I’ve been online for 16 years. I started with a food blog, then Facebook, then instagram, podcast, YouTube, and now Substack. I’ve found many different ways to express my ever-changing self. And because of that, I’ve experienced backlash for all sorts of things - for not cooking completely paleo or not using an ingredient they had at home or sharing my …

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We recently started working with a parent coach and it has been the best money ever spent. As first-time parents who will only be having one child and don’t have many friends who have children around the same age as our daughter, we are going in blind with some things. And since we really want to be the best parents we can be, we want to know anything from what’s age appropriate when it comes to behavior, to tactics to help with meltdowns. After a couple of months working with her, we have learned so much.

Something she recently shared on one of our calls was ‘frustration tolerance’ and teaching children how to tolerate all the stressors and frustrations that come up in a daily life. And this was something I never really thought of since I’ve been alive for 38 years and I never think about all the frustrations that pop up throughout each day. And that’s because I’ve learned to tolerate all those frustrations. Like spilling my coffee or forgetting to finish something with work or getting stuck in traffic or waiting at the doctor’s office or missing an important phone call. All of those annoyances could really feel like a huge deal without perspective or without learning to regulate my nervous system so that those situations don’t boil over immediately.

Kids do not have as much perspective and they are constantly learning to regulate their nervous systems as they age. Because of that, little moments like being stuck in traffic or having to wait for mom to finish something so she can play or not getting a toy that they want, well they all feel huge. And that normally leads to meltdowns. The parent coach explained how building tolerance to these small (yet big to them) frustrations over time help them see those situations as simply inconveniences instead of earth-shattering moments.

I loved this. And I thought about it a lot the other night when I found out about someone sharing a complete lie about me online. It hurt so much. And well, it was very frustrating. Because at the end of the day, I can share my personal story or actual receipts and people will still believe whatever they want to believe. They will believe the story that fits their narrative. And there is nothing I can do about it. What a frustrating thing.

That is where the parent coach came in handy. Because I can find all the tools out there to help my child and her own tolerance to frustration, but I also have to utilize those tools myself. So I looked at this situation and how frustrating it was to me and had a lightbulb moment - this is helping create more frustration tolerance in my own life. Because what do you do when you get stuck in traffic? Sure, you could complain and yell in your car and cut people off, all while trying to get out of a situation where there is no getting out of it. OR you could take a breath, remember that being frustrated does not remove the frustration, and find something that makes life more enjoyable. Like a podcast or a song. And by choosing the latter, you’ve created more tolerance for the next time a frustrating moment comes up.

I share this because it was a really helpful tool with my own daughter, but I really didn’t expect it to be so helpful in my own personal experience. And it really was. I think it’s going to be one of those things I think about over and over when more frustrating moments pop up. Instead of seeing it as something I need to fix, it’s simply something that’s creating more tolerance for future frustrations. And how cool is that?

Frustrating moments are never ending. They come up every day in so many different ways. But seeing those frustrating moments as tolerance-builders is a really helpful mindset shift. And hopefully that mindset shift for me helps you in some way.

Remember last month when I was trying to figure out wtf was happening since all the symptoms I was experiencing were pointing me in the direction of perimenopause? My messages were literally flooded with women telling me that around 38 they started showing signs of perimenopause. And while I’m not trying to invalidate their experiences, I knew my situation was a bit different since I had been going through some struggles that only snowballed and led me to a pit I couldn’t dig myself out of. Instead of changing hormones from perimenopause, I think I was dealing fluctuating hormones from stress.

During this experience, I started experiencing panic attacks, no libido, sadness that lasted throughout the day, no energy, not wanting to get off the couch, no interest in food, and really not finding any joy in my favorite activities. This went on for a couple weeks so I decided it was time to make a change and here is everything I did:

1. Changed my environment. We were living in Costa Rica where I felt really isolated without friends or family around. We decided it was time to get back to Colorado and back to support with the people who love us most.

2. Hormones checked. As soon as I got back, I went in to get my bloodwork checked to see if I was dealing with any major hormone issues.

3. Neurofeedback. I have been saved so many times by neurofeedback. From sleep issues to rumination, it has helped me so much. I went in for 4 aggressive treatments when I got back and it helped drastically.

4. L-theanine. I started taking this supplement in the morning on an empty stomach with my coffee. It helps with relaxation while keeping you alert.

5. Acupuncture. I went in for a couple treatments since specific spots can help boost serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins while regulating stress hormones.

6. Community. This was something I was majorly missing. People. I missed people. I missed connection.

When we got back to Colorado and I started chipping away at this list, each day got better. I am a person who has to come up with a plan when things aren’t working and I will try anything and everything. I even microdosed for a couple weeks, as well. And with each day, I started to feel the haze lift. I was excited to cook and eat again. I was able to hug the people who helped me take a deep breath and know the weight wasn’t all for me to bear. And then I was able to start feeling like myself again. I got dressed up, I could start lifting a little heavier at the gym, I was able to smile at people. Little by little, I felt more energized, more excited and optimistic, and all around more like me.

I am sharing this because even though not all of these things will work for you and your own personal situation and life, one might. One thing might be exactly what you needed during your own difficult chapter. And that’s why I share, because so many others have shared with me and it’s changed my life for the better.

Almost a year ago I wrote an article about having lipedema. This was a completely self-diagnosed idea at the time. I had read many articles about lipedema and it had matched completely with what I had experienced my entire life:

• Fat that never left, even after weight loss

• Bumps and dimpling unlike natural cellulite

• Swelling/edema in extremities

• Constant bru…

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This was my second retreat of 2026 and it blew my expectations out of the water. The location, the views, the women, the laughter - every single day showed me how lucky I am to get to host something so special and bring together so many good people in one place.

This retreat was in Panama and it was the first time I hosted a retreat at this location. Every retreat location has a different feeling and vibe, and luckily this spot felt light, bright, and boujee. The staff made it clear from the start that they were available for anything, whether that was food, drinks, or any small need that popped up. And they SERVED. We all felt so cared for which made it even easier to do our jobs as hosts and relax as guests.

When you come on a PaleOMG retreat, you’ll have a different experience at every location depending on what kind of excursions and cultural immersion experiences that are available. But one thing that always stays the same is the workshops. We host workshops each trip that help guests connect with others while also diving deeper into themselves and their purpose. Here is a quick rundown of everything we did while on the retreat:

• Bodyweight workouts with me (we got 4 in this week)

• Yoga with Danielle (one of the other hosts)

• Surfing

• Snorkeling

• Island hopping tour

• Sunset cruise

• Island hike/farm tour

• Pottery glazing

• Workshops

  • Joy-based living with me

  • Authenticity and expression with Danielle

  • Manifestation with Danielle & Juli

• Group chats & Activities

  • Fascia & chakras chat with Juli & Danielle

  • Facial massage & face masks with Juli

  • Amazing Race

  • Share your joy show

• Breathwork

  • Heart-based breathwork & journaling with Danielle

  • Wim Hof breathwork with Danielle

We packed this retreat full of experiences while also still leaving time for hanging out with each other, relaxing, and getting a massage at the spa. And around all of those moments, we had LOTS of food, I mean really reallyyyyy good food. Every morning started with a smoothie of the day, ginger shot of the day, some sort of banana bread or breakfast cookie, then breakfast made-to-order. At lunch, we were able to order form their large menu and dinner had a set menu with multiple choices for appetizers, main course, and dessert.

When I began reflecting back on this retreat, one of the biggest takeaways is how important play is. Something we really push home on these retreats is a playful experience. Depending on the location, we want people to swim or jump in the lake or float in the ocean or hop on a bike or walk through the forest. But we also want guests to get into their bodies without judgement. We will often turn on music and start dancing or add in a game that people might remember from childhood, and we do this because we want adults to not take themselves so seriously. It’s so easy to fall into a rhythm of being the adult with adult priorities which means a lot of serious obligations, worries, and sense of responsibility. But we want to remind every guest that they can still have the weight of all those outside forces while also feeling joyful and playful.

And I got to see that in action. These women who have all gone through so much, whether it’s health issues, break-ups, marriage struggles, losses - every single one of them was letting go of societal expectations and laughing their asses off.

These retreats are about so much more than just travel - they are about connection. Connecting with other women and connecting to themselves. You get to leave feeling seen, with a lighter heart and brighter vision for the future. It’s just so freaking special and I always walk away with a new sense of excitement and purpose.

If you want to learn more about my retreats, I wrote a post a while back about what to expect. And you can even dive into a workshop that I shared in this post.

And 2027 retreats are live! We have 4 to choose from:

1. Guatemala April 24th-May 1st (women’s only)

2. Italy June 19th-26th (couples)

3. Arizona September 9th-12th (women’s only)

4. El Salvador November 14th-21st (co-ed)

Let’s make this world a little better together! Hope to see you on a retreat next year!

Motherhood is a really interesting experience. On one hand, it’s filled with immense amounts of joy, watching your child become their own person and helping them navigate a completely new world filled with daily challenges. On the other hand, you’re navigating how to be there for your child while you still show up for yourself and for others. And in tha…

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There has been a major switch in my body as of lately and I’m trying to figure out what the fuck is happening. Let’s run through the symptoms:

• Irritability & temper (off the charts)

• Sensitivity to heat

• Depression

• Anxiety (panic attacks)

• No libido

• Forgetfulness

• No excitement in anything

I have lost myself and what makes me me. I have always been a passionate pe…

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I’ve been using Korean skincare for 5 years now and have absolutely loved it. I tried using medical-grade skincare that all my skin professionals recommended, but I never saw that great of results. So I went rogue. I went out on my own and began trying Korean skincare. And I never stopped loving it. But recently one of my friends introduced me to Oliveda. I was hesitant to try it because my skin has been happy and healthy, so I decided to try two products and see what I thought.

Dude. I noticed a difference in my skin in ONE application. One. Even my husband mentioned that my skin looked really good the night I put on these two serums I decided to try. I was blown away. But I was also waiting for the shoe to drop. Waiting for my skin to get stressed out or break out from the change in product. But it never happened. My skin just kept getting better. So I’ve tried a few more and I’M OBSESSED! I’ve pretty much ditched my Korean skincare routine and I’m just using these products now. And I had someone ask me to write an article about the products I use and why, and when one person asks, I respond!

Here is what I’m currently using on my skin and why:

1. Oliveda F59. This serum has hydroxytyrosol and paracress in it. Hydroxytyrosol is a polyphenol naturally derived from olives that calms the skin and combats premature aging. It’s more effective and stable than Vitamin C. Now paracress is even cooler…it is a “natural alternative to injectables” because it has a compound in it that gently relaxes micro-tensions in the facial muscles to help smooth out lines and keep them from deepening over time.

2. Oliveda F64. This serum is just like F59, but for the eyes. Obviously the skin around our eyes is quite thin and gets a ton of movement, so this serum is really helpful with the paracress extract. I love this serum because I’ve never been able to use an eye cream in the past since they have all led to breakouts. But not this stuff!

3. Oliveda F87. After I apply the F59 to my face and F64 to my eyes, I then apply the Corrective Kahai Elixir which is a super hydrating serum. This elixir also has hydroxytyrosol in it, but the Kahai oil helps stimulate collagen and smooth fine lines. This serum is a retinol alternative since it has a natural high concentration of Vitamin A to help with cell turnover and collagen production. But the best part is that it doesn’t make your skin dry like many retinols. It hydrates the skin while improving redness. This serum is THE FREAKING BEST. It’s my favorite. And I just recently dropped my only bottle and about cried. I’ve been using 1 drop a day and still getting benefits!

That’s it. That’s literally all I put on my skin at this time and my skin is THRIVING. I can’t believe it. Instead of a 12-step routine or even 5, I’m down to 3 and my skin has never looked better. I’m shooketh.

Oliveda also has a makeup line called Olive Rose. I haven’t tried many products yet, but I have tried their Skin Tint (shade 06) and it’s phenomenonal. And guess what? It has hydroxytyrosol in it, too! So you get the benefits of hydroxytyrosol in your skincare as well as your makeup. So killer.

I’ll definitely share more products as I try them, but that triple threat skincare change has been such a positive experience so I thought I would share here! I hope they serums and even makeup are the same impact for your skin!

Remember when I wrote a post about contemplating plastic surgery? Well I’m still there, now just with even more information to ponder. I’ve had my implants for almost 19 years and I’ve always been very happy with them, but I’ve been contemplating getting them redone for two reasons that I talk about in this post. And with that contemplation, I’ve also f…

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Sometimes I feel envious of people who seem so completely sure about life. Whether that’s a person who believes in one God, heaven and hell, and an eternal afterlife; or a person who believes that we die and fade into nothing…I’m envious of their certainty. I’ve always wanted to believe wholeheartedly in one type of existence and experience, but that’s never been the case for me. I’ve been searching most of my adult life for something that makes sense and I’m still not there.

I’ve done a lot of spiritual searching throughout the years - church, birth chart readings, akashic records, mediums, meditation, breathwork, reading about channeling, energy work, human design…the list goes on and on. I take a little something from each experience, each book, and each podcast and then leave what doesn’t resonate. Well guess what? I found something new to share with you that I’ve found on this never-ending spiritual exploration that has me pondering even more ideas.

A friend on instagram recently introduced me to the page Irreversible Influence. He shares that he has cracked the code on our experience here on Earth. This is how he explains it:

Earth is not actually a real place. The real place we exist in is base reality or what some would call the afterlife. Our souls are in this base reality and then are using frequency to sync to an Avatar frequency in this “Earth” simulation.

Think of it as you putting on a virtual reality headset, entering a fun experience that feels super real in that moment, and then being back to your normal reality when you take the headset off. This is how he explains our experience - we put on our “headset” meaning we match our frequency to our avatar to experience the game of Earth and then when our avatar goes to sleep each night, we are back in base reality as a soul or light being.

And just like any game where you get to pick your character, you do the same with this specific Earth experience. This is where it gets tricky and a little confusing so stay with me…if you don’t already feel confused. Each avatar has an archetype and there are 27 archetypes to choose from. Each archetype has a specific purpose, life, and theme while on Earth. With each of the 27 archetypes, each one has a combination of 3 numbers. And the order of these three numbers is what defines the avatar. This brings the total to 162 unique avatar frequencies to choose from.

You still with me?

Here are all 27 archetypes:

• 125 - The Advisor

• 126 - The Guardian Angel

• 127 - The Beacon

• 135 - The Architect

• 136 - The Robot

• 137 - The Etherion

• 145 - The Analyst

• 146 - The Inspector

• 147 - The Torchbearer

• 258 - The Commander

• 259 - The Helper

• 268 - The Protector

• 269 - The Anchor

• 278 - The Wind Chaser

• 279 - The Harmonizer

• 358 - The Ringmaster

• 359 - The Puppet Maser

• 368 - The Executor

• 369 - The Chameleon

• 378 - The Dynamo

• 379 - The Diplomat

• 458 - The Alchemist

• 459 - The Ghost

• 468 - The Cobra

• 469 - The Maze Walker

• 478 - The Maverick

• 479 - The Dreamweaver

With each of these avatar frequencies, there are 6 options of each one. I will use me as an example. I am a 136. The Robot…which feels very fitting since I eat the same thing every day and do the same workouts every week and never get sick of them. If you are a 136, you can choose from the 136 frequency or 163, 316, 361, 613, or 631. Each one will be slightly different, but will have the same underlying theme.

With 136, they are built for duty, drive, and vigilance. 136 archetypes live with an underlying sense of anxiety that stays with them and becomes a normal experience in life. They have a strong sense of self-discipline and productivity. Because of this self-discipline, they are often in shape and excel in terms of health. But their own high expectations of themselves can pour over in the same expectations of others which can create resentment.

My own personal frequency is 631. This avatar is allllll about anxiety. When I read the description of my 631 frequency (which I got directly by reaching out to Irreversible Influence on instagram), it fully aligned with my experience. I have always had extreme anxiety that I thought everyone lived with, so I learned to live with it myself through extensive planning. At an early age, I started planning my schedule hour by hour to ensure nothing fell through the cracks, I would show up to appointments 30 minutes early to make sure I was never late and nothing got in the way of that punctuality, and I worried about every little thing from finances, exercise, diet, how people perceived me, education, cleaning, relationships, and on and on.

Because of this anxiety, there is an inner critic in 631 that is very relentless that never turns off which has been my entire life experience. So the 631 avatar continues to put more effort in as a discipline attempt to prove that they can defeat this critic, yet that never seems to happen fully. Hello, Juli, you relentless bitch.

A positive from the 631 is they are one of the most genuinely caring of the avatars, being very loyal to the people they trust. And when at their best, when they have learned many lessons through trial and error, they learn to live with the anxiety that brews within them. For me, this is something I’ve very much learned to live with and I’ve learned coping mechanisms to get through stressful days where my brain is spinning with every possible negative outcome. I’ve learned to set boundaries with myself, with relationships, and even with time spent online to help ease anxiety. And I’ve also learned to set the inner critic aside most days and be proud of what I have built. I still have many pitfalls to work through, but I’ve seen lots of growth with some of those areas over the past few years.

With all these different frequencies, this is why there are doppelgängers and why we constantly get, “You look just like ____.” Because we are the same frequencies as those people.

In Paul LaMarca books The Revelation and Be Nine, he shares about ennegram, astrology, and human design, and how all of them play a role in this experience because they are all encrypted frequency systems that program our virtual reality. They are all puzzle pieces to this blueprint, showing different pieces to the bigger picture, but not the full picture.

If you want to find out your archetype, this is a great post from his that goes into detail about how to find this out. Once you find out your numbers, you can reach out to him and he will give you your exact 3 digit frequency.

All this being said, it’s a really interesting concept that has my head spinning. Is our experience here based on the archetype we chose or is it based on the experience we had? For example, my mom is a very anxious person so I always thought I inherited some of those same anxious behaviors from her…but does she simply have some of the same frequencies as me that causes both of us to be anxious. Does nature vs nurture even play a role in any of this or is it simply our avatar? For example, how some children can have completely different experiences in their house with their parents. Is that because of the avatar they chose or is that because the parents treated the children differently or is it simply the perspective of that child?

I don’t have the answer to any of these things. As I’ve mentioned in my posts, I’m a big maybe girl. I question everything while also believe there is truth in many different concepts, not just one. But I’m also at the place where I don’t think I’ll ever fully know until this Earth experience is over. Is this a simulation created by dark forces like you read about in The Trap? Is this a simulation created by our conscious collective so we can live out our video game dreams? Did God put us here and we meet him after this or do we just decay into the earth to never come back again? I don’t know and maybe that’s the fun part.

I do know one thing - this concept has made me think of life in a less serious way. What if this all really is just for fun? What if this base reality or afterlife is so calm and beautiful that we have to put ourselves through extreme stress and pain to even know what those emotions feel like? What if we lose someone in this Earth simulation to only go home to them when we sleep and have a laugh about what our avatars experienced that day? What if.

I thought I would share everything I’ve started doing to work on tension in the face (which is what causes wrinkles in the first place) so that I don’t even think about botox. And so far…it’s worked REALLY well.

When you look at your face and see wrinkles or sagging tissue or even swelling, think of your face as a story. These changes in facial structure are speaking to you and sharing a story of consistent tension and/or stagnation. Yes, we lose bone and collagen and fat as we age, but we also hold tension that is rarely ever released, which changes are facial structure, as well. If you’re looking to stop botox but you don’t want to get lines from wrinkles, you GOTTA start facial massage to help release tension as well and help with lymphatic drainage.

You will learn sooooo much about your face once you start doing daily massage. You’ll see where you hold that tension and where things feel tight. For example, I hold so much tension in my masseter muscles of the jaw from clenching my jaw. When you hold tension in your masseter, it begins to pull the face down and inward. This can create deeper nasolabial folds. Or if you’ve noticed your mouth sitting in more of a frown, instead of injecting botox into the depressor muscles that pull the corners of the mouth down, you can start releasing tension in the jaw as well as those depressor muscles so they can mouth no longer pulls down.

• Where to start with facial massage:

  • Try this 10 minute routine. If you like her style like I did, you can start her Glow Program that begins every month. I couldn’t stick with it because it was about 45 minutes and I could figure out where to fit it in, but she also offers her Glow+ Program to Glow graduates that is only 16 minutes. I’ve given her a lot of my money and have learned so much! She’s wonderful, but if you don’t have the money to spend, do her 10 minute routine daily and try some of her other tension releasing movement on her instagram page!

  • Try another 10 minute routine. She is another person who I downloaded a course from. Her sessions take anywhere from 20-35 minutes so I haven’t stuck with her program, but I’ve taken away some really helpful movements and implement them into my own routine. Love her instagram page as well!

Next up is face taping. There are many different types of face tape out there whether you go with silicone based or hardening patches, but I have preferred the tape that is kinesiology tape. What’s great about this tape when used correctly is that it gently lifts the skin so it stimulates blood flow and lymphatic drainage while it also releases tension and stops the muscle from moving in that same pattern that it always has. As soon as I started face taping, I IMMEDIATELY saw an improvement. I mostly use tape at night when I’m sleeping, but I’ll use it in the day if I plan to be home for a while. When I take the tape off in the mornings, my face looks refreshed instead of sleepy from holding on to excess fluid. The muscles are relaxed and my face isn’t puffy. Once you start, you’re going to be addicted because you instantly notice a change.

• Where to start with facial taping:

  • Buy this face tape. I prefer the advanced, but you do you. You can also buy her tutorials when you purchase the face tape, I just did it separately so below is the separate link in case you already have tape.

  • Download this face taping guide. Kathryn Romine will teach you absolutely everything and you’ll be fully equipped to face tape with confidence. I can’t believe how affordable it is with how much information she packs in there.

Another things I just started and plan to do whenever I’m in Denver is facial acupuncture. When you get facial acupuncture, you boost collagen production, release tension in the face, and increase blood flow and circulation. This practice hasn’t fully taken off, but I feel like it’s going to start growing in popularity as more people step away from injections and look for natural alternatives. I have tried this once and I INSTANTLY noticed a difference. I truly felt like I was glowing after my appointment and I have felt amazing ever since. My skin looks great and I feel like I’m holding less tension in my face.

• Where to start with facial acupuncture:

  • This is a bit harder for me to help you with since you’ll need someone in person who is really educated in this practice. But if you are in Denver, this woman will change your life. I plan to see her as much as I can whenever I’m in Denver. But if you’re in a different area, you can start searching for someone on social media channels or online. My acupuncturist uses A LOT of needles, in case that helps you with your search.

Now moving on…to lasers! Something I have been preaching for years and will continue to do so is how helpful lasers are with keeping your skin healthy. An ablative laser removes the outer layer of the skin which triggers the healing response in the body and that stimulates collagen production. This will improve the appearance of scars, wrinkles and fine lines, it will help remove dark spots and pigmentation, and it will even tighten skin.

• Where to start with lasers:

  • First and foremost, you’ll need to find an reliable esthetician with access to an ablative laser. And then you’ll want to make sure that you are a candidate and that laser will work for your skin.

  • There are different types of ablative lasers on the market and different estheticians will have different lasers. My esthetician has a Sciton laser and my two favorite ablative laser treatments include Profractional and Halo. I plan to get the Profractional laser done every 6 months (or whenever possible) to keep the skin luminous and healthy.

And last but not least, red light therapy. Red light masks and other red light devices stimulate mitochondria which triggers the body to build collagen and reduce inflammation which helps with skin texture and tone. This is a really easy way to keep the skin looking healthy without any downtime or even needing to leave the house.

• Where to start with red light:

  • I love my Bon Charge red light mask since I’ve worked with them for quite a long time. You can always try code PALEOMG to see if it’s still live, but they also run great sales.

  • If you don’t want a mask directly on your face or if you simply want full body benefits of red light, this demi light is really great to sit in front of while working or meditating or stretching.

The only thing I haven’t started yet is regular at-home microneedling. This is something I want to try, but haven’t made the time yet. I definitely will soon and I’ll keep you updated!

If this seems like a lot, just remember that I go all-in on anything I try and you definitely don’t need to do the same. Your skin will benefit from any of these things and you’ll see a difference. I’m just here to hopefully be a wealth of knowledge for you if you are planning to embark on your own journey without botox in your life. I really hope it helps you as much as it has for me!

Just remember - your body speaks to you. It’s telling you a story. And once you learn to listen instead of just blocking those nerve signals, you’ll learn so freaking much about what your body needs. I know I did!

Quantum physics has taught us that multiple realities are real and possible all at the same time - you simply get to decide which reality or path you want to take. Understanding this more and more has made me question if reality is different for every single person. Are we all on our own algorithm in our own real lives just as much as we are on our own …

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When we decided to move to Costa Rica, I didn’t have any real expectations. I just knew my soul felt pulled there, and Brian and I never wanted to look back and wish we would have taken the jump. So that’s what we did - we jumped and I felt like I was free-falling for quite some time. I even talked about it in another article, wondering if Costa Rica was right for us. Moving somewhere new is never easy, whether you move within your country or outside of it, but this is something I never really knew because I had been in Colorado my entire life. My scope of experience was simply based on vacations. And while short term travel can deeply impact you, I’ve found that living in another country has changed me far beyond what I ever expected.

When we got to Costa Rica, I immediately noticed how easy everything is in the United States compared to here. Do you want food delivered in 20 minutes? Done. Do you need bandaids picked up from the store and dropped off at your doorstep? Done. Do you want party supplies and balloons and random things to put in goodie bags for guests of a party? You can get that within hours. Everything is streamlined and almost immediate, which makes people not think twice about what they are buying.

And because everything is so easy, there is so much consumerism. Fast fashion, which I have been a part of with my business for years, pushes new fashion every day. It feels like we are constantly behind on the next fashion trend while trends come and go within months. Then add in the rise of technology, we are bombarded with ads at all times, telling us we need the next gadget, next appliance, next product, and on and on and on.

Finding most products is pretty challenging where I live in Costa Rica and getting a delivery can take anywhere between 2-6 weeks, oftentimes never being delivered and then you’re just out of money. Because of this, I think hard about if I REALLY need that item. Do I need random knick knacks? Can I live without the items I was looking at? And more often than not, the answer is no - no I don’t NEED those things, I simply want them in that moment. Because I’ve been in that environment where getting things without thinking twice is extremely easy, I haven’t really taken a step back and looked at the bigger picture of what’s truly important until I moved.

This also made me look at my technology habits. In Colorado, I found that we would be at the house and on our phones or watching TV together. But in Costa Rica since it’s so beautiful outside, I find myself noticing my phone habits and wanting to get off it and go to the beach or create something with my daughter or simply watch the nature around us. And when I’m on the beach, I notice that barely anyone has their phone. They are all playing in the sand or in the ocean or watching the sunset. It’s so beautiful to see people present. Then on the flip side, since I live in a tourist town, I’ll be at a coffee shop and I’ll see people on vacation who are at breakfast and just on their phones vs talking to each other. Seeing that myself has made me so much more aware of putting my phone away and finding the beauty in the everyday life vs what my feed FEEDS me.

In the end, I think moving to Costa Rica has made me more aware of behaviors that had become second nature in my life. From buying things without thinking, to filling my closest with clothes I didn’t wear regularly, to spending hours looking at other people’s lives instead of living my own. It’s made me take a step back and look at what is truly important to me. And to me, it’s my child’s life, it’s my relationship, it’s my personal growth, and it’s my impact on this world.

It could be moving to another country, it could be the fact that becoming a mother changed me beyond belief, and it could even be that we are in the Age of Aquarius. And in the Age of Aquarius, life has a reset and accelerates personal growth. You shed outdated identities and move into more authenticity. As technology advances, so does human consciousness. And that means we get to grow, collaborate, and find our true meaning as individuals and as a collective.

For me, my true meaning in life is shifting and I think moving to Costa Rica has been a huge part of that shift. It’s shifting me away from material things in many ways, it’s helping me step away from technology that pulls me from my real-life experiences, and it’s showing me what is truly important to me in life. I see life differently now and that change has been overwhelming at times. Finding myself all over again while living in a new country without friends or family around is uncomfortable. Seeing that the things I thought were important actually aren’t anymore is confusing. But that is the beauty of experience. Experience shows you that you are a product of your environment. Experience shows you that you are constantly evolving. And experience shows you that the next best version of you is out there, just waiting for you to find her.

Don’t forget that discomfort brings so much growth…so do those uncomfortable things. Keep chasing the experiences that make you nervous or scared because those experiences will change you more than you could have ever expected. And so much beauty can come from that change.

I’ve been feeling more and more pulled away from Hollywood lately. Whether it’s celebrities, shows, movies, or just documentaries that have nothing to do with celebrities whatsoever. It’s been taking me back to the energetic drainage that I felt in 2020 when watching the news. I remember telling my husband that I didn’t want to turn on the TV anymore be…

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I had someone reach out to me on instagram yesterday asking if I had a post summarizing my journey with acne, skincare, and treatments in one place. And the quick answer is no because I have many different posts, but I thought it might be easier to read everything from a macro-view at this point since my skin has been MANY years in the making.

So let’s kick things off with acne. I always struggled with acne since I was a teenager, but it got much much worse in my CrossFit years - that’s when the cystic acne started. I tried cutting out dairy, eggs, sugar, nuts, then tried oil pulling, eating cod liver oil, essential oils, changing out pillow cases, and then turned to prescription medications. After meeting with a dermatologist, I tried multiple antibiotics (before I knew about the damage they can do to the gut) then turned to accutane which cleared up my skin for about a year after a miserable 6 months on the medication, then I was put on spironolactone. Spiro kept my skin mostly clear but when I asked the dermatologist about how I could get off it while keeping my skin clear, I was told that wasn’t possible. This is when I turned to functional medicine where I learned I have a slow liver detox pathway which was most likely causing skin issues since it means your liver cannot sufficiently breakdown and remove toxins and excess hormones. At that same moment, I had found out at the bean protocol and the benefits it has on acne. I tried it and it was a big moment that changed my life, finding out how much my diet lacked in fiber previously to eating beans. AND how much my gut health was affecting my skin health. I also found out how much zinc can help with skin health and once I added that supplement in, my skin improved even more.

To summarize in terms of acne:

1. Accutane, antibiotics, and spironolactone only suppressed my acne symptoms and did not get to the root cause.

2. CrossFit led my body into more stress, causing more hormonal issues which could not be properly removed because of my liver detox issues.

3. My gut health sucked which led to sucky skin issues. Adding in fiber fed the good bacteria in my gut and intestinal lining, the fermentation process helped reduce inflammation, and the soluble + insoluble fiber helped cling to excess hormones to help excrete them through consistent bowel movements.

4. Zinc helped me reduce breakouts, especially cystic zits and also helped heal skin issues quicker when they did arise.

Fiber and zinc changed my freaking life. I will forever sing their praises and I wish a doctor would have told me this when I was 23 years old and completely desperate. So hopefully a silly little influencer can change your life with my own 20 year acne journey.

Now let’s talk about skincare. I have tried sooooo many different kinds of skincare on the market from clean to anti-acne. I was always very nervous to try new products because I didn’t know how my skin would react. And while I do still react to some skincare or makeup (and definitely some sunscreen), I don’t have issues with these products and use them daily:

Anua Cleansing Oil

Anua Foaming Cleanser

Anua 10+

Clarins Double Serum

Snail Mucin

Colorscience Tinted SPF

And I just added in Oliveda F87 at night and freaking love it so far, but still need a bit more time to really feel it out before I recommend it to others. Still thought it was worth mentioning here!

To summarize in terms of skincare:

1. My skin reacted most to products when my gut was not happy. Finding the right skincare will be unique to you and your skin needs, which is why there are so many products on the market. Non-pore clogging ingredients can be great and really helpful for people, but I have found over time that most products work for me with a healthy gut.

2. If you’re looking for products that will transform your acne scars, I would turn more to skin treatments. Skincare can be great for cell turnover and brightness, but scarring is better when treated on a deeper level.

Now let’s getting into repairing the skin that is damaged from acne. This has been a very long road, but these are the main players in repairing the pocks, divots, and discoloration that come with acne and cystic acne. I’m going to order them in terms of results and I’ll explain why:

1. Profractional - This laser is ablative and creates narrow, deep channels in the skin that triggers the wound-healing response to help create new collagen and elastin, tightening and smoothing the skin over time. This is highly effective for acne scars and I can’t recommend it enough especially if you deal with deeper scarring.

2. Microneedling - This process is very similar and triggers the same response. But it does take usually 6 treatments while profractional is deeper and more invasive, BUT you need less treatments.

3. Halo - This laser is a hybrid of ablative & non-ablative and helps improve skin tone, texture, and laxity. This is great if you have less deep pock marks and more superficial texture issues. I love this laser all around and my skin has improved greatly from it.

4. Moxi - This laser is a non-ablative laser so it’s not going to work on a super deep level, but it’s great for sun damage, tone and texture. It’s better for preventative care so it’s more useful for using with Halo or after acne marks have been improved and you’re looking for a lovely glow.

5. BBL - This laser is non-ablative and super non-invasive, but it’s great for an overall clearer complexion since it treats sun damage, age spots, freckles, redness, rosacea, and broken vessels. This is a laser that should be used more frequently for continued upkeep on the skin vs working deep on scarring.

To summarize in terms of skin treatments:

• If you deal with deep scarring, I would look into an ablative laser like Profractional or Halo (there are other ablative lasers, these are specific to the Sciton brand which my esthetician uses).

• If you are dealing with more superficial scarring, Moxi and BBL will be helpful for texture and tone.

And to summarize all of this and shorten down even more, these are the steps I would take to improve my skin if I could go back in time and start from scratch:

1. Reduce stress, including high intensity exercise. Some bodies just can’t take as much stress as others and mine is one.

2. Increase fiber intake through beans, oats, berries, chia seeds, avocado, and veggies. I currently try to hit 35-40g of fiber/day.

3. Take a zinc supplement daily, between 15-30mg. You can also eat zinc-rich foods like pumpkin seeds, red meat, dairy, oysters - but if you still find your skin breaking out, try a supplement. Be aware that continued use of zinc can deplete copper, but there are zinc/copper blends out there to choose from.

4. Find skincare that works for you. What works for me may not work for you, even if we are both acne-prone. Trial and error is always the best plan of action.

5. Find a reputable esthetician who has a good quality ablative laser brand (like Sciton) and has a good amount of experience to perform treatments with this laser to help improve the scarring (not to treat the actual acne). Find what works for your budget and either see this esthetician regularly or once a year, whatever you can swing to help improve your skin.

Here are a few other tools to look into that you can do at home:

• Red light face mask will help with dark spots and wrinkles

• Skin therapy device is great for clearing and tightening the skin

Like I mentioned, I have tons of posts on all these topics so if you want even more info, check these out:

• 1 Year on the Bean Protocol

• My Current Skincare

• My Current Makeup Routine

• Curing My Acne

• My Latest Profractional Laser Experience

And happy to answer any questions you may have! I hope to get you closer to clear skin instead of taking the long route like I did.

Maybe I’m just naive but I had no idea that homeschooling was such a divisive topic. But when I brought it up on instagram and my messages were filled with people who either loved homeschooling or thought it was a terrible idea, I quickly understood people took sides with this topic.

In my viewpoint, any good parent who cares deeply about their child’s …

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I think most people think yoga when they hear the word ‘retreat’ or maybe even adventure, but guess what? We have both of those things and way more. The retreat has two pieces to the perfect puzzle:

1. Deep play

   1. Adventure depending on the location: hikes, bike rides, surfing, kayaking, SUP, island hopping, tours, cooking classes, etc.

   2. Spa treatments depending on the location

   3. Local community experiences: visiting a temple, immersing yourself in a village, volunteering at a school, temazcal, fire ceremony, etc.

2. Deep work

   1. Workouts with me

   2. Yoga with the best instructors

   3. Guided breathwork and meditation

   4. Growth-based workshops & journaling

   5. Connecting deeply with others

Each retreat is a little different depending on the location and the purpose. I’ll share my annual Guatemala retreat as an example:

• The purpose of this retreat is self-love. We host workshops based the premise of falling in love with yourself and what you have to offer in this world. And the location in Lake Atitlán really supports this experience by hosting healers who specialize in different modalities whether that’s tarot, astrology, massage, acupuncture, reiki, and more. You get to dive deep within your soul through the workshops and through healers, leaving you with a new sense of excitement for life.

But my favorite part of each retreat no matter the location, are the workshops. We normally host 2-3 workshops and each one is a little different, but here are some examples:

• Self-love

• The Power of Vibration

• Manifestation

• Amplifying Each Other

• How To Expand Yourself

• Learning Your Human Design

The workshops are SO FREAKING SPECIAL, I can’t even fully explain it. You’ll learn so much from others while you also learn so much about yourself.

These retreats not only take away your need to plan anything, but they give you the opportunity to experience things you may have never experienced in the first place. Not only through the people you meet from all over the world, but the deep work you do for yourself can completely change someone for the better. I’ve watched it before my eyes. I’ve seen people blossom within the week and take steps in their normal day-to-day lives to embody this new version of themselves. Whether that’s through working out or eating better or becoming more present or adding in breathwork or beginning to meditate - people take SO MUCH away from these retreats.

And that’s exactly what makes them special. These retreats aren’t just a yoga or adventure retreat - they are a growth and connection retreat filled with yoga, adventure, and so much more.

If this sounds up your alley, I have one retreat left for 2026 that I’d love having you on:

• Panama (sold out)

• Redwoods, California (sold out)

• Thailand - this retreat will be from November 8-14 in Koh Samui, Thailand and we still have spots available! This retreat is co-ed so you can bring your partner or a friend or come solo!

And if you are ready to plan for 2027, I already opened up one retreat and more will be coming!

• Guatemala is now open and some spots are still available!

• Italy will be our first official couples retreat!

• Domestic location will be our first health summit with local vendors and speakers

• El Salvador will be a surf & wellness retreat

And we are already planning new locations for 2028! I hope to see you on one of them so we can adventure, connect, and dive in deep to create a better tomorrow for the beautiful world we live in!

New obsession unlocked → aliens. Specifically aliens that channel through humans here on Earth. Wait wait wait, don’t go. Hear me out.

There is a man named Darryl Anka who has been channeling an extraterrestrial for almost 40 years now named Bashar. Bashar is all about helping earth out since we are currently on the trajectory that his former ancestors planet was on…and that trajectory ain’t great. So what does Bashar want to do? Well obviously what any kind and caring alien would do - make our world a better place by sharing his vast amount of knowledge with us.

So I thought I would share what I’ve learned from our alien-brotha-from-anotha-motha with you. Because here’s the thing - if you don’t believe in aliens, I get it. If you don’t believe that aliens channel through humans, I get it. If you believe this guy Darryl is a total quack, I get it. But the cool thing you’ll notice about these teachings is that they could come from anyone you trust. Do you trust your mom? Imagine her saying them. Do you trust some spiritual guru? Picture them saying these next quotes. Do you have a mentor you deeply trust? Picture them. Because it’s really not about who is saying it at the end of the day, it’s mostly just about if it resonates with you.

After listening to many podcasts and reading multiple books, here are my main takeaways that I’ve enjoyed, that you can picture either an alien or your mom saying:

1. Your mission here on Earth is to be yourself.

2. By being yourself, you should follow your passions.

3. When you follow your passions without needing a specific outcome, you will always be in alignment.

4. And when you are in alignment, you make your manifestations a reality by matching that frequency.

This is why I’ve loved his teachings so much - because they are based on JOY.

You becoming as joyful as possible by you being true to yourself and sharing that truth with the world around you.

And that joy can look however you want it. Maybe you love painting tiny pictures of mice drinking coffee. Maybe you love pottery and creating the most elaborate mugs. Maybe you love singing or writing or gardening or making coffee art or changing your hair color every month or wearing 12 rings every day. Whatever you love to do and however you like to express, it’s what makes you YOU and the world should know about it.

I’ve been reading a lot of different types of books lately, from David Icke to MKUltra survivors to Tatarian Empire, and all of these books have taken me down different rabbit holes, both positive and negative. It’s been really fascinating to see the world from a completely different angle, an angle that makes me question my own programming, upbringing, and beliefs. But the teachings of Bashar have resonated so much more because they feel so beautiful to me. To think that our mission here on Earth is to be completely and wholeheartedly ourselves, well, it feels so special.

We get to see this every single day now that we have social media. We see people making income based off anything. And to me, that’s because they are living in alignment. They are being true to themselves and sharing what they are most passionate about. And it’s MAGNETIC. You want to watch them because they shine and they suck you in with that magnetic pull.

You could be this person. You could be the person living such a joyful life that people want to be around you and radiate that same energy that you’re giving off. You could be that person making a living off of baking breads or opening toys or painting pictures of dogs. You could be the person who people are pulled to because you shine bright every time they see you.

If you take anything from this short read, I hope it’s that you should be 100% yourself. Instead of letting outside perspectives or conditioning and programming sway you in your choices (which is inevitable in some ways), I recommend that you dive deep within yourself and what you truly believe in. And when you know, start sharing it. Because your creativity and uniqueness is what will elevate this world.

Below I will link some podcast episodes to listen to, some audio clips, and some books you can read if you’re interested. As always, take what resonates and leave the rest.

Podcasts:

• Darryl Anka on Pretty Intense

• Darryl Anka on Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown

Short Clips:

• Short clip of Bashar talking about passion

• Short clip of Bashar talking about anxiety

• Short clip of Bashar talking about healing

Long Video:

• Messages from Bashar on Gaia

Books:

• The Masters of Limitation: An ET’s Observations of Earth

• The Great Awakening: Our Prophesized Transformation and the Attainment of Embodied Enlightenment

• Seth, Abraham, Bashar! All that you see is yourself

If you didn’t have a mom whispering how special you are and how you will change the world with your gifts, maybe these audio clips and books can be that voice. Because it’s the truth and hopefully I can also be the reminder for you. I believe in you and I believe you are here for a great purpose. Can’t wait to see how you shine.

I have a retreat in Guatemala soon and something that’s been on my mind is this shift in consciousness that is happening. I’ve been learning more about it myself and wanted to share it with everyone coming on the retreat to help them with their own shift into higher consciousness.

If you’re new to 3D vs 5D consciousness like I am, let me talk about some of the differences. When it comes to 3D consciousness, it’s more conditioning or programming from the outside experience. A person in 3D consciousness will often act from a place of fear, always in a scarcity mentality, is constantly living in the past, and is perceiving themselves based on what other say about them. A person who has stepped into 5D consciousness is living in abundance, living in the now, knowing that fear is a choice, trusting the journey, and is always their authentic self.

3D is about identification based on the role they have been programmed into while 5D is about the identification based on their soul.

3D is about disconnection while 5D is about remembrance.

3D is about conditioning while 5D is about sovereignty.

And, of course, there is the 4D consciousness which I think a lot of people are in. With 4D consciousness, you’re becoming more aware, waking up as they say - you are aware of your programming, questioning your own perception, and stepping into your intuition.

So why does any of this even matter? Because earth needs unity and love right now, now more than ever. I think everyone feels the volatile energy of what is happening in the world, whether it’s on the news or on our social media feed. With one quick scroll you can see endless wait times at airports, increased gas prices, Epstein files, domestic violence, politicians, Hollywood, and on and on. This scroll tells us we are divided, that we are in competition with each other. But as much as one truth can be possible, the other one can as well. We can be united. We can be living as one, empowering each other, and awakening together.

If this all sounds like mumbo jumbo or weird spiritual nonsense, that’s totally fair. If you would have said this to me years ago, I would have looked the other way and went on with my day. But now I try to soak everything in that seems outside the box. And the more I read, the more I really do believe that our world needs to wake up to how much love we’ve lost. How much hope we’ve lost.

So what do we do? How do we move from 3D to 5D? I think the best thing we can do is get off our phones. It’s hard to know who to trust or what to believe so how about we step away and into our true reality? A reality that’s surrounded by people and nature and activities and joy. A reality that helps us get creative. Because I truly believe that one of the best things we can do is create. Create anything that’s exciting us at that moment. It may be a puzzle, a painting, a course, a podcast, a video, or it may simply be a beautiful home. Creating is what we were meant to do and it’s so easy to simply consume instead, which disconnects us from our soul’s purpose.

You are here to be unique. To have an abundant life being your authentic self.

And you’ll see your unique gifts the more you connect and the more you create. When life feels really overwhelming and scary, don’t forget to disconnect and take in what means most to you, when brings you the most joy, and what drives you every day. Dance, sing, draw, build, get outside, move your body, daydream, look at the clouds, bake some bread, watch a sunrise, read a book, write a book, clean your house, redecorate it, move cities, move countries, break up with your partner, fall in love - DO things. Just follow your heart, follow your inner child, and connect with the world around you. Because this world is so beautiful and it’s time to make it even more beautiful with your authenticity.

I’ve shared many times over how curious I am. I am a 1/3 in Human Design, meaning I am the investigator and martyr. I am very curious, I am an experimenter, and learn through trial-and-error. And with that comes continued questions, getting it wrong many times over, and then other times getting it right. I’m not embarrassed to “fail” because failure sho…

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