I’ve spent the last month at home with my family in Seattle, which means the last few weeks have been ACTIVE ACTIVE ACTIVE. Seattle is well-known for its incredible, scenic hiking and beautiful summer weather, and trust me when I say I’ve been taking full advantage.

Between apartment hunting in NYC and working on my new website (launching in January!), I’ve been hiking and/or going on runs at least once or twice a week.

So right when I started to notice that my 4-year old sneakers were wearing on the soles of my feet a bit, Zappos reached out to me asking if I’d like to try out New Balance’s new Fresh Foam sneakers. I was overjoyed.

They come in pink?? Seafoam green and baby blue? The color options were endless and the platform looked really comfy.

I was in.

After ordering my new shoes on Zappos.com (which, by the way, is the best retailer for shoes because of its super-fast shipping and amazing return policy), I received my pair of light pink Fresh Foam sneakers. I tried them out on a couple of my runs and have to report back to you ladies that these sneaks are comfortable.

They have been perfect for my daily runs and even sufficed for one of the easy-to-moderate hikes in the Seattle area.

Another thing I love about the Fresh Foams is that while, YES, they are a sneaker, they are also super, super cute and can be paired with a non-athletic outfit. I’ve worn them a few times with black jeans & a comfy sweater, and the look is perfect for a day of errands or work at a coffee shop.

10/10 in my book.

Zappos also asked me to share my idea of what it means to be Fearlessly Independent, a concept that I have spent the last couple years of my life defining.

To me, being fearlessly independent means following your own heart and your own gut to lead you to the places and experiences that make you feel most alive, regardless of what others may think. I am extremely passionate about this idea and about encouraging others to lean into it.

So, here are just three ways you can strive to be more fearlessly independent in your life, in your career and in your relationships:

• Trust your gut. Even when it goes against the grain and against what society, your friends or your family might support, follow your gut. If you’re excited by a new idea or a new project, trust that excitement! You’re being pulled into it for a reason. Follow it and see where it leads you.
• Do things that scare you. The most rewarding, most formative experiences are the same ones that scare you and push you outside of your comfort zone. I am a real believer that the best things in life are on the other side of fear.
• Go on more solo trips. Solo trips are a tried-and-true way to get in touch with yourself on a deeper level. While taking a trip alone can be admittedly terrifying at first, you will find yourself feeling more self-confident and independent at the end than you could have ever imagined. My favorite solo trip I’ve taken was my adventure in Iceland!

How do you embody Fearless Independence in your life? And, what do you think of my new sneakers?

(Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Zappos. As always, all opinions are my own).

xx,

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