"I live in the heart of Muir Woods, surrounded by giant redwood trees, tucked into the side of Mount Tam, in an A Frame home that was built in the '70s. It has great public schools, a sense of community, is really family oriented, and has easy access to all the things we love. We have lived here for 3 years now."

Lisa wears a Dôen Caravan dress and jewelry by Ursa Major and Kristen Elsbeth.

"I would call it California Treehouse Zen. Almost every wall is floor-to-ceiling windows, making it a real indoor-outdoor environment. The inside had to be a space that lent to the peacefulness and serenity I’ve found staring out the windows, the space really slows you down in a good way. I always think of what Steinbeck wrote about these trees, 'From them comes silence and awe.'"

"It’s a slow process for me. I need to not just sort of like something, I have to love it. I try to purchase things like art that have meaning to me. I like a simple, curated space, but comfort is key. I try to follow the less-is-more rule because I need my rooms to breathe. I don’t like clutter."

"The drawing by David Wilson of the grasses at Ocean Beach in S.F. is one of my favorites. When I first moved to California I lived at the beach and my son and I would spend hours playing in that grass. I also love the custom-designed, L-shaped lounging piece in the sunroom that my friend Sergio from 4qtr made for me a few years ago."

"I think it’s nice to have some kind of evidence of kids inhabiting your home outside of just their bedrooms, otherwise it would feel too sterile. We keep it corralled for the most part to a few closets and Finn’s bedroom. But he’s more of an outdoor and sports type. A bike, a skateboard, and a ball are all he needs to make him happy."

"With this being the second time around with 9 years in between, my excitement threshold won’t be as low as it was with Finn when a burp or a half smile made me beside myself with joy! I’ll still be elated I’m sure, but knowing what I know now, I’m excited to know that every day with your kids is an opportunity to learn from them and grow. Finn has been one of my greatest teachers. I’ve learned more about myself through motherhood than any of the years leading up to it."

"Probably figuring out how to maintain a good balance with a second child. Someone once said to me 'one is one, but two is twenty.'"

"My mother and my grandmother. Both incredibly strong and resilient women. My mother knew how to be strong enough to be soft."

"My parents had strict rules around television watching and video games and they didn’t coddle us. People here think I’m joking when I tell them I used to walk two miles in snow up to my knees to school in the winter, but that’s what we did. They wanted us outside as much as possible. If it was raining we took our umbrellas outside with us. When it was snowing, we threw on our snowsuits and still played for hours in the backyard. Also, we were not highly scheduled like some kids are today. My mother was an artist and spent so much time with us outside, taught us about all the beauty the natural world is filled with. I see now how important it is to use that as a resource to develop aesthetic awareness in children and taking them outside as much as possible for free play."

"Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children, by Thich Nhat Hanh. I think mindfulness is a key towards the goal of being a better parent now, more then ever, considering the age of technology and interruption we live in."

"Arthur Finley Fox is 9, but he goes by Finn. Arthur was my grandfather's name and Finley means fair haired soldier. He was born with a huge head of golden hair, so it was appropriate. Fox is an old English name and it’s stuck as his nickname. James Osha Anouk is my daughter's name. I’d kept the name James in my head since I was pregnant with Finn, 10 years ago, and thought he would be a girl. It’s also my brother's first name, who I adore, so when I found out I was having a girl, I knew her name would be James. Osha means daughter of the sun and is a nod to my late mother. Anouk is Inuit for snowflake to tie her to her family background, which is from northern Canada."

"I’ve been a single parent since Finn was 6 months old, so it has always been our normal. It’s not a demographic I think that any of us ever imagined we would join. That said, don’t allow the shadow of stereotypes to wear you down. Don’t listen to the outside noise. Ask for help. Know you are doing your best and seek and retain the people that recognize this also and will lift you up, and drop anyone that doesn’t. You will work harder, have more struggle, sleep a little less, but it will grow you. All single mothers deserve grace. Don’t focus on the things society tells you we aren’t going to be able to give our children, but rather on the things we can pass on to them, such as resilience, an ability to thrive not in spite of what we lack but because of what we have. Never underestimate the power of your own love. And redefine it: you aren’t a single mom, you are a 'super mom.'"

"I’m a wardrobe and prop stylist, mostly for advertising, but editorial, as well. I work for clients like Apple, Levi's, Google, and Nike."

"I grew up in Canada and studied Fashion Design and Merchandising in Montreal. I went on to get a post-secondary degree in Graphic Arts a few years later. I dabbled in a few different areas before I became a stylist. I worked as a graphic artist, a textile and packaging designer, and assisted a Canadian fashion designer for bands like Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene. I came to California on a whim with Finn after some life-changing events. The intention was to stay for only six months. Now, here we are, almost seven years later."

"I used to always be on the hustle and I rarely said no to work. In some ways I still am, because you have to be in my industry, but a few years ago I adopted the 'hell yeah!' or ‘NO!' policy to keep my work/life more balanced and purpose driven, and work more inspired. I won’t overcommit myself now and I say yes to less."

"Motherhood in many ways redefined my career path. Pre children, I was much more complacent. After I had Finn, I took a long look at my life and asked myself if it was the story I wanted him to be told one day, someone who had settled into an easy, albeit uninspiring, path. I flipped it into a more purpose-driven life by finding something I loved to do and getting paid for it."

"Finding ways to work smarter, not harder, as a freelancer, has been the true key to finding a better balance between my home life and work life. It took some time, learning from mistakes, resourcefulness, hiring support when I needed it, a little extra planning, and working in blocks of time so I can get larger chunks accomplished. I instituted my own policy that I check emails only certain times a day unless it’s vital to a project, so that I’m at my most efficient. Efficiency is key in order to keep some time, not only for Finn, but to give myself a little break, once a week, for a massage or a hike or anything that will keep my own cup full so that I can continue to fill his."

"I try to be radically honest with friends now when I think I’ve screwed up in the mothering department, because it releases that feeling of guilt. Guilt for me manifests through the level of expectations inside of my own head that I feel I’ve not met. Being able to open up and joke about my 'mom fails' to friends eases that feeling a lot of the time."

"The flexibility it gives me for my family life, the travel opportunities, the creative people I meet on each job, that each job is different, keeping things fresh. As for what's next: I’ve been ready to get back into design for a while now, so I’m preparing to get my feet wet in that area again. I’m also going to study therapeutic yoga with the intention of starting workshops aimed towards helping people with chronic illness."

"It feels removed from the city, it’s quaint and family friendly and has true community. The public schools are excellent. We have amazing hiking and mountain bike trails literally outside our door, and the beach is only a 10-minute drive away. Mount Tam is like my son’s personal playground. You can surf, hike through the redwoods, and go mountain biking easily all in one day."

"Seamless. Growing up, half the time of the year we were living on a lake in a cottage, that for years only had an outhouse and a dirt road. I still consider it my spiritual place. When I found this house, it instantly felt like I was back home in Quebec, nestled in the forest. San Francisco brought me excitement and challenge and a fresh edge that I needed, but this place has brought me peace.

"I’ve toyed mostly with the idea of Wyoming, I’ve been drawn back to it for six years now. It reminds me a bit of Canada with cold winters and its wildness. People there are true outdoorsmen. It takes a certain type to be attracted to harsh conditions. I’ve also thought about moving to Costa Rica or Bali for a year, both places I have really loved."

"The best. We never really lived in family oriented communities in San Francisco and it felt very isolating. The families I’ve met through Finn’s school, as well as my neighbors, have been some of the most family focused and supportive people I have ever met. It makes you feel lucky. The moms at my son’s school have rallied for me, organized a shower for me, dropped off food, and offer help and support continually. It’s pretty amazing."

"Hiking or biking the trails on Mount Tam, having a picnic and watching the sunset from favorite spots on the mountain, beach bonfires at Muir Beach, drinks at the Pelican Inn, burritos at Avatar’s, people watching and coffee at Equator, brunch at Kitchen Sunnyside, Mint for adult and kids' clothing, Juice Girl, Mill Valley Potters Studio, Old Mill Park, the town square for meeting up for playdates or having coffee with friends, and Molina for intimate and cozy dining."

Lisa wears a vintage dress via Sun Moon Wolf and jewelry by Ursa Major and Kristen Elsbeth.

"Night and day! With Finn I ate anything, gained 45 pounds, read voraciously about pregnancy, took early childcare classes, bought every single thing you could ever possibly need under the sun. With James, I was nauseous 24/7 and I think I ate only watermelon for the first few months. Ten years later, I was much more considerate and frugal with baby items. I also put more focus on a birthing plan and invested most of my time creating that space. I hired an amazing prenatal consultant, Rachel Yellin, to teach me Hypnobirthing techniques. I got a prenatal massage twice a month, indulged in energy healing sessions, reiki, and intuitive healers when I felt I needed a boost of self empowerment or balance. I’m much more in tune with my body and my mind now then I was in my twenties."

"Finn has been just the light of my life, so the idea of another little being to spoil with love was something I have wanted for a long time. And everything excites me about the fact that I’ll be able to experience having both a boy and a girl. When I think of the special relationship I had with my mother, it sets the tone for everything I hope my relationship will be with my daughter. What makes me most nervous is managing two children and making sure that they both get enough of me."

"One of my showers was a Blessing Way. It was a very intimate gathering. It’s considered to be more of a ceremony pre-birth and is traditionally performed by Navajo. You are honored and supported by everyone as they celebrate your rite of passage into motherhood. Each person is asked to bring something, in my case it was a piece of fabric. I received pieces from family back in Canada and a quilt was made of it for me to keep with me during labor. Words are shared about you that are intended to build up your mind, body, and soul."

"Pay attention to your gut instincts and they will serve you well. And it’s okay to make mistakes."

"I’m still having a hard time dealing with the fact that you don’t get a year of paid maternity leave in the U.S. With Finn, I had one full year paid, which is standard in Canada, and it should be that way everywhere. I haven’t set down a solid plan yet and have decided to just go with the flow of what I can manage, but to take at least two or three months of solid time to be at home with her."

"We have space challenges with only having two bedrooms, so for now I have settled on a little corner in my room to stick her bassinet and added the hanging ceramic and some textiles I found in Nevada City. My son picked out a beautiful alpaca bear for her as her very first toy/snuggly. The truth is, I’m big on co-sleeping, so the corner might not get much use."

"Curated and considered. Simple Californian, with some French bohemia thrown in."

"I have acquired a large collection of 'athleisure' and athletic wear because my son is such a go-getting athlete. He keeps me on my toes."

"A pair of vintage leather sandals I found in Tokyo, my mother's gold banded ring, any denim, my howlite necklace by Ursa Major, my Horses Atelier jumpsuit—all serve me well through regular life and pregnancy."

"Right now Nathalie Dumeix (I love her pants), Dôen has been a saving grace because their clothing works so well throughout pregnancy, Horses Atelier, an amazing Canadian brand Mr Mittens for knits, and Kate Jones for her Ursa Major jewelry line. She is a good friend of mine and I’m endlessly inspired by her forward thinking and original vision."

"Instagram has been a game changer in terms of discovering new and obscure brands. I fall down that rabbit hole all of the time. Otherwise, I love hitting craft fairs and flea markets and exploring stores when I’m traveling.

Lisa wears a Dôen Market Wrap dress, Adidas sneakers, and jewelry by Ursa Major and Kristen Elsbeth.

"I’m liking a wide bell sleeve on a knit, knitted bomber cardigans, larger earrings, fringed asymmetrical hems on pants, and little Jane Birkin-inspired baskets."

That mama-son kind of love.

"Exfoliate every night, drink lots of water, get decent shut eye, and use lots of oils on my face and body. I don’t blow dry my hair and I prefer it messy anyway. I keep it simple with makeup, but I wear mascara. The only products I am loyal to is Tarte BB Cream, it gives a glow and evens out my complexion, but it’s so light your skin can breathe. I also love Ren Rose Oil for my face."

"Meditation has really changed me for the better and when I don’t practice I see a difference in how I handle each day. So, I try to meditate at least 10 minutes a day, even if it’s before I go to bed. I fell in love with Pilates a year ago and it had a profound effect on my body. I practice yoga, and try to take solitary walks or hikes on Mount Tam as a restorative practice. I need my fair share of nature to keep me balanced. I see an intuitive energy healer several times a year, or as needed, and always leave feeling very resolved."

Keep following along with Lisa, Finn, and baby James (who she had last month!) on Instagram.