The blog for age-defining, wellness seekers!

Where we help women redefine their relationship with body image, self-care, exercise and nourishment.

wonderfully mad

Wonderfully Made: a Q & A with Allie Marie Smith

I’m honored to have Allie Marie Smith on the blog today for another edition of “Real Women. Real Balance.” Allie is Founder and Director of Wonderfully Made, a non-profit ministry dedicated to inspiring young women to know their value and live outward-focused lives. She’s an award-winning author of “HEAL: Healthy Eating & Abundant Living” and is

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recipe swap

Happy Hour: The Best Workout Clothes

I’m excited to start a new tradition here on The Balanced Life….Friday Happy Hour! I’d love to build up the community  here on the site. I know you’re out there reading, but now it’s time to come out of hiding and chat with me. We all want to get fit, get healthy find more balance

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recipes with vegetables

Recipe: Fresh Pesto Quinoa

Goodbye rice, goodbye pasta & hello quinoa. It’s become a staple in our house, and with good reason. It’s versatile, healthy and easy to prepare. A little info: – though it’s commonly referred to as a grain, quinoa is actually a seed that’s a part of  the “leafy greens” family (spinach, chard, etc.) – it’s high

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hungry for change documentary

Hungry For Change

“People don’t consider that looking good can be done from the inside out. They go about it the wrong way.” Hungry For Change is a new documentary film that sheds light on the American diet and why it desperately needs to change. I absolutely loved it and stand behind the message 100%. Films like this

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Espresso and Cream blog

Recipes For A Balanced Life: a Q&A with Madison Mayberry

I first found Madison’s blog through her “No Fat Talk Tuesday” series. It’s not everyday you see a popular food blogger/editor dedicating time and energy to improving the lives of others. Madison Mayberry (could you get a better name?) is truly an inspiration. She’s insanely talented in the kitchen, but beyond that, she’s using her

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Challenge Your Lies

Today, I pose a challenge for all of us women seeking to live healthy, balanced lives. Every time you have an extreme, guilt-inducing thought regarding diet or exercise, challenge it. Step 1: notice it. Step 2: acknowledge it for what it is, a lie. Step 3: replace it with the truth. Don’t believe everything you

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homemade sauerkraut

Local Love: Palo Alto Farmer’s Market

This past weekend  was absolutely gorgeous. Spring is in the air and warmer weather is just around the corner. Strolling the farmer’s market is one of my favorite ways to get outside, unplug and enjoy the sunshine. We are so spoiled here in the bay area by the abundance of high-quality, unique vendors.  Raw, organic,

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healthy dessert recipe

12 Healthy Ways To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

One of the biggest challenges of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is managing a unweildy sweet tooth. You don’t have to give up your love for sweet foods in order to eat well. A healthy, balanced diet includes the entire spectrum of flavors that nature so abundantly offers: sweet, salty, savory, sour. Food is supposed to

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healthy dessert recipe

Healthy Dessert: Frozen Yogurt Bites

This sweet little treat has recently taken the place of my post-dinner chocolate habit. It’s beyond simple and healthy too. If you’re okay with extra sugar, use a flavored greek yogurt. Since I’m limiting the amount of excess sugar in my diet I used plain, nonfat greek yogurt sweetened with a little bit of honey

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is coffee healthy

Self-Care vs. Self-Sabotage

I reserved this past Saturday for a solo day of self-care. Like many of you, I’ve been working long hours and going nonstop. The more my online business grows, the more technologically connected I am throughout the day. If I’m not with clients I’m checking email, updating Facebook, bookkeeping, creating new programs, chatting on Twitter

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gluten free recipes

Learn. Nourish. Thrive: a Q & A with Drew Parisi

As you know, The Balanced Life is all about empowering women to be strong, healthy and reasonable in their pursuit of health & fitness. We all know how hard it is to find balance in the many aspects of life so when I see a woman doing it well or sharing a similar message I

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Exercise for low back pain

The “Anti-Computer Shoulder” Stretch

If you spend most of your time at a computer or desk, this stretch is for you. I’m willing to bet that you’ve experienced some form of tension or tightness in your neck, back and/or shoulders at some point in your career. The truth is, by sitting at your desk for 8 hours a day,

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