July Mama 2026 | Lorena Peña: Art, Resilience, and the Beautiful Chaos of Building a Life Worth Celebrating

Mom of the Month | Series No. 4

Every month, here at Espresso Mamitis, we crown a new Mom of the Month — a woman who deserves to be honored, celebrated, and seen. Because we are not here to feature perfection. We are here to honor the real mom stories — the honest voices, the messy mornings, the unexpected joy, the beautiful chaos, and the quiet strength that never makes the highlight reel but absolutely deserves to. We look for the mom who is showing up even when it is hard, doing the work even when nobody is watching, carrying the invisible weight even when nobody asks, and loving her people fiercely every single day. This series exists to put a spotlight on real motherhood — raw, warm, imperfect, and completely worthy of celebration.

This month, that crown belongs to Lorena Peña — and she earned every single piece of it. 👑

I have been looking forward to introducing this woman to our community for a while now. Because Lorena is not just a mom who has a beautiful story — she is a mom who turned her pain, her passion, and her roots into something that changes lives. And the moment I learned about her, I knew she was exactly the energy this community needed for July.

Lorena Peña is a Montréal-born Salvadoran woman, a mother of two, a single mama doing it with grace and grit, and the founder of PartyTimeCelebration21 — a creative art and event experience rooted in community, culture, and the belief that art can genuinely transform people. She has hosted workshops across Montréal for children, youth, women, and families. She has bridged communities that speak different languages and carry different histories. She has done all of this while raising her kids, rebuilding herself more than once, and becoming a stronger version of Lorena every single year.

Pull up your chair. Refill your cup. Meet the July Mama — and get ready to feel something. ☕🎨

Who She Is — In Her Own Words

We always start here, because this is where the magic begins.

“I’m Lorena Peña, a Montréal-born Salvadoran woman, a mother of two and the founder of Party Time Celebration 21.

But my story is not only colourful crafts and events. I went through postpartum depression, burned out twice and had to rebuild myself more than once. I also walked away from a relationship that had become unhealthy because we were no longer bringing out the best in each other.

I know what it feels like to lose yourself inside motherhood, survival and responsibility. Party Time Celebration 21 became part of how I found Lorena again.

Today, I’m still healing, still growing and building a life my children can be proud of, one creative idea at a time.”

Postpartum depression. Burnout — twice. A relationship that needed to end. Rebuilding herself from the ground up. And through all of it, art. Through all of it, her kids. Through all of it, Lorena.

I want to sit with that for a second, because I think a lot of us read that kind of introduction and immediately recognize something in it. The losing yourself part. The survival mode part. The “I had to find my way back to me” part.

This is why we do this series. Because this right here? This is real motherhood.

A Real Tuesday at Lorena’s House

We ask every mom this question — and the answers never disappoint.

“Beautiful chaos. 😂

I’m getting the kids ready, looking for missing shoes, answering clients, preparing crafts, creating content and reheating the same coffee three times.

And no, my house is not always perfect. Sometimes the dishes are still in the sink, the laundry is piled up and dinner is something simple.

I used to feel guilty about that, but I’ve learned that motherhood is not about having everything perfectly together. We are doing our best, and that is enough.

My children are loved, my dreams are growing and we are figuring it out one beautifully messy day at a time.”

Reheating the same coffee three times. Lorena, we are the SAME. And that last line — my children are loved, my dreams are growing, and we are figuring it out — that is a sentence I want every tired mama to write on a sticky note and put somewhere she can see it.

You are not failing. You are figuring it out. And that is more than enough.

When She Hears “Espresso Mamitis”

This answer made me feel so seen as the founder of this space. 🤍

“To me, Espresso Mamitis is a space for real mothers to tell the truth about motherhood — the love, the exhaustion, the guilt, the mess and the moments when we feel like we’re losing ourselves.

It reminds us that we are not alone. We do not have to pretend everything is perfect.

My daily fuel is coffee, but what truly keeps me going is my children, my faith and knowing that every time one mother shares her story, another mother feels seen.”

That last line is the entire heartbeat of this community. Every time one mother shares her story, another mother feels seen. That is exactly why Lorena is here. That is exactly why we do this.

The Hard Parts She Doesn’t Skip Over

This is the section I read twice. Because Lorena does not soften the hard parts of her story, and I am so grateful for that.

On what nobody warned her about:

“The hardest truth is that you cannot do everything, and you were never meant to.

As mothers, we put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect. We want the clean house, the happy children, the successful business, the answered messages and everything under control.

But sometimes the dishes stay in the sink. Sometimes the laundry piles up. Sometimes you are tired and dinner is simple.

That does not make you a bad mother or a bad businesswoman.

I wish someone had told me earlier that my children did not need a perfect mom. They needed a present mom. And building something of your own should not cost you your peace.”

Building something of your own should not cost you your peace. I am going to need that on a coffee mug, a T-shirt, and tattooed somewhere visible, please.

The Burnout Nobody Talks About

Lorena has faced burnout more than once. And she talks about it openly — not with shame, but with the kind of honesty that sets other moms free.

“Last year, I reached a point where I honestly felt like I was losing myself. I was trying to be everything for everyone while raising my two children and carrying so much alone.

There were moments when I would sit down and cry. I wanted to give up, but I knew I could not give up on myself or my children.

I finally went searching for help. I started CBT therapy, strengthened my circle and slowly began rebuilding myself.

I did not come back overnight. I came back little by little, and then I came back full force.

Every year, I become a better version of myself.”

She came back little by little, and then she came back full force. If you are in a season right now where you feel like you are barely coming back at all — hold onto that. Little by little is still coming back.

And CBT therapy. Asking for help. Building a stronger circle. These are not signs of weakness. They are exactly what strength looks like in action.

On Learning That Asking for Help Is Strength

“For a long time, I thought being strong meant doing everything alone.

But when I reached burnout, I realized that strength also means knowing when to ask for help.

At first, it was difficult. I was used to being the one who helped everyone else. But receiving support reminded me that I am human too.

My parents helped me with my children. My therapist helped me find my way back. The people in my circle reminded me that I did not have to carry everything alone.

Asking for help did not make me weak. It helped me become a better mother, a stronger woman and a healthier founder.”

This. This is the part I want every single person in our community to read twice. Because so many of us — especially the women who are always the helpers, the fixers, the ones everyone else leans on — feel like asking for support is somehow a failure.

It is not. Lorena is proof. And she said it better than anyone.

Two Cultures, One Beautiful Life: What Montréal Has Meant to Her

Lorena was born in Montréal to Salvadoran parents. She speaks English, French, and Spanish. And the way she talks about her city — about the communities she has built bridges between — is something I will never forget.

“Montréal has meant everything to me on this journey because it is a city filled with so many cultures. Through my work, I have connected with the Filipino community, the Black community, the Spanish community, and recently the Jewish community.

As a Salvadoran woman who speaks English, French, and Spanish, I am able to connect with many different families and communities. That is what makes Montréal so beautiful to me. We may come from different backgrounds, but art, creativity, and joy bring us together.”

Art, creativity, and joy bring us together. If there is a more perfect mission for a woman named Lorena Peña, I cannot imagine it.

This is what PartyTimeCelebration21 is, at its core — not just crafts and events. It is a bridge. And Lorena built it on purpose, with her whole heart.

What It Means to Be Truly Seen

When we asked Lorena about a moment when she felt truly seen by her community, her answer reminded me of why this work matters so much.

“Every time a community trusts me to create an experience for their children and families, I feel seen. They understand that I am not simply bringing arts and crafts. I am creating a space where children can express themselves, families can connect, and culture can be celebrated.

That trust means so much to me because it reminds me that what I am building has a purpose and that my work can reach people from every background.”

There is something quietly powerful about being trusted by a community that did not have to trust you. And Lorena has earned that trust, again and again, with her creativity, her consistency, and her deep genuine care for the families she serves.

What She Wants to Tell the Lonely Mama Reading This Right Now

Lorena speaks directly to her. And I am not going to add a single word after this, because she doesn’t need it.

“To the mom who feels like she does not belong or has no support — you are not alone. What you are building matters, even when it feels like nobody sees it yet.

Keep showing up. Keep believing in your vision. Your story, your struggles, and your ideas may one day become the reason another woman feels less alone. The right people will see you. Please do not give up on yourself.”

Her Biggest Win — And It Isn’t What You Expect

When we asked Lorena about her proudest win, she did not talk about an event or a booking or a milestone number. She talked about something so much bigger.

“One of my biggest wins is how many times I have rebuilt myself. In 2019, I was 300 pounds, recently separated and struggling with depression — working out and exercising is what really helped me during this difficult period. I later made the decision to have VSG surgery and take back my health and my life. It was not an easy or magical fix. I still had to do the emotional and physical work.

Today, I am raising my children, growing Party Time Celebration 21 and becoming a stronger version of myself every year. That is a win I will always be proud of.”

She is not just proud of what she built. She is proud of how many times she came back. She is proud of choosing herself when it would have been easier not to.

That is the win, mama. That is always the win.

The Joy She Did Not See Coming

We asked Lorena about the unexpected joy of motherhood. And her answer is the kind that makes your chest feel warm.

“The most unexpected joy is when my children tell me they are proud of me. Sometimes I get so caught up wondering if I’m doing enough that I forget they’re watching everything I do. Their hugs, their smiles and the excitement they have when they see what I’ve created remind me that every sacrifice has been worth it.”

Her children are proud of her.

And they should be.

What She Does Really Well That Nobody Claps For

“One thing I do really well as a mom is making my children feel loved, even when I’m exhausted or going through a hard season. I create memories with them, I listen without judgment and I always try to make them feel safe enough to be themselves. I don’t always give myself credit for it, but I know I’m raising kind, resilient and loving human beings.”

That, Lorena, is everything. That is literally everything a child needs — and you are giving it to them even through your hard seasons. Please give yourself that credit. You have earned it.

Her Advice for the Mama in the Thick of It Right Now

“My advice is to stop waiting for the perfect moment, because it may never come.

Start with what you have, even when the house is messy, the laundry is piled up, the dishes are not done and you are exhausted. Your children are not stopping you from building your dream. They are part of the reason you are building it.

Take small steps, ask for help and give yourself grace. You do not have to be perfect to build something beautiful and meaningful.”

Your children are not stopping you from building your dream. They are part of the reason you are building it. I felt that one in my whole body.

What She Hopes You Walk Away Feeling

“I want every mom who reads my story to feel seen, understood and less alone.

I want her to know that she can go through depression, burnout, separation, motherhood and moments when she feels completely lost — and still rebuild herself.

You are not behind. You are not failing. Your story is still being written, and every year you can become a stronger version of yourself.”

You are not behind. You are not failing. Your story is still being written.

Print that. Frame it. Tape it to your bathroom mirror.

Where to Find and Support Lorena

📍 Instagram, Facebook & TikTok: @partytimecelebration21

That is where she shares her creative workshops, children’s activities, community events, women’s experiences and everything Ms. Lorena is building across Montréal. Send her a message for collaborations, bookings and upcoming event information. She cannot wait to create with you and your community. 🎨

And Finally — If Motherhood Were a Coffee Drink…

We always end here. And Lorena? She did not disappoint.

“Right now, motherhood would be an espresso with a little sweetness and a lot of strength.

Some days it is intense. Some days it keeps me awake. Some days it feels like everything is happening at once. But it is also warm, comforting and filled with love.

And just like an espresso, I may be small, but I am strong, powerful and always ready to keep going.”

Small but strong. Warm but intense. Always ready to keep going.

Lorena Peña, that is you. That has always been you.

Thank you, Lorena, for saying yes to this. For sharing the postpartum depression, the burnout, the rebuilding, the art, the joy, the pride your children have in you, and the espresso metaphor that perfectly captures who you are. You walked into this interview as our July Mama and you leave it having reminded every single woman who reads this that it is possible to lose yourself and find your way back — not once, but again and again and again.

That crown looks good on you. 👑☕🎨

Did her story resonate with you? Drop a comment below or share this with a mom who needs to read it today. And if you missed our previous Mom of the Month features, head over to espressomamitis.com to catch up — the village is waiting. 🌸