Jacksonville Mom

 

Allie Gerstner has been with the Jacksonville Mom team since 2017 and is the author of Obviously: A Candid, Unapologetic Journey of Divorce, Dating, and Raising Tiny Humans. After a few life changes, she moved with her two daughters and dog down to Florida to start over again. Always up for a margarita and tacos and some sarcastic humor, Allie likes to find the funny in her everyday life, share her thoughts on everyday topics, and give you some great recommendations on what and where to eat.

Born and raised in a small town in Central Florida, Allison Chance had the rare experience of living in the same home her entire life — that is, until she became a military spouse and experienced the excitement and uncertainty of relocating eight times in 10 years. Allison graduated from the University of Florida and it was a sorority/fraternity social that brought her and her husband, Kyle, together. Their daughter Charlotte, 7, was born in Hawaii and their son Hux, 3, was born in Monterey, CA. Allison is the founder of Anchored Real Estate Group, a boutique real estate firm with a reputation for providing clients the personalized, professional service they deserve. She is truly passionate about real estate and helping others and gets to merge both by offering a rebate program for those who serve the community when buying or selling a home. When she isn’t showing homes or negotiating real estate transactions, you can find her on her yoga mat!

Allison Lore is a California native who is thrilled to be back in the year-round sunshine after a decade of living in the Washington, DC metropolitan region. She has a background in journalism, technical writing and marketing, and currently works as a proposal manager for a civil engineering firm. She relocated to Jacksonville in 2017 with her husband and son. Her passions include baking, coffee, reading and socializing with friends. Her toddler has taught her more than she ever thought she would know about the nuances of construction vehicles.

Amber Junker is a wife, a full-time stepmom, a passionate food blogger, and a proud voice-over talent. Growing up in the small town of Penney Farms, Florida, she was always too much of a princess for her hometown but too Penney Farms to fit in anywhere else and was nicknamed the Penney Farms Princess. Hardworking and poised, she now proudly wears the ‘crown’ of Penney Farms Princess. Follow her for recipes, restaurant reviews, a little fitness & real life along the way.

Born and raised in Savannah, GA, Blakeley Vinicky has been a Jacksonville resident for more than 14 years. She moved to Jax temporarily for an internship at The Jacksonville Landing (RIP), fell in love with the city and a boy (her now husband), and ended up sticking around. She is married to loud and crazy Chicago native Jimmy Vinicky of nearly 10 years and has two daughters, Daisy and Poppy. In addition to writing for Jacksonville Mom, she works full-time in Public Relations, runs her own lifestyle blog, This Blonde Life, and is a freelance makeup artist. She loves adventuring with her family; you’ll rarely catch her sitting around home doing nothing. Her favorite local spots include Sipper’s and Breezy coffee houses, Wicked Barley Brewing, Cap’s on the Water, Ink Factory, happy hour at One Ocean’s Azurea, and soaking up rays at the beach.

Brittany Hutto was born and raised in a small (but fast-growing) town in Florida. She married her high school sweetheart and is the mother to the most kindhearted and adventurous little boy named Mark. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of North Florida where she majored in Public Health and Health Education. She served her community during her time working with underserved populations. After a complex pregnancy, she and her husband welcomed Mark to the world at 27 weeks and 4 days. She stepped away from her career to become a stay-at-home mom so that she could take her son to his many specialist appointments, therapies, and surgeries. She works tirelessly to ensure her son is happy, thriving, and meeting every milestone. Brittany enjoys many activities with her family. In her free time, you may find her reading a good book, spending time with her family out on the boat, DIY projects, and giving back to the local NICU. She currently manages her own blog which invites you to come along on her and her son’s journey from complex pregnancy, to the NICU, and every diagnosis and surgery in between. Brittany also manages a program called Mark’s Mission which gives back to local NICUs. She is an advocate for NICU support and research and is a current student pursuing her Master of Public Administration with concentrations in Nonprofit Management and Health Care Administration at the University of North Florida. Her dream is to establish Make Your Mark as a non-profit organization to give back to more local NICUs and serve as a resource for local parents with children who have superpowers.

Bryana Dunn is the content creator mom behind TravelwellDunn, where she blends her love for food, travel, and storytelling to inspire others to explore the world one bite and one adventure at a time. After transitioning from a career in healthcare and marketing, Bryana traded corporate life for creative freedom, turning her passion for traveling and eating, into a business. She shares everything from local to worldwide culinary gems, foodie itineraries, fun experiences, or sharing behind-the-scenes insights into the creator world while being mom. Bryana brings an authentic, witty, and engaging approach to everything she does.

Caitlyn Hawkins is a happy-go-lucky wife and Mama who loves football, Icemen hockey, and fishing. A Jax local through and through, she has called the 904 'home' her entire life. But don't let that fool you! She and her little ginger family are avid world travelers. When they aren't on the go, this Osprey Alumni is helping folks sell and buy homes in our great town. She wanted to find a balance between being a working Mom in an ever-changing field and wanting to be present in her children’s everyday lives. This is how she came up with being what she calls a “stay-at-home (s) Mom”. She chronicles those experiences, along with various other home maintenance/design/repair tips learned along the way, on her blog, ClosingsAndCarSeats.com.

Born and raised in the Aloha state and a traveling gypsy at heart, Chantel Beidleman left the nest fresh out of high school and headed off for college in sunny Southern California. Almost a decade later, she met and fell madly in love with her hubby, who whisked her off to the great Midwest. After five brutal winters in Nebraska, Chantel realized that home will always be where the ocean is (and the snow isn’t), so off to Jacksonville they went, where this Hawaiian girl now spends her days as a stay-at-home wrangler to her two baby bears. Before becoming a household CEO, she joyfully spent her time as the Program Assistant Director of a preschool. Digging deep into wellness and health is her jam, and spontaneous dance parties with her kiddos are what sing to her soul. Chantel is wildly passionate about advocating for her son, who lives with multiple severe food allergies. You can find her out and about daily as she is a self-proclaimed busybody who loves hitting the beach or exploring new spots in town while homeschooling her kiddos. If you ever see this fast-paced mama on the go, say hi because she is always up for meeting new people and making new friends!

Jacksonville University alumna, Corinna Hoffman is a professional family and baby photographer working at her studio located in Riverside. She is a Yankees fan married to a Red Sox fan by choice. Corinna and her husband, Robert, are both passionate about their baseball teams just as much as they are with the Jacksonville Jaguars! They have been married for almost 13 years now and have two boys, Lincoln and Lochlan. When she is not photographing other people’s children, she is always taking photos of her kids as you can tell by her Instagram posts. They like to support all things local. Find them at a mom and pop's restaurant, brewery, or family events like the Jumbo Shrimp baseball games. They love the outdoors and camping so you might also find them hiking the nature trails in town!

Dea Howald is a first-time mama to a precious rainbow baby named Levi. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Matthew! Dea is also a stay-at-home mom who’s never actually home because she tries to escape the house daily and explore the town with a friend! She loves supporting locals any chance, and you can sum her up with faith, family, friends, food, flowers, and fun!

Dominique Landry is a NASM certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and founder of Fit Enough LLC. She has been an athlete and a proponent of a healthy lifestyle for her entire life and created Fit Enough to change the current narrative of fitness to be more inclusive of all body types, fitness levels, and lifestyles. When she is not working to change the fitness industry, she can be found "doing this thing called life" with her husband and endlessly energetic children. If you enjoy a good laugh, straight talk, and lots of food, Dominique is your girl. Follow her on Instagram @fit_enough for a little food, a little fitness, a little fashion, and a lot of fun!

Hiliary King is a Jacksonville native who currently resides in Jacksonville Beach. Married, mom of two active boys. When she’s not at work, she’s either at the local skate park with her boys or cheering them on from the bench at their local Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym. Hiliary loves working out, skating with her husband and boys, surfing, rollerblading, paddle boarding, coffee dates with friends, animals, nature, and basically anything outdoors! Look for her cruising around the beach in her golf cart or at the local skate park in Jax Beach cruising on her skateboard!

Jess Dinney is a Florida transplant who grew up in New York, but has made Jacksonville her home since 2014. After working as a corporate event planner and conference manager for 14 years, Jess transitioned out of the workforce to become a stay-at-home mom once her twins were born in 2021. After soaking in two absolutely incredible (but exhausting!) years at home with her babies, Jess was ready to send the toddlers to daycare and start writing HER next chapter. She found her professional passion in social media management and content creation. If you need to get a hold of her, don’t call - message her on Instagram! On the weekends, you can find Jess spending time outdoors with her wife and kids, cheering at Jags games, and trying out new restaurants around town. She loves meeting new mom friends, so come say hi on Instagram @doublethedinneys to get the low-down on twin/toddler mom life, LGBTQ+ advocacy, local food tours, and more!

Jessica Stewart is a North Carolina girl who, after living in New York City for eight years, has loved being back in the South since moving to Jacksonville in 2008. She is a stay-at-home mom to Linda Claire (3) and Liam (2). Before filling her days with parks and Play-Doh, Jessica worked in event planning and marketing for financial and media companies, including This Old House. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, she is a passionate Tarheel fan, and college basketball season is her favorite time of year. Jessica spends her free time on the tennis court, training for races with her running buddies, or drinking wine with her husband, Trevor. Her favorite things include snuggling with her sweet dog at the end of the day, hearing her kids laugh together, and pink cupcakes with sprinkles.

Kacey Roache is a Jacksonville native who lives in Ponte Vedra with her husband, TJ, and her three kids, Lucy, Lucas, and Lola. Kacey graduated from Florida State University (Go Noles!) with a degree in interior design. She is passionate about the arts and arts education and has served on the board of Art with a Heart in Healthcare, Ponte Vedra Public Education Foundation for the Arts, Christ Church Creative Academy as well as the PTOs at her kids' school. In her spare time, you might find her channeling her inner Serena Williams on the tennis court, performing in community theater, or enjoying the beach with her friends and family. Follow her family's chaos on Instagram: @kaceyroachepvb

Kaitlyn Michaelis is new to Jacksonville and wants to be your friend. She is down for anything and rarely says no if you invite her. Kaitlyn loves life as a girl mom with twin four-year-olds and a one-year-old. She has been standing by her man through undergrad, med school, and now residency (and is a little worn out). She is loving Jacksonville and this new chapter of life. Kaitlyn received her bachelor's in Public Relations and Business. She was the head of PR for a startup company in Utah before switching over to Video Production, where she got pretty good at making software seem interesting and fun—even though it’s not. After taking a break from the professional world to “hang with her three best girlfriends,” she is now on a path to self-discovery. One thing she has discovered is that she really likes cake. Kaitlyn makes lovely cakes and has just started to sell them and teach cake decorating. You can check out her cakes on Instagram @kaitybaked. Kaitlyn is still searching for her gal pal soulmate here in Jacksonville. If you think you can complete her, let her know!

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Kayla Trapp is a wife and a millennial mom of two littles. During the day, you can find her working hard as a corporate professional and by night she’s making memories with her family. As a believer of intentionally celebrating all life moments, Kayla’s blog, The Trapp Haus, was created. You can follow her journey over on Instagram @TheTrappHaus where she shares her imperfect life, DIY projects, crafts, and everything in between.

Kelsey Cassman is a Jacksonville, Florida, native enjoying life with her wonderful husband, Matthew, and their adorable children, Noah, Sophia, and Lincoln. She is a nutritionist who completed her B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of North Florida. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, she worked as a community outreach coordinator, teaching people about holistic health benefits. With all the responsibilities of being a stay-at-home mother, cooking with her children has become one of her favorites! Kelsey enjoys spending quality time with her friends and family, playing volleyball on the beach, browsing Pinterest, online shopping, and having date nights at local restaurants. She is notorious for snapping pictures of any dish that looks delicious, and she shares her food photography, fun recipes, and mom life posts on her blog, KelseyCassman.com.

Boy mom. Household CEO. Corporate leader. Outdoor lover. Social seeker. Sun worshipper. Curious traveler. Champagne enthusiast. These words describe me, Kerry Schicker, and contributor for Jacksonville Moms Blog. I first approached founders Vicky and Megan after a heartbreaking miscarriage a few years ago. I had a very unpleasant experience with my OB at the time and I needed to get it off my chest so I wrote an anonymous blog that resonated with some of our readers. I have since written dozens of blogs about mostly motherhood. I have a passion for writing. My 20-year career has grown through some form of writing including TV news reporting and producing, magazine publishing, public relations, advertising, marketing, blogging and my current day job doing HR and employee communications for a Fortune 300 FinTech company. I am thankful that Jacksonville has such a supportive community for moms like me, and I can't imagine raising my two boys anywhere else.

Krista Hitson is a wife and mom to four crazy kids and one rambunctious puppy. Originally from Ocala, Krista moved to Jacksonville in 2010 and quickly fell in love with her new home. She finished her degree online three weeks after giving birth to her 3rd sweet baby but is currently “employed” as a domestic engineer. Krista loves being a stay-at-home mom but tries to keep busy! In her spare time, she enjoys crafting and attempting Pinterest creations with wood, vinyl, and paint. She is also very involved with her kid's school and is that PTA president who’s always there, sometimes with an extra kid or two. You can usually find Krista with a messy bun, her ice water in a giant Yeti, awkward dancing, and using sarcasm to help coordinate all the chaos.

As a Florida native, Lauren Rautenkranz has roots all across the Sunshine State. She moved to Jacksonville in 2016 when she joined First Coast News as a broadcast meteorologist. Recently, she stepped back from TV to focus on raising her two little ones, Madilyn and Pierson, and is exploring new opportunities outside the newsroom. Lauren loves the endless variety Northeast Florida offers, from its beautiful beaches and waterways to its vibrant food scene. Married to her high school sweetheart, their family fully embraces the salt life, spending countless hours on the boat exploring the Intracoastal and St. Johns River. Their guest room is always prepped for visitors, and they love showing off the area to friends and family passing through. Lauren also keeps fellow boaters in the loop with her weekly Sandbar Report on Facebook, sharing the best spots to soak up the sun.

Mary-Lauren Eubank is a curly-haired Texan in the trenches of motherhood with two sassy and entertaining daughters. A busybody in the truest sense, she teaches fitness classes all week at Define Jacksonville. To stay sane, Mary-Lauren requires a daily dose of dark chocolate, unwinds with a page-turner, and folds laundry watching just the kind of reality TV that she will forbid her girls from watching in the future. A wannabe foodie, she loves to learn about, prepare, experiment, and indulge in all things food…well, except the shopping part with kids in tow. She blogs about all things fitness from debunking the latest trends to goal setting, Mary-Lauren is passionate about being active, being real and being healthy!

Maya Sutherland is a full-time SAHM who squeezes in part-time work as a Local Childcare Consultant for an au pair agency. She was born in Ohio but has spent most of her childhood and adult life in Florida. She is André's devoted wife and mother to Audrey, Mason, and her fur baby, an Egyptian Mau cat named Midnight. Maya earned an A.S. in Culinary Dietetic Technician and a B.A.S. in Supervision and Management from Florida State College at Jacksonville. Her professional background is in management, and most recently, she managed a skilled nursing facility food service department staff of 15. Maya has a long-time love affair with food. She is happiest in the kitchen preparing fresh, homemade meals for her family, utilizing her numerous gadgets and food preparation-specialty items. She is also an aspiring business owner but hasn't figured out what she wants to do when she grows up. In her spare time, she loves painting rocks, coloring using colored pencils,  yoga,  listening to podcasts or audiobooks, and online shopping. You can follow her on Instagram @5spicechef, and Facebook @5spicechef.

Meg Sacks is a working mom of four and an avid community volunteer. She has worked in corporate communications and media relations for over 18 years for a Fortune 500 and non-profit company. She took some time off to enjoy life as a stay-at-home mom after the birth of her first child in 2008. Her sweet, introverted daughter was excited to welcome her baby brother in 2013, and then boy/girl twins joined the family in 2016. Meg finds being an “office mama” a constant balancing act and never-ending challenge but enjoys the opportunities it offers her for personal growth. A Virginia girl at heart, she loves Florida’s warm weather and the great quality of life Jacksonville offers her family.

Meredith Fitts Loudenback is originally from South Carolina and moved to Jacksonville after graduating from Clemson University in 1994. Meredith and her husband enjoyed living in London and Boston for several years before relocating back to Jacksonville in 2010. Meredith has worked in medical sales and, most recently, interior design. She has been married for 24 years, and they have a 14-year-old son. Meredith is passionate about travel, books, aesthetics, and design, and in her free time, she loves having active family adventures and small, intimate dinners with her treasured circle of friends.

Mischelle Storm was born & raised in Texas but just can’t seem to stay away from the First Coast. She married her best friend, Allan, whom she has known since elementary school. Besides the major last name upgrade, Allan gave Mischelle two adorable and active boys. Mischelle is passionate about all things, mindfulness, holistic wellness, nutrition, & yoga. She is adventurous and loves to try new things – like the latest adventure of living in a 200 sq ft tiny home on 10 acres in the middle of the TX hill country! This diverse Mama can be found sipping either a green smoothie or a Tequila and soda (it's about balance, right?), being THAT soccer mom, lifting heavy things at the gym, practicing yoga, or riding her Peloton. #sobasic

Nicki Wiggins is a teacher turned stay-at-home mom to three kids, ages 7, 5, and 3 (a boy and two girls). She is a wife to her wonderful hubby, Jayme, who works hard to support her Disney obsession. They met at Stetson University in undergrad and have been married for 13 amazing years. When not planning her family’s next visit to Disney, Nicki enjoys time at the beach (with the occasional paddleboarding), volunteering in her kids’ classrooms, hanging with friends and family, and exploring Florida. You can find her writing her blog called Date Your State, which gives tips and ideas for having fun with your family in this amazing state of Florida. She hopes to be a Floridian for life!

Nikki Clowers is a self-proclaimed “Mama To All.” She is known to turn heads everywhere she goes as a mother of eight amazing humans aged toddler to teen. Nikki was born and raised in East Texas where she met her high school sweetheart (Kelsey) in 2000, transplanted to Jacksonville in 2012, but not before moving to China for a year in 2011. Together, she and her husband have built their family through biology, adoption, and foster care. Nikki was an elementary teacher for 10 years, a social worker for 2, has been a birth doula since 2017, and is currently an office coordinator and social event planner for a local medical/cosmetic practice. On any day of the week, you can find her at a kid’s soccer practice, dropping off a kid at theatre rehearsals, coaching a kid’s softball game, or in a school pick-up line. Date nights often include tacos and margs, live music, and Netflix binging. Nikki is passionate about family preservation, foster care advocacy, holistic wellness, DIY home projects, suburban homesteading, travel, and women building up women.

While not born in Jacksonville, Olivia Smith has lived here since she was 18 months old and considers herself a staunch Duval Devotee. Despite growing up in Jacksonville, she didn’t develop a real love of the city until she was about 19 years old and attending UNF. Olivia started her “big girl career” by working in the child welfare system at JFCS and loves children. She is Mama to an energetic, wildly bright boy and a super sassy, clever girl. Since leaving her role in child welfare in 2016, she has remained in the nonprofit sector of Northeast Florida and currently works full-time in development. Olivia is deeply passionate about supporting children and teens in her community. In addition to her full-time job, she channels that passion into her roles as the Chair of the Pace Center for Girls Jacksonville young professionals board and the Advocacy chair of the PTA for her son’s school.

Patricia Kozack is a professional makeup artist, wife, and mom to two kids (6 and 2). Her days are spent wrangling the kids, being a mom taxi, getting a workout in with Jax Stroller Strength. Her weekends are spent beautifying clients for their weddings and events.  She obsessed with all things beauty related and cannot wait to share her niche of the world with Jacksonville Mom. Check out her site Makeup by Tricia. You can also watch her every second Tuesday of the month for her Beauty segment on the WJXT Morning Show to hear more of her makeup tips and tricks.

Born and raised along the bayous of Louisiana, Rachel Owens is a lover of Creole Cuisine (Mom’s is always best!), a good crawfish boil with friends and family, the New Orleans Saints, and relaxing to the thunderous sounds of a southern downpour. A few years after receiving her degree in Fashion Merchandising and Business, Rachel married her “college sweetheart” Troy and became a Navy wife. After spending five years in sunny San Diego, their journey led them to Jacksonville, where they are raising their two boys, Troy Keith born in 2015, and Eli Hunter born in 2018, along with a fur baby, Shih Tzu Grover. As a Congenital Heart Defect Warrior and multiple heart surgery survivor, Rachel is passionate about research, activism, and her journey as a heart warrior and heart mom to her CHD Warrior baby boy Eli. As a family, lifestyle and beauty influencer over at @rachelamyowens and rachelamyowens.com, Rachel hopes to inspire her audience to triumph through their trials — and look good while doing it!

Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Sharnique Green is a stay-at-home mom of three and proud resident of Jacksonville. Mothering a son with autism, a gifted daughter, and a strong-willed toddler who is lovingly called the boss baby, things can get crazy. Through this beautiful chaos called motherhood, Sharnique’s personal mom blog, That Dope Mom Blog, was created. She enjoys photography, writing, good food, and exploring the beautiful city of Jacksonville. You can catch captures of all her family’s fun adventures over on Instagram @thatdopemom.

Stacy Mcdonald-Taylor, a former health care program manager, came to the first coast by way of Charlotte, NC. Passionate for community and creative arts. Stacy has worked with families and educators through Parent Education & Outreach Programs. Since welcoming the births of her and her husband’s two delightful, energetic sons, she has worked from home, always seeking new ways to provide a joy-filled, creative environment, nurturing a love for people, learning, nature, and healthy, natural/organic foods. Stacy shares tidbits of her “life learnings” on her blog, Wasting Nothing.

Theresa Duncan is a recovering fake adult and is now proudly a child who refuses to grow up. She spent a decade developing and facilitating enrichment programs for at-risk youth. Through this work, she saw firsthand the power of play in the growth of emotionally, physically, and mentally healthy children. The pressure of pretending to be an adult finally became too much, so in 2014, she and her father, Todd (also NOT a grown-up), opened Villa Villekulla Neighborhood Toy Store on Amelia Island. Her two children, Adrian and Francine, often exhibit more maturity than she does and are, therefore, the ones in charge both at home and at Villa Villekulla. When she isn’t playing with toys, learning about toys, or talking about toys, she enjoys dance parties and listening to live music with her husband.

Originally from Kansas City, Tina Smithers Peckham relocated to Jacksonville, FL, with her dear husband, feisty cat, and sweet-natured corgi mix in 2016. After eight years working various gigs in New York City from magazine publishing to digital marketing, Tina joined the world of freelance, writing and reporting for a variety of publications and websites including MTV News, ET Online, Glamour, Us Weekly and more. Tina has also assisted with social media, editorial and, content strategy for brands and personalities such as Britney Spears, Jordin Sparks, Beauty Brands, truTV and WE tv. When she’s not plugging away on her laptop, she can be found exploring the Jacksonville beaches, reading a good book or enjoying a local coffee shop with her cherub-cheeked little boys, Archer and Austin.

Vially Dorestant was born in Haiti but moved to South Florida at the tender age of 3. She currently resides in Jacksonville with her amazing husband, Nate, two beautiful boys, Mason and Corey, and her overly hyper Jack Russell, Stella. Vially has her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in communications from Florida Atlantic University. Aside from her being a dope wife and mom, you can catch her on Instagram @viallys_diary creating amazing home decor and relatable content with her family.