Me in a Nutshell
Where do I start? The image conjured up in my head is that of a used car salesman, dressed in an ill fitting button down shirt, mud brown polyester pants pulled up past his navel, and a bad comb over. He’s listing my features off to you… “Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Certified Stott Pilates Instructor, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Mom of three boys”. “She’s got 42 years on her but she’s dependable”. I’m not sure why writing about myself evokes such a strange image.
As you can read, my self confidence and self deprecation play tug of war with each key stroke. Fortunately, reading my posts offer you better insight into who I am than any bio could. You’ll pick up on my overall interest in integrative health, food, and motherhood. I delve into nutrition, physical activity, relationships and career all with laughter and self exploration as an undertone. I take a holistic approach in my lifestyle and I enjoy sharing all I’ve learned in both my successes and challenges.
I most love spending time with my husband, 3 sons and 2 golden-doodles. I love to travel and learn about people, places and cultures. I have had the fortune of living In 3 countries, 4 states and 10 cities throughout my life. I’ve learned 2 languages, Spanish and Dutch, and I enjoy using them any chance I get. Learning is a passion of mine and if one could get paid to be a student I’d be the first one to apply for the job. Reading anything from self help, non-fiction or beach-worthy novels are almost as delicious to my soul as a piece of dark chocolate. Almost! And audiobooks and podcasts are my new obsession during my walks.
quirky Facts
Monica from Friends might be my spirit animal.
Where did I get the name Laugh Loud Mama? I was watching TV with my boys when something made me roll with laughter. My youngest declares ” you have a loud laugh, Mama”. This is a fact that I have been made aware of for as long as I can remember. When I was looking for a name for my site, something that really resonated, that memory popped in my head. It seemed a fitting description for who I am, a loud laughing Mama, and I love the joy it implies.
Why I became a Health Coach?
For as long as I can remember I have wanted to help people in some capacity. With an orthodontist for a father and a mother who delved into Reiki and energy balancing; I had an upbringing that intertwined both western medicine and alternative health. As a kid, I thought I wanted to be a neonatologist. By the time I was a freshman in college, that had morphed into a psychologist. I’ve always been drawn to connecting with people, understanding how they think and mirroring for them what I see. After an unimpressive Intro to Psych course, I redirected my focus and ended up studying Marketing and Spanish.
This took me to Spain where I studied for a year and met my husband. I loved travel, learning new languages, and cultures. The next five or six years were spent doing just that with a final destination in Holland. After the birth of our first son, I was again searching for my path. The pregnancy and delivery reconnected me with wellness and my interest in a more holistic approach. I started to take courses in holistic wellness and I was hooked.
I was fascinated by all that I was learning. But, as it often does, life got busy. We moved to the United States and started our Master’s Degree in moving, as a byproduct of my husbands work. We lived in Kansas, New Jersey and Texas. If I hadn’t become a health coach, I would probably be a professional moving coordinator. After my second son was born, I was again fueled to find what I was meant to do. It seems that each birth of my 3 boys coincided with my own rebirth. I was desperate to feel comfortable in my body after my second pregnancy and I found Pilates.
I loved it! The mind body connection, the anatomy and physiology, and the connection with the client all pulled me in. I started my Pilates certification and as an adjunct I was continuing to educate myself in all modalities of health and wellness. Often times my education came through my own search for health answers for myself and my kids.
When my middle son started to experience frequent migraines that were bad enough to make him sick, I sought the help of a functional medicine doctor. I had researched and spoken with doctors but western medicine wasn’t giving me the cause of the symptom. I’m a big believer in the importance of western medicine for curing illness and disease, but I didn’t want just a temporary cure or a pill that had a dauntingly long list of possible side affects. I wasn’t mollified without having a real answer to the cause. The meetings with his functional medicine doctor felt like a breath of fresh air. I had finally found a space with like minded individuals.
Shortly after, I sought help from a functional medicine doctor for my own gut health complaints. The information I was given was almost overwhelming. I didn’t quite know where to start with all the suggestions and lifestyle modifications. I knew the information was what I needed, but I felt daunted by how to apply it to my daily life. However, after some adaptions in our eating and lifestyle both my son and I noticed amazing improvements. I was sold on this integrative approach to health.
A couple years later, we moved again. I know, shocking. We settled in Massachusetts and I took the time to make sure my 3 sons were finding their groove. As I’m sure other Mom’s can relate, once they were good, I felt it was time to focus some energy on myself. The idea of starting a Pilates practice or working for a studio didn’t quite feel right. Something was missing, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. It was with the help of my own mentor that I discovered life coaching.
It was as if someone turned on the light bulb. Major “aha” moment. It felt like it was staring in my face the entire time, but I needed life experience to be ready. I remember feeling overwhelmed by the information given to me by the functional medicine doctor. I would have benefited from someone guiding me and supporting me through the process. Every conversation with my own life coach cemented for me that this was the work I wanted to do. After months of research, I enrolled in IIN. I feel fueled to help others feel empowered, heard and supported. I continue to learn as I am the perpetual student. But most importantly I grow with each interaction with clients and the people around me.
