Hello Beautiful Mamas,

I’m in the final sprint to the finish line with writing my book, Replenish (due out this Aug?!!?- I still can’t believe how close that is!!).

I can tell you the irony’s not lost on me that this book named Replenish is depleting me in so many ways right now.  I haven’t felt this stretched thin or exhausted in a long time- and that’s saying something with three little ones all under the age of 7!

Before I became a mom, I thrived off of intense creative projects.  Ones where I’d intensely focus for long stretches and get completely wrapped up in the creative/passion zone.  After becoming a mom, though, I learned fast that model just doesn’t work. 

When I’ve tried to do massive projects before that required too much of my focus and energy for too long, everything (and everyone) collapsed.  But about a year+ ago I knew with every fiber of my being that I needed to write this book.  And after much prayer and discussion with my husband, I said yes- and was fully “in” and committed.  It’s been the last couple months, though, that the focus on the book has hit a fever pitch.

I think the idea of life balance is tricky as a mom, because what may feel like balance and following your passion for you may look like a whole lotta imbalance for those dependent on you.  For most of the time as a mom, I work hard at seeking a path of harmony between all my roles and responsibilities and nurturing my own self growth and dreams.  But sometimes the old adage still stands, “Everything in moderation … even moderation.”  Sometimes it’s okay, I think, to carve out a short period of time and declare it a “time for extremes”.  Where you hook into a vision of something that requires all hands on deck and asks of everyone a little more understanding, patience, and effort to get through the stretch.

I’m coming to the end of this kind of stretch for our family.  Writing this book has been one of the most meaningful and exciting things I’ve done, and it’s taken a toll on my whole family.  My husband has stepped up in extraordinary ways, the kids have spent a higher than normal amount of time with sitters, and my wider family and friends have put up with long stretches of rarely hearing from me.

I’m feeling the impact as well.  I’m tired more often, my reserves are low, and my mind is feeling fatigued.  But you know what else is happening? My inner fire is burning brighter than it has in a long time.  I’m filled up from the inside.  It’s that paradox of feeling more tired and more alive at the same time.  And I know this will impact who I am as a wife and mother in the long run.

I wonder, often, how this walk of balancing the commitment to motherhood and the commitment to our personal growth and creativity looks like for others.  I’d love to hear how it’s played out in your life.  Do you find yourself going stretches of intense focus and then stretches of retreat from creativity?  Have you found a way to weave personal growth and self renewal into your everyday life?  What kinds of supports do you have (or do you wish you had) to make it work? 

Let’s start a conversation around this- I’d love to hear what’s true for you.

As I’m shifting from the actual writing of the book to dreaming up creative ways to promote and launch the book, I’m also excited to be transitioning out of the intense creative season and into a more present one with my little kiddos.  And to be able to connect with this community in more consistent ways, too. Life’s all a rocking and rolling of one season into the next.  In this moment I’m giving gratitude for the goodness of it all.

Much love,

Lisa

p.s.  I truly would love to hear from you-  share your insights and feedback below!

What if I told you on any given day you might catch me sipping down a green smoothie, sautéing garlic and kale or licking my fingers after a Twix bar – all depends on when you bumped into me?

What if I told you that I have a deep love-hate relationship with being a health coach, because so much of my own true health was born when I stopped worrying about what I ate- and as a health coach I’m often expected to dictate strict guidelines around food and I don’t work that way?

What if I told you I see food as simply one of the many tools I have to take care of myself- not the only one, not the elevated one…just one of the many?  Many times I use food in this powerful way…and many times I grab a different tool, but I refuse to let healthy eating become an obsession.

What if i told you the whole idea of “falling off the wagon” when it comes to “eating well” feels rigid and suffocating to me? I’m on the messy journey called motherhood- heck I’m on a messy journey called LIFE– and yes, keeping good foods in my body makes a huge difference in how I handle the demands of my day- but some days what’s called for is a chocolate chip cookie- right. now.

What if I told you I love to give in to my cravings?  Seriously, when I have a craving I do a quick check in “Is this what I really want? Might anything else feel better to choose right now?” and if the answer is, “Nope, Ben and Jerry’s is where it’s at.”- then I eat dig in, enjoy it, and then let the moment go.  It’s over.  Now I can move forward without guilt.

And now, what if I told you I have a whole-foods, nourishing cleanse course I’ve created that walks you through how to understand foods in a whole new way and sets you up for an enjoyable, nourishing, cleansing short term food cleanse that is couched in the big picture of your whole life where outer clutter and stress are also addressed and you come through feeling lighter in every way?

For some of you, it would be unheard of to take my nutrition advice after my big “reveals”…but for many of you, I’m guessing there’s a huge sigh of relief coming through because what you’ve really been craving is how to learn about food and healthy eating in a non-restrictive, nonjudgmental, real-life, big-picture, kind of way.

If you’re resonating with this, I’d love you to check out my Cleanse Your Life course.  And I also want to let you know about a couple things that are only available to the end of May (which is THIS Friday).

1.  The replay of my recent no-cost webinar, The Ultimate Roadmap to a Whole-Body, Whole Life Cleanse.  You can get instant access to this webinar by signing up right HERE, but it is only available until this Friday (5/31).

2.  The major discount on the enrollment price for my Cleanse Your Life course- is also happening right now.  If you sign up for the course during the month of May (ending this Friday, 5/31) you can take the whole course for the lowest price I’ve ever offered it.  Learn more about it HERE.

If you’re anything like me, you’re craving some lightness, clarity and space in your life right now. 

Spring has officially got you itchin’ to lighten the load in more ways than one…and you want to get fully supported and guided through the process so you can actually reap awesome benefits instead of daydreaming about it.

Wishing you vibrant health in all ways,
Lisa Grace

p.s.  Here are the links again:1: No-cost webinar, Ultimate Roadmap to a Whole-Body, Whole-Life Cleanse

2: Cleanse Your Life program details (with special May rates good only until this Friday, 5/31)

I’ve been busy behind the scenes making sure the Vibrant Living Strategies course is all set and ready to go.  As I think about the 12 day journey I’ll be guiding this phenomenal group on (over 1,000 mamas and growing!), I came to realize that it is in the simple tools of a pen and paper that I’ve most deeply and profoundly cared for myself.

Of all the self care tools out there, I still believe that a little time, a journal and a pen are among the most powerful.  Because there is nothing quite like a mama who knows herself…and as a result knows who she is becoming. 

Within the pages of my journals I have prayers and processing, mirrors and meaning finding.  I delve into self reflection and self expression in a safe place as I’m figuring out what I want to keep and what needs to go as I’m growing into the woman I’m meant to be.

Over the years I’ve explored a number of different journaling techniques.  I share about a very simple journaling exercise that I first learned about in the book, The Artist’s Way, here -I call it rambling pages.

But one of my favorites is reflective prompts- which is exactly what the Vibrant Living Strategies course is all about.  I’ve found that whether you are a beginner journaler or more experienced, having some prompts to steer your thoughts open up whole new rooms of discovery and can feel hugely productive – especially if, like me, you can tend to get into mental ruts and go over the same issues again and again.  Reflective prompts give you new starting places to explore that break up negative patterns and open new ways of thinking about things.

Right now the Vibrant Living Strategies course is being offered at almost half off ($29 as a special offer price).

This is my invitation to you. 

I would love you to have access at a discounted rate to my Vibrant Living Strategies course.  I’d love for you to join the over 2200 women who’ve already signed up, ready to explore inwardly how they can apply the right tools and strategies to live with more calm, clarity and confidence as a mother in the modern world.

Regardless of whether the VLS course is right for you or not…I hope you’ll consider picking up pen and paper more often to give yourself the gift of expressing what is within you in a tangible and transformative way.

Much love,
Lisa

p.s.  If you want in, enroll in Vibrant Living Strategies today!

A healthy whole-food, whole-life cleanse is one of my favorite ways to jump-start healthy eating when I’ve gotten in a rut and need to reignite good habits.  And there is no better time than the springtime to carve out a few days to detox from the inside out.

Here are a handful of articles to get you started:

Foods to prioritize when planning your springtime cleanse:

1| Essential Foods for a Spring Cleanse

2| 10 Foods to Soothe Allergies in the Spring

How to get started on a whole-foods cleanse:

3| 4 Questions to Ask Before Begin a Cleanse

4| Special Considerations When Cleansing in the Spring

5| The #1 Way Most Women Bring Toxicity Into Their Body

6| Why You Should NOT Cleanse

How to prep your kitchen for a healthy springtime cleanse:

7| Replenish a Springtime Pantry

8| Cleaning Out the Cupboards

Keep the cleanse going and clear up your skin and clear out your air:

9| Give Your Skin a Breather

10| Let the Negativity In!

Serious about getting lighter, stronger and more energized this season?  Learn more about my Cleanse Your Life course here!

Can you just feel the energy of springtime?  Spring is really nature’s New Year and everything about the season supports us shedding off the old and bringing in the new.  There is a freshness, vitality and renewed desire to make positive changes in our life that mirror the bloom of nature going on outside.

If this past winter of heavy eating and holiday splurges has left you with extra weight, excess congestion, or sluggish energy…look to your diet to help lighten up and clear out the gunk.

Every food has a certain characteristic- some are warming, some are cooling, some are building, some are cleansing. Learning how different foods impact our body gives us an elegant tool when we begin to feel out of sorts or imbalanced.

Whether your goal is to jump start weight loss, feel lighter and cleaner, or regain mental focus and concentration- eating cleansing foods is an excellent way to achieve those goals.

Here are ten foods that naturally detoxify and cleanse our system of excess fat and harmful toxic buildup.

1.  Apples

Apples are high in pectin which bind to cholesterol and heavy metals making it an excellent cleanser for the liver and intestines.

2.  Avocados

Avocados are not often thought of as a cleansing food, but they contain a powerful nutrient called glutathione.  This chemical blocks carcinogens while aiding the liver in detoxifying synthetic chemicals.

3.  Beets

Beets are powerful blood purifiers and liver cleansers.  And don’t forget to use the green tops!  Beet greens are tremendously nourishing and a great source of iron.

4.  Blueberries

The research on blueberries keeps getting more and more amazing.  Blueberries contain an aspirin-like chemical that works against inflammation and an antibiotic-like chemical that blocks harmful bacteria in the urinary tract.   Perhaps most impressive is the berry’s ability to block harmful toxins from crossing the blood-brain barrier.  This delicious fruit is truly a super food!

5.  Cabbage

Cabbage is a winner because of its numerous cancer fighting and antioxidant compounds.  These compounds support the liver in breaking down excess hormones.  Research has shown that cabbage neutralizes the damaging chemicals found in cigarette smoke.  It’s an excellent cleansing food for the digestive tract and liver as well.

6.  Celery

Celery is good for a whole lot more than hamster food!  It is a powerful blood cleanser and contains anti-cancer compounds that detoxify cancer cells from the body.

7.  Cranberry

Well known for it’s support in fighting UITs, cranberry has antibiotic and antiviral substances that remove harmful bacteria and viruses housed in your urinary tract.

8.  Garlic

Fresh garlic (instead of garlic powder) is the way to go for a host of health benefits.  Garlic cleanses bacteria, parasites and viruses from your body, especially in the blood and intestines.   Excellent for shedding the excess congestion of winter, garlic aids the respiratory tract by expelling mucous buildup in the lungs and sinuses.

9.  Kale

Kale (and other dark leafy greens) have incredible anticancer and antioxidant properties, binding to dangerous compounds from cigarette smoke and cleaning the liver.  The high fiber content also cleanses the intestinal tract.

10.  Lemon

Start your day with a warm cup of lemon water.  Lemon is a liver detoxifier and contains a high amount of vitamin C- essential for the production of liver cleansing compounds in your body.

Were you surprised at how many of these foods were ones you already love to eat?

Taking excellent care of yourself isn’t about restriction and denial.  When you use whole foods in your diet you have a delicious, satisfying way to stay healthy and energized!

Read more from the Spring Cleansing Series, here!