01 - Home is enough.

Meet Mariah. A creative mother and wife, whose idea of a fulfilling life looks a little different from the one we are often taught to pursue. For her, success is not always about being somewhere else or doing more. Sometimes, it means being exactly where she wants to be: at home, with the people she loves.

We sat down with Mariah to talk about motherhood, identity and the choices that have shaped her life.

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The Conversation

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Can you tell us a little about yourself and your journey?  

I’m Mariah, a wife, mother to 2 and one more on the way. Homebody, creative, a jack of all trades who is a master of none. I consider that to be a blessing. I enjoy many creative outlets, learning new things, accepting new challenges, but I try not to let the fear of failure keep me from following a passion. I’ve dipped my toes into sewing, gardening, dollhouse renovating, home projects, baking, and much more. I truly believe remaining creative - using our minds and our hands, adds immensely to our health, both mental and physical. I hold space for my creative endeavors any small way I can in the midst of raising very young children and the sacrifice that comes along with that daily life. 

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What inspires you most in your work and life?

I would have to say I feel most inspired by nature and deep human connection. Slowing down, I believe, is a lost practice in our culture. Humans are so often rushing about that we miss so much inspiration and beauty right in front of us. I grew up camping, running through creeks and forests, spending time immersed in creation. It is something I don't want to let go of just because I am an adult with responsibilities and timelines. I also feel inspired by my closest friends, spending deep meaningful time with them, opening up the unseen parts of our inner selves and letting accountability and connection grow us. I am very blessed to have such friends and blessed that we are raising our kids together. 

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What values guide your decisions?

My values are deep rooted in scripture - I read my bible daily. I keep God’s word on the forefront of my mind throughout my day. Even in the smallest moments of housework, mediating sibling arguments, frustrations with my spouse - God is a part of all of those things. I otherwise could not get by. God is there in the really good things too. Belly laughs with friends, the sweetest conversations with my toddler, my 4-year-old learning a new skill during homeschool.

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What does success mean to you?

Success for me has less to do with money or accomplishments. I believe if I can say at the end of my days that my family felt loved, served, and cared for - if they hopefully caught a glimpse of Christ through me, I would consider that a success. 

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How does your morning routine look like?

I value a slow morning. Nothing starts my day off worse than rushing out of the house and starting a mental clock. I am usually awoken by one of the children (currently the one kicking around in my belly is the first to wake me), I start with a nutritious breakfast every single morning. I am a big breakfast gal, it is a non-negotiable. I take my time prepping the meal, I sit and eat with the children, we usually do devotional reading at the table. I take my time making a latte with my espresso machine - it's a longer process than just pouring from a jug or pot, but slowing down is really important for me. Involving myself in processes, activating my brain early in the day, rhythm over schedule.

On a typical morning I sit in my designated blue gingham armchair to sip my coffee and the children know this is mommy’s time to read my bible and write in my journal. After this ritual is done I will get us all dressed and ready and that's when the day can tend to speed along. Even still - I like to keep our days relatively slow moving and relaxed. It's a luxury I never take for granted and am so extremely thankful for. 

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One meaningful object or place for you? 

My home is extremely meaningful to me. It is not just a place we lay our heads at night, more than just a place to hold our belongings, or a door to walk in and out of. We spend so much time in these four walls and it is where so much growth happens. Spiritual growth, relational growth, physical growth (man, do these kids grow fast), creative growth, mental growth. It is our safe space, a place entirely ours, a place we can invite others into. Home is but a reflection of the Heaven we hope to one day arrive to. And until the day comes where I reach Heaven’s shores, I will work to make our home reflect it as much as I humanly can. A place of love, refuge, honesty, worship, order, and beauty. 

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What is your favorite MOCHA piece and why?

One thing I can not seem to get enough of in my wardrobe is white staple pieces - dresses comfortable enough to wear around the house yet elevated enough to wear out. The Aerienne dress is a piece I never want to take off, truly combining beauty and comfort. I will always reach for timeless silhouettes, draping fabrics, and dresses that exude femininity. 

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How would you describe your personal style in three words?

Feminine, comfortable, romantic. 

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What is your favorite dessert? 

This might be an extremely unpopular opinion but layered banana pudding is my all-time favorite dessert. I have such fond memories of pulling up a chair to the stove, stirring and stirring the pot of milk until it became pudding while my dad prepared the other layers. It was our favorite dessert together. It's not only so delicious but so sentimental to me.

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What does beauty mean to you?

The meaning of beauty has obviously changed so much for me since I have aged. Thinking back to what beauty meant in my early twenties is drastically different from now. It is softer now. It is more inward. Beauty is more than just confidence but… security maybe? I feel very secure in my own beauty. I think having a daughter is what really changed that for me. She is half of me, and she is the most beautiful little woman I’ve ever met. Having children really flips the script on a lot of ideas and beliefs.

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How would you describe the aesthetic of your home?

My home aesthetic is very collected, very vintage, very cottage. I believe in a “slow made” home - one that grows and changes over time and moves and adapts with our families needs. I don’t feel a room is ever really complete. A corner of our dining room can be so much. A reading nook, a homeschool corner, a place for a baby cradle. Our home has been made slowly over time and is becoming more of our own every day that we dwell in it. 

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What are you looking forward to?

I am looking forward to the changing of the seasons as I welcome our third child into the world. We are waiting to find out the gender and I am just overwhelmed with excitement to meet who is being knit together in my womb. I have always adored the autumn season and the nostalgia of family camping trips, baked goods, chillier air, celebrations. The way the changing leaves are like a warning sign for winter, a reminder to hunker down as the days get shorter. 

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