MARY HOOKER
I have never been one for introductions; they intimidate me, fill me with anxiety, and my ADHD causes me to forget the most important part—your name. Another issue with introductions is how I present myself from this point onward will be your first impression of me. In short, introductions feel like pressure: you’re supposed to seem interesting, likable, put-together… but alas, here we are.
I am Mary Hooker—I am a proud daughter, wife, child-at-heart, dreamer, cat owner, and lover of old homes that I will never be able to afford in my lifetime (hence the dreamer part).
I am bougie in a non-bougie way. I have a vision, but never pay full price. Yard sales and thrift stores? My love language. A trip to TJ Maxx? Say less. However, I live in a 1910’s 750 square foot old home with my husband and two cats (Sir Meowcolm and Slug). There has to be a method to the madness. I love an aesthetic, but my goal is to find a balance between how life feels and how it looks. Our lives are not always sunshine and lollipops, and neither are our homes.
Regardless, I love this little house. Before this, we lived in a townhouse with sad, grey walls and rules like “no paint” and “no nails.” When we moved into this home, I immediately bought paint samples and painted every room a different, obnoxious color. I hung up every mirror I’d been hoarding in a closet. For the first time, our space felt like us.
As silly as it might sound, making my house feel like home has always been a top-tier goal in my life. I knew early on I wanted to be the host of my friend groups and begin traditions that people looked forward to every year—just as my mom has done for many years. Her attention to detail and hospitality transformed sleepovers, birthdays, and family milestones into core memories.
As an ADHD girlie, I’ve run through many hobbies, but the creative ones—crafting, painting, photography, party planning, decorating—kept calling me back. I am a expert by no means, but the joy of making something you’re proud of and sharing it is a feeling like no other.
I often wondered how I could express my creativity in a career—after all, I would hear time and time again that it was difficult to find a well-paying job that had anything to do with the arts. I pursued a degree in Psychological Sciences with the intent to become a therapist, but I was burnt out after college and had no desire to go back. I worked a few random jobs to test the waters of what spoke to me and what didn’t, and let me tell you, I was not built to be in an office all day.
I had the privilege of working with my mom during this time and got to exercise my creative muscles, making logos, flyers, and creating content. During this time, I also got to try my hand at planning events. I have a Type A kind of brain—if there is a party or a trip, I will have an inspo board carefully curated in 0.28 seconds and have the itinerary ready to go. Now, at 26, I am finally figuring out what to do with these hyperfixations—share them!
My heart is so full being able to begin this journey with my mom and it is the perfect excuse for us to continue to make time for one another and keep family first, in spite of how much we are juggling. A Young Tradition is not only a creative outlet for us, it’s a promise to honor the people and moments that matter, and to share inspiration that feels real, not rushed.
I have never been put in a position where someone would even remotely be interested in reading about me, so I cannot thank you enough for being here and listening to what I have to say. I hope you feel as if you have just met your new best friend and your new favorite comfort duo.
