My grandfather was a sound mixer in Miami, Florida. I’m still not entirely sure what a sound mixer does, but I know it’s important. My dad and his three siblings grew up helping out on film sets and eventually followed in his footsteps. Dad’s two brothers ended up being sound mixers in Orlando, Florida. They both worked on many commercials together with big stars like Shaq and Tiger Woods. They both worked on the iconic Miami Vice. Recently, one of my uncles filmed something with Rick Ross.

My aunt became a makeup artist and moved to Los Angeles. She had a 30-year-long career and was a part of some of the most iconic film and television shows. She worked on Friends, Cruel Intentions, The Parent Trap, Twister, Desperate Housewives, The Hulk, The Holiday, The Dark Knight Rises, Modern Family, and Bombshell.

I always dreamed of being in the industry. I had a whole plan about moving out to LA and going to live with my aunt, though my mom felt it was important that I finish high school in Miami. I went to college in Philadelphia for acting (my degree is in “theater arts”). When I moved to New York to pursue the whole acting thing, I very quickly realized that when you are trying to become an actor, you do very little acting. It’s all about connections and marketing and agents and lots and lots of admin work. I would apply to audition for 20 things a day and maybe get one reply once a week. I was in acting class still, and I got to do the thing. I did a showcase, was in a small tv series that got submitted to some festivals, and worked on some shows as an extra.

Eventually, I found myself enjoying working behind the camera. I really just wanted to be onset. I would work on small music videos and small film sets. I was even a PA on a huge Netflix movie. I would chuckle to myself sometimes that I ended up doing the things my aunts and uncles were doing accidentally. However, the hours were long 12-14 hours. The pay was small. The work was grueling and I started to question if this was a sustainable career. When covid hit, I went home to regroup. When I came back to New York, there were very few opportunities in the industry and I decided to work at the front desk at Barry’s until I figured out what direction I wanted to go in. The rest was history.

There are times when I regret giving up on that dream I had. But there are times I’m so thankful I’m not doing that. I’m not sure I would be able to handle the pressure or public scrutiny that comes with being a successful actor. Some people work their whole lives at it and never actually become successful at it and that felt really daunting. I’ve had people ask if I miss it or if I ever would do it again. Never say never though I don’t feel called to be an actor like that anymore. In a lot of ways, I’m able to express myself creatively and still perform when I teach a Barry’s class. Who knows what the future holds!

In guud company,

Lauren

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: Doing my first Sprint Triathlon on Saturday! As I’ve been saying, I was more scared and possibly the least prepared than before any other race I’ve done, kept trying to find excuses NOT to do it. But I’m so proud of myself for committing 🥲

Lauren: Watching Nikki and Jeremy do their first triathlon! It was really cool to be introduced to a new sport. Being at the Boulder Reservoir was beautiful and the atmosphere was electric!

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: I didn’t get much quality sleep this weekend so I was veeeery tired.

Nikki: I officially started my move (will talk more about this soon!) and WOW it is overwhelming. My apartment is in such a state of disarray and it is so time and energy consuming.

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: How important it is to have people around you! I didn’t really expect anyone to come to the tri (in fact, I told some people NOT to come) but Lauren came regardless, got there before it even started (being somewhere at 7AM on a Saturday is a BIG ask that I don’t take for granted!), made posters!!, cheered me on, took all these photos and videos that I’m so grateful to have, and hung out the whole time. It was amazing having a support system!

Also, being able to do the race with Jeremy was so fun. Throughout the swim, I would catch him looking back at me to make sure I was ok and give me a huge smile. I saw him during the run, running! — which is crazy because he hasn’t been able to run basically this whole year — with a huge smile on his face. Running into all the friends also doing the race was so energy-boosting and made it so much more fun :)

Lauren: My friend Deanna reminded me to listen to my intuition. It was almost like I forgot I could do that.

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren:

1. Jesse and Ben’s french fries and a ribeye for dinner.

2. Face Reality products! Keeps things simple for me.

3. The bike onesie that people wear. So cute.

Nikki:

1. Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera. What a FUN read. Some of my friends had read it and then my book club chose it as next month’s book. I read it in a day. I started listening to it as an audiobook (I’m not typically an audiobook girly but highly recommend) and then spent the last couple of hours of the day reading.

2. Two very different (but very funny) shows: Tires (on Netflix) and Hacks (on HBO Max).

3. Wild Pastures for GF burgers in Boulder and The Hungry Treehugger for GF DF cinnamon rolls at the South Pearl, City Park, and Boulder farmers markets!

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: Going to Red Rocks this week to see Goose and hiking Mt Yale next Saturday! I’ve heard this is one of the prettiest 14ers and is a little scrambly so I’m excited :)

Lauren: Looking forward to a long weekend. Toying with heading to the mountains!

I love to walk. I love being outside. I love the adventure. I love having a concrete destination. I love a reasonable amount of suffering. I love the accomplishment.

Since moving to Colorado, I’ve developed a particular love for 14ers. There are few hikes that give you that level of challenge with such a beautiful payoff. It’s my goal to one day climb all 58 of the 14ers in Colorado.

For the last couple of years, I’ve had my eye on the DeCaLiBron, a loop that includes summiting the peaks of four 14ers: Mt Democrat, Mt Cameron, Mt Lincoln, and Mt Bross. But because of schedules and travel and logistics, I haven’t gotten around to it.

As this summer progressed, I’ve been doing a lot — triathlon training, festivals, travel, work — but have really spent less time in the mountains than I’ve wanted. So I knew it was something I had to prioritize. I blocked off a weekend that worked, I asked some friends if they were interested and available (pretty last minute, in fairness), and I couldn’t find anyone to do it with me.

I was bummed. But then I thought… why should I rely on other people to be able to do something that would make me happy?

The evening before, I went for a swim, checked the weather forecast every hour, ordered sushi delivery, walked Kona, and packed my bag with everything I’d need for the next day. I was in bed by 7PM, popped a melatonin, and went to sleep while finishing my NYTimes Games.

I woke up at 1:45AM, got dressed, made coffee, packed a breakfast, walked Kona, downloaded the trail route, and was out the door by 2:30AM. I called Jeremy during my drive, who was awake and STILL at the Denver International Airport after a 5PM delayed, then cancelled, then rescheduled flight to his gig in Michigan. I sent him the exact route I was doing, how long I thought it would take me, and a time that if I didn’t contact him by to send help (God forbid).

I also spent the drive savoring my breakfast which was an iced coffee (I’m loving the Forager Cinnamon Vanilla Creamer) with a GF PB&J (I brought it up last week but Franz GF Sourdough is my favorite bread right now). Elite combo.

I got to the trailhead at around 4:30AM and the parking lot was nearly full. After a pee-pee break, setting up my headlamp and warm layers, and a little necessary car procrastination, I started hiking around 5AM.

I went the opposite way that AllTrails routes you after reading some of the reviews. I started hiking up toward Bross. Once I started the climb (like most 14ers, the altitude gain starts pretty early), I felt strong. I passed so many groups of people heading up and pretty immediately felt a surge of confidence. Part of me was a little happy I was alone so I wouldn’t have to wait or go at other people’s paces. Classically, once I passed everyone, I went off-trail accidentally at least twice.

As I hiked to the Bross summit, I passed some guys on their way down that asked: “Are you tough or are you cold?” to which I smiled and said “Both!” I was wearing shorts, a sports bra, a long sleeve, and a windbreaker, but I couldn’t find my puffy in my apartment and decided against my pants and left them in the car. I wasn’t feeling especially cold… but I also hadn’t hit a peak yet, where you usually experience the lowest temps and the highest winds.

Bross was gorgeous. I hit it during sunrise and had a pretty clear 360 view of the mountains around me. It was gorgeous. I could see the alpenglow on Mt Democrat, the pink light just highlighting the destination.

The walk towards Lincoln was easy in that it was relatively flat, but very cold. The sun was hidden behind the clouds and didn’t help. There were so many pretty viewpoints that I had to take in without taking a photo of because I couldn’t work my phone with my frozen hands, even in my gloves.

When I summited Lincoln, I passed the man who had made a comment earlier and he said, “wow, you’re fast!” and I responded, “well now I’m just cold!”

I reached Cameron pretty quickly after Lincoln, and there were two guys there both chugging beers. A beer for every summit. Their first beer of the day was at 6AM.

The route to Democrat was longer and steeper and rockier. But it was only one more. On the bright side, I started to warm up, both with the sun getting higher in the sky and with the incline. There were also way more people to navigate around — I passed a 36-member Boy Scout troop.

The view at the top was worth it. If you’ve done a 14er before, you know the view, but if you haven’t, imagine the biggest expanse of mountains all around you. You feel on top of the world and like a tiny little ant at the exact same time.

One of the guys I had met earlier caught up to me at the top of Democrat and we ended up hiking back to the car together. As much as I liked hiking by myself, it was nice making a friend to do part of it with.

So in four hours, I hiked four 14ers. And I had the best morning doing it.

I don’t think everyone should hike a 14er alone. There are risks to hiking solo and I took those very seriously. But I do think I’m getting better at not waiting for someone else to do the things I want to do.

I thought I needed someone to come with me. As it turns out, I’m pretty good company.

In guud company,

Nikki

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: Book club with friends! Rufus with friends! Open-water swimming with friends!

Lauren: I made a real effort to exercise more this week and take more Barry’s classes. I felt a huge improvement in my mood. Rufus of course was also a huge highlight!

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: These past couple of months haven’t been easy. As a result my fitness, my mental health, and my nutrition have taken a toll. I’m (slowly) working on prioritizing those things so I can feel my best.

Nikki: I keep getting in my head about how underprepared I am for this triathlon. I don’t like to be bad at things. My favorite races have been the ones that I’ve trained for and have felt confident going into. I don’t have a wetsuit or trisuit (nor do I even know what I’m supposed to wear). I don’t have clipless pedals or a phone holder or any kind of storage on my bike. I literally just did my first brick workout (a bike ride right into a swim) and my first open-water swim one week before the tri. But what I keep reminding myself is, there always has to be a first time. My first 5K ever, I was not prepared. My first Hyrox, I was barely running and learned how to use a ski erg while we were warming up. My first time snowboarding I didn’t own ski gear and wore my parka. I have to set my ego aside and just be proud to be brave enough to do it. I can’t wait to look back at this first one years from now and see how far I’ve come.

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: I’m always so inspired by the Leadville 100. I spent a portion of today just watching videos and reading stories of people’s experiences and tearing up. To train for something for a year and then tackle this seemingly impossible goal?? It is incredible what the human body and mind can accomplish.

Lauren: I feel really lucky that I have people in my life that love me and want to spend time with me. Sometimes it take my friends a few tries to get me to agree to an outing and I’m grateful they are persistent. As my therapist often says, we may get hurt by relationships but we also heal in relationships. We need other people. The lesson is: be persistent with your friends. Check on them often no matter how annoying you think you’re being. Spread the love always.

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren:

1. Sterling Point

2. Rotting without guilt

3. Sipping Butcher’s' Organic Chicken Broth every morning. I truly feel like it heals me

Nikki:

1. A Friday night in with Jeremy ordering Thai and watching Silo.

2. These Chicken and Apple Sticks as a hiking or work snack.

3. The Shark Blow Dryer. I’ve had this for almost a year but wow it is a game changer for me. I know nothing about hair and rarely have time to spend on it so using this blow dryer and the brush attachment is dumb easy.

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: Triathlon next weekend!!! Finally signed up :)

Lauren: I am so excited to watch Nikki do her triathlon. She is so daring and adventurous and has inspired me since the day I met her!

In middle school, “Lollipop” by Lil Wayne became our anthem and I could recite every word. This is where my love for rap and hip-hop really started. Usher, T-Pain, and Soulja Boy became the soundtrack to my middle school experience. For my 13th birthday, my parents took me and my friends to see Fergie. My dad took turns putting us on his shoulders so we could get a better view and we all got matching merch.

When I started high school, I began listening to some more indie and alternative music, like Walk the Moon and Lorde. But then I discovered Mac Miller. I was absolutely obsessed. I knew every lyric to almost every song. I saw his Blue Slide Park Tour when I was 15. That’s the last time I saw him live.

Dance music was becoming popular, but growing up in Miami, home of Ultra Music Festival, made it even more prominent. Songs like: “Levels” by Avicii, “Clarity” by Zedd, and “Don’t You Worry Child” by Swedish House Mafia were everywhere. I begged my mom to go sophomore year with some friends who were going but unfortunately had to wait until I was 16. It was worth the wait. I was obsessed with the music. I even went to a Kaskade concert.

When I moved to Philadelphia to go to the University of the Arts for college, I was surrounded by incredible musicians. My friend group at the time consisted of many singers and rappers. They sat me down and introduced me to rap music in a whole new way. Whenever an album came out, we got together and listened to it as a group. I watched the way they moved to the music. They would point out nuances in the lyrics that I never would have caught on my own.. My sophomore year of college we went to Made in America where we saw J. Cole, Beyoncé, Future, and The Weeknd. I became obsessed with rap music. I saw Future in the Purple Reign Tour and Travis Scott on his Rodeo tour. I saw Chance the Rapper! I feel so lucky to have been in those rooms in those particular years.

When I moved to New York at 22, my music taste began to expand. I found myself listening to artists like Still Woozy, Mallrat, and Declan McKenna. I loved walking around Manhattan with my headphones in and no destination.

Now my job is essentially putting playlists together. I write workouts too, but I’m mostly creating an experience. I remember when I first started working at Barry’s I was so concerned with pleasing the clients and playing what I thought they wanted to hear. As the years have passed, I’ve made it a priority to be as authentic as possible and play the music that I actually like. Something about playing my favorite songs makes me more confident in the room and allows me to enjoy the experience more. It is the best and most tedious part of the job. For some classes, I’ll stay up hours past my bedtime just to get the playlist exactly right. If one song is off, it won’t work.

Currently, there’s a lot of the latest hits in my rotation as well some Drake and indie music. Ever since I went to Up In The Sky, I am re-obsessed with dance and house music. I’ve been listening to Dom Dolla and John Summit on repeat. There’s a feeling that only dance music can give you.

Songs are like mile markers—chapters in my life. When I put one on, the details of the moment come flooding back. I remember where I was, the smells in the air, what I was wearing, who I was with, and exactly how I felt. We all have a soundtrack to our lives in a similar way, just with different songs. It’s such an incredible tool. Music can make me weep and smile, run and laugh, and somehow, all of it lives right there in the palm of my hand.

In guud company,

Lauren

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: I’ll talk about it more next week, but I hiked the DeCaLiBron (the fourteeners Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, & Bross) all by myself on Saturday and it was exactly what I needed. Also spending Saturday celebrating my besties!!! Julie set up a cutie breakfast forest picnic in Evergreen by the water and it was so fun hanging with them.

Lauren: Dad was in town and it’s always nice to spend time with the parents.

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Nikki: Following Aspen, I had very little serotonin left in my body. I spent the first couple days this week depressed, starting fights, and questioning everything. My mood 180’d after a full night of sleep and getting back into my routine (who’da thought!).

Lauren: Similar to Nikki, I’ve been feeling a little depresso and not espresso. While I know it won’t feel like this forever, it makes doing every day tasks that much harder.

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: I love the people in my life… AND I actually love doing things on my own! Being more mindful of planning more time for myself — both adventures and downtime.

Lauren: I say this every time I go to the mountains but nature is healing. I always forget until I am headed west on I-70. Big exhale. Need to get in more mountain time before it gets cold.

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren:

1. Going to the movies. Saw Spiderman. It was awesome.

2. Being cozy inside during the rain. Please rain more.

3. EDM concerts.

Nikki:

1. Franz Gluten Free Sourdough is the BEST GF bread I’ve ever had.

2. I’m really not a delivery girl, but the night before the fourteener, I got Bamboo Sushi. The Miso Caesar, the Salmon Crispy Rice, and an Island Hopper Roll. It was so worth the $$, but since 1. there was a random discount and 2. I got a Doordash gift card from Costco that’s like $80 for $100… it was basically free. Eating my leftovers post-hike was chef’s kiss.

3. Pasta. I feel like I spent years thinking pasta was “bad” and only going for Banza that would hurt my belly. I had a gluten-free pasta dish in New York and ever since, I’ve been eating it almost every day. The two I rotate between are the Goodles Loopdy-Loos and the Jovial Caserecce.

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: I haven’t been talking about it since I still haven’t officially signed up yet… but the triathlon is in two weeks and I’m still on the fence!!! Hoping to get another open water swim in before. I’m terrified :)

Lauren: My work week is not too bad because I have some clients out of town. I’m looking forward to finding ways to calm my nervous system.

With that said, I do think there’s an interesting dialogue to be had about why humans have been drinking together for virtually all of time, and whether in our very wellness-optimized world, we sometimes can overlook the social part of it.

I turn down a drink more often than not. To the point where over the weekend, a friend I’ve known for over a year now JUST realized I’m not sober.

We live in a society that has historically revolved around drinking. Whether it’s partying in college or happy hours after work, so many social interactions almost require being around alcohol.

For a long time, I saw that as mostly a bad thing.

I’ve always been pretty health-conscious and alcohol was an easy thing to put in the “bad for me” category. I knew I slept worse after drinking (especially my years wearing a Whoop). I knew it made me more anxious the next day. I knew a hangover could wipe out an entire Sunday that I would’ve much rather been productive for.

I’ve also seen the uglier side of it in my own life. Some of the biggest fights I’ve had in past relationships happened during a night of drinking. I’ve made decisions drunk that sober me would probably not have made. I’ve woken up with hangxiety, reenacting every conversation I had over and over again in my head.

So through different periods of my life, drinking less was the obvious choice. I’d skip a night out for an early bed time. I felt better without it, both physically and mentally, and the less I drank, the less interested in drinking I was.

And over time, it feels like the world has been making more of a shift as well.

In some ways, it’s great. There are more mocktail options than ever at bars and at restaurants. There’s less judgement around not drinking and less pressure to drink if you’re choosing not to. There’s also more education around the impact of alcohol — how it can impact your sleep, your skin, your performance.

In some ways, it feels extreme. How no amount is safe, how it spikes your cortisol and wrecks your recovery and causes cancer. Every other fitness influencer talks about how they used to drink and party and how now their social life revolves around fitness and sauna.

Obviously, there is truth to all of it. Alcohol isn’t good for our physical health, it is very literally a toxin.

But I became so afraid of it. Not afraid that I would get addicted or binge drink to the point of hospitalization. But afraid of ruining my sleep for even one night, and the domino effect it would have on my workout, my mood, my body composition, my fitness goals.

We understand intuitively that health isn’t just the absence of anything potentially harmful, but yet when it comes to alcohol, I think some of that conversation has lost that nuance. There’s a point where optimizing for health can start to work against you. When every decision becomes a calculation, you can end up being incredibly “healthy” while also making your life smaller.

Social connection is an important pillar of health, too. Feeling connected to other people isn’t just something that makes life more fun, it’s a key piece of having a long, healthy life. And although it’s not required for that, alcohol has played a role in facilitating that connection for a very long time. Alcohol can lower our inhibitions and quiet the part of the brain that’s wondering if we’re saying the right thing. It can help you open up to a deeper conversation, laugh a little louder, talk to the person you were intimidated by, or stay a little longer than you planned.

None of that means you need alcohol to connect. I know I don’t. And learning that has actually been a really important part of my relationship with drinking.

I still rarely drink during the week and will never be the person out drinking every weekend. I still care so much about my routine. I love a well-rested, early morning. My workout is sometimes the best part of my whole day.

But I can have the martini because I’m at dinner with friends and it sounds good. I can stay out an hour later even though I know my sleep might be worse. I can accept that maybe my workout the next morning won’t be my best one. Not every decision has to be made in fear of ruining my health, my fitness, or my body.

Because what’s the point of optimizing my health and longevity if I’m not also leaving room to actually enjoy my life?

Cheers! In guud company,

Nikki

I know this take is controversial… I wanna know your thoughts!

Leave a comment

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: I had such a fun weekend! Out of the festivals I’ve gone to this year, I loved how chill this one was. And the fact that I got to go with Lauren and Elise and we had a whole bunch of friends there made it extra special!

Lauren: UP IN THE SKY. I had the absolute best time this weekend in Aspen. I haven’t been to a music festival since college but this was obviously the best one by far. Jeremy really knows so many people in the industry and we were really lucky to have the experience that we did. I loved getting a fun weekend with Nikki where we were just able to let go and dance and bond <3

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: I haven’t had a voice since last Wednesday and I’ve never lost my voice before. It was so frustrating trying to talk. It’s like you don’t know how amazing it is to breathe out of your nose until you have a stuffy nose. That’s how this felt. I do see some improvements so things are looking up! I do need my voice back because I can’t teach at Barrys’ without it 🙃

Nikki: Last week was stressful leading up to the weekend and WOW did I have Sunday scaries coming back to the real world. My serotonin levels are still low but we’re recovering!

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: As someone with social anxiety and being thrust into situations with people ~in the industry~ who feel intimidating, I’m learning more and more to just act like I belong there. My whole mission is for women to take up space in places that aren’t built for them (usually in the context of the gym) and I’ve been needing to take my own advice!

Lauren: I think I used to look at experiences like music festivals, concerts, or even parties like they were a waste of time. Sure, hangovers are not productive in the slightest. However, the experiences you create with people you love are priceless. Letting go, dancing, having fun, and laughing add joy to my life. My therapist always tells me we heal in community with people and sometimes it is worth it to have a kiki sometimes!

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren:

1. Dom Dolla (from seeing his set at the festival)

2. Refy lipgloss that Nikki got me for my birthday

3. These sunglasses are the only ones I am wearing at the moment

Nikki:

1. Crowdsourcing outfits. I brought a bunch of tops and bottoms with no outfits planned and Elise and Lauren picked out what I wore each day. I am not a fashion girl but always learning from them!

2. Hugo spritzes. I’ve never drank a spritz in my life but tried one of these in Montauk and I’m never looking back.

3. Being silly around important people. It catches them off guard and 9/10 they love it. We all need a little more whimsy!

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: Getting some mountain time and celebrating two of my besties’ birthdays this weekend!

Lauren: My Dad is coming in town this weekend!

Wednesday

I dropped my bags off at the hotel. They gave me a complimentary upgrade which was a dream. I walked around for hours just soaking up the streets. I went to my favorite lunch spot Little Ruby’s. Later in the evening, I met my friend Bella at The Smith for crispy spicy salmon. We walked over to Jackdaw, a staple in our relationship, and met up with our other friends Molly, Mimi, and Marquel. All of us met at Barry’s Noho and it’s so special to still have such a strong bond.

Thursday

I set my alarm early to meet my friend Dean in Central Park. I took an ebike there and had the absolute best time listening to music and riding through the park. We ran 8 miles and caught up on the last year or so. It’s crazy the way time flies. Later Ana, my best friend and college roommate, met me at my hotel. We had A DAY. We started at lunch at one of our favorite spots Lure Fishbar. We walked and walked and walked all day. For dinner we ended up at one of our other favorite spots Thursday Kitchen. When I’m with Ana, my shoulders drop away from my ears. I feel the absolute safest. She is my guiding light and my protector. Even though I am 5 days older than her, I look up to her like an older sister. I hope one day we can live in the same city. I feel like life would be infinitely better if we shared a zip code. She slept over and it felt like the good old days.

Friday

The following morning Ana and I got breakfast at the hotel and headed to the Upper East Side to see the Frick museum. It was drop dead gorgeous. It was originally a mansion housing the Frick family. It now is the home of beautiful paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts. I was feeling a little under the weather so when Ana left I laid in bed for a bit. I did some more wandering and walking around. Then I met my friends Tyler and Sami for dinner at L’Artusi. I met them both, funny enough, at the club Ponyboy in Greenpoint five years ago. We’ve been friends ever since. They both make me crack up and being with them felt really special. We took a walk at sunset on the west side high way and I went home and called it a night.

Saturday

I went to my favorite coffee shop, Mud, to journal, read, and eat. I wandered around on my own that day before meeting my friends Connor, Molly, and Sam at Franke’s in the East Village for dinner. After dinner we bopped around to a few bars. It felt light and fun and free. There were SO many people out. It was invigorating to see everyone out having fun and laughing. It reminded me why I love New York so much. What an incredible city.

Sunday

I went back to Mud for their banana pancakes. I laid in bed for a little while before I packed up my bags and took a sold out 3:10pm Barry’s class. It was probably one of the hardest Barry’s classes I’ve taken in a long time. Immediately after class I took a car to the airport only to sit on the plane for three hours before we took off. I didn’t get home until midnight. I was eager to get to my own bed and finally relax.

I had an incredible time. While life has been a little heavier lately, I wasn't able to fully disconnect and immerse myself in the city the way I usually do. I typically leave feeling inspired and creatively recharged, so this trip felt a little different. I already know I'll be back, and I hope next time I arrive a little lighter, ready to soak up everything this city has to offer.

In guud company,

Lauren

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: I’ve been so negative about my fitness lately and questioning whether I can handle the sprint triathlon. I didn’t swim for 2.5 weeks and bailed on a training session (the outdoor pool was closed for a swim meet, I forgot my swim cap and goggles). But when I finally did swim, it was my best session yet! I pieced together a few 200M (which doesn’t sound like much but is crazy for me lol) and felt re-inspired to continue my swim training. I’ve said this a million times but it’s so fun to be a beginner at something and make yourself proud!

Lauren: Being in New York and seeing all my old friends really warmed my heart.

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: I lost my dear friend Alexa while I was in New York. Our moms have been best friends since they were in elementary school. We were friends before I even said my first words. We went to middle school and high school together. She always checked in on me through out high school. She was one of the most popular girls in the school. I always I looked up to her and thought she was the coolest. She was adventurous. She was fun and silly. She was extremely creative and obsessed with clothes. Everyone loved Alexa. I will miss her so much and feel so lucky I have someone like her watching over me.

Nikki: My company, and specifically my team, announced that there will be layoffs, so there’s a whole new type of work stress and bad vibes in the office. Layoffs are never a fun thing, but I do believe that things happen for a reason and if I am affected, it will be a good push to find a job that wouldn’t be my low every week :)

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: After my last newsletter, one of my Colorado besties (Amanda) messaged me to hike and camp to remember why I love Colorado! It was really sweet and did remind me what great friends I have here and how lucky I am. We spent Saturday morning hiking and it really did remind me how close we are to the mountains and how special it is to spend time out there! It also reminded me that not every hike has to be crazy and life-threatening to be fun (although I’m ready for some challenges!)

Lauren: I am constantly reminded how loved I am. Every single day my friends check in on me to see how I’m doing. Thanks to them I never feel like I’m alone. Seeing all my friends in New York was so special. I’m so grateful for the community of friends I have built.

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren: House of Stassi!

Nikki:

1. Birkenstocks. I’ve owned one pair of Birkenstocks for 8 years and wore holes through the soles. I finally got a new pair and I love them! I think the style I got sold out but linked a similar one.

2. Herman Gulch. This might be one of the hikes I’ve done the most, but for good reason! It’s not too far from Denver, has beautiful views, full of wildflowers, and ends at a lake. The downside is everyone else loves it too, so the trail (and especially the parking lot) can get pretty crowded. Go early :)

3. Siete Sourdough Tortillas. Omg. These are the best gluten-free tortillas I’ve ever had. Have been making lil tacos or wraps for every meal.

   

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: Lauren and I are going to Aspen next weekend for Up in the Sky festival :)

Lauren: Aspen!

There were lines outside Le Poisson Rouge. Outside of the Red Lion. The streets were full of chatter and laughter and music and cars. It was one of those perfect New York summer nights where everyone seemed to have somewhere to be.

We walked past my old apartment, and just as we got there, a group of girls, probably 25 or 26, came tumbling out of the revolving doors, laughing on their way to probably go out to one of those bars across the street.

It made me smile.

I had spent the week prior in Montauk, begging Jeremy for us to move to New York. Why am I in Colorado? I don’t even like Denver. I don’t even feel like I have a community these days.

But seeing those girls, it hit me.

I missed a specific version of my life. The walking to work at a job that I enjoyed. The working out at all the trendy studios and getting to meet people I looked up to. The planning a night out with so many different groups of friends. Dinner turning into drinks turning into somehow ending up at a table at The Box.

I thought about how just earlier that day, one of those friends, someone so special to me that I have SO many NYC memories with, texted our group that she’s pregnant.

I realized that maybe I did miss New York, but maybe even more than that I missed being young and carefree and being one of those 25 year old girls ready to take the night by storm.

Even if I moved back to New York, that version of my life would no longer exist.

The people who made that chapter what it was are in completely different seasons now. Marriages. Babies. Suburbs. Different priorities.

I think that’s why nostalgia can feel so confusing. Sometimes it convinces us we’re homesick for a place, when really we’re homesick for a moment in time.

I’ve found myself thinking a lot lately about where I want to live. New York still pulls at me in a way no other city does. Walking the streets, biking over the bridges, seeing a lively corner with outdoor seating at golden hour, reminded me why I fell in love with it in the first place.

But it also reminded me that what I’m chasing isn’t an apartment in the West Village or dinners that turn into late nights.

It’s the feeling.

And maybe the beautiful (and hard) part is accepting that every season has its own version of that feeling. You don’t get the same one twice, you just get the chance to fall in love with a new one.

In guud company,

Nikki

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: Spending a week at the beach. I created my own little routine — a morning walk or run along a trail by the beach into town, doing a pilates class, grabbing an iced coffee, swimming in the ocean, laying out in the sand, eating all the seafood, spending time with friends.

Lauren: Dinner and drinks with my friend Gabby at Perdida and dinner with Anabelle!

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: Lack of sleep is making me feel crazy!

Nikki: Sunday scaries were real. Got home at 1:30AM last night and had to work today.

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: I’ve definitely realized I’ve feel some discontentment lately in my life here in Denver. I don’t necessarily think the answer needs to be moving back to New York, but remembering to appreciate my life here and identifying things that could change that I have power over, whether it’s creating more work/life balance or finding more slowness or calling my friends/family more often.

Lauren: One day at a time.

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren:

1. Real Housewives of OC

2. Anything Keke Palmer but specifically her podcast.

3. Stress ordered clothes and then returning them all.

Nikki:

1. Bringing Kona on vacation.

2. Simple reformer pilates.

3. Beach towns. Fantasizing about living in the Hamptons.

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: Reconnecting with a lifelong friend! She moved to Europe and I haven’t seen her for so many years! And hiking (maybe camping???) with my friend next weekend :)

Lauren: I’m in New York this Week!

I’ve heard a lot lately, “I couldn’t handle what you’re going through”. The truth is you don’t think you can until it lands in your lap. I found resilience that I didn’t know I had. It’s comforting to know that I’m stronger than I think I am.

In these past couple of hard weeks I have, mostly, remained optimistic. I am choosing to believe there is something beautiful coming my way. So much of navigating life is having the right mindset. So much of your mindset is decided by your own thoughts. So this is me reminding myself there are many more beautiful, surprising, exciting chapters in front of me.

If you’re going through a hard time, just know it’s only a chapter. I hope you let someone show up for you. We spend so much of our lives trying to be the dependable one, but we're not meant to do every hard season alone.

In guud company,

Lauren

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: Getting to spend time with my family :) Spent some time in Bridgewater, NJ where I grew up and where my parents still live, and showed Jeremy some classics — the Bridgewater Commons Mall, Lifetime (I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to join), the Somerville Car Show, Polar Cub Ice Cream. We then spent a couple days in Long Island, seeing my grandmas, aunts, cousins, and my cousins’ kids. I always say this but the hardest part of living in Colorado is being far from my family, so I’m really grateful for the time I get with them.

Lauren: I saw The Invite this weekend and it was so good! I love the movies.

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: In general, it has been a tough few weeks.

Nikki: The whole air quality situation in NJ/NY forced some plan changes, but we adapted!

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: To be more communicative :) I’m a notoriously awful texter, but I’ve had the main logistics of this trip planned for weeks now… yet when we flew into LGA Thursday night at 12:30AM, I realized I had never told my parents that we were staying with them for the first two nights! And then didn’t confirm with my friend in Montauk that we were still coming, so ended up staying in a random (but gorgeous!) Airbnb in Westhampton tonight. I’m trying to be better at texting back instead of responding in my head!

Lauren: I’ve heard a lot lately, “I couldn’t handle what you’re going through”. The truth is you don’t think you can until a life throws you an curveball and then all of the sudden, you’re stronger than you think you were.

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren: This song:

Nikki:

1. Beach towns in the summertime.

2. Kids. I’m NOT having them any time soon but I’m finally at the point where I enjoy playing with other people’s.

3. Working out on vacation. I looooove starting the day with a little lift and a little run.

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: The next week in Montauk and NYC :) Seeing friends, lowering cortisol, and not working.

Lauren: I’m headed to New York next week and I am super excited about it! Mama needs a vacation.

At first, I was like — a fun run with friends? In. But I noticed over the last couple of months, my runs have been faster. And I don’t necessarily feel like I’ve been trying harder. Earlier this week, I ran 5 miles at an 8:00 pace and thought f*ck it. I want to see how fast I can run a 5K.

The last time I ran an official 5K was October 2023 when I had just signed up for a Hyrox with Lauren for the month after and had literally done no running. One of the race organizers had reached out and asked me to create content in exchange for a bib.

I did NOT take it seriously. I got there late, I started with maybe the slowest corral and although I was not a runner much less a fast one, I spent the majority of the race just weaving through people. I didn’t have fast shoes or a cute outfit or — insane to think about — a Garmin watch.

I ended up running it in 29:29 — a 9:30 min/mi pace.

Some Hyroxes, half marathons, and a full marathon later — I feel way more confident running these days than I did 2.5 years ago.

I still got race day jitters. I woke up a couple times throughout the night — why are people still lighting fireworks?! — and woke up with some anxious energy. I put on an outfit, spent some time second-guessing said outfit, walked Kona, texted Jeremy (who was sleeping) “I thought you had bananas!!!”, drank an immunity shot in lieu of banana, made a little coffee in a red solo cup for the road, and called an Uber who wouldn’t pick me up for 10 more minutes.

Not the structured morning of my dreams, but it was all going to be ok.

The Uber dropped me a couple blocks away from Cheeseman Park, where the race was starting, because of road closures but it wasn’t as crazy as I imagined it (Lauren and I have raced to start lines before) and I got there with 20 minutes to spare. I moseyed around by myself a little, met up with friends, and lined up with Josie in our corral.

The goal was a sub-24 5K, which meant just under 8:00 min/mi. My friend Connor was pacing 8:00 so my goal was to not see him the whole race. The energy was bumping — I love race days! — and Diplo got on the mic before popping to the front of the start line.

The start of races are pretty overwhelming. There are a lot of people all in the same place, and I tend to go out pretty hot with all the excitement. There was a good amount of weaving for the first half-mile, but I found a pretty good rhythm early on. I chose no Airpods, but some music would’ve been nice. Because of the lack of Airpods, my phone or watch (not sure which) loudly declared “6:56” after the first mile. Interesting. My plan was to start at 7:45 and gradually try to get closer to 7:30. I get a little nervous that I won’t be able to hang on, but I’m surprisingly feeling really good!

There were a lot less people to dodge in my second mile. There was a water station with some music blasting and some people cheering from their apartments as we ran through the city. I still felt good. “6:54!” Woah. I was going to finish this faster than I thought.

During my third mile, I noticed a guy riding an electric scooter next to a guy running who ended up being Diplo. I paced behind them for part of the mile, two girls in matching blue sets right in front of him (who I would soon realize were Mia and Bailey from Cooldown Running!). I misread my watch, thinking it said 2.8 miles and sped past them. Only .3 miles left?! I can say I beat Diplo!

After I pass, I checked down at my watch again. 2.5 miles. Shoot.

It’s starting to feel hard. As I head back into Cheeseman, we’re finishing with a little hill. It’s also hot. I want it to be over.

I finally see the finish line and hear the announcers talking about Diplo speeding up. No! I try moving my legs faster but they feel heavy and slow. My form feels messy but I hang on for another minute and see Jeremy just as I cross the finish line. Diplo runs through the tape moments after.

I feel great! I exceeded my goal and I remembered how much I love running. It’s been a while — over a year! — since I’ve raced, and it’s cool that Jeremy got to see me do one :)

It was also really fun that the race culminated with some DJ sets! Really felt like it was such a sweet intersection between Jeremy’s music world and my fitness world. I loved running into and catching up with so many different friends in the fitness community that I don’t see as much of these days!

It was truly such a fun morning — if you’re on the fence of signing up for that thing… highly recommend you do it :)

In guud company,

Nikki

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: There have been many good things this week — gaining more confidence in my swimming, being consistent with my training, dinners with besties, long bike rides to the pool, short bike rides to Jazz in the Park, spontaneous comedy shows.

Lauren: Any chance I get to step into a Barry’s class has been a win. I’m so grateful that I get to step into that space and leave all my problems at the door (as best as I can)

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: This whole week has been one of the most difficult of my life. Everything feels uncertain. I haven’t had a home cooked meal since Monday of last week. I’m behind on all my life stuff.

Nikki: Watching your loved ones go through hard times.

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: The thing you think is a big deal is probably not a big deal.

Lauren: I often am reminded, particularly in my harder chapters, that I have the best friends and community a girl could ask for. I feel so loved and supported. I’ll never take that for granted. Community is everything

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

Nikki:

1. Biking with Kona.

   

2. Planning out my week of workouts in advance and blocking it off in my calendar.

3. Watermelon juice. I can’t find the link, but Costco sells these PureGreen watermelon juice bottles and I’m obsessed with them after a long ride.

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: Going to New York on Thursday! I’m excited to see my family, go to the beach, spend time in the city, and take a WHOLE WEEK off of work :)

Lauren: Truly taking life day by day, hour by hour. Focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.

I took off on Friday 6/19 around 4pm and landed the following day in Florence at about 2pm. I took a cab to meet my mom at her apartment in this cute little neighborhood on the other side of the Arno river. My mom was about 2.5 weeks into her, solo, month long stay in the city. I’m so thankful that her apartment had air conditioning and was a little further away from all the hustle and bustle. The second I arrived in Italy, I started to feel giddy. It is as beautiful as I remembered. I have so many incredible memories there with my mom (at 13 years old) and with Ana (at 23 years old). It feels magical and just like you see in the movies. The roads and buildings have so much character. The Italian people are stereo typically Italian it’s like meeting your favorite character as Disney world. All I could think about was the movie Eat Pray Love.

We had the absolute best time. We had incredible meals at Ristorante Cinto, La Giostra, and Osteria del Cinghiale Blanco. The gelato at La Carraia was delicious. We stopped by almost every vintage and non vintage shop we could find. We went in Recollection by Albrici every single day and I bought the cutest black shoes from there. We took a private cooking class at Ristorante La Chicca. The owner and the chef took us to the local market to pick fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables for the dish of our choice. They fed us (a little too much) wine and we laughed our way through that entire cooking lesson. I’m not sure I learned much but it was delicious! It was indeed upwards of 94+ degrees and there were many showers had throughout the day but the aperol spritz breaks made up for it!

After 4 incredible days with my mom in Florence, I took my giant check in suitcase and my full belly to Munich, Germany. I had timed my trip perfectly so I would meet him and his family at the airport and we could drive to Austria together. My flight was delayed 3.5 hours and instead of going with his family to our airbnb he waited in the airport for me for almost 5 hours so that we could travel there together. 🥺

Austria

We headed to Going am Wilden Kaiser, Austria where his cousin Johnny was getting married. The bride, Jessie, was born in that town. She hosted friends and family at her mom’s house that day and we were all so giddy and excited for the weekend. The following days were spent running on the trails, working out at the gym, laying by the pool, raiding the breakfast buffet, and going down the waterslide as many times as we possibly could. Because everyone was staying either at the Stanglewirt or at least near by, we would run into other wedding guests, friends, and family every few steps. It truly felt like adult summer camp.

The welcome party took place on a mountain in Ellmau and included a pre-party hike. While the hike was steeper than expected it was worth it to see the views, hang with the cows, and have the celebratory beer at the only bar I’ve ever been to that you can only access by foot.

Sam and his 6 cousins are like siblings. When the cousins come together, the energy is unmatched. Lucky for us, the cousins' significant others get adopted into this special bond. We laugh until we cry, drink until someone does something embarrassing, and tell each other we love each other at least a dozen times a day. It makes a special moment, like Johnny and Jessie’s wedding, that much more emotional and special.

Jessie arrived to the ceremony in a horse in carriage. She looked like a bride straight out of a Vogue Bridal Campaign. As soon as Johnny saw her at the end of the aisle, hew as in tears (and so were we). They exchanged the kind of vows that make you inspired to love your person even deeper. While we were all sweating in the heat of the Austrian sun at 4pm, Jessie looked unfazed and as beautiful as ever. Jessie was truly one of the most calm and collected brides I had ever been around. The schnitzel at dinner was delicious and the pre-dinner shot of schnapps at our table was the perfect start to our rowdy night. There is an Austrian tradition where both the bride and the groom are kidnapped by their friends and taken to a local pub. The women take the groom and the men take the bride. We eventually come together and return back to the reception for the afterparty.

The next few days were spent recovering from the wedding. More gym time, more breakfast buffet, and more time to swim in the pool. On Tuesday, Sam and I took the train to Salzburg where we explored as much as we could in one day. We toured the Fortress Hohensalzburg, explored the Salzburg Cathedral, pranced around the Mirabell Gardens, before finishing with a cheeseburger and fries at a rooftop restaurant. It was so hot and we were so tired from all the exploring but it was so fun to get to experience a new town with someone you love. Lots of giggles and fun was had and I had the best time exploring with Sammy.

In guud company,

Lauren

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: This was originally going to be my low, but Jeremy got PRP in his heel, achilles, neck, & back. This meant he was pretty immobile this weekend & had to use crutches to keep weight off of his foot. I thought I would hate being forced to be inside & take care of him, but I actually felt like it was a good excuse for a low-key, restful long weekend, which is exactly what I feel I needed after the last couple weeks (months?) of work. I didn’t put too much pressure on myself to do things or to be outside, & it also was ~that time of the month~ so felt pretty low energy anyway. I still got out — ran, biked, swam, & celebrated 4th of July on the water! Hoping Jeremy’s body will feel better as it heals itself :)

Lauren: While I had no official plans for the 4th of July on the 3rd of July, I made a last minute decision to drive up to Vail Friday afternoon. By last minute, I mean by the time I decided I wanted to go, I was packed and in the car an hour later.

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: There’s no way to hide that returning to my normal life after nearly two weeks of incredible travel is easy. In fact, I cried in the airport before I returned. I'm hoping to bring pieces of the European way of life back with me and weave them into my daily routine.

Nikki: My period — I still get crampy & sleepy & puffy, but I feel like I haven’t been feeling my mood swings as much! I’ve been taking 5HTP before bed, especially during the luteal phase, & I think it’s been helping!

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: I hate fireworks. Obviously the wildfire risk, but also the way it disrupts wildlife & our pets. I’ve just never really been a big fan. I did find that giving Kona some dog CBD oil & playing this Youtube music really helped!

Lauren: Exploring and traveling are a crucial part of finding inspiration and fostering personal growth. I found so much value in stepping away from my routine, my home, and my country to be immersed in someone else’s. It felt like my brain finally had time to breathe. I was able to look at my life from a bird’s-eye view and take inventory. I found myself dreaming about the future. I felt inspired and curious for the first time in a very long time. So often, I avoid traveling because I convince myself I can’t—usually because of work. While I don’t plan on taking another two-week vacation anytime soon, I do want to keep exploring, taking breaks, and traveling on a smaller scale throughout the rest of this year.

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren: Spontaneity, aperol spritz’, all things summer.

Nikki:

1. Cape Fear (still) & Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed on Apple TV! So good.

2. corto.alto for a vibey, jazzy vibe. They’re playing at Cervantes on Tuesday if you’re in Denver!

3. Turkey bacon. I’ve been air frying some every morning to eat with my eggs & avo toast & loving it.

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: I feel refreshed after this long weekend! I’m not super excited to get back to work, but it’ll be nice being in routine & I genuinely look forward to my outdoor training :)

Lauren: I’ll be back in my routine for the next few weeks. Counting down the day until my next trip :)

Heart the Lover by Lily King & Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

You’ve probably already heard me talk about Heart the Lover, because it’s my favorite book of the year so far. I love the prose and writing style, I love the way she brings us through love and heartbreak, it was truly just a beautiful book for me.

Yesteryear I had fun reading. I love when you’re thrown into a situation where you have absolutely no idea what’s going on, then it’s revealed over the course of the book. I thought the perspective on the tradwife “trend” was interesting, honestly opened up good conversation on influencers in general.

Most of all, I’m happy I’m reading again!

EATING

Thistle.

I finally fell for the ads and tried a week of Thistle meals. They’re a meal prep company that is mostly plant-based (although they give you the opportunity to add meat, which I opted for) and dairy-free and gluten-free. I appreciated the convenience this week since I was working so much and I genuinely enjoyed the lunches! But the breakfasts didn’t have enough protein (IMO) and I’m more of a savory breakfast girl than a sweet one, so I didn’t love all the smoothies. The dinners were good, but I usually ended up still hungry. I also thought all the meals and snacks had more fat content than I need in a day.

All-in-all, it was convenient for a week with very little free time and for 40% off, but I don’t think I’d pay full price for them!

PLAYING

Wordle.

I’m back. Wordle, Connections, Strands. Contemplating getting a subscription so I can play the mini crossword again (sad that they put that behind the paywall!). It’s so satisfying spending some downtime working on my little puzzles. It’s also fun competing with my mom and Jeremy :)

OBSESSING

Being outside.

In any form — a walk around my neighborhood, a run at Wash Park, a swim at a pool or reservoir, a bike ride, a hike. This is the best time of year and it’s all I want to do. Because of work and just lifestyle, I haven’t been in the mountains as much as previous years which is making me sad but I’m trying to soak up the outdoors in other ways and have some big mountain efforts later this summer!

RECOMMENDING

Learning something new.

I am always a supporter of trying new things. It’s never too late to learn a new skill or fall in love with a new hobby. Whether you try it a couple times and decide it’s not for you but are still proud of yourself for trying, or whether you realize you’re great at it and it changes the trajectory of your life, it’s so rewarding.

I know I’ve been a broken record about this, but learning how to (actually) swim has been such a fun journey. This weekend, I went to Chatfield with some of my friends and we swam out to an island and back — 640M!!! I used a kickboard this time so I wouldn’t freak out about needing to rest halfway through, but I was still so proud of being able to go the whole way when 50M is as far as I’ve ever really swam without stopping.

TREATING

Iced strawberry matchas (with collagen) at Every Little Thing

This is not a new obsession but it’s really kicked into high gear this summer since Every Little Thing opened up in my neighborhood. It’s such a fun treat on a weekend morning or on a late morning/early afternoon walk on a work-from-home day. My favorite part of Every Little Thing is that they use a housemade nut milk and a housemade strawberry puree (versus just a syrup or flavoring).

Separately, they just starting offering gluten-free wraps and it’s truly changing my life.

In guud company,

Nikki

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: Work is my high and low this week. It is so rewarding seeing our project cross the finish line and be used by our employees! AND with such a big change, there have been so many issues — either with employees just needing help with the new system and processes, or with actual problems discovered with the system finally using REAL data. As much as it’s taken over my life this week — both in terms of time and brain capacity — I do like figuring out what the root cause is and coming up with creative solutions! I love a mystery :)

Lauren: The wedding I went to this weekend in Austria is 100% my high. Sam’s cousins, Jessie and Johnny, had the most fairytale wedding I’ve ever been to. We are all staying at this resort called the Stanglwirt. This places has five outdoor pools, a few indoor pools, multiple saunas and cold plunges, the most delicious food, and an INCREDIBLE spa. It has felt like adult summer camp here and I feel so lucky to be included in this incredible experience. Meeting all of Jessie and Johnny’s friends has been so special and I will remember this weekend forever.

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: I haven’t left Europe yet but I am already experiencing the post vacation blues. Not looking forward to going back to work tbh!

Nikki: See my high. Literally have had to log in as early as 6AM this week and log out as late as 10PM. On one hand, no one is dying. On the other hand, it’s important for employees to get paid and get their benefits.

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: Work/life balance is important! I say as I book two trips :)

Lauren: Life is as rich as the people in your life. Being in the room for Johnny and Jessie’s special day and seeing them celebrate this significant moment with the people they love made me incredibly emotional. You could feel the love in the room between everyone, even the people who had just met that weekend.

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren: Breakfast buffets.

Nikki: Cape Fear on Apple TV!

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: I’m finalizing a trip back home in a couple weeks to see my family and friends, spend some time in the city, and go to Montauk!

Lauren: Headed to Salzburg tomorrow to explore and then back to Denver this week!

The one day in 2019 my college roommate (and best friend) called me and suggested I take three weeks off for a European adventure. She had chosen the cities. She had mapped out how we were going to get there. She even sent me 2-3 airbnbs for each location and all I had to do was choose the prettiest one. Off we went to one of the most special experiences of my entire life.

We spent the first few days in Portugal. I immediately lost my phone in the cab ride from the airport to the first airbnb. (I never found it). Thankfully, Ana had an extra work phone that I could use. We went to this gorgeous rooftop bar in Lisbon called Park. Then we took bus town to Lagos (which I didn’t know existed until Ana put it on my radar). It was one of the most beautiful beach towns I had ever seen.

After a few days in Portugal, we flew to Madrid and made our way to Barcelona. These cities felt almost familiar. Barcelona was almost like a cleaner, Spanish New York. We did have a very odd experience at a nightclub in which we were sure these men were trying to take us and perhaps sell us on the black market but thankfully we ran out of that club faster than we could confirm our conspiracy theory. Lots of churros were had. We ate at the fabulous Amazonico (waaaay before they opened a location in Miami).

Did I mention that Ana is actually a professional photographer? Can you imagine traveling all around Europe with a PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER?

We then made our way to Italy. This is where the magic lies. We started in Florence. We had this adorable airbnb. We did a cooking class (with a chef from Idaho lol). We got matching tattoos. We took a day trip to Cinque Terre where we got lost on the way back. I think we ended up taking around 9 trains that day. I remember feeling so grateful to be in that city with my best friend. We laughed until we cried. We dreamed about our future. We ate until our stomachs hurt.

Ana had lived and studied in Rome so she really knew her way around the city, and then some. She showed me Trastevere which was this charming neighborhood on the other side of the river. I kept relating it to the Williamsburg of Rome. We may or may not have hit the pen before we saw the Sistine Chapel (highly recommend). Funny enough she even showed me who David Dobrik was on this trip. I ended up becoming a huge fan and being obsessed with his videos. Each meal just kept getting better and better. On our last day we found this beautiful park. I remember thinking it looked like it went on for miles and miles. It felt really sacred: the park, the cities we had been to, our friendship, the memories we created. It’s an experience I will never forget.

Sometimes I forget how important travel is until I am doing it. I sometimes find it hard to justify. The trip I’m on now is the longest time I’ve taken off of work since covid. I know I’m creating lifelong memories and letting my brain be curious again. This is your sign to book that trip. Nothing in the future is promised and now is the best time explore :)

In guud company,

Lauren

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: Celebrating our anniversary! Jeremy & I went on our first date last March, then made things official in June after a flight back from a cancelled Bonnaroo 🥺 It’s been a really great year & I feel so lucky to be with him!

Lauren: Being here in Italy with my Mom. She has already been here for three weeks and she seems so happy. We’re having the best time together!

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: I know it’s crazy to complain about anything but the travel on the way over here f’ed me up. I couldn’t really fall asleep on the 9.5 hour flight to Frankfurt. The Frankfurt airport was a DISASTER and had no air conditioning. Was able to sleep for about 45 minutes on the short flight to Florence. By the time I landed I was so tired, I could barely do anything. Slowly starting to come back to life.

Nikki: I really hope I can stop talking about work soon, but so many things went wrong on Friday, our last day before our go-live. This week is going to be a lot 🥲 But hopefully smoother sailing after!

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: Just how finite life is. I feel like there have been so many deaths in the news lately & it forces you to put things in perspective on what’s most important.

Lauren: Traveling is worth it, especially with the people you love!

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren: I’m on the long shorts train and I can’t get enough. It seems odd at first but once you find the right shirt it’s nearly perfect for this summer.

Nikki:

1. Widow’s Bay on Apple TV. It’s been a fun watch — scary but also funny.

2. Strawberry matcha with collagen from Every Little Thing.

3. Summer shows! Went to Lettuce at Levitt Pavillon & had a great time.

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: A really busy workweek but some pockets of fun — Big G & Trevor Hall have a Rolling Stone event, have some hikes planned, & just being in routine :)

Lauren: Headed to Austria on Wednesday for Sam’s cousin’s wedding! So excited to spend a week with his family, explore a new country, and celebrate Johnny and Jessie’s love!

As always, thank you for reading our newsletter and being part of our community. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to our email list for guud news delivered straight to your inbox every week :)

5AM — I wake up the way I wake up most mornings — tired. I wash my face, throw some last minute things into my suitcase, make a coffee, then head to Potts Field for World’s Toughest Mile!

6AM — I get to the field & make several trips from my car — I have a megaphone, wristbands, microphones, & a bunch of snacks for volunteers & staff. Most things are already set up from the night before, which already makes this morning so much more manageable than our last one in Austin. Naturally, we’re unwarned that the sprinklers turn on that morning so everything is a little wet. We lay out sponsor bags, shirts, gloves, towels out to dry.

7AM — More vendors & volunteers start to show up! We meet as a big team, review the flow of the day. I’m running athlete check-in so I work with my team (who are luckily my friends Gillian & Abby) to quickly figure out our process.

8AM — Athletes start showing up :) We have a big line, so we check people in, hand them a bib, an ankle tracker, & some gloves. I get to see people in the fitness community I haven’t seen in a while, which always fills my cup!

9AM — First heat goes! There’s almost 100 people signed up for the first “Fun” division. It’s awesome seeing the turnout! There are athletes from all different abilities on the track all at the same time.

10AM — My friends Lauren & Amanda come :) Lauren & I have been debating all week whether we want to do it or not. I don’t text her about it the day before, thinking she might forget. We decide to rip it, for fun. But (not so secretly) I want to beat my boss, Wyatt.

11AM — We race. Amanda crews us the whole time, taking videos & providing comedic relief & grabbing us waters & electrolytes. Burpee broad jumps — hard. Thought walking lunges would be my favorite lap but arguably even harder. Legs are SCREAMING. Bear crawl is surprisingly a nice break. On the run, Wyatt & his partner are 100-200M ahead of us. I swallow my pride (& all the shit-talk I had done earlier that day) & remind myself it’s FOR FUN & we’re almost done!

11:33AM — We’re done in 33 minutes. We don’t beat Wyatt but still get 2nd place :)

1PM — I wait til after awards & then leave for airport. My flgith’s at 2:45PM. I’m cutting it close :) Airport is 42 miles & 45 min away. Gas tank has 40 miles left. Oops :)

1:30PM — Gas tank is now down to 5 miles & I’m still 16 miles away from the airport. My luck. No gas stations less than a 10 minute detour. I call Jeremy who is already in Tennessee. He’s stressed. “This is why I have an electric car” he says.

1:37PM — I pull off & get to a gas station. My ETA is miraculously still 1:45. Boo ya. Anxiety lessens.

1:49PM — I make it to airport!!! Jeremy calls — he’s checked the TSA line & it’s 2-6 minutes. Big exhale.

2:10PM — I make it to gate while they’re still deplaning. “I could’ve left even later!” I say to my friends. “This is good but also bad since it reinforces this behavior” says my friend who is late to 99% of plans.

3:00PM — The idea was to sleep on the plane to have more energy for the night, but I can’t fall asleep. I start reading my book, Heart the Lover. Favorite book I’ve read in a while.

6:30PM — I land in Nashville! Standing up, I realize how sore I am. I ask Jeremy for the address of the hotel. He doesn’t give it to me because — surprise! — he’s picking me up from the airport :)

7:30PM — We get to the hotel & he leaves again to pick up food for us & I shower off the grime from the day. I put on an outfit, throw on some makeup, & toss my hair into a ponytail (that has curled & doubled in size with the humidity). I’m ready!

8PM — We eat Chipotle in the lobby & then hop in a van (“artist transport” to get to Bonnaroo. We’re with Ian, Jeremy’s cousin, Liv, Ian’s girlfriend, Dustin, who does video for Big G, & Dustin’s friend.

9:30PM — We make it to the festival in time to catch some of The Neighbourhood & then pop over to Teddy Swims! It starts raining during his set, we duck for cover under a tent in an Artist Lounge. Jeremy’s friend meets us, who gives us wristbands for Front of House at the main stage, then we follow him to the C3 Compound. C3 is a management company that also partners with Bonnaroo to put on the festival. We meet more people. Then we head to watch Rufus du Sol.

11PM — Rufus. is. magical. Their music, their set, their videography. I am never not impressed. I love every song.

12:30AM — We walk over to the Other Stage, where Jeremy will be playing the next day. Chase and Status is performing. We then tour through the village, grabbing pizza slices & corn dogs & mac & cheese & funnel cake. I can’t eat any of it but I enjoy it vicariously through them. We catch a couple minutes of Weird Al Yankovic. Dustin makes a comment about Oliver Tree being the next Weird Al, not in his music but in his kookiness. We roll into another van to take us back to the hotel.

2AM — We make it back to the hotel!

SUNDAY

8AM — Jeremy wakes up for sound check. I squint my eyes open to say good morning & good bye & fall back asleep.

12:30PM — I wake up for real. This is the latest I’ve woken up in a very very long time. I have so many texts, including ones from Jeremy & Ian about morning plans that I’ve totally missed. I get a text about Oliver Tree’s passing. He’s the same age as me. Jeremy calls. “Is it a bit?” It’s not. When he gets back from soundcheck, we order First Watch & Starbucks to the hotel.

2PM — We ride back to the festival with Ian, Liv, Dom (Jeremy’s partner in Big G), & Ben (their tour manager). By the time we get to the grounds, it is POURING rain. Some of the little roads have turned into rivers. They announce that they’re temporarily shutting everything down. We run into the green room (trailer) & stay dry for a little bit.

4PM — The show’s back on! They pushed the performances by an hour, so Big G is now on at 6:30. We go to the catering tent & the food is so good. We make it back for part of San Holo’s set.

6PM — Time for them to go on! I finally am starting to feel more comfortable at these things & have some understanding of what’s going on, where I’m allowed to stand & watch from, & who the people are.

I talk to their agent Mary about her fostered dogs — two puppies that are the replicas of her own two dogs! — & she shows me a photo of them looking at the puppies: “It’s like they’re looking at their younger selves” 🥺 I get goosebumps. I show a photo of Kona kissing my friend’s cat, who’s babysitting her. We talk about Oliver Tree. “I was so curious how he was going to change the industry by speaking out against his record label.” I also bring up Rufus. “& their cameraman??” She smiles “Camerawoman.” My jaw drops. Of course.

Their set is amazing. There’s pyro & flames & drops & sax & a drum solo (my personal fav).

7:30PM — When they are done, we stand behind the stage & a magician comes up to us. He twists a fork into a flower, comments the name of my first kiss on Big G’s instagram page, & creates wifi networks named after the word in Jeremy’s head. My mind is blown.

9PM — We go see Modest Mouse. I realize I only know Float On, but it’s fun watching them rock out.

10:30PM — We see Noah Kahan. Stick Season was the soundtrack through one of the toughest & most transformative seasons of my life. It will always mean so much to me. I forced my friends to listen to the album over & over on long road trips. One of the first times I felt like I knew the words to every song on an album. It culminated with a friend having an extra ticket to see him at Dillon Ampitheater, which made my entire summer despite getting home at 2AM & having to teach a 6AM class that same morning. Halfway through his set he traveled down to just behind Front of House, where he played Orbital & I reflected on how much my life has changed since his last album came out, since I saw him that first time. It was the perfect end to an amazing weekend.

In guud company,

Nikki

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: This entire weekend. Getting to see people compete at World’s Toughest Mile, then getting to actually do it for the first time! It was tough (of course) but so fun. Love surprising myself with being able to do the thing, even when I don’t feel as fit as I used to be. Then the energy of Bonnaroo & getting to see some of my favorite artists — Rufus & Noah & Big G :)

I feel really lucky to get to live this life.

Lauren: I actually had so much (Type 2) fun doing the World’s Toughest Mile with Nikki. I walked away feeling so grateful for our friendship and lucky that we both get to jump into crazy things like this.

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: I worked on Sunday so I only had one weekend day. 6 days is no joke!! 😳

Nikki: The stress leading up to the weekend was less fun!

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: Still thinking about Oliver Tree. Life is so short & so precious.

Lauren: Plant the seeds now. You’ll harvest the goods later.

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren: Laying out by the pool! Being tan! Being outside! I love summer!

Nikki:

1. Cargo pants. This Free People camo-y pair (that I can’t find online) & this black pair.

2. These Rendezvous sunglasses: #1 & #2.

3. My festival boots. They were perfect for stomping around in mud.

4. Orbiter by Noah Kahan

5. Heart the Lover by Lily King

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: Work will be crazy this week prepping for go-live! Looking forward to getting in some walks, runs, yoga, & swims. My mental health thrives with routine & movement.

Lauren: I’m headed to Europe on Friday for 12 days!! I’ve gotten so many outfits and I can’t wait to put it all together!

This season, Amanda found herself in the middle of a scandal after publicly confirming a relationship with Ciara's ex, West, shortly after separating from her husband of 10 years, Kyle. To make matters even messier, Kyle and West were also close friends. (Typical reality TV).

Now I’ve been obsessed with this scandal, like the rest of the Bravo community, but unfortunately I’ve also been the Ciara in the situation. My circumstances weren’t exactly the same. I wasn’t as close with my Amanda as Ciara was and my West wasn’t an ex fling — we had been living together.

While I don't care to rehash every painful detail of what it's like to watch a friend start dating your ex just two weeks after moving out of the home you shared, I am interested in the growth that came from it and the lessons I learned along the way.

The first lesson I learned from this experience was you can’t force people to stay in your life. If they leave, it’s for a reason. I spent so much time feeling angry about how everything unfolded that I almost forgot how relieved I felt when I first moved out. Looking back, that relief should have told me everything I needed to know. The right relationships—whether they’re friendships, romantic relationships, or anything in between—don’t require you to constantly convince, chase, or hold on. On top of losing a relationship and an idea of a future, I lost a whole community of people who chose their side. Sometimes letting go is less about losing something and more about making space for something better ahead.

The second lesson I learned from this experience was that people don’t magically change because they are with someone new. All their behavioral patterns, selfish tendencies, and lack of consideration will remain and that is no longer my problem. For some time I felt envy that the next person would somehow get a completely different version of the person I knew. But the truth is we all carry our habits, shortcomings, and patterns with us until we decide to work on them.

The third lesson I learned was social media is a facade. It was easy to look at what everyone was posting and assume it was real. I was guilty of it too. There were times when I looked happy online while I was quietly struggling behind the scenes. We aren’t sharing our intimate hardships on socials and there’s always something more going on behind closed doors.

The fourth lesson I learned was that what was waiting for me was better than I could’ve ever imagined. I’ve been reminded this countless times in my life. Life had a way of unfolding in ways I never could have planned. It can be scary when the future isn’t clear, but I have found so much reward on the other side of uncertainty. Life has a funny way of surprising you.

Ultimately, this experience turned out to be a gift. I could have easily stayed in the same relationship cycle I was in before—shrinking myself, ignoring the parts of me that knew I wanted something different, and accepting the bare minimum effort.

While I’ve mostly moved on from the situation, it’s an experience that changed me forever and one I’ll never forget. I do believe in karma, and more than anything, I believe that we end up exactly where we’re meant to be.

In guud company,

Lauren

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: I had such a relaxing weekend which I needed considering how crazy this week & weekend will be.

Saturday was a dream — Jeremy & I biked down to Lifetime from his house & I did my second swim session. I’m so proud of myself since it is such a process with the cap & the ear plugs & the getting wet, on top of having no idea what I’m doing. It’s really just going to take continuously showing up, so I’m looking forward to being more consistent & seeing progress! We also went to dinner with his sister & her boyfriend & Lauren which is always such a treat :)

Lauren: I had a lot of alone time this weekend which was simultaneously kind of scary and relaxing. Getting TWO slow mornings to myself felt like vacation.

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: I am in a phase in my life where I feel a bit overwhelmed and like I can’t catch up. I can’t seem to start the week feeling ready. I know vacation is coming soon and that’s what’s helping me push through these next couple of weeks. Although also trying to breeze through two weeks of the beautiful mundane. I want to stay present and learn to appreciate every single day.

Nikki: Although it’s definitely been getting better (mood-wise especially), this time of the month isn’t fun. I’m in pain, my body feels foreign, I’m a little spicier at work, all the things.

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: I was talking to a friend (& old coworker) last week who helped remind me that the corporate world has its perks & is actually fulfilling when you’re both challenged & know your shit. Tangentially, my big project at work goes live in TWO WEEKS exactly! We just finished integrations testing on Friday, which was the bane of my existence the last 3 months.

Lauren: The lesson for me this week was being in my routine makes me feel the best.

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren: I decided to lock in for 7 days with my food and exercise and unfortunately I feel incredible. My goal until my Europe trip on June 19th is to make all my meals at home and focus on whole foods, re-prioritize exercise, and not drinking :) After a week of this routine I found myself preferring to eat at home than to eat out. I feel like it rewired my brain.

Nikki:

1. Finished Yesteryear! I’m not crazy about how it ended but I still thought it was a fun read.

2. Watched Pulp Fiction for the first time. Amazing.

3. Being tan. I love summer & I want to spend every second possible outside.

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: World’s Toughest Mile & Bonnaroo next weekend!!!

Lauren: World’s Toughest Mile & the countdown to my Euro Summer!

I met Lauren at a friend’s yoga class a little over three years ago at the Origin Hotel Red Rocks. I had just come back from a transformational two weeks in Australia. She had just moved cross-country to Denver. We went to brunch afterwards with our mutual friends and immediately connected.

We bonded over both moving from New York City and being in relationships with guys in the fitness world.

Somehow, we had never met in New York, even though the years we lived there overlapped. She was in the East Village, I bopped from Hell’s Kitchen to Greenwich to Little Italy. We were both tangentially part of the New York fitness scene.

Our boyfriends (now exes) weren’t necessarily friends but had mutual friends so we’d run into each other at events or friend’s houses before Lauren moved. We learned quickly that we were both more than girlfriends, we were employees – assistants and cameramen and podcast editors and chefs and errand runners. We had a shared history of dropping everything for them. We were known by association instead of our own names.

Even though we went through our breakups a year apart from each other, there was a similar experience of having to rebuild from the ground up. And a shared support.

If you know Lauren and I, you probably know that we are actually very different. She’s super outgoing and loves to perform, I’m more introverted and not always one to be the center of attention. She’s decisive and assertive and says-it-like-it-is, I’m way less decisive and way more people-pleasey. She’s very open with her feelings and has her heart on her sleeve, I’m a little more private with my emotions and like handling things alone. She can be more black and white with the way she sees things, I tend to ride the gray.

And yes, our differences mean we don’t always align. But it also is hands-down one of my favorite things about our friendship. We complement each other. She teaches me to be louder and take up more space. I teach her to soften and slow down sometimes. She pushes me to stop overthinking. I remind her that not everything has to be solved immediately.

I think a lot of female friendships can become about sameness — same personalities, same opinions, same lifestyles, same way of navigating the world. But one of the most beautiful parts of our friendship is that we’ve never tried to make the other person more like ourselves.

We’ve just tried to understand each other better.

You know what’s funny? I’ve probably fought with Lauren more than any friend I’ve ever had.

Historically, I’ve been pretty avoidant in relationships. I tend to either shut down, get angry, distance myself, or quietly write people off when something hurts me. It’s always felt easier to leave than to repair.

But Lauren and I repair.

We have hard conversations. We misunderstand each other. We trigger each other. \But we come back. We talk through it. We try to understand where the other person is coming from. We give each other space to be human.

And I think that’s part of why our friendship is so strong.

Not because we never disappoint each other or get things wrong, but because we’ve built trust in our ability to come back to each other afterwards.

There’s something really special about having a friendship that not only supports who you currently are, but also challenges you to grow into a better version of yourself.

Lauren has been one of the greatest gifts of my adult life.

When I think back to the version of Lauren I met three years ago versus who she is now, I just feel really proud.

I think both of us spent a lot of our twenties shaping our lives around other people — their schedules, careers, emotions, needs. Making ourselves helpful, flexible, easy.

But when I think of Lauren now, I genuinely cannot imagine her ever living her life for someone else again. I can’t imagine her making herself smaller or giving up the things that make her who she is just to make a relationship work.

Tonight, we sat at Hillstone with two really great men who love us for exactly who we are, not for how much we can sacrifice for them. It feels very full-circle.

I think that’s what’s been so special about our friendship. We’ve watched each other become more ourselves over time, not less.

In guud company,

Nikki

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: Lauren’s birthday!!!! It’s been so fun getting to celebrate her this weekend.

Lauren: BEST BIRTHDAY WEEKEND EVER!! I have the best friends who made me feel so loved and celebrated. I am truly in awe and feel so lucky.

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: A friend and old co worker passed away this week. It has been really hard for us to process. It was absolutely heart breaking. It changes the way you look at life. Thinking of him & his family 🫶🏼🕊

Nikki: Work will be my low for at least the next month :) But I am grateful for my job & my team & low key as much as I complain about it, I love how fast things move at this phase of the project right before going live! It’s exciting — there are always problems to solve!

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: I don’t always do a great job of it, but I get so much from pouring into my relationships. Spending time with my people, calling my parents & long-distance friends, going the extra mile to make someone I love feel special. It’s so easy to get so caught up in our own lives & stressors & routine but it really is so important!

Lauren: Expressing gratitude and taking inventory of all the good in my life is a perfect recipe for happiness and fulfillment. Your life is beautiful you just have to pay attention to it.

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren: I always love my friends, but this weekend has me feeling extra sentimental. After losing some friends in a breakup that rocked my world, I never thought I’d find myself surrounded by people who feel so right for me. Life has a way of putting you exactly where you’re supposed to be when you’re supposed to be there.

Nikki:

1. My new beginner road bike 🥹 I’ve been using an REI Hybrid bike I bought years ago but since I’m starting to train for my first sprint triathlon, it was time to upgrade! Jeremy found a 2020 Liv Avail on FB Marketplace for me (& negotiated the price down hehe) & we picked it up today. Riding it to dinner tonight for the first time!

   

2. She Goes to the Gym blush by Patrick Ta. Feels on brand & Lauren’s turned me into a blush girl!

3. Nespresso! Jeremy doesn’t drink coffee (beige flag) but bought a Nespresso machine for his house (green flag) & I’m enjoying it so far :) One of my toxic traits is being such a big Starbucks girl (I’m a creature of habit!) but I’m trying to kick the addiction & make my own coffee! The first milk/creamer I’ve gotten is this Forager Cinnamon Vanilla & I like it so far but open to suggestions!

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: I have little things I’m excited for — some dinners, some runs, some yoga classes. Anything to keep me sane over the next couple of weeks :)

Lauren: Headed out to Europe end of June! Lots of work until then 🫠

Here are 30 things I’ve learned in the last 30 years:

1. I am responsible for my own life and the way I move through the world. Taking accountability for my own life is essential to growth.

2. I can’t mess up anything that’s meant for me. Holding on to things and people too tightly is a waste of my energy. I truly believe that what’s meant to stay will stay.

3. It’s important to put time and effort into my relationships because they are VERY important!

4. Gratitude is a really easy way to re-center myself and put things into perspective.

5. As boring and monotonous and tiring it can be, prioritizing my exercise routine and eating healthy makes everything else in life easier.

6. Under no circumstances is betraying myself worth it.

7. I am not defined by my physical abilities, my appearance, my job, or my relationship.

8. Relationships go through hard moments but the whole relationship shouldn’t feel hard.

9. I wasn’t asking for too much; I was asking the wrong person.

10. If I believe I have low self-worth, so will everyone around me. If I think highly of myself, so will others.

11. In order for me to have strong workouts, I need to be properly fueled.

12. Sleep is everything and prioritizing it will make my days waaay more manageable.

13. Having haters who spend time talking about me for no reason means I’m doing something right.

14. Authenticity is everything. I feel way more confident marching to the beat of my own drum.

15. I’ve learned to appreciate my parents and how much they’ve sacrificed for me. I try to reach out to them as much as I can.

16. When I’m flustered or irritated or in a rush I can have a harsh tone. I have to be mindful of that.

17. Try to get into nature as much as possible.

18. If I believe I can, I will. If I believe I can’t, I won’t.

19. Life is constantly changing. Things are going well? They will change. Things are not going so well? They will change.

20. Sometimes the worst things that happen to me lead me to the best things that happen to me.

21. It’s important to maintain my moral compass. I want to do the right thing to the best of my ability.

22. Waiting for the shoe to drop is often worse than the shoe actually dropping.

23. Be wary of how people talk about and treat their friends. If they spill their friends’ secrets to you, they will do the same to you.

24. There is no arrival. The pursuit is the important part. Pursue hard.

25. I can have anything I want in this life but I am the one who has to make it happen.

26. I know forgiveness is the way. (I’m still working on this one.)

27. In order to build trust with myself, I have to do the things I said I was going to do.

28. Rest, recovery, and recharging are essential to growth, success, and grinding.

29. Do it scared.

30. Life has and will continue to surprise me. I have yet to experience some of the best moments of my life.

In guud company,

Lauren

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: Sam’s event! A day out on & in the water! Hikes & bikes! Sooo much quality friend time! Feeling so grateful <3

Lauren: Sam’s event was so successful! I am so proud of watching him to put this whole event together knowing how scary that can be. He hasn’t had the easiest go of life but he doesn’t let himself be a victim in his own life. We had an incredible night and celebration with our friends and family.

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: I’ve really let myself go recently and I’m eating and drinking everything under the sun. Although they have been some good times, I am not feeling my best. I have some summer trips planned and it’s time to lock back in!

Nikki: I was dealing with a little cold all week :( I was bummed since my fitness & routine felt sooo good last week. But it was a reminder to rest & how appreciative I am of my body!

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: I’ve been doing a better job of advocating for my needs & setting boundaries — in work & in relationships. I’m proud of how I show up & confident in what I bring to the table. I’ve come such a long way 🥲

Lauren: Hangovers are rarely worth it. (This weekend’s was but remember that next time).

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren: I’m obsessed with online shopping and Nuuly. SOMEONE HELP.

Nikki:

1. Strangers by Belle Burden

2. This salad I’ve been making. It’s so easy — I just cut up a big heirloom tomato & a cucumber, then add a can of chickpeas. I throw a little balsamic glaze, basil, & flake salt on top :)

   

3. Rotisserie chickens. I get the chicken ick every couple months, but WOW does it make protein so easy. This week, I used the leftover chicken to prep some chicken salad — just added a little mayo & celery!

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: Celebrating Lauren’s birthday!!!!!

Lauren: Turning 30! European summer trip!

We don’t live together, but we see each other a good amount, usually sleeping over at one place or the other 3–5 nights a week. And naturally, our routines have blended a bit.

The issue? They’re very different.

We live different lives. I’m a corporate girly with a 9-5, training a client early every morning, and side-hustling for a fitness startup. My days are structured, packed, and routine-heavy.

He’s a musician in a band that tours for parts of the year, while also building his own business. His schedule is way less predictable, a lot more flexible, and just completely different from mine.

During the week, I wake up anywhere from 5-6AM. He wakes up closer to 9-10AM.

He loves eating out. I love cooking my meals.

He loves going to shows and watching movies. I love spending every possible second outside.

When I’m alone, I’m in bed by 9PM. When we’re together, it turns to 10:30PM.

It’s nothing crazy, but it makes a difference.

The week on my own, I was going to bed earlier. Waking up more rested. Working out every day, sometimes twice a day. Seeing friends without overbooking myself. Feeling more focused and energized at work. I even had the time to clean out my entire closet.

Overall, I just felt… good.

For the record, I love my relationship. I love spending time together. I love trying new things with him. He makes everything more fun.

But I also think it’s really normal (and sometimes confusing) to love your partner and love your alone time. Especially when your lives don’t naturally run on the same schedule.

Like, I am so excited to see him AND I also love a night to myself.
I miss him AND I don’t want to go on every trip he goes on.
I want to build a life with him AND I also want to keep my independence.

This week felt like a reset. A reminder of what makes me feel my best.

And a reminder that loving someone and loving your alone time are not in conflict.

If anything, they probably make each other better :)

In guud company,

Nikki

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: I had a slow weekend with very few concrete plans that flowed so beautifully. There were runs and friends and dinners and malls and juices and spontaneous run-ins and many, many Kona walks. It felt so nice.

Lauren: I had an incredible easy weekend as well! Easy plans… mall with Nikki, lunch with the girls, and an early Saturday night. Ended on a high running the Colfax Urban 10 Miler! I want to say it was fun but the truth is I was trying hard (and it was SO HOT). I felt like I was in the pain cave for most of it. Still glad I did it!

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: Looks like my low stays the same! I don’t get the best good quality sleep during the week. Not because I don’t go to bed early I do. But I work late most nights and have to scramble to get myself ready for the next morn which usually starts at 5am. I know it’s the job I picked….. but I am manifesting later mornings in my future!

Nikki: Work feels like it’ll be my low for the foreseeable future. I actually find my job interesting — my days fly by because I’m so busy and I love that. I’m constantly problem-solving and being creative figuring out solutions. But wow the politics and the pressure that is instilled into every meeting, email, ping from my boss is… not ideal.

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: Really the whole newsletter this week! I love my alone time and my routine and prioritizing it makes me feel good and show up better in my relationship <3

Lauren: Whether we like it or not… life changes quickly. In a rut? Life will change. Feeling on top of the world? Life will change. Not sure about your future? Life will change. Sure about your future? Life will change. I’m growing at my job, Sam and I are doing really well, and I have a ton of fun things to look forward to this summer!

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren: Doing the girl things! As my 30th birthday (and a trip to Europe) approaches, I’m leaning into all the girly things that I’m not used to. I’m learning more about make up, I’m really paying way more attention to my outfits, I’m booking hair and nail appointments. Even though I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing and have always felt behind on this stuff, it’s actually so fun being a girl.

Nikki: Lauren & I went to the mall & she picked out this Zara top for me (that she already has) & I love it. Wore it tonight to dinner and got so many compliments :)

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: I’m excited for Sam’s event this weekend! It’s his second annual Shining a Light benefitting the International Bipolar Foundation. Register here to come :)

Lauren: Sam’s event this weekend! My birthday after that! Then headed to Europe! It’ll be the longest vacation I’ve taken in the past three years.

Morning Routine

Most days typically start at 5am or 6am. Not because I want them to but because I have work early in the morning. Previously if I had to be at work at 6am, I used to wake up at 5:20. I would rush out of bed and fly out the door. I thought the extra 20 minutes of sleep was what I needed but it the truth is the morning always felt stressful. Now my alarm is set for 5am. I snooze once (sometimes twice) and try to get out of bed by 5:15.

First thing I consume, is hot lemon water. It’s my favorite ritual I have added in my routine this year. It’s so comforting. Next, I have a cup of warm bone broth. This might not do anything for me but it feels like the best way to break my fast. Next, I’ll have my Amylu chicken sausages. 22g of protein to start the day! If I have more than just a few clients, I’ll include oatmeal. I wait at least an hour from my alarm to have my first sip of black coffee. They say you’re supposed to wait 90 minutes but I feel like it’s unfair to my clients to show up sans caffeine.

Lately, I’ve been more focused on putting together an outfit and putting on a little bit of makeup. By makeup, I mean eyebrow gel, blush, & a little concealer. It makes me feel more put together which in turn makes me feel more confident.

Workout Routine

There was a minute there where I really struggled here. After a full year of intense structure and the pressure I put on myself to be super fit, I couldn’t find the joy in movement anymore. I still forced myself to do things that didn’t feel right because I was nervous about losing my fitness, even though my body needed a break. I wish I would’ve leaned into that break a little more.

Now, I feel so good getting to choose what I want to do for workouts. I signed up for a couple races for fun, which inspired me to run more, and I’m finally enjoying running again. I try to do a 5-mile run, a longer run, and a Barry’s class each week — anything else is a bonus.

I’ve been going to Elevate Trail Run Club on Wednesdays at 6am. Even though the 5am alarm on the only day I can sleep in is brutal, I’ve never regretted going. The whole day I am buzzing after running in the mountains. I’ve been buying classes at Traverse to force myself to get in the gym on my busiest days. I gave up the story that I had to work out alone just because I’m a trainer. I actually enjoy the group energy and having a set start and end time.

I’ve also been adding Solidcore into my routine, and if I don’t make it there, Sam usually brings me to hot yoga on Sundays. I’m the most active I’ve been in a while, but now I just look for ways to move my body every day. Prioritizing exercise again has been soooo helpful for my mood.

Food/Alcohol

I know deep in my soul, that cooking at home always makes me feel better. I really don’t love it because I have so little time. It can feel tedious. I make it simple for myself. I meal prep some quinoa and a meat. These days it’s ground turkey with some coconut aminos. It’s easy and I don’t crash after I have it for lunch. Dinner is usually a meat like a steak or ground beef, and a carb like rice, sweet potato, or Jesse & Bens french fries. I prioritize simplicity over creativity. I don’t crave sweets but I love a post dinner sparkling water. I keep the fruits and veggies simple but I like to grab a zucchini, some green beans, a few red bell peppers for midday snacking, blueberries, and bananas for weekend pancakes. As for alcohol, I try to keep it intentional. So I never drink during the week under any circumstances. If I’m just at dinner on the weekend, I’ll rarely order a beverage. It’s usually a big girls night, a planned happy hour with friends I’m looking to catch up with, or a celebration that I choose to indulge. I feel good about going somewhere without drinking if I don’t feel like it. I never let a situation or anyone pressure me into a cocktail I didn’t want!

Supplement/Appointments

I am not too invested in supplements. The only supplements in my current rotation is Magnesium, a probiotic, and electrolytes. I never get facials, massages, or botox. Not because I don’t want to but because I am Type B. I get a pedicure every 6-8 weeks when I feel like I need one.

Mindfulness

I have been trying to prioritize being outside over working out indoors. I have a therapist that I see once every 2-3 weeks which is incredible. I am also prioritizing my social life these days as much as I can. I am exhausted which usually makes me want to stay inside and not do anything but I know how healing and important having a social life is.

Wellness can get complicated. It’s easy to get wrapped up in what everyone else is doing. I pick a few things that I prioritize heavily and keep everything else simple. Sometimes, less is more.

In guud company,

Lauren

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GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: I’ve had such a fun weekend — a dinner & spontaneous night out, a birthday party for Jeremy’s baby cousin, a full night of sleep!!! (& hoping for another tonight), a much-needed closet clean out, a run, a farmer’s market matcha with Lauren, & multiple FaceTimes with my family :) It’s felt so nice to just have a full weekend in Denver.

Lauren: I had a great weekend of friends, celebrations, and laughs. I had a girls night, an engagement party, a fun Barry’s class, and a farmers market moment with Nikki! Overall, it was a busy weekend but so much fun!

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten a full night of good quality sleep. I am hanging on for dear life! Hoping I am a little bit better about it this week.

Nikki: Work has been so stressful. It’s long days of meetings & spreadsheets & panicked “we only have 4 more weeks” reminders on every call. It was already hard balancing everything else but has felt even harder lately. I know it’s temporary & I’m grateful that the people around me have been so understanding of not seeing me as much or needing more time at home.

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: Taking a break doesn’t derail all progress! I had a couple “bad” runs or workouts early last week & was down on myself… then I got my period the next day. I ended up going to the gym in the morning & all I felt up for was walking on the treadmill (which felt hard???). I took it easy the rest of the week — a little yoga, a little upper body, some walks. Then today, I ran faster than I have in a while!

Lauren: Other people’s opinions of me are not my responsibility. Having a hater or two is proof you’re making waves.

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren: The pancakes I make every single weekend!

Nikki:

1. Is it 2018? Because I’m once again obsessed with Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi. It hurts my tummy 9/10 times but I still love it.

2. Funny AF — Kevin Hart’s Netflix show that’s essentially the American Idol of comedians. It was also cool since I had seen like 5 of the comedians before at Comedy Cellar or Comedy Mothership or Red Rocks (Andrea opened for John Mulaney!)

3. Also, my new Henckels pans Jeremy got me since I destroyed my last set of nonsticks 🥺

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: I was cat-sitting for my client’s last week & although their house is gorgeous, I am so happy to be in my home this week & not having to coax the cats out from under the bed every morning & night <3

Lauren: Colfax 10 miler this Sunday! Sam’s event for the International Bipolar Foundation on May 23rd! Click here to register. MY 30TH BIRTHDAY.

As always, thank you for reading our newsletter and being part of our community. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to our email list for guud news delivered straight to your inbox every week :)

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READING

Famesick by Lena Dunham

After years of watching the first couple seasons and a random episode here and there, I watched Girls in its entirety two years ago and really fell in love with Lena’s storytelling. I love how raw, honest, and not glamorous it is, letting you as a viewer deeply feel the cringe as well as connect with some of the thoughts you may have had but never verbally expressed. This memoir was a deep dive into Lena’s psyche, from starting Girls at 23 through now. Similar to the series, there were times were I related to her, times where I thought she was annoying (lol), times when I rooted for her, and times where I felt her devastation through the words. I do recommend, especially if you’re a fan of the show!

Next up: Strangers by Belle Burden

EATING

Steak

I love the grill & I highly recommend learning how to use it — especially if you’re a girl! Don’t let not having a man in your life stop you from having a steak.

PLAYING

Climbing

Whether a little scramble on a hike or a full-on via ferrata, I’ve loved incorporating some more rocks into my life now that it’s getting warmer :) I truly feel like I’m in such a state of play whenever I’m climbing & we all need more play in our lives!

OBSESSING

Biking

I’m LOVING an evening bike ride. Of course, once I get decently average at something (running), I’m moving onto the next thing (triathlon). I like to stay humbled, lol.

Alsooo, I’m looking for a road or tri bike so if you know someone selling the smallest possible adult bike (XXS or 46), let me know!!!

RECOMMENDING

A consistent fitness routine.

I get that we have unpredictable schedules & it’s great just to be able to fit something in. But since joining Lifetime last fall, I feel like I’ve been in a real routine with lifting for the first time since moving to Cherry Creek three years ago. There are few things that give me as much joy as a good morning lift (although I wish they were a liiiittle less early!) — they really help me take on the rest of my day & keep my evenings open for spontaneous plans or a bike ride or a run or (unfortunately) more work. I totally get that Lifetime is a little boug but they have all the equipment I want, it’s 5-min away from my apartment, & have a pool & sauna! If you do end up checking it out, here’s my referral code :)

It doesn’t even have to be strength training though (although I definitely think everyone can benefit!) — whether it’s your pilates class or a mat at home or runs outside, whatever brings you joy & keeps your body moving will change your life.

TREATING

Sweet Izzy

First ice cream of the season!!! I’m a broken record on Sweet Izzy, but in case you’re new here it’s a dairy-free, gluten-free ice cream shop in Cherry Creek (& Cape Cod)! My order is soft-serve vanilla with layered magic shell & strawberries. If that alone didn’t sell it, Jeremy & I brought Nick (Illenium) & his wife Lara there & they approved :)

In guud company,

Nikki

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: Red Rocks with my bestie :) With our schedules & work & dogs & life, I’m lucky if I get to see Amanda once a month, but every time it feels like no time has passed! We met almost 9 years ago (!!!), she was my first Denver friend (she actually was one of the inspirations of me moving out here!), & we always have so much fun. I’m so grateful we live in the same state again!

Lauren: Having Dad in town was such a treat!!!!! He took my Barry’s class. We tried Traverse Highlands. We ate at Leven Deli, Barcelona Wine Bar, Hampton Social, and the Cherry Cricket. We got to watch the Supercross race and it was so cool. My dad raced motocross for 10 years and still keeps up on all the races. He was so excited to be there and it the most wholesome moment to watch 🥺 We did a Green Mountain hike before his flight. (He really wanted to see the mountains). He got to see the Thunder Valley track and he LIT UP. Such an incredible weekend.

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: When my Dad left I got a little emotional. It’s hard living so far from family especially as we both get older. I called my mom and shed some tears. Luckily, I’ll get to see my Mom in a couple weeks when she visits. I ended up having to work pretty much all Sunday which was no fun /:

Nikki: WORK.

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: A reminder from The Four Agreements that has really helped me in all my relationships over the years (& feels relevant this week for one of my loved one’s relationships) —

1. Be impeccable with your word
   Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean, and avoid using words to harm yourself or others.

2. Don’t take anything personally
   What others say and do is a reflection of their own reality, not yours. Taking things personally often leads to unnecessary hurt.

3. Don’t make assumptions
   Find the courage to ask questions and express what you really want. Assumptions create misunderstandings and drama.

4. Always do your best
   Your “best” will vary depending on circumstances, but if you consistently try your best, you avoid regret and self-judgment.

Lauren: I try to remind myself that life changes often. I’m in a really busy season of life right now and I’m finding it hard to keep up. Everything ebs and flows. It won’t stay like this forever and things are always changing.

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren: Solo nights in on Fridays. It feels like a little date night with myself. Saturdays I’ve been loving staying in and hanging with Sam. We’ll watch documentaries and get snacks. Asleep by 10 :)

Nikki: 2-hour facetime calls with my parents on a quiet evening. They keep me company on my walk, we eat our dinners together, it’s one of my favorite ways to end the day :)

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: May is going to be a great month!!! I’m ready for summer & allllll the hours outside ☀️

Lauren: SO MUCH STUFF IN MAY. Gearing up for a big family weekend with Sam’s family for his cousin’s engagement party. Then running the Colfax 10 miler. Then have Sam’s event and my mom visiting! Then it’s my 30th birthday! (Still don’t know what I’m doing for that please send recs lol)

In guud company,

Lauren

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GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: My week has been full of so many good things:

1. Corporate Connection Week at work. Although there have been long days and evening events, it’s so nice getting to see people IRL that I Zoom (well, Teams) with every day.

2. A double date dinner this week with a couple I’m now obsessed with. You know when you’ve only met a couple briefly & you don’t know how cool they’ll be, but you end up having a really great night & want to immediately plan another hang?

3. Using my bike! I have a basic bike but I rarely use it & the tires have been flat for 2 years. Jeremy’s been dealing with pretty painful plantar fasciitis the last couple of months, so we haven’t been able to do many walks together (which is my favorite thing to do), so it was such a relief to find an outdoor activity we can do together — not to mention one where I have to work SO HARD to keep up!

4. Our event on Saturday! So grateful to have met some new friends who read this (hi!!!) as well as hang with friends who came to support :) It was such a fun Saturday morning.

5. A no-plan Sunday. I never have no plans, my calendar is always packed with different things. There’s a part of me that craves this & part of me that feels uncomfy when I’m not “productive.” I ended up going on a long coffee dog walk, getting a great gym session in, & going to a spontaneous Temaki Den dinner. It was everything I needed headed into this week :)

Lauren: Teaching an almost sold out 7:25a on Tuesday was so much fun. When the playlist, the program, and the vibes from the clients all align in the right way to create magic it’s truly best.

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: Same as last week! Just workin, workin, working.

Nikki: Same, just soooo much work, especially in my corporate job. We’re going live with a new software in 2 months & it’s crunch time!

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: Remembering that although I feel like I thrive in structure & routine, it’s important to loosen the reigns sometimes!

Lauren: I know there are things I can do to make my work week easier. Also, to try not to sweat the small stuff. Sometimes I give myself anxiety for the dishes not being done or for maybe being behind on laundry but it’s truly not the end of the world if I don’t do the dishes after a 13 hour day. Learning to give myself grace!

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren: Shopping. I have been all over Princess Polly and Zara for my trip to Europe this summer. Think I’m going to try Nully for the first time!

Nikki: Running. I ran almost 20 miles this week, which I haven’t done in maybe over a year?? When the weather is nice, all I want to do is be outside.

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: Not traveling for a little bit!!! I’m really looking forward to more time at home.

Lauren: Dad’s coming in town this weekend!

If you know me or read this newsletter even sometimes, you probably know that something I struggle with is saying yes to too many things & having very little free time. While my first thoughts oscillated between this sounds so fun and how the heck will I have time for this, I felt excited to say yes to doing something I loved.

World’s Toughest Mile consists of a mile around a track, with each lap (quarter mile) being a different activity:

1. First lap: burpee broad jump

2. Second lap: walking lunge

3. Third lap: bear crawl

4. Fourth lap: run

Saturday was the first official event, hosted in Austin. We had almost 150 athletes race throughout the day, of all ages and athletic capabilities. There was Eric, who ideated the event & finished ahead of everyone else at 28 minutes. There was Maxine, a mom who a year ago thought she would never be able to do something like this & whose son crewed her the whole way. There was Gerrie, who I am now finding out was on the Netflix show Too Hot to Handle with large (fake) pickle tattoos all over his body. There was Anna, a woman who entered the pain cave on her first lap, but pushed through & wants to compete again! There was Ashley, who took first place for women with a crazy 33 minutes!

It was a long day — from spending the day before finalizing the athlete list & getting the U-haul set up, to waking up at 4 & setting up on the field well before sunrise, to seeing all the pieces finally come together, to signing in the first athlete, watching the first wave go off, to laughing with the Buttery Bros, to solving problems & adapting on the fly.

One of my favorite moments was supporting one of our final athletes on the field — Zach. As he completed his bear crawl lap, he told me his story — a year ago, he was drinking 3 bottles of wine a day & a hundred pounds heavier. After battling with a tough illness, he decided he needed to change his life. He found a men’s group that centered around fitness, faith, & fellowship. His resolve & resiliency was so inspiring, & getting to see the pride in his wife & 2 daughters after he finished the race was so fulfilling.

I love fitness events. It’s been such a big part of my life for over a decade & I love getting to share that feeling with a community of people who feel similarly, whether they’re early on in their journey or at the top of their game. I love meeting new people, I love hearing their stories, I love turning a sketch on a napkin into a full blown event.

Our next one will be announced this week & while I can’t say where yet… I’m so excited for it. 😎

In guud company,

Nikki

GUUD THINGS THIS WEEK

⬆️ The High ⬆️

Nikki: This weekend for allll above reasons plus cuddling in bed with Sarah post 12+ hour day. Also John Mulaney at Red Rocks (I was crying laughing I love him).

Lauren: Sam and I spent Sunday cold plunging in Golden and walking around for bites and shops! It was the perfect day (despite my hangover 🙂)!

⬇️ The Low ⬇️

Lauren: Have been a little tired this week with work. Friday I was an absolute shell of myself. I have a big work week coming up with extra classes that I’ve picked up so I’m bracing myself!

Nikki: Leaving Kona is the WORST part about traveling 🥺

🧠 The Lesson 🧠

Nikki: As busy as I am, I really am grateful for all the different things in my life & what they allow me to do. I think I could do a better job of leaning into that gratitude & presence, especially on the tougher days.

Lauren: I decided to hone in on my nutrition this week and cook at home and I forgot how much better I feel when I do. I was getting a little careless and eating out a ton. I’m keeping it super simple. My gut and mind feel so much better!

❤️ Lately We’re Loving ❤️

Lauren: Sunday plans! Sometimes I fall into the trap of a rot day but I get way less scaries when I actually do stuff!

Nikki:

1. I will never stop loving The Well in Austin — they need to open one in Denver!

2. Hack squat good mornings. I’m building these glutes!

3. My Free People sweater.

✨ What’s Next ✨

Nikki: We have a corporate connection week at work this week so it’ll be fun to reconnect with my remote coworkers (& take a little break from our real jobs!) Also I’m excited for our event next Saturday!!! Come spend your morning with us <3

Lauren: A big work week! Looking forward to the weekend already :)

🚨 WE’RE HOSTING OUR FIRST EVENT!!! 🚨

Community Sweat, Sip, & Stroll | Saturday April 25 10AM at Wash Park

It would mean so much to us if you joined! RSVP HERE :)