Nikki Sharp's Blog: Nikki's Thoughts, page 6

The Best Beauty Treatments (The Good, The Great & The Oh-So-Trendy)

The best beauty treatments you ask?

Flawless Skin. We all want it and it seems we will do anything to get it. Lasers, needles, blood facials, you name it and someone in LA has tried it. No, we can’t stop time in Beverly Hills, but we sure can fake it well. Everyone is on the hunt for the newest anti-aging miracle in a bottle (or needle). I am not a fan of fillers and needles when there are so many amazing non-invasive treatments that work just as well.

I recently went on a search for the BEST health and beauty treatments in Los Angeles. One of the perks of living in LA is having access to some of the top doctors and beauty influencers in the world. My team interviewed numerous estheticians, dermatologists and the many faces and top influencers in LA (and some in NY) to find the TOP treatments that are making big waves. So what is the new must-have, sought after IT treatment? Let’s talk.

Below are some of the best beauty treatments according to yours truly, as well as top people in the beauty industry! I’d love to know if you have tried any of these treatments and what your thoughts are below!

The best health & beauty treatments in LA
FACIALS

The Once in a While Facial (costly). This treatment was wonderful, but is considered a ‘once in a while’ one because Dr. Nigma Talib is sadly not in LA all that often. She is based out of London where her clientele includes the likes of Sienna Miller and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley but has partnered with the Four Seasons to provide her one-of-a-kind facial. This includes lymphatic drainage, hydradermabrasion, and the use of products she personally created. She comes filled with an abundance of knowledge and really helps you to understand WHY your skin is breaking out in certain areas along with how to fix it (hint: it starts in the gut!). Her rates are not cheap but one session with Nigma and you’ll feel like you got a nutritionist coaching session, along with a facial to make your skin glow.

The Creme de la Creme. I have been going to Joanna Vargas for a few months now which is always a splurge for the pocket book – but for good reason – the results are worth it. I recently tried her Super Nova facial, which is the red carpet of facials and includes everything you didn’t even know your skin needed. To put this into perspective, my lovely facialist Sora (who I highly recommend if you’re in LA!) used a variety of techniques, machines, peels, and masks, all in one hour to make my skin glow more than I’ve ever seen. We did a microdermabrasion portion, cryotherapy for the face, face steam, micro-current and of course a lovely arm massage while the double collagen mask does its magic. If you  have an event to go to, wedding day, or want to feel like a celebrity this is absolutely the facial to get. I mean, it was actually created for celebrities right before they hit the red carpet.

The Anytime Facial. Getting glowing skin starts from cleansing out the pores and removing impurities like black heads in order to allow product to really work its magic. The Face Place specializes in this  no-fuss facial which I am definitely a fan of. They start with manual cleansing and extraction, followed by the use of a galvanic current which is a non-invasive way to get product to sink into the skin and regenerate tissue. Whenever my skin starts to break out or I have returned from traveling (and being in airplanes where the air is terrible) I always head here for a rejuvenation.

LASERS

Technology these days. I always tell people you are taking a risk with lasers because everyones skin is different, yielding in different results. BUT once you’ve had one, you’re pretty much hooked. They make such a difference in your skin. There are many different types of lasers and lights so do your homework and research before committing to one. You get what you pay for, so this doesn’t come cheap. Is it worth it? I say yes, but find out for yourself.

Red/Blue (LED) Light. Offered in various spas today, these lights work to kill bacteria and acne (blue) and stimulate in collagen production (red). The basis here is during a facial your therapist will decide which one you need and put a tanning bed-esque contraption near your face for at least 10 minutes. I’m a huge fan of these lights as they do really work wonders, however, like all treatments you should do them continuously for best results. You can also get the face masks contraptions off Amazon, but note that they won’t be quite as powerful and take much longer to sit under.

IPL. Aka Intense Pulse Light is a laser based procedure that helps to reduce early pigmentations, minor wrinkles, or uneven skin tone. It’s typically recommended for those under 40 or anyone who doesn’t want an invasive (read: few day down time, or cost) treatment. While I haven’t personally tried this treatment, it’s something I’ve been considering because I do have hyper pigmentation above my lip and on my cheeks. I’ll keep you updated on this and where I go!

Hair removal. So I’ve been doing my *ahem* lady part region for a bikini line over the past year. I finally got to a place that I was tired of having hairs pulled from my delicate skin, leaving me screaming inside (and sometimes at the therapist) so I took the plunge, paid to do yearly hair removal  and haven’t looked back since. It is very safe to do with no downtime and is not painful if  you use a numbing cream prior to treatments. Note that it works best on those with darker hair and does take quite a few sessions to actually see a dramatic difference.

OH SO TRENDY LA, BEAUTY TREATMENTS (that really work)

They’ve become trendy on the ‘gram and for good reason; they’re holistic, natural, and really work. I’ve tried and tested each of these and can say that if these are the wave of the future. Say hello to the trends of 2018.

Healers. You’ve heard about celebrities, yogis, and just about anyone who lives in LA mentioning a healer and how much they’ve been transformed. It’s definitely not something that has hit the mainstream in the midwest, quite yet. However, there is something to be said about these healers because they really do have transformative effects, as long as you’re willing to do the work. Ranging from psychics to tarot card readers, you can find someone who can help with whatever your issue is. Being in the wellness industry I’ve tried many healers and have found benefits in each. If you are a non-believer, think of it the same as if you go to a therapist; if you’re not ready, you won’t believe anything they say. Same goes for healers, although you should do research and find someone through word of mouth. My recommendation here is a woman named Jennifer Schaefer, who is an intuitive healer (psychic for sure) and has been probably one of the most incredible people I’ve ever worked with.

Cupping. I’ve heard all about cupping for many years- I mean who hasn’t after seeing Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston showing up on the red carpet with all those marks on them- so I was eager to try it. Cupping helps to reduce pain in the body, increase circulation (goodbye cellulite!), and pulls out toxins in the body, all of which will leave you feeling instantly better. Your therapist will either leave them on the back for a while, which can leave the marks, or moves them around frequently. I had a photoshoot the next day so we went with the moving cupping so there were no marks, but it was a unique sensation, very much like being vacuumed. This paired with a massage and I felt absolutely wonderful. Definitely a treatment I recommend for anyone who wants an extra oomph to help their body. I tried the Spa on Rodeo (yes it’s on THAT Rodeo street in LA) and will absolutely be going back to try more of their treatments they offer, as I loved this one.

Infared sweating. Picture this: you’re asked to change into pajamas, including socks, then ushered into a dimly lit room with calming music and told to get into a sleeping bag of sorts in a little private nook of the room. You put on headphones and for the next hour watch your favorite Netflix show while the temperature seems to build and you begin sweating. Welcome to Shape House, one of my favorite places in LA to go to. You get all the benefits of hot yoga while instead feeling like you’re in a first class bed on a plane. Benefits include weight loss, better skin, deeper sleep,  and more restoration in the body. I first tried this out two years ago and got hooked (partially because I love warm weather so  much!). I have seen dramatic results in my skin and sleep and try to go once every few weeks.

Cyrotherapy. I’m sure you’ve haeard the this pop up in conversation, mainly if you live in LA, because most other places have a natural form of freezing your booty off, which is called winter! However, here in LA we don’t get cold weather so the cryo machines have popped up and become a popular form of reducing inflammation in the body, healing injured tissue, and increasing immunity. The premise here is the same as icing your knee if you injure yourself, except this one you step into a full body freezer. Extreme cold temperatures stimulate the central nervous system, and without going too technical here, it creates cell regeneration that works for your full body including better skin, digestion, injury reduction, etc. I have a love / hate relationship with cryo, where I feel so good when I do it, but absolutely cannot stand cold temperatures, so I don’t go that often. It’s pricey to go, but it’s a treatment that is endorsed by all types of celebrities and athletes, not to mention doctors. Place to try: Next Health.

 

The post The Best Beauty Treatments (The Good, The Great & The Oh-So-Trendy) appeared first on Nikki Sharp.

My NEW Book: Meal Prep Your Way To Weight Loss

It’s here! It’s FINALLY here! My second, and BRAND NEW BOOK: Meal Prep Your Way to Weight Loss is coming out on May 1, 2018 and I couldn’t be more excited for you to read it!

“Meal Prep Your Way to Weight Loss is an effective guide to help you achieve a healthier life and stop dieting once and for all. The concepts in this book will help you to save money, drop weight, and learn to curb emotional eating.”

– Mark Hyman, MD #1 New York Times bestselling author of Food: What the Heck Should I Eat?

PRE-ORDER NOW

PRE-ORDER: get a copy of ALL my ebooks free + the first 100 people to purchase a copy gets a 15 minute Skype consultation with me! A $100 value.  LIMITED TIME ONLY. (must email proof of purchase to info@nikkisharp.com)

I mean, if Mark Hyman says it is, then it’s probably a pretty good book, right?! I’m honored to have names like him, Matthew Kenney, Jim Kwik and Jason Wachob all endorse the book and give it glowing reviews. There endorsements share the same feelings I’ve been getting from those who have seen exclusive looks into the book: that this book WILL change your life!

Meal Prep Your Way To Weight Loss: I guarantee it!

Why do I make such a statement as guaranteeing this book will drastically improve your health, help you get the body you want, and save money?

Because I am sharing ALL MY SECRETS  with you! This book took over two years to write (see inside the book below) and contains full page color photos, an insane amount of information that you’ve been asking me for and is going to help you succeed in your goals. But… this isn’t just another ‘meal prep book’ – NO, IT’S SO MUCH MORE!

“Nikki is an authority on what to eat and she breaks it down in an easy-to-understand way that will set you up for success. Meal Prepping is one of the keys to success and her book shows you all the steps needed to master this, master your diet, and see the results you want.”

– Jason Wachob Founder & CEO of mindbodygreen and Author of Wellth

If you’re reading to change your life and stop dieting once and for all then this book is for you. Keep reading to find out some of my secrets and who is loving the book!

(sample pages)

5 Reasons You Need This Book

 

 

You will become a Meal Prep Master: This is one of the top secrets from dieters around the world who have had lasting success. You will learn all the tips and tricks of those who have mastered meal prepping and you’ll see how easy it really is!
You’ll save time and money: Tired of buying groceries then throwing them out because they’ve gone bad? With weekly shopping lists you will never throw away unused food again! Meal prepping saves you precious time so you don’t have to cook every meal and your wallet will thank you as you start to save money.
You’ll get in the best shape of your life: By following the guidelines, meal plans and all the tips in this book, you will start to shed weight and feel great. By meal prepping and eating the delicious recipes provided you will never have to worry about food as the enemy. Get ready for more energy, better sleep, overall happiness elevation, and more success all around in your life.
You won’t have to guess what to eat: By reading this book you will automatically start to have better habits and make changes in the way you look at meals. Food confusion will go away and you’ll feel more confident in knowing what to eat.
You will feel in control and make better decisions: Knowledge is power. By reading this book you will get all the information you need to stop stressing about meals, traveling, and how to lose weight. You will feel in control of your life, your food, and will never care what your co-workers think of your food; they will begin asking YOU for advice and recipes.

 

 

Endorsements by the experts

 

 

“Nikki’s new book is a must-read for anyone trying to lose weight, get healthy, or change their life. Meal prepping is key to sustainable habits and she breaks it down to help you succeed.” – Dave Zinczenko, New York Times #1 best-selling author, Eat This Not That series
“For optimal mental performance, there are certain non-negotiables – top of the list is eating the right brain foods consistently. Nikki Sharp makes it easy, rewarding and fun in her new book. Her meal prepping process is a simple and powerful way to nourish your mind. Bottomline, devour this book because the foods we eat matter, especially to our gray matter.” – Jim Kwik, Celebrity Memory Coach. Host of the #1 Brain Training Podcast
Nikki Sharp.

My Candida Update: Do I still Have It?

The past few months have been a VERY interesting time for me and so I figured I would sit down to write a blog post on a highly requested topic… my candida update.

As you may recall, a few months ago (I mean, I actually cannot believe it was already three months ago I was heading to Africa!) I shared something that was incredibly scary for me.

I admitted that I had candida.

Now, I have been pretty open with you since the day I started my brand. This is because I want people to be able to look up to me and know that what they are going through is not in isolation. We all deal with various trauma, hardships, and struggles in our life.

Yet, admitting that I had candida was something that it took me a long time to share. I felt ashamed and overwhelmed that I couldn’t control it. Oh alas, that good word: CONTROL. I’ll get to this shortly, because it has to do with the treatment!

However, sharing this was one of the best things I’ve done for many reasons. You all were so incredibly kind, loving, and generous with your comments and recommendations. I was truly touched that you came back with  such loving comments both on my IG and here on the blog. I was overwhelmed.

The other reason I so grateful that I shared this? It led me to a mentor that I had been asking for. This woman  is one of the greatest human beings (I don’t actually even believe she’s fully human she’s so intuitive) who has helped me move past the candida in so many interesting ways. So, let’s dive into the story a bit further + some of my biggest tips. PS- if you contact her, mention my name!

Have I cured my candida?

 

 

The short answer: YES, I have. I almost don’t believe it and am still nervous it will come back, however most of the symptoms I had have disappeared. It’s been over two months now with little-to-no symptoms and so I have to believe and trust that what I’ve been doing has been working. There are certain things that seem to trigger it, but this has all been part of the learning process over the past few months.

Before I start this off, let me tell you that I was about ready to do the full 6 month candida clease, which in all fairness made me want to jump off a building. To deprive myself of foods that I love, moderation when it comes to alcohol, and a very clean diet in exchange for incredible strictness for months on end did not seem like a good solution.

Yet, it was what I thought needed to happen. I spoke with other wellness experts who said I should at least fully cut alcohol out for on month (I cut it out for 20 days in November while in Africa) and stick to a high protein low carb diet for this time. The problem is, I am mainly vegan (who occasionally cheats, as I call it) and adding in more animal products doesn’t thrill me. So, I decided to at least eat more vegetables, cut down on fruits and alcohol and up my supplements.

WHAT I TOOK:

Adrenal fatigue supplements
Probiotics
Aged garlic capsules
Coconut + essential oil inserts (5 teaspoons unrefined organic coco oil mixed with 3 drops Geranium, 2 drops Tea Tree, 1 drop Patchaouli. Mixed then allow to harden, form into 1/2 tsp inserts for vagina)
Candida shots (homemade + bought, see photo below)
Real unpacked foods. Even if they were healthy, it’s still not as good as you making your own food.
Apple cider vinegar + coconut kefir. 1 shot of each every day

 

If you have candida there are certain ingredients that you absolutely should be having, and yes some you should not be. This is by no means a full list, and please consult your doctor or naturopath if you believe you have candida, however the recommendations below can help anyone to achieve a healthier body, candida or not.

HAVE: Apple cider vinegar, oil of oregano, ginger, turmeric, coconut kefir is one I personally recommend, lots of green vegetables, green juices + smoothies, anything alkaline food-wise

DON’T HAVE: Sodas, honey or sugar, aside from small amounts of stevia, smaller quantities of fruit, little to no alcohol (clear liquors like tequila and vodka are better, no wine), starchy foods like potatoes, bananas (this was hard for me, but I did them in smaller quantities – this is because candida feeds off sugar)

 

WHAT DID I LEARN?

These all seemed to work well. The big thing to know about candida though, is that it typically kicks off because of stress. Like most disorders in the body, they flare up when you have stress and my life over the past years hasn’t been tremendously low in this area.

So working with Jennifer, she helped me to understand that the candida was very localized in my body and was not all over. It was there more so to teach me a lesson and when I realized this it was one of those OH SHIT, REALLY?! Moments. Like DUH, this makes so much sense now. It really made me look at some of my behaviors and the way that I do and don’t treat myself with love. It was all fascinating stuff that totally hit the mark.

Once I learned this, and paired with a cleaner diet (I already eat very clean so this last bit was really just eating out less), less fruit, less alcohol, and the correct supplements, my body seemed to be nearly healed!

The last thing that rounded out having the candida go away: working on my stress levels.

Because you see, when you are stress your body goes into fight or flight mode, produces adrenaline and cortisol, the stress hormone, and then it just floats around your body, causing chaos. This is why it’s so bad that we are on our phones so often, because they cause the same effect in our body, and in the past, the fight or flight mode went into effect when we needed to Ruuuuuuuuuuunnnnn! There’s a lion! Whereas now, it’s just your heart rate spiking because your ex- boyfriend is pictured with another girl. But your body can’t tell the different in your levels of stress.

So I had to think: how do I get rid of the stress?

 

Traveling. This actually reduces my stress and I feel more peaceful, so I went to Paris and Bali
Meditation and journaling. This was another essential thing to calm my mind and put my body into a parasympathetic state (out of fight or flight mode)
Doing my detox. This takes away food stress, at least for me, since I know what I’m eating and know I’ll feel good. (You also have a lot of turmeric and apple cider vinegar in this detox, as mentioned above that it’s essential for combating candida)

 

The only time I would have a flare up is if I found myself getting really stressed out. It was a wakeup call that I needed to take a step back and understand WHY I was stressed out and rectify it with a change.

Like most things that happen to our body, this is, was, and has been one of the greatest learning lessons because it’s really shed light on how much stress is in my life and how bad it is for us. It’s taught me that I need to do more self love and care, and that the stress I have will never be a match for the body system we have that loves balance. Stress, caused from jobs, families, partners, lack of money, social media drama, etc etc can have a huge impact on our bodies. It’s so vitally important to understand where stress if your life is showing up.

I know for one thing I used to binge-eat a lot when I got stressed a few years ago. It took a lot of trial and error, learning, and putting things to practice to change this. But it wasn’t until I realized why I was doing it could I change it. This is also something I’m really exciting to be diving into in my new book, Meal Prep Your Way to Weight Loss, which has an entire chapter dedicated to ending emotional eating / binges. {The book is out May 1, 2018 and I can’t wait for you to check it out}

It’s vitally important that we take a step back from our day-to-day lives to see what is cause this dis-ease in our body. For me, it was lack of love for myself, which manifested in candida. And ironically (obviously not, but is kind of funny) is the solution was to slow down and show myself more self-love.

TELL ME:  have you gone through anything similar? What worked for you with candida? Or have you had any other dis/eases (I say it this way because disease in the body = dis / ease of something internally, so figure out where the dis / ease is and you’ll cure the disease) that you’ve fixed?

Would love to hear your thoughts below!

Tons of love,

Nikki

 

 

The post My Candida Update: Do I still Have It? appeared first on Nikki Sharp.

Welcome to Your Transformation

Are you struggling to keep your New Year’s Resolutions?

Did you swear to yourself that THIS was the year you’d finally… (fill in the blank)?

Have you started to give up thinking you can actually make a change in your life?

If so, then please keep on reading. I have gone through countless times in my life of feeling so low that I never thought I would get out of my funk/depression, and get myself motivated to eat healthy again. I have started so many diets after having any type of  ‘cheat meal’ I would inevitably throw the towel in and give up, feeling at a loss once again. I have dealt with blow after blow of bad skin, getting on accutane (3x!), still getting bad skin, and feeling hopeless. There’s been so many moments that I have feel alone in my health journey, without a community to go to, and wondering if I’ll ever be able to achieve my goals.

Does any of this sound like you? Don’t worry sister, I got you covered! I’ve been there, done that so many times, that I can officially say, I know what works, what doesn’t, and I am ready to help YOU achieve all of your goals in 2018. You are hereby officially invited to join this one-time exclusive private coaching group for the next 3 months. 

Are you ready to transform your life?

Did you know this is my before picture on the left? Yup! Absolutely terrifying to post because I used to be so ashamed of my skin. I couldn’t even imagine going into public without layers of makeup. But I’ve overcome cystic acne and I’m going to share my secrets with you in this exclusive 3-month group!

Over the past few years, I keep receiving the same comment from girls just like you! Things like:

How do I lose weight and finally keep it off?
I love your recipes, but how do I modify them for my lifestyle?
Help! I want better music to motivate me!
I don’t have money for a gym and am not motivated to workout alone
No matter what I do I can’t get rid of my love handles, or my belly
I’m so stressed out at work and can’t stop emotional eating
I want to learn more about manifesting!
I feel like I’m alone in trying to lose weight and get healthy

Other comments I’ve received are that you want:

More community support
Cheaper prices to work with me
To know what workouts I personally do to tone and tighten

I hear you loud and clear! And I am here to help you change your body, your mind, your relationship with food, and so. much. more!

Sign Up to Transform Your Life!




First




Last

It’s taken me a while to figure out a way that I could incorporate all of these without losing integrity to my work, since I have a lot of work going on and always put 100% into whatever I do.

So I’m sure you can understand why it took some time to come up with a program that I would be proud of and that I could help you achieve your goals while still getting support from myself — without the high price tag I charge for personal one-on-one clients ($250/hr). So this is definitely a great deal for you!

Part of the reason I am beyond excited about this program? Because I have had one hell of a health journey myself and I am going to share EVERYTHING with you on how to combat acne, stress, get the booty of your dreams, the health you desire, and the dreams you DESERVE!

What previous clients are saying:

Thank you so much! You have given me the tools to get back into my healthy lifestyle and finally have my confidence back! – Julia P.

I feel more motivated to eat right and crave less of the bad stuff! You helped me hit my weight goal and I feel sooo good now! Thank you for putting this together- I would definitely recommend it to anyone – Concy M.

You have helped re-ignite a passion that I had for a healthy lifestyle that I maintained throughout my Highschool years but let slip away during undergrad and I promise you that I will never let that fire go out again but that I am determined to share it with those around me! You are such a great role model and inspiration in my life, I’m blessed to have connected with you online! – Rebekah L.

My personal journey has been a tough one, but I’m here to help you achieve the results I’ve seen… and it’s not hard! All you need is a little guidance and support.

The 3-month TRANSFORMATIONAL program details:

$150 $100 per month for 3 months (this is a REDUCED PRICE, one time only!)
Meeting 2x a month on a zoom call with the group (if you haven’t used this, it’s like FaceTime or Skype, but with a group) for 60 minutes
During the zoom calls we will hear from everyone who wants to speak about what is going well for them, what challenges they are facing, and getting input from myself and others
Weekly and monthly challenges
A group community to help you achieve your goals
Private Facebook group
Direct access to me, to ask anything you want both on the Zoom calls and in the FB group
You get all my e-books FREE (a $55 value!)
Get exclusive book content (such as my brand new recipes and health tips) from my upcoming book before it’s released in May (priceless!) 
Monthly workout playlists that I create just for you!
Weekly workout plans that I swear by
Meals that I eat throughout the week in which you can ask any question about how to modify to fit your lifestyle
Starting date of January 29, 2018

This group is perfect for you, if:

you have tried and tried again to achieve your fitness goals and are ready to see changes, FINALLY!

you are ready to have accountability to have everything you desire

you are ready to have a mentor and guide, and someone who has been in your shoes and knows what you are dealing with (me!)

want group support and a larger community of like minded people

you want 2018 to be the best year yet!

Other ways you know this 3 month coaching program is the right fit? you want to lose or gain weight, you are confused about what to eat, you get scared eating at restaurants or traveling, you have acne or breakouts, you eat healthy but still can’t lose weight, you don’t have the body you want, you struggle with emotional or binge eating, you feel stressed out

And most importantly… You Are Ready To Have Your Transformation! If you are ready for YOUR PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION, leave your name and email below and I will get in touch. 

Sign Up to Transform Your Life!




First




Last

One vital thing to note is that if you are READY TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE, I need your 3 month commitment! You will see incredible results but it takes dedication and in this very private group, you will be supporting others as well as receiving support, so it’s essential that you are going to show up for yourself all three months. 

The post Welcome to Your Transformation appeared first on Nikki Sharp.

There’s something I haven’t told you…

I am about to share something that I haven’t told you before. I’m actually scared shitless to tell you. I don’t know why, because at the end of the day we all go through things in our life that are hard. I guess the reason I’m scared to share this with you is because I feel you’re going to think that I’m a fraud. A fraud wellness expert. Because how could a wellness expert be going through something like this?

But as I sit here at my computer doing last minute things before heading out to Africa tomorrow I have realized that I am really sad. I’m sad because I’m not fully in the moment of being excited to go. And the reason is because my body is not healthy. And it hasn’t been for a while. Two years actually.

So what’s wrong?

I have candida. Okay wow. I said it. Some of you are going to know what that is. And others are going to immediately go google. If you have been through this, then you know what a complete life altering thing it is to have.

What prompted this post was that my friend who is staying with me just came and asked if I am ready and all packed for my flight tomorrow. I said yes I’m packed, but not excited yet. Because how can you be excited when your body is literally screaming at you from the inside that it is suffering? It is inflamed. I am bloated, gaining weight, have yeast over growth and and constantly low on energy. My whole body is affected. He asked if I am in pain. I said no, but that I almost wish I was because with pain, you can take something for it. Candida- you cannot.

I’m stuck in this hell of having tried just about everything. I’ve been on more antibiotics than seems humanly possible over the past two years. The doctors take swabs, I get tests done and they always come back that I need another dose. I’ve paid a lot of money for a top notch nutritionist/ functional medicine doctor who also did more tests and put me on natural medication. Well, two rounds of that and nothing. I’ve cut out fruit, I’ve cut out dairy, I’ve stopped having desserts and reduced my alcohol intake. I’ve increased my sleep, meditation, and green vegetables. I’ve been on more natural medicine, oil of oregano, essential oil mixtures, and just about everything else.

The thing about candida is that is not an easy thing to fix. Some doctors out there say you need to cut out ALL sugar, including fruits and limit your diet to a paleo based one, while others say vegan is the way to go and natural fruits are good. Well, I don’t eat meat that often and grains are a no-go on a candida diet. So I haven’t gotten too strict on this end because without results that I know will work, why go that crazy.

I never believed in candida. I honestly thought it was a rich person’s made up disease. I laughed when I read about what it was thinking that it was something that affected people who were too stressed and needed to chill out. Well, dearest Nikki, you got it because you were too damn stressed. The short of it is that I went through a pretty bad breakup, which is a story for another day, and what came from that was more stress than I thought possible. I was stressed a lot in the relationship, and even more so afterwards, once my body came out of shock. I suddenly felt alone and my pH balance went off. I thought it was just a yeast infection and so came the first round of antibiotics… then the second… and third… and here we are today.

I’m sad. I’m really sad. It’s affected my dating life. It’s affected the clothes I wear. It’s affected my self confidence. But what you see on social media is a girl who is clearly confident. Nothing wrong. And it’s affecting my excitement and happiness about going to Africa to go volunteer for the next 17 days.

This isn’t meant to be a sob story though. It’s not meant to be anything other than I am sharing something that TERRIFIES ME. But I am thinking about it in a different way too. Maybe, just maybe, me sharing this will make you realize you’re not alone in crazy weird body issues. Maybe you have had it, or have it now. Or that you are going through something else that you have been too scared to share. I will say though, sharing this and pressing the POST button is terrifying me. I don’t want to do it. But I will. Because this is a secret that I am tired of keeping.

So with that, I am asking for help. If you have had something work for this I would LOVE to know. Because I’m tired of fighting this alone. Please leave a comment below if you have any suggestions, or if this extreme sharing session helped you in some way!

Tons of love,

Nikki

The post There’s something I haven’t told you… appeared first on Nikki Sharp.

Changing The World: one shirt at a time

Hello my beautiful readers!

Today is a VERY special post… one that I am pretty damn excited to share with you… and I think you’ll agree with me after reading this!

It’s not often that I come across a product or company that changes the way that I think and inspires me to be a better person. So when something like this comes across my lap, I get incredibly excited to share it with you- because I think you will benefit as much as I have!

Welcome to the #matchbackmovement

A movement of giving back and changing lives with the purchase of a single shirt. But it’s not just any shirt…

Let’s back up a bit though so I can share how this incredible organization came into my life.

About a month ago I posted on my IG that I wanted to help share a company, organization, or product that would not normally be able to get the exposure to a community like mine. I asked that people tag, share, and talk about what amazing things they are up to and I would choose one to feature.

There were some pretty awesome things that got mentioned, but overwhelmingly MatchBack.org kept getting tagged, talked about, and I received many direct messages saying I had to choose them. Now, in a world of over saturation on Instagram, tons of products, companies, and people trying to be Insta famous, this surprised me to have so many people mentioning them.

Once I took look at the company, I understood why. This is an organization that I can get behind full heartedly and with great respect to the creator, Aaron Podell, I can say that I am a firm supporter now and will help spread the message in any way. So I now get it. I get why they were tagged over and over again. And now I get to share the incredible story of Aaron, his mission and why YOU should care about this organization.

So WHY is MatchBack a company you need to know about?

Aaron, the founder of MatchBack created this company to literally put shirts on the backs of kids who can’t afford it. They partner with trending companies to develop exclusive shirt + hat bundles and each month send these out to youth in need. Now here’s the even cooler part: when you sign up, your account is matched to one of these youths and each month, you both are sent that limited-edition bundle. So not only do you get some pretty epic limited-edition pieces, you are giving back to a kid who doesn’t have the money to buy new clothes and lives off hand-me-downs.

Alright, so that is all pretty damn cool I know. And already you are getting out your cards to sign up for this bundle as you read this. Now let me give you the kicker of why this company is so special in my eyes and why I am fully behind it in every way!

http://www.nikkisharp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/MatchBack-smaller.m4v

 

The reason Aaron started MatchBack is because he grew up being teased, made fun of and had a very hard time in school. All because he had a speech impediment and wasn’t “normal.” He was a target and bullied relentlessly. Yet, instead of letting this affect him and going into life feeling like a victim, he chose to give back! He chose to create a company that gave kids one less reason to be made fun while growing up.

Kids are bullied for just about every reason (I mean, I was called every name under the book if you can imagine!) and one of the leading reasons is because they can’t buy the new and cool clothes that everyone else is wearing. Because being labeled poor isn’t enough to feel bad; other kids have to go one step further and point it out that you don’t fit in. No more though! Now, MatchBack is making sure kids across the nation.

In the words of Aaron himself:

“Now, I understand that many of the kids MatchBack serves have a much more difficult lot in life than my own experience, and I realize that these shirts and hats can’t make neighborhoods safer or fix broken families. But, I know, firsthand, the power that a cool hat and a cool shirt can have. I know how the right clothes can be that extra card stacked in your favor—and sometimes it’s that Ace you need to get you through the day.

We all have our own story. I’ve written the next chapter in mine. It’s ambitious and a bit adventurous. Full of good deeds and grand dreams. My favorite part? A large cast of everyday heroes joining together to help MatchBack reach a million teens-in-need. Without a doubt, it’s the best chapter yet.”

It’s time to join the movement, starting with YOU!

We are in a time where it is VITALLY important to give back. With every crazy and horrific event that occurs, we must come together to make this world a better place. It is up to US, every single one of us, as individuals to do what we can to help others. When we change our own behavior and do things to give back, we affect those around us, who then affect those around them.

So I ask you, please give back and support this incredible organization that is helping those in need. It is the season of giving after all! With tomorrow being Thanksgiving and the holidays coming up next month, I urge you reach deep into your hearts and support the cause of helping the kids of today live happier lives. Click HERE to purchase a MatchBack box. Use code SHARP to get free shipping on your first order!

I am so honored to be able to share this company with you and I truly hope that you love them as much as me! Please share this with friends, family, co-workers… anyone you think would like to also give back and lend a helping hand this season!

Tons of love,

Nikki

Photo credits: Tamara Muth King & Kerri Reed

The post Changing The World: one shirt at a time appeared first on Nikki Sharp.

Photo Diary Series: What To Do in Venice, Italy

Recently I took a pretty epic trip out to Europe, which started in the incredibly beautiful and romantic city of Venice, Italy. I had not yet been to this stunning setting, yet knew that one day I would absolutely come experience the magic. Rather than giving you a detailed description of what I did through writing, I decided to share tons of photos, hopefully to inspire you to travel and give you some ideas on if you choose to head to the places I recently went.

Stay tuned throughout the next few weeks as I’ll be sharing more in my Photo Diary series including Lake Como, Portofino, and Barcelona.

But for now… let’s dive into Venice, Italy!

Venice, Italy: The City of Water

Let’s start off by saying: Venice is INSANELY beautiful. From the moment I arrived to the moment I left, I couldn’t get enough of being  transported by water taxis, having dinner in the canals, and having glasses of aperol spritz in the town center listening to live music. Let’s just say it was bliss and I can easily see myself heading back there year after year!

It’s a place that I have seen in photos, heard about how the town is sinking in the news, and that it’s a very romantic place to go…I mean, Casanova was from here after all! The city is filled with beautiful secret streets, masks to buy in shops, local guides that take you through the canals and give you the history. I was definitely in for a treat being here and am very excited to share this trip with you!

Arriving in this place does kind of take your breath away and immediately you think you don’t have enough time. So let me dive into what I personally did and things I do recommend doing, both on a budget/not. (My personal style of travel is to be able to experience everything from staying in a hostel to a 5-star hotel in the same place because you will have wonderful experiences no matter what and appreciate what each offers when you explore places in different ways.) It is good to note though that Venice is definitely NOT a cheap city and a water-taxi one-way is 60 euros.

Where I stayed:

Hotel Cipriani. This is a luscious hotel on the outskirts of the town. The sunset views are spectacular, however you are not really ‘in the canals.’ Breakfast delivered to your room is complimentary, so of course you know me and that I am going to order my almond milk latte, green juice (no fruit) and eggs and veggies or fruit. The little terraces they have are stunning to sit and have your morning coffee at and the pool is another ridiculously stunning part. Their spa is small, but I had an incredible massage, and the grounds are another thing to do.

Again, good to note that this hotel ain’t cheap yo! But, if you can swing it for a night, especially during the Venice Film Festival (like I did) you might run into George Clooney and Amal or other celebrities in for the week.

What I Did & Recommend:

Canal tour. This is a MUST. Again, not crazy cheap but incredibly worth it! Grab a bottle of wine, some glasses a corkscrew and enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise while your guide explains the history of Venice, Italy.
Visit Piazza San Marco. This is the town square with the cathedral, tons of shops, live music, obviously lots of tourists, and a ton of birds! Very lively and perfect to walk around mid-afternoon.
Get lost. Seriously! Walking around in between all the canals is incredibly fun and the things you’ll discover are gems. Little shops selling masks reminiscent of Casanova and his time, to restaurants that are off the beaten track.
Glass blowing. I always recommend learning about the local history wherever you are and what makes them special, and glass blowing in Venice is no different! They are very proud of it and you can see the glass they blow all over, including for sale, restaurants, and in hotels. There’s many tour guides that can lead you through one of the small shops.

Where I Ate/Drank & Recommend:

Have lunch at the Aman Hotel. It’s an older-style 16th century luxury hotel that is the perfect stop for a long lunch with some rose. Have a walk around and you will be floored by how stunning this building is! (Pictured below)
Aperol Spritz in Piazza San Marco where you can listen to live music all day.
Harry’s Bar. This place is iconic as the Bellini was created here. Definitely a place to check out as they are very proud of who they are, their history and what they serve.
Canal restaurants. I can’t remember the name of the restaurant I went to on the canal (photo below) which was very cool as you pull up to your table by water taxi, however I wouldn’t recommend it anyways as food was bad as was service. That being said, I DO recommend finding one that you can have dinner with your table right on the canal.
Ristorante Da Ivo. This is a celebrity hotspot and for good reason! The service is impeccable and food is top notch. Plan on spending a lot of time here and order everything on the menu. Seriously. I cannot recommend this small and very exclusive restaurant enough. Be sure to make a booking though as it’s a popular one. (I luckily found it by walking through the streets and being dressed up at the time, I believe they thought I was an actress out there for the Venice Film Festival, otherwise I doubt I would have gotten a table it was so busy!)

I hope you enjoyed this little travel guide and photo diary of Venice, Italy! It’s so fun for me to be able to share things of what to do, where to go, see, and eat in different places I’ve traveled. One thing to note is that when I am a place such as this, I do not stress about the food. I go to restaurants where it might be a bit more expensive, but I know they are putting love into what they are making. I’m a bit believer in balance, so throughout the Photo Diary Series you’ll get to see into  my personal life of how I stay healthy and fit while enjoying the places I eat when I travel!

I’d love to know what you think of Venice, if you’ve been there, what you loved or didn’t love (or if you liked this post!) Leave a comment below!

Ciao for now. See you next time when we head to Santa Margarita and Portofino!

Nikki

The post Photo Diary Series: What To Do in Venice, Italy appeared first on Nikki Sharp.

Bridging The Gap: A Chat With Kathy Kaehler

A few months ago I was asked by a dear friend to join the Bridging The Gap national campaign, and with a brief explanation of what it was about, I pledged to be part of something that I thought could make a difference in the world we live in today. I’m in a time and place in my life that I really want to use my influence to help others in as many ways as possible (many are telling me this is an effect of turning 30) and this seemed like the perfect fit to kick it off. The more I learned about Bridging The Gap, the more I was excited to give my point of view on #WeAreStrongerTogether.

 

So, what exactly is Bridging The Gap?

Here’s the fun part: 50 millennial bloggers (oh man, I guess I’m in that category even though it doesn’t feel like it!) are paired together with 50 midlife bloggers to interview each other and find out what sets us apart and ultimately brings us together. Learning this, I got excited to participate because I have always lived an ‘adult life.’ Meaning that I have no brothers or sisters, when I was young I was constantly with my parents and their friends, I have traveled the world solo, and I can hold a conversation with someone double my age easier than someone who is 30. I definitely feel like I’ve missed out on part of my kid years which makes it a bit harder to relate to people my age. So for me, there isn’t really as much of a gap between a 30 and 50 year old…I mean, my ex boyfriend is 45 if that tells you anything. But then again, I think I’m an anomaly. Yet, the world sees me as a millennial entrepreneur and for good reason: I’m 30, I’ve created a career based around technology, and I am creative like no other. Or at least these seem to be attributes that I think millennials have

My partner, Kathy Kaehler

I sat down with Kathy this week to film a video for the Bridging The Gap campaign in which we would ask each other questions, share our answers, and discuss. I won’t give away too much here other than I am really excited for you to see our segment because it was shocking, even to me! The reason? Kathy and I actually have SO much more in common than I could have imagined. Although there is an age difference, me being 30, her being 54, I felt like I was talking to my best friend. We shared our values which were the same, things that were important to us, and experiences we have had.

Suffice to say, Kathy is one badass chick and I’m excited to introduce you to her! 

She is a best-selling author, has an incredibly popular blog, personal training programs (sound familiar?!) and best of all, she spent the last 30 years teaching, training, and cooking side-by-side with health, fitness and positive-living icons like Jane Fonda, Katie Couric, Leeza Gibbons, and the Kardashians. She’s been a personal trainer to the stars including Julia Roberts, Michelle Pfeiffer, Cindy Crawford, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez, Denise Richards, Claudia Schiffer, and Kim Basinger. She went through a double hip replacement in her late 40s, and decided to open up to her audience (like I do), sharing her fears, nasty scars, and everyday struggles as she worked through them on her blog. I LOVE people like this… raw, emotional, authentic and REAL.

She now works doing the LA TalkRadio show/podcast “Cat & Kaehler,” which talks about all things reinvention in one’s career and power of women in their Second Act. (I have yet to go through this specific “second act” age wise, but I sure as hell feel I’ve gone through like 5 acts at least so far in my 30 years!)

What Bridging The Gap means to me?

When I first started this campaign, I thought it would be a simple: interview and share the story. But then I realized that actually, to me (and Kathy agreed) THERE IS NO GAP. In society, we like to place people in boxes. Black, white. Male, female. Young, Old. Rich, Poor. Rather, we are ALL living in the grey zone of life. This is because our fears, our desires, our values, and what we have learned all intertwine at a certain point. We all learn from each other and at the core of every single person on this planet, we want to love, be loved, and feel part of a community. So for myself, I think that Bridging the Gap means showing that we are actually all in this thing we called life TOGETHER and we should love and support one another through anything and everything!

I’d love to know, what does Bridging The Gap mean to you?

XOXO,

Nikki

Below is the interview questions I asked. I hope you enjoy getting to know Kathy!

The Interview

So once we had met and done our questions for this video, we decided to actually interview each other for our blogs. I was curious to hear what she thought about life now and any words of advice for someone like myself. So here it is…

What advice would you give to someone who is going through what you did?  

Being in the business of wellness is like a double edged. On one hand it is like I always have my own food expert and trainer on hand.  Being healthy and staying fit takes work, there is not way around it.  There are many days I need the trainer in me to keep me on track, to be my own coach. Being a role model in this space is important to me whether I’m with friends or on tv. So remember, everything in life worth working for will have its good and bad points. Just make sure you follow your passion, and when things get bad (like my hip replacement) and you want to give up, know that sharing your story can help to impact someone else.

What would you have changed in your life, knowing what you know now? Or would you not change anything? 

I wonder if there is anyone who says I would have done it differently? The cliché “everything happens for a reason” is my mantra and life is a never-ending vacation. What I’ve learned from the places I’ve been, the people I’ve met, the jobs I’ve had all add up to experiences and life lessons. For me I learn from my actions, I never call them mistakes because in mistakes we takeaway knowledge.  The good, bad and ugly are mine and mine to keep.

Tell me the hardest part and most rewarding part of your journey so far?  

The hardest thing I have experienced was the morning before my right hip was about to be replaced.  Ahead of me that morning was an aggressive 7 hour surgery taking out a 45 year old plate from my right hip dysplasia and replacing it with a new ball and socket with a stem that covers almost my entire thigh.  As I went under my life flashed before me when I counted down ten, nine, eight….

The reward is knowing I was at rock bottom, because it meant I would only go up. I thank my doctors, my trainers, my PT’s, nurses, my dear, dear husband, my sons and friends who have stood by me helping me through.  Now when I step into my lace panties or tie my shoes I’m deeply humbled and grateful I can do it myself again.

Do you think social media has made our reliance on a “perfect body” more intense or has it been the same just in different forms of media?  

I love social media.  It’s the new world of communication, marketing, advertising and connection.  It is here to stay and we must learn how to navigate it positively.  For all the bodies we see in magazines, tv, film and social media we most likely are   looking at the skill of very talented retouching experts.  I use to look at magazines and I’d cut out the photos of bodies I admired.  Ones I aspired to and was motivated to workout a little harder and try the exercises they suggested.  However, it’s easy to start comparing and body shaming yourself into why I don’t look like that.  Hence the navigation.  Don’t compare.  You are unique and there is no one like you.

Sum your story up in 3 sentences.   

I tell my kids to go after what they love to do.  It is the best advice I can give anyone.  Doing what you love will continue to open doors and windows throughout this vacation of life.  However, you only have one vehicle to travel with and that vehicle is your body.  Treat it well.

The post Bridging The Gap: A Chat With Kathy Kaehler appeared first on Nikki Sharp.

Bridging The Gap: A Chat With Kathy Kaehler

The post Bridging The Gap: A Chat With Kathy Kaehler appeared first on Nikki Sharp.

Why I Stopped Blogging…the REAL truth

It’s funny because as I sit here writing this and finally blogging, there have been so many times throughout the past year that I have wanted to share what’s going on in my life. I’ve wanted to post new recipes I’ve created, and I have had the desire to provide you with more fun content. And yet, I find myself unable to. It has taken me a while to really understand why I haven’t been blogging, which is a huge passion, and where the lack of passion has gone. But I have finally realized what it is, which is why it’s now time to start sharing.

So…keep reading to find out why I stopped blogging…the REAL truth

In 2014 I was in full blogger mode, sharing my recipes, workout tips, writing e-books and motivating you all (and myself) with my Instagram account. As things grew and the numbers got larger on IG so did the inevitable amount of companies wanting to work with me. It was pretty fun and I highly enjoyed it. But then something happened. Instagram became highly oversaturated and it was all about your numbers and what your account was deemed as, in terms of engagement and followers. The algorithms changed. People stopped seeing your account. And so the work you put into everything suddenly was not being seen by people who have chosen to follow you. Everyone was trying to become famous and many were succeeding. Showing sexy body pictures made you rise to the top, but sharing things on how to improve your health made your account grow at a slow, turtle-like pace. But more on this later…

Since starting my brand I have wanted to become well-known for making health more sexy and approachable. I started a YouTube channel, made videos I was proud of, and did blog posts that I loved. I turned my detox into an app, which became a best-seller on the app store and I was over the moon. I released it as a book with Random House last year which I was unbelievably proud of. Since then, I have done business and branding consultations, run people’s social media accounts for them, and done health coaching along the way to help others. I was passionate about every single one of these things.

But the passion disappeared.

So going back to the algorithms changing, people not seeing my account, not reading the blog as much and of course my value getting tied up into my social numbers (see this post for more details), I inevitably stopped enjoying it all. I felt like I was doing things and putting content out to be ‘liked’ and to get higher numbers (i.e. followers, comments, etc) and forgot why I started sharing in the first place. I got caught up in wanting to be famous because I thought I would get more work, better deals, etc from it. I forgot that building a brand starts from community. Fame became the name of the game and I wanted it. But I was so far from it because my account stopped growing. My value went low, my passion died, and I thought why am I even doing this anymore when I’m not making money, other people’s accounts are growing mine isn’t, and no one seems to care what I post. So why do it?…

I started a blog when I was modeling to share my travels and what it was like to be a model. I created a blog for my photography while traveling simultaneously. I then made a food blog where I shared recipes as I taught myself about clean eating. This morphed into a lifestyle blog, where I now share (or well, was sharing) all things health, wellness, fashion and everything I’m passionate about. But most of you don’t even know that I have all these things. People are still shocked to find out I have a YT channel, or have done other blogs. Many still don’t know I have an app or book.

My Youtube channel brought me joy. Until it didn’t anymore. My blog made me excited to write, until I couldn’t get myself to sit in front of my computer. I got tired of only caring how many people were reading my blog posts, if I should make money from ads on my site (I chose not to), and and why I spent so much money on a website I don’t even love.

So all of this is to say that I got confused, lost my joy of what I was doing, and so I stopped. I stopped blogging, I stopped the photography, and I stopped making videos. This doesn’t change the fact that I WANTED to! I have been brimming with ideas on what I want to do and share, yet just have not been able to get myself to do them.

Add on to this the normal happenings of life, where I wasn’t making money so couldn’t pay rent (more on this later, because what you see online doesn’t always mean that you are as successful as people think I believe it’s important to break this wall down and show the truth!), my beloved cat died, and I felt like I was doing a lot of things in this world alone. I didn’t have my community anymore, instead I had led myself to working by myself instead of relying on my community for guidance. The bigger my brand grew, the less connected I was to the very people I started writing my blog for.

Until today. Today, this morning specifically, after being  jet lagged from just arriving back from Europe, I decided to sit at my computer and write. It’s 7am and I am sitting on my balcony, jet lagged as hell and for the first time in a while sharing my truth. I am not filtering this, I am not rewriting it. I am letting the words flow out like they used to. It might not make sense. But I have realized a few key things about the loss of passion and where it leads me.

When we care only about a number, a follower, how many comments we get or if people even see our work it can make us wonder why the F we are doing it. This is normal. Passion is needed to do a job, but feeling your worth in your work is also needed. If people don’t see if then you can lose the passion.
The solution to the problem above? Make sure you are not putting all your eggs in one basket and trying to become Insta famous. This doesn’t bring you happiness. What does bring you happiness is connecting with people OUTSIDE of the digital world. Going back to having real conversations, connecting with people face to face. Listening to their stories and sharing yours.
If I do not want to write my blog, then so be it, but stop judging and critiquing myself for it. Just like I get my passion from sharing, if I don’t feel the passion to write in that moment, then let it go, stop the judgement and do what makes you happy.
Life ebbs and flows and just because i took a (rather long) hiatus from writing, doesn’t mean I won’t come back to it. I love what I do and what I share and have realized the next thing…
Sharing your AUTHENTICITY is the only thing that matters. I have not been sharing things in my personal life, the changes in my business, or what changes I’ve learned as a person (along with WHY i even care about health in the first place) and by keeping your truth blocked, you will inevitably burn out.

I’ve learned a lot more and truthfully I hope to continue writing. I plan on getting deeper and sharing more. I’d like to get back to blogging a few days a week. Talking about the good, the bad, the life lessons, the things I love and so much more. From some recent experiences I learned that working hard, day after day, will get your further than trying to get fame overnight. One takes a hell of a lot longer and you will want to quit most days, but if you are doing something because you believe in it, then it WILL be worth it in the end.

So with that, if you are still reading to the end here then I am a tad impressed but also grateful.

I’d love to know your thoughts on passion and if you have felt the same thing or had similar experiences to mine in regards to losing your passion or life getting in the way. This blog is me opening up and I would love to connect with you and hear YOUR story below!

Lots of love,

n

The post Why I Stopped Blogging…the REAL truth appeared first on Nikki Sharp.