The EmPack – Seriously, this is your ticket to getting ripped in the great outdoors! Okay, okay, maybe not. But it will help you get outside more--that’s what it’s done for me. Created by a Denver trainer and athlete, Emily Schromm, you can use this backpack to schlep around books, clothes and laptops or you can use it as a weight training pack. It works as a dumbbell, barbell, kettlebell--a perfect up-level opp for planks or push-ups.  

Primal Play – Has exercise become a chore?  If you want to be strong but get bored with work outs, Primal Play is for you.  I attended some workshops two years ago--it was the toughest exercise I ever loved. Primal Play showed me first hand that looking strong doesn’t equal beings strong.  Try their 30-day online challenge or if you're in Denver, join me for a Primal Play class.  I loved it so much, I became a certified instructor!

Beachbody – If you’re devoted to exercise, but find it hard to leave the house--either due to sleeping toddlers or your own homebody tendencies--this is for you.  Chalene motivates me. Sean T. inspires me. Their online Facebook group support is outstanding, especially when you have a great coach like mine (Brita Bragnalo), and it's completely affordable at just $99/year for hundreds of workouts. Way cool.

Cool Fat Burner Vest - Yes, it looks gimmicky. It sounds like a bad infomercial. I agree! But it’s actually proven (no, seriously) to boost metabolism and calorie burn up to 300% above resting when worn for 20-45 minutes. Get the benefits of cryotherapy without taking one of those painful ice baths!

Chris Kresser - It was his talk at Paleo f(x) in 2016 that convinced me to be a Primal Blueprint Health Coach.  Chris’s passion to reinvent healthcare and reverse chronic disease is simply infectious (in a good way!). He’s also one of the most well-researched bloggers out there, which makes believing his claims much easier.

The Paleo Mom - If you’re a science nerd like I am, you will LOVE Sarah Ballantyne aka The Paleo Mom.  She’s the perfect blend of real person, real mom and real scientist.

Ben Greenfield Fitness - Ok, this guy’s a little out there. But he’s also amusing. And entertaining. Ben is a beyond-smart, top-ranked amateur-triathlete-turned-personal-trainer, self-experimenter and biohacker, who does some really insane things. Like microdosing LSD. Plus he combines ancestral health with modern science and the coolest products to fully optimize one’s mind, body and spirit. I’m a fan.

Mark’s Daily Apple - Mark Sisson, Primal Blueprint coach founder, by the way, is on a mission to change the lives of 100 million people and I don’t doubt that he’ll achieve it. He makes people take responsibility for their own health and enjoyment of life. The best part? He appeals equally to both men and women. It’s nice to be part of something that’s not just for chicks, you know?

Real Everything - This family is my inspiration for just about everything. Amazing recipes the whole family will eat. Even the gluten-loving in-laws. Real talk. Real life. So great.

Real Food Liz- This girl knows her stuff (and by stuff, I mean nutrition and anything and everything about skincare) but she’s also incredibly relatable.  In fact, she’s the one who coined the term “Embrace the Realness”. Thank you Liz!

The Paleo View- These two women (Stacy Toth from RealEverything.com and Sarah Ballantyne, the Paleo Mom) started me on my paleo journey __ years ago as I took a morning walk on the Ocean City, NJ boardwalk. They make me feel like I’m lounging on their coach WITH them. And we’re all having a great big fun comfy conversation. WHILE I’m learning about the science behind all my favorite topics.

Bulletproof Radio- You’ve probably heard of Bulletproof Coffee, and yes, this is THAT guy, Dave Asprey.  He’s not just a butter barista though. He’s a biohacker who is out to prove that everything you were taught growing up: “you’re stuck with the brain you were born with, being skinny or fat is genetic and performance is a matter of effort,” is WRONG. Yay.

Happier With Gretchen Rubin- Oh my gosh, I love this lady. And so do a lot of other people.  She’s been interviewed by Oprah, gone on walks with the Dalai Lama and has even been an answer on Jeopardy. She and her sister, Elizabeth offer loads of happiness hacks. My favorite? Scheduling time to worry!

Balanced Bites- Co-hosts Diane Sanfillipo and Liz Wolfe have such a good rapport with each other that you barely notice that you’re LEARNING something too. The diversity of topics is huge too.  They tackle mindset, exercise, the latest trends like Intermittent Fasting and Keto and of course nutrition.

Beautycounter's Rejuvenating Collection

Ever since entering my “wrinkly neck” phase of life, I’ve been experimenting with creams and lotions that will help smooth me back to my 20 year old self.  Yet, most anti-aging creams rely on estrogen mimickers to turn the clock back. And hormone disruption is NOT something I want in exchange for less wrinkles. Enter Beautycounter - they’ve banned over 1,500  ingredients that are questionable or harmful while still providing high-performing products. The best part? It works better than any of the hormone-wrecking products I’ve used in the past!

Rejuvenating Night Cream- Did you know that almost every anti-aging product on the shelves contain hormones?  Of course they do. That’s what turns back the clock on our skin.  But it also disrupts our normal hormone production and can lead to cancer. Yikes. I’ll take the skin cream that reduces wrinkles but doesn’t cause cancer, thank you very much. That’s this one!

Charcoal Bar and Mask- Terrific for teenagers! No need for those toxic blasts from our past (remember Stridex?). This safer combination will banish the blemishes in no time at all.

My Magic Mud Charcoal Toothpaste- You know that post-dentist clean-teeth feeling? If you can get past looking like you just sucked on a piece of coal, this toothpaste actually delivers that feeling.  

Beautycounter's Countersun Sunscreen

This sunscreen changed my life.  Seriously. My kids HATE sunscreen.  My daughter complains of the feel, my son complains of the smell, and I complain of the chemicals. And now that I’ve got a teenager, she also complains of the look - i.e. there’s no way she’s going to look like a 70’s zinc’ed-up lifeguard.  But this reef-safe sunscreen uses non-nano zinc oxide to physically - not chemically - block UVA, UVB and blue light (which has been shown to prematurely age your skin). And it goes on clear with the most amazingly light and pleasant smell that even my son likes!  In addition to my favorite facestick, they now have a mist that rubs in clear and is NOT harmful to the environment!

Fatco's Stank Stop Deodorant

Stinky pits are the pits. But so is aluminum which is the active ingredient in antiperspirants.  It’s a known neurotoxin that has been linked to breast cancer and neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.  Finding an aluminum-free deodorant is not that difficult nowadays. But finding one that keeps you from smelling like a 7th grader after gym class is a lot more difficult.  Enter Fatco’s Stank Stop Deodorant. It’s worked for me, even after a long workout on the hottest day in August.

Beautycounter's Cleansing Balm

I’m not even sure how I ended up with this product.  I’m pretty frugal and the Cleansing Balm is pretty pricey.  But I got it and used it and now it’s become my hands-down, favorite skincare product of all-time.  It hydrates while it cleanses, it can be left on as an overnight mask, and it removes more makeup and grime from your face than you ever thought was possible from an adult and not a 5 year old boy who just played in the mud.

Eating Evolved Chocolate- Sinfully delicious without the sin. Really. Organic, dairy free, gluten free, paleo, and vegan. No additives. Nothing unnatural. I have no idea how they turned five simple ingredients into heaven, but they did. Try the Caramel & Sea Salt Coconut Butter Cup.

Simple Mills- This company single-handedly put baked goods back on the table for us grain-free folk. My favorites include the Artisan Bread Mix (which the WHOLE family will eat!!!) and the Fine Ground Sea Salt Crackers.  Fair warning: you may be tempted to eat a whole box in one sitting!

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides and Collagen Veggie Blend- Next to keto diets, collagen is all the rage right now.  There are a lot of brands out there but this is the mother of them all.  If you want glowing skin, tendon and bone strength, increased sports performance, improved digestion and deeper sleep, this is how you get it.  And you can even get it with veggies.

Jilz Crackers- If you’re looking for a cracker that satisfies all your dietary needs (2 out of their 3 crackers are low-fodmap!) AND offers great taste this is your guy. Extra bonus...only 7g of carbs per serving! (not that there’s anything wrong with carbs)

Siete Chips- I love these chips, but I also love this family.  Their story is inspirational but so is their advocacy work for a healthier lifestyle among Latino families.  If the amount of chips is any reflection of how much I support this company, my support runs deep!

Larabars- You’re in one of two camps when it comes to these bars. There’s camp “I’m so happy my kid is only eating fruits and nuts!” and then there’s camp “there’s HOW MANY grams of sugar in a bar?!”.  Both camps are valid. But, I’ll admit - I’m no purist. If my kids are eating a bar with only dates and cashews (Cashew Cookie is my son’s favorite) instead of a bag of Doritos, I’m down with that.

Coconut Aminos- You’ll never use soy sauce again. But isn’t soy healthy?  Consider this... “Babies on soy formula receive the estrogenic equivalent of at least five birth control pills per day.”  Check out Chris Kresser’s article to learn more.  Or better yet, just use coconut aminos on your sushi.

Kitchun No-Grain-Ola- I nearly keeled over when I returned with a suitcase full of goodies from Paleo f(x) and my daughter found something she liked.  A paleo label is the kiss of death for my contrarian 12 year old. If it says “paleo”, it may as well say “fish eye-balls”. But a year later, she’s still eating her favorite, “You’re The Apple Of My Chai”.

ThunderKids Real Food Bars- Denver’s Grain-Free Expo produced one clear-cut winner and this was it.  My kids still ask for them (sadly, they’re not sold in stores yet so if you want them you need to order them direct or from One Stop Paleo Shop).  But with only fruits, nuts, seeds and spices (and one nut-free bar) as ingredients, I’m willing to order!

Vitamix- If I had a dime for everyone who has asked “Is it worth it?”, I wouldn’t even be close to being able to afford another Vitamix. Yep, this is the Rolls Royce of blenders, but YES, it is worth it!  No more chunks in your smoothie, it can blend frozen bananas into ice cream and it can even make soup - seriously.

Instant Pot- You can now throw out your rice cooker, crock pot, yogurt maker and probably another cupboard-full of gadgets when you’ve got one of these bad-boys.  Yes, it can be intimidating, but push yourself beyond only using it to make rice and bone broth and get yourself a great cookbook, like Jennifer Robins’ Paleo Cooking With Your Instant Pot.  You’ll be so glad you did.

Squatty Potty- Their mascot is a unicorn that poops rainbows.  Most people laugh at it. But it can rock your world in a way you won’t want to tell anyone about.  Our porcelain thrones may be comfortable but they’re not very conducive to good bowel movements and can contribute to hemorrhoids, bloating and constipation .  As Squatty Potty says, “...this puts a kink in the hose and stops the Ben & Jerry’s from sliding out smoothly”. Who wants that?

Diva Cup- I’ll admit that there was a learning curve.  It’s not the easiest thing to position. But once you get it, you get it and you’ll never have to buy a tampon or pad again.  Plus, being able to go 12 hours between changes makes it feel like Aunt Flo isn’t even visiting.