Why Entrepreneur and Sweet Magnolias star Joanna Garcia Swisher Loves her ‘Self-Care Mom Time’
Joanna Garcia Swisher leans into family-oriented film and TV projects on Netflix and Hallmark, and her legions of Sweet Magnolias fans are clamoring for season 3, which is slated to stream this spring.
Sweet Magnolias takes place in the fictional town of Serenity and focuses on a working mom of three, Maddie Townsend, (Swisher), and her two best friends from childhood, restauranteur Dana Sue Sullivan (Brooke Elliott) and attorney Helen Decatur (Heather Headley).
The three close pals have seen one another through romance, marriages, divorce, career, family triumphs and tragedies, and a lot more. And it does all of this with a great deal of heart, relatable characters, and real-life ups and downs, that makes us want to keep coming back for more.
The series is based on the 19 popular Sweet Magnolias novels by Sherryl Woods and was developed by Sheryl J. Anderson. It premiered on Netflix in May 2020 and became a place for “comfort TV watching” appreciated by the entire family.
In addition to her high-profile acting career, JoAnna Garcia Swisher loves spending time in the kitchen creating her favorite recipes for her family, and her current go-to is Mrs. T’s Pierogies. So much so that she is helping with the company’s all-star mom campaign.
These pasta pockets filled with the stuff you love — creamy mashed potatoes, cheesy goodness, and other big, bold flavors — are simple and easy to prepare, come in full and mini sizes, and can be found in the frozen food aisle.
As an All-Star Mom herself, Swisher has created a tasty Margherita Pizza Pierogy Skewer recipe as “the perfect bite” for moms to share with their friends — or have all to themselves.
“At Mrs. T’s Pierogies, we pride ourselves in spreading smiles across America with our delicious and easy-to-prepare pierogies,” said LeeAnn Smulligan, the director of marketing for Mrs. T’s Pierogies.
“By helping moms everywhere relax after a long day with their favorite food in a beautiful space made just for them,” she said, “we hope to spread the same joy they give to their own families every single day.”
What is it about you and Mrs. T’s Pierogies that makes such a good fit?
JoAnna Garcia Swisher: I was instantly excited when they approached me about working with them. First and foremost, I’m a huge fan of Mrs. T’s Pierogies. My mother-in-law swears by them. They live in our freezer. But when they came to me and said that they wanted to celebrate all-star moms I was like how can I be a part of this?
What is Mrs. T’s Pierogies campaign all about?
JoAnna Garcia Swisher: This campaign is all about treating moms to the necessary recharging moments, a little bit of self-love, and a little bit of self-care that moms deserve. I just was so excited about it. It was just the perfect partnership, celebrating moms and enjoying foods that I love. I got to create a recipe for this campaign that I was so excited about, so it was just all good things.
Do you think it kind of fits with the fact that many moms take care of their children, homes, extended family members, and work, and often put themselves last?
JoAnna Garcia Swisher: Yes, what I’m hearing is that we are superwomen, and I believe that. And, yes, we have so many people in our lives that we are tending to and making sure that things are running smoothly that oftentimes you leave yourself to the last.
Is there an answer to this?
JoAnna Garcia Swisher: I think so. You don’t really need hours and hours to luxuriate. It feels like you’re indulging, but really and truly sometimes it just takes five minutes. So, having a place of your own can be enough, which is why the idea of these recharging rooms was so exciting for me. It’s about having a space that’s yours, that holds the things that are near and dear to you.
These are some of the tips that I offer throughout this campaign of just personalizing these small spaces, and putting things in them that make you happy. Are you a reader? Do you want to listen to some good music? It’s about whatever it may be, whatever the idea of just a true recharging moment, creating a space for yourself.
We’re all thrilled that Sweet Magnolias will be back in our lives this spring. What does that feel like for you?
JoAnna Garcia Swisher: I’m so thrilled to have everyone enjoy season 3. It was a really fun season to film. I felt like we kind of dug in in different ways that felt different, but the same love and the same sort of realness and relatability. It was just a great season. I love doing the show and I’m so excited for everyone to get to enjoy another season of it.
I appreciated Maddie’s relationships with her two teenage sons who were going through their own really difficult times and pushing her away. I felt like by the end there was a lot of growth on everybody’s part.
JoAnna Garcia Swisher: Yes, and I think you’re going to see a lot more of that. You’re especially going to see that with Ty (Carson Rowland), my oldest son. Not only just in terms of Ty graduating high school but hitting a crossroads in his life. You just see so much growth in these young people.
What was it like being back with your two besties — Heather and Brooke?
JoAnna Garcia Swisher: I just feel very loved and supported and seen by them. You’re going to see some interesting things that’ll develop within their dynamic and their friendship, which I think is really real and important to address. This year you really get into the nitty-gritty.
And more Margaritas, right?
JoAnna Garcia Swisher: Always. The tequila will be flowing. And the chips and guacamole, which is my favorite part.
You have busy with two young daughters, Sweet Magnolias. and your recent Hallmark movie, As Luck Would Have It, with Allen Leech from Downton Abbey. How do you balance it all? Can you?
JoAnna Garcia Swisher: I try. It takes a village and I have a huge support system and I have a husband that’s very hands-on. I’m so thankful for my girls. They are along in the journey with me. I’m not leaving home and leaving them behind. They get up and go with me. It’s really a family affair and I just feel really grateful for that. So, I couldn’t do it without them, and without the incredible people that help us. We have a lot of animals, too, so there are a lot of moving parts at the Swisher home.
Please tell me more about your feelings about season 3.
JoAnna Garcia Swisher: I really love this season in particular because you see it’s not always sunshine and rainbows and there is a real friendship there and a real journey and it ebbs and it flows. Like anything, you want to kind of see a little bit of yourself in that kind of programming, I think. I think that Sweet Magnolias and Serenity is a place that we hope everybody can see themselves walking through.
So, tell us how to get involved in Mrs. T’s all-star mom's campaign.
JoAnna Garcia Swisher: With Mrs. T’s help one lucky all-star mom will get “a recharging room” of their dreams. This mom will receive $20,000 to make a recharging room of their own design, in addition to a year’s worth of Mrs. T’s Pierogies. When I heard that I thought this is really a company that wants to get behind the idea of celebrating moms and giving them the self-care that they love. It doesn’t always take hours. Sometimes it’s five minutes to just go in and take a deep breath. But we do need to take care of ourselves, and I’m so happy to remind moms to prioritize themselves.
Personally, how do you recharge?
JoAnna Garcia Swisher: I’m an avid reader. I read at night before I go to bed. Truly when you give me an idea of something that’s just the most indulgent moment of my day, it would be that I could actually pick up a book that I love in the middle of the day. That, to me, is just such a gift. My recharging room has a good, cozy chair, a little stack of my books, and something to keep me warm. I wish it was soundproof. But when I walk into my recharging room everyone knows to just kind of give me a minute.
Seasons 1 and 2 of Sweet Magnolias stream on Netflix. The much-anticipated Season 3 is slated to stream on Netflix in the spring.
For more on Mrs. T’s Pierogies All-Star Moms campaign go to: https://www.mrstspierogies.com/AllStarMoms/
For additional mealtime inspiration visit Mrs. T’s website, as well as, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
