2012 Limited Edition Ornament

Handmade Ornament by Gleeful Peacock and Oikos Handmade 

This year I wanted to collaborate on the ornament. Working with other artists makes all of the hard work so much more rewarding. I teamed with Oikos Handmade (she made the lovely holly leaves) to create a fun key ornament.

When Rae was a bit smaller she would ask a million questions about Santa. One of them was how he got in when we did not have a fireplace. I thought a fun and colorful key would be a great addition to a family tradition. Hang it on a tree or on the door for Santa to use. Either way, I hope you enjoy this collaboration.

A Special Flavor - Taking My Own Advice

A year or so ago I shared on Facebook a sweet conversation with Rae that I cherished. I want to share it here so that it's preserved and serves as a reminder to myself and hopefully it can help someone else. It went something like this..

Rae: 'Mom, why doesn't everyone like me? There is a girl as school that is so popular. Everyone likes her. Not everyone likes me.'

Me: 'What does everyone like about her?'

Rae: 'She can run fast, do the splits and she has shiny hair.'

Me: 'Well... (after holding my giggles about the above comment) Rae, it's like ice cream. Some people are vanilla. Everyone likes them. They blend with every flavor they are paired with. They are nice and no one hates vanilla ice cream. But some of us are rocky road.'

Rae: 'I LOVE rocky road!'

Me: 'Me too! But not everyone likes rocky road. But the people that like it.. well they LOVE it! It's probably their favorite flavor of ice cream.'

Rae: 'Hmm...'

Me: 'You and I darling, are rocky road. Not everyone will just like you.. but those that do will be madly in LOVE with you.

Rae: 'I am pretty sure your mint chocolate chip'

Me: 'I think your right.. and I am happy to not just be vanilla.'

Rae: 'Me too!'

I felt at the time like I had earned some momma brownie points with my quick on my feet answer. Well since that proud momma moment I have realized that maybe I am the in need of the advice more then Rae has ever been.

We all get criticized, we all have people that do not prefer our type of personality, our outlook on the world or maybe they just don't like our face. I have been struggling with feeling down on myself because not everyone likes me, not everyone wants to be around all this mintiness. I have a strong personality. I may be too honest. But I also know that I would do anything to help someone and that my heart is usually in the right place. I also know I can't pretend to be a vanilla. I can't change my personality. Frankly, I am just too opinionated and a little too excitable to be a vanilla.

Lately I find myself repeating in my head 'Just be your crazy chocolate chip self, the right people will LOVE you.' and now I will add 'Don't stay where you are tolerated. Go where you are celebrated!' my list of mantras.  

Here's to the rocky roads, mint chocolate chips and the pistachios of the world. May you find the people that LOVE you for all those things that make you unique and think your the best flavor on earth!

So.. what flavor are you?

LOVE,

 Nikki