Hello, and welcome to Live for the Season! I’m Alessandra (Ali), an author, wellness advocate, mom of two, and lover of all things seasonal and healthy living.

Here you’ll find delicious and seasonal recipes, body and mind practices to bring you balance and peace, and seasonal home tips so that your home can be a sanctuary to help you live and perform your best.

I’m a firm believer that one of the greatest things we can do for our overall well-being is to live life in sync with the seasons. We can do this through how we nourish our bodies and minds, how we move, and how we live in our spaces each day. Sometimes we don’t give that last point enough credit or we think it’s not as important. But our homes are an extension of our energy field, so keeping things calm, flowing, and beautiful to you and your lifestyle is essential to your overall quality of life! And I’m here to help you do that, season by season.

My Story

I’ve been blogging for quite some time and through it all, my main interests have been and continue to be seasonal recipes, all things healthy living, and making a cozy home. I’ve published several books including a cookbook (you can browse my Amazon Author page here).

Not long after having my two children, for many reasons, I hit burnout. And as it has a funny way of doing, that burnout helped to spur healing. After bouts of major anxiety and insomnia, and tons of research as to how to help myself, one of the things (among many) I decided to do was to enroll in a Qigong class (pronounced CHI-gong). It’s a centuries-old practice shown to help with not only sleep and general health, healing, and relaxation, but one that also promotes healthy aging (bonus!). I fell in love with the soothing, meditative nature of the practice, which led me to become a licensed Qigong and Tai Chi instructor.

I was halfway through obtaining my Qigong license when our daughter, Penelope, was diagnosed with leukemia. It was June of 2020, just a few months after life as we all knew it had forever shifted. Our focus went solely to her treatment and parenting her and our son, Ciro, in addition to navigating virtual school.

I remember contemplating whether I should stop pursuing the Qigong certification, which still had five more months. But I ultimately decided that it was precisely the one thing I needed to still move forward with because it would help me as I helped our daughter through her treatment. I completed my certification and went on to complete my Tai Chi certification as well. And I’m so thankful I did, because the skills I developed in both Qigong and Tai Chi have helped us immensely through the toughest moments and transitions – and now I’m so happy to be able to pass them along to others.

On August 29, 2022, after 26 months of treatment for leukemia, Penelope “rang the bell” at clinic to mark the end of her treatment, and she’s doing very well. We now have monthly blood draws and check-ins which will continue well into her adult years.

This road has been difficult and scary to navigate, and it’s no doubt changed us all in more ways we can count. You certainly see things differently when you receive that type of news, and to say that things shift in your world is an understatement. But one thing is for sure: we are infinitely grateful.

Throughout Penelope’s treatment we’ve continued to eat healthy as a family, and especially because of her treatment we’ve focused on nutritious foods that would support her body and also the rest of us. I’ve been thankful that I’ve had passion for healthy eating and lifestyle choices so many times throughout this journey because it’s helped us all so much. 

The past few years have ignited my passion for healthy living even more, and I’m so excited I get to continue that journey and share all I learn here on my site. And I love to laugh, so I hope you find the humor in some of my posts about parenting and life in general. Because one thing I’ve learned is that we can’t take ourselves too seriously, and we need to remember to put the life into living! 

Some seasons produce gorgeous flowers, an abundance of fruits, flavors, fresh air and singing in the rain. Others are stormy, cold, and can honestly really suck to get through. But there is beauty and life in each of them. And one thing is for sure: they eventually pass. I love the thought of making the most of them while we live them, and finding the meaning – even if it’s tough, even if I forgot my raincoat, even if I know the good ones won’t last. Seasons are an ebb and flow, and that is the beauty of life. 

I’m so glad you’re here <3

New Here?

If you’re new to Live for the Season, here are some excellent places to start:

Check out the Recipes section to browse healthy, seasonal recipes based on your preference (gluten-free, dairy-free, etc.)

Browse Body & Mind section to discover more healthy living practices.

Search the Home section for some of my favorite finds, home inspiration, great gift ideas, parenting (the good, the bad, and the ugly!), and more.

Join the Community

Official Bio:

Alessandra Macaluso is the author of What a Good Eater! , Lucy the Bee and the Healing Honey, and The Real-Deal Bridal Bible. She’s also a Qigong and Tai Chi instructor, and overall wellness advocate. Her work has been featured in several anthologies which can all be found on her Amazon author page, and she has contributed to The Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, TODAY Parents, and many other online publications.

Alessandra is a northerner-turned-southerner, enjoying the south with her children, Penelope and Ciro, and her husband, Greg.

*Some of the links I share on Live For the Season are affiliates. If you purchase a product after clicking on an affiliate link, I receive a small percentage of the sale for referring you, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate links are an easy, painless way to support your favorite bloggers and I am incredibly appreciative of your support!

As Featured in
Ali's Published Books