How to be an Introvert in an Extroverted World + Career
How to be an Introvert in an Extroverted World + Career

Oh, being an introvert. While I wouldn't trade it for anything, there's no denying that having this type of personality poses for some unique challenges in a world that is more social and connected than ever before. From balancing your own special set of self-care needs with work obligations, not to mention your social life, it can feel like you're constantly struggling in that perilous 5% zone of your battery. It's been a process to learn how to be an introvert in an extroverted world and industry-- and I still don't have it nailed down yet, but I have found things that have helped me thrive.

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LifestyleMinna LeeCareer, Self-Improvement
How to Make Bone Broth: Tutorial + Tips
How to Make Bone Broth: Tutorial + Tips

I have been waiting forever to make this post for you guys! Bone broth is something I had been sipping and slurping since I was a teeny thang, thanks to my Korean roots. In Korean culture, that silky, rich broth is a go-to for cold weather days, sick days, and days after a rough night out. I didn't realize this back then, but bone broth is ridiculously nutrient dense and healthy. 

Bone broth is also one of the foods I credit for helping heal my gut health and managing my inflammation from my autoimmune disease (Hashimoto's), thanks to the abundance of collagen and minerals that get extracted out of those grass-fed bones. So I was...

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RecipesMinna LeeGluten-Free, Nutrition, Nut-Free, Soups, Main Meals
Protein-Packed Overnight Oats
Protein-Packed Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are always such an easy and delicious breakfast option for post-workout or just a busy morning. My classic overnight oats + pumpkin overnight oats are some of my most pinned recipes on my blog, but I wanted to add one more easy overnight oats recipe to your morning repertoire-- this time, with a focus on protein and those healthy, anti-inflammatory fats!

As usual, overnight oats recipes are highly customizable to fit your dietary needs, but this recipe is inherently gluten-free and dairy-free. The protein champions in this recipe come from my favorite collagen and peanut butter, but there's also some in the pepitas and chia seeds. 

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RecipesMinna LeeBreakfast, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free
Women Who Inspire Interview Series: Jules of Om and the City
Women Who Inspire Interview Series: Jules of Om and the City

Okay, this one is LONG overdue but it's all good because it's an awesome one. I asked my good friend Jules of the beautiful Om and the City blog to take part in my Women Who Inspire Interview series because this lovely soul is indeed a force of nature that has created a hub of inspiration for women everywhere. And I'm so happy I got to shoot her for this interview, since we're Brooklyn neighbors!

The female entrepreneur community has been an amazing thing to be a part of since I became one, but it became particularly so this year. Meeting, collaborating, and...

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LifestyleMinna LeeInterview, Women Who Inspire
Shroom Super Soup with Bone Broth
Shroom Super Soup with Bone Broth

I'm that crazy person that thinks of their meals as a grocery cart from those old game shows where contestants would race to fill their carts with as many items as possible in 2 minutes. Whenever I make myself food at home, I think of any and all weird ways that I can boost the nutritional components of it in a delicious way-- it's like a game for me! I especially do this with smoothies, salads, and soups, because they're such easy vehicles for a variety of ingredients. This healing, gut-friendly, anti-inflammatory bone-broth based mushroom super soup is one of my favorites lately when my body is in need of easy nourishment. 

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RecipesMinna LeeGluten-Free, Soups, Main Meals
Guess Who's Back: Announcements, ICYMI, and What to Expect on the Blog
Guess Who's Back: Announcements, ICYMI, and What to Expect on the Blog

My last real post was May 10th. That was 74 days, or about 2.5 months ago 😱😳😭

Over 100 client training sessions, 12 freelance photography projects, over 20 blogging events, 3 freelance articles published, about a dozen shoots + collaborations, 1 wedding, 3 Hamptons trips for work (and 1 for fun), my niece's 100 day birthday, yoga in Times Square, furniture selling on craigslist, and finally now packing for my big move tomorrow:

This is all the stuff that happened over that span of 74 days. Given all the exciting things that are happening around here that I cannot WAIT to share with you, I hope you guys will forgive me for my going AWOL. I was absolutely taking on too much with my commitments, and I had to hit the pause button on this in order to create space for the other things and to well, not die.

Read more for announcements, ICYMI, and what to expect on the blog over the next few months:

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LifestyleMinna LeePersonal
Dear Daddy /아빠 : Happy Father's Day
Dear Daddy /아빠 : Happy Father's Day

Dear 아빠 / Daddy,

If this were any other year, I'd be writing you a Father's Day card. But this year is the first year of my life that I am not experiencing a hand cramp from writing in such tiny lettering, trying to fit all my sentiments and gratitude within the never convenient spaces that card-making companies tend to leave.

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LifestyleMinna LeePersonal
Asking for Help is Not Weakness or Giving Up
Asking for Help is Not Weakness or Giving Up

Well. Just did two things I've never done before. I posted a video of myself deadlifting yesterday on my Instagram Stories, and then I just posted a full-body mirror selfie on Instagram for the purposes of this message. Recently I asked one of my old co-workers from Equinox and trusted fellow trainer to train me and program for me. This may come as a surprise or even might make some of you confused-- after all, I'm a trainer, so why on earth would I need someone to train me?

I'm sharing this with you all today because I want to dispel the negative stigma around asking for help. 

Two primary reasons: Firstly, I am busier and more stressed than I've ever been, leaving me very little brain + energy left to be a coach to myself. My second reason is that

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Well-BeingMinna LeeSelf-Improvement, Mental Health, Mind
Where to Stay in Paris: Le Narcisse Blanc
Where to Stay in Paris: Le Narcisse Blanc

I've always felt right at home in Paris, more than any other European city I've been to. Perhaps it's the similar energy to that of NYC's, or the attention to detail in all the beautiful design and surroundings that I love so much. Parisians manage to achieve multiple juxtapositions at once when it comes to design: they're super classic with neutrals, but use pops of color the most sophisticated way; they stay minimal with clean lines and classic silhouettes, yet step out of the box with novel flourishes that blend in seamlessly. And everything oozes romance-- not necessarily in the amorous way, but more so in the romance of the everyday, like a little bit of beauty interwoven throughout in plain sight.

Now taking those notes into account, dream up the most quintessentially Parisian boutique hotel, and Le Narcisse Blanc is exactly that in real life. This boutique hotel is a gem that is nestled right between the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides, a mere few blocks from the Pont Alexandre III bridge over the Seine...

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LifestyleMinna LeeTravel, City Guides, Hotels
Women Who Inspire Interview Series: Dale of The Daley Plate
Women Who Inspire Interview Series: Dale of The Daley Plate

Happy Friday, everyone! What a whirlwind of an April it's been-- I'm jetting off again today! This time for one of my best friend's bachelorette party and I get to see a bunch of friends I haven't in quite some time, which will be awesome. And last week, I finally got to meet Sara of @shisodelicious in person, while I was in London! True to both of our predictions, we couldn't stop chatting and stayed up until 2:30am talking. Lately, Instagram might not be my BFF with all the changes, but I am forever grateful to the platform for connecting me with some amazing people I may not have met otherwise, like Sara.

Sara was my first interview for the Women Who Inspire interview series, and I'm excited to pick back up on the series this month! This week we’re jumping back into things with a very special foodie friend of mine, Dale of @thedaleyplate. This interview is a breath of fresh air and unique perspective, so you will want to read this whole thing through for some major inspiration and bosslady vibes...

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LifestyleMinna LeeWomen Who Inspire, Interview, Career
While I'm Gone...
While I'm Gone...

First of all, I'm having a bit of whiplash from the disbelief that my trip has already arrived! With all the craziness lately of my life in NYC, this trip totally crept up on me. Now it's time to go off and make some new memories and experience some familiar cities with fresh eyes and see new ones for the first time!

While I contemplated uploading a bunch of pre-scheduled posts for the duration of my trip, I had to stop myself. I haven't taken time away from this space in a very long time, and I need to just cut loose for the time I'm there without worrying about this blog, my baby, back at home. I'm hiring a babysitter, aka this post here, to entertain you guys while I'm gone. Of course you guys should make sure to follow my adventures along on my Instagram if you want up to speed content, but over here in this space, I've rounded up some of my favorite posts in each category-- to keep you busy with reading and growing...

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LifestyleMinna Lee
Labels = Limitations
Labels = Limitations

When it comes to understanding ourselves, we tend to stick with what we've known about ourselves or been told about ourselves, rather than thinking about the current reality. 

We like labels. Labels help our brains classify and understand things; psychology research says that upon seeing or hearing something novel, our brains immediately try to categorize it within familiar labels to understand what it is...

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LifestyleMinna Lee
Women Who Inspire Series: Charissa Fay
Women Who Inspire Series: Charissa Fay

Happy Friday, everyone! It finally is starting to feel like spring for real here in NYC, and I couldn't be more thrilled-- of course, it is right as I'm about to jet off for Europe, but still so happy to get a few sunny days coming up. 

Before I head out, I wanted to share one more awesome interview with an amazing woman who inspires! You may have seen her work in Condé Nast Traveler, Wall Street Journal, Travel & Leisure, or Food & Wine, but if not, I'm proud to highlight and introduce a fellow New York creative's work, and who she is on this Women Who Inspire interview series. So happy to introduce Charissa to you guys today, for anyone that has not come across her stunning photos on her Instagram. Charissa is a mom and a NYC-based travel, food, and lifestyle photographer. I love how...

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LifestyleMinna LeeWomen Who Inspire, Interview, Career
Why I Eat Local + Urban Farming w/Gotham Greens
Why I Eat Local + Urban Farming w/Gotham Greens

Eating locally has become all the more important to me in the past few years. The more I've gotten educated about nutrition and food practices, the more I've learned what is actually important versus what is just a buzzword. Eating locally has become a bit of a trendy thing, and people lump it into a bunch of healthy buzz words alongside "organic" "all-natural" "plant-based" "non-GMO." Consumers see those words and associate whatever they're buying to be healthy... but that's not exactly true.

Today, I want to share with you guys some things I've learned over the years about eating locally grown produce, and how to navigate those labels so that your dollar actually goes towards what matters and not just marketing speak. My good friend and fellow blogger Jules, of Om and the City, and I teamed up with Gotham Greens to talk about the importance of this and more about their innovative urban farming practices that...

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LifestyleMinna LeeSustainability, Nutrition, Home, Wellness
6 Things That Happen When You Aren't Living Authentically
6 Things That Happen When You Aren't Living Authentically

Here's the thing. Living authentically doesn't mean being chipper and happy all the time-- living authentically means owning your reality, facing our fears, and chasing wholeness over happiness. For me, it was only lately that I realized how out of touch with myself I had gotten this past year, because I have been feeling more like myself than I have in a long time. After all, it's only when you come up for air, do you realize you had been holding your breath...

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Well-BeingMinna LeeSelf-Improvement, Mind
My 3 Spring Produce Favorites + 9 Recipes
My 3 Spring Produce Favorites + 9 Recipes

One of my favorite parts of a new season, is welcoming seasonal produce that hasn't been around in some time. And while some produce is available nearly year-round, you'll find that it never tastes quite as amazing (or is as cheap!) as when it is in season. 

Eating seasonally and locally is something that is super important to me (post coming next week on that!), as there are nothing but benefits on all fronts of doing so. It's cheaper because it's easier for your local farmers to produce during optimal conditions for that produce, it's tastier because it's optimal weather conditions to create fresh flavor, AND it's more nutrient-dense during peak season than any other time. 

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RecipesMinna LeeNutrition, Recipe Roundup
Current Clean Skin Favorites
Current Clean Skin Favorites

Healthy skincare has been having a MOMENT for the past two years. Women (and men) everywhere are trading in Saturday nights out for Saturday nights in, with sheet masks and green juices because they have to get up at 8am for their Sunday yoga class. Sound familiar?

Everyone is all about caring for their skin as much as possible these days, and that extends from skincare to makeup to internal well-being and care. So after struggling with so many skin issues, I wanted to share my favorite clean skincare and makeup favorites that have made the biggest difference for me, since I know my fellow sweat-tribe can also struggle with this! 

I transitioned over to all-natural clean beauty products awhile ago because some unique issues. After struggling with exhausting autoimmune issues for the past...

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LifestyleMinna LeeBeauty, Skincare, Wellness
Why Do We Call Stoicism "Staying Strong?"
Why Do We Call Stoicism "Staying Strong?"

Of all things, a tweet about the recent Bachelor finale got me thinking about how we as a society regard the display of emotions. During the finale, the bachelor had to break up with one girl before he went onto propose to another, naturally (lolz), so this girl gets her heart broken on national television; which, is feasibly quite a mortifying and emotional event.

Then former contestant of the show applauded the runner-up on Twitter as "the strongest bachelorette I've ever seen. She didn't fall to pieces after all that. Bravo." 

...Wait. So if she...

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Well-BeingMinna LeeMental Health, Mind