I cannot believe that the Celestial Diet & Lifestyle Program has been out in the world for the last WEEK! After working on it, creating it, and manifesting it for so long it feels truly surreal that it is now in so many of your hands.

And there are two more days to join us before the cart closes & the live version will no longer be available!! We have the cart open until June 6th (Saturday!!), and then we will begin as a group on June 7th. From there I will be guiding you through the 7 days with daily emails, two live calls (the BEST PART), accountability & connection in our private celestial FB group, and of course with the mediations, meal plan, grocery list, daily journaling prompts, 7 pillars… I could go on!

So I wanted to pop in today to tell you the top benefits of eating & living the celestial way, and also answer a bunch of your FAQ’s in one place!

Let’s get into it!

Top Benefits of the Celestial Diet & Lifestyle //

+ this lifestyle is extremely anti-inflammatory & supportive to healing from chronic illness, longevity, heart health, healthy & sustainable weight loss, and beyond. If you want to learn more about this way of life in detail, feel free to read this post all about living SOS-free! Celestial is the new SOS-free. So that post will break it down, and the program will take it way further!

+ This way of life is preventative. It sets us up to be healthy as we age. I know that everyone reading this does not want to have a nasty decline in old age like many of us have seen with our grandparents and people who reach a certain age. We want to set ourselves up for the best possible outcome of NO heart disease, NO stroke, NO cancer, NO Alzheimer’s, NO dementia, NO osteoporosis, and no unnecessary pain.

+ It is cruelty-free, so it is the kindest diet for the animals, environment, and the earth as well as for our bodies!

+ The simplicity of the diet helps us return to the natural simplicity of food and the healing properties of eating delicious foods from the earth. In that way it resets our palate so we no longer crave sugar, salt, and oily / fried foods. This part is huge, because it brings the joy back to natural foods again!

+ Because this is a natural, whole food plant based way of eating, it purifies our bodies and acts as a natural detoxifier. When we are clear, pure channels, we can be more easily in tune with our higher selves, our ancestors / angels & our channeling abilities! This part is huge. My medium Nikki often reminds me that so many people who are opening up psychically are still eating very dense, earthly, 3D foods and in many ways it holds back the awakening process from happening in full. The Celestial Diet was designed to open you up in every way possible.

+ In my own personal experience, I have lost about 20 pounds going SOS-free. For me this was great because due to the hormonal changes I experienced with Lyme, I gained a ton of weight. I didn’t feel like myself in my body at ALL. Going vegan helped me shed inflammation, and hen this lifestyle is what brought me back to my ideal body weight. It feels SO good not to have that extra weight, which is also extra inflammation in the body. It makes me feel more confident, more alive, more in tune, and makes me want to be more active!

+ The food combining element helps drastically with eliminating bloating & improving digestion!!

+ The SOS-free diet is known to be the most heart healthy diet on the planet. For more info, check out the work of Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. John McDougall & Dr. Alan Goldhamer to name a few!

+ & SO. MUCH. MORE! The rest you can dive into in the program!!

And now I want to answer some of your FAQ’s, so you have a bunch in one place!

Q: LOVING the program so far! Any celestial go-to’s when out at restaurants?

A: Omg yay! Makes my entire day to hear. Yes there are so many delicious celestial meals you can find out & about. I love asking for steamed veggies (sometimes I will bring my own tahini or coconut aminos) with a salad full of greens, legumes, nuts, and herbs. Also a baked potato or sweet potato is always celestial and is usually available anywhere. And if I am at a vegan restaurant, then the options widen considerably and I will have fun with it and mix and match a bunch of items!! Right now my go-to at vegan restaurants is a delicious lettuce wrapped black bean burger and a sided salad.

Q: Is it possible to do the celestial diet while also eating Low FODMAP?

A: Yes, completely! The program was designed with all food intolerances and healing protocols in mind. And the best part is, it’s very customizable!

Q: This may sound strange but when you roast veggies do you put them in the oven dry (because of no oil)?

A: This doesn’t sound strange at all! Yes I put them in dry with spices and nutritional yeast usually. Major tips for this in my 22 day detox by the way which in many ways is a precursor to the Celestial life!!

Q: How is this similar to your 22 day detox or WBUTYOS?

A: It is very different from both of these programs but contains a few elements from both of them. Similar to WBUTYOS, it is an awakening guide that will help you tap into your truest, most divine nature. It contains new elements and new things I have learned about channeling, awakening, ascension and frequency since I created WBUTYOS in early 2019! And similar to the 22 Day Detox, it is a nutrition guide full of SOS-free recipes.

None of the recipes overlap except for my TBB nacho cheese because, well, let’s face it — it’s my favorite recipe on the planet! Otherwise everything is new, including all of the photos & brand new information! If either of those programs resonated with you, you will love this one.

The meditations are all brand new & completely magical! So if you did the 22 Day Detox, you are in for a big treat because this course is very much audio, journaling based, and written.

Q: I am busy and don’t have a lot of free time! Is this program for me?

A. The program is a lot more simple than you may think — it’s probably easier than eating what you are normally used to! Especially with the meal plan all laid out for you! B. Take it at your own pace, you can get started now and dive in whenever the time is right for you. At any rate, I encourage you to fully commit, because when we keep a promise to ourselves, that is when our lives can truly shift.  There are no shortcuts to the path of true healing, and I promise this is a fun way to get there! “The most effective way to do it, is to do it.” – Amelia Earhart.

Q: Will there be a self-guided version down the line? I will be on vacation but I don’t want to miss out!

A: Yes, there will be a self-guided version down the line but I highly recommend getting it now so that you can save the live calls & daily emails and then just look at them when you are ready to begin! There is so much extra goodness included in this live round. Also, you could join in with us when you can during the 7 days (even if it’s just for one call or one little hello in the FB group!) and then you will be even more prepared to start when it’s time for you to begin!

Q: Is it easy to meal prep?

A: Yes! The simplicity of the program is the best part! The ease and simplicity of the food itself makes it very easy to meal prep and plan ahead. Plus we have a special grocery list for you!

For more fabulous Q&A’s, head to this page where we’ve broken it all down for you!! You can also look on my IG Story Highlight’s “Celestial Diet” & “Celestial Q’s” & “Program” to learn even more & get more questions answered!!

Lastly, here are some responses from people who have started the program!! I love, love hearing how it is going for you!! Keep the feedback coming. I love you guys so much.

And head HERE to join us, we start Sunday! YAY !! TOTAL magic. Leave any additional questions you have below!! XO 

Then, inevitably on the 28-hour trek home tomorrow or in the days to follow, I will share more about all that I have learned on this solo journey with myself. I also have a nearly TWO HOUR solo podcast episode going up next Wednesday that I recorded here about my trip and I am very excited to share it. And if you’ve heard me say that I am going to be gone for *two months* and you’re thinking “wait, only three weeks have passed…” you are correct, and I am heading off to a healing center in Northern California after a few days home in LA with my loves in between. The healing journey continues!

Anyway, this topic today is very near and dear to my heart. And in some ways I have found it even harder to put into words than I did my original “Why I’m Transitioning Away from Veganism” blog post nearly four years ago. I have purposely not put it into words yet because I wanted and needed to experience this first and foremost for me… feel it out for ME, and also see and feel the lasting effects after eating this way for a while before I shared.

The topic is the NEW KIND OF PLANT-BASED  and I will explain what that means at the bottom of this post.

Let’s just start at the beginning — and I will try to make this as short & sweet as possible because the truth is, I could (and want to…) write a book about this particular subject and my relationship to it! ONE DAY. One thing at a time…!

The Story //

So, last summer. I started seeing my dear friend Lo Roxburgh for alignment and body work. In our sessions we immediately went VERY DEEP into soul-guided conversation, and the synergy between us is to this day absolutely insane. Lo picked up very quickly on the inflammation I was experiencing in my body, and I just kept telling her: “I don’t feel like myself. My body is so inflamed. I feel it every day in my gut, my skin, my ENERGY FIELD, even my organs.”

A few months into working together she asked me when the last time I felt truly myself in my body was, without the inflammation and the pain and the insomnia and the gut issues and all the rest. And I said, “Well, I guess when I was vegan. Before the eating disorder of course and just when I was eating a balanced vegan diet.” And she said, “Well… what would you think about going vegan again?”

Her words planted the seed, and as much as I wanted to try it I was SCARED. Not only scared of what labeling my diet would mean for me after the healing journey I’ve gone through, but also scared of the Internet trolls who get off on abusing people’s dietary choices (very much including my own). I have worked long and hard to transition from veganism to non-veganism in the public eye, and switching back just gave me that feeling of, “oh god, people are going to think I am such a damn hypocrite.”

Of course those fears were wedged way deep inside of me and they only came up later on as I’ve done the inner work to figure out my resistance to this way of life. Fast forward to months later, when my reiki master and also very dear friend Kelsey Patel said to me in a similar heart-to-heart conversation, “Oh wow! I am getting the intuitive hit that you need to try going vegan again. How does that feel for you?”

Between Lo and Kelsey and their open and soul-guided and non-judgmental and non-biased words, I could have cried. I actually did cry. Just having the PERMISSION from two close friends of mine who also happen to be healers who also happen to be deeply immersed in the wellness world who ALSO happen to have about 10 years of life wisdom on me really, really, really hit home for me. I have always maintained and I still do that it’s never about what someone else thinks, or what someone else tells you. But from my particular position at that place in time I really NEEDED some “permission,” if you will, to be me. To REALLY listen to my own body and go with it.

So back in November, I did it. I started eating plant-based. I felt into it intuitively and it felt incredibly right. Physically, things were REALLY not feeling okay so trust me when I say it took a lot of immensely deep work to even get in touch with my intuition on a physical level.

When Jonathan and I came to Bali in December, I dabbled in eating other things for the sake of “FOOD FREEDOM” (I put it in quotes because someone with as many gut and health issues as I have had, mental food freedom can sometimes equate making yourself very physically ill) and felt like abbbbbsolute and complete shit. So then I really dedicated myself to the plant-based lifestyle, and I haven’t turned back since.

Plant-Based in Bali //

Many of you know that in the first few days of 2018, I got hit with a sudden and MASSIVE attack of full-body hives. Up until about a week ago I was still covered in a terrible eczema rash that was diagnosed from afar as everything from a cutaneous drug rash to Lyme disease. I am still sorting out what the exact “diagnosis” is, but I am not sure I even need one because I know now that it was nearly 100% stress-related and gut-related.

So I came on this solo trip to Bali to heal. The proximity of raw vegan cafes, healing centers, yoga studios, and wellness retreats to my hotel here in Ubud is absolutely nuts. Even Los Angeles has nowhere near this amount of easy, readily available, abundant, made-with-love, and CHEAP organic plant-based cuisine… and here it’s literally on every corner.

So for the last three weeks I have dedicated myself to eating 100% plant-based, and about 80% raw. For the first week or so I was completely raw but found myself craving cooked veggies and warming meals for dinner after a period of time and I am all about listening to my body above all else.

On top of the food I’ve been eating, I have been doing a lot of yoga, walking at LEAST 10,000 steps a day (usually closer to 20,000!), resting and sleeping a ton, doing colonics, drinking juices, eating an ABUNDANCE of fruits and fermented foods, and all of those things combined have lowered my stress levels immeasurably AND cleaned up my gut a considerable amount.

Letting go of my “fruit fear” that I developed from YEARS (yet again) of listening to other people’s ideologies and opinions about bodies that are not my own, has been the most freeing thing mentally and physically I have probably done in my entire adult life when it comes to food. I mean, my body was CRYING out for the nutrients and digestion-friendly properties of fresh, organic fruits. I didn’t eat fruit for THREE YEARS. (Or let’s say barely. Maybe a handful every so often.)

I have started mostly every day here with a smoothie bowl, FULL of fresh local fruits and topped with more fruit, superfoods, and raw granolas. I am telling you, and you know this if you’ve followed me over the years, I would not have touched a bowl full of so much natural sugar with a ten foot pole even just a year ago. But suddenly, eating intuitively and treating myself to what truly sounds and feels the best for me each day…. that is what I am gravitating toward. Just like I was five years ago when I was vegan PRE-eating disorder when I ate what I wanted in abundance and with love!

I have also been eating raw DESSERTS here in great abundance. I think it’s safe to say that with the exception of a few days here and there where I just wasn’t in the mood, I have had dessert every day here & at least once a day. I am all about the chocolate, as you know. So tons of raw cacao goodness! (If you come to Ubud, you have GOT to try Ubud Raw Chocolate. It’s actually insanity how good it is and full of sooooo many antioxidants and healthy fats.)

And honestly I am just telling you this because I love healthy desserts and listening to my body on that front has been so healing. If you’re not a dessert person, keep doing you. You don’t HAVE to eat dessert to feel free and intuitive with food… in fact many people may find themselves doing the opposite when they’re being truly intuitive. That is what is beautiful, we are all so freakishly different in our ways and that is what I love. THAT is what makes us healthy.

Tonight was my final dinner in Ubud (SAD in some ways even though I am ready to get home to my J & my Hud – like you have no idea, there are not even words) & I had a “Nourish Bowl” at one of my fave cafes here Sayuri Healing Food which is full of brown rice, adzuki beans, steamed veggies, spirulina crunchies, tahini dressing and a few other things… plus a side of raw bread, raw aged nut cheeses (TO DIE FOR), and a double chocolate raw pie for dessert.

I mean, can you say YUM? And abundant? And delicious? And decadent in the best ways and not at all restrictive or limited the way I once was in my previously restrictive vegan days?

So here’s what I’m trying to say //

I still believe in no labels. I believe in eating intuitively, and doing YOU and not listening to what anyone else has to say about what will make you feel the best or this or that. I still believe that we evolve and change over time, and I would be surprised if I didn’t change my eating habits again down the line as my life and journey continues to evolve.

For my own personal body right now, eating in this anti-inflammatory high fruit and high veggie way with lots of raw foods, juices, and also cooked veggies and gluten-free grains / legumes on the occasion has me feeling better than I’ve felt in four and a half years. Maybe five.

My medium MaryAnn (the most psychic person on this planet, no joke) did a healing on me last night over the phone and she said my gut is HEALING for the first time in years. She said it is going to continue to be a process, and the healing journey I am on is extremely slow and steady and that is my work at this time to trust in going slow and the true healing that is taking place… but the words “YOUR GUT IS HEALING & YOUR BODY IS SO HAPPY ABOUT IT” basically brought me to my knees.

After the parasites, the eczema, the hives, the autoimmune, the cystic acne, the eating disorder recovery, the food allergies, the chronic fatigue, depression and anxiety all stemming from my gut… those words held more sweet music to my ears than I think I could ever express to you in this lifetime.

I feel very, very, very good right now on this plant-based and highly raw diet. I am very aware that many people reading have seen me through my eating disorder and recovery days and I also know that many of you have been through your own recovery journeys. I very much hope that seeing me go through this process and find this complete & utter joy in this lifestyle again can inspire you from afar to do the same for YOUR life. It could look entirely different to you. It could be the opposite of plant-based or vegan. All I hope for you is that it makes you feel good, and passionate, and healthy, and awake, and alive.

(Quick side note: Even though I was eating vegan in LA for three months before I came back to Bali, I was still eating a lot of inflammatory foods. Nightshades, fried cauliflower at Erewhon (such an addiction), sauces that didn’t agree with me, more grains and legumes than I have been here… so this is the first time I have felt TRULY amazing with a longterm dedication to cutting out everything I knew intuitively was not working for me.)

What now? //

I am headed to a healing center in Nor Cal when I get back to the U.S. I made a commitment to myself this year that I would deal with my health issues once and for all, and take myself on a self-loving journey to heal and feel my absolute most radiant best again. I will share more details about it as time goes on — I will be doing something rather extreme and I wouldn’t recommend it to people who aren’t in my boat of *extreme* health issues and imbalances, so I will hold off on telling you more about it until THIS post has sunken in at least, haha.

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting me and being here for this journey through the years. I hope and know in my heart of hearts that anyone who is MEANT to be here reading this will be, and I feel that my words at this point in time will attract people who are at the stage of their journey where they can take in what I am saying and feel confident about their own life choices as well whether they’re different from mine or similar.

One thing I want to share is that while going through this entire journey publicly on social media and in the news and all the rest was the best and the worst thing for my overall wellbeing. The best because I got more support than any girl could ever dream of or imagine, and I feel deeply lucky to be able to run into SO MANY girls and guys on the streets of Ubud of all places (and of course when I am back home — but here has been pretty remarkable so far from home) who know much of my life story and have been so incredibly kind. The worst because it is definitely very hard to have your choices and your opinions ripped to shreds on a daily basis, especially from very passionate people about one thing or another.

The truth is, once you reach the place of true FREEDOM and unconditional love for yourself and your body, you will understand what its like to make choices from a place of pure heart-centered intuition. And when you’re there, my choices and everyone’s choices won’t affect you negatively. I can promise you that.

I dreamt of that place for a long time, and now that I’m there… it feels amazing. So whether you agree with or me disagree, it’s not my place to say or to even care. Because we are all dealing with something and being on the Internet has taught me I will often be the target for someone else’s insecurities. And I continue to put myself and my truth out there because A) that is what makes me happy and makes me feel fulfilled and B) I care about you guys with all my heart and it never feels right to NOT tell you things! C) I want to help people as best I can, and I know no other way to do that than to be radically open and honest.

Also, I will probably write a whole post on this but I will briefly say: opening up spiritually, psychically, and intuitively has had a LOT to do with this shift. I finally understand what people have been saying all years about how eating pure, mostly raw, foods from the earth in many ways can open up your third eye and make you feel more one with the universe. That has definitely been my experience… cleaning it all up, inside and out.

So… I am saving the point of this post for the very last paragraph. I want to represent a NEW kind of plant-based lifestyle. One where you can be VEGAN and not judge other people who are not vegan. You are allowed to be vegan and still be open to changing your diet to include non-vegan foods in the future. You are allowed to be vegan without labeling yourself and without being militant about your own choices or others’ choices. THERE IS NO ONE WAY TO BE, even when it comes to being plant-based or vegan.

So right now I am trying that on. I am feelin’ like the NEW kind of plant-based is the way I want to be. I will keep you very updated on how it makes me feel, and I would be honored if you decided to join me in whichever way you’d like to! EVEN if that is by eating a totally different way. Join me in doing you, and being intuitive, and of course… incorporating plants because they’re so very good for you.

Thoughts?! Would absolutely love to hear them. And tomorrow I will be headed back stateside and I am very, very, very excited. And very ready. <3

Side note — be HONEST with me, would you guys like my posts to be a little shorter? Or are you cool with the typically long length? I know there is so much content on the Internet I don’t want to inundate you with my LONGGG A$$ posts if you’d rather have them come in smaller bytes. Lemme know in the comments below. I’m here to please ya.

Loving Lately, 9.15.16 Style

↠ ↠  Getting back into the swing of life post-Panchakarma: It’s been rough & a true test of my patience coming back into the real world after my Panchakarma detox. I thoroughly prepared myself to slow down and rest for the prep week and for the detox itself, but I didn’t fully account for how wiped out I’d be after the detox. It has taken me over a week to even start thinking about doing my usual workouts again and to eat anything other than steamed rice, veggies, oatmeal and ginger tea. Plus, with my yoga training and juggling all sorts of other things to catch up (like daily photo and video shoots this week – ah!), it’s been very overwhelming to “come back to life.” However, in the midst of that it’s also been fun. I appreciate my friendships and my connections with likeminded humans even more than I did pre-Panchakarma, because I had so much time to reflect on who and what makes me happy. I also came to realize that I was working myself a little TOO hard (I knew this going into it, too…) so I have backed off a bit to live a more balanced existence. It’s been awesome so far, and going for my first run in a few weeks yesterday truly felt like heaven. I think my body is going to perform so much better and FEEL so much better now after all the intense rest and detox — which is amazing.

↠ ↠ Speaking of coming back to life, training for my HALF MARATHON: I am super duper stoked to be running the Big Sur Half in November with a bunch of my best friends. I’ve had moments of feeling so stressed because of my teacher training & life in general that I’ve wondered whether signing up for this one was a bad idea timing-wise — but now that I am beginning to really train for it I remember (yet again) what an incredible outlet running is for me. I love to run with friends because it’s such a great way to chat and catch up and spend genuine time with people I care about, and I also love to run alone because it becomes purely meditative for me. It’s such a great compliment to yoga, too. And I can’t even wait for our little Big Sur getaway because with TT right now I don’t have a whole lot of time to travel this season! So I will be even more appreciative of our special weekend away. Plus, running gets my heart pumping like no other which is an inevitably addictive feeling for us adrenaline junkies. <3

↠ ↠ READING! Reading so much during my Panchakarma was such a calming and sacred experience, I can hardly even tell you. I LOVE to read… I adore it, and ever since I started blogging 3.5 years ago I have been reading books a lot less because so much of my free time now goes to reading blogs and being present on social media. I have still managed to read a lot of good books over the last few years, especially on vacation or when I discover a really good one out of nowhere, but it had been a long time since reading a good book before bed was really part of my routine. As a writer, reading has a profound impact on me. When I am immersed in a good book, either fiction or non-fiction (but usually fiction because I am such a lit nerd and love it), I am overall happier and more inspired. Reading I Know This Much is True was ridiculously inspirational for me as a writer AND as a reader, and I am definitely motivated to keep this reading before bed routine up. ALSO, I have a TBB Book Club post coming in hot later this week! Stay tuned! I even wrote it already and have it in my post drafts like a good organized blogger girl.

↠ ↠ NOT STRETCHING MYSELF TOO THIN: Guys, this is big. I am the queen of overcommitting. And for the longest time I always said it’s not that bad that I stretch myself so thin because everything I say “yes” to I really, truly want to do and am passionate about. But still, it doesn’t make for a very manageable life when you have way too much on your plate. So right now I am really focusing on just trying to get the things done that I need to, enjoy life in the in-between, make plenty of time for the people who matter, make time to try new things, and say NO even to things that sound awesome but will be hard to squeeze in. A few things I said no to lately… Working out on Monday and Tuesday this week, which was a big deal for me because I was really excited to work out again after my post-Panchakarma rest. I ran out of time because my yoga assisting schedule is getting crazy, but guess what? I had time to clean my apartment! Organize my refrigerator! Open my box deliveries from that day without letting them sit around unopened all week! Give Hud some play time. It was so nice… The little things, you guys. The little things. Another thing I said no to was HARD because I would have loved so much to do it — a Maroon 5 concert in Sactown in October. But it would require me to fly in and out in less than a 24 hour period to be in LA for teacher training on both Sat & Sun. So I’m just foregoing it, and even though it’s sad to miss it — I am enjoying my more stress-free life at the moment.

↠ ↠ FOOD BALANCE ATER PANCHAKARMA: I was worried at first that I might be really crazy about my food after my Panchakarma. In the past, after big detoxes and cleanses I was always really inclined to keep the strict regime going so I could continue feeling as pure and clean as possible. But this time I have been really excited to reintroduce new foods in a balanced, healthy way. I had a blast at Trader Joes the other night picking out new things — chicken sausage, free-range eggs, crunchy almond butter, gluten-free bread — things that normal healthy people eat but “cleansing Jordan” would not be able to eat. It’s really nice to have come this far and to see that I can do a detox because it’s good for me inside and out, and come out of it without feeling the pressure to remain “perfectly pure.” I am very proud of myself and am LOVING playing around in the kitchen with healthy and balanced but not psychotically over-healthy recipes. Also, the detox kicked my little addiction to protein shakes and protein bars, which I am happy about because even though they are healthy in moderation — there are still additives and I’d rather just eat real food and whole meals instead of all of that powdery protein. That’s what a reset is good for, yo! Even I need to detox from lil things like that!

↠ ↠ THE NON-PHYSICAL SIDE OF YOGA: I have always felt connected to yoga in a spiritual, energetic sort of way and not just in it for the athletics. I mean duh — yoga has been a way of life for me for a long time. But with my yoga studies right now I am really able to let go of the inner desire to get that sweaty vinyasa flow on all the time and have been able to embrace the spiritual side and the breath work. I’ve been studying a lot of Pranayama, chakras, subtle body, the Sutras, etc. and feeling so connected to the practice I could burst. I have a full post coming on it soon, but had to add it in because it’s been awesome.

↠ ↠ PLANNING TRIPS! I have been so busy with TT and with the detox that this season really isn’t a big travel season for me. But I do have a trip to NY coming up for my birthday and to connect with a lot of brands that I work with, and I could not be more excited to be back in my spirit city. I am also headed to Hawaii at the end of October to teach a yoga class at the Andaz Maui and I am THRILLED. Maui is my second home… and I hadn’t been yet this year, so it was fate. And I have my Big Sur trip, and a trip to Bora Bora with my fam in February. It’s not all super soon, but it is a lot to look forward to. And saying “no” to other things to focus on myself has opened up this free time to be able to say YES to all of those awesome opps. It’s nice to be HOME with Huddy for a nice long time and plan my trips in advance instead of being gone what feels like all the time.

↠ ↠ THIS BUZZFEED ARTICLE! Not only was I thrilled, humbled, and flattered AF to be included in this article of inspirational IG’s to follow, but I was REALLY HAPPY to see that almost all of the ladies on the list are my dear friends both on and off the Internet. The wellness blogging world has created so many special and lasting friendships in my life, and to see that all of us as a community are making an impact on cyberspace is SO COOL. It always feels awesome to see other genuine, passionate people reaching a wide audience with positive (healthy!). Blogging can be a competitive space, and I love seeing that those people who I have a feeling aren’t in it for the right reasons are sort of dwindling out as far as having a loyal following goes. You guys make my life, as to the other ladies on this BuzzFeed list, so this was awesome! <3

↠ ↠ FEELING MORE LIKE MYSELF THAN EVER: Saving this one for a full on bloggy post, but at this stage in my life I am feeling more like myself than ever before. I have worked hard to get to this point, so it feels real good. I no longer have stale relationships in my life weighing me down, I am taking care of my body in a balanced and healthy way, I don’t feel pressure to be more “normal” or be someone who I’m just not (by drinking, staying out late, being more extroverted or introverted or thinner or wearing more makeup or whatever the pressure feels like that day, etc.) and I am able to focus on what I love and what I want to create. It’s a BEAUTIFUL feeling and I wish it upon everyone in the world — I know it will keep changing and ebbing and flowing and I’m def along for the ride.

↠ ↠ THESE SONGS ON MY SPOTIFY, BECAUSE… The emo music I was obsessed with in high school is literally bringing me life again. I rediscovered a BUNCH of old songs that I was beyond obsessed with back in the day when I was on a lil drive with someone I love mucho the other night. And now I am super happy about it and can’t stop listening.

Thoughts?! What are YOU guys loving lately?

I like to write in my free time (surprising? hehe), read a lot of books & have recently been listening to a lot of podcasts, but the main places that I usually keep up with influencers that I follow are on Instagram & Snapchat.

That being said — I want to check out more of your blogs! I am so grateful to the people who read my blog, because even though I am active on all sorts of social media platforms… I’d be happy just blogging & blogging only for all of time.

As I grow with this business & learn more about where I want to take my career, I feel that it’s only right that I get back into READING more blogs. Ya know? Show some love to the people who paved the way for my blog and for the people who have started blogging since.

Karma, karma, karma.

So leave YOUR blog name & the names of your favorite blogs below!! I wanna read, read, read this weekend!

And just because I don’t read a ton of blogs right now doesn’t mean that I’m not wholeheartedly obsessed with the ones I do read and/or the influencers I follow, so here is a list of some of my very favs…

TBB’s Fav Influencers at the Moment:

1. The Southern Yogi // There are a few reasons I’ve become completely obsessed with Morgan Haley of The Southern Yogi. First of all, I started following her journey about a year ago when she was relatively new to yoga. The girl has a KICK ass bod, and was born to be a yogi, but she discovered the practice a couple of years ago and started documenting her journey on Instagram. There is something so completely raw, inspiring and authentic about Morgan’s openness and vulnerability.

Her account is not about twisting into crazy pretzeled positions for show, it’s about being REAL and being on this epic journey of life — with a lot of yoga mixed in. I have become a diehard follower of Morgan… I legit type her account name into my Insta’s “search” bar all day every day to read her down to earth captions and see her unbelievable photos & videos. This girl is going to do BIG, big things. Also, she wears (and loves!) TBV Apparel, so that’s even more epic.

Lastly, she has inspired me to make more yoga vids again. Yoga is slowly but surely working its way back into my life in a real big way… And I am so grateful for the inspiration Morgan has played in that!

2. Yoga Girl // I meeeeannn talk about an INSPIRING chick. I have been following Rachel Brathen for several years now, but what drew me in was not the insanely cool yoga poses she does (I mean, that too), but rather her crazy real ability to draw her readers in with her BEAUTIFULLY written captions. She is one of the only people I avidly stalk on Facebook, simply because the musings about life, love, loss, yoga and growth absolutely can not be missed.

Rachel lost her best friend a couple of years ago, and it was at that point that I became fixated on her and totally obsessed/in love with everything that poured out of her heart. The way she dealt with loss with such vulnerability, openness, and bravery to feel and express PAIN was unbelievably inspiring to me. I needed that unabashed expression of heartache and loss, I needed the example of someone I admired, and she brought it to the table.

I had the opportunity to take a yoga class with Rachel last time she came to LA, and she did not disappoint in person. She was so real, so genuine, so authentic, and asked the audience NOT to take selfies with her afterward but rather talk to her, give her hugs, and share space with her. Cool AF, right? I want to be BFF’s with Rachel, like, yesterday.

3. Gal Meets Glam // Also known as the gorg Julia Engel. I’ll start by saying I am really not big into fashion blogs. I have my own unique, very boho style that is characterized by a LOT of activewear (lol), and I don’t always find a lot of inspiration in fashion blogs beyond the perfectly curated and undoubtedly beautiful imagery.

Julia, on the other hand, takes fashion blogging and photography to a whole new level. Her husband Thomas is her photographer, and together they have created what can be described as none other than an empire of travel, fashion, beauty and lifestyle content. Julia has partnered with dream brands like Ralph Lauren, Prada, and more, and she is someone who genuinely radiates good vibes straight off the screen.

Her travel content makes me want to travel the world, and I also like her because she doesn’t try to be anything she’s not. Her style is very feminine, she loves dresses & hats, and puts together a MEAN travel outfit. She is a genuine chick I’d be friends with in a heartbeat, and that’s the other reason why I adore her stuff.

4. The Skinny Confidential // At this point you guys probably know that I absolutely adore Lauryn’s blog. I love the content she puts out there on the daily and I truly believe she is the true definition of a hustler (in the best way) — always staying one step ahead of what she is already doing to ensure longevity in her brand and business. I dig that, a lot.

I also love Lauryn’s blog and social media platforms because she has a super distinct VOICE that really shines through. You know what you’re going to get when you go to her blog, Instagram, Snapchat, etc., and it is so refreshing to follow someone’s work who knows their style and their vibe and is just unapologetically who they ARE.

I have recently been getting really, really into her podcast, too. Lauryn & her fiancé Michael dish out tons of social media + entrepreneurial advice, answer questions, give BTS tips (how they got on Gary Vee’s show!!!!) and straight up just express who they are in all of their realness, and I like that. Props to my fab intern CHRISTINA for turning me onto their podcast, because now it is my obsession. (I like to listen to podcasts while I run/exercise!)

5. Jessica Olie // To keep the yoga influencer vibes going (can you tell what I’ve been into lately?!?), I have also been super into following the beautiful & down to earth yogi Jessica Olie. Jess was a very recent discovery for me — I found her through Morgan’s account when they traveled to Bali together a few weeks ago, and I have been obsessively stalking ever since.

Jess has gorgeous yoga flow videos & has an eBook that she sells to help people get into yoga. Her authentic captions and killer music in her vids always draw me in, and I also like that she is friends with a bunch of other Instagram yogis and they all hang out in real life… I am ALL ABOUT that real life connection, and any girl who has a lot of girlfriends is a #1 in my heart… Always the sign of an authentically rad person.

Now that I’ve started this I realize there are a lot of people I am obsessed with that I follow on the daily… So I am definitely going to do a Round 2, 3 & 4 of this list in the coming weeks!

But I still want lots & lots of recs!!! Leave them below and add your own blog links so I can check out what you’re all up to and support you right back. <3

XO

My usual instinct is to look at my lack of focus today as a failure. It’s hard for me not to beat myself up about little things like having a slow morning, only crossing very minor things off of my to-do list, and spending 75% of my day thus far stretching and bending on my yoga mat trying to find some clarity.

But here’s what I’m telling myself: it’s okay. There is no rush. Sure, there are 298398 things (or so it feels like) that need to be done in TBB-land in the next few days, but I have a feeling that taking some hours to myself today is exactly what I need in order to recharge, re-focus, and be productive from here on out.

(Maybe from tomorrow forward? Lol.)

ANYWAY. There is some great Loving Lately -ness going on up in here, so I do have that to share with you today!

Enjoy, and PLEASEEEE tell me I am not crazy for being such a space cadet today? Anyone?!

Loving Lately // 5.21.16

1. VLOGGING: I’ve mentioned a bit that I have been getting back into the YouTube space recently and I am LOVING it. I have been watching a lot of other YouTubers’ vlogs lately to get inspired, and in Austin last weekend I made my first vlog — a travel vlog! I hope you love ;). I am clearly just learning, so any constructive feedback would be much appreciated! And if you are headed to Austin soon, we have some killer recommendations & must sees in there!

2. WELLNESS TOUR: I have been visiting a ton of LA’s best healthy restaurants lately to launch the official #TBBwellnesstour of the yummiest wellness hot spots for you guys! A few favs so far? Lifehouse tonics, Moon Juice, Cafe Gratitude, Rawvolution (always), and Bottega Louie. Admittedly, Bottega Louie isn’t the healthiest spot on the block, but I thought it would be cool to include something with more variety so I can show you guys how I like to keep it simple + healthy even in those situations! Cannot waaaiiittt to launch it soon — along with some new exciting features on TBB, AHHH!

3. READING: It takes a lot for me to calm down, unplug from social media/my computer, and READ. I got into a bad habit recently of not relaxing until I was completely 100% ready for bed, and that’s not cool. Time to read and unwind is so necessary in our lives… Especially because there are so many badass books to read and soak in knowledge and inspiration from. I am working on a post that will include ALLLLL of my fav favs, but to give you an idea… I am loving Sugar Crush, Essentialism, & Bad Feminist a LOT right now.

4. ALKALINE LIFESTYLE: I wrote about Dr. Daryl Gioffre‘s Alkamind Lifestyle & detox last week and I wanted to give you guys a little update. I am still eating as alkaline as possible and incorporating a lot of his yummy recipes into my day to day life. His chunky monkey smoothie is still a fav… Bananas, almond butter,  almond milk anyone? If you follow me on Snap then you know it’s a daily staple. I am so glad that so many of you were interested in hearing more about the alkaline lifestyle… I am going to include a portion of his alkaline foods list in an upcoming post, so be on the lookout!

5. SAYING NO: I am trying as hard as I can to stay on top of my New Years’ resolution of saying no to things I don’t want to do, don’t have the time for, or sound like a good idea but in reality are too much for me to handle. I think I am getting a lot better with it, because I am starting to notice great things popping into my life as a result of making more time for myself. Exhibit A? A SPONTANEOUS yoga retreat to Mexico in two weeks… That I no doubt would not be going on if I didn’t create enough time and space for myself to make it happen. That included saying no to a lot of other shit, ya feel me?

What are YOU loving lately? Would love to know. XO 

Why Being a Fitness Addict is the Best Thing That’s Ever Happened to Me. That’s a pretty serious statement, I know. And it’s so TBB of me to call myself an “addict” rather than an enthusiast or a passionate person or simply interested (ew, boring word)… But I am an addict and I am proud of it. I think it’s okay to be wholeheartedly addicted to something that aids in keeping you mentally and physically healthy. You wouldn’t want to be addicted to the point of giving yourself an injury, but that’s a whole other story.

There’s a way to be a BALANCED exercise addict. Ya feel me? You can’t run 20 miles every single day (even if you want to), but you CAN run 20 miles on a Saturday and wind down with some restorative yoga that night or the next day. (Depending on where you are in your fitness journey — don’t go out and run 20 miles if you haven’t been training!) It’s all about learning how to be kind to yourself and make decisions that will leave you feeling wonderful in the long term. We’re not talking about short term health and fitness here. When you start thinking in the short term, that’s when you make drastic decisions that result in crashing and burning in the worst of ways. Trust me, I’ve been there.

I have thought a lot about why being a fitness addict has shaped who I am in every aspect of my life, and as all of my reasons came to fruition in my mind I legit typed this all out on my phone while walking from my apartment to OrangeTheory the other morning. For your reference, that is about a 3.5 minute walk. Less than a quarter of a mile. That is how crazy I get when a blog post (or any writing, for that matter) is ready to pour itself out of my brain and into this space. My friend and I call it “#EPlife,” short for “extreme personality life”… and if you’ve read my book, then you know exactly what I am talking about.

 ( *BTW, this post was semi-inspired from my 24 Reasons Why You Should Date a Girl Who Practices Yoga post from 2 years ago. I rediscovered it the other night and have been reading and re-reading it. I love writing real talk, detailed lists that those of you who are also “addicted” to fitness can relate to. Expect more of these this year! This is what I’m talkin’ about with organization. It requires doing research to the point of reading my own blog posts years back. Weird? Yeah. Necessary? Yes.* )

Why Being a Fitness Addict is the Best Thing That’s Ever Happened to Me

1. It’s how I’ve met some of the best people that I know. And no, it is not a coincidence that I have chosen to make this perhaps unexpected reason #1 on the list. At the end of the day, this sole part of the equation is reason enough to be addicted to fitness. It’s the way that I spend a good portion of my time, so naturally I have met a lot of really fantastic, inspirational, likeminded people through the various studios that I belong to and wellness events that I go to. But it really goes beyond that… It’s not just about knowing these people, it’s about developing relationships with them in and out of the fitness world. It’s about surrounding myself with people who are interested in the same things that I am — so I don’t feel alone or like the “odd one out” for prioritizing fitness and wellness the way that I do. When you surround yourself with people who understand the vast benefits of maintaining a solid fitness routine, you are inevitably surrounding yourself with people who have a good outlook on life, will challenge you to be your best and will GET you in a way that some others just can’t. They are prioritizing their health — meaning they are prioritizing their own happiness in one way or another… They aren’t allowing themselves to get lost in the shuffle or get swallowed up by the sedentary life that is so socially “normal” in our society. They will encourage you to be the best version of yourself, and you’ll always have a workout buddy and someone to lean on when you need extra motivation. I’m not saying that people who are addicted to fitness are all awesome people and/or more likely to be inspiring than people who are NOT into it, but I am saying if you look for them in the fitness community you will find them, bond with them, and align yourself with them. It’s a pretty magical quality — and that bonding is certainly sped up in the yoga community because of the overall inclusive vibe of yoga itself.

1. A) And as a small sub-category of #1, because I got very general there for a minute: the reason why I personally put this at the top of the list is because once I actually got involved in the fitness community rather than just being into it for a long time but walking in and out of every studio pretty much with blinders on to the people I could meet… that’s when everything changed. I credit part of that shift to my yoga teacher training in 2011, when I realized that there were tons of people who were looking to transform their lives through fitness and yoga, and in part to joining OrangeTheory last year and meeting so many incredible people through that studio. One person in particular that I met through OTF has become my marathon coach, and several others have become some of my very closest friends. I have found a lot of support in that community of people and I also love having people to share my passions with (or addictions, lol) — it helps me stay on track with my goals and intentions in life — wellness being at the top of that list!

2.  It prevents me from being an addict of unhealthy things. If you have an addictive personality like I do, there is a lot of room to potentially develop addictions or obsessions in not-so-healthy areas. I have been there, like when I was addicted to restricting my food intake and also addicted to eating nothing but pure, healthy, clean, organic vegetables from the earth. It might sound twistedly sort of healthy, but it wasn’t. I was depriving my body of necessary nutrients, healthy fats, protein, and ultimately calories in order to survive and thrive. I don’t think that I personally would be the type to become addicted to alcohol or drugs, mainly because I really dislike both of them, but you never know. I have also become addicted to sugar at different points in my life which has been particularly upsetting and frustrating, because it gets in the way of my fitness routine! When you’re bogged down on sugar, you don’t feel good and don’t have the same type of energy and stamina to workout. Being addicted to fitness has sculpted my routine into a very positive one all around.

3. I have to fuel my body properly in order to have the energy to train and recover. In regards to what I mentioned above, it has taken quite a bit of diligence for me to find a new normal when it comes to fueling my body in the RIGHT way. First I was borderline anorexic with orthorexia, then I let go of the restrictions and forced myself to eat unhealthy foods to prove to myself that I was recovering/recovered from my eating disorder. Now that I am finally back in the swing of my fitness routine, eating well and eating enough is not a problem. I have to make the active decision to fuel myself properly every single day, eating nutrient-dense foods that replenish my body and give me energy to recover from my workouts. There is a science to it, and I have done more research than I can explain in order to find out what works best for me and also what works best to help me recover from and train for the different types of workouts that I do. This is a truly awesome aspect and it’s high up on this list because nutrition and fitness go hand in hand with one another, and when practiced in a smart and balanced way, you will find the healthiest version of yourself.

4. I sleep better. Well, this is huge because without physically working my body to the bone every day I suffer from serious sleep issues. It can be hard for me to turn my anxious mind off at night, and for some reason I tend to think about everything I need to do for the next 38473849 days the moment that I lay down to go to sleep. When I am exhausted from a long run, a sweaty yoga sesh, a HIIT class, Pilates, etc. then I actually for once in my life sleep like a baby. I also know that I need to sleep well in order to have energy for the next day’s workout, and it’s like a test for my subconscious to figure out how worth it it is to allow my brain to slow down so I can fall asleep and wake up to do what I love. It turns into this weird mind-body brain exercise where my whole body starts working as one (as it should) to allow me to get a good night’s sleep for the greater good of being able to maintain my daily routine. It’s amazing when it actually works — and it always works if I’ve worked out hard enough.

5. I stay more hydrated. We all know the importance of good hydration. It’s pertinent for the optimal functioning of our digestive system, it’s necessary for our skin on both a surface and cellular level, it keeps us alert and high functioning, and also keeps our hunger in check when we are properly hydrated. I drink a ton of water upon waking up so that I will be hydrated for my workouts, and while I workout I chug. After I workout I chug, too. Working out certainly helps in the hydration department.

6. Endorphin highs!! This is a fun one. It’s so fun that it gets two exclamation points! I am sure you’ve heard the Legally Blonde quote, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands.” — Good ol’ Elle Woods. (Lol). But it’s true. If you’ve ever experienced a workout rigorous enough to give you that rockin’ endorphin high, then you totally know what I am talking about. I thrive off of those endorphins, and actually when I don’t work out in the beginning part of my day I really miss that adrenaline high. It gives me alertness and energy for my day and also point blank makes me happier. It also has something to do with feeling accomplished, and endorphins certainly do make you feel like you’ve accomplished something.

7. It’s a great way to see LA & a great way to travel. I have a whole new appreciation for this after running 18 miles on foot last Saturday with my LA Marathon training team (#TeamNutribullet, represent!). I ran from West LA / Brentwood through Century City, down Rodeo Drive and deep into Beverly Hills close to West Hollywood before I turned around and ended back in Brentwood. Some of my teammates got all the way to the Chinese theatre before turning back around! I have also had this experience when I have been traveling. Even if I’m not running, checking out a workout studio in a new city is a great way to experience what life is like as a local. One of my best memories doing that was in the tiny town of Carmel by the Sea in Nor Cal, when I went to a local yoga studio with my brother-in-law on Thanksgiving morning. It was SO COOL for us to see how all the yogis in that tiny little town came together to practice an awesome flow that morning, and a bunch of them even brought their little kids since it was a holiday. I’ll never forget how charming it was to see them all interacting with each other and getting a glimpse into what it would be like to live there — it was such a cool sight because most of the people I’d ever observed in Carmel were tourists on vacation like us. I love to feel like a local and get a glimpse into what life is like in little pockets around the world… It’s the hyper-observant (or nosy?) writer in me. (Side note: I did the same thing in Florence, Italy but it was less enjoyable… Yoga there is not like yoga here! The other cool thing about this is you find what works for you and what doesn’t.)8. Being in shape is a huge confidence booster. It’s the truth, and I’d say this to anyone. Whenever someone asks me how I achieve happiness and feel comfortable and confident in my own skin, I say WORKOUT and get into shape. Everyone has their own definition of being “in shape,” and for me of course since I am an addict I take this idea to a whole other level (without putting pressure on myself, I swear — I have fun with it). But getting into shape for you might mean going on walks after dinner instead of sitting on the couch and eating ice cream, or trying a new studio or routine that has scared you for a long time because you don’t think you’re ready enough for it. Let me tell you: there is no perfect time to try something new. You have to just DO IT. Tomorrow won’t seem any easier than today. Do it now, and be stronger than your excuses. It will be so worth it.

9. It is a de-stressor and will add more compassion to your life. Exercise is an obvious de-stressor. This is both science-based and experience-based. Working out gets your heart pumping and helps lessen your anxiety levels if you suffer from anxiety, and it gets you out of your HEAD. I believe working out has brought a whole lot of compassion into my life for a lot of reasons. I have been in a position many times where I come back to a particular kind of workout after not doing it for a long time, and it’s very frustrating. I have had a lot of health problems over the years that at times have knocked me down… And it’s intimidating to start from the bottom again. Every single time. Then you work your way back up. I’ve also seen a lot of other people do this, and in many cases I’ve seen people do it who come from a very unhealthy background and have absolutely nothing to lose and everything not to. When I see someone taking the plunge to exercise when it clearly intimidates them, I want to cry from happiness / give them a huge hug and a high five / write them a letter to tell them how awesome they are / tell their family to be proud of them / help them track their progress / on and on. It may sound like a little much, but I KNOW how hard it is to just START. That’s why I am always encouraging you guys to just begin. It has added a major layer of compassion and appreciation for others’ journeys to A) have my own fitness addiction/journey, B) be in the presence of so many others who are working to transform their lives through fitness.

10. IT HELPS SHAPE YOUR ROUTINE! Have you noticed that the word “routine” is my word of the YEAR so far? I am obsessed with it. I am in the process of transforming my routine and it has been so life changing I could cry just thinking about it. I have been running a lot more, (#marathontraining), waking up earlier, going to bed far earlier, carving out chunks of time to spend with the people who REALLY matter and who support my goals and intentions, doing as much yoga as I used to (or trying to), and giving myself more “me time” to hone in on what I really want out of this precious and awesome life. It really all circles back to the wellness factor and having this fitness routine that helps shape not only my days but my weeks, months, and year. It shapes my travel schedule, my relationships and my nutrition/sleep/hydration/blog work/creativity flow/etc. And not in a bad way or an obsessive way… It gives me structure where I otherwise may not have it. I have an alternative job, remember?! Fitness helps me structure my day in a very positive way.

You might not see me above unless you look hard… I’m hiding behind Mike’s shoulder! Working it out at OTF.

So, fitness addicts — what do you think?! Am I accurate? Is there something big that I missed / any points that you agree or disagree with? Would love to hear your thoughts! Soon I want to do a post on all of the fitness gear that I love / feel is necessary to developing a serious fitness addiction and workout routine. Let me know if you have any suggestions! Lots of love!! Xx 

Readdyyyy? Let’s get it goin’!

▷▸▹► Kitten Snugs. So if you follow me on social media, you are well aware that I am in love with my four month old kitten Hudson Riley. Obsessed. Cat mom central. I may as well plan to never leave LA again because every time I leave him (with friends/fam, of course) for even a few days, my heart aches for him so badly and I have to actively try very hard not to think about him or wonder what he’s doing at every waking second of the day. One of my absolute favorite things as a first-time pet owner is how SNUGGLY Huddy is. He nestles himself right up into my chin to fall asleep at night, and while I write on the couch during the day he wraps his furry little arms around my legs to get in some good cuddles while he naps. I may sound like a total kitten mama freak to you right now, but anyone who has had a serious bond with a pet knows what I’m talking about. It’s just me and Hudson at home — no roommates, no significant others, no nada. We have developed a super intensely close relationship, and from the moment I got him I tried to get him used to being around people / cuddling / being held in my arms. When he stares into my eyes I can FEEL his little soul connecting with mine, and it’s one of the best feelings in the world. My baby Hud has my whole heart.

Below photo taken by the fab Iselin + Hale, a.k.a Huddy’s beautiful Auntie Danika

▷▸▹► Good photography. I am an absolute sucker for great photography. Actually, I’m a sucker for anything creative that is done well and done with passion and good intentions. I had such an amazing day shooting for Eddie Bauer with the talented Katie Shuler a few weeks ago, and while we were snapping pics we had an incredible conversation about branding. We discussed the difference between someone who is super passionate and clear about their brand identity versus someone who “sells out” to try to either copy someone else’s brand, be the next big thing, make the most $$ possible off of their brand, etc. There is a fine line when you’re creating a brand based around creativity and personality, because of course you have to monetize it (for me, that means brand partnerships), but people are really there to hear you write and create content from your SOUL. Katie experiences similar feelings when it comes to branding her photography business, as far as only wanting to take on clients’ tastes that radiate the aesthetic she is most passionate about. Where I’m getting at with all of this is — Katie Shuler’s photography brought me to TEARS when I saw the photos we’d taken. They were just so, so, so, so ME and so what I am going for with The Balanced Blonde (remember in yesterday’s post I talked about honing in on my focus). My emotional reaction to her photos from our day was such a beautiful reminder that while sometimes I have to pump out content like it’s my job (because it is), it is SO important to wind down, reflect, and really think hard about partnerships that I agree to. This blog is my baby, my muse and my livelihood, and I want it to have as much longevity as possible — a.k.a I want to do it forever! Cheeeers to good photography to supplement the messages and stories I am so passionate about sharing.

▷▸▹► Making up my own hashtags. I spoke on a panel at Social Media Club LA on Tuesday night, and I found myself giving this advice to the audience of creative entrepreneurs: make up your own hashtags! Be silly with it. Use them to showcase your personality. Stray away from the #thinspo, #thinspiration, #skinnybitch kinds of hashtags because to be honest, those aren’t empowering women at all. They are promoting one lifestyle, and usually they are promoting one singular way of eating and/or living. I am ALL about gaining inspiration from people on social media and the Internet, but wellness advice and weight loss advice do not go hand in hand. I am not a medical professional and I have never claimed to be– I am all about sharing real life experiences with real life people! #nodisclaimerneeded, because I just share my tips and tricks and use hashtags like #TBBisobsessedwithkale and #TBVapparelallovertheworld and #thebloglife and whatever I feel like typing in that very moment. I am all about that real time talk — being REAL with my audience has never served me wrong. Don’t try to be cool, try to be you.

 ▷▸▹► TBV Apparel partnering with Elite Daily! One of the coolest things about working in the social media influencer space is having the opportunity to connect with other influencers who are KILLING it. Elite Daily is beyond the prime example of that (they’ve grown to 1 million followers from about 40k earlier this year and we are obsessed with them), and we were lucky enough to partner with them for a shopping spree giveaway to TBV Apparel! Congrats to miss Jennilynn F. on Instagram for WINNNINNNGGG – we cannot wait for you to pick out your swag!

▷▸▹► GRAZE Snack Boxes! I am all about the healthy, portion-controlled snack options out there — because while I am all about balance and listening to your bod, I also know that a lot of people who are trying to find and maintain a healthy lifestyle need a little bit of help in the portion department. I love Graze because their subscription snack boxes customize a selection of healthy snacks that come in fun little containers with the coolest names — like Banana’s Foster (banana chips + nuts + little fudge pieces), Berries & Cream Gelato (white chocolate buttons, mini dried strawberries, dried raspberry strings, yogurt covered strawberry pieces) and all sorts of combinations of dry-roasted, unsalted nuts. The snacks are all pre-packaged and light-weight, so you can pack them with you and take them on-the-go (I like to snack on them in the car after a day of meetings / before yoga), and they aren’t going to overly fill you up before your next meal. Check them out on their website, and tell me this service isn’t one of the coolest ever…

I also did a Q&A with them that you must read! So fun. **Lastly, use code BBLONDE to get your first box of Graze FREE!!!**

▷▸▹► Seeing my BOOK on shelves at Barnes & Noble!!! Okay, honesty: I haven’t been into a B&N yet since the book has launched (life has been too crazy for words), BUT a lot of my friends, family, fellow bloggers and even my mama have spotted the book at B&N and sent me fun photos and videos! It is truly a surreal feeling to know that the book is out there and reaching people that have never seen my blog and are not yet familiar with my story, and that makes me so happy I could burst. Here’s a photo my mama snapped at the book store and then uploaded to her Instagram on her OWN (very impressive, as I often post for her…!!). It made my day like you wouldn’t believe.

▷▸▹► Almond milk lattes. YEP. I put “almond milk lattes” on our TBV Apparel “Loving Lately” tee when we created that list over a year ago, but in all honesty I was way more of a cold brew with almond milk kinda gal. Lately I have been ALL about my iced almond milk lattes from Alfred (my place, you know this) — and I add an extra shot of espresso for that extra fuel. I’ve been getting it nearly every single morning so I couldn’t not share. It’s definitely on the list.

▷▸▹► Foray Collective. Okay, so this is awesome. A few lovely gals I know started Foray Collective as a new kind of shopping platform to discover both style inspiration and cutting-edge designers. They’ve gathered a mix of influencers from all platforms to help tell the stories of each brand, and I am lucky enough be sharing my passion for fitness and comfort/athleisure in partnership with one of Foray’s athletic wear brands Booty by Brabants. I certainly love a good pair of neon pants, especially when I am headed into a yoga class or when I’m running at night (it gets dark SO EARLY NOW and I like to stand out so cars don’t see me). Their stuff fits so comfortably and has that extra stretch and versatility that makes them especially perfect for gym-to-errand activities (a.k.a my life in a nutshell). Check ’em out below! Wearing their Rosa Leggings & Spandex Tank Top. Love both, for the record.

▷▸▹► VIRTUAL BLOG TOOOOUR: Breaking Vegan is being shared on so many lovely blogs that I admire and read on the daily. Yesterday Andie Mitchell featured the Pumpkin Spice Smoothie recipe from the book on her blog, and today the lovely Hanna Montazami & Kelly LeVeque will be sharing. Stay tuned for Davida of The Healthy Maven and Lauryn of The Skinny Confidential  to share later this week — along with some fun giveaways sprinkled in!

What are you guys loving lately? Anything I mentioned here strike your fancy in particular? PS, I CANNOT believe that next week is Thanksgiving — headed to Cabo with the fam and I am so exciiited!!

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?!?!

Shall we?!

  ▷ ▸ ▹ ► ▻ Loving Lately 2.18.15

●  ●  ● VACATION VIBES

If you follow me on Instagram, then you know I’ve just been on vacation in Mexico. I went with my best friend Jillian and both of our mamas. We stayed in the most glorious home, Casa Encanto, that happens to feel like a second home to me because I have been going there with my family for years. The house manager & house chef (two of my favorite human beings alive) and myself are in the middle of planning something absolutely EPIC there– stay tuned!!!

In the meantime, what I am absolutely loving lately is the extreme relaxation I feel after being unplugged & so completely at peace with myself. No email, no work, minimal phone, and lots of time with my beautiful humans & reading some GREAT books. (I am a huge reader.) I knew I was relaxed beyond reason when we got to the airport and our flight was delayed indefinitely. It didn’t even faze me! In almost any other circumstance I would have been that uptight girl who “NEEDED” to get home for something “SO IMPORTANT.” I was calm as a cucumber. I just took a breath, and let it go. Feeling relaxed is such a beautiful thing & I am determined to feel this calm as often as possible.

Also stay tuned for TWO upcoming Cabo recap posts. Too much info to share in one posty!

●  ●  ● BREAKING VEGAN

I know, I know, I said my deadline for my memoir was last Thursday. It was supposed to be!!! But I have been so inspired while writing it that I can hardly stand to finish. New things keep flooding into my mind, new memories, new feelings, new ways to word something big/small that happened in my journey, and I am having trouble letting go of the manuscript. I am immensely excited to share it with all of you, and can’t wait to dive back into writing it this afternoon. Writing makes me so happy, and it also brings me into another realm. After working on the book all day I feel like I’ve truly been in a different universe. Has anyone else ever felt that way?!

●  ●  ● GOOD READS

Wellll, since I’m writing a memoir, it only makes sense that I should be reading good memoirs. I have stumbled across some amazing ones lately that have been so inspirational to me. One of those is It Was Me All Along by blogger Andie Mitchell of Can You Stay For Dinner? Andie’s story has been SO INSPIRING and motivating in my book writing process. My agent told me to buy her book because our memoirs cover similar topics– hers a 100-lb weight loss and personal journey, and mine of course being my eating disorder / transition from veganism. I knew I would be interested in her book once I found out what her story was about, but holy cow did she blow me away with her sensational writing and her INSANELY detailed recall of details from her childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. I can definitely say that reading her book kickstarted me into an entirely new realm of motivation to make Breaking Vegan as good as it can be, and it also shed some light on some food issues I am still working through. Thank you Andie for being amazing. You are a new idol of mine.

Other GREAT memoirs I’ve been reading… Escape by Carolyn Jessop about her escape from the ultra-fundamentalist group of Latter-Day Saints. I am a sucker for memoirs about religious cults… Does that make me creepy? It’s so fascinating! And Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs is also really interesting and great so far.

●  ●  ● GOOD SPAS

Ok, on my whole “relaxation kick,” it’s only appropriate that I talk about good places to unwind IN Los Angeles since as much as I would love to be traveling every weekend, much of the time I am here. I have recently fallen in love with Le Jolie Media Spa in Sherman Oaks. They are tucked into a cute little alleyway off the beaten path, which is the first sign that I adore them and their space. Also, they were voted Best Facial in Los Angeles (up against some great competitors, that’s a huge deal), and I have been going to them for laser hair removal. It’s so important to have a huuuuge level of trust when going into laser hair removal, and I trust them and the doctors there wholeheartedly. They also have an OXYGEN BAR (TOO. COOL.) and tons of body treatments from Infrared Sauna to Body Scrubs to Body Contouring. Even if you’re just looking for a nice, relaxing massage– this place should be your new go-to.

●  ●  ● GIVEAWAYS!

Today is the LAST day of our TBB x Satya “Vibes Don’t Lie” Giveaway!!! We are having away over $500 worth of Satya Jewelry + a Vibe’s Don’t Lie TBV Apparel long-sleeve tee. To enter, simply repost one of our many “Vibes Don’t Lie” photos (found on my blog, my Instagram & Satya’s Instagram) and tell us what Vibe’s Don’t Lie means to YOU! Hashtag #TBBxSatya & #VibesDontLie. To me, Vibes Don’t Lie means to listen not only to your gut but to your HEART. Your intuition knows what is right and what is wrong. In order to do that, you have to be in tune with your body. Let that happen. Let yourself roll with the vibes. They are always honest.

There are sooo many other things I am Loving Lately, but per #2 on the list (BREAKING VEGAN!) I’ve gotta run & finish this book so I can share it with all of you most lovely souls! Stay tuned for some fun posts this week (including a hiking post featuring my favorite antioxidant tea on this planet… Any guesses?!)

Xox, TBB

I am filming four videos this Friday & Saturday with a production team from San Diego – I. Am. So. Excited. But don’t worry, that doesn’t mean the impromptu Photobooth-style video content will be going anywhere. I still love throwing myself in front of the camera at any given time of day to share from the heart and chit chat it up with you all.

Also, I’m going to be working on a video series called “Ask TBB Anything” in the next month or so, so send me questions that you have for me!!! They can be food related, recovery related, health/nutrition/fitness/yoga related, style related, blogging/writing related, Los Angeles/NYC/Nor Cal questions… anything! It’s obviously an “Ask Me Anything” type of format. I am so excited about it!

Now, without further ado… let me tell you allll about what I am loving lately!

** ALSO… I’m keeping the descriptions of each loving lately shorter than usual because my previous LL posts were LARGE & IN CHARGE a.k.a long as eff, and sometimes nice & simple does the trick… **

Loving Lately ▷▸▹►

 ▷▸▹► The Coffee Shop Life 

One of my favorite things about blogging and working almost entirely from the computer is getting to switch up my office location every single day. I am a creature of habit, so I have to push myself to try new places – especially after I’ve found places I love. It helps that I get to meet with so many awesome local entrepreneurs and health peeps that also have THEIR favorite spots, which has helped me broaden my horizon.

Lately I’ve been dividing my time between working from Equinox West LA, all sorts of coffee shops in Santa Monica/Brentwood/Venice/Beverly Hills/Malibu, the BEACH, the airplane, the Equinox hot tub (for real), my apartment for food photo shoots, outside, at friends’ houses & cute little restaurants. I love switching up my scenery as much as possible, and I work well with white noise around me so win, win.

 ▷▸▹► Chai Tea Lattes with GLOBS of Cinnamon

 Yeah, I’m talking about chia tea lattes with full-fat cow’s milk. If this comes as a surprise to you, watch my latest YouTube vid. And yes, I was trying to avoid caffeine for a while because of my stomach ulcers, but I’ve found that the minimal amount of caffeine in chai tea doesn’t bother me a whole lot (yet, at least) and the taste is so great it’s worth the experimenting so far. I also have been loving dumping oodles of cinnamon on top and then getting warm little cinnamon chunks in each sip… I realize most people try to avoid cinnamon clumping in their hot drinks, but hey, I’m different. I accept it.

 ▷▸▹► New Raw Organic Restaurant in my Hood

There is a FAB new raw organic vegan restaurant in Brentwood, and it’s pretty much the first of its kind out here in La La Land. Yes, there are great vegan spots and even a raw spot or two, but the superfood smoothies, cleansing options and amazing food at Beaming in Brentwood blows the others FAR out of the water. I’m only sharing this because I wholeheartedly believe in what they’re doing and I think you all will absolutely love their food, juice, smoothies, coffee, acai bowls (!!!) and soups. AND I’m doing a 3-day solid food cleanse with them this week. Boom.

 ▷▸▹► Exercise as THERAPY

Being the extreme chica that I am, I get really into exercise in times of stress/happiness/whenever I find a routine I’m really into. I am on one of those kicks right now, and I’m not complaining. Between running at Equinox, yoga at Yogaworks & Corepower, running and interval training at Orange Theory and hiking on the weekends… I’ve been an energizer bunny and it’s working wonders on my soul (and bod!).

▷▸▹► Good Freaking People

I can’t say it enough. The people in my life are phenomenal. My BFF Tara has to deal with my morningly texts about my food freak outs, my mom and dad are so patient with me and give me the world (not to mention my mom also serves as somewhat of a personal business manager to me most of the time which is absolutely amazing), all of my friends are so supportive and wonderful and fun, my nieces make my heart explode with happiness daily, my TBB team rocks, my readers are incredible. I just feel lucky. 

▷▸▹► Working on the Book… And…

AND something else exciting in the book-related world that I’m not fully ready to disclose yet but let me tell you it’s gonna be GOOD.

▷▸▹► The Power of Morning Light

Morning LIGHT (read this) can help you lose weight. Not that losing weight should necessarily be a goal, but hey, who doesn’t love a good cup of coffee/tea/juice/water with lemon in some beautiful morning light? Light is everything to me.

▷▸▹► T. Swift’s “Out of the Woods”

I’m obsessed and it makes me think of a whole lot of things in my life and it also makes me think of the woods in general (I understand how literal of me this is) and I also just love everything about Taylor and want to be her friend. Desperately. PS… Here’s me in the woods.

▷▸▹► The Perfect New Years Outfit / PJs Always 

That cross body though…

▷▸▹► Birthdays

Happy birthday to my sweet lifelong best friend TG. So proud of you, so lucky to have you, thank you for being you and shining your light on us all. If everyone could have your heart, the world would be a better place.

What Are YOU Loving Lately? It’s almost Christmas… Yippee!!

Actually, who am I kidding? I lived here last winter when it got down to 5 degrees… it’s been a steady 30ish this week, so it’s really not too bad. Except for the sideways snow pelting me in the eyes yesterday on my way to Think Coffee in Soho (one of my favorite writing havens) that blinded me and caused me to pass it by at leaaassstt three blocks before I realized I needed to turn around.

Regardless of the weather, I can’t even tell you how ridiculously happy I am to be back in New York for the week. I had a few minor travel mishaps on the way here and ended up taking a train from Philadelphia (a place I had never been… all I could think of was Boy Meets World and the pizza and Philly cheese steaks that I don’t eat) into the city and I was so freakishly filled with excitement the whole time I thought I was going to bubble over onto the train station floor.

When I arrived at Penn Station – without proper winter clothing, mind you, that was all in my suitcase that was stuck at the Philly airport for the night – I. Cried. Happy. Tears. Why? I don’t really know. I have missed this dirty, smelly, freezing, snowy, wild and outrageous city like no other. I guess I even missed freezing my toes off and dropping my gloves on the subway tracks. And the juice/smoothie bars… I have reeeealllllyyyy missed those.

What I’m getting at here is that NYC awakens my soul. I know I have written about a lot of things that “awaken my soul” lately like writing and stellar connections with awesome people… but a CITY that wakes you up and makes you feel more alive and inspires you to get your butt to work and create is truly a brilliant thing. I feel so lucky to have found it. My spirit city.

I couldn’t imagine a better place to work on the book and meet with incredible people for the next few days. On Wednesday I had a super fun and inspiring meeting with my literary agent and got to check out the agency for the first time. It was beautiful and SHE is a badass. Enough said.

Sterling Lorde Literary Agency

The rest of the week has been filled with fun meetings (SUPER exciting collabs coming up with Satya Jewelry, You Fresh Naturals annndd more), writing, writing and more writing, frolics with my best friends, ice skating dates with my sissy, a Central Park romp or two, and hitting up all my old haunts for yummy food and yummy drinks. Ulcer friendly drinks that is.

ALSO, very worth mentioning, the incredible crew of NYC people who have made my week so amazing by simply being here/spending time with me… thank you for making me the happiest and luckiest girl. You are all special, insanely wonderful people and you make it VERY hard to ever want to leave.

And since Thursday is typically Loving Lately, I will leave you with a couple of things I am loving lately (other than NYC) this week…

▷ ▸ ▹ ► TBV Apparel being featured on one of my very favorite fashion blogs, Feral Creature. And she is blogging out of Seoul, to boot! Too. Cool.  

▷ ▸ ▹ ► This Burt’s Bees Beauty Kit full of all of the chapsticks, lotions and skin care products I am obsessed with.

▷ ▸ ▹ ► The Andy Cohen Diaries… because who isn’t obsessed with Bravo / The Real Housewives / Vanderpump Rules? Or is that just me?

▷ ▸ ▹ ► These Sugar Cookie Bars by my sweet Chocolate Covered Katie

▷ ▸ ▹ ► Annddd this Paleo Cocoa Hazelnut Bread With Molasses by the lovely Lindsay Cotter #yummmm

How has everyone else’s week been? What are you loving lately?