If you are comfortable answering, what are some of the events or challenges that led you to develop your work?

I struggled to quit drinking for nearly 4 years. Once I surrendered to the idea that I needed support, that’s when everything finally changed. I joined an online quit drinking program and support group – and as helpful as it was, there were many gaps in the knowledge base that I was lucky to be able to fill in myself due to my background as a Certified Holistic Nutritionist & Wellness Coach. As I continued on my own sober journey, I realized that I was succeeding where many others still struggle because my background allowed me to take a mind & body approach to healing. So my work as a sober coach grew from my own journey: I was able to combine holistic healing principles & mindset work to the process of quitting drinking and create a complete framework that any woman can apply to their life if they’re willing to learn & grow.

What were three of your favorite books that helped you get clear on your path?

Alcohol Lied To Me by Craig Beck; Alcohol Explained by William Porter; and This Naked Mind by Annie Grace.

What are some ways you manage work-life balance?

A huge part of learning to quit drinking is learning how to create & keep healthy boundaries and to prioritize healthy habits. I’ve developed healthy coping mechanisms for stress (which is always present as a homeschooling, special-needs mom that works from home); I work when it’s work time and focus on family when it’s family time. I don’t negotiate on what’s best for me or my family – regardless of what others might think about it. I prioritize fueling my body and mind with healthy eating, moving my body, and spending time with God & in gratitude to keep my mind calm & grounded.

Where do you live now? Is this your dream location, and why?

I have lived in Wisconsin my entire life! But I don’t really love winter lol. My husband and I are working towards the goal of having a second home in Florida so we can escape the hardest parts of WI winters for a few months every year! But WI is where our families are, and the seasons are gorgeous, so this will always be home.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I love to spend my free time with my family, out in nature. Sunshine, water, and fresh air fill my cup like nothing else. At home I love to read and bake. 

Are you involved with any local or online communities that inspire or support you personally or in your work?

On a daily basis I’m inside online communities, either offering coaching & support or receiving it! I run two different communities (one for women trying to quit drinking and another for women that are already sober). Those conversations fill my cup & always inspire me to continue helping women create their best-feeling life. And I myself am always a student – I have my own business/life coach that is also a sober woman, so I am continually striving to learn more, heal, and grow. Connection & community can make all the difference when we’re trying to create positive, lasting change in our lives!

What are your morning practices and routines that set you up to win every day?

Ooh love this question because I truly believe that routines and habits are the key to a happy, successful life! My days always start with God & gratitude; whether I have 5 minutes or 50, I have devotional apps & books I use and then also a gratitude journal. My life as a 24/7 caregiver to my adult disabled daughter is demanding and can be quite heavy – and that’s before I get to parenting my other daughters & being a wife, and showing up the way I want to in my work; so centering my mind first thing every morning is a non-negotiable for me. Then, throughout the day, I am a firm believer in the power of (mostly) clean eating, staying hydrated, daily movement & holistic health habits (essential oils, supplements, infrared sauna). And then when it’s family time at the end the day, that’s sacred. My phone gets silenced, I wind down by spending time with the people I love most, and have a consistent bedtime.

What are you passionate about that most people don’t know?

The healing power of nature. Almost anything in life can be made better by getting outside, in the sunshine and fresh air, for even just a little bit. We have access to the simplest yet most profound healing tools in the world in air, sunshine, and water – and most people are too busy to notice.

Open Question: What else would you like your readers and potential retreat participants to know about you or that you might like to know about another retreat leader?

 I spent years using the hard parts of my life as my excuse to keep drinking and to stay stuck. We all have hard things – past traumas, current struggles – and we can either use them as excuses, or turn them into the reasons we get better and do better. I truly believe that if people adopt and embody that philosophy they can radically change their lives for the better.