​I’m Michelle, the voice behind Crohnically Blonde!

 I live in Maryland with my husband, two little ones (Maddox and McKenna), and our dog, Charleston. I left my job in big tech at the beginning of 2023 and went full in on content creation and patient advocacy. I launched my own agency, Carefully Branded, where I help businesses and individuals in the health and wellness space with their social content strategy. I am also a freelance writer and working on finding a publisher for my first nonfiction novel. ​

After a long journey, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in 2015. I found so much comfort in the online community during the early days of my diagnosis that I wanted to give something back. I started sharing my journey via my blog, Crohnically Blonde, in hopes of helping others who are navigating chronic or invisible illnesses. Once I started to see the power of vulnerability in action I began to share more about another topic close to my heart, mental health. I have struggled with an eating disorder in the past so I share my experience and recovery. I am also open about my lifelong struggle with anxiety and OCD, which was magnified during my pregnancies and postpartum. The more we talk about these topics, the more we fight the stigma!

​In 2019 I began to share our journey of growing our family, specifically the challenges of managing Crohn’s Disease and pregnancy. Throughout my experience there were glaring gaps in support and information for mothers, especially those with any type of chronic condition. I realized this lack of support was also present in the area of maternal mental health. Over the past two years I went through training to become a Certified New Parent Educator so I could develop courses and resources geared toward addressing these gaps. You can check out my New Parent page for the free mental health resources I currently offer.


I’ve always loved connecting with others and using my struggles to help those who need it. Through CrohnicallyBlonde I’ve been able to do just that and more. For me it feels therapeutic to share my ever evolving journey and it gives me a great sense of purpose to know that the challenges I’ve faced can help inspire or empower someone else. There is a special place in my heart for everyone who has been vulnerable enough to share their own story with me and who I’ve connected with through CrohnicallyBlonde. I am thankful that my journey has led me here.

I also like to keep it fun.

While diving into serious topics is important, I  like sharing the more lighthearted sides of my life as well.  I am rediscovering my style now as a mom, so on Instagram I share some of the outfits I love and great fashion finds. I am also a beauty product fanatic and always game to try a new product or routine.  Travel is another passion of mine which we are now navigating with little ones! I am always excited to explore new experiences or places in our area as well, and love bringing attention to local businesses I love. Last, I love to read. It is my go to way to stay calm and relax, so book recommendations are frequent. Okay, a little less frequent now that I have two kids… Basically I try to show what real life as a mom (with a chronic illness) actually looks like for me with a dash of humor and sometimes a reason to get glammed up. 

Press

I’m always open to collaboration proposals, partnership opportunities, or advocacy work. If you’re interested in working together please contact [email protected]. 

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**Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional or licensed to give medical advice. I share thoughts and opinions based on my personal experiences. Always consult a medical professional before trying a new treatment, adjusting your treatment plan, or if you have questions regarding your physical or mental health.**​