Maya Sutherland

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Maya Sutherland is a full-time SAHM who squeezes in part-time work as a Local Childcare Consultant for an au pair agency. She was born in Ohio but has spent most of her childhood and adult life in Florida. She is André's devoted wife and mother to Audrey, Mason, and her fur baby, an Egyptian Mau cat named Midnight. Maya earned an A.S. in Culinary Dietetic Technician and a B.A.S. in Supervision and Management from Florida State College at Jacksonville. Her professional background is in management, and most recently, she managed a skilled nursing facility food service department staff of 15. Maya has a long-time love affair with food. She is happiest in the kitchen preparing fresh, homemade meals for her family, utilizing her numerous gadgets and food preparation-specialty items. She is also an aspiring business owner but hasn't figured out what she wants to do when she grows up. In her spare time, she loves painting rocks, coloring using colored pencils,  yoga,  listening to podcasts or audiobooks, and online shopping. You can follow her on Instagram @5spicechef, and Facebook @5spicechef.
st. patrick's day

5 Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day With Kids

Growing up, we didn’t have any St. Patrick’s Day traditions, but I do remember my stepfather grumbling about not wearing green because he’s Irish,...
spring break

Planning Your Spring Break Staycation in Jacksonville

Staying in Jacksonville for spring break doesn't have to be a bore, especially with all the places you can explore! There are always things...
family meals

The Most Requested Family Meals (And Why They Actually Work)

Feeding a family every day isn’t about perfection — it’s about finding food that works with your real life, real schedules, and real kids. As...

Reflecting on MLK: A 14-Year-Old’s Experience

My childhood summers were always a blast because they consisted of me traveling to see one of my aunts (every year, I rotated between...
school theme weeks

Surviving Theme Weeks at Your Child’s School: A Parent’s Ultimate Guide

If you’ve ever opened your child’s backpack and discovered a crumpled flyer announcing that tomorrow is "Crazy Sock Day," hi there, I see you...
kids know phone number

Do Your Kids Know Your Phone Number? A Practical (and Often Overlooked) Safety Tip

I had a moment over the summer that really stuck with me — and I haven’t been able to shake it since. My kids...
veggies

How to Sneak More Veggies Into Your Kids’ Meals (Without the Drama)

As a mom and personal chef, I’ve seen it all — the eye rolls, the “what is that green thing?” interrogation, and the mysterious...
paper plate

Confession of a Personal Chef: Why I’m Fully Embracing the Paper Plate Era

Here’s a confession that might surprise people: I’m a personal chef... and at home, I serve my kids dinner on paper plates. I know, I...
toddler classes

From Music to Movement: Best Toddler Classes in Jacksonville

I remember looking for engaging and enriching activities for our children when I was a stay-at-home mom. We really lucked out, as Jacksonville is...
volunteer with kids

Giving Back to Our Community: Where to Volunteer with Kids in Jacksonville

When I think about my childhood, I have many great memories of volunteering: Neighborhood cleanup, helping build a house for a family with Habitat...
self-esteem

How to Boost Your Child’s Self-Esteem (Without Overthinking It)

Let’s be real — parenting can feel like juggling flaming swords sometimes, right? But one thing that’s been on my heart lately is how...
meal planning

Meal Planning Without Strict Meal Planning + Downloadable Meal Plan

Meal planning without strict meal planning involves creating a flexible system that allows you to eat healthy, use up ingredients, and avoid wasting food....