Hello! I’m Naomi Merrill, creator and owner of the Minnesota Millennial Mom blog. It feels really official to hold such a profound title. Especially when all I’m doing is sharing about #momlife with my fiercely independent toddler girl and hoping no one notices I haven’t showered in three days.
I am married to my amazing husband, Jaremy (Yes, that is spelled correctly. Yes, I’m sure), who owns his own business doing independent distribution for grocery retail. This is a fancy way of saying we get a lot of free snacks.
Together we are parents to Vivienne, an only child who is a major Daddy’s Girl, loves to tell jokes, will sing and dance whenever and wherever she gets the urge, and is honestly the sweetest kid…most of the time.
We live in the northwest suburbs of the Twin Cities in Minnesota.
10 Fun Facts About Me
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My favorite food is tacos, followed closely by popcorn. I could eat tacos every single day for the rest of my life without complaint.
Christmas is my favorite holiday. Specifically, Christmas trees. If I could have any career path without question, money was no object, nothing was standing in my way…I would own a Christmas tree farm.
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It took us about six years to get pregnant with Viv. She wasn’t an accident, but a massive surprise in the best way possible.
I thrive on positivity. I’m not a “Pollyanna,” but I will always look for the best in every situation, no matter how much it sucks. Negativity is way too draining for me.
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I am an Enneagram 3, wing 2.
My husband is almost exactly one year younger than me.
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I have never had a cavity or broken a bone. I had one surgery in my early twenties when I had to have an inguinal hernia repaired.
I worked in retail for 10 years before switching industries to financial planning. Then into entrepreneurship alongside my husband, before circling back to finance again for a short time after having Viv. Now, I’m a proud stay-at-home-mom.
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My all-time favorite television show is Gilmore Girls, followed by Gossip Girl. Must be something with double G’s…
We have two cats, one boy and one girl, Alfonso and Stella. Alfonso is an orange tabby, and Stella is some type of a long-haired breed. They are both adopted.
Becoming a mom is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.
Like so many others, I found myself feeling overwhelmed in motherhood. “Am I doing this right?” “How can I be a better mom?” “Why is this so hard?” were all questions that would creep in while I was driving, taking a shower, making dinner, or attempting for the third time in an hour to calm down my crying toddler. The stress, self-doubt, and guilt that come with motherhood are a real you-know-what.
After A LOT of stumbling, guessing, trying, failing, Googling, trying again, and sleep deprivation, things started to feel like they were getting a little easier. Even during hard days and seasons, I was figuring out how to navigate the mom thing. And out of this fugue state came an idea. To create a space where moms can come to find helpful, realistic resources that make their lives with littles a bit easier and more fun! Things that are affordable, easy to figure out, quick, and enjoyable.
A resource for littles, yes, but especially a space where mamas can feel seen. Where another mom will always understand what they’re going through, no matter how crazy it sounds or hard it feels. Where they can go for unwavering support from another mama in the trenches of motherhood too. A place they can come to find ideas, inspiration, and even entertainment.
And here we are!
You’ll find all kinds of things here: ideas for occupying your toddler, activities and crafts, holiday ideas and inspo, my favorite products, DIY projects, healthy recipes, stories from my own experiences, and more! Basically anything I think makes motherhood easier and more enjoyable, and things I wish someone had told me along the way, holds space here.
Whether you’re here to browse, or came here with a purpose, I hope you enjoy yourself and find something that helps you in whatever season you’re walking through. I look forward to connecting and am so grateful you’re here 🙂
Minnesota Millennial Mom 