Hey, hey! So my household has been STRUG. GL. ING. with the fall cold season and I am 100% fighting the good fight to keep myself healthy. There are many reasons for this:

1. If mom gets sick, how will the world keep turning?
2. I’ve been a peak level Nikki excitement (that’s huge you guys, I don’t get excited.) for a seminar in Venice Beach this weekend. If I get sick, I will never forgive my immune system.
3. I’m pregnant; don’t you think my body is doing enough without also having to endure cold symptoms? Ya, me too.

Back to my seminar though. I’m attending the BIRTHFIT Coach Seminar hosted by Deuce Gym in Venice. This is pretty much my personal development Mecca. Let me explain and reveal my true nerd features.

The gym owner is Logan Gelbrich, someone who’s really changed the game for me lately (let’s say in the last year and half) when it comes to personal responsibility, effective coaching, and leaning into failure and discomfort. I know, cool dude right? He wrote a book called Going Right, it’s pretty great, but to be honest I love his podcast interviews the most. He is deliberate and thoughtful with his words and message and I appreciate the journey he’s been on to help other people take ownership of their lives.

The women of BIRTHFIT, founder Lindsey Matthews, and coach Emily Stanwyck will be there. These ladies have been leading examples to me of strong, smart, and driven females who are helping women in the motherhood space. I am so grateful for their work.

In addition, there are members of this gym who have inspired me throughout my fitness, coaching, business, and personal growth journey. Neghar Foononi, Mary Shenouda, Caroline Burkle… just to name a few. You can’t not feel like pushing to be your best self in a room full of these people.

So am I psyched? Yes. Yes I am.

I realize that most people would be really pumped to see people on the red carpet, or visit the landmarks of famous events in history, or even just have a run in with a high-profile individual at the coffee shop (side note; anyone see Jason Mraz serving pour overs at Bird Rock coffee this weekend? That’s rad.) but I am most excited to walk into an old car garage with atlas stones, barbells, and rubber mats and learn from the folks who have already taught me so much. Check out BirthFit and the blog at Deuce if you’re feeling curious to know more.

Other things worth being excited about?

Chocolate? Yes. Avocado? Oh yes.

In paleo/grain-free baking, I get a little tired of the over used nut flour/nut butter/nut milk/nuts combo. It’s just A LOT OF NUTS. So in lieu of using more nuts, I added in some healthy fat via avocado. It wasn’t disappointing at all. This bread is nutty, moist, and works so well with a pumpkin spice latte, or any warm beverage for that matter.

Chocolate Avocado Banana Bread

3 medium- large spotty bananas
3 eggs
1/2 avocado (large)
3 T. honey
1 T. vanilla
2 c. almond flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/3 c. cocoa powder
sprinkle of salt

(optional: I added 1 c. chopped fresh figs, you could add other dried fruit, chocolate chunks, or crushed macadamia nuts)

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Grease a regular sized loaf pan.
3. In a blender, combine all wet ingredients.
4. In a medium bowl, combine dry ingredients.
5. Add blended ingredients to the bowl and combine until just mixed.
6. Fold in any add-ins and then pour into loaf pan.
7. Bake 50 mins or so, until toothpick comes out clean.