The EVM writing team features local, real moms, just like you! We’re not a group of influencers by trade, we’re just nextdoor moms who love the East Valley, and who love to keep it real, and overshare a little (in the best way possible).
Favorite EV date night activity: Dinner and a movie at Alamo Draft House
Best mom-advice received: Do the best you can and trust God with the rest
Amy is a full-time working mom of 2, and has been a resident of the East Valley for 4 years. She met her husband when he crashed her best friend’s wedding (true story!) and they have been enjoying married life for the past 5 years.
Amy is passionate about keeping it real and encouraging mamas that they don’t have to be perfect to be an amazing mom.
Coffee order: Iced coffee with 5 pumps of vanilla and cream
Favorite EV restaurants: Grimaldis, Barros, Sushi Neko and Masa Sushi
Ashley is a Disney-loving momma with two toddlers, two rescue dogs and a hedgehog. She met her husband in second grade and they’ve been married for 5 years.
She can be found enjoying iced coffee year round, no matter the weather. As a small business owner herself, Ashley loves to support other small, local businesses. She’s always up for visiting a local pizza or sushi restaurant!
Coffee order: Iced vanilla chai tea with 2 pumps of hazelnut
Greatest challenge in motherhood thus far: Working from home with an infant and 2 older older kids doing virtual learning
Britt is a divorced mom of 3, living the co-parenting life. She’s an AZ native and actively engaged in the community, politics, local art and fashion and the 2nd Amendment. Britt is a shoe obsessed, self proclaimed fashionista, lover of all things bumblebee and history.
When I’m not finding new adventures with my kids, I’m volunteering with the Junior League of Phoenix training up fellow female leaders in the community.
Favorite EV date night activity: Happy hour at Postino
Best mom-advice received: Let the kid have a pacifier!
Emily relocated from Los Angeles in 2019 and now lives in Tempe with her husband and toddler son, Oskar. They are currently awaiting the newest addition to the family, due in April!
Emily is a laid-back, crunchy, boy-mom who loves to gather with girlfriends to drink wine and chat it up.
As a yoga teacher, doula and most recently, Beautycounter consultant, she’s into all things clean and sustainable living, alternative lifestyle and health and happiness. She lovse to read books, visit the spa and spend time cuddling with her furry and human babies.
Coffee order: Americano with heavy cream, 2 pumps vanilla and 2 pumps cinnamon dolce
Greatest challenge in motherhood thus far: Giving birth during my full time graduate program, working full time and working towards my doctorate degree all while my daughter was a newborn!
Jenna is married to her best friend and is a mama to two littles and a pup. She is an Arizona native and has had roots in the East Valley for over ten years.
She is a Doctor of Nursing Practice with a specialty in Family Medicine and is passionate about health education.
She loves Jesus, coffee, craft beer and cheese boards. In her spare time she enjoys being with her family outdoors, cooking, and writing. She believes you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
Favorite EV date night activity: Dinner and drinks
Favorite EV Restaurants: Valle Luna and Joyride Taco House
Jessica is an East Valley Native and currently resides in Gilbert. Jessica met her husband in 2007 and have been married since 2009. They have twin boys who are 8 and a fur baby, Ruby.
Jessica has been a Pediatric Dental Assistant in the valley for over 19 years. When she’s not working, she enjoys working out, getting together with friends for dinner and taking trips as a family.
Coffee order: Decaf iced latte with oat milk
Best mom-advice ever received: To just love them. Don’t worry about the rules and the best practices, love trumps all.
Kate is an Arizona native and a new mom to her little boy, Teddy, born in November 2020. Kate is married to the love of her life, Nate, and they have two dogs, Duke & Zoey.
She is colorfully learning how to manage her event design business (Bloom+Blueprint) and her new role as a special needs momma!
She loves color, traveling, theme parties, anything Disney, and her family! Kate is a terrible cook, but loves a good cocktail! She’s a hopeless romantic and an eternal optimist. Cheers!
Favorite EV date night activity: Night hiking and dinner at Nando’s
Best mom-advice ever received:You can have it all, just not all at one time
Katie moved to Arizona 2015 for her husband’s job. They came with their 4 children and knew no one, but they were ready for a new adventure!
Victoria (21) is going to medical school this fall, Spencer (19) is studying aerospace engineering at Embry Riddle Aerospace University, Lillian (16) is a swimmer and tennis player for Eastmark High School, and Thomas is enjoying his best life as a 14 year old who loves fishing and Chewy (our 13 year old dog).
Katie loves Jesus, family, being outside, helping clients in real estate, eating (especially Mexican food) and drinking coffee and wine. She has a heart for moms, and feels the need to encourage and support moms, since they are the heart of a home.
Favorite EV Restaurant: Tia Rosa’s
Favorite family tradition: Opening up pajamas on Christmas Eve
Kayla is a mom to four kids – including twins, and has been married for 14 years. She is an Arizona native and lives in Gilbert.
She loves Disney, fall, hot chocolate, family vacations and any moment of peace she can get.
In 2020, she started a small sticker business and loves to support other local businesses.
Coffee order: Vanilla latte, hot or iced depending on the weather
Favorite EV date night activity: Top Golf
Kim is an Arizona Native who grew up in Mesa. She now lives in South Gilbert with her husband, Andrew an EMS worker, and their 5 children.
Kim’s oldest daughter, LilyAnna (18), suffers from a rare genetic disorder called CDD (CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder) that causes a multitude of disabilities. Additionally, Kim is Mom to Andi Jane(16), Oliver (12), Alfonso (5) and Isabella (4).
Kim works from home trying to juggle it all. More accurately she’s just dropping a lot of balls and laughing about it and posting it to her IG stories.
Coffee order: Iced coffee with coconut milk
Favorite family tradition:The day after Thanksgiving. The whole family stays in PJs, makes soup, decorates and watches Christmas movies.
Kira is a busy working mama of 4 (3 chicks and a baby boy) and lives in NE Mesa. She and her husband are high school sweethearts and moved to Arizona from the Midwest.
Kira likes a good project, iced coffee, CrossFit and Yoga, gin, and Marshmallow Dream Bars. She dislikes the school pickup line, emptying the dishwasher, and mom shaming.
Favorite EV date night activity: Any restaurant in Downtown Gilbert and a movie
Best mom-advice ever received: You will learn from your child every day. It will make you a better momma.
Kristen is a midwest-minded mom who moved from Nebraska to Arizona in 2010. She met her husband, Alex, in high school and after finishing college they made the move to the desert to start new roots in Mesa. Since moving to Arizona they have had two kids, Amelia and Cohen.
Kristen was elementary school teacher, but now she is new to the role of stay at home mom and still trying to adjust to the changes and new levels of exhaustion that have come along with it.
Growing up in a small town is a big part of why she loves the East Valley. She’s trying her best to embrace the chaos of life with little ones, she loves a good home DIY project, date nights, and traveling with her family.
Favorite EV date night activity: Brickyard for dinner and hanging out around downtown Chandler for drinks and a walk
Greatest challenge in your career thus far: Deciding to leave it
Lindsay is a long-time East Valley mama, originally from the Northwest ‘Burbs of Chicago.
She is a former lawyer, now stay at home mom, adjunct instructor at a community college, and social media over-sharer whose goal is always to make other mamas laugh.
Her family includes her husband of 15ish years, their two daughters, Ellary and Emerson, and their two goldendoodles, Ruby and Brother.
Coffee order: Iced chai with coconut milk
Best mom-advice ever received: They won’t go to college still waking at night/un-potty trained/with a paci/etc.
Megan is originally from North Florida, but has called the East Valley her home since 2009. She has been married to the love of her life, Matt, for almost 9 years and they have one toddler, Jacob, who is 2.
Megan works as the accountant at a large church in Chandler. She serves on the Steering Committee for a local MOPS group and leads a small group Bible study at her house.
Lover of football naps, her mother’s Italian cooking, and laughing her butt off with friends and family, most days you can simply find Megan trying to make up this whole mom thing as she goes along, leaning on the wisdom and encouragement of her amazing tribe.
‘Grandma Guest Post’ author, Ginger Fleishans, has one ability that few others at EVMB has: she can (correctly) answer most anything on a 60’s slang quiz. Not that she’s studied the 60’s – she lived it: she’s the Grandma. Today’s norms are often a mystery –changes in social behaviors, work protocol, and communication never fail to amaze, especially the wide range of talent displayed by today’s young moms. But one thing hasn’t changed: we all agree that being a mom is one of the toughest jobs ever. And our babies are more precious than gold.
With 33 years of marriage under her belt, Ginger believes that family is one’s strongest touchstone, worth preserving at all costs. Her family calls her a professional volunteer, she is active supporting her church and local school as a newsletter writer, fundraiser and social event planner.
If you want to bribe her, just suggest the Sugar Bowl in Old Town Scottsdale or a glass of pinot grigio.
