I'm Emily, and I've got a thing for water.
As a kid growing up in Pennsylvania, we would spend our summer days swimming at the community pool from the time they opened until the lifeguards rang the bell at sunset.
My family also had a small sailboat -that we nicknamed ‘Daddy Boat' on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, and if the jellyfish weren't too thick in the water, we'd take turns throwing a rope in the boat's wake, being pulled by the power of the wind.
As a competitive swimmer, I spent hours each day in pools year round, and I've always felt more comfortable, powerful, and beautiful submerged in water than I do on land.
So when I drove out to California over a decade ago and parked our 1967 Airstream trailer across the street from the ocean in Malibu – I knew I had found home.
My home on wheels, circa 2000.
Fittingly, I learned to surf here with my best friend with whom I shared the endless summers of my childhood. Here's Jes, demonstrating her bendiness at one of our summer vacations to the shore.
For an entire summer, I hit the waves every day without fail, soaking up sun and salt water.
Living footsteps from the beach, I met my British husband. He nicknamed me Surfer Girl and I called him Bloke. We fell in love over our surf boards, got married on the sand.
Now we have two little grommets to show for it and our third child – Real Plans!
While life has taken many twists and turns, some things never change – my love for great food, healthy living, and the sea. 
Enough about me… Let's talk about YOU!
Where do you call home?
What have you been drawn to in your life?
City, country, sea?
Hi Emily, I totally LOVE your story. I am very excited to have found you and look forward to your newsletter. .I am Holistic Practitioner here in Canada offering Reflexology, Indian Head Massage and my newest favourite Integrative Energy Therapy. Although I grew up in Canada I met my husband when I went back to the UK.. We too have two little brand extensions named Aidan and Bryn. This year is a big year of transformation and simplification and so I love sites that help us move in that direction. Look forward to connecting over the wide world web. Wishing you all lots of fun, great joy and abundance.
Hi Emily! Just wanted to drop a note about how much I love your blog! I came here through a search on Pertussis! Loved your article…especially the graphs you provided.
I’m a CA girl myself, but have lived in San Antonio for the past 14 years due to my husband’s work. I miss CA…especially the beach!
Anyway, thanks for the great info. You have a beautiful family, and I appreciate your love for literature and writing! It definitely shows here on your bog!
So glad to have happened upon your site. Enjoyed reading about your upbringing and your family. It makes me dream of living near the ocean, being able to open up my front door and smell the salt flowing in the wind. Instead, when I open my front door, its a scene of deep green grass with some weeds here and there. Birds flying around and a herd of cattle in the pasture off to the west. I live in the Midwest, West Central Iowa and have been here all my life.
I look forward to learning more about what you enjoy blogging and picking up some interests from you here and there.
Nothing wrong with the Midwest Sharon. Your grass is usually green and the Midwest people are some of the very best I have ever met. Wear your midwesternism with pride!
Hi! I’m in San Diego county. I’m drawn to the desert but I could never live farther than a half hour from the Pacific ocean. It was my playground as a child and I love it.
I write a little ol’ blog and I just can’t seem to stop linking to your site! For example, http://sandandtable.com/easiest-roast-chicken/
I love your perspective – holistic is a great word for it. Being healthy can be a cheerful enterprise. Well done!
Michelle Q
Aww this is so sweet. I love your stories and your photos. I, too, am a water girl. I grew up in both No. and So. CA, moved to MA when I was 12 and then moved back to Los Angeles when I was 31. We live in Glendale, which in my opinion is too darn far from the water! But I love being around the ocean and in any pool, anytime. I don’t go very far into the ocean because I have an inexplicable, yet intense, fear/fascination with sharks. Your surf photos make me jealous and terrified 🙂 LOVE your website as it is a huge source for my real food transition.
Thanks Nicole 🙂
Hi, I came across your blog doing research on fat soluble vitamins, cholesterol, etc.
I know your ouevre is mainly women/fertility, but would it be possible to point me to someone who deals with the same animal fats vs. vegetable fats from a perspective that takes weight-loss surgery into account?
I didn’t know about the animal vs. vegetable fats debate until after my weight loss surgery, so I am wondering if it’s possible to eat this type of diet having had most of my stomach removed.
Thanks in advance for your reply.
Steve
Hi Steve, thanks for the question. I can’t really point you in the direction of anyone specific. However, I would say that you should be able to eat this kind of diet regardless. Your body and your brain needs saturated fat to thrive. I hope this helps.
so I’m already in love with your blog! Fermented yumminess and a natural approach speaks to me. Thanks for taking the time to write . . . I’m in Carlsbad, NM. Hard to find any doctor that takes a natural approach – antibiotics for colds anyone? Hmm… I’ll pass. All you have to do is vaccinate it away anyhow. Yuck.
Wishing you did hormonal consultations by phone….
Hi Melissa, thank you so much. I am glad you like the blog. I do actually do distance consultations when needed. Why don’t you phone my office to book a consultation: http://www.emilybartlettacupuncture.com/book-an-appointment
Hi Emily, I ran across your blog while doing research on green drinks and enjoyed your story. I live “up north” from you—right smack dab in the middle of the Central Valley, so I, too, enjoy the bountiful real foods CA has to offer. I was especially interested in how you went all the way from PA to SoCal! Our family tried living four years in VA, and ended up right back in our hometown! I was so homesick! We always seem to head north when we go somewhere, but soon I’d love to do some exploring at the south end of my state—I honestly know very little about it! Disneyland is really the extent of my southern exploration! Anyway, thank you for the info on green drinks—I just finished my morning kale/banana/OJ cocktail. Have a wonderful Christmas!
Hey Emily,
I’ve more too often said, I’m a displaced child from Hawaii, because I was born and raised in Chicago and I’d prefer summer 24/7/365.
I love a good walk, and I’m drawn to quiet: early mornings, quiet streets, stuff like that. Chicago is ok. A bit racist but there’s good and bad everywhere. All in all, I think we all want to be taught and to grow, some just need more help asking.
Thanks for the milk info. I’m going to take it to heart and forward it to my Hubbie.
Merry Christmas,
L
I absolutely LOVE your website, FB, G+, etc! I’m so excited to continue reading and learning. My heart and soul (since child hood) is on the beaches of California (805), but I am currently accompanying my husband, along with our 3 children, in Germany on military orders. I love traveling the world with my husband, it’s such an opportunity! Although I do miss the unbeatable weather of the California coast along with the sand <3 I wouldn't change a day of my married life. Maybe some day we will make it back to the amazing beaches.
Enjoy life!
Heya Emily,
I’ve just stumbled across your blog and I’m really excited to have found someone who’s passionate about nourishing foods and caring for a family – thinking about their health from a foodie perspective!
I live on the beach in Adelaide, Australia, though I grew up half way across the country on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world (North Durras). I’m dealing with CFS/Fibromyalgia at the mo’, so I’ve taken a year off work to properly focus on the family and myself – the important things in life.
Btw, LOVE your meal plan samples – i’m really looking forward to using your planners to help inspire me!
What a great start to the New Year 😀
Kat
Thanks Kat! I’m so glad your loving the meal plans and the blog.
My name is Marsha, and I am from Kentucky. I’m in tears having found your wonderfully put together site. What a God send. I am terribly out of shape and will be starting a “Biggest Loser” contest at work on March 3rd. I not only want to lose weight, but I want to make a life style change. Your article on “Why Breakfast Cereal Should NOT be in Your Bowl” will help so much. Thank you. I plan on soaking my oatmeal per your directions. If you have any secret weight loss tips for me, I would so appreciate it. Thank you again and wish me luck!
Hi,
I just found your blog and LOVE it!
I’m originally from PA too (in Colorado for the past 10 years)…where did you grow up? I’m from New Oxford…if you know where that is!! 😉
Thanks for all of the great advice/tips on here!
Enjoy the water and sun!
~Molly
Thanks Molly! I grew up in Palmerton . So glad you’re loving the blog 🙂
Greetings Emily!
My partner caught pink eye from one of his grandchildren last week and so while surfing the web for a natural remedy, I came across your site. What a beautiful webpage you have created!
Just want to thank you for such authentic and inspiring information you are sharing with the world. I can tell by your site that a ‘whole’ life is vital and sharing it with others even more so.
I live in a small town near Ashland, Oregon called Talent. I live with my beloved David and our jazzy cat named Mr.P. I give one-on-one Reflexology Sessions and teach Yoga. Through the Sessions and the Yoga, I guide and teach about self-care & self-love. I am in the midst of writing a book about Self-Care for Anxiety and Fear.
I grew up in Southern California, where I was born, and I too, like you, grew up in water! We had a swimming pool and spent pretty much everyday in the pool. My Dad would take me and my sister to Pismo Beach a lot and so I feel very primal and alive in the water! I recently was blessed to take a trip to Bimini, Bahamas and the water was absolutely amazing.
Maybe next time I am in L.A. we could meet for warm tea by the water! With love and blessings to you & your family,
Dena Carter, DenaCarter.com
Thanks Dena! xo
Whew. I love your story and I’ve spent a few minutes out of my days to read new stories and try my best to absorb all of this vital information! eek. I actually came into this world in Monterey, CA but was raised in a teeny tiny town in Alabama. I recently graduated from college in Baltimore and even more recently found out I have had PCOS the majority of my young adult life (no one bothered to tell me, it was obviously the freshman forty. wah.) And am now trying to make the slow and steady switch to a healthier more knowledgable lifestyle. I take the approach of meeting my body halfway. Eating yummy, good-for-me foods if it’ll get me out of the dumps and keep me going! Thank you for all the easy-to-read articles and rich information. I’m learning, learning, learning and love all the help I can get.
🙂 Shannon
Hi Shannon – Thanks for your comment! Congratulations on making the switch to a healthier lifestyle. 🙂
This is the best blog I’ve ever found! I love all your advice and everything. 😀 It’s interesting to learn about things that I rarely have access to over here in the UK. (Like everlasting sunshine, and warm seas!) 😀 Brightest Blessings!
Thank you for your kind comments!
Emily,
What a lovely and happy story, and what a beautiful family!
Debra xx
Well I don’t have that exciting of a story to share. But I loved hearing yours! I am happily married in TN with three previous kids of my own and stumbled across your site while surfing a topic. I am intrigued. The article on Sugar Bug got my attention bc my oldest has that. Anyway I am sick and tired of being sick and tired and know that real food is the way to go… I actually tried my first jar of fermented carrots recently;) I’m inspired by your blog so thank you!
Love your blog! Found you searching for lead in crock pots that my mom is certain is killing us all 😉 I’m a Pennsylvania (Philly) girl too, moved to Arizona 20+ years ago. I have fur kids (dogs) and a crazy bunch of fancy chickens on 3 acres in the “country”. I love yoga, trying to get healthy at 53 and know everything there is to know about holistic pet care and healthy dog nutrition.
Glad to find you.
Hi there,
I just came across this blog and love it! I’m a holistic psychotherapist currently living in NYC. I practice in NYC and Ridgewood, NJ. My family consists of my husband, our six month old boy, and our 80 pound yellow lab, Otis.
Gorgeous blog, gorgeous family. Much love to you and keep the great info coming!
xx
Lara
PS. I blog also (mostly about feelings and relationships- http://laramdonahuetherapy.tumblr.com)
I have just found this blog and absolutely LOVE IT! Thanks for sharing all of your knowledge.
I am from Costa Rica. I would LOOOOOVE to live near the sea (100 point extra if it’s in LA, maybe Santa Monica or Manhattan beach?). I currently live in the country, with lots of horses, trees and oxcarts.
Blessings to your family.
Mari
thank you so much for your continual stories and inspiration! xoxo Jodie
hello,
My name is Manshuk from Kazakhstan,
I came across with your blog while looking for info about elimination diet for my 2 months old girl’s eczema.
Thank you so much for sharing such a useful info and positiveness.