Why did you decide to write a blog?

SO MANY REASONS! I covered a few in my “About Me” section, but the big one is: I LOVE home décor and DIY anything. I am ALL IN. If you give me a choice between a week on the beach and a week to play with my house with X budget, I’ll choose the week in my house. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the beach, but…..I get bored after three days. I feel the most alive when I am coming up with creative ideas and bringing those ideas to life! Sharing them with others is the icing on the cake; I have always had a love for learning, teaching, training, mentoring, and serving others.

I also get asked all the time about interior decorating, how I transitioned from teaching to the corporate world, how we adopted our son, where I found that cute pair of leopard shoes, and how I’m taming my wrinkles and my big hair. I’ve got no secrets to hide, and I want every woman to look, feel, and live her best life. The only difference between me and every other woman who doesn’t blog is that I decided to share anything valuable I know with the world instead of just my friends….by way of a blog.

What do you do besides blogging?

I am a former educator, educational consultant, business owner, and a corporate sales leader, and in 2020, I returned to teaching after almost 15 years away from the traditional K-12 classroom. I actually never stopped teaching; I just pursued that passion in different mediums. (Yes, you read that date right. I returned to teaching during a pandemic! Honestly, I couldn’t think of a better way to serve others when the needs of the world were so great). Once that year was up, I was given the opportunity to return to the corporate world doing some work I’ve always wanted to do, so here I am, back to the 9-5! I have two degrees in education, so you won’t be surprised to know that I also enjoy reading, writing, researching, teaching, and entrepreneurship—all perfect segways to blogging!

Through each of my career chapters, there is another common theme that gives me life—to see others succeed and find joy—mastering a skill, earning a promotion, redecorating a room, throwing a great party, finding a new product that solves a beauty concern, tackling a fitness goal—you name it. I especially love helping someone achieve beyond what they imagined possible. Sometimes you just need someone to believe in you when you can’t, ya know? I love being that person! My hope is that by sharing my life’s big adventures and my passion for designing and creating, I can be that person for some of you!

Why Mary & Bright?

If you’re STILL reading (I told you I liked to write!), this is a little heavy, but something else you’ll get from me is a whole lot of authenticity and REAL. This isn’t to say that others aren’t real, it’s just that apparently I have a habit of gift for being candid.

My up-bringing was straight-up lemons. Not just “my parents got divorced” (also awful) lemons, but I mean sour, rotten, lemons. For some, this is kryptonite, but for me, it’s my superpower. I have already seen the darkness, so I know it’s surmountable, not just for me, but anyone. I’m not special. I also know how unbelievably lucky I am to have a second chance at life….a normal one (relatively speaking-ha!). Not everyone who experiences trauma makes it over that hump…..some barely survive. Every day that I get another crack at this thing called life, I try to go after it. I have failed many, many times, but I do believe in choosing happiness and finding the bright side of things, and I strive to live in that space daily.

Do I sometimes decorate with bright colors or wear a bright pink lipstick? Yes, but the name Mary & Bright is really about a mindset that I hope will inspire you to live the life you want! You deserve it!

Have more questions? Shoot me a note HERE!