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When Everything Starts With “Hey, Mom?”

Why I Created Everything Starts with Mom

Motherhood has a funny way of turning every moment into a calling.

From the quiet “Mom?” whispered through a cracked bedroom door at 2 a.m. to the chorus of “Hey Mom!” echoing through the house as dinner burns and the dog barks — it all starts with us. And really, it goes back to my mom and her mom and her mother and on and on and on back through a legacy of women. And somehow, in the middle of meeting everyone else’s needs, we’re also trying to remember who we are, what we love, and what kind of life we’re building.

Everything Starts with Mom was born from that exact place.

Not from perfection.
Not from having it all figured out.
But from a deep desire to create something steady, meaningful, and rooted — for my family and for yours.

Why I Started Everything Starts with Mom

In the summer of 2018, I found myself praying for direction.

Our youngest was only eight months old, but I already knew that she would be our last. 4 kids in and our family felt complete. We are all here. Kindergarten wasn’t just around the corner… it was coming fast. And I had this quiet nudge inside me: You’re going to want to build something of your own.

Who should I be when I grow up? What do I want to “do”? Should I pick up where I left off as a job gypsy or return to school to learn a new trade? Was my only option really to be on someone else’s schedule?

I loved being home with my kids. I loved the rhythms of our days. I loved being available and flexible. But, I also wanted to contribute financially in a way that didn’t require me to leave the life we were building.

So I prayed. And then, almost by accident, I stumbled into a food photography course called Pretty Focused. But we know there are no accidents.

At the time, it felt random.

I wasn’t a photographer.
Photographers were the cool ones — artistic, talented, wildly creative.
That couldn’t possibly be me… until it was.

That course didn’t just teach me how to use a camera. It opened my eyes to what I was capable of. It gave me community, confidence, and a creative spark I didn’t know I had. What started as curiosity quickly became a calling.

Before long, I was photographing food, developing recipes, and serving some truly incredible clients — all while staying home with my young family.

But even as that season was beautiful, I knew it wasn’t the final destination.

The Heart Behind This Blog

This space is a love letter.

To my kids.
To the seasons we’re living right now.
To the meals we share, the stories we tell, and the memories we’re making around the table.

I don’t want to forget these years.

The sticky fingers.
The favorite recipes.
The way home feels when everyone is finally together at the end of the day.

Everything Starts with Mom is where I get to capture all of it — our family recipes, our rhythms, our small moments, and our big heart beat.

And it’s also where I get to open the door and invite you in.

What You’ll Find Here

This isn’t just another recipe blog.

Yes, you’ll find:

• Family-tested recipes
• Comfort food
• Weeknight favorites
• Special-occasion dishes

But you’ll also find:

• Stories of motherhood
• Reflections on building a steady home in a fast-moving world
• Encouragement for moms who are doing their best
• A reminder that you belong here

And I want to make one promise very clear:

No AI recipes. Ever.

Every single recipe you find here has been made in my kitchen, served to my family, and approved at our table. These are real meals for real life — not something generated, copied, or mass-produced. If it’s here, it’s because we actually loved it.

Who This Blog Is For

This space is for the moms who are figuring it out as they go.

For the ones who love their families deeply but still feel stretched thin.
For the ones who want to build something meaningful, even in the middle of chaos.
For the ones who are craving a sense of peace and solid ground in a world that keeps changing.

You don’t have to have it all together to be here.
You don’t have to be an amazing cook or a Pinterest-perfect parent.

You just have to be a mom who cares.

Creating Peace in a Changing World

So much of motherhood today feels loud, fast, and overwhelming.

We’re constantly told:

• Do more
• Be more
• Try harder
• Keep up

But deep down, most of us are longing for something quieter.

A slower dinner.
A steadier home.
A place where our families feel safe, loved, and anchored.

That’s what I’m building here — one recipe, one story, one moment at a time.

My Hope for You

My hope is that when you land at this table, you feel:

• Seen
• Encouraged
• Understood
• Not alone

I hope you find recipes that make your life easier.
Stories that make you feel less isolated.
And a reminder that you don’t have to walk this motherhood journey by yourself.

Because belonging is just the beginning.

What’s Next

This blog will grow as our family grows.

There will be:

• More recipes
• More stories
• More moments worth remembering

And I’m so grateful you’re here at the very beginning.

So, pull up a chair.
Grab a cup of coffee.
And make yourself at home.

Welcome to Everything Starts with Mom. 💛