Women Who Quarantine - The stories of women warriors from around the world doing their part to fight this deadly pandemic. ​

Welcome to our next interview for "Women Who Quarantine" with Rachel Lisle!

I still remember the first time I heard of Rachel, a Family Nurse Practitioner from Coppell, TX. A friend of mine had just been in to see her for a wellness check-up and  wanted my take on the protocol she was given. I was so impressed by what I saw due to the fact that in many ways she works similarly to the excellent holistic doctors I refer clients to. It is often unusual to find a FNP practicing in this way. Now, a year later, I have the privilege of calling her both my sweet friend and colleague! : )

Rachel lives with her husband, Hunter and two children, Emma and Harrison, while working on the front lines to fight COVID-19 inside of her practice.  

Rachel's Story:

Profession: Integrative Family Nurse Practitioner and Mother
Location:  Dallas, Texas 
@rlisle_integrativemedical
website: Integrativemedical.com 


How is your heart doing during this uncharted time?
My heart is overall doing great due the freedom and extra quality time we have with each other! I feel so much more relaxed not having to worry about the next place we need to be. As a result, our days are far less structured than usual!

What has been most challenging about being home/at work?
Trying to spend one-on-one time with each family member. My two children are both hungry for alone time with each parent. It has taken over 4 weeks for us to learn, but we are utilizing new tools to accomplish this need. One night a week, my daughter Emma and I will have a movie night, special dinner, and sleepover. During that time, my husband spends alone time with our little one, Harrison. Another day of the week, my husband will take Emma on a long bike ride/go fishing, while I build a train station or legos with Harrison.

What is the good you have seen come out of this?
I've truly seen so much good come from this shelter-in-place order, while not minimizing the sadness and severity of the situation. People are outside a lot, which is beneficial to one's health, mood, and energy. Every dog is literally living their best life -  getting loved on by family and going on daily walks! Families are spending more quality time with each other without the business. They are eating dinners together, while getting creative on how they spend their time.

I'm also finding that individuals are using this quieter period to focus on improving their health, which is great! I've seen an increase at my practice of patients motivated to tackle chronic health conditions, optimize their overall health, focus on prevention, and/or commit to a weight loss plan. This time has allowed for people to truly focus on their health, while seeing the benefit of prevention firsthand. 

Is there any advise you would give to other women that you have found helpful or wish you knew before entering quarantine?
As much as I have loved spending every waking moment with my family, my neighbor gave me a great piece of advice. She and her husband take at least 10 minutes per day  to go outside by themselves. This allows a few minutes of peace and quiet to reset, which helps promote mind-fullness. Communicate with your partner and/or your children, and claim a few minutes for yourself each day! 

Is there something special you are doing to take care of yourself during this time?
I did a cleanse with Marie the first few weeks of quarantine, which was a true gift to myself. I had a wonderful increase in energy, clarity, and overall health that gave me a great boost as we entered quarantine. 

What is your favorite book and/or movie that you’ve watched or read this week?
We recently watched the new 'Call of the Wild' and 'Emma' movie. I absolutely love classic literature and have re-read 'Call of the Wild' with a new appreciation, especially since I am spending so much time with my dog. Jane Austen is also my favorite author, so I am starting to re-read Emma as well.

Go-to healthy *family-friendly* quarantine recipe: Paleo Chicken Pot Pie
Taken from: Nesting with Gracee

Ingredients:

• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1 cup chopped and peeled sweet potatoes
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 2 cups cubed cooked chicken
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil or olive oil
• 1/2 cup blanched almond flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground sage
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 3/4 cup almond milk

Paleo Pot Pie Crust:

• 2 cups almond flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground sage
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 egg

Instructions:

1. Sauté veggies excluding peas in coconut oil or olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add in spices. Cook until veggies are tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.
3. Coat vegetables in almond flour.
4. Stir in chicken broth and almond milk. Bring to a boil then simmer until the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. If you like your filling thinner, you can skip this part or if your filling seems great skip this- Take out 1/4 cup of the broth and stir in tapioca flour (or corn starch if not making it Paleo) to make a rue and slowly stir in the mixture to thicken up the broth.
5. Stir in the peas and the chicken and turn off heat.

Pot Pie Crust:

1. Mix all the crust ingredients together with a fork until it is crumbly. The coconut oil does not need to be melted. Press half of the mixture to the base and up the sides of the pie pan with your fingers. 
2. Pour filling onto the crust.
3. With the other half of the crust press down with your fingers onto your counter (making it thin and about the size of the top of the crust). Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes for the top of the filling. Use a spatula to pick up the shapes, they fall apart easily. And then place shapes on top of the filling. 
4. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Lower the oven to 350 for 30 minutes, until the top is golden brown.

Notes:
*I would recommend using blanched almond flour if you can easily get it, blanched is lighter in color and lighter in taste.

*You will start to adapt it and use what veggies you have on hand.

Sign up below for my newsletter to learn more about these heroic women from around the world and become of a rockstar community of dream builders who desire to live a healthy life!


Sending you lots of love and joy,
Marie

Women Who Quarantine - The stories of women warriors from around the world doing their part to fight this deadly pandemic. 

Welcome to our next interview for "Women Who Quarantine" with Arley Rose!

Arley is one of those people you can't help but be inspired by! Her hard work and dedication to her career, learning, and family has skyrocketed her to huge heights. She's a dog-rescue lover, green juicer, and Miami native - as in one of the hot spots for the virus. 

Arley's Story:

Profession:  Chief of Product, for a Meal Delivery Company (catered fit)
Location:  Company based in Ft Lauderdale, I live in Miami Beach Fl. 
@arleyrosebh (I’m private but will accept the request) 


How is your heart doing during this uncharted time?
Physically, I am still trying to do an HIIT workout to get my heart rate up...but honestly that doesn’t always work. (Mostly because I can’t commit to it the way I would in a gym) 
Emotionally speaking, my heart is torn— I swing between the comfort, safety and happiness of being home with my husband...mixed with this overwhelming and crippling sadness that I feel unable to really DO anything while so many people are suffering. It’s this ominous feeling, which can even elicit guilt, knowing that we are okay, and people are suffering.

All of this coupled with constant fear of getting sick, and the idea that if I needed to go to the hospital, even not-COVID related, I would be alone.

So it’s like one of those Newton’s cradles, swinging back and forth between peaceful, safe, and comfortable and then it knocks to the other side triggering guilt, sadness, and fear.  

What has been most challenging about being home?
There are two main things:
    1.    Not being “allowed” to leave. I stay in more so for my own health as I have a weakened immune system and I miss the casual nature of being able to just LEAVE my house. 
    2.    Not being with my family. I have an older grandfather and two parents. I never thought if we were all “isolating” we would also be isolated from our families. 

Additionally, my husband’s grandmother (in Texas) is in her 90's and has been put on hospice...while we are grateful for her long life and lack of pain, it’s heartbreaking that he (my husband) cannot be with his family, or even his grandmother...and, if/when she passes, we will not able to attend any service. 

What are you doing to keep balanced and motivated?
It might sound counter intuitive, but I actually think more of a “no rules” mentality is helping us. If we want to move the furniture and dance around the living room at 10 am? Great. If we want to bake a cake at 1 am? Awesome. 
We try to keep some of our normal habits, reading, exercising, etc. BUT, being forgiving of ourselves is really the biggest thing. 

Daily balance is kind of out the door here, and that’s okay! We focus more on staying happy and bringing enjoyment to ourselves that is forcing “balance”. And in many ways, with us both being home, we are overcorrecting the lack of work-life balance we’ve had for years. Married 8 years, and so much of that time has prioritized work... now, we prioritize ourselves, (individually and together). 

How do you think this pandemic could be used to reshape society for the good?
I think we (as a society) “check in” on each other more, and are a little kinder to the people who are on the front lines (Meaning hourly workers). Hopefully that stays. 

I think this pandemic is like a sociological tectonic plate shift... and I don’t have details about how exactly it will change society, but I do think politically speaking it’s making many people question the long term sustainability of a capitalist economy. I think that service based industries (besides the grocery stores and essentials) are not able to adapt easily, and that so many can’t move 'offline' because the business model just isn’t built for it. 

I think this pandemic was a global test on the employment argument about the perks of working from home and remote employees— which will eventually loosen the grip of some old thinking and expand employment opportunities beyond the city centers. 

I think so much is going to change, and I’m eager to participate in it! 

Is there something special you are doing to take care of yourself during this time?
I'm just trying to be kind to myself and not put too much pressure to be MORE productive. 

What is your favorite book and/or podcast that you’ve listened to or read this week? 
I haven’t listened to a podcast recently (as I’m not driving my car), but I just finished, Upheaval: Turning Points for Nations in Crisis by Jared Diamond ... I try to read things relevant to what’s going on. 
Another book I recommend right now,  even though it isn’t a recent read is: The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic - and How it Changed Science, Cities and the Modern World by Steven Johnson. The Ghost Map is an easy read and really amazing in helping to understand and prove theories, while showing how urban developments contribute to the spread of disease. It’s a great book to get you noodling  problem solving, especially if you feel like you are trying to solve a problem alone. 

Guilty pleasure during this time? …. PG people please 😆lol…
Not looking at the screen time alerts. iPhone likes to tell you if you’ve increased your screen time...I don’t look at it. I spend so much time FaceTiming family, or even playing games, so seeing increase in screen time just isn’t helpful. 
Also - I think it goes back to “no rules”. There really aren’t any guilty pleasures right now, it’s just about trying to have fun safely at home. 
Actually - I did “invest” in a Pilates reformer. I guess we can call that a guilty pleasure because it definitely cost more than I should be spending at the moment. Haha!

What is your favorite healthy go-to quarantine recipe?
Much like every other person in quarantine mode...I keep buying bananas and letting them rot. So, I bake a banana bread about once a week. I try to mix it up, chocolate chips, maple oats, walnuts etc., but we have basically started counting our weeks inside by the number of banana breads. Also, I really like it because you can’t mess them up. It’s like you can throw whatever you want in, and it usually works out!

My other favorite recipe, though not technically “healthy”, was a lemon ricotta pound cake. It was so light, fluffy and delicious. We had it for breakfast, heated it up and put some icecream on it- just perfection! #norulesquarantine

Banana Bread Recipe
Taken from: Cookie + kate

INGREDIENTS:

• ⅓ cup melted coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil
• ½ cup honey or maple syrup
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 ½ medium or 2 large bananas)
• ¼ cup milk of choice or water
• 1 teaspoon baking soda (NOT baking powder; they aren’t the same!)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more to swirl on top
• 1 ¾ cups white whole wheat flour or regular whole wheat flour
• Totally optional: ½ cup mix-ins like chopped walnuts or pecans, chocolate chips, raisins, chopped dried fruit, fresh banana slices…

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, beat the oil and honey together with a whisk. Add the eggs and beat well, then whisk in the mashed bananas and milk. (If your coconut oil solidifies on contact with cold ingredients, simply let the bowl rest in a warm place for a few minutes, like on top of your stove, or warm it for about 10 seconds in the microwave.)
3. Add the baking soda, vanilla, salt and cinnamon, and whisk to blend. Lastly, switch to a big spoon and stir in the flour, just until combined. Some lumps are ok! If you’re adding any additional mix-ins, gently fold them in now.
4. Pour the batter into your greased loaf pan and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. If you’d like a pretty swirled effect, run the tip of a knife across the batter in a zig-zag pattern.
5. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (typically, if I haven’t added any mix-ins, my bread is done at 55 minutes; if I have added mix-ins, it needs closer to 60 minutes). Let the bread cool in the loaf pan for at least 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes before slicing. You may need to run a butter knife around the edges to loosen the bread from the pan.

Sign up below for my newsletter to learn more about these heroic women from around the world and become of a rockstar community of dream builders who desire to live a healthy life!


Sending you lots of love and joy,
Marie

Women Who Quarantine - The stories of women warriors from around the world doing their part to fight this deadly pandemic. 

Welcome back to our next lovely story for "Women Who Quarantine"  
with my very own sister, Danielle Schuh! 

From the moment Danielle was born, just 13 months after me (yep...my mother is a saint), we were pretty much inseparable! Although opposites in many areas, our differences have not only complimented one another, but have pushed us both to grow as well. One area she literally ROCKS at is being an INCREDIBLE mom and wife to her husband and three children! And if you are ever in need of excellent homemade elderberry syrup she's certainly got you covered! ; )


Danielle's Story:

​Name: Danielle Schuh
Location: Hollis, New Hampshire
Profession: Stay-at-Home Mom
@ladyschuh

How is your heart truly doing during this uncharted time?
Honestly, my heart feels extremely blessed to have all of my family together right now under one roof. Some of the day-to-day things we are really enjoying at the moment would never have happened under "normal" circumstances. So when our hearts feel a bit scared, frustrated, or anxious (which let's be real, happens often), my husband and I focus on all of the positives we have seen come out of this pandemic. 

What has been most challenging about being home?
I’m a stay-at-home mom so this is my jam, but life has sure gotten a lot busier! ❤️
I’d say the most challenging area for me has been figuring out a schedule that works for everyone. My husband and I have been working to 'pin down' the areas that really help us to feel connected and refreshed. Doing so keeps us from feeling like everyday is just another version of Groundhog Day! ; )

What good have you have seen come out of this pandemic?
Since we are ALL practicing social-distancing no one feels as though they are missing out, or guilty for not being somewhere, outside of their 4-walls. I therefore believe that this new space opens up a part of our hearts that would otherwise be difficult to attain. As a result I have witnessed families and communities working together for the good of each other. It’s so beautiful and encouraging to watch people's hearts at work right now!

Is there any advice you would give to other women that you have found helpful or wish you knew before entering quarantine?
Make sure you take care of yourself! Even though we are unable to get a pedicure, massage, or our hair done right now - do set aside “you time” to clear your head. This helps a lot when working to be the best version of yourself within this quarantine. Whether that’s a warm bubble bath (**bonus: add in some magnesium salts for a relaxing night's sleep), a glass of wine, a home pedicure or spa night - just DO IT!!
Put it in your calendar and phone as a weekly reminder. This isn’t a vacation - who knows how long it will last! I have learned from the past that putting yourself last is a slippery downward slope. That said, if you remember to take care of yourself during this quarantine it will make ALL the difference in the world! 


Is there something special you are doing to take care of yourself during this time at home? 
My family and I are loving our daily walks, as it gets everyone outside for some fresh air and exercise. It always makes us feel better overall! A few other things I've also  been enjoying would be cooking some extra fun meals (I love to cook) and little healthy treats. One of my favorite clean treats right now has been dark chocolate honey mints. They are so easy to make and SUPER yummy!! I've also been working on sending out lots of snail mail with my kiddos and some other fun projects using my Cricut. Oh, and lastly, I can't forget our impromptu dance parties - this is my husband's doing ❤️❤️. ; )

Is there a favorite song, book or podcast you are listening to right now? If so, what do you appreciate most about it?
I've been reading: My Bible Study Defining Moments, which goes over in detail the readings for each Sunday Mass. I really appreciate that it helps me to carve out time for daily prayer, while also making me feel a bit closer to Sunday Mass each week… ESPECIALLY since I can’t be there in person right now. 

I am also doing a book study with a friend called: Choosing Beauty. It’s a 30-day women’s spiritual challenge, which I’m really enjoying! It keeps me focused on my own personal growth during this quarantine. 

Favorite Healthy Recipe?
This is my family's healthy guilty-pleasure treat... but it's so healthy I don't feel guilty eating it!!

Homemade Dark Chocolate Honey Mints
recipe from: Coconuts & Kettlebells
Ingredients:Honey Mint Filling:

• 2 tsp coconut oil
• 4 tsp raw honey
• 1/2 tsp peppermint oil

Homemade Magic Shell:

• 1/3 cup cacao powder (or cocoa powder)
• 1/3 cup coconut oil

Instructions:

1. For homemade magic shell, heat the coconut oil on the stove or in a glass bowl in the microwave. Once the coconut oil is liquid, add the cacao powder and gently “fold” the cacao powder into the coconut oil until well combined.
2. To make mints, get a 12-cup mini muffin pan, and carefully spoon out 1/2 tsp homemade magic shell into each cup. Chocolate should lightly coat the bottom. Once chocolate is in each cup, lightly “swirl” the chocolate around so that it comes up the side of each cup. Put pan in the freezer.
3. Remove tray from freezer, and spoon out 1/2 tsp honey filling into each cup. Try to lightly “press” the honey down with the back of the teaspoon so that it lays somewhat flat in the cup. Return tray to freezer.
4. After about 5-10 minutes, remove tray from freezer and spoon remaining homemade magic shell in each cup so that honey is completely covered. Cups will be between 1/2 and 2/3 full. Put tray back in freezer until chocolate sets (about 10 minutes.) Store in freezer. Enjoy!

​Sign up below for my newsletter to learn more about these heroic women from around the world, while also becoming part of a rockstar community of dream builders who desire to live a fun and healthy life!

​Sending you lots of love and joy,
Marie

​Women Who Quarantine - The stories of women warriors from around the world doing their part to fight this deadly pandemic.

Welcome to our next interview for "Women Who Quarantine" with Margherita Agostini!

Margherita is a pearl in the midst of the beauty of Florence, Italy. She has dedicated her time and talents to rediscovering the ancient Beauty, Truth, Art, and Holistic Healing of the Florentine people. It's her hope that one day, when Italy begins to awaken from this shocked state, she will be on the frontlines leading the way!

Margherita's Story:

Profession: Historian of Art, Italian Language, and Literature
Location: Florence, Italy

1. How is your heart truly doing during this uncharted time? 
My heart is beating very well. I feel calm and safe where I am currently living. I rent a room inside a convent, right in the middle of Florence. Uncharted times can also be the best times!

2. What has been most challenging about being home?
For me, I am grateful as nothing has been particularly challenging. The only
things I really miss are my regular visits to museums, exhibitions, my long walks along the Arno river, and the gym at the fitness studio.

3. What are you doing to keep balanced and motivated?
I am currently doing a full immersion into the history of Florence - I read
a lot, work on cultural projects and take many pictures in the garden. I find great enjoyment in spring with all the flowers, butterflies, and bees…

4. How do you think this pandemic could be used to reshape Italy for the good?
Italy is suffering a lot right now. But through its immense pain, my country is finally remembering and appreciating its own beauty, along with its true spiritual and artistic richness.

In regards to reshaping, I am currently creating a project which combines: Art, History, and Health. It is my hope that it will be helpful in rebuilding our ancient culture following this pandemic. It's also quite interesting to discover the old and precious Health Care History of Florence, from the Middle Age till now.

Overall I believe that this crisis could bring with it a great awakening of humanity as a whole, while allowing for the opportunity to recreate the way we work and learn moving forward. 

5. Is there something special you are doing to take care of yourself during this time?
I go up....and down... the many stairs of the convent for about one hour
every evening. At the end, I feel quite tired and enjoy a good sleep.

6. What is your favorite book and podcast that you’ve listened to or read this week? 
I am reading “La splendida storia di Firenze” (Piero Bargellini) and listening to the conferences of the poet and philosopher Marco Guzzi on YouTube.

Sign up below for my newsletter to learn more about these heroic women from around the world, while becoming part of a rockstar community of dream builders who desire to live a healthy life!

​Sending you lots of love and joy,
Marie

Women Who Quarantine - The stories of women warriors from around the world doing their part to fight this deadly pandemic.

Welcome back to our next sweet story for "Women Who Quarantine"! 

Lena and I met while working on a retreat together about three years ago and quickly became close friends. She is one of the most beautiful and loving souls you will ever meet, and her cooking is out of this world!!! Although I love pretty much anything she makes, her authentic Indian food always nourishes me to the core! : )

Lena currently lives in Texas with her husband and two sweet boys. 
​
Lena's Story:

​Name: Lena Sunny
Location: Carrollton, Texas
Profession: Owner of Little Loves Baking Academy and Mother
www.littlelovesbaking.com
@littlelovesbaking

How is your heart truly doing during this uncharted time?
Remember that Red Hot Chili Peppers song, “Roller Coaster”? That's where I'm at right now. Ups and downs, mostly bumpy in the beginning, but now starting to get the hang of what to expect. And by what to expect, I mean adjusting to uncertainty. It’s both restrictive and freeing all at once. Paradox city!

What has been most challenging about being home?
Having a front-row seat to seeing what my vulnerabilities are. Like the patience required to teach my own kids, and how I draw from an empty well there sometimes. Also, balancing work with homeschooling. I’ve had to pivot my business to online services, and finding pockets of time to do that can be challenging!

What is the good you have seen come out of this pandemic?
This time has been hard, but the good has been phenomenally eye-opening. I get to see my kids’ needs more deeply. There is more space for that to flow out and more heartfelt conversations around those topics. I’m adapting by figuring out non-traditional ways of meeting those needs as they arise. It has definitely sparked creativity in all of us! Also, coffee on the porch with my husband in the mornings has been a gift of simplicity beyond compare.

Is there any advice you would give to other women that you have found helpful or wish you knew before entering quarantine?
Make connection a priority. This is an opportunity to mend and heal difficult places within our families. The quarantine will shed light on those areas, and instead of looking away or distracting - lean in to those opportunities with love. Put that above academics and homeschooling, trust me it can wait. The love and healing cannot.

Is there something special you are doing to take care of yourself during this time? 
I set out two chairs on my tiny front porch, and bought a fold up table that I can place out there whenever I need quiet time away. Sometimes it’s to do my own work, or just have a cup of coffee by myself. Time alone refreshes me, even in bits and pieces! Also, I have a secret stash of chocolate that no one knows about. : )

Is there a favorite song, book or podcast you are listening to right now? What do you like about it?
I am staying plugged into my church’s online content. Outside of the quarantine, I have podcasts that I normally follow. But right now, I really need to feel connected to my community. So, I have been using my moments of free time to virtually connect and listen to my church’s reflections, praise & worship, and Mass celebrations. It has united us all as a faith community.

Red Lentil Dal
This is an easy and inexpensive quarantine dish, especially if you enjoy Indian food :)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup split red lentils (yellow lentils work also)
• 3 cups water
• 1-2 tomatoes, diced
• 1 TB oil
• 1 thinly sliced sweet yellow onion
• 1 Serrano pepper sliced in half, stem removed
• 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 3 TB salted butter
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• Handful of cilantro leaves, washed and de-stemmed

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place 1 cup of red lentils in a mesh colander and rinse well with cold water.
2. Pour cleaned lentils into a medium sauce pan. 
3. Add 3 cups of water to cover. 
4. Add tomatoes and Serrano pepper. 
5. Bring lentils and water to a boil. 
6. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until the lentils are soft.
7. While lentils are cooking, start preparing the onions and spices.
8. In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium high heat.
9. Pour mustard seeds in pan. Wait until they start popping (don't let them burn you!)
10. Add the sliced onions. 
11. Cook until soft and translucent, about 5-6 minutes. 
12. Add turmeric and cayenne. Stir frequently for spices to coat onions, about 1 minute, then turn off heat.
13. Add the onions and spices to the cooked lentils and stir. Continue to let cook for a few minutes, uncovered.
14. Add butter and stir until melted. 
15. Add lemon juice. 
16. Add salt to taste.
17. Stir in chopped cilantro and remove from heat.

Serve over cooked basmati rice or with naan bread. Enjoy!

Sign up below for my newsletter to learn more about these heroic women from around the world, while becoming a part of a rockstar community of dream builders who desire to live a healthy life!

Sending you lots of love and joy,
Marie