About

Sabrina-27-CHOSEN
I am Sabrina Gallimore– a woman of many “hats.” I am an attorney, a mother of four, and a survivor and advocate against human trafficking, domestic violence/child abuse, and hunger/homelessness.   The first half of my life included running away at 15 to escape a home life more horrible than the homelessness I ran to.  Homelessness, however, was not easy and left its own scars.  I escaped at 15–but it took decades to heal.  I managed to graduate high school, worked my way through college– at one point living out of my car– and graduated law school in the top 25% of my class.  I married during law school and gave birth to my first son right after passing the Bar Exam.  He, and his siblings, are the light of my life.  However, he has significant disabilities that ushered in a new phase of “fight.”  That is a story unto itself.  Eventually, I divorced and had to start my own law practice to take care of us.  Employment at law firms would not provide the hourly flexibility needed to care for my son so I started my practice representing other children with special needs.  It was what I knew but was also terrifying.  I continued to build my law practice for many years until I remarried and we decided that our new blended family needed my support at home.

Several years ago, I founded Naturally Elegant LLC in Leesburg, VA where I happily reside. This blog initially started–in part– as a creative outlet to share knowledge learned in the care of my children.  My oldest son has many medical issues and my youngest son was diagnosed with multiple food and environmental allergies–including a very rare allergy to polyethylene glycol. This substance is a stabilizing agent included in almost every kind of product imaginable–from medications to personal products such as shampoo/deodorant to everyday items such as toilet paper. I had to quickly educate myself as to a variety of chemicals and was stunned to learn how many of our everyday products include chemicals banned in other countries.  They are banned due to known health risks–including cancer and autoimmune disorders. When 85% of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our bodies–it really shouldn’t be surprising that all these chemicals can have dire consequences.  Over the years, much research, and much trial and error I developed beauty products, personal care products, and herbal remedies that were not only healthy– but powerfully effective. What started as a need to help my child grew into a lifestyle of healthy, organic, natural living across all domains of life. I was thrilled to pass that on to others who may benefit.

However, life got crazy with a host of family challenges that required all my time and energy.  My husband became very ill.  So did my son.  My other children had different challenges; and, I realized the blog would need to wait till another time.  There is a season in life for different purposes– and my family was my purpose.  Fortunately, that season came to pass and another has begun.

My children are grown and spreading their wings.  My oldest has made miraculous progress and is significantly more independent.  My husband healed and is healthy as can be.  My own healing is virtually complete.  I say “virtually” because there probably will be new areas that come to my attention as I continue to grow.  But my past no longer dictates my future, my thoughts, nor my heart.  I am free of the chains that had been placed around me.  Now is a season where I can dream, grow, and share/learn with you!  So, I am returning to this blog– with a new intent and content.  It is a victory blog of sorts.  It is about taking joy in life, refusing to give up, refusing to let your ‘inner child’ lose the sense of wonder and magic, reveling in all things beautiful, and sharing all of that with those you love.

I have been honored to speak at multiple events in several states regarding domestic violence, human trafficking, faith, dealing with disabilities in a loved one, and healing/survival.  Soon, I hope to publish a book detailing these years– and most importantly– how healing from even the most severe of injuries is possible.  Not only is healing possible– but one can thrive.  This blog is happening because thriving can happen.  I delight and find joy in many things.  Organic gardening, travel anywhere/anytime, local places of interest,  beekeeping, herbal medicine, creating my own beauty/personal products, history and art, growing what we eat, cooking, entertaining on scales large and small.  I am reveling now in the “empty nest stage” and the over 40 lifestyle.  I am overwhelmed with gratitude for being able to heal enough to laugh, trust, and enjoy the beauty in our world.  I have to give the credit where it is deserved– which is to God and Jesus.  Yes, I had to make decisions to survive but He gets the credit for the healing and resulting joy and peace.  But please don’t feel you can’t come along if you don’t share my faith.  I have friends from all faiths, from no faith, and everything in between.   I can be contacted through this blog; followed on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sabrinag587/   or I can be reached by email at either sabrinag587@hotmail.com or sabrinag@naturallyelegant.net  with any questions; and, of course feel free to comment to anything that catches your fancy. I would love to meet you!

41 thoughts on “About”

  2. Hi Sabrina, I am truly pleased you have followed my blog. I look forward to reading more of your blog and learning more of your life and work. I hope you will join the conversation on my blog, as I know , from reading here, and your post in Holistic Wayfarer, you will bring much to all of us.

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  3. You are so right about how we are being systematically poisoned. There is practically nothing you can eat, drink or use that isn’t bad for the body. The other factor of course is what we willingly do to ourselves by life choices other than eating. But some of us do live to a ripe old age in spite of our environment though it’s doubtful that growing very old carries with it the quality of life we spurned at age 21. :). .

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  4. Thank you! You raise an excellent point. A fundamental difference between allopathic and holistic health is the former looks at symptoms in isolation and the latter looks to all aspects of a person’s condition. For example, if we take a tylenol to stop pain — have we really discovered the cause or treated for health? Or in your example, what we eat or drink, smoke, lack of exercise, etc has a significant effect on our health as well. No prescription or herbal remedy will be as effective in treating an underlying condition if we self sabotage by poor life choices. That being said, a good dose of moderation is part of my personal “life prescription.” I want to be healthy so I can enjoy life!!!

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  5. Hi Sabrina!

    Thank you for following my blog. I enjoyed reading your about me page. I love organic gardening, so I look forward to reading and following your blog, too.

    Rob

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    • Thank you! I will look forward to having you come by. 🙂 I was touched by the care and concern you showed a stranger on your blog. I am very glad to have met you out here . . . it is a blessing to know people that have kindness and compassion in their hearts. Looking forward to reading more!

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    • Thank you for kind words, following my blog, and the link to Jill’s House. I am familiar with them. My family and I attended McLean Bible Church for many years. The special needs ministry was one of the reasons why. At the time, it was the only church I could attend service and know my son would be well cared for. Most other churches didn’t have a special needs ministry or the staff that could manage my son’s needs. Lon’s sermons also resonated with me. He is honest about pain and suffering in the world and doesn’t try to gloss it over. I liked being a part of a church that was real, honest, and authentic. I’m looking forward to reading your blog as well!!!

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  7. Memoir IS tough to write, even tougher to edit. For me, the toughest thing to write is humor; by the time you go over it 60 times, it’s not funny anymore . . . and you wonder if it ever was. Thanks for the follow and the kind words. You really should put that piece out there.

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      • The writing really happens during the rewrite. I don’t feel like I’m writing unless I’ve got a dictionary, thesaurus, and usage book open on the desk. Thanks for the kind words. I sell about 50/50 humor and what my editors call thinking pieces. You never know what they are looking for. You should go for it though.

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        • You certainly are inspiring me. 🙂 Editing American Raised in Chains was a similar process for me. My first draft bears little resemblance to the final version. The editing was painful but an incredible learning experience. I owe Diana a great debt for her patience and editing instruction. I feel I learned more from her in one week than from high school, college, and law school combined!

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          • Yes. She is a good writer. Each piece I put up has at least 60 hrs in it. And that’s after the first draft.Learn to write short and pack everything you need to say in 1200-1600 words. That’s what magazines want. You need to be able to explain the piece in a cover letter in two sentences, or they’ll toss it. The better it’s written, the more it stands out. Believe it or not, most of what editors see is very poorly written.

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            • Excellent advice. At 44 it is finally sinking in. Throughout my life, teachers and professors would praise my thoughts and brutally critique my ongoing narrative. Wounded, I would resist. But each word has MEANING!!!! With Diana, she explained why we were cutting; and, perhaps I had matured enough to listen. It still hurt; but, I was stunned at how much better the result. I am excited — weak word really — to start writing again. On another note. . .I also realized why my children might tune me out sometimes. Same problem. Too many words! They were thrilled to hear my epiphany! lol!

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              • Ha. Here’s how I write. I freewrite on topic until I can’t think of anything else to write–this is done over a period of time. When I think I have enough, I put it in some kind of logical order and put it on the computer. Then I forget about it for as long as possible. When I go to work on it, I print it out and start going over it. I read it backward–this lets me look at each sentence by itself–looking for mistakes. Then I read it through–front to back. Then I read it aloud. I do that over and over until I find myself putting in and taking out the same comma–that’s the point of diminishing returns. And then–this is most important–I send it to a friend of mine who is savvy enough to catch anything I missed. He often doesn’t find anything, but when he does it’s something I’ve looked at so long that I skipped over it in my mind as I went over it. I have a time limit. once I start on something, I work on it for a month. I do something to it everyday for a month before anybody else sees it. That’s why I only post on the first of the month and I don’t waste time on daily posts about nothing. only put out the best you can do–you never know who stumbles by to read your work. Remember, every first draft is shitty. It’s in the rewriting that you apply your craft as a writer. Like I told you. Each of those posts on my blog were rewritten at least 60 times and often many more. Learn to love the rewrite and you’ll be surprised at what you can do. I sell about 30% of what I write. If I can do it, anybody can. Believe me.

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                • That’s brilliant! Even in the first read through of your comment I noted several points that would help me. One is I tend to try to write perfectly the first time. I edit as I write. That approach stifles creativity; and, it is ineffective leaving me discouraged. Your approach solves both problems! It is also feeing to realize that the need for multiple rewrites doesn’t mean I stink as a writer. Lol! There is much more but I am trying to be succinct. 🙂 Thank you so much for your fantastic advice!!!!

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                  • Yes. Don’t correct anything until you move it onto the computer. Even then don’t do too much. When you print it out and start going over it, that’s when you do that. I always work from a printout. I find it easier. I read it backward, forward, aloud, put in those corrections, print it out, and do it again the next day. Over and over and over . . .

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                    • I am glad to be getting this advice now. The comments to American Raised in Chains have inspired many topics in my mind. I am going to be fleshing those out in the coming weeks and I can’t wait to put your suggestions to practice. Most of the topic ideas don’t fit Naturally Elegant’s theme. Hmmm. I guess it’s my blog right? If I want to have a “musings” category I can. 🙂

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                    • You can always start another blog for your writing. Write each idea you have in a notebook. Keep a notebook handy at all times. Start keeping a journal for your daily thoughts. If you can’t think of anything to write, write descriptions of places or things that you can use later in a larger piece–I’ve based whole articles on a description. And don’t get discouraged or take criticism personal. Don’t listen to naysayers. Remember, you don’t have to tell the story in one sitting. In “Sheba,” I talked about the day my dad died, but in another story called “The Dream,” I wrote about that in detail.

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                    • There is so much to say in response. First, thank you for those suggestions. I am going to get that notebook started today. Funny, immediately after reading your comment my son came into the room. I had several ideas just in the course of that conversation. Like vapor they evaporated by it’s close. A notebook solves this problem. 🙂 Of course it may cause more as my family adjusts to mom scribbling notes throughout our talks. . . lol!!

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                    • The Dream. Thank you so much for sharing this link. I wish I had a stronger vocabulary. I can’t find words strong enough to describe what a powerful and wonderful piece of work this memoir is. I said this already but it bears repeating. Thank you for sharing such a personal and painful moment of your life. These are so painful to recollect and write about. The pain reoccurs each time a work is read and discussed. Like a scar being ripped open anew. Thank you for suffering this for mine and others benefit.

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  10. Wonderful blog, Sabrina. I have always believed we should attempt to stay as natural as possible and it’s always better to stick with someone that is experienced with natural remedies and supplements. Looking forward to learning a great deal more.

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