Mary
Mary, a native of Rockford, Illinois, attended DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois where she received her BA in Secondary Art Education. In 2007, she moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa after accepting a position as a high school visual arts teacher with the Cedar Rapids Community School District. She and her husband, Collin, who is a teacher in the Iowa City Community School District, reside in Cedar Rapids with their daughters, Zoey and Munroe. Zoey is five and Munroe will be turning one in October 2016. In addition to being a full time mommy, full time teacher, and writer for the mom’s blog, she is also a professional artist who has shown and published works both nationally and internationally. Mary enjoys traveling, painting, and most of all, spending time with her family.
Lumps, Exams, and Mammograms: Be Breast Cancer Aware
My first experience having a mammogram was at the age of 29. I found a lump during one of my routine self examinations. Luckily it turned out to be fatty tissue and I didn’t need...
The Ultimate Blueberry Muffin Recipe
During blueberry season I often feel like “Bubba” from the movie, Forrest Gump. Instead of rambling off an extensive list of shrimp recipes, I'm pondering on the variety of blueberry recipes: blueberry jam, blueberry...
My Spanish Getaway: Traveling Abroad Alone
I did something out of the norm a few weeks ago. (Well, at least out of the norm for me.) I took a trip alone to another country–Spain. This was not a trip that...
Graduation Day Reflections: Celebrating With Our Graduates
It’s graduation time and many of us will be celebrating the hard work of those that are closest to us. Perhaps you have a senior in high school graduating at the end of this...
9 DIY Birthday Party Secrets You Never Knew
Warning: Planning a DIY party is not for the faint of heart. Proceed with caution, because once you start, there is no going back.
We live in a day and age of Pinterest, Tumblr, blogs,...
International Women’s Day: Celebrating Inner Beauty and Strength
I am an Iowa transplant, and one of the things that I loved about Iowa when I moved here was its diversity. When my husband and I talked about having children, we agreed that...
Educational Art Experiences for Kids in the Iowa City Area
Being an art teacher and a local artist, I see the positive effects that art education can have on a growing mind. Whether it be through visual or performing arts, experiences with art encourage our...
Family Vacations: 11 Tips for Successful Travel
My husband, Collin, and I are international travelers. As educators we make a point of experiencing the cultures of as many countries as we can; we do this for our own enjoyment, but on...
Holiday Traditions: Our Secret Homemade Eggnog Recipe
Whenever I hear the word “tradition,” I instantly want to break out in song from the Broadway show, Fiddler on the Roof. Recently I looked up the lyrics to the Tradition song, and I...
QUIZ: Which Gilmore Girls Character Are You?
Whether you are a part of Team Jess, Team Dean, or Team Logan, there is one thing that we all have in common: our love for “Gilmore Girls." To say I'm excited for the...