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Stevie Jackson | "How Does She Do It?"
We are heading down to Texas this week to meet Stevie! This mama of three runs a spray-tan and book-keeping business all while caring for her three boys, especially her newborn who loves to be strapped to her back through it all! Her husband and her faith are her anchors and this is apparent from the joy she exudes as she gives us a glimpse at how gets it all done! We know you will enjoy so please read on :-)
Tell us about yourself: Where do you live, age, marital status, number of kids and business.
Hi, I’m Stevie. I’m 33, & my husband Michael & I will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary this August. We have 3 boys, Cole (5 ½ ), Brody (3 ½), & Jace (3 mos). We live in McKinney, TX (north Dallas suburbs). I have a spray tan business & work from home.
Describe a day in the life of you.
I wish I could say it’s super exciting, but it’s the typical day in the life of a mom. Wake up, get the kids off to school, housework, nurse the babe every 2.5 hours still, run errands, take spray tan clients, & play dates with friends/their kids as often as we can find time to! My husband coaches our oldest son’s soccer team & now my middle son is in soccer too! So soccer practice & games are a big part of our life right now too. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Do you have help? A nanny or housekeeper? Family?
No I don’t. I’d totally have a regular housekeeper if I could but right now I do it myself, & my husband helps out between meetings sometimes since he works from home which is GREAT! Most of my family lives in Oregon (where I’m from), my mom is in CA, & my husband’s family are in other states too.
How do you manage to have “me” time?
What’s that? Ha ha um…well most everything is done with at least the baby strapped to me right now of course. My husband is good at taking the big boys out for fun “daddy dates” so I can have a break sometimes. My “me” time since the baby was born has been a pedicure (baby in tow), & a few trips to Target with just the baby while the big kids were in school. Once Jace is older I know my husband will take them all so I can get some mommy time, & eventually we can leave them all with a sitter too & get back to our regular date nights!
How do you manage to make time to stay in shape? Do you workout? Diet?
Before I got pregnant I worked out a lot. Working out regularly makes me feel strong mentally & physically. Since then I’ve definitely lost muscle strength but chasing around after the kids & a high metabolism keeps me somewhat lean. I’m looking forward to our new neighborhood gym opening up this week so I can start classes like Pilates & yoga again!
Do you get ready every day? Makeup, hair and curated outfits? If so, how do you do it with children?
Nope. I’d say maybe 3-4 days of the week I manage to put on some makeup & a real outfit. I live in leggings & t shirts most of the time! When I do find time to get ready, it’s definitely during nap times or over a span of like 3 hours while I juggle the kids at the same time.
Has your style changed after motherhood?
For sure. I realized the other day I don’t really know what’s “in style” much anymore either! I love following the fashion mommy bloggers to help keep me in the loop. Right now it’s all about jeans, leggings, comfy clothes… & in the summer I like casual summer dresses & shorts.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Reality TV, wine, chocolate…
If you breastfeed, how do you schedule your day around feedings and outings?
I’m currently working on the whole “schedule thing” with my inconsistent 3 month old right now. I do try to follow the eat/wake/sleep routine, so after he wakes up from a nap & gets a good feeding, that’s when I know I’ve got that window of opportunity to take him out! Once he’s older & we get him on a consistent eat/sleep schedule, things will be a little bit easier.
How many hours of sleep to you get a night on average?
I’d say around 6 right now, interrupted of course. Occasionally I’ll get a little more if I go to bed early! I’ve learned how to function off of a very little amount of sleep, thanks to good old coffee.
What is a priority for you, and what gets sacrificed? For example, everyone looks great but the house is a disaster, or the house is clean but work deadlines get pushed back.
Priority is obviously the kids & their happiness… but when I get a moment I usually spend it picking up the house. I feel SO much happier when our bed is made, the kitchen is clean, and stuff is picked up for the most part! I literally have to let the family know I need at least 4-5 hours on a weekend day to clean the whole house sometimes & I have the husband take care of the kids while I just get it done.
Do you cook meals every day for your family? If so, how do you plan them?
No! My husband is the cook in the family. I’d say I do about 10% of the cooking around here, & that’s probably the only reason I have a little bit of time to clean the house.
Have you ever felt like you are loosing yourself to motherhood and or life? If so, how did you bounce back?
I feel like I lost myself to motherhood a long time ago & never bounced back, so if you have the answer to that one please let me know! Hahaha… no… honestly there are times I’m so lost in motherhood I don’t even know what day it is, but then I remember that some day my hands will be empty. Someday these boys won’t want mommy cuddles & I won’t be folding their adorable Ninja Turtle undies every day. I always try to keep that perspective & HONESTLY don’t take a second of this chaotic & blessed life for granted.
Does hubby help you with anything particular? If so, what and how?
Like I mentioned above, COOKING. He also does the grocery shopping & I appreciate it all so much. He enjoys doing those things, it’s like a stress release for him. Works out well for me since I hate cooking & grocery shopping!
How do you manage motherhood and marriage?
Regular date nights are a must (as soon as baby is past newborn stage we’re getting back to it)! Getting the kids to bed around 7:30-8:00 so we can hang out & have quality time also helps too. We stick together as a team & try to do little things for each other even when life is chaotic. Small things really do mean a lot.
Do you work? In an office or at home? What does your work consist of and how do you get it done during the week?
I work from home. I do spray tans (& offer a mobile service as well, spray tanning people in their homes). I also do bookkeeping from home for 2 different companies. I work when I have time basically! I usually schedule spray tan clients for when the kids are napping or at school, or when my husband is off work. Bookkeeping gets done when I have time. Thankfully it’s not a TON of work though so a majority of my time is dedicated to my family.
Have your circle of friends changed now that you're a mother? if so, how do you meet new mommy friends?
For sure. Since moving to Texas a year & a half ago I’ve met some of the most amazing mamas. I’ve met some of them right here in my neighborhood, some of them I met through spray tanning, church, etc. One of my best friends who I’ve known for over 10 years lives here too. I also just joined Mops at our church & am meeting some really great mamas there too. The area I live in is basically all families, we love it.
What’s the least favorite household chore you dread doing?
Cleaning the kitchen & the bathrooms.
Describe a recent experience when you didn’t have it “all together” and how you handled it all.
Ummm…. Every single day?! Haha... I never have it “all together”. For example the other day I was worried my baby wasn’t getting enough while nursing… I made one escape from the house to Whole Foods to grab more lactation support supplements. Jace was crying the whole time in the Ergo even though I “timed” it so he would nap. I rushed out as quick as possible & get to our car & the power locks aren’t working right, so I had to climb through the passenger side with Jace strapped to me so I could get him in his carseat. I got home & I called the lactation consultant in tears… the boys got home from school & of course poor Brody had a fever again… when I got home I just wanted a shower but had to make sure sick Brody was okay, do homework with Cole, try to get the baby to sleep… etc. I don’t know I handle it all, I just do. Honestly, God is my anchor & I can do all things through Him. He blessed me with this life & never said it’d be easy! Lately while I rock Jace to sleep, I’ll pick up my devotional & read the day’s entry, & before bed I’ll read the verse of the day in my bible app. Those are ways I try to stay sane!
Fill in the blank: As a mother, it's a luxury to...
go to dinner without kids, have a gourmet meal & sip expensive wine. Go get a pedicure. Go shopping. Get a massage. Basically anything without kids feels like a luxury. Hahaha
What is your philosophy on balance and does it exist in your home?
Life is ALL about balance & I do believe it exists in our home. Some days we get chores done, healthy meals on the table, & have quality family time. Other days, we have pizza, the house is a disaster & the kids entertain themselves with way too much TV. For the most part, we’re doing a good job & I know God’s grace covers everything so I try to focus on that when I’m temped to be hard on myself for not being super woman 24/7.
What are your dreams outside of motherhood that you would like to accomplish?
I want to travel to Italy. I want to grow my business & run it successfully. I would love to coach a dance team someday too when the kids are older & in school full time.
What is one thing that keeps you sane?
Jesus. Organization & cleanliness. And my husband.
What is one question you'd like to ask our fellow mama readers?
For the mamas who meal plan & cook… I guess I’d love to know your secrets. What are some of your staple meal ideas in your home that are healthy yet kid friendly? Major props to you mamas, I suck in this area big time!
Stay connected and follow along with Stevie on her Instagram and Blog
Stay connected and follow along with Stevie on her Instagram and Blog
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