patience is a virtue

Thanks for your patience as we get our main site completed. It's almost there, pinky swear!

We'll be announcing our Launch Party shortly, along with details on how YOU can sign-up to join SnoValleyMama.

...stay tuned!

we heart blake's pizzeria!

I know that it is slightly unbecoming and not at all PC (that's Politically Correct, not Personal Computer!) but I am willing to admit that I am prejudice... when it comes to pizza that is! I suppose that you could pin my loyalty on the fact that I worked for Mr. Greg Dunham off and on for 6 years. And although that is an impressive number, he has had employees work for him even longer.

Blake's Pizzeria has been an integral part of Carnation for 21 years. I can vividly remember being in elementary school and having our end of the year soccer parties there. I also remember being in middle school and high school and always wanting to get a slice of pizza for lunch, Greg still delivers to Tolt 5 days a week.

The past few years the restaurant has been getting a make-over. Back in the late '90s, in my hay day, the vibe was strictly oldies, from the music we listened to, to the artwork on the walls. These days there is still a very classic feel, just without as much Big Bopper on the jukebox. The menu has been upgraded as well, gourmet pizzas and grinders have been added as well as yummy salads and even milkshakes with fresh fruit that Greg picks himself.

Greg supports the community not only by feeding and employing residents but he has also been involved in a number of fundraising events with the Riverview School District, local Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Soccer and Baseball teams to name a few.

As far as restaurants in Carnation go, Blake's Pizzeria is delicious and very kid friendly, 2 things that are very important to this SnoValley Mama!

Miss Avery learning how to make pizza with her Auntie Teanna.

The SnoValleyMamas and kiddos with the one and only Greg Dunham.

If you have never been to Blake's Pizzeria, you are missing out and must give it a try! If it's been awhile, it's time to get back in there and check out all of the exciting changes. And be sure to tell Greg SnoValleyMama sent you!

new park for carnation?

One of my very best friends is trying to put a plan in motion to get a new park for the City of Carnation. There is no room in the budget for a new park so it will mostly come to be by way of fundraising and donations. She is curious to find out what matters most to fellow mamas when it comes to the layout of the park. For instance, her daughter informed her that the park would HAVE to have monkey bars. Other moms she has spoken to would love a designated place to park strollers. She would love some feedback on the subject, lots and lots of feedback and ideas! Let's have some fun brainstorming, any idea is a good idea at this point!

Please leave your suggestions in the comments, thanks!

meet myriah

Hello all you Sno Valley Mamas (and Dadas and whoever else)! I don't think I could be more excited for this new venture Megan and I are embarking on, the ultimate for Social Networking in the Snoqualmie Valley. For years now I've been obsessed with Myspace and Facebook and more recently Twitter, finding friends and getting updates, so the obvious next step is to take these online updates and turn them into actual playdates (with out the creepy online escort aspect of course...). It seems like since becoming a mama I find myself wanting to get out and socialize but never quite knowing what to do and who's available to hang out with. I sincerely hope that through the power of the internet we can all pull together and plan some great outtings for the our little ones and utilize the online meet up tools.

If you don't know me personally or by my name then perhaps you've just moved to the Valley. I was born in Carnation (yes, the actual town) and grew up (please no short jokes!) here. I am the oldest of 5 kids and although I was kind of a priss, I still enjoyed all the typical Valley classics, soccer, softball, camping, floating the river, building forts, riding horses and if I was really lucky, ATV rides! In 2nd grade I saw a play and my life long goal of becoming a cheerleader was replaced with new ambition to be an actress. From 3rd grade on I was obsessed with plays, movies and tv, it was not uncommon for me to beg missing out on Saturday soccer games because of a tv show, I'm sorry to say that this is sometimes still a problem for me.

In high school I took every drama class I could get in to, I even managed to convice the school to let me take extra drama classes in place of a foreign language. I also weasled my way in to as many video production classes as possible and was put in charge of our Senior Video, sorry about that Class of '99, I could've done much better.

After high school, almost on a whim, I went to Helena, MT for college, not knowing a soul. Luckily the school was teeny tiny and I felt like I had found CHS part 2, but with more options acting wise. I was in play after play and even stayed a few summers to work at the local theater school with elementary kids. 4 years went by quickly and I was sad to say goodbye to some great friends but I was ready to become a celebrity!

I figured that it would be easier for me to move back to Carnation and get an agent here in Seattle than it would in LA so that's what I did. I got a job working at Sandy's Espresso so I could have my evenings open for all of the shows I'd be performing in at night. I went on tons of auditions and usually got the same response, "You are very small with a very large chest." meaning that I looked too young to play an adult but my boobs were too big to play an adolescent. It was slightly discouraging but easier to bear because I had begun hanging out with Matt whom I'd had an enormous crush on my entire life. So what if I didn't have an agent? I had a boyfriend!

After dating for a few years we got married, bought a place and decided it was time to start a family. Recapping all of this is so bizarre and fulfilling at the same time, it seems like yesterday all of these were just things to cross off of some life list and now they are real. No, I'm not some famous Hollywood actress but that was the dream of my 9 year old self. Now I am famous in my own mind and express myself by writing, with my own words, not portraying some character that someone else created. I love being a real person, not a persona.

I'm so happy that I have maintained so many friendships with people that I have known my whole life, now with Sno Valley Mama, maybe we can see each other much more! That would just be so amazing to me.

meet megan

Hello valley moms! Myriah and I are so excited about the launch of SnoValleyMama. I'm looking forward to reconnecting with some of you and meeting other new friends along the way.

A little about me? Well, let's see. I was born and raised in Carnation. The third in a family of seven kids. Childhoood in the Snoqualmie Valley meant playing soccer in the fall, building snow forts in the winter, springtime baseball + BBQs, and floating the river all summer long.

As a teenager attending Cedarcrest, I loved drama and being a cheerleader. I was also involved with the ASB and was a bit of a social butterfly.

As much as I loved HS, by the time graduation rolled around I was ready to GET OUT of the valley. I didn't venture far, just up to Bellingham where I spent 4 years earning my degree in Communication at Western Washington University. After college I moved down to Seattle with a group of friends but after about a year, I was anxious for a new adventure.

On a whim, I packed up my car and headed south until I hit Los Angeles. Okay, so maybe it wasn't quite that spontaneous, I did have a best friend and a free place to stay waiting for me when I arrived.

Once arriving in LA I quickly landed a job managing a hot spot coffee shop. I saw a TON of celebrities, was an extra on an episode of Entourage, and was "livin' the life"...or so they say. The truth is, LA is not as glamorous as they make it look on The Hills. I was about to pack it all in when suddenly my life changed. I met the man of my dreams, fell head over heels, and was soon expecting my first child.

Life from that point has been a whirlwind. We had our son, got married, moved back to Washington, had our daughter, and have finally (knock on wood) settled into our cozy life here in Carnation.

I love being back in the town I grew up in. I love the history, the comfort of familiarity, and the memories of growing up here in the valley. Yet, in a way, it also feels like a brand new town and a brand new adventure now that I'm experiencing it as a mom.

I've been fortunate to reconnect with several of my high school girlfriends (like Myriah) who are now mothers as well. I've also met a handful of other amazing moms around town and have enjoyed getting to know them too. But I also know that being a mom with young children, it can be hard to make new friends. I want to change that.

My hope is that SnoValleyMama will be a connecting point for all of us. Being a mom is the most joyful, but also one of the hardest, jobs around. Every mom needs a support system, and I'm hoping SnoValleyMama will be that for me and the other amazing moms across this valley of ours.

If you'd like to learn more about me, feel free to visit my blog The Novice Mom where I dish daily about my journey as a mama trying to figure this whole thing out.

So that's me in a nutshell, thanks for listening, or reading I guess. I look forward to learning more about you and hope that if you're a mom in the Snoqualmie Valley you're getting as excited about SnoValleyMama as we are!

Myriah and I are working hard to get this little venture off the ground. We love being mamas, especially SnoValleyMamas, and we're ready to get this party started!

xo,
Megan

coming soon to a valley near you

SnoValleyMama is an organization for moms in the Snoqualmie Valley. Formed by two stay-at-home moms and lifelong valley residents, we host events and provide special offers for mamas in the Carnation, Duvall, and surrounding areas.

Growing our families in the valley that we love, let's come together to celebrate the joys of being a SnoValleyMama!

Megan and Myriah have known eachother long before their current roles of mama. Both were raised in Carnation, attended Carnation Elementary + Tolt + Cedarcrest, and enjoyed wonderful childhoods growing up here. They have many things in common. Both are from large families, were on the Drill Team + Drama, they even both worked at Harvold's Strawberry Farm + Blake's Pizzeria in Carnation! While life after high school brought them new and different adventures, they have both found themselves back in the valley that they love, and now with little ones in tow!

As moms of little ones, we are always looking for things to do and excuses to get out of the house! Whether it be a playdate at the park, a walk or bikeride on the trail, or a much deserved Moms Night Out, we are excited to meet and socialize with other moms and their children. Being lifelong residents of Snoqualmie Valley, we truly love our community and believe in supporting local businesses.

We hope to combine our love for community, friendship, creativity and motherhood into a supportive organization for moms across this beautiful valley!

Look for our main website, SnoValleyMama, coming soon!