I am leaning in to the busyness that is my business right now. Andy asked me a few nights ago, as I crawled into bed at 11 and set my alarm for 4:30, how’s it all going? And you know what word popped into my brain? Grace. I feel like I am really realistic and enthusiastic about what is achievable, both with work and in life. And, by that, I don’t mean I feel like I am pulling it all off. Simply, I understand my strength; for the first time in my life I am not planning to lift 700 pounds and then feeling blue that I only lifted 350. I still aim high and I’m cool with what I don’t lift. I could shower more often and I could really use some exercise and I miss seeing my friends all the time and holy shit we need to mop. And, with way more orders than we’ve ever had before, I am learning a lot about how my business is run and where I’d like it to go (hello! I need to loosen my grip on every. single. detail. and let my awesome employees take hold). But! I am so proud that I feel a little bit graceful!!! Because that was my GOAL for this 35th year of my life – to approach my day to day with more grace and less bulldoze.
1 & 2. hot cocoa after a chilly walk home from school
I really adore decorating and getting all holiday crafty this time of year. It hasn’t happened much yet but I’ve squeezed some holiday bling into small windows of time. It was -28 degrees yesterday and is -12 today and Andy convinced me it was too cold to go on our annual pilgrimage to our friend’s cabin to cut our tree. It really did take some convincing; I was ready to be the optimistic one promising hot cocoa to my oompa loompa-bundled children while daddy sawed. Unwilling to wait another week, we bought our little tree just down the street and spent last night prancing, stringing and hanging.
1. Cozy 2. Ruby made snowflakes 3. Alice tired of the light hanging 4. fireside, every morning 5 & 6. tree trimming 7. we brought out out holiday book collection 8. vintage garland from Andy’s grandma + santa lap photos 9. Andy and Alice snoozing by the light of the tree 10. Ruby made ‘bracelets’ for our pets. She calls them ‘holiday collars’.
I love Christmas music. My husband loves Pearl Jam. I love Pearl Jam too (we just saw them again in Portland! FER REAL, Eddie is the sexiest man on the planet. After Andy.) but, this time of year, totally get my groove on with Bing, Ella, Frank and Co. Margot loves it but really cannot stand Baby It’s Cold Outside – to the point that we must turn it off immediately or her mood plummets. Ruby likes all of it and I hear her singing as she dresses her dolls and brushes her teeth let heaven and nature sing, with two eyes made out of coal. Last night, Andy was pouring over the Pearl Jam set list from the recent Vancouver, BC show while we decorated the tree and I had to give him a firm nudge to turn that Spotify dial. We can’t always get our way. I didn’t get to cut my tree, he didn’t get to rock out to while tree trimming. Relationships involve compromises you know.
A few things:
- The MADE fair is this Sunday! We will be there with hundreds of other makers, selling our wares and wears.
- I am so honored to be a part of the Babble 100 Best Bloggers 2013 as one of the top 10 parenting bloggers! And I am proud to share this honor with YOU. You make this all fun, interesting, inspiring and challenging. I appreciate this community so very much.
I saw a quote on instagram that Susan Petersen of Freshly Picked shared: The Harder You Work The Luckier You Get. And then she shared this advice: Here is the secret to success – there is no golden ticket. You have to work hard day in and day out. But if you work hard you will find that light attracts light and hustle attracts hustle. I wanted to fist pump the screen. Isn’t that the truth? The things I am: wife, mama, friend, daughter, neighbor, entrepreneur, artist, animal-lover, runner, gardener, cook, home-nester — I take them seriously. I work hard at them. I shine light on them, I hustle. And I try to do it with grace. I like thinking about this during this season of giving and receiving, of family and togetherness and, for me, of working really hard so that I can best enjoy the luckiness of this life.
29 Comments
You are such an inspiration in motherhood, creativity, productivity and more. Thanks for shining your light, lady. Hope to meet you tomorrow!
I look forward to meeting you! 🙂
i am just a college girl but i always glean *so much wisdom from your words + view on life. your optimism + joy for every piece of life [the good and ugly!] have taught me so much! i hope i can be half as awesome of a mama as you are one day…oh! and thanks to you i am sewing my first quilt this winter… ekkk!
hugs from nc!
I’m with you Sammi Jo. I just re-read this post because there was so much …wisdom… there. Love this line, “Simply, I understand my strength; for the first time in my life I am not planning to lift 700 pounds and then feeling blue that I only lifted 350. I want to figure out how to find that in my life.
Oh! Quilts are among the greatest accomplishments, I think. They are easy, in that practice and great skill needn’t be primary. And they are hard, in that it takes time and commitment and patience. I hope you’ll share your final product with me (us!). Also, thanks for your kind words. xo
You know, I’m with Margot. I don’t like Baby, It’s Cold Outside Either. Nor do I appreciate Santa Baby. Something about that just sort of creeps me out. But Bing? Bring it on! Love your work! You write so beautifully. I look forward to reading. Happy Holidays!
Ha! Like Margot with Baby, It’s Cold Outside, I have to immediately skip Santa Baby for my 4 year old…and she is OBSESSED with Christmas music. She’s all, “What are they singing, mom? Santa’s not a baby!”
Congratulations to you!
My girl sings Christmas songs all year long. Sweetest sound.
Keep hustlin’ and shinin’.
xo
Angie
Wow! Your humbleness and grace inspires. Congrats, well deserved for sure~
This post totally resonates with me for 2 reasons. My littles are deep into snowflake making and our house is covered in the “schniblins” that are leftover as well. Also, I have a bad habit of trying to “lift 700 pounds,”…..or as my mom would say, “trying to fit 15 pounds of shit into a 5 pound sack”. My husband is an artist at the Made Fair tomorrow as well. Will definitely stop by=)
Oh, I am so proud for you, Nici. Not just because of the accolades (although those are beautiful and so well-deserved), but because of your outlook and appreciation and grace. It oozes from you in the best possible way. Hugs to you, mama, and hoping for even more light to come for you and your family.
Well, thank you so much Stacey! I appreciate your words very much. xo
I have a wee one who loves to cut up little bits of paper too. I remember when my oldest did that and feel sad thinking about the day when little piles won’t be found. Your tree looks lovely. Just found your blog. Happy to be here!
Amen on the light and hustle. It’s so true. So happily, happily true. Winter hugs to all of you.
Concurring with the others, completely inspiring. Tackling the Etsy blitz with kids is a new kind of insanity! I have also felt peace this year, letting the workload flow, rather than force. We all have limitations and the important part is the striving. & trusting it’s all going to come together – because it always does!
& I’m with Margot completely. THAT SONG CREEPS ME OUT! I have had a revulsion to it for a really really long time. But lately I’ve been analysing why. I think it’s the whole it almost sounds like date rape. She’s explicitly saying no and he keeps coming up with reasons to keep her trapped there. I don’t care who is singing it (remaking it) it still sounds all off. And not charming. Ruby’s Christmas collars are the sweetest.
Margot thinks the “lady always sounds whiny.” She’s right really. Although we watched a lady gaga performance last night where the roles were reversed and she was riveted. Partly by the song, mostly by her outfit. 🙂
Get it girl! You got this.
I am so proud of you…I know I tell you this all the time BUT I AM! Love you tons
yes. GRACE. grace becomes you.
no one in my house goes for christmas music. although we have gotten django reinhardt all up in here.
i like your charlie brown tree. and i hope that if i work hard, too, i can get somewhere with the light i’m trying to shine.
xo
I see it in you, Nicolette. Are you there/going places? Yes, you are.
Congrats on making it to the top 10 parenting blogs list. You are an inspiration. Thank you for sharing your world with us.
Every time you post I want to fist bump the screen. Thanks for the inspiration xxxx
So proud of you Nici! I always like to sit down with a cup of tea and read your blog! Would you be willing to share the picture of Andy and Alice sleeping? It would make a wonderful watercolor!
xo Aunt Penne
of course! thanks for reading, Aunt Penne. Love you, Nici
I think the beauty of accepting both our strengths and our limitations is that we quickly realize those limitations aren’t a bad thing. That floor that needs mopped isn’t a weakness or a sign of failure. It’s the effect of making choices – without apology or guilt – in order to live the kind of life you want to lead. There’s nothing limiting about that. Great post!
Yes! Yes! Yes! I believe this.
Thanks for sharing about the light and hustle. There is joy in that reality. Lots of it.
And our changed lyrics of the week make me turn away in laughter, “In a one hor horsey sleigh.” Hor can be spelled differently and make me spit my coffee out.
Can’t stop loving you, Hustler.
You are so inspiring to me. Your home is so cozy and your kids are so happy. I love it all. I remember seeing your Santa photos all lined up like that last year and making note I wanted to do that with ours too…thanks for the reminder! Also, I received my giveaway products from Maddie and Sophie this week and they are fantastic! I wanted to thank you for hosting such a fun and generous giveaway. xx