Candy Leigh's Blog

I am thrilled to introduce you to another guest blogger this week! Mindy is the owner of You Do You Naturally By Design. She helps people and animals experience full healing journeys through Reiki, crystals, Theta, and life coaching. Mindy has worked with me to unlock both locked up emotions and physical pain. I highly recommend a session with her. You can also watch Mindy’s interview on my YouTube channel!

-Candy

I have spent so much time in my adult life wondering, what is my purpose? What do I really want to do and how do I do it?

For me, that purpose begins with thinking about what I love. Here is what comes to mind: nature, people, animals, flowers, riding my bike, sitting outside with no noise, the country… The list goes on. These are the things that keep me going, yet I also love my time alone, quiet, in my own self. What kind of career could I have that combines all of those things into one? I wasn’t sure until 2010. At that time some major life changes occurred, and I discovered I was an empath. I knew I wouldn’t be complete until I did something that connected me to all the things that brought me joy.

As I began to explore my options, I considered selling flowers from my garden or sending journals and relaxing gifts to people experiencing life’s challenges. In honesty, I wanted to help people in any way that I could. One day I realized I was worn out from helping everyone without having a specific goal.

Diving into Reiki…



Aquamarine, clear quartz and citrine for cleansing, strength, protection and prosperity

In 2014 my journey took a turn that prompted me to take my calling more seriously. I met a life coach that helped me to define my skills, and encouraged me to investigate all outlets. At that time, I began to dive deeply into my Reiki experience; I went to leadership coaching; I started learning about crystals. Finally, I began taking classes for Reiki, Crystal Healing, and Theta Healing.

We all go through periods of struggle, and during mine, I often heard, “Do you, boo!” To me, that meant I needed to focus on myself and spend more time in self care. When COVID-19 started my corporate contract ended. It was then that I knew it was time to move in a new direction. I decided to take my skills and create my business: You do You Naturally by Design.

I am a healer, a Reiki Level II Practitoner, Theta Healing DNA Level II Practitioner, Crystal Healer and Life Coach. My specialty is combining each of the above healing modalities to create a specific healing session customized for each individual. Not only do I work with people, but I also work with animals.

I encourage you to reach out to learn more about the potential of these healing modalities. Visit my website! From there you can request to join my Facebook group, where you can enjoy my live videos and learn more about who I am, what I do and how I can help you on your healing journey!

In Love and Light,

Mindy

Thanks for reading. Please leave a comment below and feel free to share this post with your friends.

Before you go, make sure to take the Life Balance Quiz.

Candy Leigh is a Women’s Empowerment Coach and Author. Schedule a complimentary discovery call if you’d like to partner with Candy for 1×1 coaching, book club discussions, or consulting/speaking engagements.

The post Power, Purpose, and Healing in Theta, Reiki, and Crystals appeared first on Candy Leigh.

I was on a call with a Coach. I had recently met her, and she was offering a complimentary 1×1 as an intro to her program. She asked me to tell her about my most recent work. I began to describe my journey of writing a book. I explained how I couldn’t write the book I wanted to write, but that the words seemed to find me. She asked me about my relationships. I shared some information about the historical ups and downs of my post-divorce dating world. She smiled. Her eyes widened as I talked. I had seen this before–with my therapist. I thought she thought I was crazy. My therapist acknowledged my stress levels. This coach I was talking with acknowledged something different–my human design. She asked me if I knew that I was a reflector in human design.

I had no idea what she was talking about.

WHAT IS THE HUMAN DESIGN SYSTEM?

According to the Jovian Archive, “The Human Design System is a synthesis of ancient and modern sciences, and has proven to be a valuable tool for human understanding.

“With Human Design you discover what makes you different from everyone else. It offers profound insights into your psychology, along with strategies and techniques for making correct decisions and ultimately leading to a life of more ease and fulfillment.”

That, in itself, is glorious. Diving into a more profound understanding of our true selves enables us to stand in our own uniqueness authenticity. Understanding our own design gives us “permission” to do the work we are called to do.

You can go to the Jovian Archive and learn about the types, the strategies, the inner and outer authority, and how it feels/what it means to be a what type you are. (There is no need to put that info here. If you are just starting out in Human Design, dig deep on Jovian to learn more.) But what’s missing, sometimes, is any true depth of information about being a reflector.

On the day of my conversation with that coach, she opened up a door for me. When I walked through it, I began to understand who I am and my true calling. I am still learning, and I will continue to learn. However, what she shared on that day gave me some new insights. She helped me understand why I’ve experienced my journey in this life in the way that I have.

What is a reflector in human design?.

As a reflector in human design, I am a member of approximately 1% of the population. The job of the Reflector is literally to reflect back the health of our communities. We are to share our observations for the betterment of humankind. Reflectors are lunar beings and need, typically, to wait the full cycle of the moon to make big decisions. We also have open energy centers, so we need lots of rest in order to function at optimum levels.

That’s high level stuff you can find when you start to search for info on human design and reflectors. This is especially important if you are/dating/raising one. Now that I understand my design, I get why I need sleep. I’m aware of how the energy of others can significantly impact me. And, maybe most importantly, I don’t get upset with myself anymore when I say no to people. “No, I need more time to make that decision,” is an acceptable answer. I no longer feel the pressure to succumb to the demands of anyone who has a shorter decision-making timeline than I do.

Still somewhat high level, but more intuitive, are the profiles. My profile is a 1/3, the Investigative Martyr. According to The Inner Truth, 1/3s “have a life pattern of needing to investigate things and then experiment with them to see if they work. The first number is the conscious line of the profile and is the investigative energy. The second number is the unconscious line of the profile and is the experimental part of the profile. The 1/3 has to investigate first and then experiment, and always in that order.”

Interesting. So…my design type is to run on intuition by reflecting the energy of others and to make decisions over time. My profile indicates that I need to investigate and learn a lot about something, and then experiment with it in order to fulfil my purpose.

In my call with that coach on that day, when her eyes widened as I told her my story, I felt like somehow I was exposed. I thought she was going to find fault with me or my life. Instead of that, she told me something very different.

She said, “Do you realize, when you were writing, you were in your divine essence?”

My eyes widened.



Read the Real Life Journey of a 1/3 Reflector

Basically, she told me I had written in alignment with my calling and purpose–except, I hadn’t written the book I had set out to write.

I had gone on a road trip to write a book. I had planned to meet people along the way and interview them and tell their stories. That felt safe. Instead, on my road trip, I was consistently pulled to write about my own reflections. Try as I might, I couldn’t write about anyone I met. I was drawn to the idea of sharing my own lessons of my own journey. Why? Because I knew so clearly that it would help others. I had spent my life investigating and learning and then experimenting in my own life. It was only because of all of those experiments and experiences that I was truly ready to share. I was coming into the knowing that my journey of investigation and experimentation might prevent others from some of the struggles I had experienced.

This was exactly what my book had become…even though that wasn’t the book I had set out to write.

I knew, because of my training as a coach, facilitator and mediator that I was meant to work with people and help them navigate life. What I didn’t realize, was that part of my true calling was to share my journey. I found out about all of this well after my book was submitted for publishing. Now, after the fact, I’m sometimes surprised at what I wrote. Some days I still can’t believe how it lends itself directly to the life of a 1/3 reflector in human design.

Since discovering my human design, I’ve already begun to experiment with it. I have so much to learn. But there is a renewed sense of practical awareness that gives me confidence. That confidence enables me to stand in my own truth even more than I did yesterday or the day before.

Here are some truths I’m more firmly rooted in, now that I know more about myself as a reflector in human design:







My need for context helps me reflect what needs to be done. In some work situations, my need for information was sometimes looked at as an downfall. It was actually a gift. I will never again hold myself back from asking contextual questions (and expecting answers). My bullshit meter runs strong. Now…I trust it. Bad vibes mean it’s time for me to go…period.When I’ve taken the time (a lunar cycle) to make a decision, it’s usually the right choice. There’s no harm in waiting. If someone is pressuring me to make a decision, it’s a sign to walk away. Every. Single. Time.I love being with people…until I don’t. When I’m done, I need to rest. If I don’t rest, I’ll be in constant exhaustion, which leads to negativity and disappointment. Reading my body’s cues for when I need to rest is a major priority.Reflectors (myself included) absorb and “sample” energy ALL THE TIME, even while sleeping. Be responsible for your own energy all the time, but especially when you’re around them.When I was a kid and accused of not being loyal to any one group of friends because I could fit in with lots of different groups, it was because I could reflect the energy of any group I was with. It felt good to flow between groups–that’s part of the reflector’s gift. Unfortunately, jealous adolescents don’t appreciate unique gifts and it can leave individuals feeling like outsiders.Sometimes I need to reflect back to someone everything that I’m thinking so I can sort out what’s in my brain. In those instances, I need that trusted person to listen and then reflect back to me or ask me questions about that topic without judgment. When someone can do that for me…it feels emotionally and intellectually amazing.When I don’t feel energetically safe, I need to leave the situation. Boundaries are important. I can be as discreet as possible, but if I need to leave, I leave. The people who get upset when I trust my intuition are not my people. If you’re with a reflector, trust her/his judgment, and do what you can to keep each other safe.Now that I’m self-employed, I believe that my 20 years in surviving as a generator has given me perspective to live life more fully as a reflector. I now know what it’s like to be living as my “not self.” More importantly, I can take the skills learned from all those years with a Fortune 500, and use them to support my new coaching practice with a focus on helping others live in their purpose and truth.I love surprises. When I feel magic and surprise, I know I’m on the right path.

I am learning…and perhaps I’ll revisit this list over time. But here is where it stands today, and I’ve only just started experimenting with my design, the lunar cycles, and the gene keys. I am excited and thankful to be on this journey and enjoy life’s surprises as each new day unfolds.

What I’m really excited about for 2021, is that every coaching package includes a session with a Human Design Expert (not me…I’m still in my infancy in this learning journey)!! We will discuss what you want to focus on in the desired time commitment, discuss your human design and experimenting in your design can bring you more joy. We’ll talk about purpose and timeline and carve out an action plan according to your vision, all aligned to your soul purpose.

It literally is the coolest and most magical offering I could imagine giving my clients at this time.

Also…working with a reflector in human design is one of the best things you can do. We see you. In our sessions, I will hold space and then reflect back to you everything you’re giving me, but packaged differently so you can see it more clearly. I will give you words and concepts based on your energy and aura. I have helped women navigate relationship changes, career transitions, logo creations and business startups.

I’m so excited to enhance the richness of our sessions by incorporating human design.

Schedule a connection call so we can book out your time and make sure you have all you need to live your life fully aligned to your design and purpose.

Thanks for reading. Please leave a comment below and feel free to share this post with your friends.

Before you go, make sure to take the Life Balance Quiz.

Candy Leigh is a Women’s Empowerment Coach and Author. Schedule a complimentary discovery call if you’d like to partner with Candy for 1×1 coaching, book club discussions, or consulting/speaking engagements.

The post What Does It Mean to be a Reflector? appeared first on Candy Leigh.

My original plan was not to have an online book launch. My plan included a fancy dress, champagne, appetizers, music, laughter with all my friend and family and so much fun. Then…COVID. As my book launch date got closer, people suggested lots of potential solutions including waiting, having a party later, doing a Zoom happy hour, etc. I just wasn’t feeling any of it. I decided to not do much of anything.

Then, I started my online group, The Female Collective, and it became clear to me that I could have an online book launch party in that group with some amazingly supportive women. Some ideas started to come together, and then it became magic. Creativity lit a fire under imagination, which sparked the joy of abundance, and a cadre of women showed up to support the event in the group. While I’ve asked for support from my readers and my network to purchase my book, I now want to ask you to check out these businesses and support them. These are the women who have stepped up and stepped out with their generosity, and now, in return, I’m asking you to please be generous with them.

Easy things you can do: follow them. Check out their pages. Like and share their stuff. Make a purchase. Provide testimonials and reviews. In 2020 we are all carving out our own paths and this is what we can do to help each other along the way.

Here they are in alphabetical order:



Amy K Vaughn Studio and Transformational Coaching

Amy has radically transformed her life in immeasurable ways.  Everything that led to her transformation and rapid growth came through profound suffering and an intentional deconstruction and later, reconstruction of her identity, her worth and her belief system. Everything she does, whether painting or coaching, is inspired from that place. She is able to reach people, connect with their own pain and lead them through their hope and healing because she has gone ahead of them on that journey. 

Transformation often begins its work from within. We take small steps into our own Rising. Our Rising leads to more Braving. And as we do the work of our Rising and Braving, we are Becoming what we yearn to be. My paintings represent strong women within each of us, and my coaching helps strong women transform their lives. My mission is to celebrate how our transformation progresses from What-Was to What-Is, and then to What-Is-Becoming. 

Amy Vaughn, Artist and Transformational Coach for Women

Ready to Rise I



Ready to Rise II

“I [look] at them and everyday [I feel] more empowered…It makes me stop and really recognize my courage, my strength, and the fact that I am pretty badass.”

Sara Saunders, referring to the print series she purchased from Amy, “Strong Women: Strength Through Vulnerability”

ONLINE BOOK LAUNCH SPECIAL OFFER: Initial one-hour coaching consultation is free. Free Shipping for any print orders of Amy's work.



At Peace Design



@Peace Design

Are you @ peace? If you are at peace with yourself or at peace with the world, you feel calm and contented, and you have no emotional conflicts within yourself or with other people. Show the world that you’re at peace by rockin’ an @ peace brand item. At Peace Design has t-shirts, hoodies, wristbands and much more. Pick up your At Peace brand item today at The Underground Makers Market inside the Sherman Phoenix or at Wisconsin Curated Creations located at Mayfair Mall (between Maggianos and Five Guys). You can also shop online at www.atpeacedesign.com. Strive to be At Peace!

Pam McCreary, Owner

Canoodling Up North Book 1



Canoodling Book 1



Hannah’s Kitchen



Hannah’s Kitchen

Hannah’s Kitchen is a from scratch catering business that has been in business since 2015. Because of 2020, they have pivoted to no contact meals, currently doing 2 set menus a week. Hannah’s kitchen is always happy to customize orders too! They focus mostly on the Jewish community, but love challenges and being a part of their customers’ lives. Everyone at Hannah’s Kitchen loves working with their customers to accommodate their dietary needs and tastes. Making sure customers get what they are looking for is their specialty!

“Hannah did a wonderful job catering my son’s Bar Mitzvah lunch. She was an absolute joy to work with and made everything so easy for me. Her food was creative and delicious. Everyone raved about her food! I highly recommend Hannah’s Kitchen!”

T. Lovett

Holly’s Pampered Chef



Holly’s Pampered Chef

Pampered Chef has something for everyone! Right now, get a free gift with an $80 order, and free shipping on all orders over $150. Who doesn’t want an upgrade in their kitchen?!

Just Cookin’ With Jennifer



Just Cookin’ with Jennifer

Epicure is good food, real fast! The products are gluten and nut free, free of corn syrup and hydrogenated fat. Epicure is sugar and sodium conscious, free of artificial colors, sweeteners, and preservatives. All products are made from ethically sourced ingredients and 90% Non-GMO verified.

ONLINE BOOK LAUNCH SPECIAL OFFER: A new client who would like to share Epicure healthy and delicious meal solutions with their family and friends will receive an extra $20 in Hostess credit! 



Mikenzie Hammel – Yoga Instructor



Mikenzie Hammel – Yoga Instructor

Mikenzie has been teaching yoga officially for just over a year. She completed her 200-hr certification during her senior year of high school, and she is currently instructing at the Arizona State Sun Devil Fitness & Wellness Complex in downtown Phoenix. Mikenzie holds 2-3 regular classes every week as well as special themed classes for various occasions throughout the semester.

Her teaching certification required her to teach yoga classes for people of all age groups and skill levels, so she is able to modify poses (for injury or comfortability), intentions and themes according to the wants and needs of the participant(s).

For a full list of Mikenzie’s areas of expertise, please visit her profile on the Yoga Alliance website. Contact Mikenzie directly to set up customized sessions, times and pricing.

Own Your Confidence

You are ambitious and have big dreams…and why shouldn’t you? Girl… you are amazing and uniquely talented!

Consuela the Confidence Queen

Does this describe you?

YOU…

Want to do what you do best and move forward.Want to know you belong and feel respected.Desire to strengthen your presence and own your confidence (and the room!).Have big dreams and know YOU must do something different so YOU can reach them. Are ready to do what is needed to get to your next level.

Join us for C School – Professional Women Owning the Room.

“Applying what I learned about my strengths from her leadership program, I suggested major changes to departmental workflows that enabled us to earn Brand Team of the Year, and receive accolades from the company. Consuela’s direction and input was key to that success.”

Carol Szulczewski, Energy Consultant, Creative Energy Solutions

ONLINE BOOK LAUNCH SPECIAL OFFER: $200 for Leadership Program for first 4 who enroll. 



Playmaker Coaching and Consulting



Jennifer Hensley

Owner of Playmaker Coaching and Consulting and coach, Jennifer Hensley, CLU, ChFC, created a winning system that has been proven to achieve top tier results for relationship-based small businesses in early growth mode.  Acting as a teammate, coach, or general manager, the team at Playmaker ensures your marketing efforts push you over the finish line with plans designed for you. 

The Playmaker team believes in building on your strong sales foundation and connecting all parts of marketing to a plan. Progress is guided with 90-day plans to simplify, measure, and achieve milestones. An integrated approach to bring sales, marketing, and operations together to give you home-field advantage.    

Playmaker Coaching and Consulting

The work Jenn is doing is good work and fun to show and by showing it we get to kind have brag about ourselves in the process.  Look how good we are and as a result look how good she is because I couldn’t have put this together on my own. In just a couple of months I’ve already seen clients sending others to my website and that has led to several leads already.

Brandon Hinneberg

ONLINE BOOK LAUNCH SPECIAL OFFER: Holiday Marketing Strategy Sessions (1 hr) for $200, 12 Days of Clients Carol Contest starting Dec 7th.  



Resilience Yoga Therapy



Resilience Yoga Therapy

Jennifer is a practicing yoga therapist with more than 1000 hours of training and 11 years of experience. She works with individuals and small groups to foster healing and resilience through the ancient practices of yoga. Yoga Therapy seeks to integrate complementary healing approaches with traditional western medicine and she is thrilled to be part of this emerging field.

Jennifer brings a unique combination of skills and experience to her yoga therapy practice, leaning heavily on her firsthand experience with chronic pain. She also leverages 25 years of corporate consulting and coaching skills to help guide her clients through their transformation and healing journeys.

Dear Jennifer,
I just wanted to thank you for your yoga series classes. Your meditations, breathing exercises and calming presence has been a blessing to me as I have used them during chemotherapy sessions for pain and symptom management. I am now immunocompromised so find it a blessing to hear your reassuring voice and see your kind smile.

Snapped.Kaptured.Post!



Snapped.Kaptured.Post!

Snapped.Kaptured.Post! is an eclectic on location photography company based in Milwaukee Wisconsin. The owner, Tammie Wiley has a deeply rooted passion for photography. It started at the young age of 11 when she got her 1st white Kodak 35mm camera from Walgreens. Over the years she continued to explore her gift with her family and friends. Today she lends her skills to the public. Her Snapped Team is complete with a Board of Advisors, 2 Photographers, an Aesthetician/Make-up Artist, and a Portrait Artist. This team is excited to welcome new friends and looks forward to servicing all of your photography needs. They specialize in the art of Professional Head Shots, Portfolios, Events, Engagements, Family, Maternity, & Boudoir.  Tammie provides a unique, eclectic, & fun experience specifically designed for you!  

I took the opportunity to upgrade my professional photos (from not having any at all) and hired Mrs. Tammie of Snapped.Kaptured.Post! I was anxious and embarrassed and in my head. She turned it in to one of the most fun experiences I have ever had. And the quality of the photos are outstanding. I highly recommend Tammie for any of your photographic wants!

-Lindsay Whaley-Smith, Business Coach & Consultant  

ONLINE BOOK LAUNCH SPECIAL OFFER: New Clients who book December 1-12, 2020 will receive a free framed 8x10 & t-shirt with their booking!



Solstice Designer Nails



Solstice Designer Nails

My small business is Solstice Designer Nails and I am an independent senior stylist of Color Street. Color Street is amazing dry nail polish that applies like stickers but is so much more than that! They are 100% real nail polish in a dry format. They are super thin and have a base coat, color coat, and top coat that stay on for up to 2 weeks, then simply remove them with regular Nail Polish Remover.

Today is a great day to treat yourself! They are affordably priced at just $11, $12, or $13 each, depending on style. They are always buy 3 get 1 free! If you’re interested in trying them please contact me for a free sample. Click here if you’re ready to make a purchase. For fun, freebies, and friends join my VIP group! It is a fabulous community of women, and I’d love for YOU to be part of it!

Michelle Steinpreis, Owner

Stacy Blattner Health



Stacy Blattner Health

Stacy helps women reach their health goals through both individualized 1:1 coaching as well as coaching in small groups. She also partners with a health and fitness company, and supports women that are more self-guided in small groups using these resources and tools. 

Stacy believes that healthy looks different on everyone, and there is no “cookie cutter” method to reaching your goals. She combines her 20+ years of health care experience with her knowledge and experience as a coach to provide you with a customized plan fit to your learning style and reach your goals. 

“Stacy’s coaching style is to listen without judgment and pressure. She is very well-prepared and knowledgeable to help with breaking down whatever you want to tackle into baby steps, rewrite the plan as much as needed, and celebrates your success no matter how small. Her knowledge on nutrition has not only changed my diet but more importantly the awareness of what I am eating and when to do so. Her coaching program has made me stronger physically, mentally and emotionally. Most important is how these small changes have also changed my family with the knowledge learned.   

ONLINE BOOK LAUNCH SPECIAL OFFER: Stacy will include all 6 of her recipe guides for any new clients - that's 120 recipes! This is in addition to the meal planning you will work on together, and meal plans as part of your program.     



Studio M Boudoir Photography



Studio M Boudoir Photography

Melissa has nearly 12 years of experience shooting boudoir exclusively and has worked with every shape/size/age. It is her passion to show everyone how beautiful they are. Including you. Her sessions are designed to take the fear out of boudoir and leave you feeling like the amazing goddess that you are. Some of her favorite moments happen in “the reveal,” when clients see themselves for the first time.

Read Melissa’s guest blog contribution for Goddess Living, “I Want to do a Boudoir Shoot…But I’m Terrified!”

The Situation, A Radical Journey Thru Sisterhood

The Situation, A Radical Journey Thru Sisterhood is an intimate memoir of two sisters, Carolyn and Lila whose lives are deeply intertwined for almost fifty years. The book is a reminder of what is truly important in life -the love of those close to us. This is a beautiful story that includes the hilarity and the heartbreak of a deep relationship.

This is the first book written from a personal perspective on the journey a family takes dealing with terminal Glioblastoma Brain Cancer. It is in 45 medical libraries as well as bookstores where it actively helps families as a real life depiction/resource for their treatment journey.

“I finished this book in two days! The prose is beautiful and it’s written like a real life conversation that is easy to read. The story switches back and forth between the author’s childhood and adulthood, which is a nice break to the intensity of the main plot. I found the book as funny as it was sad. It is real and touching. Every human should read this story and every sister should call their own after they finish reading the book.”

Lauren Duke -author, educator, influencer

ONLINE BOOK LAUNCH SPECIAL OFFER: If you recommend the book as a book club selection the author will provide a free Zoom discussion for the group.



Transition and Thrive With Maria



Maria Tomas-Keegan

Maria provides Career & Life Coaching focused on navigating life-changing events and moving through those upside-down moments with more ease and grace—shifting from panicked to powerful and from rocky to resilient.

Maria creates multiple resources for women to meet them where they are and offer options for what they need. From blog articles, to inspiring interviews, to free eBooks, to an award-winner best seller, there is something to help you move forward with ease and grace. And, when you’re ready, she can deliver daily inspirational messages as if she’s a friend sitting on your shoulder, then invite you to explore online courses you can do at your own pace, or with one on one help.

“I knew life coaching would change my life from my first session…I now have greater insight into myself to redefine my goals with tangible steps to achieve them. Maria offers a course of action for getting us unstuck from life’s challenges.”

ONLINE BOOK LAUNCH SPECIAL OFFER: One-hour, complimentary Discovery Session



Wakefield Workshops



Wakefield Workshops

Wakefield workshops provides custom, hand-crafted home décor, furniture refinishing, completely customized gifts, and more. Anything you can dream up, Wakefield Workshops can help you create. 

You Do You Naturally By Design



Crystal Reiki Jar

Mindy Lopez’s client-centered approach is geared to guiding each individual to heal energetically. She helps her clients reduce stress and learn how to balance their energy for future situations. Mindy also incorporates intuitive meditation and crystal readings into her sessions for a truly customized and memorable healing event.

“Mindy is a gifted healer. I’ve enjoyed several Theta Healing sessions with her. Each session has brought me to a deeper understanding of myself. Sometimes it’s a challenge, but Mindy’s intuitiveness and compassionate tenacity guides through those rough spots. Namaste!”

-NL

ONLINE BOOK LAUNCH SPECIAL OFFER: 15% off your first booking of in full. If you book 2 sessions paid in full you will receive 15% off and a free crystal reiki jar. 

Thanks for reading. Please leave a comment below and feel free to share this post with your friends.

Before you go, make sure to take the Life Balance Quiz.

Candy Leigh is a Women’s Empowerment Coach and Author. Schedule a complimentary discovery call if you’d like to partner with Candy for 1×1 coaching, book club discussions, or consulting/speaking engagements.

The post Online Book Launch and the Women Who Made it Possible appeared first on Candy Leigh.

It’s Black Friday and you know what that means…THE BEST DEALS.

This year the hot trend is to give the gift of experiences. With that in mind, I’m offering a steal of a deal to those who are searching for the perfect gift. For Black Friday, the I’m offering 75% off the gift of “Inner Goddess” coaching.

With the purchase of two copies of my book, Finding Life In Between, you can also purchase a 4-week introductory “Inner Goddess” coaching package for $100 (a $400 value). You need to act fast! Because it’s such a deep discount, I’m offering limited spaces for these incredible 4-week sessions.

In order to take advantage of this special offer, all you need to do is contact me through website and mention the Black Friday Deal. From there, I will contact you to work out the details for proof of purchase of the books, as well as payment for coaching sessions. Once payment is received, I’ll send you a gift certificate you can use for your gift. If it a gift for yourself, once payment is received, we’ll schedule the sessions.

Contact Candy

If you’ve already purchased one book and would like to take advantage of the coaching offer, simply purchase one more. You can pre-order from Target, Amazon, Walmart and Barnes and Noble.

Amazon



Target



Walmart



Barnes and Noble

Also, if you are an artist or creative and inspired by Finding Life In Between, we want to showcase your art.

This is a great opportunity to showcase the art of the creatives in your life.

*Please no images promoting violence or hatred. As a believer in radical inclusivity and equity, none of those types of image will be promoted on this site. Those decisions are subject to the discretion of the site owner.

Thanks for reading. Please leave a comment below and feel free to share this post with your friends.

Before you go, make sure to take the Life Balance Quiz.

Candy Leigh is a Women’s Empowerment Coach and Author. Schedule a complimentary discovery call if you’d like to partner with Candy for 1×1 coaching, book club discussions, or consulting/speaking engagements.

The post The BEST Deal on Introductory Coaching appeared first on Candy Leigh.

For my book launch party…I want to showcase your art!

The official launch date of my book is December 1. When I began this journey, I imagined a party for the launch. I imagined a gala with champagne and roses and music and fancy hors d’oeuvres and fun dresses and lots of laughing and dancing.

Then…COVID.

So here we are and there is no party. I might still dress up in my own fancy dress and have some champagne and listen to music and celebrate my journey, but…it’s different. Of course it’s different. Everything is different right now.

So in the spirit of doing something different, I want to do a different kind of launch party. I want to celebrate the journey of you from wherever you are and whatever your gift, I want to showcase your art and celebrate YOU.

Here’s how this will work:

Order your copy of Finding Life In Between today. You can order it from Target, Walmart, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and maybe others.

Find passages that inspire you, and go into your own creative space. Create a sketch, a poem, a painting, a song, a portrait, or anything in between.

Then, if you’d like to see your art on my website, send an email to FLIBcreative.@gmail.com (FLIB = Finding Life In Between) with the following information:

The name you want to be credited withAny website you would like linked to the artA note that you have parental permission if you’re younger than 18 years of ageAn image file of the art

I will receive and review/approve submissions and then showcase them on my site. I may also share them across social media.

Will you celebrate my book launch by joining me in my Creative Space? You’re officially invited.

I can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Thanks for reading. Please leave a comment below and feel free to share this post with your friends.

Before you go, make sure to connect on social media and sign up for Candy’s email newsletter.

Candy Leigh is a Women’s Empowerment Coach and Author. Schedule a complimentary discovery call if you’d like to partner with Candy for 1×1 coaching, book club discussions, or consulting/speaking engagements.

The post Are You a Creative? I Want to Showcase Your Art! appeared first on Candy Leigh.

In this edition of Goddess Living, guest blogger Consuela Munoz discusses “What is your next?” She also offers information about C-SCHOOL, where she helps women develop the clarity and confidence to take their career to the next level. Enjoy!– Candy

Consuela Munoz, Confidence Coach

You might have heard the question, “What are you going to be when you grow up?”

I think a better question to ask is: “What is your Next thing?”

A few years back it was time for me to start thinking about my next thing. In order to help me figure that out, I turned to some personal and professional assessments. I knew my top strengths from the StrengthsFinder, and I knew what I enjoyed doing. I started reflecting on what I wanted to do next. This reflection led me to join a women’s resource group and then a career development team. During that time I volunteered to create a leadership program based on strengths.

Multiple women went through my program, and their transformations were amazing. I watched as women with visibly low self-esteem began to glow with confidence. I saw women who were completely disengaged with their work become powerfully engaged and motivated. Several of these women had managers who noticed the difference. Those managers asked me to come and work with their teams.

This success proved it to me. I had found my Next, which is guiding women to find and use their power by building their strengths, stopping their weaknesses, defeating their saboteurs, and elevating their presence.

C-SCHOOL IS BORN

After the success of that experience, I decided to take my leadership program and run it independently. Now it is accessible to everyone. I call it C-SCHOOL. This twelve-week leadership program has a weekly training or workshop session that will take you through the entire leadership curriculum. We will focus on Strengths, Weaknesses, Saboteurs and Presence. Once a month we will have a “Confidence Coffee Mastermind.” During our mastermind the group will be able to ask questions, share breakthroughs and support each other. In addition, each student will have three 1×1 coaching sessions over the course of the twelve weeks. Finally, there will be daily support in the form of quick exercises and journal prompts. In these three months, you will grow in your confidence with a goal of taking your career to the next level.

There is no easy button to make your “Next” happen. However, doing the work is easier when the path is clear, and you don’t have to go it alone.

The Winter session starts on January 5th 2021. Enrollment closes on November 30th. Orientation is on December 10th 2020.

Are you ready for your “Next?”

Visit www.ownyourconfidence.com for information on all upcoming classes and offerings.

Thanks for reading. Please leave a comment below and feel free to share this post with your friends.

Before you go, make sure to connect on social media and sign up for Candy’s email newsletter.

Candy Leigh is a Women’s Empowerment Coach and Author. Schedule a complimentary discovery call if you’d like to partner with Candy for 1×1 coaching, book club discussions, or consulting/speaking engagements.

The post Are You Happy in Your Career? What is Your Next? appeared first on Candy Leigh.

I am super excited to have a guest blogger this week! Melissa is the owner of Studio M, and she helps women unleash their inner goddesses with her incredible boudoir photo shoots. I had the honor and pleasure of working with Melissa last year, and Lordy was it worth it. 10/10 – highly recommend. Happy reading!

– Candy

It’s scary. It really is. I have been photographed many times in my nearly 12 years of shooting boudoir. And although it gets easier each time, it’s nerve wracking every single time! Even for me!  

Questions that creep up . . . 

What will I wear?

What if I don’t know anything about hair and makeup?

What if I don’t know anything about lingerie?

What if I don’t know how to PUT MY OWN LINGERIE ON?

What if I can’t make my face look right?

What if I hate how I look?

I got you. I promise.

I have nearly 12 years of experience shooting boudoir exclusively and have worked with every shape/size/age. It is my passion to show everyone how beautiful they are. Including you.  

Don’t know what to wear? Shoots include wardrobe styling with Althea’s Fine Lingerie. Althea and I work together to ensure that your lingerie will not only fit you perfectly, but will photograph beautifully.  

Never wear makeup? No worries (me neither!). The amazing artists I work with will help you–whether you want to keep things a little more on the natural side or if you want to take the leap and go for a dramatic look-we will check in with you throughout the process and adjust your look until you are happy with it before we start shooting.

Don’t know how to put on that garter belt you bought? Neither do 95% of my clients. For real! I help almost everyone attach their garter belt to their stockings, tighten their corsets, adjust straps, etc.  Sometimes this stuff is complicated and we have to decipher where your head goes. Haha.  

Worried about your face? You know when you are nervous and your mouth won’t do what you want? I have tricks for that.  Really.  

What if I hate how I look? This just doesn’t happen. Women are afraid this will happen and every.single.time we have a gallery reveal, women are absolutely amazed at how many pictures they absolutely love of themselves.  Narrowing down your images is the hardest part of a boudoir shoot. Something no one believes until they are staring in awe at images of themselves saying “Is that really me!?!?”  

You can do this. I believe in you. 

Thanks for reading. Please leave a comment below and feel free to share this post with your friends.

Before you go, make sure to connect on social media and sign up for Candy’s email newsletter.

Candy Leigh is a Women’s Empowerment Coach and Author. Schedule a complimentary discovery call if you’d like to partner with Candy for 1×1 coaching, book club discussions, or consulting/speaking engagements.

(Cross-post reference)

The post I Want to do a Boudoir Shoot . . . But I’m Terrified! appeared first on Candy Leigh.

2021: New Year REAL You

The New Year is fast approaching, and thank goddess for that. 2020 has been a decade within a year. (It’s been like an endless winter and never Christmas, if you recall that period of time in Narnia!). With two months left before we ring in the new year, it’s not too early to start thinking about your resolutions, what you want to accomplish in 2021, and how to live your life by design, not by default.

First, let’s acknowledge the facts. 2020 has been a year of significant turmoil, especially for women. While COVID, family care, home schooling, etc. have no doubt been difficult for the whole family, women in the workforce have been significantly disrupted. According to CNBC, more than 860,000 women left the workforce during September 2020 alone. These numbers are staggering. The COVID world health crisis may have forever changed the collective role of women in the workforce. Hopefully, for those who choose to re-enter the traditional workforce, the transition back in to the workplace is smooth. Ideally, hiring managers will completely understand the time gaps in career continuity. And, they’ll offer salaries that are proportionate to experience and education.

Whether returning to a the workforce, or maybe starting a completely new career, everyone impacted by the pandemic has a unique opportunity to evolve. The closing of 2020 and the start of 2021 is the perfect time to dig in. The start of the new year provides and opportunity to rediscover your strengths, and to design the life you want to lead.

Undoubtedly at some point between now and January 1, you’ll hear the phrase “New year, new you.” When you hear that phrase, ask yourself what it really means and. Do you want to re-invent yourself, again, as our culture would have you do? Do you really need to become some new and improved version of you? This year, consider the spirit of that concept a bit differently. Instead of re-inventing, I invite you to think about becoming, to reflect on your journey, your purpose, your vision. I invite you to become the Real You, the person you were always intended to be.

Lean into the New Year with journaling…

Journaling is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do to dive deep and make changes in your life. If you’ve never journaled before, it might seem silly or frivolous, or maybe intimidating. In order to overcome some of those initial struggles, here are a few quick tips to get started.

First, buy a journal or notebook that calls to you. Find one with a cover you love and feels good in your hands. Get yourself a good pen to go with it.

Keep it buy your bedside and every night before bed, jot down three things you’re thankful for. This could be as simple as “my kids, my dog, hot coffee.”

Once you’re in that habit, begin to journal your morning intention. Again, keep it simple: “I will fold and put away the laundry today.” (This was literally my intention this morning.)

As this habit develops into a practice, you’ll be surprised at how your focus evolves. You’ll enjoy the practice of gratitude and, when you look back, the notes you’ve written over time will bring you joy.

If you’d like to dig into a more involved and reflective journaling experience, I will send you a downloadable E-Journal. The journal is filled with tools resources I used myself during some significant life transitions (career, relationship, family, etc.). These tools helped me remember who I was, to stand in the truth of my strengths and my experiences, and to begin to design the life I want to lead. When you provide your email I will send the link directly to you (you’ll receive a monthly-ish newsletter – no funny business).

If you’d like to navigate this journey together, or if you’d like to share your successes, schedule a no-obligation discovery call.

Remember that life is about growth and change. It’s a journey…an evolution…one that never ends.

Thanks for reading. Please leave a comment below and feel free to share this post with your friends.

Before you go, make sure to connect on social media and sign up for Candy’s email newsletter.

Candy Leigh is a Women’s Empowerment Coach and Author. Schedule a complimentary discovery call if you’d like to partner with Candy for 1×1 coaching, book club discussions, or consulting/speaking engagements.

The post New Year. REAL You. appeared first on Candy Leigh.

Writing a book is the scariest thing I’ve ever done. Literally. And here’s why. When I started writing Finding Life In Between, I wasn’t even going to call it Finding Life In Between. I planned to title the book Unwritten, and it was going to tell the stories of other people. My plan was to interview people while I traveled, and talk to them about love stories and their relationships. Basically, I was planning to write a qualitative analysis about other love, longevity and relationship satisfaction. My internal graduate student loved the idea. However, when I wrote the book it took on a life of its own. It went through multiple iterations to become what it is today. It is nothing like what I originally intended it to be.

Writing a Book: First Drafts

When I finished the first draft of my manuscript, I gave it to three friends. My first friend loved it. She told me she laughed and cried and felt like we were having a real conversation over a bottle of wine. This gave me confidence. My second friend applauded my effort. She said it was a great, authentic read, and she pointed out some areas of cleanup. This gave me determination. My third friend was very direct. She told me that my manuscript was too difficult to read, it was too deeply personal, and that she didn’t finish it. This gave me a panic attack.

Writing a book is not for the faint of heart, and I learned this in those early stages. I needed the brutally honest feedback, and it fueled me to revise and rewrite and get clear on the message I was trying to send. I also needed to step into the awareness that my book is not and will never be for everyone. And that’s okay. That’s just part of the journey. During that time of reflection and editing, the pages continued to morph into something different, something better. I kept breathing life into the words. It felt good, but it didn’t yet feel right.

The Editor’s Turn

I went through the chapters a few more times. Then, I told my publisher I was afraid. I wasn’t sure if I should do this. Maybe writing a book was just too much. I didn’t know what to do. It felt too messy and too emotional. She told me to give her the most recent version, and she would have the editor give it a review. I turned it over. Several weeks went by, and I received the marked up version back from the editor.

At that point, I freaked out. My fear of the feedback paralyzed me to the point of avoidance. I convinced myself that writing a book was the dumbest idea I ever had. Despite the editor’s kind and supportive words in all of her emails and comments, I couldn’t find the courage to open the edited document for over a month. A MONTH! Finally, I built up the courage to face my fears, face her feedback, and dive in. And guess what. Her feedback was incredibly helpful. And she was nice about it. It actually wasn’t scary at all. The editor told me she thought I had found my calling and that this was my first book! Her encouragement gave me the confidence boost I needed to keep going.

After my revisions, I sent the edited manuscript back for her second read through. She made some additional minor suggestions. After reviewing and accepting the changes, we were DONE and I was thrilled. And scared. Again. I was afraid about releasing my vulnerability to the universe in the form of this book. I was afraid that maybe people would see and judge me for what I had written.

Fear and Inspiration

It was about that time that I had a conversation with my friend, Jody (check out our collab from August 2, 2020). I stumbled around my fears as we talked. He patiently listened. Then he said, “If you aren’t going to be fully transparent and vulnerable, then what’s the fucking point? Talking about the real stuff is what people need. That’s when you know there’s power and magic!” I believed him. Jody inspired me to stand in truth and embrace my authenticity, even if people didn’t like it or disagreed with me. I kept stepping forward in the process.

Cover Art

While all of this was happening, the graphic designer was designing the cover art. It looked great. I shared it on social media and got some great feedback. I was just waiting to hear from the publisher for next steps. What I didn’t know is that she was waiting for me. This pause in the process turned out to be a blessing.

Final Cover Art

For the sake of context and timing, it’s important to know that at about that time, the Minneapolis police officer murdered George Floyd. Everything seemed to stop. The entire world was in shock, and protests began in countries around the globe. As the momentum built, lots of Black Lives Matter signs and messages filled our social media reels. Friends across the country, and the world, marched for equity and justice.

As all of this was happening, I emailed my “final” manuscript to a few friends for their final feedback. One friend scheduled a call with me to discuss. She gave me some great ideas on content, which resulted in an additional chapter in the beginning of the book. And she also told me that the colors of the cover reminded her of the Black Lives Matter protest art, and that it was not representative of the contents of the book. As soon as she said it, I felt it. I knew that the cover art had to change. During this pause, the graphic designer worked up a new concept that felt softer and more reflective of the divine feminine. My friend’s feedback resulted in richer content and artwork that was much more in line with the spirit of the book. The changes were absolutely the right changes to make.

Writing a Book: Final Changes

My publisher asked if I would like a final proofread, and I said yes. We assumed that this would result in some “light” changes. Once the proofreading was complete, the suggestions came back as heavier edits rather than light changes. The biggest idea had to do with formatting.

As a result of the proofread, we agreed to divide Finding Life In Between into four sections. The first section is all about “The Winding Road” that led me to actually write this book. The second is about “Unpacking and Packing Up Real Life,” which tells some real life stories to set the context for the third section, “August Adventures.” The chapters in this section are all about the road trip I took that inspired the book, and other adventures that happened in the month of August. These are the stories that found me…the ones that were supposed to be Unwritten. The fourth section, called “Travel Notes,” includes a tear out, some journal prompts, and some final comments.

During the next phase of the journey, layout and design, the designer, publisher and I communicated about a few required changes that, unfortunately, we hadn’t caught earlier. I was devastated and thought the project would never be finished. I decided, again, that writing a book was the most ridiculous thing I ever tried to do. After a few days of reworking some things, there was progress and a solution. We had a final, final version.

Power and Magic

Finding Life In Between is a product of ideas and collaboration and evolution, and it’s so much better than what I originally intended for it to be. But it’s scary AF to know that my words and my experiences are going to be out there! That said, I’m okay with it. As Jody said, it’s my truth and I shouldn’t be afraid to shine a light on it. Launching my book even though I’m afraid is the least I can do to honor him. My brother recorded the audio version, and at one point, he was moved tears. Jody was right–there’s magic and power in sharing our truth.

Writing a book is scary AF. It is soul-baring work. And it’s important work. I believe that the message of my book will resonate with women who are experiencing life transitions, whether a career change, a divorce, a relationship transition, or just in the middle of actual life wondering omg who am I really and what the hell happens next? My hope is that Finding Life In Between let’s women know that they aren’t alone in the vulnerability of their truth. There is power in standing in the truth of our own stories. There’s healing in sharing our real life connections. My hope is that my book inspires more of us to share our own journeys to worthy, that we all open our arms and welcome ourselves home.

In closing…



Zoom Book Club

I’d be honored if you read my book and took the time to share your review on both Amazon and Goodreads. If you’re a member of a book club and choose Finding Life In Between for your group, schedule a call so we can arrange a Zoom book club/happy hour that works with my schedule.

I can’t wait to talk about and share all of our journeys together.

Book Club Discussion Guide

Thanks for reading. Please leave a comment below and feel free to share this post with your friends.

Before you go, make sure to connect on social media and sign up for Candy’s email newsletter.

Candy Leigh is a Women’s Empowerment Coach and Author. Schedule a complimentary discovery call if you’d like to partner with Candy for 1×1 coaching, book club discussions, or consulting/speaking engagements.

The post Writing a Book is the Scariest Thing I’ve Ever Done appeared first on Candy Leigh.

Disclosure: This blog post is about our experience with food allergies and does not substitute for and is not intended to be medical advice for you and/or your child. Please contact your doctors and specialists for medical advice, and contact 911 for life-threatening situations.

Food Allergies: Our Story

When my daughter was born, she came out screaming, and she never stopped. She cried when she was hungry and when she woke up and when she needed a diaper change; she cried when she had a bath and when she was in her crib. My baby was only silent when she was nursing or sleeping, neither of which was an easy situation. Relatives told us she had colic and at three months she would turn the corner.

She did not turn the corner.



Quiet in the Bouncy Chair!

We got a baby swing and she would sit in it without crying for up to 20 minutes. The silence was amazing! But she was still very fussy, and within a week or two, the novelty of the swing wore off. We were told she was hungry. I was told that I wasn’t producing enough milk. I was immediately guilty. My body couldn’t provide food for this beautiful baby girl I had grown inside of me for nine months. I carried the weight of the failure of not being able to nurse how I had hoped. I buried the weight of that failure and carried on with a smile.

Of course, we didn’t want her to starve, so when she was about four months old we tested out giving her formula. With tears in my eyes and a smile on my face, I filled up that first bottle, silently reminding myself I had failed on exclusively breastfeeding. She eventually drank it, and she was content. I was both sad and relieved, and somehow the relief eased the pain of my sadness.

Unfortunately, that relief was short-lived. After a few moments of silence and calm, she threw up. Everywhere. While spit up, of course, is normal, the sheer amount of vomit and the following lethargy that she displayed was not. I called my mom, a retired pediatric nurse, and she suggested that we take her to the ER. We rushed to the hospital. They asked her symptoms. I explained the situation and replayed the events. They smiled, and they nodded. Then, they laughed. “First-time parents,” they chuckled while we panicked. We left, hiding our embarrassment by chuckling with them. We left, and I decided that I would not risk that kind of embarrassment again. I would not feed her formula. I doubled down on nursing my baby.

At about six months old, we transitioned to the rice and oatmeal cereals, and I made homemade baby food to gradually introduce to her over time. One evening, as I did the dishes while she stayed occupied gnawing on teething biscuits, she started to rub at her eyes. Within moments, her eyes swelled up and she had welts on her face. She was incredibly agitated and overly fussy, even for her. My instincts kicked in. I put her in her car seat and took her to the ER.

When we arrived, I urgently explained the situation. The doctors smiled and nodded, and then told me she had rubbed food into her eyes and now had an eye infection. They shook their heads when I questioned their diagnosis and asked about the welts, but my panic was dismissed. One of the nurses showed me how to put the antibiotic eye cream in her eyes. Shortly thereafter, I signed the discharge papers. While I was signing, the rep chuckled that I had rushed her to the ER for something so simple as an eye infection. It was another first-time parenting mistake.

When she was nine months old, after eating some store-bought baby food organic green beans, she started to act physically agitated. After a few moments she began to have trouble breathing. We were with my mom at the time. She pulled out her stethoscope and listened to her chest. Wheezing. My mom said we needed to take her to the ER. I wasn’t sure. Was this another first-time parenting overreaction? I decided to trust my instinct, and my mom, and go in to the ER.

I carried my baby girl into the ER. The kind doctor took one look at my daughter and said she was having an allergic reaction. I was shocked. “To what?” I asked. “What did you feed her?” he responded. I was even more shocked. It had only been green beans. Organic. Kids can be allergic to food? Food allergies? The doctor suggested we check the label when we got home. He gave her an oral antihistamine and monitored her for a little while. Before we were discharged, he reassured me that it was the right decision to bring her in. He said that food allergies were nothing to mess around with. His words made me feel validated, and relieved. I wasn’t an overreacting first-time parent. I was (and am) her mom.

At home, we fished the jar out of the bin to read the ingredients on the label, which included organic green beans, organic soy protein, and organic butter. With that, we knew that either beans, soy or dairy were the culprit. I called the pediatrician to explain the situation, and he immediately referred us for allergy testing.

We scheduled with the specialist and went in for the test. It was awful. She was about ten months old and screamed through every single poke. I tried to nurse her through it so she would stay still. After about 5-10 minutes, they came in to check on her. She had one welt on her back that had ballooned up significantly. The staff went into immediate action, urgently cleaning off her back and giving her an antihistamine. I didn’t understand what was going on.

In that moment, and before she turned even one year old, my baby girl was diagnosed with a life threatening dairy allergy.

First, I was in disbelief. How can anyone be allergic to milk? In Wisconsin? That’s not going to work for us. Well, we didn’t have a choice. I needed to accept that this was our new reality. Then, I was angry. Why her and why me? WHY? I had no idea how to manage this situation. After a few days/weeks the anger seemed to give way to sheer guilt. I failed. My body did this to her. Somehow I gave her this problem that she’ll have to live with.

I stayed in this grieving pattern for a long time. I tried to figure out how we were going to handle this. There were so many unknowns. People didn’t really believe that someone could be that allergic to milk. Peanuts? Sure. But not milk. Their comments were probably intended to be helpful and inquisitive, but sometimes the comments felt dismissive of the severity, and actually felt hurtful. Everyone said she would grow out of it. Spoiler alert: she never grew out of it.

After a few months, I learned of families who have children with multiple life-threatening food allergies. I talked with other moms who had food-allergic children, and I read stories on the severity of anaphylaxis. Over time, I began to understand the steps I would need to take to keep my daughter safe and alive.

That year, for Christmas, my mom and dad gave me a dairy-free cookbook.



Testing for Food Allergies

When I opened it, I cried. I cried tears of relief, exhaustion, validation, and gratitude. And those tears transformed my grieving into advocacy for my child, who wasn’t even a full year old.

She is 18 now, and she has control over her food allergy (actually, her food allergies–a few years ago she was also diagnosed as allergic to both soy and almond). Her food allergies are her own and hers to manage. We raised her knowing that, eventually, she would have to be her own advocate, 100%. Intentionally giving her over control of her food allergy was one of the scariest things this first-time parent ever did.

We learned some food allergy parenting lessons from her journey—tips and tricks that may help other mamas who are just learning to navigate the winding road of allergies and anaphylaxis. Things get both easier and more difficult as food allergic children get older, so here are a few suggestions.

Infant Years: Be your child’s voice



Advocate with your caregivers. If your instinct tells you something is wrong, don’t be shamed into silence. Even as a “first-time parent,” you are a parent and you know your child better than anyone. Be her voice. She needs you.



Toddler Years: Be vigilant



Take note! There is no shortage of people who will try to feed your toddler, whether it’s to entertain him or keep him quiet. Especially at church, people like to hand snack crackers and chocolates between the pews. Be firm, and kind. Say it loud and say it often, “No thank you, we have our own snacks.”If your child is crawling around somewhere, do a floor/low table “clean sweep” before letting him loose to make sure it is a snack-free area. If you’re on a play date, chances are there are crackers and snacks hiding in places where toddlers go. Don’t be nervous or ashamed to say you need to go to a different room our outside if you view too many “food threats” in a specific living space.Make your child a shirt that says: “PLEASE DON’T FEED ME!”If you’re feeling like you need to, make a shirt that says: “PLEASE DON’T FEED ME. I MIGHT DIE.”



Preschool Years: Advocate with teachers and parents



Your child needs you to be clear with her teachers about what snacks are safe and which ones are not safe to have in the classroom.Your child needs you to be sure that she is not excluded from group activities because of her allergy.Role play with your child. Have her practice declining snacks that look good with a response, “No thanks, I have my own snack.” This is the beginning of transitioning ownership. It’s important. Don’t wait to do this.Keep a snack box at preschool. Decorate the box with paint and stickers and markers and whatever your child likes. Keep prepackaged snacks in there that the teacher can have her choose from on the days where someone brings in a treat that she can’t have.Find out if there’s a children’s book about your child’s food allergy. Get one for home and donate one to the classroom.Keep safe cupcakes in the freezer in the teacher’s lounge. On days there are birthday treats, the teacher can have your child pick a friend to go get a special birthday treat from the lounge. Your child needs you to help other parents understand the severity of the allergy. When birthday parties and play dates are arranged, you have to trust that the other parent can prevent, and treat, anaphylaxis.



Elementary School Years: More of the same



It starts to get more stressful now. There’s more independence. There are sleepovers. That transfer of ownership and understanding the severity of the allergy is mission critical.Keep role playing.Update the snack box.Educate your child’s new friends’ parents.Don’t be afraid to have parents use the epinephrine trainer before you drop off your child at play dates and sleepovers.Start having your child routinely practice using the auto injector.If your child has a reaction, encourage him to be conscious of how it feels so he can more easily detect the symptoms should it happen again. Ask him how it feels in his body. Ask him to describe how it started. Early recognition and intervention may save his life someday. Both of you need to learn his signs.



Middle School Years: Dating danger



Yes, “dating in middle school.” You need to have these conversations with your food allergic child BEFORE anything happens. I’m sorry to say this, but you do not have the luxury of waiting to explain this until later. Advocacy and prevention HAVE TO happen on the front end of this timeline.If your child is severely allergic to milk, and a boy eats a piece of pizza and then kisses her, she could die. This is not a joke. This is not a test. Have that conversation before it happens.Send your own lunch/snacks to your child’s camps, events, and parties. Don’t expect that food will be provided for your child because it might, or it might not. If it is provided, you can’t be certain it is not cross-contaminated.Offer to make cupcakes for the entire party if you want. Sometimes the kids are jealous of the cupcakes that were kept in the teacher’s lounge and wish they could have one. Send them to the party for everyone to enjoy.



High School Years: Owning the allergy



You’ve made it this far, and now the real independence settles in. The best thing you can do is make sure your child is carrying his antihistamine and epinephrine at all times. And his insurance card.Train his friends on how to use the auto-injector. Teach them the early warning signs of a reaction. His real friends will know and will protect him. Hold them close.

Read this related post on having a high school graduate and “the lasts.”

“Safe” Birthday Cake for Shared Birthdays

I hope this is helpful. And, reminder, THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. Please see your doctors and specialists for nutritional plans and to medically manage your child’s allergies. Parent to parent, food allergies are scary, and we need to talk about it and help each other out. We’ve had countless trips to the ER over the years, we’ve had to administer life-saving epinephrine on many occasions, and she has even had to inject her epinephrine herself!

The journey of managing a food allergy is not easy. But it is doable.

You got this, mama. You can do it.

Visit the Food Allergy Resource Center website for more information.

Thanks for reading. Please leave a comment below and feel free to share this post with your friends.

Before you go, make sure to connect on social media and sign up for Candy’s email newsletter.

Candy Leigh is a Women’s Empowerment Coach and Author. Schedule a complimentary discovery call if you’d like to partner with Candy for 1×1 coaching, book club discussions, or consulting/speaking engagements.

The post Food Allergies: Tips for Surviving the School Years appeared first on Candy Leigh.