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Writing TeamAmanda resides in Milford but is a Boston girl at heart. She is happily married and has a beautiful boy Desmond (2018) who happens to be on the spectrum and is nonverbal. Amanda is passionate about two things: her family and her friends. She is a hard working stay at home mom who is constantly striving to be a better version of herself each and every day!Writing TeamAmanda Meady is a working mom and the mother of an adorable, high energy young girl. She has lived in central Mass the majority of her life, currently residing in Barre. Amanda became a mother in 2018. She and her little one enjoy local parks, hiking trails, splash pads in the summer, fairs and festivals! As someone who now works in the schools, she has the ability to spend the majority of the summer with her daughter and they recently started exploring more activities in the area. Her daughter said her favorite place so far is Davis Farmland!Writing TeamAnn was born and raised in central MA! Ann attended Worcester State University for her undergraduate degree in psychology, and recently completed her masters in special education from Endicott College. Ann is a mother of two, Emma (2021) and Mikey (2023). She is also a dog mom to the best German Shepherd pup Brody! During the day, Ann is a special education teacher working with elementary school children who have social and emotional needs. When she's not at work, Ann is often either spending time with her children, or is enjoying a winery with her husband Mike. Headshot generously provided by Stella Grae PhotographySenior WriterAri is a native of Princeton, MA and now lives in Holden with her husband, Sam, son Henry (2019), and daughter Ruby (2022), after years of working in LA's TV industry. This certified yoga teacher is the voice behind The Good Getter - a lifestyle blog that touches on all-things baby, healthy living, and travel. When she’s not working as a full-time social media manager or hanging out with her guys, she can be found shaking it at a Zumba class, adventuring in Maine or scoping out the best coffee in the area.Writing TeamAsha is a 34 year old woman who has lived in Massachusetts since 2013. She is a mom to a 3 year old son & dog, and a wife. She has been a freelance photo stylist since 2019 and LOVES her job. She describes her job by saying "I make pretty sets or outfits and a photographer takes photos of it". When not working, her favorite thing is to go shopping for her son and herself. She loves spaghetti, yoga, iced coffee/lattes and wine. She has lived in Central Mass since 2018 and loves how it has so many different festivals and fairs to bring the little one to.Social Media TeamBillie is a Central Mass native and resides there with her husband and two children. She enjoys going on adventures and finding new family friendly places to explore. She is also a Girl Scout Troop leader and local cookie expert! She is passionate about motherhood and making impactful memories. Headshot generously provided by Jenna Rose PhotographyWriting TeamCarly is a fun lovin' Aussie who moved to Central Mass 2.5 years ago after 15 years of gallivanting through Europe and South America. She's now settled into living the American Dream and teaching 5th grade up near the New Hampshire border. Carly and hubby Jermaine welcomed a baby girl, Ximena, at the beginning of 2023.Writing TeamCassinda is a boy mama (Henry 2020, Noah 2021) who lives in Southbridge MA. She works full time as a daycare teacher to littles and loves it. In her spare time, you can find her reading thriller or romance novels, using her cricut or hiking with her boys. She understands the good, the bad and the ugly of mama-hood. She is an extroverted introvert and an enneagram 2! She can’t wait to make more connections with mamas and put herself out there a little more! Headshot generously provided by Stella Grae PhotographyWriting TeamCatherine grew up in Albany, NY, and attended Boston University where she turned her love for writing into a journalism degree. She left Massachusetts after college, but returned in 2020, when she was charmed by Elm Park on a late spring visit with her husband when she was 9 months pregnant. Five weeks after her son was born, the family moved to Worcester and Catherine enrolled in a masters degree program in occupational therapy the following year. Catherine and her family love taking advantage of local outdoor events and activities in the area, from parks and hiking to farmers markets and festivals. While home with her 4-year-old son and 5-month-old daughter, Catherine incorporates simple, cost-effective, eco-friendly choices into her daily life as a mom, wife, and graduate student.Writing TeamJillian lives in Hudson, MA with her husband, son and dog Dino. Jillian is a mom to her human son, Jacob who was born in 2020 (yup that’s right a pandemic baby) and her fur baby Dino, which her and her husband adopted in 2018. Jillian is a full time stay at home mom and works part time at T.J. Maxx. She likes to play softball and plays in a woman’s league in Hudson. Jillian also makes deco mesh wreaths for holidays and seasons. Jillian loves the beach and sitting by the pool. She also LOVES going on cruises with her family. Being a mom is the most rewarding and frustrating job in the whole world and Jillian is so lucky to be able to do it every day. Headshot generously provided by Stella Grae PhotographySenior WriterKate Hayes was born and raised in western MA, before heading to college in Boston to study neuroscience. After graduation, she lived in NYC for nearly a decade and CT for two years, before moving to Shrewsbury in 2021. She has a 4 year old daughter and a 2 year old son. Kate is a full-time working mom, leading the corporate leadership development programs at Echoing Green, a global leadership accelerator. Outside of her day job, she is a trained leadership coach and facilitator who loves to work with moms. She runs a local moms group in Shrewsbury, focused on connecting moms through deeply engaging conversations. When she’s not working, she loves to travel the world, cook her way through her cookbook collection, practice yoga, and spend time with her adorable children and husband. Headshot generously provided by Stella Grae PhotographySocial Media TeamKatharine lives in Hudson, MA with her husband, daughter Waylen (2019) and son River (2021). Katharine was previously a school nurse for children with developmental disabilities for 13 years and is now a nurse at a group home for adults with intellectual disabilities. Katharine loves to spend as much time at the beach as possible in the summer months. You can often find her walking in downtown Hudson, exploring local hiking trails, and local breweries with her family. Katharine belongs to a group made up of local women that enjoy craft beer. It's called Worcester Girls Pint Out. Headshot generously provided by Jenna Rose PhotographyWriting TeamKaty MacQueen is a mom of two girls, born in 2019 and 2021. She grew up in Rhode Island, then made her way to Massachusetts for graduate school and never left. After living in Boston for 6 years, she settled down in Central Massachusetts with her husband, where they've been living since 2017. Their three favorite places to visit in Central Mass are: Davis Farmland, Marion’s Camp (Sutton’s Town Beach), and West End Creamery (adventure park, ice cream, and the best hill rolling!). Katy currently works part time outside the home and thoroughly enjoys her other days at home with her girls!Social Media TeamKrista was raised in North Attleboro, MA. After moving around a bit, she settled back in North Attleboro where she now lives with her husband Rob, son Gavin (2020), and daughter Cassidy (2022). She has her bachelors in Psychology and a second degree in Communications although she’s currently a stay at home mom. Before becoming a mom, Krista and her husband have traveled to over 15 countries. While they haven’t left the country yet with the kids, they enjoy traveling to places around the U.S. During the day, Krista thrives on being the “stay at home mom who’s never at home”. She loves exploring new places with her kids and is always finding fun things to keep everyone busy. Though her life is very crazy with two toddlers, she feels so lucky to be able to spend this time at home with them! Headshot generously provided by Jenna Rose PhotographyWriting TeamKristen Russell is a mom, wife, and lifelong central Mass resident. She grew up in Rutland and settled in Lunenburg back in 2019! She has a 3 year old son and 3 fur babies. She is a former preschool teacher, and now works as a travel agent who specializes in Disney vacations. She has a newfound appreciation for this area since becoming a mom - there are so many great places to explore! Some of her family's favorite local places to visit are: Davis Farmland, Acton Discovery Museum, and Castle in the Trees Playground.Writing TeamLaura McCarthy-Ha grew up in Connecticut, went to college in Worcester (yay Clarkies!) and returned to central MA 6 years ago after 10 years in DC. She's passionate about Early Childhood Education and loves to teach preschool. Right now, she stays home applying that passion to helping her 5 and 2.5 year old daughters grow. She loves baking, musical theater, being outside, and getting lost in the stories of books or tv shows.Senior WriterLaurelle Farrell is a wedding and portrait photographer behind AR Images in Marlborough MA. She also provides photographic and strategic social marketing and web solutions for various small businesses locally and across the country. Laurelle is the co-owner of Timeless Bridal Creations which provides alternative bouquets and decor for brides to be. Laurelle lives in Marlborough with her husband Jon, daughter Amelia and pups Taylor and Bella. When she isn’t chasing her toddler around she can usually be found snuggled up in fuzzy socks with a good book, or enjoying her favorite ice cream.Writing TeamOriginally from Philadelphia, Lauren now lives in Bolton with her husband and two young boys born in 2019 and 2023. She landed in Central Mass after attending college in Boston, meeting her husband, and then slowly moving west with stops in Cambridge, Newton, and Southborough. An early childhood educator for over 20 years, Lauren is currently the associate director of a preschool. She is passionate about high-quality education for young children. Lauren enjoys puzzles, game nights, home improvement projects, naps, and low-key gatherings with friends. She can usually tell you the closest ice cream spot given a location between Boston and Central Mass. Lauren is also a dedicated and unabashed Hanson fan.Writing TeamLea is a woodworker, homeschooler, and writer who lives in Worcester, Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters. Since 2013 she has owned a business that sells handmade Montessori materials and loves all things about the outdoors, fermented foods, science and insects.Writing TeamLindsey Ford lives in a cozy home in S. Grafton with her husband and son (born in 2015) and their cat. She works for the Psychiatry department at UMass Chan Medical School. Aside from working and developing in her career, she loves being with her family and friends. Her husband, son, and she are always “out and about” looking for new foods, adventures, and places to go. She found herself getting involved with Central Mass Mom for multiple reasons, but I love to connect with other Moms. We all have our strengths and challenges, but when we come together, those challenges are set aside and we have great times and meet other new friends. I love being a part of Central Mass Mom and I look forward to more events and meeting new friends.Writing TeamLiz Chirico's journey to central MA started 20+ years ago when she came here for college. Since then she's lived in (and been a mom in) Worcester and now Leominster. Her only is 5.5 and starting kindergarten which will be a whole new journey for them both. She loves being active in the community and attending festivals, block parties, visiting museums, libraries, etc. She feels she is a better mom at times outside the home because there's no chore list hanging over her head!Senior Contributing WriterMaggie has called Ayer home for over a decade after originally coming to Massachusetts from Syracuse, NY for college. She lives there with her husband, their two kids and two dogs. You can find her out hiking (okay, nature walking) on local trails, kayaking on one of the many local ponds and lakes, or visiting a coffee shop or brewery. Maggie enjoys being a stay-at-home mom and loves finding ways to be engaged in the local community, from coaching soccer to volunteering in the school library. She also likes supporting her husband's business, Still River Financial Planning, on the social media front. A big part of Maggie's story is being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 24. While she is many years out from her diagnosis and cancer free, it will never stop being a defining part of her life (and she is always happy to support anyone going through it - seriously, please reach out).Writing TeamMary is mama to Oliver and Logan. She is a small business owner, Swim Instructor, and Swim team coach, and she loves it! She is passionate about growth, nature, and learning. She loves to vacation and explore new places. In her free time, you can find her reading, listening to audiobooks, or listening to a wide variety of music genres. She loves doing anything with her kids that make them smile. Headshot generously provided by Jenna Rose PhotographySocial Media TeamMindy was born and raised in San Francisco, CA, she went to collage in Salem, OR where she met her husband (married 12 years). Mindy is a transplant to Charlton, MA and has a 1 year old son. Prior to becoming a mom, Mindy worked as a Juvenile Probation Officer and most recently as a Victim Witness Advocate for the Attorney General's Office. In her spare time, she loves reading, watching Survivor and Great British Bake Off while snuggling with her 3 kitties-Roxy, Sawyer and Merlin. Mindy loves living in MA because it is so rich with history and culture. She enjoys taking walking tours, visiting museums and seeing Broadway shows.Social Media TeamNicole is a native Texan but has spent the last 20 years living in Massachusetts. She graduated from Wayne State College in Wayne, NE with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising. Nicole currently lives in Grafton, MA with her husband, son, their two cats and dog. Nicole spent 20 years in the retail industry as both a merchandise buyer and manager of merchandise planning in Boston and Metro West. As the next chapter of her career, Nicole started her own real estate business as a Realtor at Lamacchia Realty. Nicole loves connecting with people and giving back to her community by serving on the Grafton Economic Development Commission. She loves nature hikes with her family and their dog Rocky, an 85lbs Weimaraner. When she isn't cheering on her son at a soccer, lacrosse or basketball game, you can usually find her at home gardening or planning out her next home project.Director of ContentRobin grew up and currently resides in Uxbridge with her husband and their four children and three cats. She has 8-year-old twins, a 4-year-old, and a 1-year-old. In 2020, they decided that homeschooling was the right choice for their family and they haven't stopped yet. She dreams of having a homestead and lots of acres in the future, but for now, they garden and hopefully get some more animals for their small 1-acre lot. She loves camping with her family (her youngest was only 4 weeks old on her first trip). Her husband always says she is happiest when she is by the ocean and when her nose is in a good book. You will find her behind the camera lens capturing photos, teaching women how to use makeup, and coaching her children's sports teams. Headshot generously provided by Jenna Rose PhotographyWriting TeamStacey Kenneally is mom to three amazing kiddos Gregory (7), William (4) and Caroline (21 months). Her husband and she fell upon central mass realizing they wanted to start their family with more space than the big towns they grew up in and have not looked back since leaving their condo in the city almost 10 years ago. When she is not with her children, she enjoys reading, baking, crafting with her Cricut, playing soccer and being outside.Social Media TeamThin is a first time mom to Via and teaches at a local university. She loves to spend time with her family and friends. She enjoys being outdoors and visiting local businesses. Headshot generously provided by Jenna Rose PhotographyWriting TeamTina, a devoted mom of two boys, Thomas (2015) and Lucas (2017), resides in Hopkinton, MA with her college sweetheart, Mark, and their rescue dog. Balancing her roles as a mother, wife, and business owner, she embraces the joyful chaos of it all. Tina proudly owns two businesses: Breastfeeding Balance, LLC, and The Herd, LLC, which she co-founded with another local mom. Both ventures serve as essential prenatal and postpartum resources for women and their families. As a certified lactation educator, Tina is passionate about guiding new families through the postpartum journey, breastfeeding, and beyond, offering invaluable support every step of the way. Headshot generously provided by Stella Grae PhotographyWriting TeamTori is a family law attorney based in the Worcester area and a former public high school teacher. Although she is a South Shore native, Tori has called Central Mass home for nearly a decade. She lives in Northern Worcester County with her husband and their two young children (a daughter born in 2020 and a son born in 2022). Tori is passionate about accessibility and inclusion, family preservation, child welfare, and public service. She is thrilled to be part of the Central Mass Mom community and to connect with other moms. Headshot generously provided by Jenna Rose PhotographyWriting TeamTracey Faraday is mom to a two-year-old little guy and is solidifying her boy mom status with her second baby due early 2025. Her husband and she are both from Central Mass and love the area, including all the kid friendly activities around. Outside of being a mom, she is a former teacher turned board-certified health coach for moms. She helps toddler moms rediscover what “healthy” looks like despite the never-ending to-do list and the overwhelming mental load that comes with being the default parent. Her philosophy is to do this all WITHOUT mom guilt. She loves supporting other mamas as they navigate finding time for themselves in the craziness that is mom life.Social Media TeamViktoriya was born in Ukraine, raised in Massachusetts, and now resides in Northborough, MA with her son, Greyson (2019). She completed a B.A. in Communication/Public Relations at Worcester State, and then an MBA from Bentley University. After spending nearly a decade coaching gymnastics, she now works full-time in HR for a med-tech company. Viktoriya loves to travel, spend time at the beach, and enjoys a competitive game night with friends! Headshot generously provided by Jenna Rose Photography