TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY.
I am a native Calgarian, mother of 3 and wife to an amazing husband. With being born and raised in Calgary, which to me is something to be very proud of. I am very fortunate to have a local and great support group at my side. My three little ones were all born prematurely, spending a combined total of 200 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Now being 5yrs and 3.5yrs old (boy/girl twins), it is a lot of work and a lot of fun around our house. We all love to get outside when the sun is shinning and take in the fresh air, whether riding bikes, hanging at the local beach, or just a quick trip to a park, we all love family time together.
WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START YOUR BUSINESS?
Jacob.Grace Designs. Modern everyday tees for your littles. Inspired by mine.
The inspiration behind Jacob.Grace stems from my three children, Hadley, Rome and Nixon. Each of my littles spent time in the NICU, due to being born prematurely. They demonstrated great strength, and drive to push through their early challenges. Their health today is largely attributed to the care they received from the many doctors and nurses that dedicate their lives to helping kids like mine. It was from seeing both these professionals help, and my children’s determination, that I was inspired to give back. In turn, Jacob.Grace Designs currently and will always have a shirt with proceeds going directly back to the NICU, along with many other fun and trendy tee’s for your littles.
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT WITH YOUR BUSINESS?
It would have to be last year on World Prematurity Day (WPD) (November 17th). Between the couple of events it was truly very special. I had worked a lot with NICU’s of Calgary leading up to this point, and to my fortune the staff had elected to use my Small+Mighty shirt as the 2015 NICU/WPD awareness shirt. I walked into the NICU Grad tea that was being hosted at Foothills Medical Centre and was so overwhelmed by seeing all of the staff, parents, and NICU grads in their S+M shirts, it literally brought me to tears, conversely when I got the privilege to do the Cheque presentation from the proceeds raised from shirts, it brought tears to others eyes as well. In addition to this positively emotional experience I had also had the opportunity to go into the Foothills and Alberta Children’s Hospital and personally deliver the amazing baskets that were put together through the Small+Mighty Project. So many small shops had contributed to each basket, they were unbelievable. Personally delivering them to each bedside and seeing the reactions of families was worth its weight in gold. Such an amazing couple of experiences that truly changed me forever. We are gearing up for our second annual Small+Migthy Project, get all the info here.
HOW DO YOU STAY MOTIVATED AND INSPIRED?
Motivation and inspiration are easy for me to be honest. Between the continued growth, strength and development of my three littles everyday, and the passion for wanting to give back. Seeing peoples smiles and gratitude for both the annual donation to the NICU, the baskets for the Small+Mighty Project. It is so heart warming to know there is a positive impact on someone else’s life. So many people had given prior to my kids being in the NICU and that truly played a part in saving them. If I can play the smallest part in helping future families like mine, then what more do I need for inspiration.
HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN A WORK-LIFE BALANCE?
LOL, I don’t!!! Coffee, lots of Coffee. Okay seriously it can be tough, there is no doubt about it. I seriously have such an amazing support system in my life. Between my three amazing kids and my husband, to close family (always willing to help out in some fashion), to an amazing support group of other small shops. I do my best to get a couple solid workouts in per week, and my kids are great for always being up for a quick spur of the moment model shoot (“hey stop, I need a picture of you in this”). Apart from this it is just fitting it all in and making it work. I do really appreciate mobile devices and the ease of getting a quick post done or email responded to any chance I get.
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST MOM MOMENT?
Wow, that’s a hard one to be honest. It is more than just one moment but is the same experience and the same spectacular feeling every time. Every time one of my three littles comes out of no where with that “Mom, I LOVE you” or that small hand you feel suddenly holding yours when you are just walking through the grocery store or wherever. Knowing that through all the chaos of life, they truly love unconditionally. It is moments like that I wish I could just hit the pause button on life, as that feeling seems to be lost in the business of life.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST PARENTING ADVICE?
Slow down and enjoy life. Having three children in 18 months was crazy to put it simply. I look back and I’m not sure how I have made it through the past five years. I struggle just like any other mama out there, life is not perfect and you can’t expect it to be. We are all doing the best we can!
WHERE CAN YOU BE REACHED?
Website: http://www.jacobgracedesigns.com/
Email: jacobgracedesigns@gmail.com
Phone Number: -
Social media handles:
Facebook: Jacob.Grace Designs
Instagram: @Jacob.GraceDesigns
Twitter: @JacobGrace_D
Pinterest: Jacob.Grace Designs