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Fascinated by everything science and medicine, Elyse Love excelled in school. But when she developed nodular cystic acne, she slipped into the shadows, opting out of classroom discussions she once had a major voice in. After her first dermatology appointment at age 14, Elyse realized she wanted to find a way to help others feel what she didn’t at the time: powerful, beautiful, capable, and strong.
Elyse’s family raised her to survive in a world where people would assume things about her intelligence and work ethic based on her skin color, which fueled her fascination of how skin and identity intertwine.
Today, to no one’s surprise, Elyse is a dermatologist. Though she’d always been interested in medicine, it wasn’t until medical school that her career choice was confirmed. On the night before her graduation from Emory University School of Medicine, her cousin was involved in a terrible car accident. Elyse was able to act as an interpreter of the complex and sometimes confusing medical lingo her cousin’s doctors were using, cementing her choice to work in a field where the voices of people like her family are often marginalized.
Elyse doesn’t just help her family, though; she’s always been one to jump in and help others. From fitting tutoring into her busy class schedule to leading fitness classes at a local nursing home, finding the time to share her knowledge with those who need it has long been a part of her day-to-day life.
As a representative for Glossier, Elyse uses Instagram to discuss beauty, give skincare tips, and encourage her followers to reach out to her for advice and tips on what products to use. She says her goal on social media is to “inspire little black girls to be who they want to be and whatever they want to be.”
Not only is she busy saving her patients’ skin, volunteering, and keeping her Instagram account updated, she also runs a life and career blog called Love and the Sky. The inspiration for the site’s name comes from two things: “I hope that every post on this site will be written with love, in love, and will stay true to who I am. And for me, the sky represents life outside of medicine.” She makes sure to pack her two-year-old blog with tips about school, beauty, food, and travel, plus peeks into her personal life. In a profession full of procedures, strict guidelines, and not a ton of wiggle room, Elyse finds comfort in her blog, where she is able to let her creativity come to life.
Though she has a lot going on, Elyse does have a singular mission that ties all of her platforms and messages together: “Be kind. Be kind to others because life is easier when you spread positive energy. Be kind to yourself; treat yourself often, and forgive your imperfections and mistakes. Be kind to your skin.”
If you can take anything from her endless amounts of inspiration and advice, it’s that you should believe in, be kind to, and take care of yourself. And your skin.

A Day in the Life

What does your daily routine look like?

My weekday routine is structured but flexible. My alarm chimes at 5:20 a.m. I’m usually pretty good about getting out of bed because I don’t want to wake my partner, but sometimes I then go back to sleep on the couch! Most days, I make coffee and brush my teeth in a sleepy daze then head to the gym or for a run before work. Evenings are filled with meetings, happy hour, or Real Housewives, and I’m in bed by 10:20 p.m. We’ve started five-minute guided meditation before bed, and now I can’t fall asleep without it!

What are your favorite ways to practice self-care?

Self-care is part of my daily routine, starting with my a.m. workouts. Taking time for myself, with myself, every morning helps me start my day feeling strong and in control. My anxiety peaks and my self-confidence drops when I miss a few days. My partner and I have a pretty adorable, if I may say so myself, p.m. routine that’s part skincare (our nightly sharing of the tretinoin tube) and part meditation. On the more indulgent side, I absolutely love a good massage. My idea of heaven is a never-ending full-body massage.

How do you stay inspired?

My biggest problem is that I’m over-inspired. There are so many versions of myself I want to manifest and so many things I want to put out into the world, but there just isn’t enough time. So, for me, sometimes it’s important for me to take a break from the overload of stimuli so that the things I really, really care about can rise to the top.  


Disclaimer: Just so you know, if you order an item through one of our posts, we may get a small share of the sale.

Loving Lately…

What are the best products you’ve discovered recently?

New Wash is my favorite shampoo, and Glossier Lash Slick is my new fav mascara. Disclaimer: I’m a Glossier rep!

What are your favorite apps?

Instagram, VSCO X, and Spotify, obviously. I use Planoly to plan my feed (aka see what the next post will look like, and post it regardless).

Whose Instagram is on your radar?

I consider myself to be a broke @HannahBronfman, so I follow her really closely. I admire her career a lot. @elainewelteroth is a huge inspiration to me. I grew up reading Teen Vogue and never felt represented. Her work in diversifying fashion and beauty media is so inspiring. Also @WillSmith is killing it!

What’s your go-to healthy snack?

Apple or carrots and hummus for home. On the go, I love Lenka bars—they’re organic granola bars that I order by the box.

Elyse Love IRL

If your pet could talk, how would they describe you?

Sore subject. We want a dog so bad, but unfortunately our work schedules aren’t pet-friendly. If the many dogs on Instagram could talk, they would probably say, “This girl has a problem!”

What is your bucket list travel destination?

Everywhere, but one particular bucket list item is to visit all of the U.S. National Parks. My 2020 resolution will be to spend less money on clothes and more on travel.

What woman in history would you love to take to brunch?

OPRAH WINFREY. DUH. Secondly, Meghan Markle—not because she’s a “real-life fairytale,” but because I would love to have a conversation with a brilliant, driven woman about love, sacrifice, and compromise.

What are you really great at (that might embarrass you to admit)?

This was such a hard question for me to answer, but I’m a pretty fast runner!


Follow Elyse on Instagram and on her blog, Love and the Sky.

Between the office grind and your personal life, you’re a bundle of stress. You’ve heard that meditation can help you calm your mind and dispel feelings of anxiety, so you’re ready to give it a try. You sit on the floor in a quiet area, cross your legs (maybe even light a candle or two), and close your eyes. No matter how hard you try to relax and breathe, you still cannot stop the thoughts from rolling around in your mind, and you quickly decide to postpone your meditation practice for another day.

Instead of wondering how to get happy one day, start exploring what you can do to get happy today, and see the benefits for yourself.

A Day in the Life

What does your daily routine look like?

What daily routine? Just kidding. Every day looks different for me, but there are a few things that stay the same. I always wake up, brush my teeth, do a few simple moves—like child’s pose, side body stretches, and cat cows—then I meditate. I meet with my husband every morning by 10 a.m. He also happens to be my business partner, and these meetings set the tone for our day. We decide exactly what our priorities are and what we’re each tackling. It helps me stay on track and ensures I’m working on the most important things that will move our business forward.
Honestly? I’m pretty terrible at eating breakfast. I prefer a matcha latte with full-fat coconut milk to anything else early in the morning. Then I sit down for a bigger meal around 11 a.m. I avoid scheduling any meetings or calls before 1:30 p.m. That allows me to block off my mornings and use that time to get work done. Around 3 or 4 p.m., that’s when I move and meditate on my own. Usually that looks like a sweat session in my living room before I sit in the quiet. Once or twice a week, I might pop into a yoga class in Portland with my mom or a friend. There are incredible teachers who I adore and learn from here. Mostly though, I do my own thing depending on how I’m feeling and what my schedule allows for.

What are your favorite ways to practice self-care?

It’s the simple things. Moving my body in a way that feels good but also challenges me. Sitting in the quiet and meditating. Drinking lots of water. Calling my mom or meeting a friend for some matcha. Staying in with my husband and cat Javier to watch HBO and cook dinner. I work a lot, and I love what I do. My self-care practices need to fit into my busy life—not the other way around. I’m always looking for strategies to uncover a little more ease and joy in the simple things.

How do you stay inspired?

Connecting with badass women is a huge source of inspiration for me. The Portland community is so open and supportive. I’m grateful for the women in my circle every day. Also any time I can get away from my computer. Spending time outside and walking on the trails or along the Oregon coast helps me hit the reset button.


Disclaimer: Just so you know, if you order an item through one of our posts, we may get a small share of the sale.

Loving Lately…

What are the best products you’ve discovered recently?

A few weeks ago, I picked up the Moisture Renew Mask by January Labs. It’s hydrating without being too thick. This summer I’m traveling a bunch—including co-leading a retreat in Bali—this mask is absolutely coming with me in my suitcase. I’m also so into Outdoor Voices—currently wearing these pants like a uniform. Another favorite item right now is this “Un” Cover-Up from RMS Beauty. I am so impressed that an organic foundation actually works well—even for my 12-hour days filming workout and meditation classes. I don’t even have to reapply it. Last thing: This “I love you so matcha” tote by my friend Alison Wu. I carry it with me in my bag at all times in case I do an unplanned grocery shopping trip.

What are your favorite apps?

I love Voxer. It’s a walkie talkie app that allows you to leave voice messages for friends. I love talking on the phone—or better yet, in person—but that’s not always doable or easy because of crazy schedules. Voxer makes it a breeze to stay in touch, and it’s more personal than text or email.
Another great app to help with communication is Slack. Our team relies on it, and it cuts way down on the volume of emails.
Spotify is another app I use on the daily. Music is a huge part of the online experience, and music drives the workout portion of my classes. My husband is a DJ on the side, and we have so much fun searching for new tunes and putting playlists together.

Whose Instagram is on your radar?

Right now, I’m totally inspired by RayRay Ricketts. She’s an intuitive coach, healer, a spiritual activist, and the founder of @lossandfoundxo. One of the things she talks about a lot is grief and how it can be an everyday experience—not just something that you feel when someone you love passes away. We don’t have enough tools to deal with negative emotions and the energies that come along with grief. I respect her work, and I’m aligned with her approach to help people find the joy and connect with their inner resilience during tough times.
Another Instagram account that I’m following closely is @1thatgotawayy by Rachel Elizabeth Cargle. Rachel is an activist, a writer, speaker, and she’s currently attending Columbia University. Her work is dedicated to anti-racism and she calls us all to embrace a feminism that is inclusive and intersectional. As a white woman with boatloads of privilege, she helps me understand issues that people of color face every day and what I can do on my end to lift up and amplify existing efforts and movements.

What’s your go-to healthy snack?

I love smoothies. Especially this Cherry Cacao Be Well Smoothie by Kelly LeVeque. I’m also super into roasted chickpeas. I drizzle avocado oil and then add tons of garlic powder, onion powder, and a dash of chili powder over a sheet of chickpeas and roast them for 35 minutes at 375 degrees. It’s so good! Oh, and I’m obsessed with Cinnamon Maca Almond Butter by Jem Organics. My husband complains about the price, but it’s worth every penny.

What are you reading, watching, or listening to?

I’m listening to The Feel Good Effect podcast by researcher Robyn Downs. She’s entertaining, she gets to the point, and I always learn something new when I tune in. If you’re curious, I was on her show, and you can listen right here. I also love Dear Sugars with Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond.
And TV? Honestly, I love it. I love Homeland, Insecure, and the creativity and scenery of Westworld.

Kait IRL

If your pet could talk, how would they describe you?

I have a beloved cat named Javier. He’d probably tell you that my favorite time of the day is when I’m working at my desk and he sleeps behind my computer with his paws resting on the keyboard. He’d also tell you that he has me trained. He’ll go over to the pantry where his snacks are and just start meowing until I give in and feed him treats.

What woman in history would you love to take to brunch?

Ida B. Wells is definitely on the list. She’s an African-American journalist, abolitionist, and a feminist who led an anti-lynching campaign in the late 1890s. I’d also love to meet Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the author of the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper.” She wrote about a woman’s descent into madness, and the story reveals how women were treated in the 1890s and also reveals views about mental health at the time. I remember reading that short story in high school and being grateful for the women who have come before me and fought so that I can have a better life.

What piece of advice has impacted you the most?

You don’t have to prove yourself to yourself every single day.
I’ve struggled with anxiety pretty much my whole life. A part of me really liked being anxious and on edge because I thought it helped me achieve. Once I learned how to manage the energies of my anxiety, I realized that constantly proving myself to myself doesn’t make me better—it just sucks up my energy and steals my attention from the things that matter the most. Learning how to extend love, kindness, and patience to myself…also learning how to let go of chasing perfection? That’s been transformative and something I’m passionate about sharing with others through my online workout and meditation classes.

What are you really great at (that might embarrass you to admit)?

I have an uncanny ability to rest and watch really good television. TV binges don’t happen often, but when they do? Let’s just say I watched 7 episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale in one day last year. And about a month ago, I watched season 7 of Homeland in 8 days.

What is your bucket list travel destination?

I want to go all over Jordan and Israel. This summer, we’re checking off two of my bucket list items by visiting the Greek islands and Istanbul. I can’t wait!


To learn more about Kait Hurley, be sure to check out her Instagram and YouTube channel! You might even see some familiar faces…

This week’s Healthy Her Way feature is wellness guru and matcha maven Alison Wu.
Stylist and blogger Alison is all about healthy living; she focuses on eating a plant-forward diet that includes fresh, organic, and local (where possible) ingredients, and if you’ve seen the inside of her fridge—a Smeg that’s in the dreamiest kitchen ever—or pantry, you’ve probably felt some serious envy. How can someone eat like that all the time? Well, luckily for readers, Alison also develops recipes on her blog, Wu Haus—and most of them are actually way simpler than they look! Her incredible layered smoothies and colorful bowls are way attainable and have definitely served as inspiration when I am dragging myself to the kitchen to cook dinner.
Alison is open, though, about the times she doesn’t make choices she loves for herself, like when she’s not eating food that’s exactly fit for the ’gram or when she struggles with self-love. In March, she wrote this candid nugget about her Instagram feed: “Everything I share here is an authentic expression of who I am and what I love, but is by no means a full picture of my life. When I’m stressed or overworked, sometimes I skip meals or make poor decisions like eating a piece of toast for dinner like I did on Saturday night. This whole weekend, I was so focused on other things that I let healthy eating fall to the wayside.” Been there, sis.
Feeds full of picture-perfect shots sometimes feel unrelatable, but if you read Alison’s captions or her blog posts, you’ll quickly see that she actually shares a lot about the parts of her life that some people hold closer to the chest: thoughts on marriage and friendships, her wellness journey, selfies with skincare issues, and honest accounts of when she feels she didn’t do her best that day.
As she wrote on that post in March, “I slip up. I make bad decisions. I neglect self care. I let my impulses take control. I am human.” What’s more relatable than that?

A Day in the Life

What does your daily routine look like?

My husband and I usually end our days around 6:30 p.m. and begin prepping dinner to our favorite playlist of the moment. Eating nutrient-dense, nourishing meals is incredibly important to us. I’m a big proponent for understanding what your body needs and feeding it accordingly. For example, in times of heightened stress or anxiety, we’ll cook warming, grounding foods that balance the chakra—muladhara or root—to bring us back down to earth.
My husband usually helps me cook, and we chat about our days. To begin the unwinding process, I’ll prepare a cup of calming tea using herbs like chamomile, peppermint, lavender, rosemary, lemon balm, and cinnamon, which all have comforting effects on the nervous system. I use tea time to unplug from my phone and computer and focus my attention on the present moment, read an inspirational book, or write in my journal.
Creating a bathtime ritual is one of my favorite ways to practice self-care. I love making over-the-top baths with florals, citrus, and crystals and really taking the time to relax my body and my mind. I’ll skim through a book of poetry or just close my eyes and let my senses take over. I love to prepare a castor oil pack with a stress-relieving essential oil blend and apply it for 20 to 30 minutes while lying in bed reading a book or catching up on the news.
One of my intentions for 2018 was less scrolling, more page turning, so it’s important for me to disconnect from my phone before bed in order to fully relax.

What are your favorite ways to practice self-care?

• Slowing down and listening to my inner voice
• 3 liters of water a day
• 8 hours of sleep a night
• Quality time with people that bring me joy

How do you stay inspired?

I’m constantly gathering inspiration from my surroundings: nature, shapes, texture, interiors, fashion, fantasy. If I’m going through a period of feeling uninspired (like we all do), I try to be gentle with myself, remind myself that inspiration ebbs and flows. There’s so much in the world to be inspired by. Honestly, sometimes it’s overwhelming! A lot of times I find getting quiet, disconnecting from technology, and immersing myself in nature inspires me the most.


Disclaimer: Just so you know, if you order an item through one of our posts, we may get a small share of the sale.

Loving Lately…

What are your favorite apps?

Audible, Instagram, VSCO, NYTimes

Whose Instagram is on your radar?

@cleowade

What are you reading, watching, or listening to?

I’m reading the Steve Jobs’ biography, watching The Handmaid’s Tale, season 2, and listening to Frank Ocean’s Spotify station.

Alison IRL

What is your bucket list travel destination?

Well, I just got back from Puglia, Italy, and that’s all I can think about. Next maybe India or Australia.

Would you rather explore space or the ocean? Why?

Space. Seeing all the plastic in the ocean would make me depressed.

What’s your coffee order?

All about the matcha! My favorite is the one I make at home with coconut butter, collagen, adaptogens, cardamom, and ½ a Medjool date.

What piece of advice has impacted you the most?

Our thoughts shape our reality. I always keep that in mind, especially when I’m feeling down and find myself in a cycle of negative thinking.


Follow Alison on Instagram and at her blog, Wu Haus.

“You don’t need to be there every minute of your kids’ life for them to know they’re loved.”
Read that sentence again. And again. Okay, just one more time.
When I read that on Laura Scott’s blog post about being a working mom, it instantly resonated with me—hey, I’m a working mom! My daughter has attended daycare, is currently in a before- and after-school care program, and my family babysits her all the time—all of which allow me to juggle my career, a social life, and self-care. Even though I know time apart is important, the mom guilt constantly creeps in. But reading Laura’s posts on the importance of finding a village (and using that village!) was so important for me; it never hurts to be reminded that my daughter is loved and well cared for, even if I’m not there every hour of her life.
So that’s why I’m happy this week’s Healthy Her Way feature is Laura Scott of A Little Bit of Lacquer. Because of posts like that (and so many others), it’s clear that Laura is a mom who gets it. Plenty of moms on the internet are at the harsh end of pointed fingers for not doing enough for their kids, for not being there enough, for having other priorities too. Laura, on the other hand, is open about the fact that she does do a lot besides parent her three daughters. Of course, she’s more than just a mom (aren’t we all?)—she’s a graduate of Harvard Medical School, a dermatology resident specializing in skin of color, a wife, and a blogger. To say that she’s got a lot to juggle is an understatement.
Laura started her blog in her second year of med school to hold herself accountable for the interests she had outside of medicine (and constant second-year studying). Today, it helps pay the bills that come with being a med school graduate and mom of three. She regularly posts about being a working mom, her interests both professional and personal, and how she and her husband, Nathan—who’s also a Harvard Med grad because of course—make it work.
Reading Laura’s blog and scrolling her ‘gram, you get the sense that she won’t lead you astray with her recommendations. You won’t find any Flat Tummy Tea or appetite-suppressing lollipops here. Instead, she works with brands that actually meet her needs and those of her followers. She shares details about her working mom style and how to look put together when you’re feeling anything but (polished nails, well-fitting clothes, and good shoes are her top three tips). And, ever the doctor, she regularly posts skincare tips, dermatology issues to watch out for, and advice that will help us all stay safe in the sun.
If I haven’t convinced you to follow her religiously until the end of time, check out her responses below: She’s totally badass. She’s #blackgirlmagic embodied. She’s definitely one of my favorite finds, and I’m really excited to feature her this week.

A Day in the Life

What does your daily routine look like?

Wake up between 5 and 5:30, take care of emails and maybe some studying, get ready from 6 to 6:30, then wake up the girls and get them dressed and fed. We’re out of the house by 7:20, drop them off at daycare, then head to work to be in by 8. In clinic it depends on the day, but I can be seeing general adult dermatology, pediatric dermatology, or be doing skin cancer surgeries and reconstructions.
I love the variety of things we do every day! Most days I’m done by 5:30 or 6, pick up the girls, and relax. I either cook something easy or order takeout, my husband usually gets home shortly after, and we play with the girls and just catch up on our days. The girls are in bed by 9, then we usually stay up until 11 or so working on various projects, catching up on Netflix, and spending time together!

What are your favorite ways to practice self-care?

Self-care is such a hot topic right now and I feel like everyone thinks it should mean some fancy green juice and hot yoga—but neither of those are my kind of thing! Self-care is whatever fills your cup! So for me it’s getting down on the ground and playing with my kids, indulging in a good movie and delicious takeout, and getting to spend quality alone time with my husband.

How do you stay inspired?

I’m incredibly lucky in that so much of my inspiration literally gets sent to me daily. Every day I get messages from young women all over the world who share how my life has impacted them. So many of them started school again after having a child, or decided to push through and apply for a new program, or just keep working hard knowing that what they want in life is attainable. It’s those messages that really push me and remind me not only of how blessed I am but how important it is that I keep going!


Disclaimer: Just so you know, if you order an item through one of our posts, we may get a small share of the sale.

Loving Lately…

What are the best products you’ve discovered recently?

I am obsessed with Dove Beauty Bars—old news for any dermatologist since we always recommend their sensitive skin bar to most of our patients, but I’ve recently discovered their scented bars and the Go Fresh Revive beauty bar is my current obsession!

What are your favorite apps?

On the fun side, I’d say the app Snug—it lets you plan your IG feed to see how your pictures will fit and play around with the look. It definitely helps in planning a cohesive gallery! On the work side, I’d say Evernote. I use it for all my notes and ideas and screenshots and even saving receipts, and the best part is it’s searchable!

Whose Instagram is on your radar?

Oh my goodness it’s impossible to pick one! I love the IG community and surround myself with inspiring accounts! I think my two favorites right now are @travelnoire for constantly inspiring me to travel and empowering women of color to do so, and @thehomeedit. Literally every single one of their pictures makes me want to organize my house—another form of self-care for me: cleaning!

What are you reading, watching, or listening to?

Dear White People, Season 2

Laura IRL

What would the title of your autobiography be?

Ramblings. Anyone who watches my Instagram stories would know about my ramblings!

What woman in history would you love to take to brunch?

Madam C. J. Walker—often cited as the first female self-made millionaire in the U.S. and one of the most successful African-American business owners ever

What superpower would you like to have?

Move at superhuman speeds—like Quicksilver!

What’s your coffee order?

Blonde roast with cream and sugar: cheap and it’s the roast with most caffeine!


Follow Laura on Instagram and read (every single post on) her blog, A Little Bit of Lacquer.

Nikki Sharp is an internationally known wellness blogger and health coach. More than 350,000 people follow her on Instagram to see her recipe videos, life updates, and inspiration posts. She is the quintessential representation of health and fitness: toned, blonde, and beautiful.
But even she—the ideal picture of wellness—has struggled with some dark demons: body dysmorphia, anorexia, binge eating disorder, depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
In recent years, though, she’s managed to cope with and even overcome her problems. In an incredibly raw post on her blog about her experiences with recovering from disordered eating, she writes, “I focused on health, balanced meals with no restrictions, eating lots of colors, added meditation, and journaling. I started seeing exercise as a reward, not punishment. This … transformed my life and my health: it literally made me survive.”
Nikki’s health journey has taken her across the globe, but years of modeling led to loneliness and unhealthy relationships with food and her body. From Colorado to Shanghai to Sydney to London (and more!), she discovered that a) was she was tired of damaging diets and b) she actually loves eating clean. In 2012, Nikki started her blog to document the process of learning to cook nutritious meals, getting certified to be a health coach, and building a better relationship with her body.
Since then, Nikki has been dedicated to showing her followers how they, too, can overcome their issues with health, nutrition, and wellness. With her health certifications (and years of professional and personal experience to back them up), she’s written countless blog posts full of recipes and life advice, nine e-books, and two full-length books.
Her first book, The 5-Day Real Food Detox, has nearly 100 five-star reviews on Amazon. Though detoxes are typically a fad (and a misguided one, at best!), her version of the trend is completely different: It encourages you to eat! The focus is on “detoxing” from foods that don’t fuel your body and instead making healthful choices that help you get your glow on from within.
Nikki released her second book, Meal Prep Your Way to Weight Loss, this month (which is why she’s the perfect choice for this week’s feature!); it promises to show readers how to finally stop dieting and change their lifestyles for good. Plenty of people have recommended meal prepping to stay on track, but this book will show readers how to really do it by learning the best techniques, delicious recipes, and offering a 28-day guide to make sure your new habit sticks.
From her years as a model subsisting on the bare minimum to becoming a renowned health coach with a sunny, approachable attitude to boot, Nikki’s journey is definitely an inspiration. We can’t wait to see what she does next.

A Day in the Life

What does your daily routine look like?

I tend to wake up at 7 a.m. every morning, then depending on my schedule I will work out in the morning—I like doing it when I wake up because it gives me less reason to make excuses later in the day—have breakfast, and do emails/check social. Each day is so different, and sometimes I’m doing interviews all day, others I’m having meetings, and there are times I head to my office to buckle down and work.
My routine nearly looks the same in that I have a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner and try to make time to exercise four to five times per week. I’ve also been doing more meditation lately and will make it a priority to go to a 45-minute class in my day, which has had tremendous effects on my stress levels. I aim to be in bed by 10:30 and turn my phone off around 10 p.m. and put it in a different room.

What are your favorite ways to practice self-care?

Meditation—even if it’s only 5 minutes, exercising—this is my therapy—putting my phone away at night, and making time to call or text my friends every single day to check in and say hi. Eating well is obviously a huge way I practice self-care because I like to feel energized every day.

How do you stay inspired?

By focusing on how I am helping others achieve better health and happiness. Whenever I get stressed I find that it’s because I am focusing too much on myself or allowing fears to come up, so immediately I will shift back to “How can I serve others?” and this always helps me to become re-inspired!


Disclaimer: Just so you know, if you order an item through one of our posts, we may get a small share of the sale.

Loving Lately…

What are the best products you’ve discovered recently?

Uliv skincare, Just Add Water snack, which I take every day, and Believe Athletics yoga clothes, which I am loving because of the fabrics.

What are your favorite apps?

My 5-Day Detox app whenever I want to do the detox, UNUM to curate my IG feed, and Pandora for music, which I listen to literally all day!

Whose Instagram is on your radar?

@elsas_wholesomelife because of the travel and food inspo

What’s your go-to healthy snack?

My roasted red pepper hummus and beet chips from my new book. I pre-portion them so it’s easy to grab and go, which is key for how busy I am right now!

What are you reading, watching, or listening to?

I’m an avid reader and have about three books at any given moment that I’m reading. Right now The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Contagious, and Break the Norms are on my bedside table.

Nikki IRL

If your pet could talk, how would they describe you?

That I’m like a cat. I am super social when I want to be and most other times want to curl up in front of a fire. I am actually quite shy but once I get to know you I am very talkative and will get to know you quicker than most.

What is your bucket list travel destination?

India! I’m hoping to go there for six weeks next fall.

What’s your coffee order?

A matcha latte with almond milk with a shot of espresso—called a dirty matcha

What piece of advice has impacted you the most?

Don’t rush. And know that everything is happening for a reason, even if you don’t agree with it. It means you have a chance to learn and grow from every single thing that happens!


Follow Nikki on Instagram and check out her newest book, Meal Prep Your Way to Weight Loss, on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or iBooks.