meet our team

executive team

Vanessa Bush

Co-Owner

Vanessa loves her people and loves Albuquerque and has lots to say about both. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, Nate, and they have three kids (Micah, Corban, & Evangeline). Originally from Florida, she’s lived in Albuquerque since 2009 when she and her family relocated to start a new church. Even though she misses wearing flip-flops year-round, New Mexico has truly enchanted her, and the desert feels like home. When she is not chauffeuring children about town, Vanessa works as the Director of Strategy and part-owner of Truly Social Digital Marketing Agency, enjoys volunteering at church, loves watching college football, and drinks a little too much coffee. She is passionate about connecting women with each other, loving her people, and finding the good in her place.

Lauren Hall

Co-Owner

Lauren is a mom who is passionate about Albuquerque, her family, and her community. She grew up in Albuquerque and loves living in this incredibly cultural city. She believes in bringing mothers together in a way that creates a lasting community bond. All women deserve to belong to a tribe, and she works hard to create situations to make that a possibility. In 2011 she graduated from UNM and has worked in advertising with local companies ever since. Traveling with her family, eating the best food, and finding the greatest coffee is what makes her happiest.

Becca Lusko Toups

Podcast Manager & NM Momcast Host

Becca is a stay-at-home "Mom-ager" with 4 kids and a wonderfully blended family. She is retired from the corporate cosmetics management, but pieces together countless side hustles as a makeup artist, doing interior design & styling, creating custom fiber wall art, and coaching high school volleyball. She has been in Albuquerque most of her life but has also lived in enough other states long enough to know how amazing the weather is here in New Mexico! Becca and her husband David have two teenagers, a preteen, and a kindergartener. This keeps things parenting VERY interesting and busy from driver's ed and dating to storytime and dress up. She loves finding humor in the everyday, figuring out how to DIY almost anything around the house, cooking with her husband, keeping active with a myriad of sports & fitness, as well a celebrating all holidays. Follow Becca on Instagram or check out her website.

Margo Tapia

Client Relationship Director & Social Media Manager

Margo is a mother of three who was born and raised in Albuquerque. She has a passion for the great outdoors and a love for connecting people with things to do in the community. She worked as a Realtor most recently and gets excited talking to various people from all walks of life. Margo and her husband take the kids on road trips often, go on evening family walks and bike rides, have hiked the La Luz trail many times, and appreciate running in the bosque. Margo's other hobbies include yoga, buying local, relaxing with lavender infused products, and indulging in self care at hidden gems like Ojo Santa Fe. She is excited to connect local businesses to mom's in the Albuquerque area! Contact Margo at [email protected].

Marybeth Lobato

Project Manager

Marybeth is an Albuquerque native who has been married to her husband, Jacob, since September 2018. They lived in Roswell, NM for the majority of their relationship and moved back to Albuquerque in December 2021. Together, they are parents to two beautiful children. Her daughter Ava passed away shortly after she was born in 2019. She gave birth to her son Carson in 2020. Marybeth is passionate about helping other parents who have lost babies. She volunteers for Hope Mommies Albuquerque and the National Kidney Foundation. Marybeth enjoys coffee, matcha, a good book, white wine, and all the pizza. She can often be found with her family at a baseball game, a great Taco Tuesday, or a brewery.

Paige Pacini

Editor

Paige is a mom to three hilarious, energetic boys. In her pre-kid life, Paige worked as a licensed mental health counselor, but she shelved her empathetic listening and insightful questions to change diapers, race cars on the kitchen floor, and mediate toddler wrestling matches. While Paige loves to be there for (almost) every moment with her children, she also loves to get away and connect with other moms for dinner or a walk in the beautiful Albuquerque sun. Paige is married to her high-school sweetheart, Ben, and they work together to raise their three sons with lots of laughter and lots of love.

Rachael Reardon

Community Engagement Coordinator

Rachael is a stay-at-home mother of two, an Independent Consultant and Educational Services Representative for Usborne Books & More, and an exercise enthusiast. As a literacy advocate, she welcomes any opportunity to give back to her community. She enjoys organizing fundraisers, book fairs, and stewarding a Little Free Library (Charter #131653). Rachael met her future husband when she was 14 years old when they became high school sweethearts. After high school, Rachael moved to Durango, Colorado where she earned her B.A. in Marketing and played soccer at Fort Lewis College. After college, Rachael lived in Arizona and Washington, D.C. before returning to the Land of Enchantment to raise a family. Follow Rachael on Instagram.

Contributing Team

Aimee Pilegrene

Contributor

Aimee is a native New Mexican with a deep-rooted connection to the land and culture of the Land of Enchantment. Aimee is married to her high school crush, Brian. They are living their fairy tale with two amazing sons, Kane and Donovan, and Brian’s daughter, Alexi. She thrives on creating memorable experiences with them. Aimee is a successful real estate broker, and she and Brian have built a prosperous house flipping and real estate investment business together. In her free time, Aimee enjoys work/life balance, traveling, watching her kids play baseball, working out, and creating culinary masterpieces.

Alanna Taylor Stone

Contributor

Alanna has lived in ABQ for two years and has enjoyed her time here immensely. She is a stay-at-home mom to her daughter Ruby (2020). She married her husband, Jeffrey in 2017. She earned an Associate's Degree in Social Media Marketing from LDS Business College and her Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from Brigham Young University-Idaho. Alanna is a lover of all things pink and owns an insane amount of fruit print clothing. She loves trying new things and meeting new people and is always down to eat pizza. Follow Alanna on Instagram.

Alyssa Ochs

ABQ Mom Community & Conversation Group Leader

Alyssa is originally from a rural Amish community in Illinois but pursued her love for adventure as a full-time RVer traveling in her camper across North America before moving to New Mexico just before the pandemic hit. As a self-proclaimed "Jill of all trades, master of none," she has run her freelance writing business for over a decade, primarily writing articles for magazines and websites in diverse industries. Alyssa gave birth to her son, a "pandemic baby," in April 2020 and is so grateful for the connections she has found through ABQ Mom as a new parent. She is now navigating the insane world of toddlerhood and loves introducing her little guy to her passions of hiking, rock climbing, music, art, animals, and travel.

Anastasia Fajardo

Contributor

Anastasia Fajardo was born and raised in the good'ol 505, mostly in the North Valley but all over Albuquerque. Shortly after getting married Anastasia and her husband moved to Los Lunas In the Bosque and started their family with a beautiful baby girl and never looked back. Anastasia and her family care for a small "homestead" including Garden, Chickens, Pigs, and Dairy Goats. When Anastasia Isn't Caring for her family and animals, She is helping others start and add to their families as a Labor and Delivery Nurse. After almost a decade of being a Doula, Anastasia redirected her path to becoming a nurse. She had a mission to give women Amazing informed birth experiences and try create the most positive and empowering birth Possible.

Andy Gibson

Contributor

Andy is a Realtor and SAHM who is wife to Kyle and mom to Jolene (2019) and Oakley (2021). Originally from the Toronto area, Andy met her husband in South Korea while teaching abroad in 2013. In June 2018, her family moved to Albuquerque for her husband’s job as an air traffic controller. Andy loves spending time with her local mom group and is passionate about real estate. She has adjusted well to desert life and adores the amazing weather, kind people, and delicious food of New Mexico. She likes home projects, yoga, crafting, and creating activities for her kids. You can follow her on Instagram for all her inventive ideas and updates on mom life.

Bianca Fragua

Contributor

Bianca is a native New Mexican, hairstylist turned stay-at-home mom. As a pastor’s wife, you can often find her serving in some capacity at their church, including their preschool where she enjoys loving on and supporting her students and families. Between her time spent homeschooling and serving, Bianca enjoys thrifting, crafting, taking (way too many) photos of her 3 kids, and watching reruns of "The Office." Being the true extrovert that she is, Bianca loves meeting new people and trying new things. Give her a follow on Instagram or TikTok.

Charmayne Murphy

Contributor

Charmayne, also known as Fran, was born and raised on the Navajo Reservation. She moved to Albuquerque after graduating high school and has built a foundation for herself. She is a wife and mother of two beautiful children. She enjoys her job working in the Accounting field, while also pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Grand Canyon University. Charmayne enjoys evening walks with her family and catching up with the latest TV series. She is a lover of books, country music, running, and anime. She is also inspired by her Navajo traditions, language, and culture to always have faith in prayer and to continue believing in herself as a strong Navajo woman.

Dena

Contributor & Book Club Facilitator

Dena was born in California but has called Albuquerque her home for the better part of her life. She married her college sweetheart, a native New Mexican, who introduced her to the beautiful Sandia Mountain views and the magic of luminarias during the holidays. Dena is an Educational Audiologist by day and a Super Mom by night. She has two young children that fill her days with equal parts love, laughter, and insanity. She enjoys losing herself in a good book, carving out time to spend with her girlfriends, taking deep breaths in the outdoors, and cozying up on cabin vacations.

Dena Morris

Contributor

Dena is a wife, mother of three children, retired art teacher, owner of Carpe DM Solutions, and an advocate for spiritual, mental, physical, and financial wellness. Her number one goal as a mom is to soak up every age and stage and learn just as much from her children as she is working to teach them. She hopes to inspire other moms with fun DIY projects, organizational tips, and creative art lessons for children (and parents, too!) Her prayer is for others to find encouragement and motivation through the things God places on her heart to share.

Diane Wikler

Contributor

Diane loves family, friendships, and is somewhat of a green chile connoisseur. She grew up exploring the mountains of New Mexico and was thrilled to move back to Albuquerque with her husband. They have the sweetest son and enjoy living near the mountains, finding new restaurants, and hanging out at local breweries. Currently a full-time SAHM, Diane is also a writer, communications strategist, and global development expert whose passion for empowering women has taken her to over thirty-five countries. Diane enjoys building community as a mom and hopes to inspire and uplift moms across Albuquerque by sharing her heart and life with them. Follow Diane on Instagram.

Eena Attreya

Contributor

Eena was born and raised in India. She got married shortly after completing her master’s degree in mass communications. While it has been a big shift for her to move to the US, the change has given her a chance to learn about different cultures, cuisines, and various arts. Eena moved to Albuquerque almost 7 years ago, and she loves that the mountains remind her of her hometown in India. She describes 2016 as magical because she became a mom to Aarya and then in 2018 she welcomed Aaryan to the family. She's absolutely delighted to be part of the ABQ Mom and can't wait to explore Albuquerque even further.

Erin Garcia-Rimorin

Contributor & ABQ Fit Moms Facilitator

Erin Garcia-Rimorin is a native New Mexican who was raised in Grants, New Mexico and moved to Albuquerque 11 years ago. She graduated from the University of New Mexico with a concentration in family studies and peace studies. She is currently back in school for clinical mental health. Erin is married and is so thankful for her two beautiful children. A few fun facts about Erin: she loves the outdoors because they make her feel grounded and she’s a big fan of anything sweet. She thinks it is important to reach out to others and is so happy to be a part of ABQ Mom.

Elizabeth Janiors

Contributor

Elizabeth was born and raised in New Mexico. She grew up primarily in the mountains east of Albuquerque, but she has also lived in the city and in Los Lunas. She and her husband, Timothy of 15 years, have four children and one on the way! Her immediate family is Hispanic and Navajo. She is thankful for the opportunity to homeschool and also work from home. Some side jobs she has are in the beauty and health industries. Her family loves to travel but are always thankful to return to NM! If she is not hiking, in God's beautiful creation, she is wishing she could be! Follow Elizabeth on Instagram.

Felicia Duran

Contributor

Felicia was born and raised in Bernalillo, New Mexico. She has 3 children with a vast age difference (2003, 2010, and 2022) who are all so sweet and fun in their own ways. Working in the healthcare industry, she knew she found a great match with her boyfriend who is a police officer. Together they share the same values and passion for helping others. She loves tattoos, reading, painting, crafting, and pizza. She’s stoked to share raw and real experiences and can’t wait to continue her contributions to the community in a new capacity with ABQ Mom.

Hannah Bell

Contributor

Hannah is a Northern New Mexico native who now calls Albuquerque home. She married her law school sweetheart and together they have two sweet children. Hannah is a passionate financial wellness coach and mediator and finds great meaning in helping couples learn to communicate and use money aligned with their values to create a life they love. She loves cooking and nourishing her family through good food, seeing the world through her children’s eyes, and learning. She is thrilled to be part of a community of moms sharing insights and enthusiasm.

Heather Cummings

Contributor

Heather is a native New Mexican. She is a mom of 2 boys that are 27 years apart, one of whom is almost a toddler. She is a global diversity, equity, and inclusion leader working with everything from large corporations to small nonprofits. Heather is also a NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Family-to-Family Program Leader. She spends most of her time with family, close friends, and her dogs. She enjoys yoga, hiking, and dancing with her little one whenever the mood hits her.

Jade Hernandez

Contributor

Jade is a momma to 3 bonus kiddos (2004, 2006, and 2009) and 2 of her own kiddos (2018, 2020). Her experience as a mom includes the teenage struggles, balancing parenting with other parents, being a single mom, being an Autism mom, and so much more. She’s not just a versatile mom; she helps people with their lives and businesses right from home as a freelancer to various clients. She excels at being an executive assistant but also knows the true realities of keeping the laundry and dishes clean.

Jai Thompson

Contributor

Jai is a mother, wife, grandmother, and United States Air Force veteran who has lived in the greater Albuquerque area since 2013. She has been married to her husband since 2005. Together they are raising a blended family of six wonderful kids. (Wonderful most of the time, anyway.) In her free time, she can be found reading, collecting Amazon products she doesn't need, avoiding laundry, or developing her extensive repertoire of embarrassing dance moves guaranteed to embarrass her kids. She is a super mom, just ask anyone, well maybe not her kids. See dance moves mentioned above.

Joanna Mendoza

Contributor

Meet Joanna Mendoza, a Latina mom to two beautiful children, Ava Khalani (2021) and JC King (2023). She is part of a biracial family that enjoys trying new foods and finding fun activities to experience as a family. A fun fact about her family is that they go to a local zoo every time they visit a new state; they have made it a fun activity that their kids will always remember. Joanna recently started her own small business, Crafts by Joanna, where she creates fun, affordable crafts. She also works for Presbyterian Hospital and is getting the hang of the fun but tiring business of being a mom. She wouldn't change it for the world!

Katelyn Quanz

Contributor

Katelyn Quanz and her husband, Daniel, have two bright and active daughters. Their family loves sunshine and fresh air, travel and adventure, moving their bodies, breakfast foods, and snuggling their poodle on the couch. Katelyn grew up in Albuquerque and graduated from UNM with a degree in education, which came in handy when she decided to homeschool in 2022. Homeschooling gave their family flexibility to travel more than ever before. When their daughters return to traditional school in 2023, Katelyn and Daniel will continue to expand their short-term rental business and explore what’s next for their family.

Kayla Vigil

Contributor

Kayla was born and raised in southern New Mexico and recently found her way back to the Land of Enchantment after nearly a decade in colorful Colorado. As a full-time working mom, she’s always on the go; juggling life with her toddler and career in corporate communications. When she’s not spending time with her family, she enjoys running, where she’s able to take in the majestic views of the Sandia mountains, drinking craft beer and diving into a good book. Kayla is passionate about making sure all moms feel supported and is excited to be a part of this community.

Leigh Slater

ABQ Mom Community & Conversation Group Leader

Leigh moved from the humidity of South Carolina to Albuquerque near the end of 2018 with her motorcycle enthusiast husband. She has a 5-year-old, newborn, and two large lap dogs. They enjoy taking the dogs for walks and exploring the area. Leigh has a background in elementary education. She enjoys meeting new moms and going to new places by helping to organize play dates for our Community & Conversation Group!

Lindsay Stansifer Caldwell

Contributor

Lindsay is a working mom of 3. Her oldest, born in 2018, has cerebral palsy, and after her own battle with cancer at 18, she feels equipped to advocate for her child in any way necessary. Lindsay cares deeply about the environment and teaching her kids to care for the planet and for everyone around them. She also enjoys winding down with a glass of wine or a cocktail with her husband in the evening, while sorting the never-ending piles of laundry her kids produce, playing tennis, doing Pilates, and supporting her church community.

Madeline Budagher

ABQ Mom Community & Conversation Group Leader

Originally from the Chicago area, Madeline moved to Albuquerque almost a decade ago to receive her M.A. in Speech Language Pathology at UNM. In her second year of studies, she met her husband on a blind date and has happily lived in the Land of Enchantment ever since. As an SLP she worked with preschool age children in the school setting. Now working as a stay-at-home mother of two, she enjoys taking her children out into the community and connecting with other moms. Her other hobbies include: reading, playing piano, crafting, and cooking delicious meals for her family. She eventually looks forward to returning to work as an SLP, but for now is enjoying the wild ride that is motherhood.

Martha Lara

Contributor

Martha is a New Mexico native who loves the southwest. After graduating from UNM with her master's, she joined the family business and has been helping New Mexico recycle for over 10 years. She loves to spend her free time with her family enjoying everything the Land of Enchantment has to offer. Martha and her husband Sean are first-time parents and were able to welcome their first daughter Olivia (Oli) thanks to IVF in late 2020. As a first-generation Mexican American, she is so excited to be able to raise Oli in a multi-cultural household. Follow Martha on Instagram.

Martha Navarro

Contributor

Martha is an Albuquerque wife, Mama!, sister, and friend who enjoys coffee and doughnuting around. In her spare time, she teaches and makes up ridiculous songs while cooking dinner. She's also taken up coaching, and can often be found on the soccer pitch with a team of rambunctious boys.

Melissa Davis

Contributor & ABQ Fit Moms Facilitator

Melissa is a Kansas City native who followed God on a life-changing adventure with her husband and two kids, moving to Albuquerque in September 2022. Treasuring Sandia time with her family on a daily basis has grown her love for the city and the people here. Melissa's heart beats for seeing lives transformed by the love of Jesus. Her husband serves as the next gen worship director at their church, while she passionately coaches women online to create healthy habits with a kingdom-driven mindset. While her family loves to travel to Disney World often, she loves exploring Albuquerque's local coffee shops as well. Melissa has begun connecting with women in every season through a local weekly prayer walk. You can find her on Instagram.

Martina Moore

ABQ Mom Community & Conversation Group Leader

Martina was born and raised in Albuquerque. She grew up and has continued to grow her family in the NE Heights. She first met her husband shortly after high school, and after a short 10 year courtship, they married in 2014. Shortly after they had their 2 children, Rosemary and Gabriel, whom she partially homeschools. She is in her 15th year working, part-time, for the largest hospitals in Albuquerque as a Medical Laboratory Technician. The majority of her time is spent with her children, as her husband works long, unpredictable hours. She enjoys listening to audiobooks and podcasts, crocheting, and paper crafts. She enjoys arranging meet-ups and playdates with our Community & Conversations group.

Nat Rivera

Contributor

Martina was born and raised in the beautiful state of New Mexico. She’s an alumni of NMHU and UNM, where she earned a Master’s of Science in Speech & Language Pathology. Martina is a creative at heart and feels the need to refresh her soul daily by finding the simple joys in life and spending time with her family. She is a lover of books, music, yoga, and culture, and she's fascinated by words and the language we use in our daily lives. Martina is currently navigating motherhood with her favorite little guy Ezra Jude and her husband Nicholas. Follow Martina’s adventures through life and motherhood on her Instagram @the_modernessentialist or on her personal blog, The Modern Essentialist.

Natasha Gutierrez

Contributor

Natasha is a married mom to five children. She is a UNM alumna currently working at a state agency serving vulnerable populations in the community. She is passionate about mental health issues and awareness. Her hobbies include crafts, cooking/baking, self-deprecation, binging true crime shows, and over-thinking every aspect of her life. She is always covered in glitter, flour, and self-doubt. Natasha also enjoys volunteering for her children’s schools and can often be spotted photographing football and basketball games for local high schools. You can always find her over-posting on Instagram.

Rachel Sherman

Contributor

Rachel is an Arizona native and a mommy of two. She has one boy one girl ages 8 and 9. She has lived in New Mexico for 11 years and works full time at a local law firm. She squeezes in all her kiddos' activities where she can and thrives in organized chaos. She and her family love mountain air, baseball, and their dog Bella. Rachel loves experiencing new places and events and wants to share that with other mommies. That stuff isn’t always easy to find so she wants to share all the secrets NM has to offer with the ABQ mom community.

Rachel Yellowhair-Morrison

Contributor

Rachel was born and raised in New Mexico and on the neighboring Navajo reservation until she was 14. She then attended high school in Connecticut but returned to New Mexico for college because the mountains will always be home for her. She met her husband while working at Dion’s and she attended UNM. They married in Tijeras, NM in 2014 and welcomed their first son in 2016. Their second son arrived in 2021 during the pandemic. Rachael leads ABQ Mom's Community & Conversation Group and stays home with her two boys, one of which homeschools. If she is not busy organizing playdates and meet-ups for local moms, you can find her at a yoga class, a crafting event, or on a run on one of the various trails surrounding Albuquerque. Since entering motherhood in 2016, Rachel's been most passionate about bringing moms together in a safe space and being the mom friend to others that she wished she had when she was a newly minted Albuquerque mom.

Renee Martinez

Contributor

Renee is a mom of a wonderful daughter and two amazing bonus sons. She and her fiancée Adrian have been together for five years and will officially be married in the summer of 2023 in Cancun Mexico. Their kids are active in various sports, and you will often find Renee and her fiancée coaching. Renee loves Albuquerque and is always actively looking for various ways to contribute positively to the community. Renee is originally from San Luis, Colorado with family in northern New Mexico. She is a graduate of UNM, with a degree in Accounting/Finance, and holds a New Mexico CPA license working for a managed care organization. Renee loves all things local including the brewery scene, farmers markets, and pop-up events.

Rosa Pynes

Contributor

Lover of all things leopard print, Rosa is the mommy of Isaac Ray, wife of Ross, and dog mom to Rocky and Harley. Both a proud New Mexican and Mexican, Rosa is originally from Durango, Mexico but has lived most of her life in the Land of Enchantment. She travels back to Mexico frequently to see family, and trips are now all the more fun with little Isaac. Rosa’s passion for her family also stems from a passion in dismantling educational inequity. She is currently on the governing board for Albuquerque Collegiate Charter School and works as a Site Operations manager for a national education nonprofit organization. In her spare time, Rosa’s hobby is adventuring around with her little family in their RV throughout the Southwest. She is excited to bring you into a slice of her life!

Sara Tolbert

ABQ Mom Community & Conversation Group Leader

Sara was born and raised in the NE Heights of Albuquerque, NM. She married her stud muffin husband James in 2015 after a short 11-year courtship. Sara and James welcomed their amazing son in 2016. When given the opportunity to stay at home with her new baby or return to work, that handsome little genius won and turned Sara into a full-blown SAHM. Before taking on her most challenging job of “mama,” Sara enjoyed her life as a Certified Health Education Specialist. Sara enjoys walks by the Rio Grande, playing tennis, binge-watching great TV, wearing sweat/yoga pants as much as possible, eating all the food (especially all the carbs), meeting other moms to share war stories and advice with, and spending quality time with her boys! Sara is honored to be one of the leaders of our Community & Conversation group. 

Sharada Maxwell

ABQ Mom Community & Conversation Group Leader

Sharada was born and raised in Albuquerque. She left for college in Chicago to study chemistry and also lived in San Francisco with her husband for a while before they decided to move back to Albuquerque in 2017. She worked in Biotech before becoming a stay-at-home parent to her now 4-year-old daughter. She is a lifelong vegetarian and enjoys cooking and trying new foods and restaurants. She loves living in New Mexico and looks forward to hosting events to help other moms find community here. Sharada serves as one of the leaders of our Community & Conversation group. 

Stephanie Telles

Contributor

Stephanie W. Telles, a native New Mexican, is the product of its public schools, its rich diversity and culture, and of course its world famous chile. Happily married, she is a card-carrying member of the sandwich generation, caring for her smart and silly toddler and her mom who lives Alzheimer’s disease. Passionate about helping her community she currently serves on the Board for the Alzheimer’s Association and the City-County Library Advisory Board. She holds degrees from NMSU and UNM and as an entrepreneur, Stephanie is the founder and CEO of Otoño Consulting. Prior honors include the 2020 Diverse Business Leader award and the 2018 40 Under Forty.

Tammira Taylor

Contributor

Originally from rural Wisconsin, Tammira has lived in Albuquerque for over 20 years and considers herself a true Burqueña. She loved learning about New Mexico in various geography and planning courses, and by diving right into the experiences that the state has to offer. Tammira earned a Master of Science in Geography from UNM and works as a GIS professional. Her family is always up for an adventure; you can find Tammira, her husband, and two boys camping and hiking, visiting museums, or attending an Isotopes game. Tammira loves learning, coffee, all things geospatial, antiquing, cooking, DIY, and curling up on the couch with her boys to watch a Friday night movie.

Taylor Drob

Contributor

Taylor Drob was born and raised in ABQ and is the owner of her own business, Taylor.D Socials. She specializes in branding, event planning, and social media marketing. She is extremely passionate about connecting & supporting the small business community of NM and finds joy in planning events for the local community. Taylor is currently expecting her first child, due August 2023, and is incredibly excited to be a mother. She already has lots of experience "momming" her twin nieces for the past ten years and has loved being an Auntie to them. Taylor is honored to be a part of the ABQ Mom team and can't wait to share all of the parts of motherhood, good and bad.

Taylor Farinelli

Contributing Photograher

Taylor is a new mom as of 2021 and the owner of T. Rayne Photography. She married her kindergarten sweetheart and is a cancer survivor. She has her bachelor's degree in business marketing but is truly passionate about writing, capturing memories, and…coffee. Surviving cancer at 23 years old has changed her perspective on life, and she loves to share her faith-filled testimony with the world in hopes that she can be used to inspire others. Follow Taylor on Instagram or check out her website.

Tonya Ellison

Contributor

Tonya is a wife and a mom of 4, ranging from college to kindergarten. Having lived in New Mexico long enough to say she’s from here, Tonya finds beauty in the New Mexican community and enjoys soaking it in with her family. Tonya has worked outside of the home in the end-of-life field for the past 13 years and has taught online graduate classes on grief and bereavement for the past year. Doing this work has allowed Tonya to appreciate each day she’s given and is a motivation to live life to its fullest. Her kids keep her busy as a sports mom and most weekends she can be seen (or heard) in the stands of a basketball or football game. Having kids in different developmental stages has taught Tonya a great deal about motherhood, and no matter how old or young your kids are she feels it’s important to know that moms matter. Follow Tonya on Instagram.

Vanessa Prueter

Contributor

Vanessa is a recent New Mexico transplant (2021), by way of Phoenix, Arizona, and is busy learning and loving the Albuquerque life. She is a Christian, career-focused, work-from-home mom to son, Colby, and stepson, Brady, and is engaged to her fiancé, Kevin. She loves animals and has two dogs, Girl and Ziggy, and a fluffy cat, Alfie. Vanessa is an early riser who loves Mondays and routine, iced coffee, and the daily Wordle challenge. When she’s not working or driving the kids around, she enjoys exploring the city, taking in the stunning New Mexico nature, and fishing with her guys. Vanessa is passionate about sharing kindness, gratitude, and insights on parenting and family life. She’s indecisive and doesn’t have any specific niche but can talk a little about a lot. You can follow Vanessa on Instagram @vprueter.

Ximena Correa

Contributor

Ximena was born and raised in Mexico City and has called Albuquerque home for almost twenty years. She is married and has three little ones that she is raising bilingual. Since recently becoming a stay-at-home mom, she's rediscovering Albuquerque (and life) through a new lens. You can find her begging her kids to read a book in Spanish or attempting crafts with them off of Pinterest. If there is spare time, she'll be listening to true crime podcasts or browsing healthy recipes that she hardly ever cooks. She loves traveling and experiencing different cultures and truly dislikes talking on the phone -text only, please! Ximena volunteers with the Birth Companion Program at UNMH. She believes in supporting women during the transformative time of childbirth. She is very passionate about birth and believes every woman deserves support regardless of her situation.

Thank you to Taylor Rayne Photography for these beautiful headshots.

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