An Inspired Chat with Jackie Boss of North Peoria

Jackie Boss shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Jackie , it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day in my life is a little chaotic haha- I have 3 boys 15,12 and 5. 5:45am comes early for me but I like to get breakfast ready for my boys and “try” to have a smooth morning before we are out the door at 6:30 for all the school drop offs. After that my next none negotiable stop is the gym- I lost myself a few years back and finally started filling my cup back up again. Next if I have orders I make sure I’m prepped and have everything I need to make those orders. Then attend to any emails or messages I may have for future order. Then I make sure dinner is prepped or cooking. It’s literally the first thing in the morning I think of Haha. After school pick ups it’s a little crazy. We have a short time at home to finish home work and grab a quick snack or an early dinner before racing off to all the sport practices that are usually all at the same time but different locations- typical right? And my husband is a fire fighter so some nights are trickier than others but somehow we make it work. Once practices are over we get home late and clean up and have another quick bite to eat before heading to bed and repeating it all the next day. Kinda exhausting writing this out haha.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Jackie Boss, I’m the owner of Pine and Swine Charcuterie. I specialize in all things charcuterie. We offer charcuterie boards, grazing tables, and even a charcuterie cart which has been such a fun add on.

I’m currently working on getting more into the corporate world for catering lunches, work parties etc. trying to get our brand more out there for every day use.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before charcuterie taking over my life- I was A hairstylist. Still am and probably always will be to be honest- but I’m no longer in a salon setting. I missed to many things with my kids on the weekends and that’s where I want to be most.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You don’t have to have it all figured out right now- just keep going, trust your gut, and be kinder to yourself along the way. You’re doing better than you think. And the biggest one we all face is to Stop caring what others think—it’s more than okay to be you. Stand out. Be different. That’s your power

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My family! They are my world. But also my friends- they are my family too. I’m so lucky to have a tight knit group of friends to share this life with. All of our kids are growing up together and we all get to be apart of each other’s milestones. It’s truly pretty amazing!

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I lived with heart, grit, and purpose. That I was the kind of person who showed up—fully—for my people. That I turned ordinary moments into memories, made everyone feel like they mattered, and built something beautiful from my passions. That I didn’t just love my family fiercely—I showed it in the way I lived every day. That I left a mark, not by being perfect, but by being real, generous, and full of life.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Pineandswinecb

Image Credits
All pictures were taken from me or with my phone camera.