Hi, my name is… Samantha Ford, but most know me by Sam.
I’ve lived in North 32nd almost five years and I love it because… The sense of community is just so amazing and like nothing I’ve ever experienced my entire time living in Arizona. It’s like living in a hidden little gem of awesomeness and it has so much to offer someone—from our quiet neighborhoods, great schools, and a variety of so many wonderful businesses that are locally owned by many neighbors of our community.
A typical day in my life includes… A cup or two of coffee with some whip cream to start my day. Anyone that’s had a conversation with me can usually tell if it’s been more than one cup! Then it’s off to be an adult and run my local fitness studio, Jabz Boxing. I get to act like a big kid who gets to have fun and teach HITT and boxing style group fitness classes to awesome people. Currently we offer both co-ed and women-only classes. Being a bereaved mom, we also support the parents of Helping Parents Heal by offering free classes to help them move through the grieving process. We just celebrated our eight-year anniversary, and we couldn’t have made it through the pandemic without the support of our loyal client base and amazing staff.
My family… Consists of my boys Andrew, Matthew and Michael, and two little fur balls, Shadow and Coco.
One thing I cannot live without is… The sunlight. I love sitting outside every day in the warmth of the sun and just letting it soak on my face and body. It really has the power to shift any somber mood I may be in and just helps recharge my spirits and fuels my vitality. I can’t imagine living anywhere that doesn’t have continuous sunlight like we have here in Arizona.
My favorite movie I could never get tired of watching and why… I have fond memories of watching Toy Story countless times with my kids.
When I was younger, I wanted to be… A plastic surgeon. I think it is because it fascinated me that you could have the ability to change someone’s appearance, and I am a twin and really wasn’t a big fan of someone else looking like me.
The song I would sing at Karaoke night is… There would never be a karaoke night and anyone that knows me knows that singing does not bring me an ounce of joy. But I think if push came to shove, it would be Eye of the Tiger by Survivor. To me it’s about being a fighter and overcoming obstacles and life challenges head on and not giving up.
The people who motivate me the most are… My kids. They are the reason I wake up every day and they really give me the strength and endurance to keep pushing through what life may throw at me. I’m a lucky gal and am really am proud of the young men they are becoming.
The last thing that made me laugh out loud was… My silly three-year-old furball Coco always doing something crazy and silly.
The perfect day… Would be hanging out in my backyard doing some gardening, enjoying the sun, and getting my hands dirty.
My favorite local nonprofit… Is Joy Bus Diner. We love Jennifer and are truly in awe of what she’s created within the community, and for such an amazing cause!
My life is… Very colorful and full!
The best gift I’ve ever received was… All the love and support by so many amazing people that I’ve encountered throughout my time at my studio. They have become like a second family to me.
My dream vacation would be… To go anywhere warm and sunny and be near water. I love visiting Tulum (Mexico) and exploring all the islands of Hawaii.
The best piece of advice I’ve ever received… When you don’t feel like getting up out of bed, just keep moving. It doesn’t matter if it is only to get up to get some ice cream out of the freezer!
