I hope you are able to carve out a few quiet moments for yourself (preferably while sipping tea ;-) and enjoy getting to know an amazing, and inspiring, Mama.

jl: Love & Tea Co. sprouted from my life long passion for herbs, art, and natural health.

I started studying and working with herbs 15 years ago.

My interest in herbs began in Vermont, when I took a harmonic massage class with herbalist, Sage Blue. Her teachings sparked in me a deep and profound interest in healing with plants. I then went on to study Botany in Oregon and Colorado. In Colorado I studied Western Herbalism at Rocky Mountain Center for Botanical Studies, where I focused on women and children’s health. With a concentration in pregnancy and post-partum care.

I then went on to further study Ayurvedic healing and Yoga. I became a Certified Yoga instructor. While living in Colorado, my partner Keith and I opened an organic bakery and café. After four years of owning and operating a retail and wholesale bakery, we felt like we needed to get back to our calling of art, herbs, and music. So we headed back East to Vermont and Love & Tea was born – and three kids!

How many hours a week do you (typically) focus on your business and/or your art?

Wow! I never thought about the time I put in for each week! Normally with previous jobs I could calculate this right away!

I work on the business daily…not a day goes by, that I am not doing something. I feel truly grateful to be doing something I love.

I feel each tea is an outward expression of my love of life and my art. Each tea is blended and packed with this in mind. I look at each tea and see the art in it…it may be as simple as placing a single rose petal or Jasmine flower, but it’s amazing what this creates!

I created a lot of my artwork while pregnant. With each of my pregnancies I made time to paint. I like to reflect back and see what art was inspired by each of my children. I look forward to continuing to paint and make new creations.

Do you have a dedicated work space/studio? What does it look/feel like?

Nestled in the hills of the Green Mountains is our tea studio. Our studio sits on our three acres of land and backs to a forest.

It’s very “Zen” like. We wanted to create a space that felt good to be in. The tea studio has Japanese Bamboo Shoji screens, Eastern & Tibetan art, wood floors, a large picture window that lets the natural light in, healing plants grow in the bay window, large glass containers filled with healing herbs, and Himalayan Pink Sherpa Salt sit on top of an eight foot long wooden work table.

Can you tell us about your family?

We have three children, ages 3.5, 1.5 and 4 months! My Partner is a musician. Music has been his life long passion and now he is releasing his first CD. Both of our work is about expressing the spirit within into the outer world . . . so for Keith, music comes from a place deep within and seeks to express outwardly . . . to bring peace, love and joy. As you can imagine, lots of our work gets tended to at night when the wee ones are asleep.

During the day we are busy playing, teaching, feeding, and chasing them around while we take short breaks to blend tea . . . lots of fun, always busy!

What forms does child-minding take in your family? (out-of-home care, in-home care, shared between partners, extended family etc.)

In-home shared between Keith and I. But now we do have a wonderful nanny to come in a few days a week to help. My Mom lives nearby and she helps a lot too. She’s a very wonderful Grandmother who always has a great time taking the children out for fun and adventure!

What forms does (will) education take in your family? (public, private, charter, homeschooling, unschooling etc.)

Not quite sure yet. I do feel drawn to Waldorf principles.

With three children under four and a thriving business, when/how do you nurture yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually?

This is one very, very IMPORTANT thing we as mothers must do.

Take time to nurture and care for ourselves. It’s often quite easy to get caught up in caring for our children and attending to our businesses, and forget we need care too! It’s crucial to make the time and space to care for us Mamas.

Each day, even if it’s five minutes I take a small break. I sit down for a moment to look out at the trees or gaze at the clouds or look at the light reflecting the snow crystals. Other times, I may take a warm bath and soak in my bath salts. I also try to make time to go light a candle and sit for inner reflection. And I recharge by drinking tea! I make it an evening ritual.

What books, magazines, websites (or other resources) do you turn to for inspiration?

I have been reading a lot of Tibetan books lately…The Tibetan Art of Parenting, Tibetan Sound Healing, and Tibetan Thangka Painting. I enjoy reading Shambhala Sun Magazine. I do find inspiration in listening to positive music. I haven’t had much time to be on web sites lately.

What advice would you share with parents who dream of starting their own business (or writing their own book…or moving to another country…or buying land to farm etc.)?

Follow your heart and your truth. Trust. When you trust in the Universe, everything else falls into place. Trust in your self. Remember, mamas are mighty and we can make amazing accomplishments!

Listen to your heart. Even when times feel impossible, know that you must push on through! Remember it’s ok to ask for help on your journey, and remember where you want to go. Make your work something that you love. If your love is in your work, it will show.

As an additional note of current issues that will impact many entrepreneurs: the CPISA is attempting to pass laws that will make it practically impossible for common people to make anything related to children including books. That’s all I’ll say here, but there is plenty of information online.

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And now (drum roll please) I am SO pleased to share my first ever giveaway here on my blog…

Jen and Keith have graciously offered to give a $25 gift certificate to Love & Tea Co. to one lucky exhale. return to center. reader!

To enter the contest, leave a comment below (between now and Sunday at 6 p.m. EST) sharing which teas or bath products you will choose if you win!

I’ll close the comments then (assuming I figure out how to do that between now and then ;-) and use this cool free online random integer generator to pick the winner!

Additionally, Jen and Keith are offering a special discount from now until Saturday, Jan. 24th for all exhale. return to center. readers! Use the code “exhale” when you checkout to receive 10% off any purchase over $8.90. Jen says she will also tuck a little extra surprise into the packages as well!

Thanks Jen! 

{Edited to say: I’m being told by my proofreader (aka my mom! :-) that there is no place to leave comments and my font is kind of wonky. Not sure why this is or what to do about it…

Back to say: Why don’t we put comments in a new thread above this one?}