Breathe - A Quick Update from Jackie

I can't help but giggle to myself as I sit and write this post. Just a few weeks ago I wrote about preparing for a leaky roof - or in my case, preparing for my computer to die. Well, as prepared as I thought I was, life threw me a curve ball I wasn't expecting. Isn't that always the case?! I'm always humbled when I'm forced to slow down, take care of myself, and breathe. If you've been following me on Instagram, you know I was in the emergency room a few weeks ago, but I thought I would give a quick update as to everything that's been going on since then. Luckily, it's nothing too serious, and I can write this post with a big, goofy smile on my face.

I DID get a new computer and cell phone. I had planned on getting the iPhone 6, but when I got to the Apple store I was told it was back ordered for 6-8 weeks. In the spur of the moment, I decided to get the 6+. My husband literally laughed out loud. I had previously made fun of him and his new, giant Galaxy phone, and there I was, getting a new, giant phone for myself. Guys, the iPhone 6+ is huge. It's massive. It's gold. It's beautiful and I love it.

The day after getting my new computer and phone, I began experiencing some stomach discomfort and back pain. I ignored it, and spent the day trying to set up the new computer and phone. That night my discomfort turned to pain, and by the morning I was in agony. After a visit to urgent care, followed by a day in the ER, we discovered I had inflammation in my abdomen. While we aren't 100% sure what happened, we suspect it was a gluten reaction. I do have a sensitivity to gluten, so there's a chance I ate something that caused a flare up. I was prescribed a few medications and I thought I would bounce back lickity-split. Not so. The medications were extremely rough on me, and it took nearly two weeks for me to be back on my feet.

Over the course of the two weeks while I was feeling under the weather, a series of hilariously unfortunate events continued to play out. I fell down the stairs cartoon style (you know, thud, thud, thud, thud, THUD); we ran out of oil to heat the house during the first freeze of the season; and our alarm malfunctioned at two in the morning, while I was home alone, and woke up the entire neighborhood.

The funny thing is that I am not at all upset about any of it. In fact, I feel so thankful. I am so thankful that when I was in pain, I knew it was temporary. That when the heat turned off, I knew it would come back on. That when I fell down the stairs, I didn't break any bones (or the stairs, or the wall). That my parents live 5 minutes away and my dad was able to come over at 2am to cut the power to my alarm system; and then to come back the next day and turn it all on again. That I got my last big 2014 wedding order out the door the day before I got sick.  And I am so thankful for all of you who commented, emailed, called, and texted to make sure I was OK.

After all is said and done, I am just so thankful. It's a shame that I needed to get sick in order to force myself to sit back and breathe, but I think it's exactly what I needed. I needed to spend time away from the computer focusing on what was good for Sincerely, Jackie and for Jackie Mangiolino, the woman. I needed to be forced to prioritize and focus only on my customers. I needed to watch two weeks worth of Pawn Star and Say Yes to the Dress marathons.

The last two weeks weren't completely unproductive, I made a BIG business decision, I launched the 2014 holiday collection; poured love into the Sincerely, Jackie Zazzle shop; took part in two fantastic styled shoots; spent an evening crafting with fellow Minted designers in NYC; and lost 8lbs (there's always a silver lining to stomach ailments!).

I'll be taking next week off to focus on family, hosting our first Thanksgiving dinner, and wrapping my brain around the fact that it's almost DECEMBER. I hope you all take a moment to breathe and focus on the things you are thankful for. It's the perfect time of year to give thanks!

Sincerely,