Melissa Richards is our TriangleMom2Mom mom of the week.

Here's Melissa ...

Mom2Mom: Tell us about yourself

Melissa: I am mother of two and marketing professional with more than 16 years experience in corporate marketing. I currently provide boutique marketing consulting services as iMarketingMix for small to medium-sized businesses. Last year I started an online marketing community connecting best-in-class marketing executives and freelancers in the Triangle and have been successful at pairing dozens of members for short-term and long-term marketing projects. Earlier this year my husband and I co-founded Little Computer Bugs, offering computer classes for kids ages 3-7. We blog about our work, life experiences, and parenting adventures at www.role-reversal.com.

Mom2Mom: What's your favorite family place in the Triangle?

Melissa: We really enjoy eating out at Red Robin (Crossroads location) together. The food and service are always good, the kids love the bottomless fries and free balloons, and the set up inside the restaurant is very handicap friendly. Our 5-year-old daughter is in a wheelchair so being able to get a table with lots of room instead of a booth provides a better dining experience for our family.

Mom2Mom: What's your favorite place for yourself in the Triangle?

Melissa: I love shopping at Crabtree Valley Mall on my own, with no kids or husband to ask me 'Mommy, can we go now?'

Mom2Mom: What's your favorite ritual with your kids?

Melissa: My favorite ritual is making pancakes on Saturday mornings. My 4-year-old daughter calls them "Mommy's Famous Pancakes" because I make them from scratch and put pink sprinkles in them. Later we walk off the calories around Lake Lomond in our neighborhood in Cary. On Sundays, the girls and I attend church together at Raleigh First Assembly of God.

Mom2Mom: What did you eat for dinner last night? Can you share the recipe?

Melissa: I found this recipe in a magazine but I can't take credit for cooking it. My husband has perfected it!

Savory Beef Roast with Mashed Potatoes, Peas & Carrots

Sliver two cloves of garlic into multiple pieces. Keeping the beef roast whole, make slices in it to insert the slivers of garlic. Roll the whole roast lightly in flour. Sprinkle with 1 tsp of salt and 1 tsp of pepper. Brown the whole roast in a frying pan with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

Transfer the roast to the crock pot. Add a thinly sliced onion on top.

In a separate dish combine 1 cup beef stock, 1 cup red wine, 1 tsp of mustard, 1 tsp of prepared horse radish, and 3 liberal dashes of Worcestershire sauce. Pour the mixture over the roast and cook on high in a crock pot for 5-6 hours. One hour before serving add mushrooms. Serve with mashed potatoes, peas and carrots.

Mom2Mom: What's your guilty pleasure?

Melissa: Going to the spa is always my guilty pleasure and best therapy. I love The Spa by Mitchell's at Cary Towne Center. Their facials are amazing.

If you'd like to be a featured mom, e-mail me.

Check out our other daily themes at TriangleMom2Mom:

MONDAY: Meet!
TUESDAY: Ask!
WEDNESDAY: Eat!
THURSDAY: Play!
FRIDAY: Out!
WEEKEND: Relax!