Where are you from originally? The midwest! I was born in Chicago, IL but raised in Cincinnati, OH. I've also lived in Cleveland, OH and Madison, WI.

When did you join FIT4MOM: I joined in August 2022, when Faye was 4 months old.

What is your favorite thing about FIT4MOM? The community of moms. I joined when I was in need of some mom comradery as a new stay-at-home mom, and it has been fantastic!

What do you currently do? Keep Faye alive! :) Previously, I worked in healthcare data visualization with my biomedical engineering degree.

Share your thoughts on the concept of “it takes a village” – is it important for moms to join a village? I think in anything you do it is important to find a like-minded support group going through something similar. It really helps with tackling mental health challenges and also just learning from each other. Motherhood is an especially trying time, so it is even more important to find a community to have fun with and lean on.

What is your favorite beverage? Honestly, water.

What is your favorite dessert? Almost anything chocolate.

You are given 4 hours of FREE baby-sitting. What would you do? Go to a spa and get a massage and a pedicure.

What is your ultimate child-free vacation destination? I'd go back to our honeymoon islands in French Polynesia, or something equally tropical and romantic.

How has becoming a mother changed you? I am a lot more intentional with my time, since I have so much less time to myself. I've had to completely reinvent my days and where I find joy and a sense of accomplishment. It's really turned my life up-side down, but I wouldn't change it! I am happiest when... Faye is happy! Seriously though, when Faye is having a good time and happy, I feel like I must be doing something right and get a lot of joy from those moments. A close second is when I'm on vacation in a new place, exploring new locations, learning new things, and eating good food.