Skirt Sports Blog

I have spent some seriously fun time with Jackie over the past year. Whenever we talk, I feel like I'm chatting with my sister. I hope that all of you have the great fortune of stumbling across people who can slip right into your life like they've been there forever. Maybe you'll even stumble across Jackie someday yourselves!

If you want to learn more about Jackie after reading the blog, visit her official website at www.JackieMcFee.com.

Jackie At-a-Glance

• Birthday: November 1st (coming up!)
• Childhood hometown: Syracuse, NY
• Current hometown: Charlotte, NC
• Family: Hubby Matt; 2 daughters, Mattie (7), Lizzie (5); and son Jack (2)
• Favorite color: any shade of purple!!!!
• Favorite place: Napa
• Least favorite way to spend a Sunday: DOING LAUNDRY!!!
• Best way to spend a Sunday: playing outside with my 3 cuties
• Food quirks: onions are dead to me
• Reading material: Interior design mags, business books (currently Tipping Point), and anything by Jodi Piccoult
• When I grow up, I want to be: CALM.....
• Guilty pleasure: WINE
• Favorite style in the Kendall Kollection and why: Runners Dream Long Sleeve – LOVE the thumb holes!!!!!

ND: What was your work experience in your previous life?

JM: I have always been involved in design in some form or fashion – production, graphic, advertising, product design, layout, etc.

ND: Why did you become a designer?

JM: Some of my earliest memories of my childhood are of making cards for my parents. I just simply loved to “create” as well as make other people “happy” with my artwork. I didn’t know it at the time, but these two passions would become the central focus of my life’s work!

ND: Knowing you as an adult, I can just see you scheming to make the perfect card for your parents! On that note, what was the first design project you ever did?

JM: A set of boxed floral watercolor notecards for C.R.Gibson. I cried the whole way home from work because I couldn’t believe my artwork was on a REAL product!

ND: How did you meet your husband?

JM: We went to high school together – I know – barf!!!

ND: You two are soooo perfect.

ND: Tell me about your kids. I'd love to know the challenges you face and rewards you reap.

JM: WOW, That’s a BIG question. Even as I sit here trying to answer, I am rendered speechless. How do I explain that my heart has been divided into three, and it walks around with all of them everyday, and that the love you feel...it takes your breath away most days...and then one of them throws a temper tantrum because you put Thomas the Train on instead of iCarly and you are right back to reality!!!!!! How do I explain though, that at times, it literally KILLS ME to leave them, to miss stuff at their school, or to miss kissing them goodnight because I am working or travelling on business, but yet I do it for soooo many reasons that, although they are too young to understand now, they will hopefully respect and admire one day.

ND: I thought you were speechless. Oh yeah, that's impossible with you! Seriously, what an incredible answer. I've seen you with your kids and I have a feeling they already understand a little bit.

ND: So, what about the challenges of juggling family, work, life?

JM: Challenges – every day is a freaking marathon!!!!!!!! You RUN – from sun up to sun down with your hair on FIRE – hoping you don’t drop any major balls that you are juggling: kids, wife, work, blog, friend, business, CEO, sister, neighbor, philanthropist. UGH. And you WILL drop them, but like I always say, pick the balls back up, and keep juggling. ALWAYS making sure that you have a REALLY STRONG SET OF BALLS.

ND: That's my mantra too - A REALLY STRONG SET OF BALLS - Jackie McFee said it all. Ha!!!!

ND: Now onto a major hypothetical question. If I wanted to change careers and become a world-famous designer today, what advice would you give me?

JM: Drink a lot of coffee, learn how to function on 3 hours of sleep, dig down deep and GO FOR IT!!!!!

ND: Is there anything you've always wanted to do that you keep putting off?

JM: Yeah, sleep.

ND: Why are you putting it off?

JM: Didn’t you just read about all the balls I’m juggling?!?! : )

ND: Please tell me more about the story of your cousin, Kendall.

JM: In June 2006, the day I found out that Kendall, at age 2, was diagnosed with Leukemia, was one of those moments that stops you dead in your tracks. Mind numbing, heart stopping, total, complete sadness. I kept thinking – is she going to die?????? But she’s only two?????? The mere thought of my husband and I having to lose one of our own daughters who were 3 and 1 at the time was too much to even THINK about – I just couldn’t imagine all the people who were actually faced with this thought – this reality. This grief compelled me to take action – I had to do SOMETHING. So, I approached my wonderful colleague Clay Presley, CEO of Carolina Pad, who listened to my idea, my desire, to Pay it Forward Beautifully and design a back to school collection in her honor. Thankfully, he agreed, and in 2008, the “Kendall Kollection” hit retail! Then in 2009, I found another cool CEO – I think her name was Nicole something?

ND: Believe me, I'm so glad you stumbled upon Skirt Sports. We have been so profoundly moved by your passion, Kendall's amazing story and the inspirational line we collaborated on to pay it forward.

Editor's Note: Watch an amazing video about Kendall and Kollection she continues to inspire.

ND: Where is Kendall today and how is she doing?

JM: Kendall is 6 and is in 1st grade! She is doing great and in remission. We are anxiously awaiting her 5 year anniversary of being cancer free!

ND: Do you have plans to expand the Kendall Kollection into other product lines like shoes or purses or cars? I want to drive a Kendall car!

JM: 1-800-ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How does Kendall bedding sound to you??? Good? Well, I’m glad because it’s hitting stores in Spring 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ooohhh, a Kendall car . . . .ok, must get to work on that one... See, I’m never going to sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ND: How does the Skirt Sports partnership work with the Kendall Kollection?

JM: Luscious Skirt Sports licenses the Kendall Kollection design from me, and together we combine the expertise of both teams to create an incredible athletic apparel line that is beautiful, highly functional, and gives back. I personally donate 10% of all my Kendall Kollection product sales to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).

ND: I can say from the bottom of my heart that Skirt Sports adores you and the entire Jackie McFee team. Thanks for all your energy and creativity. We look forward to Getting Fit & Giving Back for a long long time! (View the Kendall Kollection)