I was overwhelmed by the responses to the Move. Nourish. Believe. post in early April. I made new friends – in person, like Rebecca & Lizzie – and online – like each of you below (okay, I know some of you in real life!). The book is not yet available stateside with the exception of the Malibu and Marina Del Rey stores. So… I have a second copy to give to one lucky reader!

I loved the responses – find the women who shared their responses via Twitter and say “hello”! For your chance to win the book, simply answer the same questions (at least one of them! – and hopefully all three!):

How do you move? Who do you nourish? What do you believe? 

Have a beautiful weekend! One lucky reader will be selected on Tuesday to receive this inspiring and wellness-filled book.

I believe that every woman is beautiful in her own way, and that comparison to others is the quickest path to misery. I believe we, as women, should individually celebrate how unique we are and cherish the gifts we can bring to our own lives, our families, our community. I believe collectively, women can work together to better our world so that future generations don’t have to judge their worth by magazine covers or feed their families with dollar menus. I believe in the power of self love and how transformative it can be. I also believe, oh yes, in the power of self-forgiveness. It all begins with starting with a single thought: I am worth it. The “it” is what we define ourselves, be it love, happiness, a successful career, forgiveness, adventure, or wellness.

Alicia @LexiMaven

How do I move? – Like someone left the gate open from the doggy park! I live life by getting excited about what might be around the corner. Life is full of surprises so embrace then as it’s the universe talking to you.

Who do I nourish? – I had to focus on nourishing me during my radiation for a tumor beyond my eye. I spent way too much time worrying if I was pleasing others at work and home. No more. If I’m not happy then I can’t be affective elsewhere in my life. And I believe everyone should do the same for themselves.

What do I believe? – I believe we are all here for a reason. Don’t waste life complaining about what you don’t have and take on the world to create what you want. Being scaed or making excuses is a cop out. As Nike says, “Just do it!”

Tracy @RoyallySocial

I believe that there’s beauty in all of us. I read an article today about a woman who claims other women don’t like her because she’s beautiful and that women don’t like others if they’re more attractive. This got me thinking… who do I know who’s NOT beautiful? Honestly, I couldn’t think of anyone who I love/care about/like that is not beautiful. There is something amazing about all the women I know and the thought of hating them for that is so sad and wrong. So, today I’m spreading the beauty and the love!

Donna @DonnaQueza

I move in a way that make me feel loved.
I sweat in a way that makes me feel strong.
I dance in a way that makes me feel sexy.
I jump in a way that makes me feel my power.
I stretch in a way that makes me feel whole.

When I move, I do it with purpose, and I feel myself getting closer to the best part of me.

Although I know I nourish the women in my life, the clients in my classes, and the people I connect with… I’m not yet in a place to accept that. So for now, I can only be certain, that I nourish myself. I do that most often my saying one very powerful word every woman has a tough time with, “NO”. I’m learning that “no” is my yes. My “yes” to feeding myself love.

I believe in me.

And I finally believe that.

Angela @AngelaParkerFit

I love moving and shaping my body with weight training & running. Muscles are sexy!!

I nourish with lots of green smoothies. Favorite add-ins: coconut oil, cacao bits and almond butter.

I believe you are never too old to change direction or chase your dreams. The years are still going to go by so make sure you’re doing what makes you happy!

Karen @KarenADeFelice

I MOVE like “a mom who can still shake her booty!” These skills have become very handy during evenings playing freeze dance with my 2 boys! They are the ones I live and breathe for and NOURISH and encourage. Though it sometimes doesn’t feel that a balance in my life is within reach, I BELIEVE it’s key to a happier and healthier me, so I’m now taking more time for me.

Jill @jordan_events

I move through life like there is nothing holding me back. Things won’t happen unless I make them happen, so I need to MOVE IT! Whether it’s finding the time to exercise at the gym, going for a walk with my sweetie, or dancing my booty off to my favorite music. I try to find a way to move and be happy.

I nourish myself, my loved ones, and even the people I come across in daily life. I try to share my knowledge of healthy nourishment to people who are open to the ideas. I love how I feel after finding how to nourish myself in the right way. It makes me feel even more nourished to share it with others.

I believe everything happens for a reason. Whether good or bad, it makes us who we are. I wouldn’t be the woman I am, without both the struggles and successes. I wouldn’t be with my fiance if I hadn’t been bold and given him my number. I wouldn’t be following my heart, if I hadn’t found my new path in health coaching. Take what life offers you and make the most of it. Appreciate it all :)

Carisa @CarisaConnolly

I move to music, to the sound of the dishwasher and with no filter :)

I nourish myself, my pups, and hopefully, my clients!

I believe in being positive, honest, and not taking myself too seriously.

Rachel @RachelSeeSmith

                     post image sources - lorna jane tumblr & hummingbird song

Marissa is one busy lady, but she’s very quick to respond via Twitter and Facebook. She has the scoop on where to eat in NYC and the ladies of wellness you should know. If you’re looking for a coach to help you hit the re-set on your diet before the summer fully sets in, this New York-based coach can help you no matter where you are. Enjoy meeting Marissa below and leave her a little love in the comments!

Why you should know Marissa:

I like to say that I’m a lover of all things health and wellness because that’s really what it boils down to. I’m a health coach and also a healthy lifestyles freelance writer and blogger. I’m working on two big projects on my blog at the moment. The Women In Wellness series pays tribute to the many women in the wellness field who have inspired me to pursue my own passions. These are the women I find accomplished and inspirational in the field of wellness. The Healthy Hot Spots series offers tips for how to order at some of NYC’s hippest restaurants to ensure you’re getting the most nutrition for your dollar. My clients, readers and friends are always asking me what I order when I go out to eat so this serves as a sneak peak into my personal dining secrets. Even if you’re not a New Yorker, you’ll still pick up some tips for how to dine more health consciously.

Finally, I just launched a new program that excites the pants off of me! The Total Reset Program is designed to get you back on track with healthy eating. Because, let’s face it, life just gets in the way sometimes.

Whether you had a rough week at work, overindulged on vacation or your eating just needs a mini-overhaul, this program will get you back into the groove with four weeks of menu suggestions, recipes. shopping lists, cooking tutorials and wellness tips completely virtual and delivered straight to your inbox. You’ll reduce your cravings, get some structure in your life and feel like your sexy self again. It’s not a cleanse, just good old-fashioned eating well. But I will say that the more you put in, the more you’ll get out.

What are your big dreams in life?

These are the big ones: travel the world, write a book(s), inspire women to be the healthiest versions of themselves by unapologetically becoming who they are, doing what they love and embracing their life purpose — of course all while drinking green juice and eating superfoods.

When will you feel like you’ve succeeded? 

I hold myself and my work to very high standards for success but I try not to get stuck on the “when I haves.” I experience success on a daily basis and I celebrate it. That’s so important for keeping me in my flow. When I publish a blog post I’m really proud of, when a client makes a breakthrough or when someone sends me a Facebook message telling me I’ve inspired them to stop drinking soda or that they’ve lost 30 pounds since they started reading my blog. All of that is success. I know that where I am in my journey is exactly “where I need to be” (hence, the name of my blog).

Define wellness:

Wellness is knowing what it takes to keep you healthy and happy. For me, being well means that I eat right, exercise in a way that is fun and feels good (no more pushing myself to extremes), getting lots of sleep and staying in a positive mindset. If any of these are off kilter, I feel it.

Want to eat like Marissa?? A sampling of the goods!

How do you take care of you?

In all of the ways I’ve mentioned above but another big one is that I check in with myself and listen to my body and my intuition. If something doesn’t feel right to me, if I want to try something new or I feel inspired to do something differently, I take action. I never settle for routine or status quo and always challenge myself to grow and change.

How do you structure your day?

So I’m a little challenged with time management but my mornings are my sweet spot. I’m up early to exercise and meditate. A shower and an outfit I feel good in also help get things going in the right direction as does a healthy and energizing breakfast. After that, it becomes a bit of a free-for-all. I always start with a plan but distractions and interruptions can throw things off course. No matter what happens, if I’ve been productive by the end of the day, I feel good. My boyfriend and I always make time to unwind with a healthy dinner and catch each other up on our day with a cup of tea before my 10 p.m. bed time.

Give us a sense of your work/creative environment.

At the moment, my office is our kitchen table or a café. Although I’d like to say it’s neat, I usually end up with stacks of books and papers everywhere. It’s something I’m trying to change because I really love a neat workspace like this work corner: (see photo) or this client space that matches my brand:

Tell us about your perfect day – start to finish. 

I would spend my perfect day with my boyfriend, David. He’s my best friend. We can pretty much do anything together and it’s perfect because being with him is inspiring, relaxing and comforting. As far as an actual “day” is concerned, it would start with a hike, include some time spent relaxing by a pool and end with a glass of wine and a delicious meal against a beautiful backdrop and of course some dancing!

Who would leave you star-struck?

I have a “thing” for Jamie Oliver. I would be completely star struck if I met him in person. His mission for healthy school food and ending childhood obesity is a cause I’m also very passionate about and plan to do more work with.

A quote that best describes your outlook on life:

“I am not afraid, I was born to do this.” – Joan of Arc

This is my mantra. Whenever I doubt myself as an entrepreneur, I say this in my mind. It’s so simple and yet so powerful.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Marianne Williamson

This quote inspires me and reminds me of why I do the work I’m doing. It keeps me grounded.

Share a secret with us!

I’ve wished I could be a professional dancer like on Dancing with the Stars or in the NBA. While I probably missed the boat on both of those dreams, it hasn’t stopped me from dancing. I recently took up jazz and am loving every minute of it!

Images courtesy of Marissa; cover photo source

The Unique L.A. Spring Show has been on my L.A. “lust-list” for almost two years. It’s an urban artisan show with a wide array of finds, from fashion and home wares to gourmet foods and art for your walls. All at very reasonable prices and all local businesses and artists. Located in the penthouse suite of the California Market Center (with incredible views of downtown L.A. – see a vantage photo in the set below!) this market is the “where to be” for local shopping. The DJ, the music and the vibe make for an experience unlike any other. It’s hip, it’s cool and all the people are pretty. Unlike any “craft show” I’ve ever been to in my life! Plus its founder is one pretty cool lady.

And the deals… oh the deals!! I snagged a gorgeous cuff (see it on the WELL Facebook page) and will be working with select vendors to coordinate future giveaways for all of you! Check out the photos from the day below + where we stopped for a sweet treat in downtown Los Angeles (special thanks to Elle who snapped a few of the photos in this set while I instagramed – @WELLinLA – away!)

   sampling of the clothing racks at Unique L.A.

   Seedbombs from GreenAid

Penthouse views...

whimsical art abounds

Our final stop of the day while spending time in downtown was at the Babycakes NYC-LA bakery on Sixth Street. Babycakes is JUST the place to bring your gal-pal who is much deserving of a salted-caramel donut after for behaving herself and following a doctor-ordered gluten, dairy and soy elimination diet the last few months. 

Sunday as I strolled into the farmers market I was overcome with the smell of strawberries, basil and citrus fruits. The scent conjured up one of my favorite memories. Wayyyyyy back when – on my 23rd birthday – I was poor and in grad school and my boyfriend (the now fiancé) had just started his first ‘real job’ in metro-Detroit. Fancy-schmancy dinners were obsolete between paying for our foray into adulthood and plane tickets for the long-distance love affair. All I wanted for my birthday was a night to dress up and have an over-priced fondue dinner at The Melting Pot. I added 3 strawberry-basil-lemonade + vodka concoctions at $12 a pop to our already pricey bill. The fizzy, fruity buzz from the drink was an added birthday treat. I had to find a way replicate the drink at a much lower cost. And introduce my friends to my new official elixer of summer at our barbeques.

Of course I left the farmers market on Sunday with a bag filled with lemons, strawberries and basil. Ready to celebrate the return of my favorite fruit and the summer season (although technically it’s still spring for a few more weeks…).

My preference is to make a big batch – the “make on big mess” method. I start with the lemonade simple syrup (use Meyer lemons if you can find them) and then move on to creating the strawberry-basil puree (storage methods: fridge for the simple syrup; freezer for the puree). Pulse 2 pints of cleaned strawberries with 3/4 cup basil in your blender or food processor. You will have 4 equal portions of both the lemonade simple syrup and the puree. Add 1 portion of each to 2 bottles of sparkling water and enjoy a treat whenever you like. My version isn’t overly sweet, so you can add a little sugar if that suits you. Perfectly ripe strawberries are enough sweet for my taste preference.

Want vodka in the mix? Try this variation from Kitchn. What is YOUR summer drink of choice?

lemonade simple syrup... 

Life, love, wellness and the pursuit of all we crave and want in life. It’s possible! I’m over at Sister Disco today, talking about manifesting, making life happen and of course, music! Read the full post and download my ear-candy-filled “Manifesting Magic” playlist.

Fun fact: when a song is stuck in your head it’s called an “earworm”? How to rid your brain of earworms found here.

Connect with @AliMShapiro on Twitter and her community on Facebook. A great review of her group program “Truce with Food” can be found in Philadelphia Magazine’s “Be Well Philly” blog.

Why you should know Ali:

I’ve been in the health-counseling field for five years now. I work with accomplished women to show them the missing links in their weight-loss goals. I use a scientific and spiritual approach that combines my holistic nutrition and Masters from the University of Pennsylvania in Coaching/Change Management, along with my own diet dramas that masked the emotional wounding of a childhood cancer experience.  I’m really proud of the work my clients and I have accomplished. My next steps are to bring my work to women on a national scale Thematically on one hand I’m trying to learn patience and the power of slowness. On the other hand, I’m finishing grad school (1 class and a thesis left!), creating corporate/speaking opportunities and adding more videos to my website. And trying to manage a long-distance marriage.

What are your big dreams in life?

To enjoy the process in whatever I do. I’d love to be a leading expert in health media/communications. I’d love to have a show where I interview the leading holistic and integrated medicine healers in the world. Asking questions is one of my favorite activities. I want to be part of the processes that help women invest their energy in social and business projects, where we really shine. Being thin or on a diet won’t solve any of your problems. It’s a distraction from doing the real work to be genuinely confident and secure.

When will you feel like you’ve succeeded? 

I always focus on how my goals will feel versus what form that takes place. I have a lot of ambition, but I can’t say I have a definitive measure of success. I value freedom above all else. And I have that! I want to feel secure as much as possible without getting so comfortable I don’t take risks. I want harmony in my relationships. So far, I have those feelings in my life. There are times when I wish I was further along but I’ve done A LOT of work around that and today, am really content with my little organic plot.

Define wellness:

Being well to me means being able to embrace the uncertainty of life. That includes the spontaneity of eating something decadent and not feeling guilty. It’s staying present for the great, the routine and the yuck. It’s moving your body in inspiration instead of exercising out of stressful “motivation”. And, it’s eating/living as close to nature as possible.

See Ali in action, sharing her love of wellness (sorry doves – this opens in a new window for the video!):

How do you take care of you?

I’m mostly dairy and grain-free, always gluten-free and eat a mostly plant-based diet. I eat humanely raised meat and fish. I drink lots of water. I workout with friends, including my new found love of hip-hop dance. Learning is a creative outlet for me so after my mainstream Masters is done, I’ll probably be onto some other woo-woo healing classes. My husband, who is at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, will be home this summer and I’ll be spending lots of time with him, which means I’ll be laughing the 16 hours a day I’m not sleeping. I am religious about getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night. And most of my make-up and cleaning products are as natural as possible. I remind myself I’m doing the best I can.

How do you structure your day?

Every day is different for me. My creative juices flow best in the mornings and late evenings. I schedule admin stuff and meetings in the early afternoon and evening hours because my energy dips then. I’m extroverted so meeting with people energizes me! I try to workout in the morning or it won’t happen for the day. I’ve learned to let myself nap or take a rest versus try to grind through work. I’m not a pro at time management. Read my routine at your own risk!

Give us a sense of your work/creative environment.

I have an office where I see clients. Most of my clients comment on how restorative it is. It’s on the 19^th floor and has lots of green plants. At home, different story! I live in Philadelphia so space is a premium. I sometimes work at a secretary desk in the bedroom or at the kitchen table. I am definitely dreaming of a gorgeous office one of these days. However, I hate clutter and am an extreme minimalist so it’s never really messy…my work just doesn’t have proper boundaries!

Tell us about your perfect day – start to finish. 

I’d start with a hip-hop class that played Nicki Minaj, Beyonce and Rhiana. Next, a wonderful local organic brunch with my husband and closest friends where the weather is mid-70s, sunny and a light breeze. After brunch, I’d head to a workshop on some sort of healing modality. Then an afternoon nap and then dressing up in an outfit I love for an some sort of unique experience, like a concert with James Taylor or Paul Simon with my family and/or friends. Then probably in bed by 12. I love sleep!

Who would leave you star-struck?

I admire the visionaries: Gloria Steinem, Oprah, Martha Beck and Dr. Mark Hyman.

A quote that best describes your outlook on life:

I love quotes. To pick just one is so hard. But I think it would be this passage from Rainer Marie Rilke, in Letters to a Young Poet:

..I would like to beg you dear Sir [or wonderful woman], as well as I can, to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.

Share a secret with us!

There is a lot of faith in science. Especially nutritional science. I find it incredibly fascinating that people think that if a diet works for them, it will work for someone else.

Images, video courtesy of Ali; via Pinterest & glassybaby.

Two weeks ago I was racking my brain about a very big decision. Not knowing or having a plan for what comes next generally results in a mini freak-out session for my Type-A’ish personality. I was practicing my yoga breath in full-force, trying to keep my calm on decision day. One email pushed me in the direction of the path that had no plan. It was an invitation to attend the Tadasana International Yoga Festival and experience ‘The Dance of Liberation’ (DOL). It was one of those moments that you know the Universe is practically yelling “pay attention, there’s a better life for you”. I’ve been hitting ‘delete’ with fervor as I try to describe DOL and what I experienced through the dance at Tadasana Festival. The Dance is best described as a ‘holistic rave’ grounded in ancient ritual. The Kickstarter campaign video  – which is to help Parashakti finish her documentary on DOL – is a wonderful place to start understanding the dance.

Speaking with Parashakti and learning of her own journey is one that gives me hope for my journey in life. All too often we want what we want right now. To meet this incredible person who has been loving, living and learning from her craft for over 20 years gives me hope and the freedom to breathe about growing into my own with my career. Parashakti is a classically trained dancer, yoga and Trance Dance instructor. Most of all, she’s a healer. Parashakti shared two incredible stories of transformation that have happened from Dance of Liberation.

One: A woman who was trying to conceive came to Parashakti. She had been through the expensive medical treatments to try to conceive. Parashakti had the woman start with a cleanse of her body and mind. Over the course of 5 days they danced together and had intensive counseling sessions. Through their journey of cleansing, dancing and “peeling the layers” through their discussions, Parashakti discovered as much as the woman wanted to be pregnant, she also had an intense fear associated with becoming a mother. Together they worked through the desires and fears. The woman realized she was ready and became pregnant soon after her time with Parashakti.

Two: A Miss New York and Miss America pageant winner was looking for love in all the right places. Or so she thought. She had an uncertainty she could not shake about the man she was ready to marry. She came to Parashakti, seeking counsel and advice. Parashakti invited she and her partner to partake in a DOL. Midway through the dance, Miss America lifted her blindfold, flooded with the emotions and knowing that the person she had intended to marry was not the right person. After the DOL session, she ended her relationship with her partner. Shortly thereafter she met her husband. Parashakti married them and the couple now have a happy, healthy baby.

This weekend and experience left me feeling more at peace with not having a plan for my next steps. I’m making the conscious choice to revel in my passions and share that joy. I believe it is possible to find wealth – in all meanings of the word – by engaging in what we love instead of molding ourselves to a career. Feeling your best is an important part of this journey. DOL is a tool for unlocking and discovering our journey in a safe and sacred space. Did I mention that you’re blindfolded for portions of the dance? There will be no judgement on your method of shakin’ it out! Here’s a taste of what happened in the sacred space:

                                leave your fears AND shoes at the door...

                                        dancing in blindfolds

                                  art - on canvases of every type

Can you make the life you want by simply putting your intentions into the world? I would have to think “yes” after being in a room – a sacred container in DOL-speak – filled with intentions, love and energy (yes, it’s official that I’ve gone off the “deep-end” in California!). Do you believe in setting an intention for your life? How do you make it part of your life’s journey? I’m open and ready for your advice, WELL readers! And this quote seemed all too fitting for the journey of our lives:

“I’ve never begun any important venture for which I felt adequately prepared.” Sheldon Kopp

Find out more about Parashakti via her site, Facebook page and by following her journey on Twitter. If you are interested in experiencing DOL, I recommend donating to the Kickstarter campaign which offers incredible gifts (books, CDs, art, raw food meals & more) in exchange for supporting the completion of her documentary. Oh! And download 30-songs that came out of the Tadasana weekend here (yes!!). 

]]> http://www.wellinla.com/dance-of-liberation/2012/feed/ 1 http://www.wellinla.com/supper-is-in-the-sack/2012/ http://www.wellinla.com/supper-is-in-the-sack/2012/#comments Thu, 03 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000 erin m. http://www.wellinla.com/?p=6903 The “Teaser Shot”: 

I wanted to title this post “the week that my meal planning and preparation became so easy I had time to do a million and one things” but that seemed to be a little excessive in terms of title length. I love to cook. To eat. To routinely stalk my favorite food blogs like Spoon Fork Bacon, Smitten Kitchen and Eat Live Run. Leisurely Sunday mornings at the Farmers Market. Even popping into the Whole Foods down the street is a visual affair most days.

Planning a meal, shopping for foods from locally-based sources and preparing food is a struggle most weeknights. I work from 8:00a-7:00p most days (with breaks for dog walking & yoga!). My fiancé works the 9:00a-8:00p or later shift. We are not fancy Europeans, in love with late dinner affairs. This is the problem, one that is probably all too familiar for most of you (okay some of those things are really fun, but work hard, play hard is our household motto):

The last – the LAST – thing I want to do at the end of a busy day is rack my brain about meal preparation. My brain has been on full-speed for most of the day and it is tired. Daily Candy delivered a total gem to my inbox in early March. It’s like a CSA with all the fringe benefits of a personal shopper and meal-planner. All organic food that is sourced primarily from local farmers markets. Healthy meals that take no longer than 30-45 minutes to prep, chop and cook at most. Enter the dream service (cue the chorus of angels!!) Supper Sack.

I tweeted Monica, Supper Sack’s founder & creator, to learn more about her service after being smitten with the very idea of a service that seemed… too good to be true! Monica generously offered to supply a week of meals. On a Sunday evening, she showed up at my doorstep with two bags LOADED with organic produce, meats, whole grains and dinner plans. The cuisine ranged from Italian to Thai with a vegetarian dinner in the mix. The price: around $9/person/day for my 2-person household (that’s lunch AND dinner). We end up out to dinner at least a couple nights a week, but I will be placing my order for future 3-meal Supper Sack deliveries for the weeks when getting to the store falls off the schedule.

More of my Supper Sack experiences will crop up in future posts. I’ll leave you with tempting photos + a sample dinner from the menu + links to learn more about how Supper Sack works. Oh! One detail on the menu made my heart melt: Monica pairs a Pandora station with each meal, to set the mood for your dinner in the making! Questions about my Supper Sack experience? Do you have a similar service in your hometown? I’d LOVE to answer any questions – just leave a little comment love below!

Connect with Jenn directly via Twitter or Google+; “like” the YFE community on Facebook and dive into the YFE community by attending a chat over Twitter or YFE TV this week.

Why you should know Jenn:

Hi #BeWELL friends! My name is Jennifer Donogh and I am an owner of a web hosting and cloud services company that also sells domains. I am also the creator of an online site for entrepreneurial women in their 20s and 30s. I’m a wife and a mom of a little boy. I love champagne, coffee, dirt biking, dancing, and funny movies.

What are your big dreams in life?

I want to help millions of women build thriving businesses by utilizing technology whether they want a one woman show or a full ‘take on the world’ empire, I want to help them make it possible. Another dream would be to travel by boat with my family. My husband traveled around Central America as a kid on a boat and I would also love to be able to do that with our family soon too.

When will you feel like you’ve succeeded? 

I’m pretty competitive and definitely have specific goals I would like to accomplish. However, I feel like I will be always on a journey of working on succeeding at something.

       Check out Jenn & her adventures as a Whitehouse Champion of Change

Define wellness:

I am well when my mind is focused on the big picture rather on the daily grind. That happens when I get a good sweat in, have music around me, drink plenty of water and surround myself with positive people.

How do you take care of you?

I feel my best when I drink water continuously throughout the day and when it’s sunny out. For days when it is sluggish and wet I make sure music is always playing in the house, the car and the office. Forcing myself to detach from my desk and get outdoors is a must and unplugging to relax with my husband on the couch or going out is always nice.

How do you structure your day?

The way my days are laid out my schedule changes daily. However, my days usually fall into three parts: Part I includes a workout, making breakfast, packing lunches and answering some emails while publishing new content. When my husband leaves for work my son and I play, clean the house and get ready for Part II of the day. Our day is either spent at Ovaleye HQ or at home. My son may be at daycare or we may be out together taking care of errands.

My general responsibilities at Ovaleye is to make sure our web hosting members are being taken care of, that we are reaching out to our community, and that new members are getting settled. That sometimes means that I will be provisioning the servers, updating our Facebook status, recording a video or spending my time answering emails and the phone. On top of the day-to-day duties I work strategy with my mom, meet with our partners and produce online events for Young Female Entrepreneurs.

When my husband comes home, he and my son usually play out in the garage or outside with skateboards and bikes while I make dinner. Once my son is in bed Part III of my day starts, which is preparing content for the next day, working on support tickets, calling our Community Relations Manager (also a mom and works fun hours like me), or recording live streams at the Ovaleye TV Studio.

Give us a sense of your work/creative environment.

Like my schedule, my office changes daily. The one thing that remains consistent is that I am a bag lady. I wrote a post about my cheap backpack from Target that I keep all of my necessary work materials with me in. Unfortunately, I am going to have to upgrade soon to a more adult and professional looking getup, but a tip for any new moms out there is to always go with a backpack. When your purse and diaper bag have one strap, be cool and go for a two strapper :) At night I am at my desk in my home office, which looks something like this…

Tell us about your perfect day – start to finish. 

This is a good question! I count myself incredibly lucky each and everyday. Don’t get me wrong, there is always messiness that happens during the day (whether its that my son is sick, my inbox is overflowing, a meeting is canceled, no time to shower, etc.). However, waking up to workout, spending time with my family, doing what I love and meeting new and fascinating people everyday is awesome.

Who would leave you star-struck?

I would love to meet the POTUS or Harry Connick Jr. (I adore him!)… and Oprah, of course (who wouldn’t have her on their list?!).

A quote that best describes your outlook on life:

‘There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.” – Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright

Share a secret with us!

To celebrate new members coming in, an email from someone super cool, or to shake off a crummy day you can find me in my home office dancing badly Sly & The Family Stone’s Dance to the Music (*below is a fun remix of Jenn’s favorite tune you can download and shake your booty to – in public, your car or the privacy of your home!).

Images courtesy of Jennifer Donogh & YFE

                                                my vice and occasional "drug"

I’ve learned a thing or two about creating and sustaining energy by consciously choosing a wellness-based lifestyle. It didn’t happen after reading a book, watching YouTube videos or following a strict diet plan. It’s taken me close to ten years to really understand the variables that result in me feeling great or feeling “meh”. I don’t have all the answers and I still stumble from time-to-time, but I waiver less and stay on track more. Wellness isn’t a flipped on instantly like a light switch. Although it would be kind of awesome if it worked that way… Wellness is more like … a dimmer switch. As you actively move the switch up, you bring more light into the room. You have the chance to choose your level of shine based on the “nudges” you give yourself toward illumination.

Enter the all-juice detox cleanses. The current get-healthy-quick-solution. If no one has made a “Sh*t Juice Cleansing People Say” please do so while the trend is still socially relevant. All-juice cleanses make my head hurt and my stomach unhappy. If you choose to do ‘em… more power to you. I can’t function without food in my belly at least once a day. My perfect* day of food: a glass of water with lemon upon waking, followed by a green tea and then a juice – usually green – of some kind. Lunch consists of veggies and protein. Afternoon are when I tend to crave sweets, either because I’m tired or because my blood sugar is dipping. We eat late in my house (between 8:00 and 9:00), so I’ve learned to throw in an extra snack or juice to satiate myself until dinner. Our last meal of the day is much like lunch but includes a carb, like quinoa or brown rice. If I want a coffee a few times a week or burger and fries once a month, I have them without remorse.

Drinking juices keeps me on track in my day, but it is not nor will it ever be my sole energy source in a day (I like FOOD!). Boredom with my diet is a slippery slope into making bad food choices. Making juices (and smoothies) offers an outlet to explore my creativity in the kitchen and try food combinations I may not eat in together in their whole form, like apples, parsley and kale. Below a few of my favorite juice recipes + you can tried-n-true favorites in PDF form. Kris Carr, Sarah of My New Roots and Whole Living provide juice inspiration through recipes and pictures. The “*” in this post is to indicate that perfect food days are more of a 4-5/7 day a week occurrence. Each day is another chance to make better choices and live more fully. I’ll keep aiming for 6/7 days, but being perfect might be too boring.

P.S. Off the topic… Is anyone else excited about this television show?? I cannot wait to watch!

Golden Beets with Carrots & Ginger

• 2 golden beets
• 2 medium carrots
• 1 small apple
• 1 cucumber
• 1″ slice of ginger (optional, but recommended)

Purple Kale Lemonade

• 1 bunch of purple kale (see the pretty purple in the glass?!)
• 1 bunch of parsley
• 1/2 a lemon
• 1 apple
• 1″ slice of ginger

Papaya and the Greens

•  1 papaya (sliced, quartered & seeds removed)
• 1 head of romaine
• 1 bunch of kale (of choice)
• 1 cucumber
• 1/4 of a lemon