Peace & Quiet (as much as i can get)

The dust from the media storm has settled. It has been at least two weeks since a reporter has requested an interview.

The stories didn't portray us honestly and they played up the controversy of the charity denying our money because we chose to earn it through a calendar that made us feel beautiful and empowered.

Thing is, those "scandalous" calendars are still at the printer, delayed by the ice storm. There aren't any proceeds right now to give; we don't even have the actual document in our hands.

As a journalist for 15 years, I'm disgusted that reporters write stories without speaking to the source. And maybe shocked to be backed into a wall on the other side, threatened to speak my side or use the THPM page as quotes.

This blog was made at the time the original group formed, but it does not convey a message from 700 women across the US and London. It is but one tattooed hippie pirate momma: this one. Stacy. The original tattooed hippie pirate momma.

Soon Inside Edition will air our story and the phone will start to ring again. I'm ready for positive press.

This mom group turned movement is about to become an actual business. Exciting ventures lie ahead.

How THPM Came to Be

Tattooed Hippie Pirate Mommas was founded in July 2011 when my daughter Stella was 7 months old. The mom groups i joined trying to meet other mothers was a disappointing and discouraging experience, so i went online to meetup.com and started my own. In the description was, "For out-of-the-box unconventional renegade moms who aren't afraid to speak their minds and be themselves."

After a year or so I started the THPM facebook group for moms from all over, not just in the Dallas area, to come together. As more women found a safe place to be open where their children were involved too, the group became larger. My friends started asking to run groups in their own cities.

My friend and fellow hippie pirate mom Chrissy helped launch our second branch in San Antonio. She is the organizer of that branch. Their group is about 50 members strong and just celebrated one year together.

Colorado came about 6 months after San Antonio kicked off, when SA member Tauri relocated to Denver. A few months later, my good friend and co-organizer for the Dallas group also moved to Colorado Springs, so the two formed a north and south Denver branch. It helped to have Texas girl Shannan in the area since she originally started with the Dallas group. Each of them stayed true to the THPM vision.

Next came Austin, organized by my friends Danielle and Cassie.
Danielle moved to her home state of New York in summer 2013 and we started the NY branch last week.
In between that time, I kicked off a THPM branch in Missouri, Corpus Christi, and California.

After the story on Tattooed Hippie Pirate Mommas ran in Daily Mail Online last week, i teamed up with amazing women to form branches in Florida,  Wyoming, and the DC metro area. Oh, and London -- the branch there is just a baby and will need to take time to grow.

Who would have known a search for moms would turn into a worldwide movement?  Definitely not me.

Tattooed Mommas Rock.

About six months ago, I was longing for friendship with other tattooed, hippie mommas and decided to take matters into my own hands by starting a group on Meetup.com. Who would have guessed that these women would become incredible lights in my own life when it seemed so dark?

This week there were two play dates hosted by other moms, and both were attended by only myself and two other girls, making for excellent conversation over coffee while the kids played. This morning sitting down with Brittany and Rachel, it was like I had known them forever. We are all so comfortable with each other and our kids have started to ask to play together. Their friendship warms my heart.

So to all my Tattooed Hippie Pirate Mommas, much love and appreciation. You have made my life so much better and my heart so much more full.