New Mama Happy Hour

11/18/2025

Exciting news! Starting in Jan 2026 we will be meeting at the Mothers Milk Bank in Austin! First Wednesday of each month 11am-12:30pm. Expectant mothers, new moms and babies welcome! 5925 Dillard Circle Austin, TX 78752

12/27/2024

Want to do something for your relationship this year?
Love Strong After Baby has a workshop coming up January 26th from 1-5pm. Learn how to communicate better, improve your friendship and connection with your partner, and reduce conflict in your relationship. Email LoveStrongAfterBaby@gmail.com for more info!

09/05/2024

This morning I listened to the latest episode of 10% Happier: A Buddhist Recipe for Handling Turmoil - Kaira Jewel Lingo.

Coincidentally, I was washing a HUGE pile of dishes as I listened. (My dishwasher is broken.) I say 'coincidentally' because the guest of the show and author of "We Were Made for These Times: 10 Lessons for Moving through Change, Loss, and Disruption" relayed a story about dish washing.

A zen student living in the buddhist community was washing dishes frantically so that he could return to the group lesson that he was missing out on. The teacher (Thich Nhat Hahn) asked him, "Why are you washing dishes?"

The student answered, "To get them clean."

The teacher responded, "No. You are washing dishes to wash dishes."

Productivity, rather than experience (aka LIFE) for it's own sake, so often automatically takes over my existence. I *allow* it to. But, what Lingo also offered in this podcast episode was the 5 daily Remembrances of Buddhism.

1. I am of a nature to grow old; I cannot avoid aging.

2. I am subject to illness and infirmity; I cannot avoid illness and infirmity.

3. I am of a nature to die; I cannot avoid death.

4. I will be parted from all that is dear and beloved to me.

5. I am the owner of my actions and heir to my actions.

At first perusal these seem like we could rename them the 5 Daily Buzzkills. But when I notice how really facing these truths effects me, I notice that I am at peace, and more focused on what's right in front of me. I washed those dishes like they were last dishes I would ever wash. I smelled the soap. I noticed the beauty of the bubbles. I truly appreciated that they were clean. And that I have dishes to eat from. Food to eat from them.

And it didn't take me any longer to wash them. I just did so with a quality of action that I am proud of. That I enjoyed.

I also am sure that I will enjoy that the dishwasher repairman is headed here later this afternoon!

As a Nurse Coach I have settled into coaching mothers. Usually single moms or working moms (though not necessarily), as well as pregnant women (because of my extensive perinatal nursing background and passion and ease of working in that realm).

If you have read this far and identify as someone who could use a little more of this LIFE in your life rather than the constant compulsion to be productive or value yourself for that productivity, then send me a message or give me a call.

I have space in my schedule next week for 2 free calls. One of them could be for you.

08/14/2024

Please share this with any friends you have who may not know me on FB, but who would benefit from this group!

The first iteration of my Harness coaching group has started and the energy within the group is A-MAZING! I mean, I knew it was gonna be good…but it’s even better than anticipated.

Here are some of the things the participants are bonding over, why they say they joined the group, and are already noticing shifts in:

🤷‍♀️ A sense of having “lost themselves”; not even knowing what they enjoy anymore
😵‍💫 Have very little boundaries - and wanting to change that
🤔 Successful - but don’t “feel” that way
⏳ The need to make space and time for themselves
📚 Interested in learning new things, growing, and improving
⛈ Feeling stuck
💆🏻‍♀️Their bodies are telling them that they need to spend more time on themselves
🥇 A need to acknowledge their own worthiness
💭 Need an opportunity to reflect
🌪 Find it difficult to “stay in the now”
🌍 Craving a more well-rounded life
🤤 Have had these goals for awhile but have always put them on the back burner
🌬 Notice their body is tensed up and they breathe shallowly throughout the day

The progress and support I’ve witnessed these women experience (in just the first two meetings!) is so beneficial that I’m eager to start another group in the fall!

There are 6 slots and I’ve already got interest from 3 women, so contact me soon to secure a spot.

It will run from the end of September - end of January which is perfect to help “stabilize” the experience of the holiday season and get the New Year off to a well-supported start.

Direct message me for more details or contact me at
512-739-6759!

And share this post!

07/28/2024

Any one who is perinatal right now (trying to conceive, pregnant, or postpartum) is invited to this Holistic approach to anxiety series that I am facilitating in August at Austin Yoga Lounge!

Series details and registration on our Punchpass website.

06/12/2024

"The world's on fire."
Because the other half don't think like us, don't believe like us. Scary stories incend wildly through open channels from all sides of all the lines straight to our brains and catch them on fire -
Making it true.
"There's nothing we can do."
Because the inferno is so huge, so wide-spread. The arsonists are out of our control. We externalize the world. We pretend the fire is raging outside of us.
"As within, so without."
Until we turn our attention inward and wake up to the fact that we are the fire, the embers of our brains' unrest continue to ignite the brains adjacent to our own - collectively burning this Whole Mother down.
"You have to put that fire out," says Betty the park ranger. Cracking us all up, because the 'fire' is a beautiful flickering light from a speaker that we are all dancing around. Betty's fire continues to rage because she lost the chance to shut the party down. But the flickering light illuminates our skin, and the music soothes our souls and moves our feet to the beat. Together. We dance together. We laugh at each other's weird with joy and belonging and respect. Our fires haven't died down as much as settled into our hearts.

~ Lauren Jones Hagen

04/25/2024

For those of you interested-- a local doula (now a newly certified midwife!) Ruth Bailey and her husband Kyle have started a non-profit called Ma Bailey Ministries. Basically they are offering short term housing to pregnant/postpartum families who need access to a hospital who live far away from medical facilities... think NICU families or those who have complicated pregnancies. www.mabaileys.org
The GRAND OPENING is this weekend-- Sunday 4/28 from 5:30-8:30pm. You can buy tickets (this is considered a tax deductible donation) here https://www.zeffy.com/.../3dbebe41-61fa-47f0-a5e2... whether you plan to come or not! Let's show some support for this amazing work she's doing!

Ma Bailey's provides short term housing for pregnancy and postpartum support and Women's Clinic

11/15/2023

Want to learn skills and techniques to help you better communicate with your partner? Want to learn how to fight less? Want to feel more connected?
Love Strong After Baby is a workshop designed for parents of kiddos under 5 years who want to learn the tricks to a happy and fulfilling relationship AFTER baby. Our in person hands on workshop is on Dec 3rd followed by two virtual sessions to continue to build your skills. Want to learn more? Email LoveStrongAfterBaby@gmail.com.

10/19/2023

Free event for expectant families!!

09/28/2023

Excited to share this resource!!
https://www.facebook.com/693857186/posts/10159597818107187/?mibextid=Nif5oz

06/22/2023

Does anyone else follow Carrie Contey here in Austin? I love her stuff! Her email reminders are FREE and such good stuff for parents of ANY age-- here is what was in this mornings email... long, but worth reading:

Summertime is full of extra long days and a lot of together time. Because of that, staying balanced and present when you are exhausted is not an easy feat. And, it’s extra challenging when you have growing people needing your energy to keep their own systems balanced in the midst of all the massive growing that’s almost constantly taking place.

It may not be easy, but it is possible to regain composure even when you are overdone.

Here are 10 simple ways to deal with your exhaustion so you can come back to the moment.
1. ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE OVERDONE

Say it out loud, “I’m TIRED.” Let yourself express the fact that you are beyond-the-beyond overdone and in need of rest. What we resist persists so stopping and acknowledging that you are a goner is one of the fastest ways to bring yourself back to the present moment.
​
2. GET LOW AND SLOW

Whether it’s for 10 seconds or 10 minutes, lay down on the couch or the floor or the grass. Letting yourself relax horizontally for a few moments can give you a sense of peace and safety that may perk you back up.
​
3. MOVE YOUR BODY

Whether it’s a walk or jumping up and down or having a spontaneous dance party... get moving. Bringing energy into your system, even when you don’t feel like it, will give you a boost.
​
4. BREATHE

Try this stimulating breath technique.

This is adapted from a yoga breathing technique. It can raise your alertness and increase energy.

Start with your mouth closed but relaxed. Inhale and exhale rapidly through your nose. Your breaths in and out should be equal in duration, but as short as possible. This is a noisy breathing exercise. (So have fun!)
Try for three in-and-out breath cycles per second. Then breathe normally after each cycle.
Do not do this for more than 15 seconds on your first try. Each time you practice, you can increase your time by five seconds or so, until you reach a full minute.
​

5. GO OUTSIDE

Get out into fresh air and look up at the sky. Engage your senses. Take in the sights, smells, and spaciousness.
​
6. GET WET

Take a shower or bath. If there’s no time for that, splash your face with cold water or slowly wash your hands.
​
7. STRETCH

Move your body in ways you haven’t today. Reach up into the sky, down to floor. Lift your knees up and down. Twist and shake and let your body stretch.
​
8. GIVE YOURSELF A SCALP MASSAGE

I love this one! Take a few seconds and rub your head to stimulate your scalp. Feel free to grab chunks of hair close to the scalp and gently tug and notice what you feel.
​
9. GET A HUG

Whether it’s from partner or your child or a friend or just yourself. A hug can be just the thing you need when you are really feeling overdone. And it’s okay to be honest and ask for one. “I’m overdone! I need a hug. Who can help me out?”
​
10. GET TO BED EARLY

Your evening time alone is precious and really hard to give up. However, I'm here to remind you that going to bed early, even just just one night a week, can make a huge difference. Schedule it, and give yourself a chance to catch up on some extra sleep.

Exhaustion is no fun. Try some of the ideas above when you can and above all else, be compassionate and loving with your tender and overdone self.