Anyone who knows me super well has likely experienced that anxious side of me. Two weeks ago my sweet, lovely intern Danika experienced my c-r-a-z-y manic side for the first time (well, my really, really, really manic side for the first time at least) because my baby kitten Hudson got stuck under the dishwasher. As you can imagine, and as anyone would have, I FLIPPED out. Every possible awful thing that could have happened while he was stuck rushed through my brain– such bad & scary things I won’t even say them on the blog because no one needs to think about a kitten getting hypothetically seriously injured or dying…

Quite frankly, I lost my sh*t. And Danika was there to pick up the pieces. I swear  had she not been here I think I would have gathered every ounce of strength and adrenaline in my body to rip the dishwasher out of the wall with my own bare hands so I could get him out. Then again, he was stuck under the wires which was the WORST PART because I was earth shatteringly terrified of crushing him or electrocuting him in the process of moving the dishwasher.

It was traumatic. Times a million.

But even in less scary and stressful situations, I am known to go a little overboard with the panicking. Has anyone ever wondered WHY I am so drawn to yoga, meditation, running, bubble baths, reading, me time, traveling, etc? It’s because I NEED that downtime, exercise and that type of distraction in order to live my daily life without letting my raging anxiety take over. I am such an over thinker in every situation, and finding relaxation techniques like yoga has changed my life in so, so many good ways.

Because of my tendency toward the extremes when it comes to NOT being able to relax, when Shine Organics asked me to join their “Show Us Your Time to Shine” campaign and explain how I channel my inner CALM in my every day life, I was so, so in. I try to keep my blog pretty uplifting on most days, but I also try to be real with you guys. And to let you in and give you a little peak into what it’s like in the hours before I channel my inner calm– that makes me happy because I’m sharing a little piece of my soul with you. If you’ve dealt with issues regarding finding your own calm, you’re not alone.

So, on that note, let me tell you a little bit about the fabulous brand that inspired this post. As their name indicates, they are an organic healthy brand with a line of pouches made with special blends of mindful ingredients meant to feed the moment. And as I mentioned the blends are in POUCH form, which you know I love since I am so on the go and I love anything that makes staying healthy easy. 

Of course among all of their yummy flavors, the CALM variation is my favorite. Not only is it in a pretty purple pouch (I am so into purple these days — as you can see with a few of my latest Instagram posts!), but the combo of banana, pumpkin, chia, blackberry, vanilla, passion flower and coconut successfully combines almost ALL of my favorite things into one. (And I say “almost” because putting absolutely everything I love into one pouch would be overkill, lol.)

And it’s so, so perfect for Fall with the pumpkin and coconut! Can anyone say Pumpkin Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies?!

Anyway, in the CALM blend you are getting…

• EXCELLENT SOURCE OF VITAMIN C
• GOOD SOURCE OF POTASSIUM
• 240MG OF OMEGA-3 (ALA)
• NO ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS
• MILLED CHIA FOR SMOOTH TEXTURE
• NON-GMO PROJECT VERIFIED
• PACKAGING MADE WITHOUT THE USE OF BPA

Can I get a HELL YEAH?! So many awesome things in this healthy, on-the-go, mindful little pouch with incredible messaging.

My favorite way to eat enjoy blends is when I am craving something sweet but I know I want to stick to a healthy fruit combo. It is also a great post-workout treat that will flood your bod with vitamins and minerals, and it’s super easy on the stomach to digest.

And to address their campaign initiative of how I channel CALM in my daily life: YOGA. Yoga, yoga, yoga. Without yoga, I would be a ball of nerves. And trust me, when I go a few days without practicing I definitely am a ball of nerves. To combat that issue, I keep my yoga mat rolled out on the floor beside my desk (perks of working from home) so I can lay down and stretch and channel my inner zen when things get a little rocky.

I love, love having the mindful little reminder to stay CALM as often as possible. When I’m not doing yoga, I have learned certain breathing techniques to stay calm (maybe a post on this next?!?) and the types of exercise I need to do to get all of my nerves and anxiety out so I can sleep peacefully at night. Above all, I’ve learned that staying true to myself no matter WHAT is going down keeps me calmest of all. Trying to be something/someone I’m not, or trying to ignore emotions that are not always the easiest to deal with always leaves me feeling anxious and the opposite of calm.

How do YOU channel your inner calm?!

Check out Shine Organics & show them some love. Here they are on Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest, depending on which social channel most strikes your fancy.They are available at Target– along with so many of my other favorite organic and healthy goodies right now. With so many incredible products out there right now, there are no excuses to stay away from healthy, nutritious, organic food & snacks anymore. Sorry, but I simply won’t let ya.

Have you tried Shine Organics before?! What’s your favorite flavor? Or more importantly, what’s your favorite sentiment– CALM, PURIFY, ELEVATE or REVIVE? They all have their place, but you know which one is my fav!

I’m crazy, I know. But also SO STOKED to share this loving lately list with you!!!

▷▸▹► The Fact that it’s Almost FALL!

And I swear I don’t mean that in the most basic way possible. There are many layers behind why I am so thrilled for this new season to roll in. This summer was full of changes & adventure for me– I moved into my first-ever one bedroom living-alone situation, and it’s been awesome, but the moving process has of course been hectic. In the last few months I’ve been to NYC twice, Seattle, Chicago, Sacramento, SF, Hawaii, Napa, Palm Springs, Laguna Beach, San Diego, Santa Barbara and more. The travel has been so much fun and it has also given me some fantastic blog content, but I am really looking forward to the quieter holiday months that will give me more time at home, with my kitty, writing, and getting acclimated in my new apartment!

Some summer memories from Chicago, NYC, Maui, San Diego and Create & Cultivate!

ALSO, with Fall here now, we will be launching our TBV Apparel Fall Collection in no time. Keep an eye out for it, because we have some new and exciting things up our sleeves (think not JUST t-shirts…) and we are unbelievably excited to share with you. AND now with Fall finally being here, it’s officially the season in which my BOOK IS COMING OUT!!!! There is basically only a month and a half until Breaking Vegan hits shelves, and that will be the greatest day of my life, for real. You can still preorder it now, BTW. ! ! ! !

▷▸▹► Thinking About… Thinking!

Funny, right? I have been reading this fab book called Think Like A Freak, and although I’m getting through it crazy slowly (life as a new kitten mama doesn’t leave a whoooole lot of time for leisure reading), the main takeaway I’ve gotten from it so far is that in order to think like a freak & tap into your true creative potential, the first thing you have to do is actually THINK!! So many people just go through the motions of life (I know a lot of you… and I’ve been there too) and don’t actually live in the moment or sit down to think about what they need to do in order to chase their dreams, make positive changes in their life, or even know what it is that they want to make a change to. Making the time to sit down and “think,” without distractions (no phone, no people around, no eating, nada) for even just 30 minutes per week can make all the difference between a creative-minded entrepreneur and a creative-minded dreamer. Think about it… No pun intended.

▷▸▹► This jumpsuit. And everything from this exclusive collection from The Fifth Label — I told you, I’m seriously an Australian at heart. (The Fifth Label is an Australian line… and I am obsessed with it.)

Here it is in Ivory, & here it is in Navy — my monochrome version is out of stock! 

▷▸▹► Marathon training… Well, what I really love about is the consistency. And the thrill of such a big, new-to-me GOAL. I absolutely love setting goals and (trying not to obsess about them, lol) work toward checking them off of my list. Running a marathon has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember, but it was one of those things that always felt very far off and like something I would do “when I was ready.” But, funny thing is, I sit here all day long and explain to people why they should not wait to do things until they are “ready,” because in most cases they’re either already ready or they’re never going to be ready… And now is the time. But I wasn’t taking my own advice when it came to the marathon running…

And then I got lucky enough to meet some very seasoned & motivational marathon runners through my community at Orange Theory Fitness. One of those people is the fab Jonathan Albrecht who has already promised to run this race with me beginning, middle & end, even though I am FAR slower than him a million times over– he is just that wonderful. And another one of those people is the lovely Jimmy Dean Freeman who is now my marathon training coach through the NutriBullet Team! There are 100 of us on the team, we practice every Saturday morning (and Weds nights), and I am about to get my butt kicked in the best way.

SO STOKED about this goal and beginning to run more consistently. If you’ve had a goal on your list for a long time and are looking for an excuse to make it happen — now is the time. Let this be your motivation.  

Here I am, in all of my sweaty glory, after our first running practice this past Saturday morning. It felt damn good to get out there — bright and EARLAYYYY.

▷▸▹► H Y D R A T I ON : Those of you who know me know that I am pretty much obsessed with hydration, especially now that I’m doing this marathon training. Not only do I run Liquid IV‘s social media account, which is a company that is centered on hydration and getting it into our bloodstreams 3x faster than simply drinking water, but I also drink a sh*t ton of water. All the time. I get dehydrated so rapidly because of the way my body is and also because I am so active, that if I don’t drink water all day long I get dehydration headaches and start to feel lightheaded. Because of my water obsession, I’ve had to make sure to be extremely on top of which water companies are the purest, most economical and have the best policies and give-back initiatives (with so much of our world being deficient in water supply, that is.)

One company I can definitely stand behind is Waiakea Springs. Their three principles are to drink healthy, drink sustainably and drink ethically. Their water is naturally filtered through volcanic rock in Hawaii that gives it a variety of natural health benefits from naturally enhanced magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium and silica, and it also has a naturally alkaline 8.8 pH balance. For those of us who need that extra alkalinity in our bodies, drinking the proper water is absolutely essential.

Waiakea also uses one of the most sustainable fresh water resources in the world, using only 100% RPET bottles, utilizing low emission shipping, and actively participating in regional carbon offset programs- all of which have led Waiakea to be the first Hawaiian bottled water to be certified CarbonNeutral®. SO COOL!

Lastly, to make them even cooler, for every liter of Waiakea that is purchased, they donate 650 liters of clean water to those in need in Africa and throughout the world, through their incredible partner, PumpAid.org. SWEET, RIGHT?

Check them out on Insta too, and show them some love!!! ANNDDD use **DISCOUNT CODE** “BalancedBlonde” for 20% off all Waiakea online orders! Do itttt. You won’t regret it. (Plus that saves you $$ rather than buying it in-store somewhere!)

▷▸▹► My first ever article getting published on Elite Daily! Check it out! I have so many more fun ones up my sleeeeve– I love being able to share my writing in a public space other than my bloggy blog. When this was posted a lot of my friends & readers were like ummm what’s the big deal, you have been on Elite Daily before?! But I have never gotten an article that I’ve written myself published on the site… SOOOO that’s the excitement!! Would love for you to read it & “like” it.

▷▸▹► Obvi, loving to the MOON & BACK being a kitten mama. But does that even have to be said? This little Hudson Riley bear is my life. I cannot get enough of him… And he is even changing my lifestyle — making this crazy kook of a blogger stay home more often & get to bed much earlier! How I adore him. #thoseeyes

▷▸▹► Weddings. Before this weekend, It had been awhile since I’d been to a wedding– my friends aren’t quite at the getting married stage yet. Over the weekend I went to my cousin Marisa’s wedding in Laguna Beach & it was just beautiful. First of all, Marisa and her new husband Greg are PERFECT for each other and their love makes me so happy. It really is inspiring to be in the presence of two people who are committing to spending the rest of their lives together… Especially when they are as blissfully happy and lovable as these two. I mean, look at them:

The other best part about weddings is being able to spend the entire weekend with your whole family and people that you love. It’s so refreshing. And of course, weddings are always a great party. We had the best time. If you follow me on Snapchat (username jojoyounger) then you knowwww I had a good time (lol)! Here’s a funny one of me & my dad from the very end of the night–

▷▸▹► YouTube!!! I am releasing my new recipe YouTube video with the fabulous Talia Fuhrman tomorrow… Get ExCiTeD … Especially if you’re a chocolate lover ! ! !

▷▸▹► Working with people who GET ME. Danika, my AMAZING intern/photographer/friend knew that I was having a rough week– and she surprised me yesterday and brought me flowers to my door. I don’t know if this girl even realizes the impact she’s had on my life or how incredibly grateful I am for her love and support, but every little gesture she makes shows me that she is one of the most selfless, talented & special people that I know. How did I get so lucky?

▷▸▹► This Topshop dress.

AND SO MUCH MORE. I guess this post is a testament to the fact that Loving Lately posts seriously are my favorite posts to write… So I guess I should start working them back into my routine.

Don’t forget to use the Waiakea discount code “BalancedBlonde” if you order any h2o from their site!

What are YOU loving lately?!?!

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