We know that being a mom is much more than a job. It’s a full-time-never-get-a-break-don’t-put-that-in-your-mouth-no-means-no-lifestyle filled with ups and downs, laughs and tears and memories by the minute. Sure, it can be confusing and completely overwhelming at times, but hey, that’s why we’re here.
The two Jen’s originally created this site, and now a team of moms with different views will add to this daily blog. Our goal is to make this the ultimate resource for Charlotte moms and moms-to-be from pregnancy to college on a variety of activities, events and motherhood-related topics (best deals on hip new products, navigating the school systems, weekend events and more!). This is a place for us to share as well as our readers, and we don’t pretend to know everything here. But, we’ll try our best to provide you with plenty of info we’ve learned through research, trial and, unfortunately, error.
What’s Carroll’s story? I want to know more about Jen. I think I know Jenni from somewhere, but where? Find out everything you ever wanted to know (and some things you didn’t) about our talented and insightful bloggers who know an awful lot about kids’ stuff and the latest goings on around town. We’re moms, wives, co-workers, friends, people in the know and, best of all, your guides on this crazy little thing we call Charlotte Smarty Pants.
Our Smarty Moms:
Jen Bunich (1971-2008)
Smarty Specialty: Co-Chief Founding Mommy
Married/Husband: 3 ½ years, Boris
Kids: 1 darling little girl
Lived in Charlotte: 1994-2008
Unique Smarty perspective:
Jen Bunich achieved the perfect balance between working mom and raising a family. Jen & Jen met in 1996 when they both worked at a super fun ad agency along with 30 or so other “Jens.” Jen B was always so incredibly dedicated to her job and she climbed the ladder quickly. After giving birth to her daughter, Claire, Jen decided to continue on with her successful career. In doing so, she wanted to give a voice to the working moms on CSP. In the early days of CSP, Jen & Jen would constantly hash out their struggles between “is it easier to be a working mom or stay-at-home mom?” They both came to the conclusion that if they could merge the greatest aspects of both together, then they would have the perfect life.
We tragically lost Jennifer Bunich to non-smoking lung cancer on February 4, 2008. CSP was forever changed. You will always find a piece of her here. We miss you, Jen!
In Loving Memory: Jennifer Lisman Bunich
Jen Plym
Smarty Specialty: Chief Founding Smarty Mama
Married to: Randy
Kids: Ansley, Isabel, Identical Twins Owen & Walker
Lived here since: 1996
Occupation: Information gatherer of all things parenting in the QC
Unique Smarty perspective:
In 2005 I was a proud Mom of 2 girls, (4) and (2). Life was absolutely storybook perfect. And then, twins happened. Yep, I had twins – identical twins (now 15, gulp!) – and our family of four jumped to six overnight. Whoa. It was frightening and exciting at the same time, and I quickly realized that the keys to survival were being organized, resourceful and always on the lookout for a good bargain. I’m a researcher and tester outer by nature, and soon wanted/needed a place to share my growing knowledge (and questions) with other Charlotte moms. And that’s how Charlotte Smarty Pants was born. But that’s not all, not by a long shot. I’m also a die-hard Florida Gator, social diva (I have been called ‘somewhat of a legend in Charlotte’ by Jen Bunich), married to my amazing high school sweetheart, Randy, and thank God every single day that Chick-Fil-A invented the chicken sandwich, actually just their unsweet tea – 3 lemons please, no more, no less. In my free time (is there such a thing?!), I can be found cheering on my four crazy kids on a field of choice, spending time on any body of water, preferably a beach, reading and practicing barre method and cycle.
My Favorite Blog: It’s a tie between: The difference between #1 and #4 and what happens when the tooth fairy forgets to come!
{Photo Creds: Little Nest Studio}
Jenni Strazzulla
Smarty Specialty: Smarty Social Media Expert
Married to: Chris
Kids: Christopher & Jack
Lived here since: 2014
Occupation: Forever a schoolteacher, artist, social media guru
Unique Smarty Perspective:
I love all things Smarty! When I found out we were moving to Charlotte, I reached out to Smarty Jen Plym immediately and she was the MOST helpful resource. The Smarty team helped me with everything – places to live, doctors for the twins, the best schools, places to shop – you name it, and the Smarty team was there for me! I knew instantly I wanted to be part of this amazing team. I wanted to pay it forward to all the new moms I would meet – and that is exactly what this amazing site does – helps moms navigate parenthood from age zero all the way to college.
My unique Smarty perspective is that I love to connect people. I love finding something new and exciting and sharing it with our audience. If you are small business wanting to get the word out don’t hesitate to contact me! I would love to chat. — sorry, off topic, see I can’t help myself I love to promote small business and connect with people. 😊
I am a photographer, writer, self-proclaimed naturalist, former elementary school teacher, mom to twin boys, and wife to my hometown crush! If you can’t find me that means I am lost in an art museum somewhere or out taking a walk (most likely snapping pictures).
{Photo Creds: Little Nest Studio}
Carroll Walton
Smarty Specialty: Novice twin mom and reformed sportswriter turned mommy blogger
Married to: Gus
Kids: Wade, Johnny and Wes
Lived here since: 2014…and 1974. I grew up in Charlotte and went to Country Day from second grade through 12th. After college, I spent 22 years living in Georgia where I was a sportswriter for the Macon Telegraph for five years and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for 17. After eight years of long distance dating, my now husband finally popped the question when his company decided to move him to Charlotte. It meant I could move back home and start a family.
Occupation: Freelance writer and juggler of three boys under the age of 2
Unique Smarty Perspective:
I didn’t get to become a mom until I was 40 something-or-other – hey, I was younger than Janet Jackson – but thanks to the magic of fertility treatments and modern science I have been blessed three times over in two years’ time. Twins weren’t the goal but they were an option and down to our last bullets, we went for broke. Sure enough, the first ultrasound showed two of the tiniest little beings and within a couple of weeks the second ultrasound confirmed both had heart beats. Now here I am, a stay-at-home-mom, unless you count some bleary-eyed freelance writing at night and in between feedings, making up motherhood as I go along. In my former life, I wrote about sports, mostly the Atlanta Braves, and developed a great working relationship with Chipper Jones, their former third baseman. When he retired in 2012, I was lucky enough to get to collaborate with him on his book Ballplayer, which was published in April of 2017 and made the New York Times bestseller list a couple of months thereafter. Now here I am trying to raise a few ballplayers of my own and loving (most) every minute of it.
