Knoxville Moms

Hi there! My name is Angie. I was not born and raised in Knoxville, but I am so happy we now call it home.

I am originally from an extremely small suburb of Chicago (the part where it’s mostly cornfield). I wanted to move away so badly and I decided in my early twenties to move to Florida. After living there for a few years, I met my husband and we got married. We stayed in Florida until it was time to start a family. We didn’t know where we wanted to go, but we wanted to go somewhere. We came to the Knoxville area to visit family and immediately fell in love. We moved less than a month before our amazing son, Flynn, was born.

My son had some complications at birth. Thanks to the fast actions from my doctor and the hard work from the team at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, my son was able to survive and I am so grateful for that every day. Right after my son turned one he was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. We drive all over Knoxville going to appointments.

I have a background in Cosmetology (doing hair), marketing, graphic design, and working in the medical field as a medical assistant at a dermatologist. After my son got his diagnosis I made the decision to put all my attention to his care and helping out moms in situations like mine. I started MOAGG.org to help raise awareness and spread kindness for all these amazing people with a little extra need.

We love finding fun things to do with my son where he can feel included, and the Knoxville area has some pretty amazing stuff! Every day is a new adventure for us and it’s always a surprise! I am so happy to be a part of Knoxville Moms and I look forward to getting to know you, and you getting to know me!

Hey, hey!  Amanda here! I’m a forever Carolina girl that moved to Knoxville in 2003 and have called it home ever since. I’m an introvert married to KJ (the most extroverted person I’ve ever met) and I’m a proud mom to my 3 boys: Noah (14), Nash (4) and Banks (6 months). I’ve been a teacher for 17 years in both general and special education and am currently working part time as an academic coach in the Anderson County school system.

When the stars align and I have a few moments to myself, you’ll find me compulsively decorating my house (a.k.a. moving things around), listening to Oldies music and making plans to retire at any beach we can afford. There’s nothing that ruins my day faster than having to figure out what’s for dinner and nothing lifts my spirits more than a good true crime podcast or book. I also firmly believe that Halloween is the best holiday ever and I dare you to try and convince me otherwise (I see you, Christmas lovers!).

Writing is where I feel the most like myself and it’s truly become a form of therapy for me over the years. My writing is typically much funnier than I’ll ever hope to be in real life. I love being a mom so being able to write about the highs and lows of “momming” 3 boys who are all in very different stages of life excites me. I hope you’re excited to join me on this wild and chaotic adventure we call Motherhood!

Hi, I’m Missy. I wasn’t raised in Tennessee, but it has become my home and the place where I plan to remain forever. I became a mama three times over in the early 2000’s after several years of infertility and losses. I am mom to three teenagers now. Motherhood is my real-life dream come true, but not everything in life turns out dreamy. I was stunned to find myself a single mother and learned so much about resilience and community during that season. I was even more surprised when I remarried and became a second wife and stepmom!  What a sweet gift that has been, and even more growth opportunities.

My heartbeat is to encourage others and faith in Christ is an integral part of who I am. I view the world through the lens of motherhood and love the way being “mom” connects so many of us. I have no family ties in the area, so friendships sustain me and investing in people is my passion. Relationships are the richness of this world!

I am girlfriend to my husband, mother to my three kiddos and “Missy” to my step daughters. Along with keeping our household humming, I also work in the software industry, keeping the office running. Both at home and at the office I keep the kitchen stocked and the coffee flowing. For fun I love to head to our Smoky Mountains, garden on our hillside or unwind on the patio and read a novel. I find words to be so powerful, so I process my thoughts and find clarity when I write.  I’m excited to share with others. You can also find me at my blog, Far From Flawless.

Hi friends, I’m Kelsie! I’m a midwestern girl that is proud to call Knoxville home for the past 8 years. I moved to Knoxville after graduating with my master’s degree in public health from Indiana University. I came to Knoxville to train as a professional athlete; pole vault was my specialty. I competed in the 2016 Olympics, as well as the 2017 & 2019 World Championships – my sport took me all over the world and I absolutely loved the time I spent dedicating myself to my athletic goals!

My husband and I met at Indiana University on the track team. We were friends first, then dated long distance for 4.5 years before he followed me to Knoxville. We were married in November 2019 and are expecting our first baby in January 2022! We are active people and love to spend time outdoors. We recently discovered mountain biking and have had so much fun exploring the trails in the surrounding areas.

After retiring from sport, I decided to go back to school to become a nurse. I will graduate from Lincoln Memorial University in December and am looking forward to merging my nursing education, background in public health, and experiences as an athlete as I pursue my career. I am passionate about helping others find simple, sustainable strategies to create a healthy lifestyle for themselves and their families. I believe one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is to take care of our bodies so that we can do the things we were made to do in this world!

Hello! My name is Chassidy and I’m a Knoxville native (basically born and raised)! I graduated from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 2013 and have a deep love for all things Vols! I have been married to my husband Tyler for ten years this October and we’ve been together 12 years! We have three children and one on the way! I’m a bonus mom to our son Landon (17) and we have two other children: Easton (8), and Harper (3) and another little boy due in January. I work from home doing support for a startup and my husband also works from home when he’s not traveling for work so we get to spend a lot of good quality time with our babies. 

Our kiddos have done everything under the sun but right now we are involved in soccer, baseball, and dance, and when we’re not at one of those activities we are traveling, going to baseball games, or headed to the mountains or the lake. We love Norris lake the best and my husband has been working on me for a long time to buy a boat, so we’ll see how that turns out! I’m a huge book lover and I am always looking for my next read so I’m up for suggestions. I also love all things true crime and Disney! I am so excited to be a part of this community and I’ve been reading articles on Knoxville Moms for a long time and it’s such a dream to get to be included in this tribe. I’m a huge believer that women should support and root for other women and that is especially true for moms. I hope to gain some good insight on motherhood and life in general and hopefully give some of my own knowledge to other women and moms. Thanks for having me!

Hello friends! I’m Kristi. I’m a lucky transplant to Tennessee, heralding from a small farming community in southeastern Idaho. We moved to the Knoxville area in 2022 looking for a new adventure, and we’re not disappointed. I love the small town values that are so prominent in east Tennessee.

I am a mom to four littles, which means we really embrace the chaos and the fun that comes along with a family of six. My family enjoys the outdoors, and we’re on a quest to experience all of the best lakes, rivers, and campgrounds this area has to offer. I stay at home with my kids, and during nap time, I teach middle school language arts online with a company that partners with schools experiencing teacher shortages.

In the moments when I choose to ignore my cleaning (i.e. my free time), I can be found in my kitchen, where I am a connoisseur of homemade cakes and breads. Birthdays are a big deal at our house, and we spend months planning the perfect cake. I am a self-proclaimed foodie on a mission to feed my family delicious dishes as frugally as possible. I look forward to Wednesdays each week because that’s when the new grocery store ads come out. Just recently, I decided to dabble with writing and hope to be a published author soon.

I’m a firm believer in finding solidarity in motherhood and creating spaces where women can help  and support one another.

You can follow along with my grocery deals and adventures in writing here.

Hi! I am Christine.

I am an East Tennessee native that recently returned home after 15 years. I am a stay-at-home mom to four charming children that keep me joyfully busy. I married my college sweetheart. We met in a class called ‘The History of Ideas.’ We thought it was a good idea to get married. The rest is history.

As a family we have been extremely blessed to have lived and explored many parts of the world. My husband’s schooling and work has kept us moving pretty much constantly since we have been married. We have lived in England, Paris, the Philippines, Singapore, and New York City with our kids. NYC was our home base for most of that time. It is where I learned how to become a mom.

My motherhood journey has been a unique one. I learned to cope with taking public transportation, living in small apartments and pushing strollers through blizzards. But through it all the challenges of city living were always outweighed by the exciting experiences l had with my kids. Being a city mom pushed me to get out and explore something new every day. And blogs like Knoxville Moms were a crucial part of our adventures.

Tennessee has been a wonderful landing spot for our family to settle. We are finally enjoying the perks of suburban living, especially having a dog.

When I am not busy with mom life you will find me looking at google flights for our next family adventure, enjoying a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream or running or at the gym while listening to Taylor Swift.

I am excited to be a part of the Knoxville Moms team and sharing all that the area has to offer with all of you.

Hey Y’all! I’m originally from Texas but I got to Tennessee as quick as I could! I love most things southern including the great food and I’m enjoying the similarities that Texas and Tennessee share. I’ve been told Texas and Tennessee are like cousins and I’m loving how wonderful it’s been living here in the Volunteer State.

I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degree in education from Texas State University and then went for my doctorate in education at the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor. I taught elementary aged kids at a public school in Lockhart, Texas before staying home full-time with my own kids. I am a teacher at heart, and I love learning.

I’m married to my high school sweetheart, so we’ve literally gown up together. Life’s mountains and valleys have been so fulfilling next to the love of my life. We have five kids and one on the way. My husband and I absolutely love our big family and all the entertaining/eventful days we have together. We lean on our faith and ask God for wisdom in raising up all these beautiful souls He’s entrusted us with. Our children enjoy singing, dancing, gymnastics, basketball, and learning to play new instruments. We are a homeschool family and enjoy the flexibility that we get throughout the year.

I cannot wait to enjoy all the new activities and traditions our family will create in the coming seasons here in East Tennessee. As past residents of Texas, seasons are a new thing we are looking forward to experiencing for the first time. I’m so grateful God has called my family to lay down roots here and explore all the state’s natural beauty.

I don’t have much free time but when I get the chance I love reading, writing, and exploring new family activities and attractions. I have lots of dreams and aspirations for myself and one that I plan to start this year are my children’s books. As a teacher I am extremely passionate about learning, and I’ve always had a soft spot for children’s literature as it is the gateway to becoming a lifelong learner. I have written several children’s books but haven’t taken the next step in publishing them yet. As a mom of five (soon to be six) it’s a lofty goal but one I’m sure I can meet with determination.

In the coming year there are so many new things to experience and new friends to meet! I’m thankful I have my family to keep me grounded and remind me to take life day-by-day. I’ll always love my biggest and most important calling as a wife and mother and I cherish the life God has given me. Through His grace I am able to wake up every day and strive to meet the needs of my family and others I meet along life’s journey.

Hi there! I’m Shante Coleman, many know me as Shante YuSlay! I am a licensed esthetician, tattoo artist, professional makeup artist, wife and a proud mom to a wonderful 6-year-old boy.

My journey as an entrepreneur and makeup artist has been an incredible adventure. Through my work, I’ve had the privilege of working on TV shows, glamming celebrities & helping countless individuals look and feel their best. I truly feel blessed with the life I’ve been given–to wake up every day and do something I love!

But there’s another side to me that’s just as fulfilling and challenging – being a mom. Parenting is a rollercoaster ride, filled with laughter, love, and chaos. My son is my biggest inspiration, and I cherish every moment we spend together. In my home we are always crafting, cooking and finding fun ways to spend time together.

I hope as I share my experiences, tips and tricks, it will be helpful to others. I truly look forward to contributing to the Knoxville Moms! Join me on this journey as I balance the glam and giggles of parenthood in Knoxville! #KnoxvilleMomLife

Hola Hola!

My name is Gloria and my family moved to East Tennessee in 2020 from Chicago, IL. My husband and I were both born & raised in Illinois, but were longing to live in a much calmer place a place where we could garden and raise chickens. We fell in love with the little city of Maryville where we now live for its friendly people and absolutely stunning scenery! We are a super outdoorsy family and will take any chance we get to go on a hike or for a relaxing float in the Townsend Wye!

My husband works as a lab manager in Knoxville and has his Masters in Public Health. I am currently pursuing a degree in Healthcare Administration and have a passion for holistic health and women’s wellness. I recently got my certification as a birth and postpartum doula and have loved using the knowledge I have learned to help women feel safe & heard during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum! Though I do not take doula clients regularly as it is more of a passion project than a career, I still keep nice and busy during the week. When I am not homeschooling my four-year-old sweet baby girl, I am either chasing my almost two-year-old little guy around or running my in-home daycare where I co-teach with my sister! Running an in-home daycare has given me the beautiful opportunity to be home with my littles and give them a wonderful built-in community of buddies to learn and play with and I would not trade it for the world!

On the very rare occasion that I have some free time I will spend it reading, doing macrame, cooking (I make some mean tamales), or planning crafts to do with my littles! I cannot wait to share my adventures with you here on Knoxville Moms!