Name: Michelle Ma
Age: 28
Title: Co-Owner of Modern Mood Jewelry
Married/Single: Married
Kids: No kids yet. 1 dog and 1 cat.
City you live in: Mesa
A typical day in my life includes…
green tea, cat eye eyeliner, e-mails + meetings, gorgeous jewelry all day, family dinner, loving on my pets, gym and a Netflix show or two.
I was born…
in the US, raised in South Korea and spent high school and college years back in the US.
My favorite thing about Arizona…
is that it is a big, beautiful and clean city that is perfect for exploring. Growing up in Seoul, Korea vs. spending 10 years in a small rural town in Georgia was a crazy change and a challenge. I love being back in a big city as an adult! There is an emphasis on supporting local businesses here and I am constantly looking out for a new spot and returning to my favorite ones.
I’m listening to…
podcasts (My Favorite Murder) and audio books (The Shadow of the Wind).
My family…
loves good food, are artistic and talented and are funny and kind with big hearts! Most of them live back in South Korea but I keep in touch via phone calls and text messages.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…
my husband all day, every day! Preferably at my favorite Korean restaurant. We have the best time and we always share.
One thing I cannot live without…
stand up comedy! Have you seen Elder Millennial by Iliza Shlesinger on Netflix? You MUST!
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
a vet AND a ballerina. Turns out, I just really like animals and enjoy dancing but not enough to make a career out of them. Thank goodness I discovered art and jewelry making through my ceramicist mom.
I’m inspired by…
contemporary arts, fashion and all things beauty and health related. I am a visual person and often fall in love with works by artists in various genres including illustration, tattoo, embroidery, photography and even food art.
The one person who motivates me is…
once again, it’s my husband. Being a systems engineer, he is great at setting priorities and achieving goals. On top of that, he has a kind soul and knows how to enjoy life thus setting the bar high simply with his actions. It is really motivating to be with someone like that!
If I could change anything in the world, it would be…
totally acceptable to not wear a bra. Ever.
The perfect day would be…
waking up with a great night’s sleep, foraging my own food, especially plants and fruits, making friends with new animals and laying out by the beach with my finds! I love picking fresh fruits and and talking to stray animals. That’s all I did when I went to Taiwan for the first time this year.
My first job was…
I would voluntarily help out at a local fish market when I was a kid in South Korea. The vendor ladies there thought I was cute and would give me some money and I would spend it on snacks with my childhood friend!
My favorite escape…
is planning my next trip including the annual visit to South Korea. I can get really deep into finding hidden gems of restaurants and dessert shops through blogs and social media.
My life…
is well balanced. I love my company with passion! I can be creative, constructively challenged and connected with the community. At home, I really feel comfortable and loved.
I’m currently working on…
home decorating and trying all kinds of different work out classes.
Always…
spend one more minute petting your dog & cat.
Never…
run out of sesame oil and put that stuff of everything!
Favorite Quote…
“If you work really hard and you are kind, amazing things will happen.” – Conan O’Brien.
Biggest Dream…
to raise children with a great appreciation for art and kindness. And to have my family in South Korea near me one day!
My Pet Peeve(s)…
food that is not fresh, especially that frozen taste!
