For the past three months, I have been charting very unfamiliar territory.
I have been slowly excavating trauma that has been tucked away in my (very knowing) body for 30+ years, and each day has unearthed new ideas, ingrained patterns, memories, old narratives, awareness, loneliness, discomfort, anger and pain.
But diving into the deep depths of this pain has had another effect — it’s opened up a tidal wave of love and self-compassion for myself and my inner child, something I haven’t been able to access in over three decades.
I feel sadness yes, but I also feel joy. Like fully, in my bones, overwhelming joy. I feel pain yes, but I also feel hope. I’m feeling everything on such an intense, deep level, and luckily, that means the good things too!
Lately, music is like medicine to my soul (pro-tip try singing along at the top of your lungs in your car when you’re alone I swear by it). Fruit tastes sweeter (okay sure, that may have to do with the season we’re currently in 😂). Running gives me the ultimate high (yup, runners high really is a thing). Holding my daughters’ hands makes my heart feel like it’s about to burst out of my chest. The warm sun on my face feels practically illegal.
I am noticing things (so many, many things) but I’m now able to distance myself enough from the noticing to not claim everything as my identity. I’m chipping away, bit by bit, piece by crumbling piece, slowly building new, empowering beliefs. Reclaiming who I once was and still, deep down am, but didn’t feel safe enough for many, many years to be.
Coming back home to myself.
And realizing there is space for both along the way — two things can be true. I can be in a deep process of healing, and I can also have f*ckin’ fun and be immensely grateful and enjoy this one wild and precious life — and trust me I am doing just that!
Which is what today’s newsletter is about. The things that are lighting me up amongst an intense season of pain, healing and growth. And while I do feel called to share more of this journey with you (just not quite yet — it’s still unfolding) right now this is where I’m at.
As always I hope you find it helpful or inspiring on some level. I appreciate you so much for being here and stay tuned for so much more new, personal and exciting things to come.
With that, let’s get into everything I’ve been eating, making, doing and loving this month!
I’m a simple gal at heart when it comes to food (shocking I know). When I find something I like, I tend to repeat the formula, and during summer most dinners revolve around some type of grilled protein, veg or salad and a standout sauce.
Even though summer technically just started, I’ve already added many of these to the rotation and plan on making on repeat all summer long👇🏻
🌽 Peruvian Grilled Chicken + Corn with Creamy Green Sauce — pictured top left, I’ve been making this one for years and it finally deserves it’s moment to shine. *best to make during your ovulatory phase!
🌽 Turkey Smash Burgers + Avo Corn Salsa & Chipotle Aioli — pictured top right, everyone, I mean everyone, LOVES these & I make them at least once a week. *best to make during your luteal phase!
🌽 Grilled Peanut Shrimp Crunch Bowls + Pineapple Cucumber Slaw — pictured bottom right, recipe dropping this Saturday and it’s sooooo good. *best to make during your luteal phase!
🌽 Grilled Chicken Pesto + Peach Burrata Bowls — pictured bottom left, aka my favorite summer meal everrrrr. *best to make during ovulation
🌽 Grilled Skirt Steak with Blistered Tomatoes + Burrata Salad — this one had me in a chokehold all last summer. *best to make during your menstrual phase
🌽 BBQ Chicken Ranch Quinoa Bowls — pg. 204 of the cookbook. It doesn’t get more summery than this! *best to make during ovulation
🌽 Fig Jam, Caramelized Onion + Goat Cheese Burger — just TRUST me on this one, okay?! *best to make during your menstrual phase
🌽 New England Style Shrimp Rolls — pg. 191 of the cookbook. these are so easy and make me feel like I’m summering off the coast of Maine. *best to make during your follicular/ovulatory phase
*I’ve also been eating basil seed pudding on repeat for breakfast every morning, along with hot honey fried eggs on avocado toast, date chicken salad lettuce wraps, cottage cheese caprese (pg. 183 of the cookbook) or green goddess smashed chickpeas on toast (pg. 145 of the cookbook) for quick, delicious + protein & fiber-packed lunches.
As you can probably gather, there’s been a lot going on this month — from processing buried trauma (yeesh) to celebrating birthdays and my kids being out of school for the summer. It’s been crazy busy, but alongside it all these are the things I’ve been doing that have been keeping me sane + lighting me up.
💫 Partaking in To Be Magnetic’s “Be Seen” Challenge which aligns so well with where I’m currently at in life — stepping into my f*ck it energy *use code LAUREN7954 to join & save
💫 Blasting music nonstop and singing at the top of my lungs
💫 Listening to this podcast episode on the role psychedelics play in healing trauma *psst — my podcast episode with Kelly is airing in a few weeks so stay tuned
💫 As well as this podcast episode my friend Kari Brunson Wright sent me with Liz Moody on why being a “good girl” is making you sick — which could not be more timely
💫 Grabbing berries, microgreens, fermented dairy and gluten-free sourdough from local farmers markets
💫 Reading my friend Tennyson Jacobson ‘s memoir
💫 Prepping dinner as much as possible ahead of time (i.e. marinating proteins, chopping salads, blending sauces, etc.) and then taking the kids (and snacks! lots of snacks!) to the river for a late afternoon/early evening reset
💫 Watching + re-watching Voicemails For Isabelle which is impossibly adorable and funny
💫 Making high protein dirt cake to celebrate my sweet summer solstice baby’s fifth birthday last weekend
💫 Debating whether or not to get a ninja creami…worth the hype or no?
☀️ This vanilla bean paste + these fiber-rich basil seeds for basil seed pudding!
☀️ These are the most flattering, comfortable tank tops I’ve ever owned & I have one in grey, white & black 😂 *pictured top right
☀️ I’ve already gotten so much use out of these water-proof sandals at the river
☀️ Loading up on summer snacks from Thrive Market, especially these gluten-free graham crackers, this salty dark chocolate & these vegan marshmallows for s’mores *use this link to get 30% off your first order
☀️ Someone stopped me last weekend & asked me for the brand of these linen pants. They’re flattering + light weight & make you look a bit more dressed up without feeling like it. *I have the taupe color, pictured bottom left
☀️ My ride or die summer salad combo to use on seasonal produce (stone fruit, watermelon, tomatoes, etc.) — good extra virgin olive oil, a balsamic glaze + flaky sea salt. A little burrata never hurts either.
☀️ This non-toxic sunscreen bundle for me & this mineral spray for the kids!
So, there you have it, all of the things I’m eating, making, doing, and obsessing over lately! I hope you find this month’s newsletter helpful, inspiring or entertaining in some way and truly appreciate you being here from the bottom of my heart! 🫶🏻
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