Event Speaker Spotlight & Getting Linspired with Linny Stone

Photo provided by Linny Stone

Linny Stone is a wellness advocate and marriage therapist who is redefining the word strength by vulnerably sharing her story of disappointment, loss and hope of a rainbow baby. Her experience with recurrent miscarriage has also created the goal of moving the topic of miscarriage from taboo to talked about.

I am so grateful to Linny for opening up about how her infertility journey has empowered her both personally and professionally, and how it has moved her to pay it forward in support of other women.

Please read on to learn more about Linny’s story. You can also meet Linny virtually this Sunday at our event, Why Honoring Loss is Healthy. Linny will share more about her journey and how to get the support that you need through tools, resources and your relationships. I promise you will leave inspired.

Would you mind sharing a bit about your fertility journey?

We have been on this journey for almost two years now and after many tests and appointments it feels like we finally have all the puzzle pieces, we just need to place them all together.

I suffer from Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and have had three (3) miscarriages. After my third loss, I took some time to dive into research to get answers that could help me make a change.

I knew I wanted a baby, but it was hard to believe in my body. So I focused on educating myself on fertility and finding possible answers for my losses.

During this time, I discovered that I have APS (a blood clotting disorder) and Diminished Ovarian Reserve. I am currently on my 2nd medicated cycle with Clomid in hopes that it will lead me to a pregnancy.

Was there a moment when you felt compelled to begin advocating for miscarriage awareness?

I was grieving and it felt like no one in my circle of family and friends could relate and truly understand me. I was craving connection because I felt so alone. It moved me to started researching and I found the statistic that 1 in 4 women experience miscarriage.

I thought to myself, "How many women are going through this feeling alone even though there are so many of us?"

I felt compelled to share my story in hopes that it would lead me to creating a community not only for myself, but for (all) other women who (all) deserve support.

What is APS and what role does it play in recurrent miscarriages? How was your APS diagnosed?

Antiphospholipid Syndrome is a blood clotting disorder that can put pregnant women at a high risk of miscarriage and/or stillbirth if not medically monitored. It is very unfortunate. The good news is that once diagnosed, most women will go on to have healthy full term pregnancies if under proper medical care.

I had a traumatizing experience after my 1st loss. I had a D&C and there were complications because I would not stop bleeding. This alerted us that something wasn't right and we eventually got the testing that led to my diagnosis.

Based on your professional and personal experience, how do you recommend supporting someone who has had a miscarriage? 

I've have learned that talking about it is helpful for women mourning a miscarriage, but most women don't share because of stigma or shame. It is very important to create a safe space where they feel comfortable to open up.

Just listen. Try not to compare or give advice. Validate however they feel.

Don't forget to check in every now and then. A simple, "I am thinking of you" message can go a long way.

What are appropriate words to say (and mean) to someone who has had a miscarriage?

It is ok to say, I don't know what to say, but I am sorry you are going through this and I am here for you.

What family/friends can say: I'm sorry and although I may not have the right words please know that I will be here when you are ready to stand by you as you walk through this.

What fellow warriors can say: I know it may not seem like it right now, but the weight does eventually get lighter.

Why is honoring loss healthy and what are some ways in which readers can pay tribute to their angel(s)?

• Acknowledging can help with accepting which can lead to finding a sense of closure

• Writing a letter to your angels (expressing all the things you never got to say)

• Light a candle

• Say a prayer

• Plant some flowers

• My favorite. Commission an artist that can create a family portrait of you with your angels. I did this and found it to be extremely healing. It helped me have the only visual of what our family would look like if our angels were with us.

Has infertility made you a better marriage therapist and coach? How so?

Definitely.

My education gave me knowledge, but my experiences have given me wisdom.

I understand pain, loss, and trauma from a personal perspective which allows me to be empathetic and truly support the people that I help.

Can you share several tips in support of couples who are facing infertility?

Understand that you won't always understand each other as you navigate through this new path but with effort, you can find a way to common ground again.

Communicate by saying what you really want to say, and allowing your partner to do the same. They may say things that you don't want to hear, but you need to know how they really feel & not how you WANT them to feel so that you can really work together.

Remember that you are a team. You are in it together. Even though your experiences may be from different perspectives, nonetheless it is an experience you are sharing together.

This (experience) can form an unbreakable bond. Surviving this type of hardship together can reinforce the strength of your love and appreciation for each other.

How has infertility changed your definition of strength?

It has made me realize how strong I really am. After three (3) losses, I feel invincible. If I can survive that, I can survive anything.

Please share a meaningful quote to you or your mantra.

My mantra is: Disappointed, but NOT defeated.

About Linny Stone: Linny is a relationship coach who uses coaching and therapy to support couples to cope with infertility and/or loss. Linny is also a wellness advocate and infertility warrior who suffers from Recurrent Pregnancy Loss & APS (a blood clotting disorder) which creates a 70-80% chance of miscarriage or stillbirth if not vigilantly medically monitored. Before getting diagnosed Linny had three miscarriages, and is currently fighting for her Rainbow Baby as she faces infertility due to Diminished Ovarian Reserve. Her experience with loss and fighting to get answers have led to her being passionate about spreading awareness on women's health & fertility issues. Linny shares her story candidly on Instagram while incorporating her relationship coaching & therapy tools to help couples cope through infertility and/or loss. The content on her site is full of encouragement and resources to help empower women through knowledge.  You can learn more about Linny and her story at: www.linspiredliving.com and on IG @linspired.living

Speaker Spotlight: Alishia Anderson, Babyloss Awareness Advocate

Alishia and her husband in the hospital saying hello and goodbye to their angel baby, DJ

I am so grateful to Alishia Anderson, Golden Mama, Babyloss Awareness Advocate and Author of Still Here: A Memoir of Love, Loss & Triumph After Stillbirth for sharing her own experience of losing her son DJ. Through her pain, Alishia has made it her purpose by creating the Still Here movement which educates about babyloss, the associated stigma and supports grieving parents and families.

Read on to learn more about Alishia’s important work and please join us live with Alishia in an important discussion honoring Pregnancy and Infant Awareness Loss Month. We will be talking about Why Honoring Loss is Healthy at our Sunday Sessions event on October 25th and hope that you will join us to lift up others who are grieving. Please RSVP here to the private event.

Was there a specific moment or experience after losing DJ when you realized that you needed to write your book, Still Here?

I began writing in my journal the night that I found out that DJ no longer had a heartbeat. I journaled consistently throughout my grieving and healing journey after loss. I also shared my story via social media platforms. When I kept getting DM’s from others who had also experienced baby loss, it showed me that there was a need for me to write a book about my experience.

So many people are affected by baby loss both directly and indirectly so I wanted to address that in my book. The remarkable thing is that when I was in 3rd grade my teacher told my mom that one day I would be an author. Here I am, 24 years later an author of my first self-published book, Still Here: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Triumph After Stillbirth.

You’ve made it your mission to destigmatize loss. Was there an experience that made you realize just how taboo the discussion is?

I shared my loss story early on in my grieving journey. It was not that I was so courageous. More so, sharing helped me feel better and made my son DJ feel real. While I was comfortable talking about DJ and even sharing his picture (I’ve gotten more comfortable over time about sharing his photo,) I realized from the responses I’ve received that many other people don’t talk about loss - because of what I coin the 3S’s: silence, secrecy, and shame of baby loss. 

When did you know that you needed to answer the call to become a baby loss awareness advocate?

I knew after experiencing loss firsthand and writing my book that I didn’t want any other bereaved parent to feel the isolation of baby loss without having support. I wanted to be a voice for those bereaved parents of babies/children who died and who didn’t feel they had enough strength to share their stories in this season of their grieving journey. I hoped by becoming an advocate and constantly sharing my story, I would offer a blueprint to help parents unlock their courage to share their stories of loss too.

The more we share, the more we normalize the taboo energy surrounding baby loss.

You have been incredibly supportive of families who have experienced loss. Can you share what others should say or do in support of a friend or loved one?

One thing that I have noticed is that people are very uncomfortable with grief. Society has done us a disservice on how to handle grief as a collective. So while getting offensive feedback after loss is jarring to a baby loss survivor, it’s not surprising because we have not been properly trained to handle grief. All of us are usually trying to figure it out as we go. 

My advice to others who are trying to support a baby loss parent in bereavement and grief is to allow space for the awkward uncomfortable conversations. More than likely the bereaved parent will want to talk about their baby, but usually don’t because it creates tension for those who have not experienced loss.

Make room for bereaved parents to talk about their babies by saying “I’d love to hear about baby [insert their name] if you feel up to it.”

Let the conversation flow organically. The parent may not want to open up yet, but affirm them that when they are ready to talk that you will be there to listen with no judgement [and truly mean it]. Another thing you can communicate is: “I don’t know what to say or how you feel in this very moment, but even if we have to sit in silence, and just cry, I am here to support you!” Having people support you (even if they don’t have the proper words to say) is so necessary especially during the beginning stages of loss.

What should someone think twice before saying? 

There are many phrases that often grind the gears of baby loss parents. Here are a few common ones (that I heard along the journey):

You can always get pregnant again

This implies that having another baby will erase the fact that I lost a baby I never intended on losing. It feels as if you’re dismissing my baby’s existence.

God needed an angel

While we in the baby loss community sometimes refer to our babies that died as angel babies, I must point out, some loss mamas hate this term as they believe it is a word to make the death of a baby more palatable. We don’t want to hear that God made our baby die so the baby could live in heaven. That sounds like we were not sufficient enough to be parents and our space for our baby was not “good enough” for them to stay.

At least it was early on in your pregnancy…etc.

It does not matter how early or late you are in your pregnancy. As soon as you connect with you baby in your womb (i.e. seeing a positive sign on your pregnancy test, after an ultrasound, after hearing the heartbeat etc.) you bond with that child on a deeper level.

It doesn’t matter if you were only pregnant one day, that baby matters and your pregnancy was valid, solidifying your space as a parent! 

In your view, why is honoring loss healthy?

I found there is simply no way around grief. You have to deal with it head-on. You may suppress your grief after baby loss, but eventually it will find its way to the surface, and you will have to deal with it one way or another.

I think it is healthy to honor loss because it allows us to 1.) vocalize the raw emotions we feel internally 2.) honor the life of our baby gone too soon and 3.) gives us permission to move forward in healing while defining what life looks like after loss.

How do you honor DJ and what are several tangible ways that you recommend that others can honor their loss(es)?

Two of the biggest ways we honor DJ is by celebrating his birthday every year on January 18. We always buy a cake/cupcake, light a candle, and sing happy birthday to him. The second way we honor DJ annually is on his due date, which is April 7.

Each year we do what I call #DoGood4DJ where we ask all our family and friends who are willing to participate do a random act of kindness for someone in honor of DJ. On that day we’ve paid for people’s lunches, passed out toiletry and snack care packages to the homeless, and even honored a first responder for their commitment to service during Covid-19. All in DJ’s honor.

It doesn’t matter the monetary value, it’s more about the act of kindness. I want DJ’s legacy to be worldwide. The way we will accomplish that is to continue to be of service to others. 

Tangible ways other people can honor their loss is:

• Speaking your baby’s name every chance you get, to normalize talking about their existence

• Have a picture of your baby painted or have your angel baby added to a family portrait

• Hold a candlelight vigil in honor of your baby

• Write a song or poem 

• Write a letter to your baby on their Angelversary every year, let them know how much you miss them…or write about the milestones they would be accomplishing at the age you’re celebrating

• A balloon or butterfly release

• Spread their ashes somewhere special

• Decorate their gravesite for different holidays

Your mission through Still Here is to connect and support 1M baby loss families around the globe. How can readers support?

I’ve been gaining steam since creating my social media page dedicated to Baby Loss, Pregnancy and Motherhood After Loss in 2018. I’m not sure the exact number of baby loss families I’ve supported via my content, my book, my one on one conversations, guest podcast spots etc., but I’ve been honored to connect with many families who entrust me to hear about their personal losses. Sharing your baby loss story can be a challenge so I am always humbled when I get a DM from a bereaved parent willing to share their story and their baby with me. I don’t take that privilege lightly. 

Ways your readers can support the Still Here mission is by joining my community on IG or FB @AliAndeEnterprise. Liking or re-sharing my content I post. Purchasing my book Still Here: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Triumph After Stillbirth,  and lastly reaching out to me to share their story. I love to connect with other baby loss parents and their extended family and friends. It lets me know the work I’m doing is not in vain. 

How can readers play a part in de-stigmatizing loss?

Continue the conversation about loss. If you have not experienced loss firsthand, talk to a baby loss parent willing to share their experience. I think we need to begin to normalize the idea that not all women who get pregnant end up with a living baby. The reality is 1 in 4 PREGNANCIES not 1 in 4 MAMAS (because some mamas have MULTIPLE losses), end in loss. While this may sound morbid this is our reality.

According to statistics, 24,000 babies are born still born in the US every year.

The fact is my son DJ is so much more than just a number. He was my child, whom I loved and longed for, for 7-months, who died in my womb. I miss him daily.

These conversations need to be had so we can begin to destigmatize loss and grieving the death of a baby/child. 

Please share a quote or mantra that keeps you going.

Grief is not one size fits all.

You’re allowed to do whatever helps you cope with the death of your baby no matter how unconventional or uncomfortable it may make others feel. I did what felt best for me at the time of my grieving including speaking DJ’s name, sharing my story with whoever would listen, going to therapy, writing in my journal, reading devotionals, praying, listening to uplifting music, self-publishing my book etc.

Do what makes you feel good because at the end of the day, your grief journey is part of parenting your angel baby!

About Alishia Anderson. Alishia has always looked at life with a glass half full perspective. But when she lost her first-born son DJ at 28-weeks’ gestation on 1.18.16, it rocked her to her core. Through her grief journey she has grown spiritually, discovered her purpose, and has become a better wife, [rainbow/golden] mama, pregnancy loss advocate, and mentor to other baby loss families who’ve unfortunately been dealt the same tragic plight of loss. Alishia learned early after her loss that sharing her story helped her heal. Two years into her healing journey she self-published her book Still Here: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Triumph After Stillbirth to help eradicate what she coins the 3S’s of baby loss: silence, secrecy, and shame. Alishia enjoys writing, singing, traveling, making memories, and spending quality time with her family and friends. She resides in Southern California with her husband Derrek and two earth side sons, #boymom. 

Learn more about and support Alishia’s mission on Instagram and Facebook.

Speaker Spotlight: Fly Bravely Founder, Lia De Feo

Have you ever met someone that you have such a deep connection with, that it doesn’t matter that you just met, the friendship is sealed as though you’ve know that person for your entire lifetime? Lia and I instantly bonded through our shared experiences of IVF and motherhood. As she shared her journey which was met with heartache and loss before she came to meet her beautiful rainbow daughter, I couldn’t help but think, that I was meeting one of the bravest and kindest women I have ever met. That meeting with Lia at Maman on Canal Street will be far one of my favorite memories of NYC because that day I met a friend for a lifetime.

Since that day, I have sent multiple people to Lia who supports women and couples who are exploring options with surrogacy and/or have experienced loss at any stage including having to leave a hospital without their baby (whether it be them or their surrogate). It takes a very special person to be able to support loss after having gone through it - not just with the trauma but with what to do in the moment to preserve any fleeting memories that may be available.

Lia will be joining us for our October Sunday Session to discuss Why Honoring Loss is Healthy in honor of National Pregnancy and Infant Awareness Loss month. Without further ado, it is my pleasure to introduce Lia DeFeo and the important work that her company Fly Bravely does.

Tell us about Fly Bravely and the inspiration behind the name.

Fly Bravely is a NYC consultancy dedicated to normalizing pregnancy and infant loss and supporting those experiencing challenges and heartache on their path to parenthood.

I wanted the word brave in the name because I feel it’s a reflection of the community I serve and a nod to those still on their journey. Fly has a double meaning. First, moving forward in a way that to me, is freeing. Second, it’s a nod to my daughter Avellina which means “little bird”.  Avellina is our daughter who “flew away” and died two hours after she was born. 

Was there a tipping point that moved you to found Fly Bravely?

It was after my daughter, Carolina turned one. It felt like a turning point. A moment where I could breathe again and not worry if she would leave us too soon like Christopher and Avellina had. I finally felt comfortable talking about my journey to motherhood without having an emotional reaction. It was then that I knew I wanted to normalize loss and help others who were facing challenges on their path to parenthood.

Did loss have an impact on any relationships; personally, professionally or both?

Professionally, I became a far more empathetic manager. I realized that you never really know what the person across the conference table (or zoom line) is going through in their own life that may be driving their reactions or actions in the workplace.

Personally, I found out that many people I was very close to had struggled with infertility, miscarriage and even stillbirth. These were women I knew very well, yet they had never felt comfortable opening up about it before I shared what happened to me.

It was eye opening how much stigma and isolation is associated with these situations (of loss) where what is actually needed is  support and love.

Looking back on your journey, what would you tell your younger self?

I wish I would have known that I would one day have a healthy and beautiful baby. The losses and unknowns were so hard. I would encourage myself to move forward bravely and celebrate the milestones even in a pregnancy after loss.

You have championed access to surrogacy; at what point in your journey did you pursue it and did the experience affect how you coach others? 

When my uterus ruptured and Christopher was stillborn I also lost my ability to carry. I was still in the hospital when I made two phone calls. One to my cousin and one to one of my childhood friends. Both were cancer survivors and had started their families via Surrogacy. I needed to hear their stories because at that moment, I needed to believe that it wouldn’t be the end of my journey. 

The experience made me realize how “lucky” I was that I knew these two women. They helped me understand the process—something that can be really daunting. They helped me decide rather quickly that we would use an agency and which agencies to interview. It wasn’t easy, but without them I would have been lost.

I coach couples who are considering surrogacy to help them understand what the process looks like, the decisions they’ll have to make, the costs they should anticipate and their possible paths forward.

My clients have told me they have learned more in 30 minutes of speaking with me than 6-months of researching on their own. 

How are you able to refill your cup or avoid being triggered while working with clients? If you are triggered, how do you handle?

I recently had a couple I’m coaching through surrogacy experience a failed transfer. It was heartbreaking for them and triggering for me. I welled up with tears while coaching them through different ways to process the disappointment and sadness that comes with that experience. At the end of the session I knew I was a better coach for having allowed myself to be vulnerable.

In your view, why is honoring loss healthy?

Three reasons. It helps to process feelings about loss. If you feel moved to share it with others, I have found that it can help someone else going through something similar feel less alone. It is incredibly rewarding to play a part in supporting someone else; especially when I receive feedback from someone in the community that my stories have helped them.

What are several tangible ways that you recommend honoring loss?

These are some things that I do to honor Christopher and Avellina:

• I carry a small frame in my purse with photos of Christopher and Avellina.

• Photos of them are displayed in my closet so I see them every day as I’m getting dressed.

• We celebrate their birth/death days by visiting a bench we have in their honor.

• I write a letter to each of them in a journal annually on their birth/death days or just when inspired to do so.

• We keep their memory alive by talking about them.

• We have Christmas ornaments for each of them that hang on our tree every year.

What is something that we probably don’t know about you but should?

I was born in Brooklyn and am a huge fan of NYC history. I am also a licensed NYC tour guide license and used to lead walking tours!

Do you have a mantra that keeps you going?

I always try to be grateful for the blessings I have, versus resentful for the experience I’ve faced.

Focusing on the blessings, even during the worst of times has gotten me through. One of those is having had my husband by my side offering so much love and support through it all.

About Lia Buffa DeFeo: Lia is a mother through surrogacy to Carolina and to two angels, Avellina and Christopher, as well as the Founder of Fly Bravely. Lia is also an advocate for legalizing surrogacy, destigmatizing infertility and loss, and making it all more bearable personally and in the workplace.

You can also Fly Bravely on IG with Lia here.

October Event: Why Honoring Loss is Healthy

YOU’RE INVITED to a special Sunday Session event on 10/25 in support of National Pregnancy and Infant Awareness Loss Month 

Please join us for Why Honoring Loss is Healthy, a supportive and actionable discussion about destigmatizing loss at any and all stages.

Featuring and in conversation with Alishia Anderson, Babyloss Awareness Advocate and Author, Lia Buffa De Deo, Founder of Fly Bravely, and Linny Stone, Wellness Advocate and Marriage Therapist.

Alishia, Lia and Linny will share how they channel their pain to purpose and actively support destigmatizing loss. You’ll learn about their journey, how their experiences have shaped their lives, and the common denominator of loss. We will also discuss coping and how to support yourself and others with tools and resources

Event is free to attend. RSVP here.

Where Spirit Meets Space with Kelly Robinson

Photo of Kelly Robinson by Britany Gill

I recently had the opportunity to catch up with Kelly Robinson, conscious spiritual interior designer, doula and author of Where Spirit Meets Space during an event that we hosted together.

During our powerful discussion, Kelly shared how we can leverage creative design to help us create space and make room for that which we would like to invite and call into our lives; career growth, love, pregnancy or otherwise.

I thought that would might catch your attention! Please read on to learn more about Kelly, her work in spiritual interior design and ways in which you can start to connect and align your spirit and space.

What inspired your design work with spirit and personal journey?

My design career sort of fell into my lap, but ever since my early twenties I’ve been a pretty devoted spiritual seeker. My spiritual path has unfolded consistently over the past 15 years, and naturally became a part of my approach to design. My spiritual curiosities have been quite varied; beginning with cultural exchange and travel, then to yoga and meditation, then to shamanic studies, birth doula-hood, and more recently the path of the priestess; so there has been a lot of inspiration. But ultimately, my greatest design inspiration and spiritual inspiration will always be the natural world.

Mother nature is the original architect; and the ultimate interior designer.

What moved you to take your focus from corporate work towards supporting women to leverage design as an extension of their spirit?

I had been looking to step out of workplace design for a few years, as I felt I couldn’t be my fullest self in the corporate environment, even though most of my clients have been very open minded. When the pandemic hit I had some panicky days, as I know we all did.

I asked myself, how can I be of service right now?

I realized that the design brief of our homes had changed overnight. I knew that millions of people would struggle to suddenly be quarantined in their homes. I began giving out free design sessions to try to help people change their spaces to hold them better and women and couples from all over the world began signing up.

It surprised me how much of an impact I could have through Zoom, and seeing people take my guidance and recreate their spaces themselves was so rewarding. It felt so natural being my full spiritual self while working with women, and coming into the home felt like a homecoming for me personally on so many levels.

How can designing our personal spaces give us a balance of both spirited creativity and meaningful control?

When we look to nature, we can see how intentionally and creatively the animals make their nests, their cocoons, and their dens. They use the gifts of nature they have access to, and then they are very discerning with which items they bring inside. It is no different for us. When we cherish what we have, choose items that are as close to nature as possible, and design to make space for our future self we are able to create both with joy and with focused intention.

How is this balance important to the fertility journey? Our life journey?

I believe that the fertility journey, much like the journey of life, is a dance between taking intentional action and surrendering to the unknown; the divine order. Or as Arianna Huffington says, “Life is a dance between making it happen and letting it happen.” I believe that the way we craft our homes is a part of what we can do to take intentional action around what we want to call into our life.

Making physical space for our future self, our future partnership, or our future baby is a way of communicating to the universe that we are clear with what we want and we believe that we are worthy of it.

It is one piece of the puzzle. Now of course, nature does her thing, and sometimes that isn’t aligned with what we desire, or it may not happen in the timeline that we long for. So while we can do the work to ready our homes, we also must surrender to the unknown, trust in the divine timing, and find happiness with all that we already have.

You’ve mentioned a connection between the womb and our home. Can you please elaborate?

One very profound thing all humans share (whales, elephants, and lions too!) is that our very first home is the womb of our mother. This is so powerful. We are so developmentally tender while we are being carried in the womb of our mother, and we receive cellular imprints during this time that we carry throughout our life. This means that as we grow up and into adulthood, one very powerful way we can mother ourselves is by the way we create our own living spaces. Our first home is connected to every home we live in during our lifetime. It is where we eat, sleep, and grow, just like when we were in the womb.

What is your personal mantra?

There are many gems I’ve gathered throughout the years, but the one that I keep coming back to is a mantra that my mother gave me. It is very simple, yet so profound. “Follow your heart.” In a world that is moving so quickly, it is so easy to get stuck in our heads. The mind can be tricky sometimes, and doesn’t always provide the best compass. But the heart doesn’t lie. Along with our womb, it is our most trustworthy intelligence center.

Do you have a s spirit animal?

I feel very connected to so many animals, so this is a tough one for me. I’d have to say I am part mountain gorilla, part dolphin, and part sea hawk. I had the incredible blessing to see the gorillas in Rwanda last year and burst into tears when I saw a mama gorilla breastfeeding her baby. The dolphins are also so inspiring to me because of how they play together and their pod dynamic. And sea hawks are so free and amazing fliers, but they mate for life and always hunt with their partner, which I think is so romantic.

If you could collaborate with any one person to design a space, who would it be and why?

Cleopatra! I am fascinated by the architecture of the pyramids and of ancient Egypt. I want to know all the secrets she carried. A more grounded answer to that question would be a friend and inspiration of mine, Clive Wilkinson. He always thinks outside the box!

What is a fun fact that we would likely not know about you?

My mom is one of 10 children so I have an enormous family. And as a child I tap danced for 12 years. I still have a few moves!

Ready to embark on your own design journey? Kelly provides 1:1 design sessions and also leads the Where Spirit Meets Space design journey each month timed with the 28 day cycle of the moon. The journey brings Kelly's teachings to life in a progressive course that includes five 90-minute virtual sessions with a small community of other female participants. Together and with Kelly’s guidance, you’ll make simple yet powerful changes to your space that deepen your connection to your home, your spirit and our mother earth. The result is a transformative personal experience to not only reimagine your home but also who you are becoming.

The next Where Spirit Meets Space design journey begins October 3rd and runs through October 31st with live sessions each Saturday from 10:00am PST –11:30am PST. Learn more about the course and signup here. Fertilust readers receive an exclusive offer of 20% off the design journey.

ABOUT KELLY ROBINSON

Kelly Robinson is a conscious interior designer and spiritual guru, known for creating functional homes for pioneering companies like Airbnb, Headspace and Soundcloud among many others. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, she turned her focus to helping women navigate the new normal of working from home and authored a digital design guide entitled Where Spirit Meets Space, which weaves together ancient practices of Feng Shui and yoga with her holistic approach to interior design. To bring the book’s teachings to life, Kelly hosts sought-after workshops, private design sessions, as well as an intimate 28-day design journey offered monthly. 

A devoted spiritual seeker, Kelly is also a yoga teacher, birth doula, and naturalist. She is driven by a deep desire to nurture the human spirit and deepen our relationship to the planet and positively change the way we treat it. 

Kelly currently lives in Vancouver, Canada, and is dreaming up plans for her future off-grid home on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Want to stay in touch? Please contact Kelly through her site or follow her on IG!

September Events: Creating Wellness Wednesdays

Calling all warriors!

We are back with a couple fun twists this month. The event theme of the month is creativity and will lean into design + wellness. Both CREATING WELLNESS Wednesday events will be an interactive workshop-style format AND you will leave with incredible resources and takeaways.

And Instead of hosting events on Sundays, we will be hosting Wellness Wednesdays to observe and honor the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur holidays.

I am bubbling over with excitement to share a bit more about my guests this month, Jasmine Katatikarn (9/23) and Kelly Robinson (9/30).

⭐️ September 23rd: The Purpose-Led Blueprint with Jasmine.  Grab your colored pencils for an interactive workshop to channel your creativity in support of a purpose-led life. During this session, you’ll create your own "tree of goals" plan and Jasmine will also share her 4 step FREEdom method approach for fertility. Get ready to tap into your why and empower your unique fertility journey! 

*Missed the event? Channel your creative energy and get inspired with a motivational strategic goal setting exercise by creating your own Tree of Goals. Get the download HERE. You can also learn more about Jasmine’s FREEdom method HERE.

⭐️ September 30th: Where Spirit Meets Space with Kelly Robinson, conscious interior designer, spiritual guru, doula, and author of Where Spirit Meets Space. Kelly will share how we can use the intelligence of the womb to enhance our home and personal spaces. She will also share how we can experience the magic of aligning our inner world — mental, emotional, spiritual, and our outer world — environment, home, earth through design and preparing our space for what we would like to call into it (family, love, career growth, and more)!

RSVP to events HERE!

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August Sunday Session Events

Whether you are new to the trying game or a seasoned veteran, Aimee Raupp, wellness/health expert, author, speaker, columnist and Head of Chinese Medicine at The Well NYC will be sharing her inspiring story along with fertility and wellness tips for your lifelong journey. The event will conclude with a Q&A so that you can ask Aimee questions that you might have.

Details and RSVP to the events here!

Additionally, we will open registration for Chef Carla Contreras’ session on Monday, August 17th!

About Aimee Raupp: Aimee Raupp, MS, LAc, is a renowned women’s health & wellness expert and the best- selling author of the books Chill Out & Get Healthy, Yes, You Can Get Pregnant, and Body Belief. A licensed acupuncturist and herbalist in private practice in New York, she holds a Master of Science degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and a Bachelor’s degree in biology from Rutgers University. Aimee is also the founder of the Aimee Raupp Beauty line of hand-crafted, organic skincare products. She has appeared on The View, and has been featured in Glamour, Allure, Well + Good, GOOP, Shape, and Redbook, and has received endorsements from Deepak Chopra, Dr. Christiane Northrup, Arianna Huffington, and Gabby Bernstein for her work in helping thousands of women to improve their vitality, celebrate their beauty, and reconnect to the presence of their optimal health. Aimee is also the Head of Chinese Medicine at The Well, an active columnist for media outlets such as Thrive Global, Well + Good, MindBodyGreen and is a frequent speaker at women’s health & wellness conferences across the nation. She engages her large community worldwide through her online programs and with her website.

About Chef Carla Contreras: Chef Carla Contreras is a professionally trained chef with a stacked culinary resume (yes, she was on CHOPPED! on the Food Network). Chef Carla is the founder of Cook+Chop: online cooking school and host of the Cooking is the New Healthy Podcast. She is Nutritious Life Certified, a Certified Holistic Health Coach, a food stylist, photographer, and recipe developer for wellness brands with a stacked culinary resume. It’s her mission to share the lessons she has learned that have transformed her business and her life from daily panic attacks to showing up fully in her life. She believes cooking is the highest form of self-care and she wants you to experience that magic in YOUR LIFE!

Announcing July Sunday Sessions

Find out about details and RSVP here!