about me
Local to Portland
I live in Beaverton, OR with my husband and our two daughters. I’m originally from Las Vegas, NV, but have lived in the Portland area since 2015. I feel happiest sitting by the ocean with my feet in the sand or hiking in the forest with friends. I love the sound of rain and laughter. I am analytical and compassionate. I find joy when I can be of service to others. Things I’d like to do more: dinner parties, yoga and painting. Over a cup of tea, I’d be honored to discuss how food can help your heart be radiant.
credentials
With my Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and a Master of Science in Nutrition, I am eager to impart my knowledge about nutrition to all who desire a partner in discovering their healthiest life. With experience facilitating classes within a classroom and in the wider community, I am ready to work with you in a group or one-on-one. While studying at the National University of Natural Medicine, I counseled patients in the Lair Hill Clinic for 2 terms, working in a collaborative environment with a Naturopathic Doctor and a Doctor of Chiropractic, which allowed me exposure to a variety of complementary modalities of healing. I studied Medical Nutrition Therapy, Therapeutic Diets, and Food Allergies & Intolerances which gives me an in depth understanding of the power of food to heal the body. To build on this foundation, I also studied Food Relationship Coaching and the Psychology of Eating to understand how people decide what to put in their body. During my internship, I developed materials detailing postnatal nutrient depletion and led education sessions for postpartum women. I launched my first business, Radiant Heart Nutrition, in 2019.
motherhood
Many moms feel quite neglected in medical care after giving birth when the focus is shifted primarily to the infant. The only care given to moms is in regards to breastfeeding, which is usually infant focused. In addition to our lack of medical support, we culturally lack the multigenerational support system or village mentality of caring for new moms. Additionally, there is a lack of paid parental leave and many mothers find themselves returning to work sooner than expected. All of these stressors may leave a mother’s needs unmet. Radiant Heart Nutrition provides compassionate and encouraging nutritional counseling to support women as they transition through all stages of motherhood. Together, we will learn what nourishes each unique body and soul to allow their radiant heart to shine on all who cross their path.
My transition into Motherhood
My transition into motherhood was absolutely challenging. While pregnant, we moved away from our small support system to a new city for a promising job. I knew absolutely nothing about babies. I had never changed a diaper until I was trying to change my own baby. I had never really seen a woman nurse until I was holding my baby to my breast. I lacked the women mentors in my life to nurture me and had no peers having children yet to commiserate with, so I turned to books and blogs. I examined every bit of information I could find. This left me confused by the conflicting advice and feeling out of touch with my intuition.
Needless to say, I was struggling… Nursing was challenging and more demanding than I expected. The few people who had attempted to help, I had pushed away because my house wasn’t clean, I hadn’t showered and I just didn’t have the energy for social interactions. My dear husband was my only support, and he was exhausted after long days of work and broken sleep.
Years went on and we had another child. I yelled more often than I wanted. I didn’t have patience with my kids. Our marriage was neglected and struggling. I had headaches almost daily. I was exhausted and needed a nap to get through the day. My anxiety was through the roof. I was pretty miserable.
I was totally depleted: physically, emotionally and mentally. I needed a change.
We decided to move to escape the dry, hot desert and trade it in for cloudy, rainy, tree-filled Oregon. It was love at first sight! Being surrounded by things growing constantly nurtured me to grow too. The beauty around every corner helped me to see the beauty in me that I had lost. I saw how all things grew in their own way, in their own time, in the conditions right for them. It motivated me to explore what my optimal conditions could be. Spending time in nature helped me to feel calm and collected and soothed my nerves. I learned how to be quiet and still, how to rest and how to thrive. I finally learned that you can’t pour from an empty cup. My body needed nutrients and movement. My soul needed connection and reassurance. I learned how to ask for help from my support system.
This connection with myself and my environment reminded me of my roots. I am a nurturer. A connector. A creator. My favorite way of showing love to those around me is to nurture their dreams and nourish their bodies. Learning how to nourish the unique needs of my growing family, and myself, brought me a joy that had been missing. My radiant heart is now able to finally shine on those around me. Let me help you learn to nourish yourself, so your radiant heart can shine brightly too.