I’ve been pretty open about my hair loss over the past several months (post delivery of Harper). It was something I really struggled with. My hair was always something I put a lot of effort into… if I had the choice between applying some make-up or doing my hair, I would hands down choose my hair. Always. So, when it started to fall out in clumps (and I am not exaggerating here) I started to panic. It was one of the harder post-pregnancy oddities that I had to deal with. I felt as if I had minimal control over the shedding, and thought I was going to go bald… or at least have a receding hairline. I was pretty much desperate, so I had booked an appointment with my doctor…

Then, I was introduced to Vital Proteins Marine Collagen (and their entire line of collagen). I hadn’t done much research on collagen, but as I was introduced to the product, I started to see articles pop up all over the internet on the topic. In a nutshell, I discovered that collagen can aid in skin + hair health (right up my ally), bone + joint health, assist in balancing hormones (yes for this post pregnancy body!), and aid in digestion. I decided to start incorporating the marine collagen (which is tasteless) into my morning oatmeal. After about 2 weeks, I started to notice that my hair wasn’t falling out nearly as much, and that little baby hairs were starting to sprout around my hairline (AMEN!!). When I went in for a blow-out, after 7 days of not washing my hair, the stylist told me that there wasn’t much that had fallen out. I was seriously so happy…. and now, I swear by it. I make sure to get a daily dose of it, and have gotten a little creative with how I have been incorporating it lately. Of course, all of these recipes are delicious without the collagen (I mean, it is tasteless), but if you’re looking to start incorporating collagen into your routine, these options are pretty tasty!

Cashew Milk Chia Seed Pudding:

2 cups unsweetened vanilla cashew milk (or any nut milk)
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of sea salt
6 tablespoons chia seeds
1 scoop collagen peptide

For the pudding, prepare 8 hours prior to eating.

In a bowl, quickly stir together all ingredients, except the chia seeds. In a blender, pour in the combined ingredients, and begin to blend on low. Slowly add in the chia seeds, a tablespoon at a time, being sure the chia seeds don’t end up on the sides of the blender. Once all chia seeds are combined, blend on low for 2-3 minutes. I simply poured the ingredients into a large bowl, covered, and placed in the refrigerator. After about an hour, I stirred the ingredients again, and then placed the lid on, and left in the refrigerator over night. I top mine with Purely Elizabeth granola, sliced strawberries, + 1/4 square bar.

Vanilla Overnight Oats (with all the fixings): 

1/2 cup steel cut oats (I love the Trader Joe’s version)
1 cup nut based milk (I used unsweetened vanilla cashew)
Cinnamon (to your liking)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 scoop collagen peptide

Place oats in a bowl, pour in milk and then mix in collagen, vanilla, + cinnamon. Place in a jar that you can cover with a lid. Place in refrigerator over night (or at least 2 hours). When you’re ready to eat, you can enjoy them cold or heat up in the microwave. I top with 1/4 cup blueberries, 1/2 sliced banana, 2 tbsp Purely Elizabeth granola, + 1 tsp Justin’s Honey Peanut Butter.

Pumpkin Bars:

I posted the recipe for these a few days ago, and you can find it here (this is not my own recipe). To incorporate the collagen, simply add 1 scoop to the mixture. I made a bath of these on Monday and they’re almost gone!!

You also know how much I love some great athleisure, and I thought I’d share a few favorites, and pieces that I have been eyeing lately. I have been wearing this wrap hoodie non-stop… it’s super cozy and comes in multiple color options (I have the grey, but thinking about the black too). I also love the knot front options that are out there, especially this tank and this long sleeve  version. These color block leggings are so cute, and I’ve recently pulled out my black slip-ons and am loving them all over again.