. back into my life again post-MASSIVE HIVES breakout (okay I still have them but they’re starting to go away) I have been back on the collagen train like crazy.

My favorite collagen for the longest time has been Vital Proteins, and specifically their Matcha Collagen because it is the perfect blend of matcha deliciousness with the boost of collagen for hair, skin, nails, and joints. Collagen also just makes me feel amazing in general… it is the key thing I take that I notice a difference with on the daily.

I have a super yummy Matcha Collagen raw chocolate chip ball recipe coming at you this week, soooo get excited because it’s probably the most delicious dessert I have made in a while. Maybe also because it was the first dessert I had since before my Panchakarma so it was crazy exciting to indulge!

You can also check out Vital Proteins’ Coconut Collagen Creamer, which I also use daily — usually in a smoothie for me since I’ve been off of coffee. AND their Collagen Beauty Waters, my fave is the Lavender Lemon.

Just get some collagen into your life whatever you do because you’ll feel amazing. <3

6. VULNERABILITY & OPENNESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

I have long been a proponent of sharing our real, raw, from the heart, true lives on social media. (OMG, anyone remember the True Life series on MTV?! LOL I just thought of it when I said that…. oh boy.)

But I really have, and to me sharing from the heart feels as natural as anything else. It’s sharing things that I am not passionate about or that I don’t feel in alignment with that don’t feel natural to me.

I am completely obsessed with Lauryn Evarts’ of The Skinny Confidential’s post from yesterday, To You, From Me about losing her mom when she was in high school. It struck me on such a deep level for so many reasons, but specifically because she has been blogging for 8 years and decided now to share that incredibly personal part of her life publicly for the first time ever.

I respect Lauryn and any blogger who chooses to keep the deepest, most vulnerable parts of their private lives PRIVATE (there is no reason to spill painful details if it doesn’t serve you to do so), and I also commend the shit out of her for sharing and opening up because she knows how much it will help and impact her readers.

The way she describes how she KNEW it was time to share is exactly how I felt when I shared my first solo episode on my podcast. The episode was about the biggest trauma in my life, similar to Lauryn, something that shook me to my core and that without that experience… I would not be me today.

I never planned to talk about it on my blog or podcast exactly, but one day I woke up, walked to my computer and started recording. It flowed out of me and was the most cathartic thing I have ever, ever done.

The best part is that I learned SO MANY PEOPLE have been in the exact same boat, and we can all support each other & lean on each other. We are NOT alone.

Read Lauryn’s post and if you’ve never listened to my first solo episode… perhaps now is the time if you feel called to. I think it is my proudest blogging / podcasting moment, because it’s JUST. ME. And it’s who I am, where I’ve been. It’s what shaped me.

OKAYYYY on that note. Because I can’t really follow that up, it’s too important. I will head off for now (to acupuncture with Kara!) & say I LOVE YOU. Enter our love cupping giveaway, check out the codes I’ve provided above, try some collagen in your life, use that code to get a discounted stay in OJAI (!!!), and BE VULNERABLE & RAW in your every day life — you never know who it will help. <3 XOXOXO 

I just got back to LA after a whirlwind week in NYC, and dayummm does it feel good to be home.

I love New York so much and that city will always feel like home & fill me with an unbelievable energy and the highest of vibes… but this home, my boys, and my KITCHEN are truly where my heart is at this stage in my life. I walked in the door last night and let out the hugest happy sigh to be here. My whole body relaxed for the first time all week!

Last night J and I got a couple’s massage (#HEAVEN!), I made dinner, put on a face mask, and had the deepest sleep of my life. So very necessary.

Now, I am spending the day unwinding, catching up on work, cooking away, and conserving my energy so that I am  feeling like my lightest, best self tomorrow at The Good Fest here in LA! I hope I get to meet some of you there… if you’re coming, come say HI!

CBD, BAYBAY!

On my way to NYC, I shared a raw tahini CBD ball recipe on my Instagram, and realized quite quickly that you all want to hear more about CBD, otherwise known as Cannabidiol. So awesome!

I am so unbelievably excited that CBD is having a moment right now in the wellness scene. It’s something I have used medicinally for almost a year and a half, and has been the ONLY thing that has helped banish my lifelong insomnia. It also helps me ease stress, release anxiety, and all around feel more CHILL when I have a tendency to get very high strung.

I often use it after a long day, or I will drop it into some water or tea to sip on while I make dinner. To fall sleep, I take a higher dose and it’s a bit different than the CBD you can buy at the store (here in California now! Woo!) but I will get to that below.

First, let’s break it down. What is CBD?

CBD is a chemical compound found in the Cannabis plant — yes, in marijuana. But unlike THC which is also found in marijuana, CBD does not produce any psychoactive effects. In other words, it doesn’t make you feel high. So there is nothing to be afraid of if you don’t like the feeling of getting high off of marijuana.

I will say, if I take enough Cannabis oil (not hemp-derived CBD) I do feel a little bit similar to being high, but not in a psychoactive way. There are no feelings or paranoia, lack of control or anything else I have felt in the past with marijuana + THC. The high I get from Cannabis oil is a very calm, controlled, and relaxed feeling. It’s amazing.

Plus, CBD has the highest medicinal value of the whole Cannabis plant! It is a powerful plant medicine. Research has found it to be effective for treating inflammation, pain, anxiety, sleep, muscle spasms, skin disorders, and more.

I haven’t tried it yet on my hives and eczema, but I know I should really get my hands on a good CBD cream to see if it will help heal my chronic skin inflammation. I have heard amazing things! What I have tried it for and can speak to is for insomnia, general anxiety, and relaxation purposes!

CBD comes in many forms — oils, creams, pills, cooking oils, the list goes on — but I am specifically referring to CBD oil in this post because that is what I have the most experience with, and it’s personally my favorite way to enjoy CBD.

There is both Hemp CBD & Cannabis CBD, and if you have access to the Cannabis form I would highly recommend it. Hemp oil is great, but if you are looking for the stronger medicinal effects of CBD I would highly recommend Cannabis. I like hemp oil for cooking (like these balls!) because you want to be able to eat, do your thing, drive, etc. and not worry about getting too tired or TOO relaxed!

Why Do I Love It?

I was prescribed CBD by my functinal medicine doc (he’s amazing, the actual best) about a year and a half ago for the RAGING insomnia that I have been experiencing for my whole life. He recommended me to an amazing site (I will share below) founded by a doctor who helps you decide which ratio and concentration of THC to CBD that you need deepening on what your desired outcome is.

For me, the outcome was sleep. He helped me find the perfect formula, and my little oil tincture helps me sleep like a BABY. I recently ran out and cannot wait for my new one to arrive. I truly didn’t sleep at all in NYC… I mean like AT ALL (until I bought CBD at a corner store in the west village which wasn’t that strong but still did the job) so I can really speak to and understand how frustrating and miserable true, debilitating insomnia is.

I had years in college where I legit did not sleep. My whole sophomore year, I don’t think there was a single night that I slept soundly unless I was sedated with Trazodone (heavy prescription sleeping meds — so bad for you…) which also made me pass out in my shower once so… there’s that. I would never recommend prescription sleeping meds to anyone, now that I know better.

So needless to say, the sleep and relaxation qualities of natural, plant medicine CBD are next level game changers in my life. I also love it for when I get really stressed and anxious, as I often do. I take a few drops under my tongue and it completely calms me down. I even took a little before my panels at BlogHer this week, mainly because I was so exhausted from having no sleep the night before and it did make me feel immediately more balanced.

How Do You Take It?

Most CBD oils come in a little tincture that you can drop either under your tongue, into a beverage, or use in recipes + cooking!

With the less intense oils that I have (like the ones I buy at Erewhon, which are more hemp-derived) I usually use one or two droppers’ full under my tongue to feel the effects. The stronger Cannabis oils, like the one I buy from the doctor online (below), are something I only need a few drops of.

(Funny story… when I was first getting used to taking Cannabis oil to sleep, I gave Jonathan TWO WHOLE DROPPERS’ FULL of the very intense, medical CBD + THC oil. I took less because I know my body is a lot more sensitive and less tolerant than his. We slept so soundly, and when we woke up for a yoga class I was teaching Jonathan was *high* as a KITE and so, so out of it during the class. We couldn’t stop laughing hysterically during or afterward. After that, I knew that a droppers’ worth of that potent oil was too much, even for people who aren’t super sensitive!)

Where Do You Get It?!

The medical website I keep referring to that was referred to me by my doctor is myCAprovider.com. Depending on where you live, you may need to upload a doctor’s note or medicinal marijuana card to be eligible to order from them, but their Cannabis oils are AMAZING. Those are the ones I take to sleep. You will have a phone call with the doctor from the site  and he will recommend a specific dosage and ratio to you.

Their stuff is expensive, but it also lasts forever. I used mine pretty liberally and my first tincture lasted for over 8 or 9 months.

Other, more everyday places to buy CBD oil are Erewhon (if you live in LA), Tantris (West Hollywood) and Earthbar (all over LA), and now there are dispensaries all over the place! I haven’t been to a dispensary yet but I am dying to — I will update you guys once I go to one.

At Erewhon I like to buy the brand Charlotte’s Web. I like their Everyday Advanced because it’s the strongest, and I love the Mint Chocolate flavor. This brand is a hemp-derived oil, meaning it won’t get you high — so it’s safe to cook with and enjoy without worrying about limitations on the amount you use. That one was used in this recipe!

I also bought a very random brand of hemp-derived CBD in NYC, I am not even sure what it was called, and it had a funny lemon flavor but it also worked. The point with this stuff is… as long as the source is natural and organic, I trust it. It will work, because the medicinal properties are undeniable. But if you have access to some of the above brands and places that I mentioned, check those out! They both ship, so you don’t have to live in a specific state!

Now… The Recipe!

The reasons why I like to use CBD oil in recipes are endless. How amazing is it for our FOOD to have the same relaxing, rejuvenating qualities as taking CBD oil alone?!

I also love the little hint of earthiness it gives to a recipe. CBD does have a faint taste of marijuana, and when it’s in really small doses I really enjoy that earthy, hemp-derived flavor. And if it’s a flavored CBD it will really enhance the taste too.

I use the Chocolate Mint variety that I mentioned above for this recipe, so of course that tastes delicious in these yummy balls.

RAW TAHINI CBD BALLS //

INGREDIENTS:

• 3-4 tablespoons CBD oil (play around & add more or less depending on your preference. we are all diff!)
• 1/2 cup coconut flour
• 1/4 cup tapioca flour
• 4-6 dates, pitted
• 1 cup tahini
• 3/4 cup coconut oil
• 3 tablespoons cacao powder
• lots of stevia! i use about 10 drops or more
• optional: 1 tablespoon maca, 1 tablespoon chlorella, 2 tablespoons cacao nibs or any other crunchy topping like coconut flakes, chia, the list goes on

METHOD:

• BLEND all ingredients together in a high speed blender or food processor. let the mixture sit in the fridge for about 25 minutes to thicken, roll into balls with your hands, place in the freezer, freeze for 30 min, + ENJOY! (if the mixture doesn’t thicken enough to make into balls easily, add more of one of the flours, dates, or coconut oil)
• they keep well in the freezer and/or the fridge and are the yummiest, tastiest snack, dessert, or breakfast.

Yummmm!! You guys will love these! I can’t wait to hear what you think. Let’s spread the CBD LOVE!

If you try them, tag me & hashtag #tbbmademedoit so I can see!

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

I had a meditation teacher tell me recently that birthdays are all about soaking in the love, each and every time someone says “happy birthday” and sends you good vibes, that is all good, positive energy we can harness and use in our own manifesting and creating process! How cool, right?!

So that’s exactly what I did. And because you guys are the best, the birthday love flowed all the time and in turn set my soul in fire and wrapped my heart in all the high vibe flames!

Now, let’s get to it. LOVING LATELY!

We have so much to catch up on, from keto meal planning delivery services (hello, GREEN CHEF!), to my latest podcast episode with the absolutely insaaaanely amazing Shaman Durek, to a much requested book about the moon phases, to a VERY EXCITING new endeavor called Spirit Juice (have you subscribed?!), and so much more.

So! Shall we get started? I feel like hopping right in today, because this is a juicy one.

Loving Lately // 10.13.17

1. Green Chef // The amaze meal planning delivery service I am swearing by right now. They just released their Keto plan which is perfect for all of my Keto babes and the Keto curious. I fall under the curious category, as you know I am not fully Keto and really don’t label myself as anything other than HEALTHY!

So… a little about Green Chef! They are the first USDA-certified meal kit company (how cool is that?) and they have meals that are pre-prepped, pre-cut and planned by a chef. It really doesn’t get much easier. And nothing takes more than 30 minutes which is super important to this chick because I lose my patience and never have that much free time… #workingonit.

They don’t just have keto meals — they also have vegan options, paleo, and gluten-free! My favorite dish I made from my recent shipment was this mustard pork dish that I photographed like cray. It came with delicious veggies like cauliflower, mushrooms, and snap peas and heavenly healthy fats like walnuts and almond slices. (Who doesn’t love roasted nuts? It fills my whole house with the best smell ever!)

The mustard blend was so yummy and took me back to my Panchakarma days — the mustard spices are very Ayurvedic reminiscent, in my opinion! The meal isn’t necessarily high in fat, so to hit your desired fat profile for the Keto lifestyle you can always cook your meat and veggies in healthy fats like ghee and avo oil, and top it with fresh olive oil or my current fave: FLAX oil.

They also sent me a heavenly sesame tuna recipe and a merguez chicken recipe! I love their easy to follow meal prep cards (or else I tend to mess everything up, lol), and I LOVE that each serving is only $14.99. Affordable and delicious and HEALTHY most of all.

The packaging is 100% compostable or recyclable (SCORE) and all ingredients are pre-portioned and many are pre-prepped (DOUBLE SCORE). Yes, #tbbapproved. I am a fan.

Who wants to try?! Check out Green Chef here, and their Keto Plan here.

2. SHAMAN DUREK on this week’s episode of Soul on Fire! // I’m sorry, but OMG. Shaman Durek is a superhuman in every sense of the word. In this past week’s episode, he shared with us his journey to becoming a spirit shaman in which he died (at the age of 28) and came back to life — but not first experiencing what is beyond this universal realm that we live in. He told his amazing story of what happens when we die… where we go, the questions that get answered, and the beautiful souls that we reunite with.

Beyond that unbelievable story that he shares so vulnerably, he also gives me one of the deepest and most incredible shamanic readings I have ever experienced, where I was able to see all of the spirits who live within him and we even detached a negative spirit from ME who was dragging me down, and we released him into the light.

Shaman Durek has changed my life in so many ways in the short time that I have known him. He has shown me what it means to be completely selfless and free of judgement, to love freely and *infinitely* and that all of the “bad people” in this world were once good in their hearts — and they need our love to get back to that.

AMAZING HUMAN, one of my top favorite episodes ever. Give it a listen and let me know your thoughts. He is definitely, definitely coming back on!! You can give it a listen here.

3. This AMAZING BOOK, Moonology! // I will write more about this in my next TBB Book Club post (have you checked out last month’s?! One of my fave series!). You guys have been asking me a lot about  where I am learning about astrology, how to get in touch with the moon phases, how to learn about the Daily Moon, what it means for the Daily Moon to be in your house, how to figure out what the Daily Moon of your birthday is each year… etc.! I break it all down in SPIRIT JUICE, but I also wanted to give a huge shoutout to the book where I am getting so much of this amazing info!!

I would love to have the author Yasmin Boland on the podcast VERY soon, so stay tuned for what that might look like and if you follow her on IG… let her know that the SOUL ON FIRE tribe wants her info!!

I love how tangible the info in this book is, and I am now looking into Astrology RETREATS!! I might go to Tulum next April just to study astrology and birth charts… kind of amazingly exciting yes?!?

You can get the book here. If you do, tag me and hashtag #TBBBookClub on your Insta so I can see!

4. SPIRIT JUIIIICE, my newest baby! // This is for all of my fellow galactic loving, astro interested, HIGH VIBRATIONAL humans who want to set their souls on fire on the deepest level possible… and learn a bit about their zodiac sign while they’re at it.

Here is the intro to each SPIRIT JUICE email, so you know what you’re getting yourself into if and when you join the tribe:

I know you. You eye that Full Moon like you want in on all of its juicy galactic magic, but you’re not sure where to start. You want to get into putting crystals in your bra and taking lavender-infused bubble baths, but you’re not sure why… or how. Meditation seems fun, reiki looks cool you suppose, you know the universe is calling you to connect deeper, and you’re into it. SPIRIT JUICE is for every human who wants the DL on their horoscope but also wants to wrangle in a little bit of magic and a whole lot of abundance. You’re in the right place. We are goin’ there. And don’t worry, you’ll get the deets on your zodiac sign too.

Sign up here, join the tribe, and start getting your life changing SPIRIT JUICINESS on!!! LOVEEEE you angels more than life.

Alright so there we have it, angels!! Check out GREEN CHEF, their KETO PLAN, Shaman Durek’s EPIC episode, the Moonology book that changed my life, and of course SPIRIT JUICE for all things galactic and juicy and amaze.

What are you loving lately?! I’d love to know! X

I can’t even remember the last time I did a book club post on the blog, although I used to do them quite frequently. I am thinking from here forward, once  a month I’ll share with you guys what I am reading, and anything else noteworthy that I’ve read and am obsessed with.

I do mention books on my podcast quite a bit, especially my solo episodes (like this Q&A episode) but the general consensus from you guys was that you wanted a place where you could click directly on the links and have them all in one place, so here we are!

Mostly these books will be spiritual deep dives (because that’s what seems to be the most requested and are a LOT of what I’m into right now!), fiction / romance / darker fiction (I love a good DARK read), and some of the self-improvement, business-savvy books I am crazy into. Oh, and health of course because I can’t get my hands on enough health books if my life depended on it.

Making time to read is something that has greatly improved my life in so many ways, and I know many of you have the same experience. I like to read in the bath, in bed before I sleep (to stay away from electronics!) and even midday when I need a reset and a burst of inspiration.

On vacation, you’ll find me juggling (or attempting to juggle) 5-6 books in a WEEK because it’s LITERALLY all I do when I have no other responsibilities to stay on top of.

Would also love for you guys to share what YOU’RE reading, by commenting here on this post and also by using the hashtags #TBBbookclub and #TBBmademedoit on Instagram!

Now, ready to dive in? Let’s do it!

TBB Book Club // September Edition

1. Between Two Worlds // Tyler Henry

This book is SO freaking good for anyone who is interested in what it’s like to channel messages from the other side (a.k.a people who have died), how to navigate learning to open up in that way yet also protect yourself and your energy, answer the tricky question of who/what is “God” or a Higher Power if there is in fact a heavenly other side and an afterlife… and so much more. Tyler is the Hollywood Medium on E! and his show is one of the only TV shows I actually tun into as much as I can because he fascinates me.

His readings are so beyond accurate and he shares in his book a lot of his trials and insecurities about starting to work in Hollywood at such a young age, what it’s like to be a medium to the stars, and so much more. He is a captivating writer and a loving soul. As someone who is beginning to open up to messages from the other side as well… Tyler’s guidance has been beyond interesting and also so comforting.

He too struggled with learning how to use his gifts in the beginning, and I would have thought that for a medium as gifted and SPOT ON as him, channeling messages would have always been a breeze! Not the case, and very fascinating to hear his journey, how his family wound up accepting him in the end (his dad was very opposed at first), how he navigated growing up with seeing / hearing spirits and KNOWING when friends were going to die… so much. All of it is so good.

LOVE this book. A+ for anyone who wants to dive deeper on their spiritual path and learn more about a specific, very interesting medium’s journey! Also fun Hollywood tidbits and some cute photos of him with celebs and his fam which is always a plus.

2. The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire // Deepak Chopra

I have long been a fan of Deepak’s books on opening ourselves up to universal guidance, connecting to our divine intuition, and using ancient medicine and holistic traditions to live healthy, radically soulful and successful, divinely guided lives. But only lately, ever since I started REALLY opening up spiritually, have Deepak’s philosophies spoken to me on a much deeper level.

This particular book is similar to many of the other themes he is known for writing about, but focuses particularly on the theme of synchrodestiny. He dives deep to explain to us that there are no coincidences in life, and that miracles happen on a daily basis if we allow ourselves to see them that way. Each step in our lives, every single little decision we make and thing that we do, adds up to bring us to where we are today.

I think about this simple truth all the time. I decided to go to Loyola Marymount University for college basically on a whim, because “I wanted to live in LA” and also because I didn’t get into my “dream school” of USC. If I hadn’t gone to LMU, I wouldn’t be where I am today, at ALL. I wouldn’t know the people who I am surrounded by now. I wouldn’t have met the love of my life… not because I met him in college (I didn’t), but because my best friend from college introduced me to OrangeTheory Fitness which introduced me to Jonathan.

Also, a friend from college built my website! Convinced me to buy the domain name, create a Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest page for my blog, took my first ever blog photos… on and on. In fact, I moved to Brentwood because my big sister in my sorority in college lived here and I loved the neighborhood. Now a huge part of my world basically revolves around this little neighborhood and the amazing people within it.

Experiences I had at LMU, in Alpha Phi, studying abroad in Italy, moving to NYC… each and every one of them lead me to this point now. Not to be morbid, but I constantly think about all of the OTHER paths I could have taken, and think… “If I had taken a different path at any point in time, would I have potentially gotten in a car accident? A scary situation? Would I be alive?”

One step leads to the next leads to the next, and he highlights that in the book in so many important and eye opening ways.

It’s those topics and themes that Deepak discusses in this book and I LOVE it because it gets my mind moving and keeps me super connected to where I am now and so grateful for the path I am on. (There is no right or wrong path… it’s all simply our LIFE! How cool is that?)

3. White Hot Truth // Danielle LaPorte

I love this book because it’s written in the down to earth, friend-to-friend, no bullshit way that Danielle writes all of her books and blog posts in. It dives deep on a spiritual level, but also makes fun of the constant “seeking” that we as spiritual people do. She pokes fun at herself for all of the woo-woo things she’s tried from having shamans on speed dial (guilty as charged), to seeing crystal healer after crystal healer to help ease the depression she felt after her divorce, to begging psychics for guidance in every area of her life, to relying on creative business coaches that were actual bullshit, and so much more.

It really strikes a chord within me because I am an extreme person (especially when it comes to this stuff) and I can relate to searching for healing in so many different areas. I am definitely DEEP into the whole woo-woo, medium, meditation, reiki, healer vibes right now and while I LOVE exploring these paths, I totally see where she is coming from. Life is about the JOURNEY, not about the destination of finding that so-called perfect level of enlightenment.

The subtitle is “Clarity for Keeping It Real on Your Spiritual Path from One Seeker to Another,” and who doesn’t need that?! She reminds us that as fun as it is to dive into synchrodestiny, opening to channel, mediumship and so much more… our lives are also right here in front of us and at the end of the day WE have the power and control to deal with everything that is sent our way.

Realness level = 100!!! Love it.

4. Opening to Channel // Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer

Okay so this one is fabulous and this is one that I mentioned in my Solo Q&A podcast episode. I know a lot of you are in a similar boat that I’m in, which is that you are opening way up to the universe, to non-physical beings and otherworldly things, to the galaxies and celestial awesomeness (if you have no idea what I am talking about and you are interested in it, check out this episode on all things celestial and galactic) and you pretty much have no idea where to go from there or WHAT to do with the information you feel and know to be true to you.

There is a LOT to learn when we are opening our intuitions and learning how to channel from the other side. This book also busts that myth that only those with a special gift are able to connect with spirit guides, their higher selves, and the universal mind. In reality, we ALL have the ability to connect. It takes a lot of work and a specific, judgement-free outlook to begin to channel, but it is a skill that CAN be learned.

How cool is that?!?! I would highly recommend this book for absolutely anyone who is interested in learning how to channel or interested in honing their skill that they have started to tap into. Automatic writing, anyone!??! It’s also a super digestible book which I appreciate.

On that note, I have about 10 other books that are great for opening up to channel that I will continue to share in future posts. I will link some of them below in the “shop” feature at the bottom of this post!

5. Superwoman RX // Tasneem Bhatia

This book is awesome for so many reasons. The premise is that the modern woman is a superwoman, no matter what she does. We juggle careers, motherhood, relationships, taking care of ourselves, our homes, our cats (hi Squeaky Mouse), or spirits and minds, and so much more. Instead of all of the cookie cutter books out there that talk about how “we should ALL do X, Y & Z in order to stay healthy” — this book offers five specific prescriptive plans based on a woman’s unique blueprint (or Power Type) in order to find your fullest health, wellness and happiness potential.

She draws inspiration from Ayurvedic, Chinese and Western medicine to prescribe a plan for each type of woman, and holy crap are these plans helpful to have as a guidebook in your back pocket.

There are many quizzes in the book, like figuring out your Mojo (how taxed you are or if you’re taking good care of yourself already) and figuring out your Power Type. Of course my Mojo is low… as we all know because I say it all of the time — I am quite overextended and that is my usual tendency.

Before I took the Power Type quiz I thought for SURE I would be a Gypsy Girl or an Earth Mama (I mean hello, you guys know me), but it turns out, according to the Power Types in the book, I am a Savvy Chick!

And let me tell you, I counted and recounted my numbers to be sure. Upon reading deeper, I realized how correct this Power Type is for me, and probably for many of you!

Savvy Chicks are equal parts ethereal artist and commander in chief, which totally makes sense to me. I am not a Gypsy Soul or Earth Mama in the senses that I do get stressed out, I do need some structure and routine in my life, I am easily ruffled, I get sick easily and I am prone to skin issues, headaches, and digestion problems, and I DO take on so much work and on other people’s energies with extreme ease.

I am definitely stimulated by creativity and good vibes and bringing my ideas to life, but I also pride myself on running a brand all on my own, fitting more into a day than I’d like to admit, taking care of those around me, and so much more on the “commander” level.

I love Dr. Taz for recognizing this as a Power Type! Not all of us hippie chicks have our heads in the clouds all the time, we also need that grounded, down to earth-ness about us in order to get all of our goals and intentions done and keep them in order!

She explains that at our best, Savvy Chicks are true visionaries — and at our worst, we are totally plagued by health issues that hold us back. We have “twice the blessings and twice the burdens,” which I can definitely relate to. An amazing amount of goodness, luck and success… but an incredible amount of difficulty and challenge to go along with it.

We are dreamers and doers, and we easily get held back by anxiety, migraines, IBS, insomnia, muscle pain, eczema (HELLO, me), adrenal and thyroid sluggishness and more. Food helps keep us in balance, when we use it as medicine. We need warming foods, lots of exercise, and quite a bit of protein and fat daily! We also shouldn’t use electronics before breakfast.

I could go on and on… but I want you to discover YOUR Power Type. Are you one of the three I mentioned, or are you a Boss Lady, or a Nightingale?! I would love to know.

Shop this amazing book HERE. I love that she draws on Ayurvedic wisdom, my truest love!

6. Fitness Junkie // Lucy Sykes & Jo Piazza

I was lucky enough to receive this hilarious, relatable and super well-written novel at my door earlier this summer right before I went to Hawaii — prime reading time. I still don’t know who sent it (prob the publishing company?) but I am so glad they did. This book chronicles the main character Janey Sweet through getting fired from her job in fashion (by her gay best friend) because she’s “getting fat,” to trying ALL of the health, fitness and wellness trends in the book.

She tries crazy, out there workouts where people scream and wear all grey tones (sound familiar?) to falling slightly in love with a female shaman and going on an insanely psychotic wellness retreat, to realizing in the end… well, I won’t tell you, but read it!

I’d highly recommend this book. It was hilarious and a quick, beachy read.

7. The Alchemist // Paul Coehlo

For anyone getting into energy alchemy… this one is for you. My latest episode with Nicola Behrman, the alchemist and shaman who has changed my life, talks a lot about energy alchemy if you’re looking to learn more about the practice. This is a classic, beautiful and traditional novel, so if you like fiction and appreciate classic literature — read it. I am only part way in this time around (I read it a long time ago before I was particularly into this stuff) so I will write more of a synopsis after I finish it!

There you go, guys. There are so many others that I love and I will keep sharing as the months go on. As I mentioned, use the hashtags #TBBbookclub and #TBBmademedoit to share in the fun, and I would love to know your thoughts if you read any of these books! XO oh and recommendations are ALWAYS welcome!

I did them every week for a long time, and these days I do them as often as possible but would love to get back to the every Thurs routine at some point.

Anyway… there is so much to share. The SOUL ON FIRE Podcast just hit 2 million downloads (ahhh!) which is probably the most exciting thing to me ever, because I only released it last November and had pretty much NO expectations as to how it would be received or where it would go.

Now, it’s totally become one of my favorite ways to connect with you guys, and has spurred a SERIOUS spiritual awakening in me, thanks to so many of my guests being top of the line healers, spiritual teachers, mediums, and more.

If you haven’t listened yet, this week’s episode with the amazing Colleen McCann of Style Rituals is an amazing place to start! Colleen is a fashion stylist turned shaman, closet cleanser, intuitive crystal healer, and so much more.

And guess what? I will almost positively be attending Colleen’s shaman school next year in Nashville so…. if you live in TN, hit a sista up and I want to start planning some fun events and workshops while I am there!

( P.S. I am giving away a ‘Top 10 Blogging Tips’ document for anyone who rates & reviews the podcast on iTunes! I won’t be selling this doc or sharing it anywhere else, so screenshot me those reviews and I will share with you! )

So now, let’s dive into Loving Lately!

1. THIS Community! I’ve said it before and I will say it again, but I feel so deeply that you guys are the best, most positive and supportive community out there. I know that a lot of you read a lot of blogs, so the fact that this is one of them really means the world to me. We have the Soul on Fire Podcast Tribe group on Facebook, and every day I am blown away by the ladies (and dudes, occasionally!) sharing their hearts, helping each other out, meeting up and making friends with each other in their diff cities, supporting my events (!!) and so much more! I truly believe that when we share our best selves, authentically and from a deep-rooted genuine place, then that VIBE attracts our tribe. And I am lucky that you guys are mine. <3

2. Speaking of tribes… even beyond this awesome online community, I feel that my circle of people in Los Angeles (and other places that I spend my time like NYC) is growing in such a positive, supportive, spiritual, deep, powerful direction. This year alone I have been connected to so many people I had not met yet in this wellness and spiritual space, from the Elevate the Globe (formerly High Vibe Livin!) girls to Colleen McCann, to Kelsey Patel, to Marissa Lace, to Ashley Neese, to Sheena Mannina (all on the podcast!!), to a deeper connection with my Alo Yoga fam, to more deep rooted connections with friends of mine who are also into kundalini, reiki, crystals, shamanism, and all the good fun stuff that I’ve been obsessed with.

I am not just saying this to talk about ME, but to share with you that when you follow your  heart from a place of deep, authentic self then you also will connect with the people who are meant to be in your life and who will continue to set your soul on fire.

3. Events that are totally in line with where my heart and soul is! For a while, I was really overdoing it on the events. I was speaking on a lot of panels, agreeing to hosting all sorts of events everywhere where the pressure to share about said events and fill the space would totally eat away at me and would become a full-time job in itself. And of course there was also the whole teaching my twice – four times weekly yoga classes.

Now, I am really just saying YES to events that 100% serve my soul and feel in total alignment with what I am doing and where I want to go. Last weekend, our #livxtbb5k was a BLAST and it was so much fun teaching yoga alongside my soul sis Sophie Jaffe and collaborating with Brandin as we serendipitously and not even on purpose came up with on our latest TBB Podcast episode together!

I also taught at Alo Yoga on Monday night and the group of people who showed up were all so amazing and made me feel so much like we were all in the right place, where we were meant to be. We had yummy food and drinks from Sweetfin, Lifehouse, and REBBL and we just flowed in the sunset and had a great time. It was epic.

I have a few more fun events coming up before the summer ends so I will keep you guys all very posted! (Also in the FB group!)

4. SKINCARE! People ask me all of the time how I choose to take care of my skin. Not because my skin is perfect (it’s not), but because I am so cognizant of what I put onto my skin and because I am careful about it AND a huge proponent of eating loads of beauty foods (I’ll get to that in a sec) I like to believe y skin radiates from the inside out!

I mean, woah.

When they say “time flies by when you’re having fun…” they really mean that shit.

This summer has been a whirlwind in so many ways, from this massive spiritual journey I have been on (listen to my latest SOLO podcast episode on spirituality or this episode with the world’s greatest + most legit medium if you’re interested & not sure what i am talking about!) to tons of travel, to figuring out more and more every day what I currently want to focus on and pour my energy into.

I remember looking at my calendar before the summer started thinking, “WOW, I am really not going to be in town until August,” which is obviously my exaggerated mind speaking because I was in town here and there… but on a weekend I truly haven’t been around since MAY.

And now it’s August 1st and… it’s time for homegirl to hibernate. Big time. You’ll be seeing quite a few more blog posts and a whole lot of solo podcast episodes coming out because I am inspired and ready to share, and I am actually home to do it.

Which brings me to, LOVING LATELY! My fave series. Let’s dive into it:

Loving Lately // 8.1.17

↠ ↠ HIBERNATING! I mentioned this above, but the hibernation is so real right now. After nonstop travel for about 3 months, and really for the better part of the whole year (and my last few years! ah!), my heart and soul is craving being HOME. With Hudson. In my bed. Sipping ginger tea, writing, watching Netflix, recording solo podcasts, and cranking the LED light therapy.

I was gone so much this summer that every time I came home, my heart sank a little bit because my space DID NOT FEEL like my home. It was a mess. I had clothes overflowing in my closet to the point where I would call my mom at least weekly to say “I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR BECAUSE I CAN’T EVEN SEE THE SHIT IN MY CLOSET BECAUSE IT’S SO MESSY AND DISGUSTING.”

Yeah, I was that neurotic. And felt like I did not have the time or the energy to rearrange, purge, decorate, and simplify the way that I needed and wanted to.

Yeah, this sums it up reeeeeal well. Thank you, Atticus.

Long story short (because I plan to do a whole bloggy post about this, this week I hope) I cleansed my space, purged a ton of ish, moved my bedroom furniture around, and spent a WHOLE FREAKIN SATURDAY rearranging and redecorating and cleaning. Now my home feels like my home. And all I can do is… want to stay here, cuddled in bed, soaking it all in.

One last word on this subject for now: I woke up today thinking, “August is my month of hibernation. It needs to be. My soul needs this so bad.” And, like clockwork, I got a message from one of my dearest readers + listeners Carrie (@vitaltreasures on Instagram) telling me that… she picked up on the fact that my heart and soul are craving hibernation! I was like WHAAAT?! Are you in my brain?

That is the beauty of what happens when we share authentically with the community around us. Whether it be a blog, or just the people in your life, SHARE! Be open! Don’t be afraid to look “weak” or tired or rundown or negative… your people will support you. There is nothing negative about sharing from the heart.

BOOM! HIBERNATION!

↠ ↠ Speaking of Hibernating… My Squeaky Boy! Huddy! If you know me or follow my social media or anything at all really, then you know I have an undying love for my squeaky mouse lion man, Hudson Riley. I have all of the nicknames for him in the world – mainly Squeaky (because his meows are totally squeaks), Budderson, Hudson Budson, Squeaktown, Budson Bear, Hudster Budster, mama’s baby, Squeak-Mouse, and so many others. He is my WORLD, he shatters my heart every single day with his love for me and his curious, brilliant, playful, all-boy all-the-time little mind.

When I am traveling a lot, I do miss out on heart-to-heart time with the Hudster. This is something I have had to reconcile with myself, because it does kill me deep down inside but I also know as a multifaceted human I have to live my life, travel, do all the things I want to do, and that will only add to the person I can be when I am with him. He has a lot of people who love him and I never leave him alone (ever!), BUT I have noticed that when I am here for a significant portion of time… our bond pretty much quadruples in closeness. It’s otherworldly.

Being home for the last week and a half, and spending pretty much the whole weekend at home with my Squeak, reminds me of back when he was a teeny tiny baby and I NEVER left him because he was a baby and he needed me! Our bond was, and still is, basically bulletproof. It’s one of the deepest things I have ever felt. I love deepening that with him while I am home in this “hibernation mode,” and I hope that knowing how important that is to me (and to him), will inspire me to keep my schedule CLEAR for a while instead of packing it full like I usually do.

The Budderson Boy Soaking in the Sun on Our Bed (In It’s NEW Spot in Our Room!)

↠ ↠ Alternative Healing Modalities. You guys know this, but I have been into all sorts of alternative healing for as long as I can remember. Lately, my love for these modalities and approaches is only growing, growing, and growing.

A few of my current faves are: acupuncture, reiki, EFT (emotional freedom technique – you can hear more about this in my recent podcast episode with Kelsey Patel), LED light therapy (more on this to come soon!), bodywork (Lauren Roxburgh is a GODDESS!), Ayurveda, crystals + saging, transcendental meditation, energy alchemy, consciousness exploration (Abraham Hicks’ teachings), kundalini, functional medicine, intuitive eating, loving-kindness meditation, and SO MUCH MORE.

Meditating at the beginning of my 7 OM Alchemy guided spiritual journey with the amazing alchemist Nicola Berman. This has been so life changing! More to come, PLEIDIAN things.

Sometimes doing these Loving Lately posts shows me what I need to write full blog posts about… there is too much here on the topic of healing modalities for just this little section! Hopefully these mentions give you a TASTE of what I have been into, and definitely know there is way more info here to come!

↠ ↠ MINDFUL MOVEMENT! All caps for this one, because… this one is huge. As you know, I ran a half marathon in the mountains a little over a week ago. That seems crazy, as ever since then my body has been screaming at me to hibernate. I wonder why, LOL?

I love running, and I am glad to be reincorporating it into my life (remember when I ran the full LA Marathon?!), but I also know and have a deep sense of intuition about the fact that if I am going to use a ton of energy output to run a far distance, then I need to supplement that with major amounts of rest and mindful, intuitive, slow movements.

These last few days in particular I have really been listening to my body, and choosing to move nice and slow. Instead of going to my usual Corepower sweaty vinyasa classes, I’ve rolled out my mat at home and done some deep stretches and about 50 Sun A’s (lol – movement, but slow nonetheless).

I find this so important, and I am so excited to take this Fitness Genes test thingy that Lauren Roxburgh introduced me to to see what my perfect exercise routine is for this bod – I have a feeling exercises like yoga, Pilates, and long walks / hikes will be my go-to. We shall see.

Rocking my Alo Yoga before a lil’ home practice and teaching a vinyasa x kundalini workshop with my High Vibe girls this past weekend!

↠ ↠ ALL OF THE COLLAGEN + BONE BROTH! So… my go-to brand for both of these things (as you well know) is Vital Proteins! I love them because I can take their packets with me on-the-go, I have noticed huge positive changes in my skin, mood and energy when I am constantly adding collagen into my coffee and incorporating their bone broths into my diet… and, they taste good! And, I straight up love their branding and their values!

Their bone broth is on the newer side (they have both chicken and beef – I love both, but my fave is the chicken) and it is full of collagen, good protein, and chock full of minerals that our bods need to thrive. Of course it’s all organic, free-range (chicken), grass-fed (beef), low sodium and MSG free.

Why is it beneficial? First of all… supports digestion, aids in immune function, boosts you with nutrient-dense vitamins and minerals, gives ya some yummy protein, and promotes overall health and wellness.

I am also a big fan of their beauty waters for continuing to enhance hair, skin and nails, boost joint health and improve energy! Also the pastel packets are the cutest ever. Overall, I am a huge fan and you can check them out here!

Rocking Alo Yoga again and holding Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides!

↠ ↠ THESE SUPER CUTIE MINI OILS by BIOSSANCE! 

↠ ↠ WATCHING NETFLIX. This might seem like a really silly addition, considering I think most people try to watch LESS TV in order to be productive and be in alignment with their truest selves. But for me, considering the fact that I rarely slow down and even when I do I’m usually still working in some capacity… really, really slowing down includes binge watching a good TV show or getting really sucked into a good movie. It helps my brain truly unwind and helps me stop worrying and feeling anxious about things.

Some good things I’ve watched in the last few months are… Orange is the New Black newest season (ALWAYS my fave), 13 Reasons Why (very good, very sad but super good. Very glad that my 14 year old niece watched it), To the Bone (super amazing for anyone who has experienced an eating disorder firsthand or secondhand), and so far I think that’s it. Any recs?!?! I really need some! I need to keep this relaxation trend going!

↠ ↠ WRITING, AND BURSTING WITH INSPO. This, right here. Doing all of this meditation, the alternative healing, etc. has been making my heart and mind burst with so much inspiration for my upcoming book (yes, it’s coming…!) and so much more. Sitting here writing on the blog feels WAY GOOD. WAY HEALING. MUCHO INTO IT. I want to keep it up, which will require me to clear my schedule more often to be home doing just this.

↠ ↠ DAT WHITE, WHITE ON INSTAGRAM! I don’t always have a very cohesive Insta feed, because, well… I’m too spontaneous for that. Too spur of the moment. But right now I am into the way my feed is looking and I think it’s because I have been home so much that I can fill it with photos of my space… light, bright and airy!! YAS.

We will see how long this bright, white trend lasts. I hope I can keep it up for a while, we shall SEE!

Okay, let me hear it! What are you into lately?! Be sure to get your free Biossance samples and to check out Vital Proteins yumminess! Now let’s discuss – what are YOU loving lately?

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSave

today it’s time for another loving lately! i love this style of post so much, for so many reasons. for one, because i am a list freak so writing lists in the form of blog posts makes me really happy. and for two, it reminds me of the early days of my blog when i would write a loving lately post EVERY week (or twice a week) and the whole schedule was all structured & shiz.

kind of the opposite of how it is now!!!!

so basically it makes me feel nostalgic because those times were so much fun, so new, and so exciting.

and every single time i sit down to write a new loving lately post, i feel that way!

let’s get into it. there’s a lot to love right now!

loving lately // 6.15.17

1. SOUL ON FIRE hitting one million downloads! // so last week my podcast passed one million downloads, ahhh! this is meaningful to me for so many reasons. first of all, it means that you guys are listening and enjoying the content which is first and foremost what is so incredibly important to me. also, it means that spending all of this time on such a new-to-me endeavor (podcasting!) has been as worthwhile of a move as i thought it would be. it feeds my soul from the inside out — i get to have conversations with people who inspire me like CRAZY, and i get to do it weekly AND share it with you guys! how cool is that? cheers to the next one million and beyond. <3

also, as you know, my podcast has only been around since november! by january or february i felt like i really started getting the hang of it — so it’s still very NEW to me! and to have such support on something so new just means the universe, so thank you for listening and being rad. if you haven’t subscribed, rated or reviewed… it would mean the WOOORLD to me if you hit up iTunes & did that! it helps so much with visibility and spreading the message far beyond our lil’ awesome bubble!

2. GABBY BERNSTEIN’S free video training! // my babe GB (this week’s podcast guest!) is offering a FREE video training right now all about owning your confidence and getting into action! she shares how she became a speaker, author & public figure with zero background. AND she teaches the 3 steps that helped her own her confidence and connect to her purpose. you can watch the first video HERE (!!) and when you’re ready to give into her spirit junkie masterclass (i know you will be, she’s that amazing), use the landing page on my site to do it!! eek, yay!

3. DIVING DEEP & spending time with people who GET IT! // as i get older, the more and more i lose tolerance for people who don’t seem to “get me.” i used to feel guilty for this, and think “maybe i should be a little more tolerant…” but now i am starting to see that that is just not the case. we aren’t supposed to be EVERY SINGLE HUMAN’s cup of tea. and if i spent my time trying to be, i’d lose myself.

i have been on the spiritual path for a while now, and the people who i tend to get along the absolute best with are also on a spiritually or emotionally elevated, high vibe level. this really just means that they are OPEN, they have depth, care about taking care of themselves, and have the confidence and security with they are to support others instead of tear them down. it really isn’t that woo-woo, it’s just basic human coolness.

my heart and soul really flocks to these high vibe individuals, and i feel crazy lucky to be surrounded by so many of them and meeting more of them every single day!

i’ve had so much fun this week with britt & tara of high vibe livin, emma of emma mildon (she will be on the podcast in a couple of weeks!), kelsey patel who does REIKI on me, and other friends of mine who just GET IT. it’s so fun to dive deep in conversation with people who don’t look at you like you’re crazy when you start talking about really meaningful, from the heart things.

4. glutathione, a.k.a the powerful antioxidant that is about to become your new BFF //

( this is sponsored by Kyowa Hakko. all opinions are my own, as always! ) so, let’s talk about SETRIA® GLUTATHIONE! otherwise known as the “master antioxidant” of the body, considering the fact that it is present in all of our cells and is our body’s primary defense against free radicals.

glutathione is one of those buzz words you may have heard about if you follow wellness trends and supplements closely, so i am here today to break it down for ya and tell you a bit about my experience using it. it is a nutrient-like compound that is versatile and so good for us in so many ways.

glutathione is one of those buzz words you may have heard about if you follow wellness trends and supplements closely, so i am here today to break it down for ya and tell you a bit about my experience using it. it is a nutrient-like compound that is one of the most versatile and important protective substances in the human body!

lately i have been taking Setria® Glutathione every morning with my matcha (i am off of coffee for the month – a story for a different day but i can’t wait to share more soon!) because our body’s natural levels of glutathione are at their lowest in the morning and should be replenished daily both through diet and supplementation.

the best dietary sources of glutathione are freshly prepared meats, including poultry and fish, fresh fruits, and fresh veggies (both raw and cooked). processed foods have little to no glutathione (surprise, surprise) because of losses during canning, drying, pasteurizing, etc. so it’s great to supplement your glutathione when you can — and i’d highly recommend Setria if you choose to!

* these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. this product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

5. BOOKS! // right now i am loving emma mildon’s the soul searcher’s handbook, which breaks down so many spiritual practices from meditation to acupuncture to crystal energy to reiki to auras to spirit animals and SO MUCH MORE. we also discuss all of this in our podcast together, but i will save that for the episode — yay! check out her book for sure, it’s amazing. also, i feel like i’ve mentioned this but mark manson’s the subtle art of not giving a fuck will change your approach to work / lifestyle for SURE. and i am also still reading and getting very close to finishing guru jagat’s invincible living (ALL ABOUT KUNDALINI!), and am having her on the pod in early august!! yay!

6. REIKI! // i have been exploring the magical world of reiki energy healing with the AMAZINGGGG kelsey patel (she will be on the podcast!! is this getting annoying? every single person i mention on the blog is coming on the podcast… because i am obsessed with them all! lol!) and she has worked so much STUFF out of me, from way down deep. old stories i’ve been telling myself, old thought patterns, anxieties and issues that i’ve been worked up in, etc. i am so, so looking forward to learning more from her and continuing to dive deep in this practice. if you have any questions about reiki, stones, crystals, etc… let me know before i interview her next week & i will include them! also stay tuned for some big fun things happening with kelsey & myself at the end of this year… eek! so exciting.

7. the GOOD fest coming to LA!!! // i am so, so, so, so excited that the GOOD fest is coming to LA in feb, 2018!!! i will be teaching TWO yoga classes, one with my soul sis sophie jaffe! i had so much fun teaching at the festival in philly this year (watch my youtube vid recap of the fest if you haven’t seen it yet!). if you’re planning on coming to the LA festival, use code TBB10 for $10 off of your tix!!! CAN’T WAIT to meet you alllll!!!

i have so much more to say!! from acupuncture to upcoming workshops to my sugar-free month and coffee-free month to so much travel on my horizon, there is so much more that i am loving lately… but i will save that for another time so that you can get on with yo day and LISTENNNN to the gabby bernstein podcast!

i just returned from the magical, dreamlike, jungle-meets-ocean oasis of mukul in nicaragua. i am so glad that i was traveling with my dear friend megan (this was our third year in a row taking a retreat-style vacation together) because since we like all the same things, there was no pressure to do… anything.

each day we woke up, ordered coffee to the room (make your own bulletproof style, of course), did yoga (in a beautiful oceanside jungle hut surrounded by MONKEYS – my dream), laid by the pool, took naps, read books, did some writing, did yoga again, got spa treatments, went to dinner, and went to bed by 9pm at the latest.

it’s so special to have a friend that you can travel with who is cool with totally unwinding, relaxing and having no agenda. at home and even on a lot of my vacations i have to be very “on,” and ready to go for a whole lot of highly go-go-go activities. so when i go to a tropical oasis dreamland like nicaragua… i want to just be. i want to chill. i want to detox from technology, live in the now, and reset my nervous system to relax, sleep, and soak in the highest vibes.

which brings me to the topic of this post…

a lot of you have noticed that i have turned over a bit of a new leaf this year. it’s funny because i have been on a self-care path for a while now and i feel like i have always made the feel good, wellness-oriented choices that bring me closest to my highest self – but this year, there has been a serious and radical shift.

i feel more in tune than ever with the HIGHEST VIBES of the universe & with my highest self… and i am so beyond ecstatic that my journey has lead me down this path.

i think it started with learning to let go of a lot of stuff that was holding me back… people, stagnant relationships, past traumas (as you’ll learn in my latest podcast episode), certain wellness choices (like food and exercise habits) that were no longer serving me, and basically letting go of all of the built up resistance to connecting with my higher Self, the universe, and all that it has to offer.

i am not sure why i was so resistant aside from maybe the fact that i just wasn’t ready yet to fully embrace everything the universe was trying to present to me.

the past few years, i have been very caught up in building my career and making choices that propel my business and brand forward – which was sort of a backwards way of thinking about it, in reality, because since my brand is ME what i really needed to do was slow down and connect on a deeper level.

i now know that when i do that, EVERYTHING is more in alignment. the content i choose to share, the brands that approach me about working together, the way i fill my time and my days, and even the people who take up huge amounts of my heart. i just feel in LINE with what i am supposed to be doing, and where i am supposed to be going… and that is a really, ridiculously good feeling.

the thing is, i have always craved deeper connection. always, always. it is what has drawn me to yoga and all of the self-care practices i am so in love with like ayurveda, reiki, acupuncture, kundalini, massage, cupping, speaking to intuitives, meditation, crystals, eating well, retreats, functional medicine, deep connections and friendships… all of that amazing healing work and play that brings me closer and closer to my self.

yet because i am also very much a business-minded person, a perfectionist, and someone who has VERY high standards for herself and my career trajectory – a lot of my daily choices and much of my daily routine seemed to be getting in the way of the one thing i wanted most for years: TO SLOW THE F DOWN, so that i could really draw inward and create from the heart, instead of creating from a muffled version of what my heart wanted but my head told me to do.

slowing down & how it’s changed me:

so back to what i was saying before. a LOT of you, especially those of you who are highly empathetic and in tune with the universe and others’ energies, have noticed that this radical shift has begun to take place with me.

i have received a steady trickle of emails, DM’s and comments from you guys saying that you can see and feel my transformation from afar. a couple of you have even noticed that my VOICE has become calmer and more confident and steady (hi alex & mama!), and the way i express myself on the podcast has shifted to a much more in-tune and ultimately happy & high vibrational version of myself.

i feel it too (!!!!) and i am blown away and thrilled that the transformation is noticeable from the outside to those of you who have been paying close attention to what i’ve been up to. it feels really amazing to get feedback about it because i know that it’s happening but to be radiating that shift on the outside is a whoooole different ballgame, and that’s what really matters.

ultimately this transformation is important to me because knowing myself on such a deep level enables me to radiate the highest vibes back out to YOU, via the podcast and everything else that i do. and the more high vibes that we all share, the happier and more balanced our universe will be. and perhaps after all this, this whole four year journey of blogging thus far, that might just be my most aligned mission i’ve ever had.

how did i slow down?!

shoot, i’m going to have to write a book about it. there is SO MUCH to say. good thing i love writing books.

there is so, so much i can attribute to how i have slowed down and begun this deeper spiritual shift unfolding within me, but here are some top changes i’ve made that i can reference:

+ kundalini yoga // doing kundalini straight up opened my eyes to how connected we all are with the universe, our spirit guides (spirit, God, your highest self, karma, the cosmos, whatever you choose to believe in!), and our own intuition when we simply slow down, BREATHE, move with mindfulness, and so much more. if you’re looking for more resources on kundalini, i’d recommend checking out my podcast episode 28, ft. the high vibe livin girls! also guru jagat’s invincible living book is a true game changer and will teach you a lot about the practice.

i have been taking kundalini classes at nine treasures in west hollywood, and plan soon to try out RA MA (guru jagat’s studio) and of course continue my privates with the HVL girls.

+ practicing meditation, mindfulness & mantras // i meditate every morning and i don’t put any pressure on the amount of time that i do it for. some days i am called to meditate for a full 45 minutes before i do anything else, but most days it’s between 10-15 minutes and i play kundalini music to get me in the zone. i have a few mantras i’ve found that are very powerful for where i am right now, most of which reminding me that “i am light” and “i am an infinite being of the universe” because those serve to get me out of my head, and allow me to move from the heart instead of get stuck worrying about trivial little things.

+ prioritizing self care // it can feel like a full-time job to prioritize yourself! so i have found ways to make sure that i am taking care of myself on a daily basis, which has required me to change my routine quite a bit. i have had to let go in other areas to make this happen – by saying “no” to tons of events and nighttime activities (they are endless in los angeles, trust me) so that i am able to say “yes” to myself… to everything from yoga to reiki to acupuncture to massage to a night in taking a bath and reading. i didn’t make time for ANY of this before… i was too caught up in being a social butterfly, which was fun but was not serving my higher purpose. now i say “yes” to the things that feel the most right to me — but i don’t put pressure on myself to do it all.

+ connecting with people who GET IT // i have always been somewhat of a “friend collector,” which sort of might be my favorite thing about myself. i have very close and special friendships from childhood, all sorts of summer camps and activities in high school, college / alpha phi, grad school, the NY wellness world, the blog world, the LA yoga world, and so much more

i adore all of these people, SO MUCH, and those who matter most to me will always be a priority. however, for years i was giving out so much energy to others. TOO much energy. i had to learn to let go and let some relationships shift and transform to make room for the most high vibe, positive, and loving ones. the people i am closest with, i have cultivated such a closeness with that they know who i am and what is important to me. the amazing kathryn budig says, “you know you’re lucky when you can count your closest friends on one hand.” i may exceed one hand just a bit, but the point is – i have let go and allowed many friendships and relationships to shift so that i can focus on the people that really matter to me and deserve my full attention and love.

plus, with their support, i am entirely different and more down to earth and calm person. so spreading myself too thin was something i needed to do for a long time in order to get to where i am now.

+ early to bed, early to rise // i am working on this, it’s probably one of the hardest shifts i have ever personally made because i am a natural-born night owl… but when i can get on an early to bed, early to rise schedule… everything in my life feels more vibrant and alive. i feel so much more rested and am actually able to fall asleep at night when i do this! a few things that help are not looking at my phone / social media for a few hours before sleep, practicing bedtime mindfulness and meditation exercises, and making sure my space is zen and peaceful for a few hours leading up to sleeping.

+ reiki // this is a newer one for me, but i am totally blown away by the healing power of reiki energy work. i have had a few sessions with the amazing kelsey patel and i have more coming up, and the amount of transformation that has taken place just from the work i have done with her so far is astounding. she reached right into my heart and soul and shed light on a few things that have really continued to hold me back (overcommitting, fear stories, focusing on the material, etc.) and i have been practicing my reiki “homework” (more like major self care!!!) for the last week and it’s been amazing.

+ saying NO!!! // i touched on this above, but without learning to say “no” to so, so many things that don’t entirely, completely, wholly serve my purpose… i would never have to room to say “yes.” saying YES to what i really want and need is so huge and important!

+ allowing space for love // for a long time i resisted receiving true, whole, beautiful love from another person because i just had so many stories in my head about how complex i am, how no one will truly get me so i need to settle with half-love type of relationships, etc. well this year i set an intention to open myself to true, real love and everything that comes along with it. and guess what? after sending out the message to the universe that i was ready… that’s what i got! allowing space for love and also channeling so much of my love (i have so much love to give it almost freaks me out sometimes lol) into this person who gives it right back to me… has been such an energetic force that has made me crazy happy and has given me the stability and confidence to continue down this spiritual path of awakening. it makes me feel safe – on a heart-level and soul-level, and i think without that force i would have trouble opening myself up in such a huge way to ALLL of the high vibe, good things that are currently surrounding me.

+ SO MUCH MORE! // there are tons of products, nourishing foods, etc. that have helped me that i really want to share but that will be a whole post in itself. i am going to record a solo podcast episode soon on EVERYTHING that has helped me so stay tuned and please let me know if there is anything specific you’d like me to include!

lastly…

i am so grateful and blown away by the way that PODCASTS can connect us all on such a deeper level, and that those of you who listen to my podcast have gotten to know me in a whole new way this year and have gotten to experience many aspects of this shift firsthand.

i credit the soul on fire podcast as a big part of why many of you have noticed my spiritual transformation with such force, but also instagram & the bloggy are other places people have noticed because everywhere i share it’s just me… no frills, no inauthentic BS. just me.

i want to thank each and every one of you for joining me on this journey and also allowing the things that i share to be used in YOUR life — as i know many of you are on a similar path. we all just want to be happy and in balance, and for THAT… i will always be here to try to share as much as i can about what i learn, to see what resonates most with you.

ALL OF THE LOVE !! where are you in your spiritual journey? would love to hear! xx