So much PRESSURE!

There's a lot of pressure writing your first blog post. I’m not really sure where to start but thought I’d introduce myself and maybe tell you why I started one.

My full name is Cosette but I go by Cosie or LimeandtheCoconut :) I am born and raised in San Diego, California. I started painting when I was very young. My mom was an oil and acrylic painter and is a much better artist than I am. I have taken a few art classes here and there but I mostly learned from her and trial and error. Out of high school I worked as a personal assistant to an art teacher and painted custom designs on Toms and Vans shoes. Art was always a side hustle and I was encouraged to keep it that way.

I got a masters of Science in Speech Pathology at CSUSM and worked at the same school for nearly 6 years after grad school. My caseload consisted of general education students as well as four special education classes with students with a wide range of abilities. My therapy plans targeted AAC users, functional language, articulation, expressive/receptive language, social communication, voice and fluency. Talk about a caseload that kept me on my toes and taught me so much! However, October 2020 I decided to embark on a new adventure.

I currently live in Tulum, Mexico and have spent the last 6 months illustrating a children’s book. It is a wordless picture book created for speech therapists to use as an informal assessment tool in collecting language samples from their students, and also a resource for parents. It has been fun diving into the “self-publishing” world and I hope to share more information for those also seeking to create a children’s book. My book will be available November 2021.

As I mentioned earlier art has always been on the side and up until now I have never relied on it as my sole source of income. But here I am stepping out in faith, coming into my own power and confidence, combining my talents and TRUSTING the process.

Lime and the Coconut is a platform where I share art tutorials, live art therapy sessions, connect with other educators, share my own experience as an SLP working in a school district, tips and tricks for parents regarding language development, life in Mexico and of course, my art.

Life has been crazy this past year. Right? So many changes, new experiences, learning opportunities and adjusting to a new way of life. For me not only living in a different country but working for myself! I am taking it one day at a time but I thought it would be fun to bring you along on my journey and maybe we can figure this life thing out together.

Let me know if you’re a parent or SLP excited for some free resources, lesson plans and tips or stumbled upon this blog from my art or you just wanted to say hi.

Either way let’s be friends :)