the mamas behind the site

(Photo by Amy McMullen)

urbanMamas.
work. play. laugh. ask. vent. share. grow. learn. connect.

urbanMamas.com is a fun venture started by some Portland urbanMamas who saw that some information online was lacking. urbanMamas.com strives to create a dynamic online community for mamas who want to share tips, advice, reviews, ideas, fun, challenges, and more.

the way these mamas met embodies the very spirit of the urbanMamas community in Portland, Oregon. brought together by a yahoo group and eager to connect with other like-minded mamas, this core group of mamas found that they were often responding to one another's posts on the group - meeting at mama nights out or at organized playdates at different playgrounds.

that was over three years ago, the genesis of this site. every day, we marvel at how much our community has grown.

we are all full-time working mamas. we are mamas of one, two, and three children. we do the juggle of the mama, and we also love to make time to hike, bike, run, bake, knit, and whine while we drink wine.

here's more about each of us:

Shetha is a high-tech research engineer by day and urbanMamas special projects coordinator by night. Shetha loves football, beer, and fast cars, and she also loves all things knitty. Shetha is a published knit-pattern writer and has been featured on the DIY Network. Shetha is proud mama to two fine gents, Andrew and Gabriel. She is married to Chris, who loves fast cars as much as Shetha and who is loyal to the swoosh.

Olivia is a small business lender by day and urbanMamas admin by night. Olivia adores red boots and Willamette Valley pinot noir. She bikes and runs, and bikes and runs. And still, she does not consider herself a "biker" or "runner". Olivia is mama to two lovely ladies, Ophelia (aka "Philly") and Tatiana (aka "Tati").  Olivia is married to David, a public health researcher who was once named one of America's Sexiest Dads by Parents Magazine.

Hau is a research manager by day and urbanMamas IT department by night. Hau's lower half from behind has represented UltraWheels in print advertising. That's just how tight she is. Avid outdoors enthusiast, Hau has finished three marathons, an AIDS ride, and duathalons; and summited two mountains. Hau is known to tote her two boys, Carter and Cole, on all her active excursions. She is married to an attorney who loves his canoe.

Sarah is editor of BloggingStocks.com by day and urbanMamas writer-in-residence by night. Sarah used to work on Wall Street and now works in cafes with free wifi or her living room. Sarah is magnetically drawn to all delicious edibles and often photographs her food before she devours it. Sarah is mama to three fellas, Everett, Truman, and Monroe.  Sarah is married to Jonathan, her high-school loverboy.

Lisa is an online parent organizer for the Environmental Working Group by day and urbanMamas Activista by night.  She is fired up about the lack of family-friendly public policies in the U.S., and after 4 & 1/2 years of motherhood decided to make some waves because, well, we Mamas are ready for some serious change.  She runs to work but will never manage a marathon.  She is mama to Coleman (better known by the unforeseen nickname Coco) and Georgia.  She is married to Doug, who makes fabulous wood furniture, cares for the kids two days/week, and cooks dinner because, well, Lisa doesn't.  What more could a girl ask for?