A ♥ indicates my personal favorites / most highly recommended resources (so far!). Check back from time to time as I update this list with new awesome books / people / links. (An * indicates an AFFILIATE LINK, meaning if you decide to make a purchase through that link, I earn a credit to use at that website; there is no cost to you.)
Most book links will take you to my Bookshop.org page in order to support local book stores. I suggest La Petit Mort right here in Cockeysville, or The Ivy Bookshop in Baltimore + Towson!
COVID-19 + Infectious Disease:
- ♥ VIDA – Recyclable(!), high-filtration (N95) masks – each order includes a prepaid label to return used mask for recycling
Acupuncture:
Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, et al:
- Ballenger Chiropractic
- Ultimate Health
- Mady and Mules Physical Therapy – ask to schedule with Alyse
- Muraad Pope, S.A.M.I. Therapy (corrective exercise specialist)
Migraine and Headaches:
- Heal Your Headache, Dr. David Buchholz – please see my Goodreads review for some tips before reading this book
- ♥ The Dizzy Cook
- Migraine Strong – migraine education with a supportive Facebook group
- American Migraine Foundation
- ♥ Migraine Buddy (app)
- Consult with your doctor!
Pain Specialists:
- ♥ Dr. Robert Grill, TMJ Facial Pain Center – Dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment & comfort of patients suffering from TMJ syndrome
- Mady and Mules Physical Therapy – ask to schedule with Alyse
- Muraad Pope, S.A.M.I. Therapy (corrective exercise specialist)
Reflexology:
Aromatherapy:
- ♥ Introduction to Essential Oils – a FREE online class about essential oil safety, how essential oils are produced, and common methods of use
- ♥ The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood
- The Heart of Aromatherapy by Andrea Butje
- Aromatics International – my favorite online place to by essential oils
Talk Therapy and other support:
- Wendy Iglehart, MA, LCPC, LLC – adult individual, couples counseling, collaborative divorce
- Elizabeth Kent, LCSW-C, Perissos Therapy – anxiety, postpartum depression, relationship issues
- Kids Grief Support – a space to empower families to heal and grieve together
- Maryland TEARS Center for Child Loss – provides financial and emotional support to families that have gone through pregnancy, infant, and child loss
- How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis – Presented in short, readable chapters, this compassionate guide will help you begin to get free of the shame and anxiety you might be feeling over home care due to depression, anxiety, ADHD, parental trauma, chronic illness, postpartum, bereavement, lack of support, etc.
Adult ADHD
- ♥Dani Donovan and her Anti-Planner, which is not a planner; there are no dated pages or calendars. The Anti-Planner is an activity book specifically designed to help procrastinators. She also makes fun and informative TikToks and comics!
- How to ADHD – Jessica McCabe’s “Neurodiversity University.” She makes honest and friendly videos about being an adult with ADHD. She also has a book, How to ADHD: An Insider’s Guide on Working With Your Brain (Not Against It). It includes chapter summaries and reading shortcuts designed for the neurodivergent reader.
- Black Girl Lost Keys – Rene Brooks offers adult ADHD coaching, hosts a podcast, and has a cute shop.
- How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis – Presented in short, readable chapters, this compassionate guide will help you begin to get free of the shame and anxiety you might be feeling over home care due to depression, anxiety, ADHD, parental trauma, chronic illness, postpartum, bereavement, lack of support, etc.
Fitness:
- Baltimore Kettlebell Club – personalized and class training
- ♥ YogaDownload.com – stream or download free 20-minute yoga practices
- ♥Nike Training Club app – I’ve been using this free app for years for home workouts
- ♥ Jessica Hensley Yoga – LYT™ Yoga and Yoga for Cancer Classes | Online & In-Person | Private & Group Coaching
Peri- + Post- Menopause:
- ♥ Dr. Jen Gunther: check out her newsletter, her Instagram account, and her book, The Menopause Manifesto
Fertility Support:
- ♥ Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler, MPH
- ♥ OvulationCalculator.com – a great companion to Weschler’s book, even though they aren’t affiliated
- The Fertile Female by Julia Indichova
- Resolve.org
- Shady Grove Fertility Clinic (Towson office)
- The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology
- Maryland TEARS Center for Child Loss – provides financial and emotional support to families that have gone through pregnancy, infant, and child loss
Pregnancy and Childbirth:
- AIMM – Association of Independent Midwives of Maryland
- The Womb Room Baltimore – Yoga classes, education, therapy, support groups, and local doulas.
- ♥ The Birth Book: An OB-GYN’s Guide to Demystifying Labor and Delivery by Dr. Jennifer Lincoln. (She’s on almost all the socials, too.)
- The Healthy Pregnancy Book by Dr. William Sears and Martha Sears (a month-by-month guide)
- ♥ Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: the Complete Guide by Penny Simkin (a more in depth guide to labor, delivery, and the postpartum period)
- Natural Hospital Birth by Cynthia Gabriel (excellent for parents who want the best of both worlds)
- Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin (for when you need positive birth stories in a culture of negativity)
- ♥ Prenatal Yoga Practices at YogaDownload.com (check with your healthcare provider, of course)
- ICAN – International Cesarean Awareness Network
- BabyNameWizard.com – see how popular your baby-to-be’s name is right now
- Maryland TEARS Center for Child Loss – provides financial and emotional support to families that have gone through pregnancy, infant, and child loss
Support: Doulas, Childbirth Educators, & Safety
- The Womb Room Baltimore – Yoga classes, education, therapy, support groups, and local doulas.
- Emily Pelton, Doulas of Baltimore
- Odile Penet, My Birth Companion
- Mobtown Doulas
- Maryland State Doulas
- DONA International – What is a doula?
- Maryland TEARS Center for Child Loss – provides financial and emotional support to families that have gone through pregnancy, infant, and child loss
- ♥ The Car Seat Lady – 90% of car seats are installed incorrectly. Check out this website and request an appointment.
- How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis – Presented in short, readable chapters, this compassionate guide will help you begin to get free of the shame and anxiety you might be feeling over home care due to depression, anxiety, ADHD, parental trauma, chronic illness, postpartum, bereavement, lack of support, etc.
Nursing:
- ♥ Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding by Ina May Gaskin
- ♥ KellyMom.com – evidence-based nursing and parenting
- La Leche League International – parent-to-parent nursing support
- Local La Leche League groups
- ♥ Maryland Nursing Laws – You have the right to nurse your child in public, to pump at work, and to tax-free supplies.
Parenting:
- ♥ The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp
- What to Expect the First Year by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
- Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads
- Infant Massage: A Handbook for Loving Parents by Vimala Schneider McClure
- Baby-Led Weaning by Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett (introducing solid foods – skip the jars! Yes, really!)
- CottonBabies.com – cloth diapers and cloth-diapering know-how
- Scary Mommy – A popular blog started by a Baltimore mom, it’s very frank advice and tales of life with kids.
- ♥ How to Talk so Little Kids will Listen by Joanna Faber and Julie King
- How to Talk so Kids Will Listen & Listen so Kids Will Talk by Elaine Mazlish and Adele Faber
- ♥Setting Limits with Your Strong-Willed Child by Robert J. MacKenzie, Ed.D
- The Womb Room Baltimore – Yoga classes, education, therapy, and support groups.
- How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis – Presented in short, readable chapters, this compassionate guide will help you begin to get free of the shame and anxiety you might be feeling over home care due to depression, anxiety, ADHD, parental trauma, chronic illness, postpartum, bereavement, lack of support, etc.
- Pressure Cooker – A James Beard award-winning podcast about parenthood, feeding kids and how it all became so complicated.
- ♥ The Kid Should See This – A curated collection of not-made-for-kids videos that are actually perfect for kids
- ♥ The Kid Should See This Gift Guide – an ongoing list of awesome, thoughtful gifts for kids of all ages
- Kiwi Crate* (and Panda Crate, Koala Crate, Tinker Crate, Doodle Crate, Atlas Crate, Yummy Crate …)
- ♥ Raddish Kids – Kids learn cooking and baking skills! You can get a subscription box each month that comes with three recipe cards around a theme, a badge to add to their apron, and a culinary tool they’ll need. Or, choose a digital-only subscription and let your kiddos browse the recipe library.
Local + Sustainable Shopping
- ♥ MOM’s Organic Market – regional grocer that began in Silver Spring
- ♥ Grove Collaborative* – what if it was easy to find healthier home essentials?
- Pela Case – Compostable phone cases and zero-waste screen protectors
Be sure to check out Pela’s blog post about why you shouldn’t place compostable plastics in either the trash OR the recycling bin
(Mom’s Organic Market has a compost bin for customers.) - Baloo Living* – lovely weighted blankets
- ♥ ThredUp.com* – the internet’s largest thrift shop for women and kids apparel. The link gets you 45% off and free shipping on your first order!
- The Broken Plate – Local artist Juliet Ames takes old or broken ceramics like dinnerware and turns them into beautiful jewelry.
- ♥ Alissa Barbato Ceramics – lovely vases, cups, pots, and more. I’ve been collecting her work for years!