If You Asked Me: Nicole

Before Arizona, there was Mississippi. Nicole and her husband, Dustin, never planned to move back there, but life took a turn. Both lost their jobs at the same time in New Orleans, and they had no choice but to head home. It felt like a setback, but in hindsight, it was a turning point. They began looking for work all across the country, and one day Dustin’s former boss called with an opportunity in Arizona.

Nicole already knew she loved Arizona. Her best friend lived there, and after several visits, she had fallen for the place. Dustin felt the same. So they made the move. Even though they miss their families deeply and Nicole still carries a tender ache for New Orleans, it’s clear that Arizona has been the best move for their family.

As their family grew, Nicole and Dustin made another big decision. When their second son was born, the demands of two careers, no nearby family, and constant travel simply didn’t add up. So they chose to make a shift. Nicole stepped away from her career to stay home, a choice that came with real sacrifice. It meant letting go of income, identity, and daily adult interaction but what she received in return has become the sweetest blessing.

What makes this season work? For Nicole, it’s community. Real, invested, everyday connection. “Every mom needs community. It’s my number one tip,” she says. Whether it’s an annual Easter egg hunt or a last-day-of-school swim party, the rhythms she’s built with other moms have brought joy and stability to the everyday. Having people to do life with makes the mundane feel lighter.

Motherhood has shaped Nicole in ways she didn’t expect. With her firstborn, things came easily. But her second son brought challenges that helped her realize just how different each child can be. Parenting, she’s learned, isn’t about getting it right every time. It’s about connection, intention, and meeting each child where they are. She says her kids can come to her with anything. Total mom win.

Health and fitness, once a way to spend time with her husband, have grown into something personal and powerful. Nicole now embraces movement for what it brings to her mental health. Together, she and her husband are intentional about modeling a balanced life for their kids, showing them what aging, fitness, and clean eating look like in a healthy, sustainable way.

She’s also honest about the ongoing work of marriage. Nicole recognizes that every relationship will hit a season where things feel like autopilot. To stay close, she and Dustin check in weekly and ask one another simple but meaningful questions: “Where is your love tank this week? What did I do well? What can I do better?” They were first inspired by The Five Love Languages, but the truth is, it’s their steady commitment to each other that makes it work. Their connection is something you can feel—quiet, steady, and full of spark.

Nicole also finds joy in the little things. Her current favorite Amazon find? CRZ Yoga sets—a great Lululemon dupe that keeps her comfortable and motivated through gym mornings that turn into full-day errands. And when it comes to dressing her boys, she swears by a mix of high and low: Zara, Abercrombie, Cotton On, H&M, and Target, with Walmart in the mix for toddler basics.

Nicole is someone who lights up a room. She’s encouraging, loyal, and naturally warm. She helped me land not just my first job, but my second, too. She loves to laugh, and her curly hair is legendary.

Arizona might not have been the original plan, but it’s where Nicole has rooted deeply. Her story is one of choosing change, leaning into growth, and finding joy right where she is.

Do you have any questions for Nicole?

Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip

I lived in Buffalo, New York for a few years during high school, and if there’s one thing I still crave from that time, it’s all the Buffalo chicken everything—wings, subs, pizza… it was all so good. That spicy, tangy flavor just hits right every time.

Out of all the Buffalo-inspired bites, one recipe has followed me through every season of life: Buffalo Chicken Dip. It’s simple, crave-worthy, and always the first thing gone at a gathering. Whether it’s game day, a casual get-together, or just a cozy night in, this dip never lets me down.

If You Asked Me: Jackie

Motherhood in your 30s isn’t about having it all figured out, it’s about doing what works for your family and letting the rest go. Jackie is a stay-at-home mom with a toddler, another baby on the way, and a life that’s more about rhythm than routine. She teaches Pure Barre, carves out time for herself where she can, and holds space for both chaos and calm. Her days are full, sometimes overwhelming, often sweet, and always meaningful.

Routines, Rest, and What Actually Works

Every morning starts the same: her daughter calling out, “Moooommmm, come get me!” Jackie gets Mara settled with applesauce and a show, brews her coffee, and starts breakfast. Their mornings are slow but steady including FaceTiming grandparents, eating together, and heading to school or the gym. That rhythm helps everything else fall into place.

She tries to plan one thing each day. Sometimes it’s the library, errands, or a walk through Target. It’s less about getting things done and more about keeping everyone grounded. Staying home all day usually leads to restlessness, for everyone.

At home, painting and play-doh help fill the slower moments. And when it comes to screen time? Jackie’s honest: “I prioritize my sanity. I don’t know how people do no screen time.”

Tricks and Treats

Jackie swears by snacks, not just for the kids, but for herself too. A well-timed snack, she says, can prevent a meltdown from just about anyone in the family.

When it comes to dinner, Jackie keeps it simple and silly. Chicken night means a performance at the table complete with flapping wings and laughter. When she’s too tired to think, spaghetti and meatballs are always a reliable fallback.

Her current favorite Amazon find is magnesium glycinate, a game changer during pregnancy for headaches and insomnia. And her unofficial mom uniform? Athletic dresses. They’re cool, comfy, and require zero thought when getting dressed.

Mental and Physical Health

Motherhood has taught Jackie just how much weight women carry, emotionally, mentally, and physically. The constant multitasking, the emotional weight of caring for little people, the lack of quiet… it adds up. Some days feel great. Others feel like survival mode. She’s come to accept that the highs and lows are normal — and that it’s okay not to feel joyful every single moment. It’s not always calm but there is connection and that matters more.

Pure Barre might seem like a side gig, but it takes real planning and presence. Instructors don’t just show up, they choreograph, cue, count, and coach through every movement. Jackie puts a lot into it, and it shows. She loves it!

Jackie usually preps the day before class — often choreographing during nap time and then spending another hour or two after bedtime to fully memorize the flow. She typically teaches two different class formats in one day, and never repeats the same sequence twice — something her clients really appreciate.

She likes to take the class herself, too, so she can feel what her clients are feeling. It helps her push them through the moments when most people want to give up. On class days, she reviews her notes again in the morning to go in feeling focused and ready.

Jackie’s been teaching since 2014, but it took years of practice to get to where she is now — confident in her cues, timing, and connection. Teaching looks effortless from the outside, but it’s built on hours of prep, presence, and patience.

Jackie reminds her clients of something she often needs to hear too:

“No one is paying attention to what you’re doing! Stay focused on yourself, your form, your strength, and you’ll get so much more out of your class. ”

After a c-section and now pregnant again, her body feels unfamiliar. The number on the scale might be the same, but everything fits differently. She knows many moms feel the same, even if it’s rarely talked about.

Letting Go and Leaning In

Letting go of expectations — for her home, her body, and her timeline — has become an essential part of Jackie’s motherhood story. “My parents made it look a lot easier,” she says. And maybe they did — but she also knows there’s not one “right” way to do this. she’s learned to stay grounded in what works for her family. Not caring what others think about being a stay at home mom vs working full time took some time to accept.

Leading With Playfulness and Patience

One of Jackie’s quiet superpowers is keeping things light even when life feels heavy. Whether it’s dancing in the kitchen, making crafts at the table, or turning dinner into a full-on show, she finds ways to infuse fun into the everyday.

But none of it is accidental. That playfulness is rooted in something deeper: her desire to lead with kindness, gentleness, and patience. Jackie knows kids learn less from what you say and more from how you live. And she hopes her daughter sees a mom who’s present, steady, and loving even on the hard days.

Jackie wants her kids to remember that she showed up, paid attention, laughed with them, and loved them well. She hopes they learn compassion and resilience from watching her navigate this season with honesty, and maybe even joy.

The days are long, but the years are already speeding by. “It’s so cliché,” she says tearing up, “but it’s so true.”

If you’re a mom reading this thinking, “Same,” Jackie would probably hand you a snack and say, “You’re doing great.”

No filters. No pressure. Just real life, one messy, meaningful day at a time.

Curious what it really takes to become a Pure Barre instructor or how Jackie fits it into her life? Drop your questions in the comments below.

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