Meet Mariah Leeson | Creative Influencer & Owner of Giggles Galore

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mariah Leeson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mariah, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
As a child, I had a flair for the dramatic and was drawn to creating, everything from handmade clothes for my dolls, to writing my own stories and planning epic tea parties. I come from a long line of do-it-yourself-ers and creative women so I feel like I have always aspired to have a creative career where I could express myself.

What started out as just a creative outlet to keep me sane while being a mom to 3 young kids ended up turning into a full-time profession. In the beginning, 15 years ago, I was just sharing some of the fun things I was doing with my kids and my home, like our Muffin Tin Monday lunches, my DIY Tattle Monster, and their themed birthday parties.

But, I never dreamed that my passion would turn into a career with a platform where I can share my creative projects and interact with a like-minded community. For a girl who grew up wanting to be an actress, the switch to the small screen has been exciting. It’s like talking to your best friend and sharing all your favorite products and tips.

Sharing ideas to help others live a fun and creative lifestyle is my passion!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My mission is to inspire people to create their own unique memories using basic skills, simple materials, and lots of creativity.

I think what sets me apart is that my blog focuses mostly on entertaining and decorating with an emphasis on quick DIY projects. I love showing readers how they can celebrate everything from milestone birthdays and holidays to simple, everyday moments. And what’s a party without good food, so I also specialize in creating and sharing fun and simple recipes.

Geared mostly towards parents who want to create special family memories, my blog is intended to provide not only lots of creative ideas but some really practical tutorials. For example, one of my most popular projects shows readers how to celebrate their kid’s birthdays with an easy birthday tradition sign, https://gigglesgalore.net/10th-birthday-tradition-and-surprise-birthday-sign

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love hanging out and visiting downtown McKinney. It reminds me of a charming Hallmark town with great local vendors and restaurants, that’s close to home. It’s the perfect spot for a girl’s weekend, date night, or a spot for family fun.

A perfect weekend in McKinney starts with a little shopping with my girlfriends at our favorite boutique stores like Shop Landry Kate, Patina Green, and Willow House Boutique. A pit stop at the Landon Winery is a great place to enjoy the beautiful weather and sip on a glass of wine before we head out for more shopping.

As evening approaches we will head to our favorite restaurant Harvest to meet up with the guys and enjoy fresh local cuisine and cocktails. I love their rotating seasonal menu and you can never go wrong with their deviled eggs. After dinner, we will head to The Yard to sit outside and catch the latest game on TV or head to the Comedy Arena for some laughs. If we aren’t quite ready for our adventure to end we will head to Room One Eleven SpeakEasy for a nightcap.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I feel so lucky and blessed that I have been able to create a thriving business all by sharing my creativity and passion for entertaining. I certainly have many people that have inspired me and supported me in this journey.

First and foremost, I am lucky that my husband and children support me and encourage me; without them, my business would not be what it is today. My children have spent their entire lives posing for project photos, celebrating Halloween in July, and wearing costumes in the sweltering heat for magazine photo shoots.

I also think of the many women in my life that have helped me grow and become the businesswoman I am today. From my beloved Grandma B, who was a resourceful DIYer and could make anything from recycling materials she’s the one who inspired me to create the viral Octopus Costume (https://gigglesgalore.net/how-to-make-diy-octopus-costume-kids) that has been featured in multiple magazines and websites. To my mother who always encouraged me to embrace my creativity and allowed me to dream big, but also made sure I knew how to properly set a table and be a gracious hostess. To my former boss Marjie who taught me so much about owning a business, and creating balance in both my professional and personal life.

I also feel lucky that I have such a great online community and that I have been able to create a thriving business all from sharing parties and crafts that I love. It’s hard work and never as easy as it appears in a 30-second video clip, but I am constantly amazed and feel lucky to have such a wonderful platform to help encourage and inspire others.

Website: http://www.gigglesgalore.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giggles_galore/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Giggles_Galore

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gigglesgalorenmore

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@giggles_galore

Image Credits
Mariah Leeson – Giggles Galore