About Present & Pure
As mom of two with a background in academia and research, public health work, urban education, and web design (not to mention, a long history of journaling and blogging in my free time, back when that was a thing), it was only a matter of time that an online space like Present & Pure would come into existence.
Present & Pure is a place for those who seek a simpler, more grounded way to live well, with the search for truth always at the forefront. My content is all about cutting through the noise to focus on the essentials needed to live your best life through 1) conscious thoughts and habits, 2) healthy and informed choices, and 3) knowledge grounded in real life… all without perfectionism, pressure, or guilt! My goal is to meet you where you are and support you as you create a life that feels sustainable, empowering, and aligned with your true values. At the end of the day, I want you to live your best life, and I truly believe that the content here can help gently guide you on your own beautifully complex journey toward happiness and health. Welcome, I’m so glad you found your way here!
I’m Vivian, a wife and mom of two living in the desert of Las Vegas. I am obsessed with health, research, writing, and web design, and I have always sought out ways to help people—ways that actually work, not just in theory but in practice. So it’s probably no surprise why I started Present & Pure!
My research background taught me to think critically, question claims, and dig into the evidence. But my personal journey taught me that information without accessibility & without compassion doesn’t actually help anyone.
The Why Behind Present & Pure
Why Present & Pure is Different
Present & Pure was born from my own experience trying to find answers to my own health concerns. While seeking answers, I was tired of seeing two extremes in the wellness world:
- Oversimplified, clickbait content that ignored nuance and context within research
- Dense, academic information that was technically accurate but practically useless for busy people trying to improve their daily lives
I was also tired of seeing wellness information and advice that ignored the whole person. I wanted to create something different. I wanted to create a space that:
- Respects your intelligence by explaining the why behind recommendations, not just the what.
- Values accuracy and nuance over sensationalism and oversimplification.
- Honors your reality by offering practical, sustainable approaches rather than unrealistic, perfectionist ideals.
- Bridges research and daily life by translating scientific findings into actionable steps and compassionate, realistic solutions.
My Path to Present & Pure Living
I’ve always been drawn to two seemingly opposite worlds: the precision of scientific inquiry and the messy, beautiful complexity of creativity and the human experience.
I spent my undergraduate and post-graduate years working in research labs, learning to design studies, analyze data, and think critically about how we actually know what we know. I did this all while trying to figure out how I could actually make a difference in the real world. This desire to help people directly eventually led me away from academia and to volunteering and working in public health and public education.
I love the scientific process—the pursuit of truth, the careful building of knowledge, the attention to detail and nuance. But most importantly, I have come to realize that while I deeply value research, my ultimate goal is simple: to truly help people in a way that honors both evidence and real life.
My Personal Health Journey
My journey toward Present & Pure started long before I realized it. Back in high school, I was constantly sick. Low energy, ongoing GI issues, painful cycles, depression, anxiety, and painful cystic acne became my “normal.” On top of that, I was living a high-pressure life: a competitive musician, straight-A student, perfectionist, and active in countless programs, clubs, and organizations. All of this while navigating deeply personal challenges at home. Looking back, I didn’t have the faintest idea of what “living a good life” truly meant or what it even entailed.
By the time I reached my early- to mid-20’s, things only worsened. I dealt with severe and persistent cystic acne, more pervasive digestive issues, painfully piercing headaches, and a tremor that interfered with my violin playing so badly that I eventually quit playing (this was a big issue since I was a violin performance major at the time!). While the grief of losing my mom to murder profoundly shaped my mental and emotional health at the time, I didn’t realize that lifestyle, diet, and environmental toxins were also compounding my struggles even more. I kept searching for solutions but found little help from conventional options.
Back when I was almost a senior in high school, low-energy and stressed by default (summer 2003)
Everything shifted around 2009-2010 when I was around 24-25. Frustrated, I began digging deeper on my own. At the time, I worked at the county health department in my home town through an AmeriCorps VISTA program. In addition to wanting to help others with their health through that role as well as through volunteering weekly at a hospital and free health clinic, I started making health a priority in my own life.
But my health journey at that point was far outside what was considered normal at the time. Things were a lot different back in 2009-2010 than they are now when it comes to holistic health awareness, and I felt like I was on an island trying to find answers. I experimented with elimination diets, studied the effects of hormones, read about mold exposure, explored detox protocols, and studied nutrition approaches that challenged the standard “food pyramid” model at the time. Ultimately, after implementing a paleo diet and then eventually the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP), I experienced major healing: my cystic acne cleared without the birth control pills my doctor had prescribed me (at my request, since that was all I knew at the time), my energy and digestion improved, and (along with my introduction to mindfulness through yoga and, much later in my 30’s, acknowledging the truly damaging effects of trauma and stress), I finally felt like I was finally uncovering the deeper connections between lifestyle, environment, and health. Although much of it felt like a pretty lonely journey throughout my 20’s and much of my 30’s, I am thankful for every step of the way and where it has brought me today.
Painful, cystic acne that appeared all over my face back in my early- and mid-20’s
All of this to say… this was the true beginning of Present & Pure, even if the blog itself came many years later. My personal struggles taught me that true health and well-being aren’t about quick fixes or rigid rules. It’s all about awareness, curiosity, and making intentional choices that honor your whole being—body, mind, and heart. And most importantly, I want others to not feel the loneliness I felt at the time nor the overwhelm, mixed messaging, and confusion that is so common when it comes to health and well-being today.