28 day Mama Love (day 6)

Yoga MAMA LOVE #6

Michelle Cohen & I met at Itsy Bitsy Yoga training.. and we connected quickly. I noticed her bubbly and chatty personality and could not believe the energy in this little lady!

I have seen Michelle TOTALLY commit to her own personal growth & happiness, “stand in her own power “and use boundaries in a positive and meaningful way for her own life.

In the past few years I have seen her take personal responsibility for her work / life balance and make sure to set boundaries around her top priorities. Michelle & I have worked together on events that have been life changing for me, bringing Katrina Kennison & Karen Maezen Miller to LO along with co- hosting seasonal retreats for LO and Mother’s Day events.

I LOVE working with Michelle and find her work inspiring and heartfelt. In the past 2 years she became a Doula and is now a POWERFUL force in the birth world in DC. I hear beautiful stories about her commitment to her clients and her impact on the birth of their children.

This year, Michelle also committed to her meditation practice by attending a zen retreat for the first time.

I am so proud of her. Just a few short years ago, she was dreaming & wishing that some day she would be able to make an impact in DC birth and yoga world & community, be of service, spend quality time with her family AND her self, and commit to a meditation practice. AND NOW it’s all happening. It is such a pleasure to watch her shine.

Michelle & Eli at our FIRST LO staff meeting, 2010

28 day Mama Love (day 5)

May5

it’s a wonderful gift to be pregnant with your oldest friend.

I met Erica Moffitt Dilks the day she came home from the hospital. Her older brother and I were buddies.

I have literally known her, her whole life.

I have so many wonderful and hilarious memories of us…from childhood games and running back and forth between our houses to making after school snacks ( like chocolate, bananas, syrup, cookies, in the blender…) and riding bikes all over the hood. As we grew, we had more in common and became closer. We had a blast, always singing songs in the car, meeting boys, going to the mall, driving around town….

Erica became a reporter after college and I was SO proud of her. She is amazing on screen, so smart, so interested and so real. She makes news reporting look easy, ( WHICH it is NOT!! I have learned so much behind the scenes info and it’s super tough!)

I remember being little girls and dancing around the house singing and dancing and pretending we were famous and on TV. And to grow up and see her best friend ON TV – living her dream, it’s truly magical!

Erica was on my first date with MEL… She was visiting us at GW for the weekend when I took her out on our friend date to meet this “older guy” I was interested in….and then of course she was in our wedding.. and I was in hers 5 months later. It was a fantastic year for both of us.

Erica and I have literally been through every up and down that 30 + years of friendship can bring.

What amazes me is her spirit to persevere & her incredible creativity in the kitchen for her kids. AND she is hilarious. She has made me laugh and been an incredible person in my life , for a very long time.

I love that she takes so much time to make life fun and meaningful for her kiddos. Thank you MAMA for being in my life, for so long and for just being YOU- no one else. Your light & energy & humor- I know I will treasure for the rest of my life.

28 day Mama Love (day 4)

May4

Little Graces MAMAS

Today’s dedication is to a very special group of women.

When Saylor was 18 months, I joined a playgroup and met a fabulous group of moms.

Steph, Kaci, Renee, Liz, Jamie, Victoria, Christie, & Shari

I adored hanging out with these ladies. The kids had a blast together and we started happy hour playdates on Friday that were fun for us too!

We still meet for non book club dinners to share stories, recipes, laughs, and good times. It’s so nice to have a group of mom friends that you can always just be yourself around. When I was opening lil omm in Palisades, they sent flowers & took classes. I remember that year, sharing my dreams for LO with them. And I’m so glad we kept in touch.

girls night out dancing!

28 day Mama Love (day 3)

May3

sweet Avery & Saylor

Day 3

Today, I honor my friend Katie LoMonaco. People used to ask us how we met, how we became such good friends.. and we would laugh, not sure if we should tell the truth. The truth is that when we met, she was a bartender at our local Friday night hang out. we went so much and she worked so much that we became very good friends. Katie has the most warm welcome smile and presence. Everyone was her friend and she always took good care of friends and customers.

Over time, we became very close.

I asked her to be in my wedding and shortly after she asked me to be with her while she was in labor.

Katie has been a solid anchor with no friend drama for a long time. She now has 3 kids and and lives an hour away, and even though we don’t talk regularly. She is always a part of my life with any major transition, issue, problem or celebrations. And I know she feels the same about me.

When she calls, I pick up. True friends are the best. I love you, Katie!

28 day Mama LOVE ( day 2)

May2

Mary Anm, Sandy & Milo at LO Tenley Opening

lil omm has a “godmother.”

Someone who takes care of us, remembers our birthdays, bakes for us, shows up for all the classes and tells everyone about the studio.

Mary Ann Reed is an incredible woman.

She takes care of her family with such love, with such intention and devotion.

Mary Ann has an incredible spirit and anyone who is her friend knows how amazing she is, we are the lucky ones.

She is so committed to her life, to her family, her yoga practice and to her health.

When she learns something new to DIVES into , she takes it full on, she embraces is spreads the word to others that she cares about.

I remember her first class at LO, and her 100th class ( We brought balloons & flowers!).

She has babysat my kids when I needed an extra set of hands, cleaned up the studio lawn and volunteered with her family at every event.

I am so blessed to have her as part of the LO family and she is the mama that I love today.

28 day Mama Love ( day 1)

May1

In honor of mothers day & my birthday month, I am going to write about 28 Mamas that have changed my life.

On May 28, I turn 36. I want to celebrate these years by honoring a number of MAMAS who are true gifts to the world. Women who have deeply influenced and inspired me along the way. I want to say thank you.

So here is day 1…

For the first day of MAMA LOVE,

I want to highlight 2 women who have been ” like moms” to me since 1996.

In 1996, I went to GW as a very moody freshman. And there I feel in love with 2 girls who would become my sisters.

(I have written about Chrys and Mere before, and you can read that here. )

BUT little did I know, that I would ALSO adopt 2 moms. That Ruth & Jeanne would bring me into their home and treat me like a daughter from the moment we met.

Ruth, Chrys’ mom is one of the biggest hearted, sweetest and positive people I have ever known. She has incredible loyalty and fierce devotion o her family. We have spent many hours together talking and I love that she has taken me into her life and always made me feel part of her family.

Jeanne, Meredith’s mom is something else. She is incredibly sarcastic, intelligent & been one of my biggest supporters the past 18 years. Every time I have an idea or have done anything- there she is – saying “go for it” or ” I believe in you.” She is truly a character who tells it like it is and someone I am so grateful to have on my team. We are always laughing… ( or crying)

At a time in my life when I was lost, these two women helped me find my way.

Thank you Jeanne & Ruth for being so loving and mothering me, I know we have been through a lot of life together and I’m glad I had you with me along the way. I deeply appreciate you.

lil omm life

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