You and I hail from the same general local. We recently moved from Seattle to the Phoenix area. You are living in the Portland area. Both locations are simply beautiful and offer such an abundance of culinary wonderment while also managing to keep folks health conscious. What drew you to Portland?

Such great locations!  We landed in the beautiful city of Portland because my husband’s ‘mid-life crisis’ was to go back to law school in his 40’s.  We were living in Austin, TX at the time and he applied to law schools across the country but Lewis & Clark Law School has a fantastic night school law program for working people.  We moved here and he worked full time and went to law school!  I am happy to report that he is now a lawyer working for a firm in Portland.  And a better ‘mid-life’ crisis than the alternative (getting a sports car, trading up for a younger wife. This has been a great place to call home and bring up our two kids for the past 10 years.

My blog was created with the premise that people need to focus on their inner health and well-being, then move their focus to their external person. Once their mind and health are in tune with their exterior, they can begin to focus on or add value to a career. (And a career can range from being a police officer, a CxO, an artist or astronaut, a forest ranger, to being a stay at home mom.) In your own words you are a “beauty junkie, detox specialist, health and hormonal balance coach, yogi, personal trainer, and all-around food geek”! WOW! All of these seem to hit the sweet spot of things I focus on for my blog and am passionate about.  Tell me a bit your businesses and how you got to your existing place in beauty blogger-ville.

Well, I worked in Corporate America for many years as a marketing manager but took a few years off to stay home with my kids when they were little.  During that time, I had gained weight and was at my heaviest I had ever been and was not living my life to the fullest. I went on my own health and wellness journey and lost 35+ pounds and have kept it off for the past decade.  During the past decade, I became an Eating Coach, Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor, Holistic Health Coach and Detox Specialist!  Instead of heading back to Corporate America, I decided to create my own health and wellness business and help people get healthy and happy! Bliss Holistic Health, LLC was born and has steadily grown into what it is today. I specialize in helping women balance their hormones, boost their metabolism, lose weight and feel happy, healthy and whole again. Based in Portland, Oregon, I assist clients nationwide via phone, email and Skype. I absolutely LOVE my job!

On the beauty blogger-ville front, I have ALWAYS been a beauty junkie and when I turned 50 decided it was high time to share my joy for all things beauty related. My daughter encouraged me to start a YOUTUBE channel and although I had A LOT to learn – it has become a fabulous outlet and I love the community of friends that I have found on my channel. Life is short and I am so glad I jumped in because I feel like I have found my PEOPLE!

In a prior interview with Elle, we were discussing the shift in role models with “mature skin” being placed in major cosmetics campaigns. Helen Mirren, Christie Brinkley, Karisma Kapoor, Thandie Newton, Sharon Stone, and Andie MacDowell to name a few. To what do you attribute this inclusiveness? How has it shifted the content distribution for beauty influencers like yourself on YouTube?

I love the shift and inclusiveness of more mature spokespeople in major cosmetic campaigns! It is about time. I think this is a move in the right direction because aging is a ‘gift’ not something to be ashamed of. I also think that us -more mature beauties – have more discretionary money than our younger counterparts for the most part and that we are being more discriminatory with our beauty dollars. I want to know what works for someone in their 50’s versus in their 20’s.

I jumped into YouTube because there was not many of us ‘mature skin’ content creators and felt like there was a need. Don’t get me wrong, I love the young content creators and have learned many beauty tips from them but not all work for my mature skin. It is refreshing to be able to watch and learn from people of the same age bracket.

You really do personify the ‘friend next door’ in the manner in which you arrived at your “wellness pilgrimage”. Can you tell us about that decision point in your life? Why was that moment so different? What red flags would you caution others who are heading down that same road?

I distinctly remember the day that I said, ”I CAN do this” instead of rationalizing all the reasons I could not make a change to my health and wellness. I was living in California and was at my heaviest weight wise, depressed, and not living the life I wanted.  I was not a good role model for my kids and knew I need to stop my nightly glasses of wine and No Pudge Brownies and turn this ship around.  The key is to take baby steps and not try to change EVERYTHING at once.  Now, I admit I tried to do that and felt like I had failed and threw in the towel within the week. BUT I got back on the wagon and took it day by day.  I caution all my clients NOT to fall into the ALL OR NOTHING trap.  That is not a sustainable way to live.  Balance is the KEY and it has taken me a LONG time to figure this out but I am so much happier if I work on PROGRESS each week, day, hour versus PERFECTION (which does not exist )

We are all in the process of kicking off not only a new year, but a new decade. This can bring so many positive opportunities for change in our lives.  You are offering an upcoming 14-day program “where nourishment no longer feels like punishment”. Walk us through your program as I’m sure there will be a fair amount of interest. I may have to give it a try and report back on it! (Note: I completed this. Be sure to read my summary of this program in the February newsletter.)

I am so excited that you decided to jump in and try this program for yourself.  I have been leading seasonal detoxes for the past 6 ½ years -4 times a year and it has been a complete game changer for my health and wellbeing as well as my business.

Detox was the thing that gave me a HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP with FOOD.  As crazy as that sounds – it is true and I began to heal and rid myself of the FOOD CHAOS that was overtaking my life.

So here is the deal, WE EAT REAL FOOD!  This is not a juice cleanse or a program with a bunch of supplements and protein powders.

I created The Art of Eating Program so you can rid your body of the toxins left by excess stress and a diet filled with unhealthy, unnatural foods, so you can ditch the extra weight, replenish your skin and hair, reset your health, and experience incredible energy and vibrancy in just TWO WEEKS!!

    • Ditch the stress, junk food and processed stuff that is causing a buildup of toxicity that leaves you feeling exhausted, bloated, and sick
    • Enjoy foods that are not only loaded with nutrition, but that are also delicious, comforting, and nourishing
    • Revitalize your immune system, replenish your energy and rebuild your gut biome
    • Cleanse your body of all the toxins and feel vibrant, joyful, confident, and rejuvenated!NO DEPRIVATION.
      NO FAD DIETS.
      NO STARVATION.
      NO MIRACLE CURES.
      NO NONSENSE.
      We eat real food and get real result.

Here’s What You Get:

The Art of Eating Guide explains and educates about not just cleansing the body of toxins, but how to cleanse the mind, too!  After all, the right mindset is absolutely crucial to good health.  You’ll learn about nutrition, how to overcome obstacles, understand your relationship with food, and so much more!

    • The Recipe Guide contains incredible recipes that are not only packed with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals you need to replenish your health, but these recipes are chef-tested, delicious, and satisfying!
    • 14 Days of Suggested Meals takes the guesswork out of trying to figure out what is for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  There’s also a great shopping guide to make your trip to the grocery store simple and stress-free!
    • Food Diary allows you to not only track what you eat so you can understand how your body reacts to different food, but also so you can assess your health, track your progress, and understand your habits and food relationships with clarity.
    • Facebook Group Access for some incredible peer support and guidance, plus I will be leading conversations and answering questions, too!

I absolutely LOVE leading these seasonal detoxes and I can’t wait to dive into this next one.  If you want to learn more and sign up, then head on over to https://blissfullyfed.com/

Your existing YouTube channel offers “relatable beauty advice, high end and luxury beauty reviews”. Over time, do you have plans to bridge all your businesses into one offering? Is there an Abby Bliss White Inc. in your future?

That is a GREAT question! I have struggled with knowing how to combine my two business BUT I do own the URL for Abby Bliss White and maybe it is as simple as that!  I would love to have everything under one umbrella at some point.

I believe we both share a love of all things Biologique Recherché. I originally thank Lisa (of Lisa J Makeup and BK Beauty) for introducing me (via YouTube) to this product line. After becoming ‘hooked’ on the P50 formula, I began searching out more videos on more products.  And there YOU were! Why do you think this line is so ‘addicting’?

Ahh.. I love this!  So, I have suffered from rosacea and once I discovered Biologique Recherche line it completely transformed my skin.  I went to Rescue Spa in New York City and they set me up with a simple yet effective protocol using Biologique Recherche. Within 3 months my skin had cleared up and I was HOOKED!  This is not a fluffy brand. The products don’t necessarily smell good but boy do they work.  I have been a beauty junkie for years and have tinkered with so many brands- La Mer, Erno Laszlo, Skinmedica, Eminence…the list goes on) and regimes and this brand truly works! My staples are Lait E.V., Lotion P50V, and Crème Masque Vernix. Game changers!

In the same manner your offerings teach us to care for our internal bodies while maximizing the health we enjoy; how do you advise people on their skin care regime?  How do you position using skin care and make up?

 Just like my philosophy of eating, he 80/20 method applies. I eat healthy 80% of the time but leave a little wiggle room for fun! (20%) 

Skincare/Makeup is so unique and personal, so I advise that people find what works for them. I will share my tips and tricks but encourage people to have fun and explore what makes them happy.  My motto this year is to follow a LESS is MORE approach and try to listen to what my skin needs.  As far as makeup, I think it is fun and creative but think we should use it to enhance our beauty not use it as a mask. I feel so much more confident and happy once I put on my ‘face’ but that does not mean I CAKE on the makeup.

You’re a busy person. Mom, wife, entrepreneur. How do you define success and how do you measure success while achieving work life balance?

Yep! I am a busy person but have learned that I have to take care of myself so that I can give 100% to others as well.  That is one of the tenants that I teach in my detox programs is that SELF-CARE is huge and it took me a long time not to feel guilty about adding in self-care on some basis everyday even if that is just waking up before everyone else and enjoying a little quite “ME” time with a cup of tea. So, success is when I am busy but not OVERLY busy and have set up appropriate boundaries so that the work life balance is achievable.  The art of saying NO and setting up boundaries is HARD, so I am a work in progress on this front.

What has been the biggest challenge since starting your various businesses in 2010.

I would say finding my niche would be the biggest challenge. I have lots of interests and seem to add to my business.  I started as an Eating Coach and then people would ask me about exercise so I got certified as a personal trainer. And then I fell in love with yoga so I did Teacher Training program and then fell like I wanted to dive deeper in nutrition so went to Nutrition school. And then detox changed my life so I became a detox specialist… you get the gist.  My business is evolving as I am evolving but trying to find that ONE niche area has been tough for me. 

We all have ‘bloopers’ in our lives. Can you describe the most hysterical one you have experienced since starting your YouTube channel? 

Oh, my goodness, I have SO many!  But if you ever look at any of my videos from the beginning you will see that I am looking at the side view finder instead of the lens. I thought I was SUPPOSED to look at it.  LOL!  And a recent one is that I decided to go LIVE and do a real-time YouTube video. I have two dogs and they go absolutely NUTS when the mail comes daily. I don’t know what I was thinking but I started a LIVE video and lo and behold the mail came early that day and the dogs just went wild on camera. It was actually comical because I usually spend quite some time editing out all the dog noises but everyone seemed to relate to the Chaos!

Being positive, supportive and kind are incredible attributes to maintain in todays workplace. If you could give advice on how to maintain these qualities no matter the occasion what would your advice be?

Honestly, this is a no brainer one, TREAT PEOPLE AS YOU WANT TO BE TREATED.  I must admit that in the age of the internet I think it has emboldened behavior that would not exist in person. People say things behind a screen that I doubt they would do in person. For the most part, I don’t get a bunch of nasty comments on YouTube but yes,  have gotten some very hurtful ones and don’t believe that the person who wrote it would say it to my face.  It sort of shakes your faith in humanity. So, I would advise people to go back to the golden rule and treat people like you want to be treated. I think it will promote more peace in general.

Think back to five years ago. Did you envision this is where you would be? Where do you envision yourself five years from now?

I think it is hilarious that I am known as the DETOX QUEEN and never would have thought that my business would take off doing seasonal detoxes.  I was a HUGE skeptic of detox before I embarked on one myself and had such a transformative experience.  I have been leading group detoxes for the past 6 ½ years which is just crazy to me.

In 5 years from now I hope that I am still doing YouTube and that I have grown my channel and community. I envision that my business will have morphed into the Abby Bliss White umbrella and that it will still be about beauty, health, and wellness! I love helping people feel comfortable in their skin and having fun with getting healthy and happy.

Having good role models is very important to women (and men!) today. What do you feel we can offer each other to ensure that we are a good role model to each other? What figure has influenced you the most in your life?

 I totally agree. I go back to the golden rule of treating people with respect and treating them like you want to be treated. The fact that we are ALL different and unique is what makes the world go around so meeting people where they are at and truly listening to their story is also helpful.

I would say my mother had a huge influence on my life. She recently passed away (this past September) and I finally figured out that she was the reason that I am in the health and wellness business.

Now, I loved my mother more than anything but she had her fair share of issues and did not take good care of herself. She struggled with alcohol, yo-yo dieted, was overweight, had diabetes and loved her sugar and Diet Cokes.  I realize now that seeing her struggle throughout her life and having my own personal struggles with weight, food, and alcohol influenced me to change my life and help others as well.

What are the top 1-5 things that we can look forward to from you in 2020?

I am so excited for 2020!

  1. I will continue to create YouTube content on beauty, health, and wellness!
  2. I am hoping to also improve my background skills with filming and editing so you will see an improvement in that area as well!
  3. I’m so excited for this season’s The Art of Eating Detox! I have lots of fun in store for my group and will continue to grow and expand my program offerings.
  4. Travel Vlogs- we are doing a bit of travel to take my daughter to look at colleges and thought it would be fun to put together little city guides with best places to eat, shop, and explore.
  5. This aging stuff can be tough but I am embracing it and plan to keep working on aging gracefully with a positive mindset!  I will share any tips and tricks I learn along the way!

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