Chic Mom Handbag
Category: review
Chic Mom Handbag – It’s reversible! Designed by Jenna Claire, this bag retails for $92.00
Pricing begins at $8 for key fobs, with checkbook and passport covers, and card and cell phone holders all under $20. Pet collars and leashes range between $17-25; accessory/makeup bags, $22-35; handbags, $70-90; and totes, $69-115.
Don’t forget to use this promotional code CHICMOM to get 20% off at checkout while shopping on the Jenna Claire website!
Read more about Jenna Claire Handbags.
Read the full article in our Premiere Issue digital edition ยป
Chic Mom Magazine Podcast – Episode 1
Category: Inspiration CornerIn the premiere episode of the Chic Mom Magazine Podcast, we hear stories from major contributors to our print and digital edition of Chic Mom Magazine, read aloud by professional readers, and in some cases, themselves! Featuring an introduction and story by Darcy Plunkett, and music by Debra Davis.
The Journey Toward an Authentic Life: From Girlhood Through Motherhood to Womanhood
By: Jasmine G. Edwards
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Dr. Edwards has been a practicing psychologist in Dayton, Ohio, for 25 years. She specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, addictive behaviors, and abuse/trauma issues. She approaches all of her psychological practice with an emphasis on discovering one’s authentic self and engaging in the risk-taking necessary to live accordingly. A long-time presenter of seminars and small-group intensive retreats in personal fulfillment, Dr. Edwards has recently expanded her field of knowledge and treatment to include energy healing through the nationally recognized program of Healing Touch.
Dr. Edwards lives in Kettering, Ohio-and also on a farm in Adams County, where she is taking the risk of expressing her true self through her writing and by raising a beloved family of alpacas, llamas, horses, and dogs.
Shine Your Light: Yoga for the Bright Light in all of us
By: Marsha Therese Metzger
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Marsha Therese Metzger is the founder of Color Me Yoga® for Children. Her website is www.colormeyoga.com. It is easy to find her . She is always shining.
Then and Now
By E.E. Cerezo
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When she’s not teaching English to spirited 7th graders in Sacramento, California, Eunice enjoys spending quality time with her nieces and nephews, teaching Yang Style Tai Chi, balloon twisting just about any unusual or interesting creature from dazzling dragons to magical winged unicorns, and dabbling in thoughtful reflections and poetry that nurture the mind and soothe the spirit.
On the Fear of Buying a Minivan
By: Callie Oettinger
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Callie Oettinger is a mother, wife, daughter, friend, writer and publicist. Check out her work at www.o-a-inc.com.
Take 10 to Zen
By: Mare Petras
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Mare Petras is a 27-year certified fitness expert, life coach, speaker, writer – and playfully refers to herself as an ‘exterior refiner.’ Her Fitness Simply books, Tone Up With Wine & Other Fun Fit Tips and The 7 Habits of Highly Successful Swimsuit Shoppers reflect her simple, moderate philosophy and approach, "enjoy your body; enjoy your life, every minute, every day." She lives and plays in Sarasota, FL and can be reached at FitnessSimply.com
Mama’s Got No Lap: Appreciating a Depreciating State of Things
By: Lisa Cairney
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Lisa Cairney is a military wife, stay-at-home mom of four, and aspiring writer. She won the 2008 Erma Bombeck Writing Competition in the Local Humor Division with this piece, resulting in a pitifully swollen ego to match her swollen tummy. If you would like a daily dose of Lisa’s musings, check out her brand new blog at www.topnotchswill.blogspot.com .
I am Not an Athlete
By: Darcy L. Plunkett
Founder / Editor – in – Chief
Chic Mom Magazine
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The Prayer of Jabez
By: Darcy L. Plunkett
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Jenna Claire Handbags
By: Michele Schoen
Chic Mom of 3 with a penchant for writing
Listen to this story now »
Jenna Claire is located at The Greene Towne Center, 4382 Juniper Way, Beavercreek, Ohio, 45440. To contact Jenna Claire, email info@jennaclaire.com, call 937.431.1888, or fax 937.431.1772. Pricing begins at $8 for key fobs, with checkbook and passport covers, and card and cell phone holders all under $20. Pet collars and leashes range between $17-25; accessory/makeup bags, $22-35; handbags, $70-90; and totes, $69-115.
To design and/or order a bag online, visit www.jennaclaire.com. While you’re there, join the Jenna Claire mailing list by clicking on "Be The First To Know." You will be updated about new arrivals, sales, events, and promotions! Don’t forget to use this promotional code CHICMOM to get 20% off at checkout while shopping on the Jenna Claire website! For more information on Molly Cross Jewelry, visit www.mollycrossjewelry.com.
Yes Day
By: Debra Gorman
Chic Mom of 4 who likes to share her success stories with other moms
Listen to this story now »
Hitting the Road
By: Teresa Degenhart
Chic Mom on the Road
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Podcast Readers:
Lisa Cairney
Mama’s Got…No Lap
Appreciating the Depreciating State of Things
Mary Hauke-Davis
Essential Style
On the Fear of Buying a Van
Yes Day
April Kline
Shine Your Light – Yoga for the Bright Light in all of us
Hitting the Road
Then and Now
Darinda Reis
The Journey Toward an Authentic Life: From Girlhood to Womanhood to Motherhood
The Prayer of Jabez and Your Authentic Self
Take 10 – Five Days to Zen
Darcy Plunkett
Lettter from the Editor
I am not an Athlete
Jenna Claire Handbags
Read the full Premiere Issue in our digital edition »
The Birth of Chic Mom Magazine
Category: Uncategorized
The birth of Chic Mom has been a roller coaster of a ride. I remember the moment I uttered the words out loud to my husband, "There should be a magazine for moms and it should be called Chic Mom." I remember the passion I felt for it then, passion that I basically feel – for mothers. I had been a Social Worker and Counselor prior to making the decision to stay at home full time with my children. The feeling I had when I uttered those words was one of advocacy similar to how I felt for clients I served in the past. It seemed so simple. I was a totally normal (well, maybe a bit neurotic as this blog will show) educated, American mom who thought and felt deeply about things. And I couldn’t find a magazine on the stands that spoke to me.
I wondered how the media world could be so blind as to not see the power of this emerging market right before their eyes; the market of moms who were still women, not Stepford wives or Carol Bradys. I mean, who does EVERYTHING that pertains to spending money but these very real women who are moms? We do the shopping, the vacation planning, the researching about any issues that come up with our children, the worrying that leads to lots of talking and referring to various solutions which then spreads the word about anything from dance shoes to organic eggs. Moms are the backbone of society. Let’s face it. Without the devotion to growing and nurturing our kids, it would be a very sad place – and often is in situations where this occurs.
So, I took my passion, and my idea and went ahead and did the magazine locally. I think my family thought I was crazy, but for some reason, I had to get this message out there. It took an entire year to make it happen, but happen it did. And my life hasn’t been the same since.
The best benefit of doing that issue was that I finally felt like my true soul was revealed to the world. I am someone who has struggled with a heavy personality and low grade depression that has weighed me down and stunted my joy. Pushing through all of the internal demons who told me, "Stop this nonsense! People just don’t start magazines! Who do you think you are?" has forced me to grow much further towards being what was revealed in this first issue of Chic Mom, my authentic joyful self.
But even though doing the magazine locally brought me such personal joy, and I was so happy to be lifting up and honoring moms, the realities of the business were just too demanding in a life with small children. I felt like my family was suffering because of the amount of work it took. I made the decision which so many of us make on a regular basis – to let my passion go for awhile because I knew my time with my ‘little nubs’ (what we called them) was brief.
The fire has remained alive, though, and I kept at learning the business and planning on coming back all the while hearing that little voice that said, "You cannot do this! Stop thinking you can! It will never be the right time! Life just gets busier as they get older. Just have another baby and move on!" I also noticed several things over the course of the 2 years since I have stopped. There is just so damn much to do when you’re a mom. I know we’ve all heard the cliché’s before: "A woman’s work is never done" being the one I that has most resonated with me these past few years. It’s true. As far as we have come as women through the feminist movement, education, success in politics, etc., it still seems to remain that the bulk of domestic responsibilities falls on us. I don’t want to start a ‘bitch session’ because I take some responsibility here. If my standards weren’t so high, and I wasn’t so hard on myself as a mom, maybe I wouldn’t be running around taking care of things so much.
The problem is, since there is so much that needs to be taken care of on a regular basis, resentment can build up. It is so important that we quiet the lists of things to do and take a long look at what is knawing at our souls and tend to it in some capacity. This is no easy task, ladies. I am here to tell you. BUT, after spending gobs of time (our most valuable asset) on doing this magazine, a very enlightening moment occurred the other day. I was guiltily finishing up the design of the logo with my designer (who is a very chic mom) on my computer when my 8-year-old daughter walked up and said, "Wow mom. That’s really cool!" It occurred to me at that moment that I can switch gears in my thinking about this project from one that is taking away from my kids to one that is taking them with me on this journey of creative expression. I can only imagine that this will encourage them to take risks in life and have the courage to stay in touch with their dreams – and pursue them with vigor.
See the next blog entry ‘In a Nutshell’ for the original ‘Letter From the Editor’ when Chic Mom was a local magazine in print. We are happy to now offer the voice of Chic Mom to moms everywhere.
In a Nutshell
Category: Uncategorized
In a nutshell, this is where it all began. I wanted to share this since it is the original Chic Mom story. Moms, let’s enjoy the journey of motherhood together with depth and flair!
Original Letter from the Editor
April 2005
A close friend of mine who is a devoted stay at home mom of two recently said to me with tears hovering in her voice, "I work so hard to care for my husband, children and home. I just wish someone would take care of me."
Wow, is that honest. Motherhood is one of the most challenging, time consuming, self-sacrificing endeavors a woman can set out on. On the other hand, it is life enriching to the deepest level. But who does take care of mom? Who reminds mom that she is still the woman she worked so hard to become? We are here to do just that. And maybe more…Not just help you reclaim pieces of the ‘pre-children’ you, but to honor that woman and the mother you are today; to remind you that you are a chic, sexy woman, a Chic Mom.
It was after I had my second baby that I really felt like my voice had gotten away from me. There was simply always something more pressing to do than to nourish myself. Prior to a family vacation when I knew I might actually have a few moments to read a magazine, I went to the bookstore to peruse and choose a magazine for the beach. It had been awhile since I had done this and I found myself looking and looking for a magazine that spoke to me: a tired mommy looking for something fun, uplifting and with great ideas for recapturing my essence while still being the kind of mom I wanted to be. What I found were a gamut of child/parenting magazines which I had outgrown, fashion magazines which made me depressed, and some family magazines geared towards the homemaker/crafty side of mothering. I ended up buying several magazines to capture what I was looking for, and they still missed it. Too much image, not enough truth.
Why not one magazine specifically geared towards us? Those of us whose #1 priorities rest in being the best mom we can be, but who also want to look and feel great, continue growing and be well informed, and have fulfilling relationships. I thought to myself, "I may be headed towards being a soccer mom, but I also strive to maintain my chic-ness! I want to be a Chic Mom, too." For those of you who have had similar feelings, here is a magazine for you. Enjoy!
