Before I get into the full on story, I will tell you a bit about where I got all of the clothes I’m wearing in this post. The site is called Modcloth, and you guys– I am obsessed. They have a ton of the indie & bohemian brands that I love to wear, and they also have a huge variety of athleisure and athletic clothing. (A.k.a everything I wear in a nut shell.) Of course I am decked out in their yoga clothes and the coziest sweats of all time in this post, but they have pretty much anything you’re looking for clothing & inspiration wise. Also, THIS JOURNAL is to die for and the perfect accessory for a day or night at the beach getting your zen on.

You’ll find links to everything I am wearing in this post, but before we dive in I’ll give you this yoga mat link louuuud & clear, because I must have gotten 2874384 questions about it on Snapchat & Insta while we were shooting! Glad to know you guys love it as much as I do. More about Modcloth throughout the post, but I have a story for ya too. Okay, shall we?

The Journal of My Dreams… “All Good Things Are Wild & Free” — YES & YES.

A Glorious Day in Malibu w/ Modcloth + My Favorite Humans

If there is one thing you need to know about me and one thing only, it’s that I absolutely love being on the beach. It feeds my heart. Not just any beach though… the more touristy it is, the less pleasure I get from being there because what really resonates with me about the beach is the majestic tranquility it provides and the reminder that we as humans are really so, so small in this big huge universe of ours.

If you want me to get more specific, it’s the ocean that makes me feel that way. I am captivated by it. I think I get it from my dad — he taught me to be a fishy in the ocean when I was still too little to realize that a lot of people get creeped out by swimming down into the depths of the ocean floor. The ocean, along with yoga/running/writing, is one of the few things that brings me pure and utter peace. It silences my LOUD, anxious mind and allows me to just be. To just swim, or float, or surf, or watch in awe as the waves roll in and crash against the shore.

Living that Dreamy Mermaid Life w/ my Rise with the Asana mat, my Monday Mantra leggings, & my All in a Phase Work top. Sorry but how cute are the names of all of these items? I think they’re adorable and add to the charm… It makes me feel like I know the story behind my clothes better. Is that weird? Probably, but I’m weird so it works.

And yes, that means I am that girl who, even though I’ve grown up being surrounded by it, goes to the beach and every single time says, “Look at the ocean! Look at the waves… OMG look at the way the sun is shining on the water and making it sparkle like that, look at the colors in the water!!!” Because it fascinates me and blows me away. I am captivated by it.

To have the opportunity to spend the full afternoon on the beach in Malibu in the middle of the week and watch the sun set while shooting with my girl Danika was truly soul cleansing. Life gets busy, man, especially when you are a hustler running a couple of businesses and maintaining a brand (among other things… like training for a marathon). So carving out the time to step back and do something that invigorates you, especially while being productive at the same time, can create all the difference between having a great week and having a stressful week.

Yoga Mat x Top x Capris

This year I have made it an uber important goal of mine to stress out FAR less. It’s just really hard to live a high vibe, productive life when your anxiety levels are high and you feel like you’re always behind on something. I felt that way ALL YEAR last year, and somehow I still managed to have an awesome year because my career was taking off & I got to publish a book. So yes, my dreams were coming true but yes, I was also a stress-basket nut ball.

Overall, living that way just doesn’t work with my lifestyle. I am not necessarily calm as a cucumber in demeanor, but I try to have a generally relaxed outlook on life, work, relationships, food (duh) & more. I do still get stressed, every single day, but it’s making sure that I incorporate days like these into my routine that help me stay balanced, flexible, happy and honestly successful. Success comes from within, and when I am in the nut ball mood that I described above I get nothing done and it’s all bad.

This outfit is legit my life in outfit form. Cozy, athletic-inspired, beachy, pajama-esque but made to be worn indoors or outdoosr, and neutral tones so I can add a fun bag, reflective sunglasses, etc. The top is my favorite because it reminds me of an old school football jersey. Anything with two stripes on the arm has my heart… I guess I have a thing for athletes (?! or I just wanna be one, haha). And the pants — hellllooo, comfy amazingness. I have also been throwing these pants on after a long run or a hot yoga class when I want to be comfy-casual but get out of my sweaty leggings or shorts.

Also, Modcloth has so many retro sunglass options that are to die. For your inner hippie flower girl ( like me ! ! ! ), CHECK THESE OUT. Ugh, love.

Oftentimes I get into this working bubble during the week where anything that doesn’t fall under my usual work routine trips me out and makes me feel like I am not getting enough done. Like I said, managing my blog, clothing line, social media accounts, workout sched, book marketing, personal life ( hehe that one is big, let me tell you… You can run from your personal probs but you can’t hide! That sounds creepy but I mean it’s true… #workaholicproblemz ) & more can be TOUGH on a girl’s weekday schedule.

But it’s days like these that bring me back to earth and remind me that no matter what is going on– at the end of the day I am FINE. I am lucky, I am productive, I am happy, I am zen, I am good.

^ New mantra, anyone?!

Also, this crazy cozy Chill You Be Mine? cardigan is life. My mom is already trying to steal it from me, and we haven’t established this yet my mom is the queen of style. I am serious, she dresses me and everyone else we know.

And another in the cardigan because this sunset was magic…

I almost didn’t mention that before we began this shoot, we had lunch at Malibu Farm on the Pier with my TBV team. Being surrounded by such amazing, driven friends & biz partners of mine really makes my heart happy so that added to the greatness of the day tenfold.

And before I go and let you have your Saturday (or your Sunday-Friday, depending on when you are reading this…!) the last thing I want to tell you about Modcloth is that it was started by two high school sweethearts in a college dorm room in 2002! They’ve since grown to 350 employees in three major cities. If that isn’t reason enough to get your booty over to their site, I don’t know what is. Oh wait I do know — THE YOGA MAT!

Love you guys. You’re all so sensational for reading this far that it hurts. (PS according to Danika, “sensational” is my word of the week.) I just feel so grateful for what I do and the people who give me the opportunity me to do it… INSPIRED & full of gratitude is an understatement. LOVE, love. Xo

Have you tried Modcloth? Have you been to Malibu Farm?!?! Both are sensational (THERE I GO AGAIN W/ THE WORD!) & worth trying for sure. But if you don’t live near Malibu then I guess you’ll have to wait to try… Modcloth you can try whenever — the beauty of the Internet !! X

I love it. I’m all about anything that makes us feel connected to each other and to the earth, so if this week flying by super quickly has anything to do with the cosmos — give me the deets, universe! I wanna know.

Anyway, I love Fridays even more than I used to because they are now our designated day to feature our TBV Apparel Babes of the Week!!! Typically I would explain what the babe of the week is and how I go about choosing each week’s awesome human, but for those of you who read this bloggy regularly you’ve heard me talk about it here (Natasia!) & here (Rachelle!). For those who don’t, peak back for an overview.

Today is all about miss Calli Cholodenko, a.k.a the girl who puts nearly all other Instagrammers to shame, because, well, she has a ridiculously good eye for the ‘gram game & she may or may not have a lot of practice, otherwise known as her business.

TBV Apparel x Calli Cholodenko // wearing I’d Rather be a Mermaid Crop; sipping Blue Bottle LA coffee

The moment I met Calli I knew we were going to be very good friends. Actually, I met her in the funniest & the most modern, tech-savvy, two girls who social media up a storm kind of way. I was at a “Disconnect to Reconnect” event at the Mountain Mermaid in Topanga Canyon back in February or so, and since the point was to disconnect from reality for the day & get back to our true selves, we left our phones in a basket at the front door.

Very cool, very unlike me. I was so obsessed with the Mountain Mermaid event space and I am so passionate about sharing the pretty places/things that I stumble upon, I was getting annoyed I couldn’t share a photo. I had taken a grand total of zero while I was there, and while I tried to be cool with having no imagery from my awesome day I really wasn’t. It’s in my bloggy blood! I never do this, but I decided to scroll on through the Instagram geotag for the Mountain Mermaid and find whichever photo I felt represented the space the best.

After skimming a TON of photos (oh, you know, casually flipped through every photo in the entire geotag like only a tiny bit of a #maniac), it was very, VERY clear which p

hoto I was going to go with to share on my IG. This photo, right here, by a girl named @callicholo…

I posted it, credited her, and silently hoped that this chick wouldn’t hate me for stealing her photo and blasting it out to my followers. Some people get very offended about that stuff, as you can imagine. However, Calli was the sweetest ever, thanked me for digging her photography, and we set a date for coffee. I could continue on in this great amount of detail about how much we hit it off when we hung out, but that’s another story for another day!

I soon learned that Calli has the DREAM JOB of managing business’s social media accounts for a living — specifically businesses in the wellness and lifestyle space. So for those of you beauties who are curious about how to get into the digital space & do it well, take note with our Calli Q&A below…

Wearing: Make Your Own Magic crop & Namaste or Whatever crop

Q&A time, Something Social + TBB Style:

Q: Calli! We are so excited to have you on TBB today, as we believe you encompass our mottos of truth, balance and virtue to a tee. (And you rock the shirts way well, obvi.) Can you tell us what the elements of truth, balance and virtue mean to you in your life?

A: Ahh thank you, I am BEYOND thrilled to be here! Let’s see, starting with balance. This is a concept I really had to master, and still work hard at. I have so many interests and priorities, so between work, fitness, family, friends, eating healthy, going out and having me time, I had to get real comfortable with the concept of balance real quick. For me it’s all about moderation, and making sure I have time for everything important in my life. I have a pretty addictive personality, so it’s easy for me to focus on one thing and run with it, but the more attention I’ve put into balancing my life, the more happiness I seem to find. Virtue to me can be summed up in a line: to build self esteem, you have to do esteemable acts. I try to remember that to have is to give, and to practice being grateful for what I already have in my life, otherwise how could I expect to handle more?

I saved truth for last because it’s the one that I hold closest to my heart. From day one, my mom taught me never to lie. She’d probably kill me for saying this, but she always told “if you killed someone and told me, I’d help you hide the body!” She taught me to always be honest, and I’ve lived my life that way. In later years it took on a new meaning for me, in being true to myself. Trusting my gut and my intuition took me some time to learn, and now that I’ve started meditating and sitting with myself a bit more, I’ve finally learned how special that relationship with myself really is. Everyone is going to have an opinion, but at the end of the day I want to put my head on my pillow and be happy with the choices I made that day.

Q: You are a young entrepreneur with your own social media management business, a.k.a you’re absolutely killing it. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind Something Social LA and how you got started?

A: You’re too sweet! Sometimes I still laugh when I think of myself as a boss or running a company. It feels a bit surreal, but also totally meant to be. It all happened so organically and sort of fell into place. I majored in Communication at USC and had NO clue what I wanted to do with it. I had internships in college in PR, events, and fashion, but nothing had really clicked. I always knew I wanted to create a position with the freedom to be creative, the ability to work with people, but that also incorporated an analytical/business element, I just didn’t know what that looked like. Sort of by happenstance I began working for a boutique social media firm out of college, and took to it pretty quickly. After about 8 months I was approached by another business to run their social media internally, and that’s when I decided I would set up my own company, with that new business as my first client. I figured if other people were doing it, why couldn’t I? I also had the encouragement and support of my friends and family, so I felt comfortable making the jump. Within two weeks I had a second client, then a third and fourth through referrals. Social Media is such a growing and necessary element to brands these days, that the inquiries and referrals kept coming in, and in turn my business grew and expanded! It’s definitely been a one foot in front of the other sort of process. I’ve had to make decisions and learn as I go, and I’m lucky to have some really great people in my life I’ve been able to learn from and bounce ideas off of.

Q: Tell us some funny BTS things that go down in the world of social media management. You know, like moving tables at restaurants because of shadow issues… Lol.

A: Oh man, the things we do for a good photo! When I first started out, I’d be really timid or shy when I was in public places. Now, standing on tables and chairs at restaurants is about as regular as ordering ice water for the table! We’ve literally all had to become semi-professional hand models, aka fresh manis in the workplace are a must! I can’t tell you how many poor donuts and cupcakes have been sacrificed for the good of the Instagram. By the time we’re done repositioning, moving, squishing and shooting them, there’s not much left to enjoy.

Speaking of Behind the Scenes… Sometimes TBB thinks she’s the photographer. And Kyle is always the best moral support.

Q: You were born and raised in LA, annddd you went to college in LA. Top three LA restaurants, go!

A: Such a tough one since I’m such a foodie, and they’ve definitely changed over the years. But right now, I’d have to say Bestia, Gjelina and let’s be real, I still get Joan’s on Third at least twice per week.

( And HELLOOO, check out her Salt & Straw drippity drop ice cream shot. Can we all eat this NOW? )

Q: Favorite hole in the wall spot to grab something healthy in LA: 

A: Backyard Bowls just opened up near me in West Hollywood, and I’m addicted! They also have quinoa bowls, which are a nice alternative to acai / smoothie bowls. It’s not exactly a hole in the wall, but Greenleaf is another favorite.

( TBB SIDENOTE: Backyard Bowls is my JAM! So good… )

Q: You are definitely up on your fitness game, just like everyone here at TBV. What are some of your favorite workouts to do and fitness studios to go to?

A: Oh boy do I love a good group fitness class. I mean LOVE. My go-to’s are definitely spin at Cycle House, pilates at Fitmix, boxing at Prevail, weights/HIIT at Training Mate and I finally just tried Body By Simone for the first time and absolutely loved it! I also do Barry’s Bootcamp and Hot 8 Yoga Barre or Sculpt a few times a month. The obsession with LA fitness studios is real.

Hmmm, it sounds like I will be able to drag Calli to an OTF class soon, no problem!

Q: You do social media for a living (#dreams!), give us your top three tips for making a post that meets your criteria.

A: Yes, I do live and breathe social media. For me, it’s all about aesthetic and lighting. Lighting, lighting, lighting. Overall, you want your account to have a recognizable look and feel to it, to the point that if someone saw a post not tied to your account, they’d still know it was you. The image has to be 1. Clear (no blurry images!) 2. Tells a story 3. Speaks to some element about who you are, or what your brand is about.

Q: Something about you that most people don’t know…

A: I spin 5 times a week, and yet I can’t ride a bicycle!

Q: Any funny behind the scenes moments from your TBV Apparel shoot?

A: Let’s see, I was honked at by a friend driving by and sent a Snapchat of myself from another friend who saw our shoot taking place, but the funniest moment by far would have to be when our photographer dropped her poor little iPhone in the gutter at the end of our shoot! Sorry Danika, RIP phone.

Wearing Make Your Own Magic Crop + Vibes Don’t Lie Pullover

Q: Favorite ways to style our TBV tees… 

A: I love that you can wear them casual with workout clothes, or throw on a pair of jeans shorts and a flannel (my go-to) and you have a super cute day outfit. I’d even put on a pair of jeans with boots and wear one of the tees out to dinner. My style is definitely laid back, so the tees fit perfectly with pretty much anything and everything I’d ever wear. Plus, my plain black & white tees could use a break from the rotation.

Q: Finish this sentence: Life can be crazy, but it’s worth living because ________.

A: It has the potential to be anything you want it to be, and every day brings on a new challenge, but also a new opportunity to try, fail, learn, succeed, grow, live, laugh and enjoy!

( TBB SIDENOTE: I love this so much. I could not agree more. Wise words, missy. )

Q: Lastly, advice you would give to someone who is interested in following their hearts & creating a life for themselves that is outside of the box. 

A: At the end of the day, and I know this is so annoying to hear, but you really have to just trust yourself, trust that the universe has your back, and take the leap. You won’t know until you do it, and that’s part of the excitement of going out on your own! You create the vision, then you put one foot in front of the other. The other main advice I’d give is that you can be attached to how you want to feel in your new venture, but don’t be so attached to the outcome or exactly what it will look like. You want to stay open to any direction or any path that your heart takes you, and not be so rigid in exactly what it’s going to look like.

Q: Where else can we find you?! Social handles, website, upcoming events, etc.

A: You can follow me at @callicholo and our biz at @somethingsocial! Website is www.somethingsocial-la.com. We just redid it and I’m super happy with it, so I hope you enjoy! xx

So, all in all, Calli rocks. Yes? Yes. Check out her site & get a feel for what social media management is — her site explains it super well, straightforward, and of course beautifully (photos and all). Which is your fav look of Calli’s from the shoot?!?! I love it ALL, but I think my fav might be the Mermaid crop with the flannel, jean shorts & boots.

I thought I was going to spend the month settling into my new place, getting back into my routine and getting my bloggy bloggin’ on every day, but… such as life, new things pop up with every day that passes. Exciting new things of course.

Like… A trip to Chicago to speak at the awesome conference for women in the digital space Create + Cultivate, where I am speaking on using the digital space for good via blogging, commerce, content and more. The conference is on August 15th and I would LOVE, love, love to have you there if you live anywhere nearby. I attended the conference this last year in LA and learned so much I could burst (my recap of the experience here), plus got to meet so many cool & inspiring people. I would highly recommend it.

After Chicago, I am going to Palm Springs for my cousin’s bachelorette party  (woo!), and then straight to Seattle for an Eddie Bauer brand summit and week of outdoor adventure. Ummm, sweet? YEAH. More travel than I planned on this month? Yeah. The new apartment decor can wait.

So, back to the title of this post.

I’m rambling, I know, and it’s because I am excited to update you guys on everything that’s going on over here. OH, and for those of you who are subscribed to my newsletter, I didn’t send one out this Sunday and will be hitting you with a double whammy this coming Sunday. Don’t worry, your email did not glitch!

No wait, now really back to the title of this post.

Okay, so, you guys may have noticed me posting some Instagrams with the links & tags “@LIKEtoKNOWit” and “LIKEtoKNOW.it,” and you may have been like, “Uhhh, what is Jordan doing cluttering up her caption box like that when she is usually such a psycho about having a really conversational, generally semi-concise caption?”

Or at least that’s what I thought when I saw bloggers like Gal Meets Glam & Pink Peonies using it far earlier than I did. Then I started working with rewardStyle and came to learn that the Like to Know It feature is actually the coolest thing ever — because it connects us from blogger to reader/follower, and allows US as bloggers to basically do the shopping for you.

Because of the nature of what I do, there are two main things I strive for with blogging: 1) to entertain and inspire you, 2) to make your life easier. (Maybe that’s 3 things? #whatever)! Like to Know It actually serves all three… especially the last one. It allows me to share my favorite outfits, home goods, etc. with you, and all you need to do is “like” my photo on Instagram (yes, double tap it, so easy) and you will get all outfit or product details delivered straight to your email inbox.

For example, I am about to post the below on my Instagram with the LiketoKnow.it widget. ALL you need to do is sign up for LiketoKnow.it (takes two secs and it’s way free), go to the photo on my Instagram, double tap it, and then you have all of these outfit details. Boom done, your shopping for the day/month is donezo. Because you’re a busy person and you don’t have time to peruse & browse around until you’ve found the hottest new fitness clothes!

No, that doesn’t mean that you automatically get charged for a purchase. Once you get the link sent to your inbox, you just go to the respective website and order it. You still get to pick your size, details, and/or change your mind about the purchase entirely, BUT the hard part is done. I have done the shopping for you. And with the extreme abundance of killer fitness clothes I have access to because of what I do, with “Like to Know It” you will be some of the first to discover some rockin’ new brands and styles.

Look, I told you I wear a lot of workout clothes…

Annddd a lot of other clothes too I suppose (lots of stripes! And PJs!):

Basically, I just want to help you guys live easier, more fit & active anndd stylish lives. Because when you feel good about what you’re wearing, your confidence increases tenfold. That’s what I want for all of you. Happy, healthy lives bursting with confidence, joy and a whole lot of fun. And yoga and running and late night lounging in comfy workout clothes and all that good stuff.

So, in conclusion: sign up for LiketoKNOW.it, double tap my outfit photos that have the link, and get the clothing info sent straight to your inbox. And if you’re not an Instagram person, that’s cool too. There’s always the bloggy, and I have included this handy dandy “Shop the Post” widget below in case you liked any of the clothing in this post!

And as always, if you have any questions just EMAIL ME and I am happy to answer them & help you out. I have a new email address, thanks to my boy Ty, and you can now reach me at jordan@truthbalancevirtue.com… it’s way more legitimate than the pretty unprofessional gmail account I’ve been using for years, and it suits us in our TBV Apparel expansion just swimmingly.

Thoughts?! Did you ever wonder what LIKEtoKNOW.it was?! Now ya know, and you can shop, shop, shop away! Any suggestions for the next few LiketoKNOW.it posts I should do for ya?!

If you only know one thing about me, you should know this: I love the ocean. It makes me feel alive, and gives me a surge of passion & energy that inspires my creativity to be boundless. The ocean, both swimming/surfing/paddleboarding in it & gazing out at it, reminds me how small I truly am in the scheme of the world… how small we as humans all really are. In the same way it reminds me that because we are so damn small, there is no reason we shouldn’t all be ridiculously, madly, insanely, hugely in love with the lives we live.

I am a city girl, but the island life suits me well. I am 99% sure that one day I will move to Maui for at least half a year, if not more. Maybe I will write my next book there.

I am playing major catch up over here in TBB Land this week. (Did you know that while I was away we sold the MOST TBV Apparel tees in a 2 week period than we ever have before?! Thanks to Elite Daily for the killer shout out). FIRST UP ON MY CATCH UP LIST: What I Wore in Hawaii bloggy blog post.

I have been organizing photos from the trip & gathering links upon links so I can share all of my #islandlife outfits with you. Whether you are traveling this summer or just chillin’ by your pool, I think you’ll find a lot of these outfits to die for. They are all at the top of my summery list.

What I Wore in Maui… #IslandStyle

ViX dress: This ViX maxi is an absolute favorite of mine. I love throwing it on after a beach day and dressing it up with some wedges & delicate jewelry. I also love dressing it down with beach waves, my Wildfox wayfarer sunglasses & a good, icy cocktail in hand. Ridiculously comfy & oh so beachy chic.

Dress (On sale!) || Similar, diff brand || Same print, bikini || Same print, coverup || Wildfox Wayfarer Sunglasses

Nike Swimsuit: This sporty suit has been my go-to ever since I bought it two summers ago (gasp!). But don’t worry, they have lots of new, cute styles that are very similar & just as colorful. (Links below.) I love the way it fits because it’s snug & supportive, so it’s perfect for swimming, paddle boarding, surfing & my endless beach walks. One note: they run small, so you might want to size up!

Similar colors, diff brand || Similar suit, same brand (So sporty I love it) || Similar suit, same brand

Target Swimsuit: I adore this Target suit. Not only is it super affordable but it fits great, is always comfortable & I always get a ton of compliments when I wear it. It makes me feel good about myself… and that’s the point of clothes/swimwear in the first place, right? Again an appearance by my Wildfox sunnies.

(Exact style sold out) || Same print, diff style || Same brand, diff style (I need it) || Same bottoms (Comfiest I own) || Sunglasses

Crop top, Maxi Skirt, Kimono get up: This is my favorite outfit that I wore on the trip. It combines my hippie, boho style with the the elegance and class of a simple sheer maxi & fitted lace crop top. The long, beachy hair and haiku booties top off this look & make it the perfect dinner (or date!) ensemble. Also special about this outfit is the paisley duster kimono made by the fab Anna Slevin Collection. (Totally unrelated to me wearing this kimono, I met one of Anna’s best friends on my recent Costa Rica trip & we became super close– how’s that for a small world?)

Bustier crop top (Exact style sold out) || Very similar top || Similar, inexpensive  top || Similar, scalloped lace top (Need) || Sheer maxi skirt (Exact style sold out) || Very similar || Similar || Similar (gorgeous) ||Dolce Vita booties

Free People maxi: Bought this dress right before my trip & I am so glad I did, because it’s the perfect throw-on maxi for dinner, drinks, lunchtime, post-beach, anything! You can dress it up or dress it down. I love the fun color and print, and my mom has it in the more subtle black & white. Both fab. Plus, I love how high the neckline is… makes it fun & different for a change!

Dress || Similar, darker (Obsessed) || Free People Racerback Bralette || Sunglasses

Here’s the ‘fit in action with my beautiful fam in our yearly photo spot at Mama’s Fish House.

Jen’s Pirate Booty: Okay, it’s no joke that I LOVE, LOVE my Jen’s Pirate Booty tunics. I am wearing one on the cover of my book (how’s that for special?!?!?), and I love wearing them as coverups or over little underdresses/camis/neon bralettes etc. for going out.

Janis Tunic (On Bella) || Wildflower Tunic || Topshop Strappy Sandals (On Bella)

DNKY Swimsuit: I don’t wear one pieces very often, but when I do they usually have cutouts, fit like a glove (I have no choice, my torso is extremely long) & are so freaking comfortable I could do cartwheels for days. Plus, they are supportive enough to run it! Love, and love sticking with a timeless brand like DKNY.

Swimsuit || Similar

ViX Caftan Coverup: This photo is from Costa Rica, but it counts because I wore this coverup on the daily in Hawaii, too.

L Space Cover Up: Love the cold shoulder, love the breathability, love the flowy bell sleeves, love the color.

Cover Up || Hat

TBV Apparel: Because I WOULD rather be a mermaid… Wouldn’t you?!

Last but not least, if you want to shop these looks, you can Shop the Post below!!! I was there for so many days I only picked all of my fav / most island relevant outfits to share with you… but if you want to see more, just holler and I will do a second #whatiwore in Hawaii post!

How is everyone else’s week going?! What else do you want to see from my Hawaii trip?! Food, surfing, local spots, shopping, musings/reflections?! I am happy to share it all… I’ve missed ya! PS I am regulating my posting schedule AND my YouTube video uploading schedule, and I am stoked to be back on the regularity thang. LMK what you want to see!!! Love you all!

Sooo I’m keeping today’s post short & sweet because I wanted to share all of this Old Navy awesomeness with you, and I am headed to a fun photo shoot for the rest of the day… 36 hours in LA, let’s go! Then HAWAII tomorrow. Cannot wait. Will definitely be rocking these clothes on the beach… Or at least before the beach.

For so many reasons.

Yeah, I think about the Paris Hilton + Nicole Richie TV show circa 2003-2007 (yes I know those dates… I mean, I was a fan, okay?) because they were blondies rocking overalls for maybe the first time in their life (lol) but I also think about it for another reason.

Every single day I strive to life a simpler life. I spend 90% of my time focused on managing my business & growing my brand — and don’t get me wrong, that is fun. I am hugely passionate about spreading the TBB message and I have big plans for where my brand will go. The other 10% of my time is spent trying to relax and/or do something totally not work-related. I also try to balance everything else between friends, family, exercise, recovering from my eating disorder, etc. But I would say 90% is still geared toward TBB-ness, even when that means shooting fun videos, trying new fitness studios & traveling to rad tropical locations for work.

And if you read that paragraph carefully then you will catch something… I totally just said “TRYING to relax” which if I’m being totally honest should have said “trying to force myself to relax,” and that’s because my natural inclination in life is to stay super, duper, unbelievably, unbreathably (yeah, I made that word up) busy.

Even my days off are filled with so many plans & events you would think I’d lost my mind.

So perhaps what I am advocating is not a SIMPLE life per say, because I think complexity is the key to living a passionate life. Complex people are the best people. We may not be the happiest always (whoops), because we have a lot of shit on our minds and we hold ourselves to a very high standard, but holy moly do we get the most done.

And us complex people need some simplicity in our lives once in a while. If you can’t channel that simplicity in your everyday life, get out of your comfort zone. Force yourself to go on a hike and immerse yourself in nature in the middle of the week if you have to. Put on a pair of overalls, find a tractor and find your inner simplicity by connecting to nature and to your true, deep, soulful and heartfelt self.

If nature doesn’t do it for you, do something else. Read a book, take a yoga class, or FILM A VIDEO (I filmed my first vlog yesterday… a “video” + “blog” a.k.a a day in the life vid… how did I do?!) And because I like to play the part whenever I do something, I got super into the whole “wear overalls & go on a hike” thing the other day… except I also liked my Converse so much that I didn’t take them off, and I didn’t wear socks (such. an. idiotic. move.) and I have had painful blisters ever since. So don’t do that!

Shop My Outfit: 

Converse || Overalls || Grey Bandeux || Flannel || Sunglasses

Sipping on my Peet’s Coffee Javiva blended coffee drink before we headed to our hike! I love their stuff because it’s always real & never instant. I am part of their social media #StandUpForFresh campaign right now and am very excited about it. They don’t ever use coffee flavored syrups or powders… thank goodness, because I wouldn’t be into that at all. And it tastes like a coffee-flavored milkshake… Can I get a YUM?!

SHOP THE POST:

Tractor not included with purchases… Unfortunately.

Then I transitioned from veganism, and all of the sudden I had a new platform to not only grow the blog in a more versatile way (by no longer having a strictly vegan name or label to hold onto) but also to talk about things that I love.  I promised myself that my new blog name would be broad enough to allow me to write about anything that fits my personality: because this blog, after all, is an extension of my personality.

Do you spy what I spy? Balance, baby.

I have struggled a bit here & there with trying to remain in a certain niche when it comes to blogging. Am I a wellness blogger? Am I a fitness blogger? Am I a healthy food blogger? Or is it okay if I write & make videos about beauty, fashion, home decor, relationships & life advice too? I see these awesome blogs who have their very specific purpose: fashion, food, beauty, travel. I have had thoughts where I feel like I should have a purpose if I want to continue making a real name for myself in the blogging world.

But now I realize more than ever… I do have a purpose. My purpose is to share my lifestyle with all of you, which, even masked as a vegan food blog, was exactly what I was doing in the first place when I began The Blonde Vegan nearly two years ago.

This blog has grown into something that captures my whole life. I’ve written about personal things from my eating disorder recovery to my juice cleanse addiction to leaving graduate school and more– and I have written about exciting, monumental business moves like creating TBV Apparel (because of the blog!), writing my memoir, starting my YouTube channel, and partnering with my favorite brands to name a few.

Libra Love.

So, here I am to tell you that I finally, for the first time in a longgg while have an answer to that pesky “What kind of blog do you have, anyway?” question.

I have a lifestyle blog.

You can expect to see posts about health, fitness, travel, fashion, beauty, relationships, friendships, eating disorder recovery, building a business & following your dreams, yoga and the occasional “I feel like writing about this today so I’m going to.”

The Fifth Label + Piper Lime

I hope that works for you (yes, you!) who is reading– because I am oh so excited about it and it feels good & extremely relieving to have a purpose.

There is no better way to commemorate this realization than by sharing a series of photos we snapped in Downtown LA yesterday. My photographer Danika Miller captured this playful day in her talented way… She gets me. She gets it. She gets creativity. She is a rockstar. Little does she know but her involvement with my brand has helped me come to realize what is most important to me when it comes to what I share on the blog. Sometimes it helps to have a great visual to come to the full realization of a vision.

Wearing: Chambray Top: The Fifth Label || Striped Top: The Fifth Label || Leather Shorts: Piper Lime || Aviators: Ray Ban

Similars: Chambray Top: CWST || Striped Top: ASOS || Faux Leather Shorts: Nasty Gal || Aviators: Nordstrom

More photos from this fun shoot day to come. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on my lifestyle blog realizations? I supposed I’ve really known this all along, but it feels good to share. <3

Ready? LET’S GO. (I’m also hyped up on coffee. Eminem + coffee + protein shake + post OTF workout a.k.a open the endorphin floodgates. Uh. Oh.)

TBB Must Haves  ▷ ▸ ▹ ►

▷ ▸ ▹ ► POPSUGAR Must Have Box: Because of my ongoing partnership with POPSUGAR, I have had the awesome opportunity to receive their “Must Have” box full of amazing goodies each month. It’s basically the best of fashion, beauty, home, fitness and food… in a box, delivered straight to your door. Each box features of $100 in full-sized premium products hand-selected by the super trendy & in-the-know POPSUGAR editors. Previous boxes have featured products from Neiman Marcus, Joie (MY LIFE), Missoni, Target, Tarte cosmetics, Rachel Zoe, and wayyy more. Check out the full site here to check out all past products. I would tell you what the products for next month will be, but it’s a surprise! Even I don’t know yet.

Pre-Diffuser spillage! Eeeep.

What I can tell you is that some of my favs from March’s Must Have Box have been a mini wet brush (anyone with long hair… this will for real become your best friend post-shower, or basically anywhere/always), a super yummy smelling diffuser from The Archivist (granted, I accidentally spilled it all over my nightstand and it took the paint right off… my bad… to see scenes from that disaster, add me on Snapchat @jojoyounger), and some delicious “half pops” popcorn. Oh, and a really cool neon makeup case. Basically I’m obsessed with everything– and the fact that you’re getting a major deal on the newest, coolest products on the market from KILLER brands is basically unreal. I highly suggest hopping on it!! More info here.

That wet brush though… Swoon-town.

▷ ▸ ▹ ► Striped T-Shirt Dress for Spring:

I am obsessed with my striped building blocks t-shirt dress from The Fifth Label. I had the best afternoon in Downtown L.A. checking out their showroom and getting my hands on some of their Spring looks! Lots of fun photos to come, but the running joke by the time I left was that I am clearly a stripe kind of gal. I love my stripes, especially when they are fun & fresh for the new season! My exact t-shirt dress is currently sold out, but I’ve put together a great list of similar styles from The Fifth (dresses, rompers, tops & shorts! Thank me later) AND similar styles from a few other brands. I love dressing this look up with a lil’ daytime heel (like these Steve Madden babes I’m wearing here) or throwing on sandles or booties for a day of errands and meetings!

Your own personalized look book:

Your own personalized linkies:

Fifth Label Cutness | Striped Shorts | Calf Length Dress (fav) |

Striped Top | Nasty Gal Dress (50% off!!!) | Zappos Dress (More Nighttime)

▷ ▸ ▹ ► Spring-time COCKTAILS! I mean hellloooo, right? It’s Spring, and at least in L.A. that means lots of late night rooftop hangouts, get togethers with friends and (in my case at least) healthified cocktails. To help you get started, we are giving away 1 case of Suja Juice + 1 bottle of VEEV all-natural vodka (plus mason jars + bracelets!) to three lucky winners. All you have to do is subscribe to my YouTube channel, and comment on our Healthy Cocktail Video telling us why you’d like to win! Easy peasy!

▷ ▸ ▹ ► Idols / Mentors: Okay, this isn’t necessarily a springtime must, because it’s an always must. But in case you are looking for some inspiration but have been putting it off for one reason or another (we all do), make it your goal this season to surround yourself with people who inspire you! Whether that be a friend, mentor, or going to speakers series / conferences / workshops / meetings with people who inspire you to be better and chase your dreams… do that! On Monday night I went to an incredible talk by Magic Johnson, a.k.a one of the most influential businessmen of our time (and obvi a Hall of Fame bballer). Moral of the story: you can’t leave a talk like that and not be inspired to chase your dreams and work extremely hard doing so. I want that for all of you oh so much!

Thoughts on all of these Springtime Musts?! Are you going to check out the POPSUGAR Must Have Box? I kiiiinda sorta think/know you’ll love it. Also, who is your idol? Have you ever had a chance to meet them / one of your idols? xx