Capital Calendar Girls Are Giving Back In An Epic Way

Thirty-three Tallahassee, Florida women, mostly mothers, ranging in age from 19-49, are setting out to help others while having a lot of fun. Capital Calendar Girls have created a glamorous, vintage inspired, ?pin-up? style calendar. All proceeds from calendar sales will be donated to Refuge House, an organization benefiting people affected by domestic violence and sexual assault, many of whom are women.

All the women, except the 19-year-old photographer, are mothers. The ladies met on several different online attachment parenting and homeschooling groups, and have developed offline friendships. The group is comprised of professors, forensic toxicologists, lawyers, doulas, homeschoolers, dancers, gamers, seminarians, editors, pageant queens, artists, bakers, teachers, Zumba instructors, moms, nannies, and musicians.

The visionaries of this venture call themselves the Calendar Girls Crew. When asked why they chose this project, a crew member said,

??There were three reasons why we created this calendar. First, we knew it would be a blast to get dressed up and take pictures with our friends. Next, by that same token, we wanted to glorify, enhance, and publicly show the innate glamour, beauty, and sex appeal of all women, particularly mothers. Last, and by no means least, we wanted to use this opportunity to help women in need, and we were committed to sponsoring a charity that benefited women.?

?Another crew member added,

??I channeled my inner Nana. She was at her prime in the late 40’s and I think I look like her in my photo. I had just finished watching all the seasons of Bomb Girls and felt this era. I think there is something to be said about how powerful and motivated the women of that time were.?They paved the way for us to be able to be wives, mothers, career women, or housewives. It’s our choice to do what we want to do with our lives, and it didn’t used to be.?

Amazingly enough, the ladies supplied the wardrobe out of their own collections. Many of the pieces came from a few of the crew’s grandmothers. Yes, that’s right ? several of the outfits worn are authentic vintage garments. Most of the props, with exception of the telephone, which was borrowed from a local vintage store, came from the women’s own homes. Due to their resourcefulness with wardrobe and props, and their ability to find sponsors to cover the upfront printing costs, the out of pocket expenses for the girls was $0.

I asked the ladies if they could share a few funnies from their photo shoot, and they really came through. With so many to choose from, it was a daunting task to determine which to share. Here are a few for your enjoyment.

?My son loved my lipstick, and informed me I should ?wear my lips like that every day.?? ? Ms. April 2015

??I accidentally over-burnt my burnt pie prop on the morning of the shoot. Literally forgot about it in the oven.? ? Ms. November 2015

“I cleaned an office building in full makeup after the trial run. Also, my 4-year-old completely didn’t recognize me and it took him a good 30 seconds to realize I was his mommy.” – Ms. January 2016

The calendars have been sent to print and will be sold locally in Tallahassee. The girls were unsure of online demand, but would consider online sales if there was enough interest.

I know I’m interested! What about you?

Click here for a sneak peek of the beautiful Capital Calendar Girls and give their Facebook page a like.

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Elizabeth Preston is a thirty-something wife and mother of three living in Florida. She is a fierce liberal with a passion?for equality and justice. She is a skeptic by nature and often the Facebook friend that rains on the urban legend parade with fact checking. Give her?Facebook page?a?like, follow her on?Twitter?and check out her personal blog?My Four Ha? Pennies.