Bodhi's One!

I can’t even believe I am already writing this post, my baby is ONE!

I have dreamed of this moment for years, and it has always seemed so far away.

The last year had flown by, but it has also encompassed so much physical, emotional and mental change that it seems like it’s been a lifetime.

The beginning of my postpartum journey was really challenging, (for reasons I have yet to discuss publicly) and it was super lonely. I was moving through so much as a new mom, caring for my brand new baby with virtually no support expect for my sweet Husband, that had to go back to work at 4 weeks. Luckily, I met some incredible Mama friends with babes the same age as Bodhi and they have offered me an immense amount of support over the last 12 months.

Becoming Bodhi’s Mama has been the absolute best gift ever, and by far the most incredible thing my Husband and I have ever done.

Watching him grow, explore, and view the world with wonder and excitement is something I will never get over.

I know many Moms say that having a baby is the biggest blessing, but it honestly has been. Over the last year (and even the 10 months I was pregnant before that) I have been able to see myself in a new light. I have been able to shed layers, people, and things that simply no longer serve me. I have been able to get rid of body image issues I had for 20 years, and finally see my body for the incredible, beautiful, and resilient thing that it is. I have been able to shift my mentality from work-work-work and do-do-do to be-be-be.

Thanks to Bodhi life now is all about BE-ing more, and DO-ing less.

Putting my phone down, canceling meetings and working less so that I can be fully present for my family.

It’s been a beautiful journey - albeit there were lots of tears and lessons - it has been beautiful.

Thank you B for choosing me to be your Mama.

Photo By JOntel Chere

How to be More Empathetic to New Mother

I’ve wanted to write this blog for a long time, but was unsure how to communicate what I was seeing.

Since becoming a Mama, almost one year ago, I’ve noticed a strange pattern.

Many, definitely not all, but many Moms-of-older-kids (adults kids) seem to want to relate to my experience by comparing it to their own experiences.

Although I like to think this comes from a kind place, there are a few problems with this approach.

First, everyone’s experience is beautifully and unique. By comparing your experience to someone else’s you are taking away from their current experience, and their feelings. When this happens we are invalidating their experience, and it can come across hurtful and rude.

{obviously, there are exceptions to this and sometimes as humans we do not know any other way to connect, but how you choose to communicate in these situations is so important.}

Second, there’s a solid chance that they did not have the same experience you are having. It’s very rare for two people to have the exact same experience.

For instance, when this happens to me (and it’s happened soooo many times over the past year) it made me feel invalidated. I had a very different experience getting pregnant than these women, I am also having a very different postpartum journey than them. I am a full time stay at home mom and a full time entrepreneur, and many of these women went back to their (out of the house) careers at 6 weeks.

I fully support women going back to work whether it’s for financial reasons or because they truly love their job, women need an identity outside of Mom.

At the same time I fully support women stopping their careers and becoming full time stay at home moms, this by far is the hardest job there is IMO.

Womens on both paths should be validated in their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. When we choose not to listen, but instead to push our own agenda “yeah I remember what it’s like” … you get rid of any empathy or connection. Instead this Mama who was trying to open up to you, and perhaps be vulnerable with you, now feels railroaded and invalidated by your lack of empathy.

Moral of the story… let’s all be kinder. The world needs more kindness.

When a new Mom, or anyone, opens up about their struggles, their day or their story - allow it to be THEIRS. Actively listen and be empathetic.

Sometimes people just need someone to talk to, especially stay at home Mamas who haven’t talked to another adult all day, be that for them.

Photo By JOntel CHere

3 Tips to Building Your Mom Community

Coffee has gotten me through the last 10 months postpartum, but not how you may think...

I only knew a handful of people with babies when I had Bodhi, and most were not local, so we were really on our own in the beginning. The first few weeks, okay months, of postpartum were so lonely. I wasn’t allowed to drive for 8 weeks, and couldn’t pick up my baby in his car seat until after 6 weeks…so outings on our own were simply out of the question.

This was totally fine for the first 4 weeks while my husband was home on paternity leave, but then it all hit when he went back to work. It was just me, a new mom healing from giving birth, and my newborn. We were getting to know each other and getting to know the 4 walls of our home verryyyy well.

Luckily I met some incredible new mama friends pretty quickly and these ladies have made my postpartum journey so much better. I met most of my mom friends at coffee shops or at my mommy & me events which eventually led to coffee.

Coffee has literally got me through the last 10 months… but really it’s the ladies I met over coffee that have gotten me through! Support, connection and community are essential during postpartum.

I am so grateful for my tribe of mama and I love raising our babes alongside one another. There are certain things that only postpartum mamas and new moms can understand and relate to. It’s also been incredible to have women to bounce breastfeeding, food feeding, sleep and so many other questions off of - because we are all in it together. All of our babes are about the same age and I’m so excited to see them grow up together.

I can not recommend this enough to new mamas…build yourself a mom community, the support is incredible and there will be days when you really need them and they will need you.

3 Tips to Building Your Mom Community

1. Attend Mommy & Me events with your little one, and open up and talk to the moms there. No one understands what you are going through more than other new mamas.

2. If you see a mama out, at coffee, the grocery store, anywhere really, strike up a conversation… you never know where it might lead! (this is how I met two of my good mama friends!)

3. Go to story time or music class! Most libraries offer story time for free, and many cities have a variety of music classes for various age groups. This is a great place to meet like minded mamas.

Since having Bodhi I found that I have become more outgoing and willing to strike up conversation with other mamas and little ones, you never know who you may meet!

Would love to know how you met your mama friends! Comment below and lmk! xx

Photo BY jontel chere

3 Tips for a More Balanced Life

I feel like balance is something we all strive for, but many of us continue to fall short.

Balance is almost like the infamous carrot dangling in front of us, so close but always just out of reach.

Many people (esp on social media) appear to have it figured out, but I always wonder if they actually have it all together IRL??

Balance has never been more difficult to obtain than it has the last several months as a new mama. My husband and I went into parenthood with a loose idea of what we wanted it to look like and what our roles would be, and thank goodness it was a loose idea because it has shifted so much. I’m grateful that we have been able to be so flexible and listen to our intuition on what has felt right for us, and what continues to feel right for us moving forward.

I have decided to be a full time SAHM (stay at home mama) and run my business on the side (like during naps and any free moment I have). I don’t want to miss out on anything with Bodhi and love taking him to his music class and playdates, seeing his development and watching our bond grow has just been the best. That being said I don’t want to give up my business, I’ve worked so hard to build this brand over the last (almost) 8 years and feel so passionate about my mission. So…how do I find the balance?!?

Truthfully, balance is only something that I started to figure out in the last few months (and failed miserably at initially). I started my postpartum journey with a 3 month maternity leave, that quickly turned into 4 months and 6 months before I actually returned… thank goodness I run my own business! Now that Bodhi is 10 months old I feel like I’m finding my groove and discovering a new balance for my life.

I absolutely believe that balance is possible - for everyone.

That being said it’s going to look different for each individual. Our priorities really drive our energy and our focus, and it’s important to be super clear on these first before working towards a balanced life.

A balanced life is going to shift and evolve as you shift and evolve, we aren’t meant to be stagnant (trees, IYKYK). So your balanced life today will probably look very different than your balanced life 5 years ago.

For years I over worked as an escape, leading me into a very high stress and unbalanced life. (Totally do not recommend, lol.) It took years of unlearning and tapping into my purpose, and what I really wanted out of life. Many of us are taught certain ways of being and it’s up to each of us to decide if we want to keep those beliefs or make up our own new set of rules for our life.

Stepping into motherhood has been the absolute best blessing and has allowed me to continue shifting my focus, my beliefs about life, and create a whole new set of rules with my husband as to what we want out of life. It’s been a beautiful experience.

Finding balance in an ever changing world can be difficult, but if you are able to be flexible and allow yourself to go with the flow and follow your own set of rules I truly believe that balance is possible for everyone.

A balanced life for me means family first always, taking time for myself every single day, not only for self care but to breathe and just be, taking time for my work, time for movement, and taking time for community (friends, family, events).

To be honest, some days are tougher than others but if I allow myself to let go of my grasp and allow myself to go with the flow of my life rather than hold on so tightly I have found that balance (and joy) are much easier to come by.

My 3 quick tips to creating a life of balance:

1. Discover what sparks joy for you…and commit a good chunk of your energy there

2. Make sure that each area on your wheel of life is being met

3. Take time for yourself everyday, just to be

Photo by JOntel chere

* newborn Bodhi ♥

My Top 5 Breastfeeding Tips

This was certainly never a blog post I thought I would write! Motherhood has broken me down, cracked me wide open and change me down to my core {in the best way possible of course}.

I have received so many questions about my breastfeeding journey {7.5 months and counting!} so I thought I would share the top 5 things that have helped me on this journey.

1. Hydration! It feels like I am always thirsty, breastfeeding requires us to stay extra hydrated. I notice a big difference in my supply when I am behind in my fluids.. My goal is 100 oz of plain water each day.

2. Oatmeal, if you follow me on Instagram you know how much I swear by this one! I love One Degree oatmeal because it is clean and glyphosate free. Oats help my body to produce more milk for my baby, so I try to eat oatmeal about 5 days a week.

3. Limit stress. This one may not seem to have anything to do with breastmilk supply, but I promise when I am stressed or overdone breastfeeding not only becomes more work but I notice a drop in my supply. I have to admit that over the last year my stress has dropped considerably. Pre-baby I would say that I felt stressed multiple times per week and now I rarely feel stressed {perhaps I should share this is in another blog soon!}. Daily meditation and walks outside help me to manage stress, tension and any thing else that pops up.

4. Silverettes. I swear just buy them. A girlfriend mentioned these to me when I was pregnant, and I wasn’t convinced but bought them anyways…and it was the single best purchase I made for this journey. Silverettes are made out of .925 sterling silver and you wear them inside your bra, under your nursing pads to help heal and protect your nipples. They have made my breastfeeding journey a much more enjoyable experience!

5. Listen to your body. This is probably the biggest thing that has worked for me. It can be tough to tune out the noise and suggestions from everyone else, but do your best, tune into your body and your baby and allow your intuition to guide you. Breastfeeding is one of the hardest things I have ever learned to do {yes learned, it’s not always innate} but it is hands down the most rewarding. Before each feeding session take a few deep breathes, let your day melt away, put away distractions, and allow this to purely be about connecting with your babe.

These are 5 things that have truly helped me on this journey and made breastfeeding an enjoyable experience! That being said I do not know how long I will breastfeed for. I have chosen not to put any limits or expectations on myself, and have done my best to tune out the thoughts and opinions of others in regard to this. I plan on breastfeeding for as long as feels right for me and for my son, and that’s it. I trust that we will know when it is time to stop.

Lastly, I understand how blessed I am to have a good supply {correction a great supply} and be able to feed my son as long as I have. It is not easy, and I know many Mamas who have not been able to breastfeed this long - or at all. There should never be any shame towards parents for how they choose to feed and nourish their children. I am simply sharing my authentic experience and the tools that have worked for me.

I would love to hear your breastfeeding stories and what has worked for you!

Please comment below and LMK!

One thing matters most

{written a few days after Hurricane Ian rocked our Southwest Florida community}

Tonight as I fed my son and put him to sleep tears streamed down my face.

Uncontrolled.

I could no longer contain all the emotions that have been inside of me the past few weeks.

Utter overwhelm.

The emotions of the last two weeks prepping for the hurricane, riding out the hurricane with no contact to the outside world, and then dealing with the mass destruction to our city. Witnessing everything that was lost and the destruction really hit me.

Perhaps it’s because I’m a Mother now, or maybe it’s because I know so many parents who literally had to swim out of their homes with their children, or perhaps it’s because I’m an empath and I feel so deeply. Whatever it is, I could no longer hold back the emotions.

I was strong during the hurricane, making sure Bodhi’s days went on as normal as possible and aware of my energy so as not to transfer it onto him. In the days since the hurricane Bodhi, Ricky and I have collected thousands of dollars in monetary donations (which we have distributed as gift cards), baby items, pet items and other essentials and have driven across Southwest Florida directly distributing them directly to families in need.

This work has been incredible, extremely soul filling and is something I am proud to have Bodhi be apart of.

However, witnessing the devastation first hand has been traumatic.

But we will continue.

People need help, and if we can help in some small way and make their day or week a little brighter than its worth it.

The tears continued to stream down my face.

I snuggled my son a little bit tighter. Breathing in his sweet infant smell, resting my cheek onto his, and feeling our breaths sync together rhythmically almost becoming one.

I held onto this moment a bit longer tonight, pausing, and simply understanding that this moment right here is all that matters.

Material objects can be replaced, homes can be rebuilt, and I recognize that I can’t control anything out there; but right here in this perfect moment snuggling my son’s warm body into mine is all I need.

Photo By Jontel Chere

I hope you'll forgive me...

Hi friends! It feels so good to connect with you again in this format. I’ve truly missed writing and the connection to my Lean and Green Body® family!

As I sat down to write this I noticed that it’s my first blog post since April 6?!? This has been the longest I have ever gone between blogs…ever!

I started my blog just over seven years ago, and it has been such a fun way to build a community, share recipes, wellness tips and so much more. There has been a ton of change and incredible pivots on my end (hello, baby Bodhi!) and I can’t wait to share it all with you!

Since it’s been a minute…more like 5 months… I thought it would be best to use this first blog post and update you on my life lately!

When I was pregnant with Bodhi I imagined sharing my postpartum journey in a real and raw way, and slowly transitioning that as he grew and sharing our mother son journey. While this is still my intention, and I will be sharing some fun things with Bodhi soon; becoming a Mother changed me. I have been incredibly open about so many parts of my life (painful and joyous) and this transition into Motherhood has been somewhat unexpected. I have wanted to keep many parts of my new Mama journey offline and private, not because they are bad - quite the opposite in fact. The past (nearly) 6 months have been so good and incredibly life changing that I have wanted to soak in every second and be as present of a mother and wife as I could be.

Stepping into my motherhood journey has been a beautiful (and let’s be real exhausting) time. It has transformed me in ways that I didn’t even realize were possible, and has opened up parts of me that I thought had been closed for good.

Bodhi has brought new meaning to my life and has allowed me to view my life, and my work, in a whole new way. I only have so much time and energy each day, and I have been very intentional about how I spend those currencies.

Bodhi is a Sanskrit name meaning enlightenment or awakening; and his birth has truly has been a time of awakening for me.

I hope you’ll forgive me for not been as present with all of you online (it’s been terrible for my SEO and engagement rate) but I have needed these past few months to just be.

Stepping into my new role has been a big transition for me, even though I have waited for this moment my entire life, there is only so much you can understand until you’re actually in it. Moving from full time entrepreneur, founder and boss to full time mama and part time boss babe has been huge.

I have welcomed these changes and done my best to find some sort of balance with it all…but does balance really exists??

Thank you for giving me space to adjust, grow and learn. I am ready to rejoin this community, and I can not thank you enough for sticking around - grateful doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel.

There is so much I want to share with you this Fall, from mom-life, recipes (for baby too!), wellness and self care hacks and tips, and so much more!

I also have some fun collaborations and new brands I have discovered over the past few months that I can’t wait to share!.

Comment below and let me know what you want to see!

Dealing with body image & weight gain during pregnancy

Pregnancy is such a beautiful time, we literally have the ability to create life. How incredible!! However, for many women this beautiful time is over shadowed with past traumas, body image issues, mental health concerns, and so much more.

Many mama’s-to-be become overwhelmed with comments and suggestions from others. It seems that once you begin showing everyone will have something to say or some wisdom to impart on your and your growing bump. Legit everyone from the lady behind you are Whole Foods to your 2nd cousin will want to share how awful their delivery was to how you life will never be same. While many of these comments and conversations come from a loving place they may not be appropriate or helpful for the new mama. 

Sometimes in our society we transfer our feelings or our personal experiences onto others as a way to connect with them, help them to not go through what we went through or to try and “save” them. Instead a healthier approach would be to allow the new mama to have her own experience, and if/when she reaches out with questions then kindly share your wisdom and insight. 

Pregnancy is such a journey and a bit of kindness and empathy can go a long way.

I am now six and a half+ months pregnant and have been talking to some new mamas and some pregnant mamas recently about our journey’s, and thought it was an important conversation to share on here because it’s not that is often discussed publicly. After all, we don’t always realize how our actions or words affect others until we pause and educate ourselves. 

Personally have received all sorts of comments about my body and my growing belly in the last six months. I know that many of these comments come from a place of love and curiosity but to a pregnant mama, whose body is changing on the daily these comments can be confusing and hurtful. During pregnancy our bodies are flooded with hormones, emotions, a growing baby, not to mention your blood volume increases by 50% and our lung capacity seriously decreases - we are trying to recognize and love this changing body on the daily as we move through and towards the biggest transition of our lives. 

Every body - and especially every pregnant body - is beautiful. Every body is unique and different and that truly is something that makes us all so special, and during pregnancy this is no different. Each pregnant bump looks different. Some women gain 50+ pounds, and some only gain 25 pounds. Life is so much more than a number on the scale. 

From what I’ve heard our bodies will “never be the same”…and I’m totally okay with that. I will never be the same after this experience, so why should I expect my body to be any different. This is the most powerful, most life changing experience I have ever been through…and I am here for all of it.

The most important thing is that the mama and baby are healthy - mentally, physically and emotionally. 

Let’s embrace and honor this change.

Let’s praise and honor these women that literally create human life.

Photo By Jontel Chere