As a newly anointed parenting AnnArbor.com "Contributor" (that's a fancy word for blogger in this Web site's realm), I have been asked that my first post be an "about me" piece. Writing a third-person bio that is remotely interesting though is always a challenge. However seeing as I can use my own voice in this new format, I will attempt to interject something fun and interesting about me.

TYPICAL BIO:

Tammy Jex Mayrend is a Search Marketing professional, public speaker, and local singer/actress. She is a married mother of two small children with hobbies that include gardening, crafts, cooking, home improvement, power tools and gadgets, and almost any creative and learning endeavor that can be shared with my family. She especially seeks out and enjoys local activities and events that are educational, low cost, or free - Tammy blogs on these ideas frequently at her Ann Arbor Mom blog! Tammy is a graduate of Central Michigan University.

What I haven't said in the bit above is my reasons for blogging in the first place:

1) To better understand social marketing for my clients, 2) To challenge that creative part of my brain, 3) To create something I would enjoy reading and sharing, 3) and to discover fun, low-cost (or free) activities for my family!

I know, many of you are probably shaking your heads - "What does a relatively new new mom and newer area resident know about the area?" As long-time Ann Arbor families/residents, many of you know what's going on. However, as a parent of two pre-school aged children my perspective is wide open, and I'm just discovering some of the great Ann Arbor area secrets. I hope I can remind long time residents of the wonders of the area, discover some new ones, and figured that my interests and discoveries would be of interest to other families.

We were also told to post a photo or ourselves that we liked. My head-shot can be seen in the small thumbnail of my posts, so instead I would like to introduce my inspirations - My husband Michael, and my children Zachary and Gabriella.

I look forward to getting to know the larger Ann Arbor community and hope that I can provide everyone with some fun, low-cost, things to do around the area. Please feel free to send me your feedback, and if you have a local event or happening that you would like to share, please drop me a line at tmayrend(at)gmail.com.

Photo 1: Tammy Jex Mayrend Photo 2: from left to right - Gabriella, Michael & Zachary Mayrend taken at the 2009 Independence Day parade.