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Ambassador Fashion Fitness

Katie K Active Spring 2015 Collection + HUGE Discount!

July 31, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

I have only three words:

Leggings. With. Pockets.

Okay, I have more words than that. I’ve been an ambassador with Katie K Active for almost a year and a half. The people are great, the clothes are all-INclusive (sizes S-3X), and the LEGGINGS HAVE POCKETS!! Can you tell I’m excited? Not only are the leggings/capris incredibly comfortable, the pocket holds my phone, keys, ID, and debit card while I’m nannying (I play on the playground a lot). I’m obsessed.

KatieKActive Spring 2015 Burnout

Wearing my KKA burnout tee with open back

Disclosure: As part of my ambassadorship, I got to choose three pieces of the Spring 2015 collection to wear, review, and keep. I dropped the ball on posting about my outfit during the spring, so forgive me for that. Regardless, these pieces are AMAZING, and they’re great for any time of the year!

Tweet: 3 words: leggings w/ pockets. See @balancebrunette’s @katiekactive outfit + 40% off w/ code LYNDSAY40! http://bit.ly/1JUTOgF #definebrave

 

Signature Open Back Burnout Tee

KatieKActive Open Back Tee  KatieKActive Spring 2015 Inclusive

Don’t you just love the open back?! I was hesitant about it because I’m not a skinny minnie, but I’m all for pairing it with a cute tank underneath!

Signature Urban Legging

KatieKActive Legging Pocket

Image from KatieKActive.com

You can see the leggings on me in the full-body photos above!

Signature Urban Capri in Yellow

KatieKActive Leggings With Pockets

These capris (+ the leggings) come in yellow (pictured above), blue, coral, and all black.

Do you see the size of that pocket?! My boyfriend’s cell phone is bigger than mine, so I tested it out. It fits WITH ROOM TO SPARE. What’s even better is that I can’t feel a thing! I often find myself asking where my phone is… when it’s in my pocket.

By now, I imagine you have the Katie K Active webpage open with multiple pieces in your cart. You may see the total increasing because it’s so hard to choose just one piece; but no need to worry! I have a promo code for 40% off + free shipping. Say whaaaatttt?!

Yep! Hop on over to katiekactive.com (and/or go to your already full cart), and enter promo code LYNDSAY40 to get 40% off + free shipping.

Tweet: 3 words: leggings w/ pockets. See @balancebrunette's @katiekactive outfit + 40% off w/ code LYNDSAY40! http://bit.ly/1JUTOgF #definebrave

Tweet: 3 words: leggings w/ pockets. See @balancebrunette’s @katiekactive outfit + 40% off w/ code LYNDSAY40! http://bit.ly/1JUTOgF #definebrave

Happy Shopping!! 🙂

Thank you for reading!

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Filed Under: Ambassador, Fashion, Fitness Tagged With: #definebrave, activewear, Ambassador, curvy, fit fashion, fitness, Inclusive, Katie K Active, LA, Los Angeles, outfit, Plus Size, SoCal, Spring 2015, women, workout

Events SoCal

Father’s Day Plans? Celebrate At The 2015 Progressive San Diego International Boat Show

June 5, 2015 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

This press release is from Synergy Communications, in partnership with the Progressive San Diego Boat Show. I received two free tickets to attend Media Day on June 18. All opinions are 100% my own.

The 2015 Progressive® Insurance San Diego International Boat Show® is almost here! It’s going to be the perfect family outing for Father’s Day weekend (June 18-21); especially if you’re in/near San Diego, Calif. I attended last year, and it was super fun! Check out my recap and see for yourself!

Progressive San Diego Boat Show Logo

San Diego Boat Show Progressive

As the region’s premier summer boating event, the 2015 boat show provides attendees an all-access pass to discover the boating lifestyle and a chance to shop the newest boats and marine accessories. More than 120 vessels, from entry-level family cruisers and personal watercraft to sailboats and superyachts, will be docked in the marina and parked on land for visitors to browse, board and buy. The boat show also provides visitors of all ages boating chance to get their feet wet with a variety of activities including:

  • Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) and free sailing lessons aboard the Sailing Simulator.
  • Boaters can also sharpen their skills with boating and sailing lessons on the water or through complimentary seminars at Fred’s Shed Interactive Learning Center and the new Sportfishing Pavilion.
  • ‘Be A Diver’ Pool
  • A variety of eats from the area’s popular food trucks, beverages and live entertainment are also available.

Boat Show San Diego Progressive

Show Details:

When:

Thursday through Sunday, June 18-21, 2015

Thursday, June 18 and Friday, June 19–Noon to 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 20–10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday, June 21– 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where:

Sheraton Marina on Harbor Island

1380 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92101

Price:

 Admission: $12 – Adults (16 years & older)

FREE – Children (15 years & under)

FREE with proper ID – Active military personnel, Fire and Police

Advance tickets can be purchased online at SanDiegoInternationalBoatShow.com

Visit sandiegointernationalboatshow.com; Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – #SDBoatShow

My boyfriend and I will be attending, and we hope to see you there! There’s SO many fun things to do and see; you’ll wish it was longer than a weekend. Share your posts with @sdintlboatshow and myself @balancebrunette (Twitter) & @thebalancedbrunette (Instagram)!

  • Will you be attending this year? Did you attend last year?

  • What would your favorite activity be: SUP, Be A Diver pool, kayaking, or checking out the boats?

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*Media Contact: Preview photos, interviews and additional information are available upon request by contacting c3 Communications, Inc. at joice@c3publicrelations.com or by calling 858-794-6974.

*About the Progressive Insurance San Diego International Boat Show: The San Diego International Boat Show, in partnership with the California Yacht Brokers Association (CYBA) and San Diego Superyacht Association, is produced by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the world’s largest producer of boat shows and the leading association representing the recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy advocacy, market statistics and research, product quality assurance and promotion of the boating lifestyle. For more information, visit www.nmma.org.

*About Progressive: The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies (collectively, “Progressive Insurance”) is a leader in boat insurance and the largest seller of personal watercraft insurance in the U.S. It offers flexible, year-round coverage so boaters can go wherever they choose, whenever they choose and have peace of mind they’re protected. Specialty coverages which vary by state include On-Water Towing, Roadside Assistance, Personal Effects, Total Loss Replacement and Pet Injury. The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies makes it easy to understand, buy and use auto insurance. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach it whenever, wherever, and however it’s most convenient —online at progressive.com, by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, on a mobile device or in-person with a local agent.

Filed Under: Events, SoCal Tagged With: boat show, California, event, family, family fun, Father's Day, Father's Day 2015, LA, La Mesa Rotary Club, Los Angeles, media, press release, Progressive Insurance, Progressive San Diego International Boat Show, San Diego, San Diego Superyacht Association, SD, SoCal, yacht

Nutrition Reviews

Decadent Chocolate Deliciousness With Cocozia® Coconut Water

May 11, 2015 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Coconut water is my all-time favorite drink. Like, EVER. It’s a topic of discussion all throughout my blog. I drink it daily, especially  in the summertime. But sometimes I get bored with the taste, and most nights, just like any other female, I want chocolate. What’s a girl to do?

Good thing Cocozia® coconut water has a brand-new chocolate flavor! Seriously, it’s amazing. You may be saying, “But [insert another brand here] already has a chocolate flavor; what makes this any better?”

Disclosure: I received a case (12 pack) of Cocozia chocolate coconut water in exchange for an honest review on my blog. I make a small profit of any purchases through my affiliate links. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Cocozia Chocolate Coconut Water Review   Cocozia Chocolate Coconut Water Organic

I’m glad you asked (or at least I’m pretending you asked 😉 ). The other brand comes in a plastic bottle, which I despise. I should call myself an anti-plastic warrior. Ha! It’s terrible for the environment and anything that comes from a plastic bottle tastes weird. Plus this other brand is from concentrate, which I’m not really a fan of. Cocozia (affiliate link), however, comes in a biodegradable Tetra Pak, and it’s not from concentrate. Plus Cocozia is 100% organic and non-GMO Project verified. The chocolate flavor comes from light, all-natural chocolate.

I like to drink Cocozia for a few different reasons throughout my day:

  • To hydrate
  • To raise my blood sugar when it gets too low (hypoglycemia)
  • As a snack
  • As a replacement for not-so-healthy chocolate
  • As a nighttime snack (I probably used it mostly for this one!)

When I was craving something extra chocolaty, I would make this recipe:

Cocozia Chocolate Recipe Coconut Water

For this recipe, I used PBZero powdered peanut butter and Navitas Naturals raw cocoa nibs (affiliate link). Of course, you can use whichever brands you prefer!

If you want decadent chocolate deliciousness in your fridge, you can order a case of Cocozia on Amazon (affiliate link)! A 12 pack case of 16.9 oz is $35. You can also find Cocozia on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  • What is your favorite flavor of coconut water?
  • Are you a chocolate fanatic like me?
  • What was the highlight of your weekend? (I’m just curious!) :p

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Filed Under: Nutrition, Reviews Tagged With: #definebrave, #fitfluential, #girlsgonesporty, #socalbloggersociety, #sweatpink, affiliate, all-natural, Amazon, buy, California, chocolate, chocolate coconut water, coconut water, Cocozia, health, LA, lifestyle, Los Angeles, Navitas Naturals, nonGMO, nonGMO Project verified, organic, PBZero, recipe, review, shop, SoCal, summer

Lifestyle SoCal

LA Weekend With My Bestie Recap

September 22, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 6 Comments

This past weekend was such an AMAZING weekend! Since moving to LA a year and a half ago, I haven’t had many opportunities to have “girl time.” I totally love my boyfriend Tim, and we have the best times together, but sometimes a girl just needs her girlfriend.

My best friend since first grade, Kristen, lives in Las Vegas. It’s awesome, because we’re both from Ohio (we went to school together from 1st-12th grade), but she’s out on the West coast too. Vegas is about 4.5 to 5 hours from LA, so it’s a relatively easy drive. I really needed some girl time to talk about my upcoming life decisions, and Kristen is one of the best people to talk to about this stuff. She knows everything about my life, she has moved away from home a couple times, and we both went to college for journalism (I ended up switching majors halfway through). Needless to say, we have a lot in common!

Los Angeles Beach Leo Carillo Best Friends Selfie

Kristen wanted to spend Saturday at the beach, and I LOVE the beach, so that’s what we did! I go to Santa Monica Beach at least once a week, so we decided to take a trip up the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) and find a beach with a little more character. We drove through Malibu, and found Leo Carillo State Park. It was PERFECT!

Los Angeles Beach Leo Carillo Surf   Los Angeles Beach Leo Carillo Rocks

Since moving here, I’ve been looking for a beach with big rocks. Leo Carillo has tons of rocks, little tide pools, and caves! We didn’t have our bathing suits, so we couldn’t go in the caves. That’s for next time. 🙂

The tide pools had snails and crabs EVERYWHERE! Crabs are my second favorite animal (pink flamingos are my #1), so getting to see little hermit crabs in their natural habitat was super awesome. I wanted to take them all home!

Los Angeles Beach Leo Carillo

Do you see him?! Isn’t he so cute?!?!

Kristen and I found some shells and beach glass (you can’t really find that at Santa Monica Beach), so that was exciting! After we felt satisfied with our beach trip, we drove down the PCH back to Los Angeles. We stopped at a vista point in Malibu to snap some photos. This is one of my faves:

Los Angeles Beach Leo Carillo Malibu

What a totally stunning view. Sometimes I stop everything I’m doing and think, “Is this really my life?” I’m so incredibly grateful to live in SoCal, with my amazing boyfriend, working jobs that don’t require me to sit at a desk all day, and to have a friend like Kristen who is willing to visit me. <3

  • What did you do this past weekend?
  • What is your favorite type of beach?

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XO

Lyndsay

Filed Under: Lifestyle, SoCal Tagged With: best friend, California, crabs, LA, Leo Carillo State Park, Malibu, Pacific Coast Highway, PCH, Recap, road trip, Santa Monica, SoCal, SoCal, Weekend

Ambassador Fashion Fitness

Katie K Active 25% Discount Friday-Sunday ONLY!

September 10, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

Disclosure: As part of my ambassadorship with Katie K Active, I receive a portion of sales purchased with my discount code. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.


Don’t you just love sales?! I know I do. My grandma always taught me to buy things that were on sale, and I stuck with that philosophy (it’s served me well!).

This weekend ONLY (Friday, 9/12 through Sunday, 9/14), Katie K Active is offering 25 percent off all active wear (plus free shipping)! It’s usually a 15 percent discount, so this is super awesome! To redeem your 25% discount, go to www.katiekactive.com and enter code LYNDSAY25 in the promo box at checkout.

This is me sporting the signature black tee (comes in various colors). There’s also a ZIPPER POCKET on the back of the shirt that holds your phone, ID, debit card, keys.. you name it. Seriously awesome sauce.

Katie K Active Discount Promotion

A little bit of background about Katie K Active:

Katie, the founder of Katie K Active, used to be a personal trainer. She would be working with clients, and some of them would express their frustration with not being able to find workout gear that fit their curves. The shirts were too short, the pants were too tight, you name it. So Katie set out to start Taffy Plus Size Activewear and Katie K Active.

Katie K Active is an athletic apparel company that is all-inclusive, meaning sizes S-3X. The high-quality clothes are made to fit women of all shapes and sizes. And they do! They’re my favorite clothes to wear not only when I’m working out, but also for everyday wear.

Katie K Active Workout Hoodie Discount Katie K Active Capris Workout Discount

(Images Courtesy of KatieKActive.com)

In the photos above, you can see the white hoodie and the black/print capris. The hoodie also comes in black (I have it and LOVE it.. even my boyfriend said he wishes he had one for him!!). The capris come in plain black, or you can also get a pattern like the one shown above. There’s white zebra, blue zebra, and pink zebra. The best thing about the capris (and pants)? THEY HAVE POCKETS! Now that might sound like a silly thing to be excited about, but the pocket fits my iPhone, ID and debit card, and keys no problem. It’s seriously so perfect for when I am working out, going on walks, or simply don’t want to carry a purse (which tends to be almost all the time)!

You can also get a super cute headband to match (I have the coral one):

Zebra Headband Workout Katie K Active (Image Courtesy of KatieKActive.com)

Now that you know just how awesome this brand/active wear is, head on over to www.katiekactive.com and enter code LYNDSAY25 for 25% off + free shipping!! Remember, it’s ONLY valid Friday, 9/12 through Sunday, 9/14. You don’t want to miss out!


 

Find me on Instagram or Twitter to show off what you get- I’d love to see!!

And don’t forget to share with & follow Katie K Active:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram (side note: I’m co-hosting an Insta challenge starting 9/24.. stay tuned!)
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Katie K Active Workout Logo

  • Have you had issues with workout gear fitting right? What brand do you currently use?
  • Are you excited to try out Katie K Active?!

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XO.

Lyndsay

Technorati Tags: Discount,Katie K Active,Sale,Workout,Fitness,Activewear,Curves,Plus Size,Inclusive,Athlete,Ambassador,Los Angeles,California

Filed Under: Ambassador, Fashion, Fitness Tagged With: #definebrave, activewear, Ambassador, athlete, California, Curves, discount, fitness, Inclusive, Katie K Active, Plus Size, sale, SoCal, workout

Beauty Holistic Living Reviews

Benefits of Genuinely Simple’s Comfrey Cream + A Discount

September 6, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 5 Comments

Disclosure: I received free samples from Genuinely Simple in exchange for an honest review on my blog. I did not receive any monetary compensation. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.


 

When I found Genuinely Simple on Instagram, I was instantly intrigued. Before now, I had never heard of comfrey cream. I try to use alternative medicine as much as possible, and this includes natural lotions and salves. The comfrey cream made by Laura at Genuinely Simple is absolutely amazing!

Genuinely Simple Comfrey Cream Logo

Here’s a bit of background information about comfrey (from genuinelysimple.com):

Comfrey is a medicinal botanical plant. It has been used for centuries to treat problems of the skin, bone and muscles. Genuinely Simple infuses comfrey into olive oil along with calendula flowers. The herbs sit for weeks, allowing the nutrients to flow into the olive oil. Afterwards, they are strained out of the oil and the plant matter is composted. The infused oil is than mixed with shea butter, and candelilla wax for a thicker consistency.

Comfrey Genuinely Simple Plant  Peppermint Comfrey Cream Genuinely Simple

Photos: The comfrey plant (courtesy of GS) | Peppermint comfrey cream from Genuinely Simple

This comfrey cream is definitely a new favorite! It comes in original, lavender, and peppermint. I use it as body lotion, hand lotion, a conditioner on my split ends, and to even out calluses on my feet. My boyfriend uses it for his joint pain on his knee. It’s something that you need to use over time to get the effect on the joints, but for simple skin care, it’s instantaneous!

I emailed back and forth with Laura, the owner of Genuinely Simple and creator of the comfrey cream you see here. She is fabulous! We both have mood disorders, so we instantly clicked. She told me a little bit about how she started making comfrey cream, and why the plant is so special to her:

“When I was 20, everything started to fall on top of me. I [took] myself off all medications, against doctors orders, but I knew this was not the answer. I struggled with insomnia when I would get “manic”. I always said, “I could not shut my brain off but my body was so tired.” During the time period I started studying natural medicine and diet, which led to adopt a strict vegan diet, exercise, and natural remedies for healing purposes (no pharmaceuticals).

i went to Australia to intern under a Naturopathic doctor, Barbra O’Neill. It was life changing. Although, I had been vegan for almost six months at the time, I learned so much on natural medicine that I felt the need to share it with everyone I knew. While I was in Australia, I took a keen to the comfrey plant. I worked with a lot of the clients and noticed how amazing comfrey worked on their backs and stiff joints. It was love and I knew this was my ticket in sharing the health message. That is why I make and sell comfrey cream.”

Genuinely Simple Comfrey Cream  Genuinely Simple Comfrey Cream Lavender

Photos: All the GS products from Laura | Original comfrey cream (photo from genuinelysimple.com)

The lotion bar is super cool, too! I thought it was a soap bar at first, but it’s actually lotion that you apply after you bathe or shower (it contains comfrey as well). I’m always in a hurry, so it was awesome being able to use a lotion bar as opposed to liquid lotion. It was much faster to use! Plus it’s great quality.

Comfrey Cream Lotion Bar Photo courtesy of genuinelysimple.com

Discount Code:

Laura at Genuinely Simple has graciously offered my readers a 15% discount on all Genuinely Simple products! Isn’t she amazing?!

Check out her website at www.genuinelysimple.com – enter code BALANCED15 at checkout for your discount. It’s that simple!


You can follow Genuinely Simple on these social media platforms:

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

 

  • Have you ever used comfrey cream or the comfrey plant?
  • What do you currently use for skin ailments?

I want to thank Laura at GS for the wonderful opportunity to review your products!

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XO

Lyndsay

Filed Under: Beauty, Holistic Living, Reviews Tagged With: alternative, beauty, California, comfrey cream, Genuinely Simple, holistic, lavender, lotion, medicine, peppermint, review, salve, skin, skincare, SoCal, SoCal

Nutrition Reviews

Stay Hydrated With COCOZIA Coconut Water

August 27, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 3 Comments

Disclosure: I received a free case of COCOZIA coconut water in the hopes that I would mention it on my blog. I did not receive any monetary compensation. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

It’s been a pretty hot and humid summer in Los Angeles. We are in a severe drought, and I feel like I can never drink enough water. Sometimes I need more than water. That’s where COCOZIA coconut water comes in! Their motto is “Pure and Simple, Hydration is essential to life.®”

If you haven’t noticed by my About Me section, I am obsessed with coconut water. It’s a goal of mine to try every brand I can find. So naturally, I was excited to try out COCOZIA. The good thing about trying so many different brands is that I know which ones are good and which ones are bad. COCOZIA is one of the good ones! It’s seriously SO delicious.

Cocozia Coconut Water Blog 3 Cocozia Coconut Water Blog 2

I totally LOVE the packaging. It’s a bit reflective, and I like shiny things. 😉 It’s a very appealing tetra pack. Speaking of tetra packs. LOVE them! They’re easy for on-the-go (I’m able to put a coconut water in my purse no matter where I’m going), plus they’re recyclable (+ produce less waste). I am all about living green!

I only tried the original COCOZIA flavor. However, they have various flavors! There’s original, chocolate, coffee, mango, and pineapple. I totally want to try the chocolate, so I’ll be purchasing that soon! I’ve tried a different brand of chocolate coconut water, however, I like that COCOZIA is not from concentrate. So it wins for sure!

Cocozia Coconut Water Variety Photo Courtesy of COCOZIA’s Website

A few great facts about COCOZIA:

  • Non-GMO
  • Not from concentrate
  • No added sugar
  • Only 70 calories per carton (330 mL)
  • 730 mg of potassium
  • 100% organic
  • Fat-free
  • Fresh, pure water from inside a young green coconut

Here’s the nutrition facts (from the website) so you can see for yourself how awesome it is!

Cocozia Coconut Water Nutrition Facts

Where to Buy:

COCOZIA is available in various stores (use the store locator on their website). You can also purchase it from their website, which will take you to Amazon. There’s an 11.1 oz ($19.73) and a 16.9 oz ($35.59) option.

Follow COCOZIA:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

  • Have you tried COCOZIA coconut water? What did you think?
  • What kind of beverages do you enjoy?

Thank you COCOZIA for the opportunity to try and review your product!

XO, Lyndsay

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Technorati Tags: Cocozia,coconut water,review,hydration,healthy,Los Angeles,California,chocolate,Amazon

Filed Under: Nutrition, Reviews Tagged With: Amazon, California, chocolate, coconut water, Cocozia, healthy, hydration, review, SoCal

Personal

Life Update; August Edition

August 24, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 7 Comments

We are nearing the end of summer, and I wanted to give a “life update” for those who are curious about what I’ve been up to. It’s been a busy summer, and a really good one!

Summer 2014 Blog Cover

Last summer was my first one in California, and it was surprisingly not the best. I was in a depression after making such a big move (from CLE to LA), so I didn’t get to enjoy my time too much. But this summer, I did a lot of awesome stuff! Here are a few:

  • Worked a booth at the PLUSH Expo with Delta Labs
  • Completed my first 5k
  • Attended & covered the San Diego International Boat Show as a blogger (my first event specifically as a blogger)
  • Completed a virtual 5k with my little brother on Kelleys Island (Lake Erie, OH)
  • Visited Ohio for 2.5 weeks
  • Visited Chicago for the first time
  • Completed the Chaarg Booty Camp + became a virtual Chaarg member!
  • Made the decision to move back to Ohio (still debating this one..)
  • Got two new babysitting jobs
  • Attended my very first blog conference: BlogFest at IDEAworld (it was AMAZING!)
  • Signed up to become an FXP Fitness instructor

When I look at that list, it doesn’t seem like much. But considering all I did last summer was finish 14 seasons of Law and Order: SVU, I feel pretty good about it! I’m excited for autumn – crisp, cool air, job stability, fall clothes, traveling (hoping to take a trip up the PCH), holidays, and so on.

Santa Monica Summer 2014 Blog

I’m in this weird limbo. I’m not really sure what to do about moving back to Ohio. I want to be with my family, but part of me feels that I’ve changed too much to go back. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by Nelson Mandela:

“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.”

It’s nothing against Ohio (or the people there) at all. For me, moving across the country with no one but my boyfriend was obviously life-changing. I’ve been in LA a year and a half, and I have grown & changed so much. I had a dream last night that I was back in Ohio, going back to a job that I once had, seeing friends who were on different pages than myself. It was comforting, but I felt completely out of place. I want to settle down in San Diego, so part of me is wondering if I should even leave SoCal in the first place. Can I handle making such a big move three times in five years (or whatever it ends up being)? Clearly I have some things to think about.

I’m also trying to figure out what I want to do with my life career-wise. I am a health coach (for the past two years), blogger (obviously), and nanny/babysitter. I have a bachelor’s degree in speech therapy and audiology, but totally love the flexibility of babysitting. I’m so untraditional- 9-5 has never really been my thing. But I am 26-years-old, and should probably make a career decision, right?

Anyway, these are all things I need to figure out myself. But writing is therapy for me, so there it is!

  • Have you been in a position where you weren’t sure what to do with your career/life? What did you end up doing?
  • How was your summer?! What was your favorite moment?

As always, thanks for reading 🙂

XO, Lyndsay

Let’s connect! Twitter + Instagram are my faves 😉

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Technorati Tags: summer,2014,life,update,los angeles,LA,SoCal,California,decision,personal,limbo,career

Filed Under: Personal Tagged With: 2014, 5K, California, career, LA, life, limbo, moving, Ohio, personal, SoCal, SoCal, summer, update

Ambassador Events Fitness Lifestyle Nutrition SoCal

Meet & Greet + Book Signing With Lorna Jane

August 12, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 16 Comments

This past Saturday was such a memorable day! I have been crazy sick for the past three weeks, and literally did not leave my apartment, except to go grocery shopping one evening. I had an upper respiratory infection that led to pleurisy, and I pretty much slept! My first “outing” was to the Lorna Jane store in Santa Monica, Calif. to attend a book signing with the beautiful Lorna Jane Clarkson herself!

Back in July, I had the amazing opportunity to read and review Lorna Jane’s brand new cookbook NOURISH; The Fit Woman’s Cookbook. It is hands-down the most beautiful cookbook EVER! I partnered up with fellow #sweatpink ambassador Jessica from Healthy = Happy, and we made a couple of the healthy and delicious recipes from the cookbook.

Fast forward to this past Saturday: Lorna Jane was at her store to do a book signing!! What an awesome experience! Lorna Jane lives in Australia, so to have her in LA was simply fabulous. Fellow #sweatpink sister Tiffany picked me up (thanks Tiff!) and we headed to Santa Monica Place for the morning. We met up with a few other #sweatpink sisters, as well! More on that in a minute.

Lorna Jane Santa Monica Place

 Santa Monica Place


Disclosure: As a #sweatpink ambassador with Fit Approach, I received a $50 gift card to use at the Lorna Jane store in exchange for an honest review of my meet & greet with Lorna Jane. All opinions are 100% my own.


With the gift card, I was able to buy a hard copy of NOURISH. I was SO excited, because it seriously is the most beautiful cookbook ever. The recipes are super healthy, but also sustainable. Get your copy here!

NOURISH Cookbook by Lorna Jane

We waited in line for about an hour or so to meet Lorna Jane. I get impatient, so I generally don’t like waiting in line for a long time. However, this was totally different! I was with #sweatpink sisters Tiffany, Alicia, and Amanda, and we had the opportunity to talk about our blogs, our lives, and BlogFest (at IDEA World) that’s happening this week! We also met a couple amazing women who are both designers. It was a morning full of empowerment, growth, and happiness!

Lorna Jane Santa Monica Line Lorna Jane SweatPink Sisters

My #sweatpink sisters (from left to right):
 Amanda from Eat Hard Work Hard
 Alicia from Never Ever Been Skinny
 Tiffany from Matters of Course

These ladies are AMAZING!! We have been following each other on Instagram,  Twitter, and our blogs, but this was the first time we had met in person. I’ve never had a sister, so creating relationships with these “sisters” is one-of-a-kind.

While waiting in line, the associates were passing out Active Living magazines, Lorna Jane water bottles, and Zico coconut water (we all know I LOVE coconut water)!

Lorna Jane Water Bottle  Lorna Jane Active Living

It was finally my turn to meet Lorna Jane, and I felt starstruck! I know that makes me sound silly, but I have been following her Move Nourish Believe philosophy for quite a while, and I am definitely obsessed with her active wear! But what I love about her the most is her down-to-Earth attitude. She is like any other person, but she believes in herself so strongly, that she has had great success! She lives a healthy, active lifestyle and it clearly pays off. She is even more gorgeous in person, and her smile truly lights up the room. She smiled at me, signed my book, and took a photo with me. I give her props- she had been standing and signing books for over two hours at this point, and she still had a smile on her face. I appreciate her so much more!

Meeting Lorna Jane    Lorna Jane NOURISH Cookbook

It was SUCH an amazing day, and I am so excited to have been a part of it! Thank you to Fit Approach for the opportunity!

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Filed Under: Ambassador, Events, Fitness, Lifestyle, Nutrition, SoCal Tagged With: #liveloveNOURISH, #sweatpink, author, book, book signing, California, cookbook, Fit Approach, fitness, Lorna Jane, Lorna Jane Clarkson, NOURISH, recipe, Santa Monica, SoCal, SoCal

Fitness Lifestyle Nutrition

This Week’s Giveaway Roundup!

July 23, 2014 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Every week, Smitha from RunningWithSDMom hosts a giveaway roundup! It’s awesome- tons of giveaways in one spot. This week, Erica from Erica Finds is hosting it! I have one giveaway (Delta Labs postnatal supplement) featured, and there are many others!

Check it out here!

Today, I am traveling from Illinois back to LA after a 3 week trip. I am very excited to get home! However, our internet isn’t working (womp womp), so I might be MIA for a bit! I’ll be back ASAP, trust me! I can’t go that long without all you lovelies 🙂

Have an awesome Wednesday!!

XO,

Lyndsay

 

Filed Under: Fitness, Lifestyle, Nutrition Tagged With: Cleveland, giveaway, link up, roundup, SoCal, SoCal, Wednesday

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