Memorial Day

This is a picture of my incredible grandfather, Jack Schipani.  He was a soldier in the army in World War II.  He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was wounded by shrapnel on December 24th, 1944.  He spent 2 years in a hospital in France. He nearly lost his leg and because he had no feeling below the knee, he wore a brace for the rest of his life. He never  talked about it, and never complained about his condition.  In fact, once I asked him why he didn't park in the handicapped space. He said there were so many worse off than he that he would walk because he could.  He eventually died at 88 years old from complications related to an infection in his leg. He was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a musician, a teacher, a friend and a soldier.  I miss him and his wisdom and humor every day and feel blessed that he made it through that terrible time. Thanking all the soldiers and their families this Memorial Day who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.

Thanks for reading!  To see what I am passionate about, add your email to follow my blog and visit www.nobleniches.com  Noble Niches Treasures for Children & Home 

Diane Graci
Noble Niches
Treasures for Children & Home
www.nobleniches.com

Happy Belated Mother's Day

I'm sorry for the belated wishes.  I hope all my friends in life and business, and all my customers who are moms had a beautiful day.  Why bother when I'm a week and a half late?  Well, this blog post has been on my mind along with all the other important tasks we moms keep in our heads and allow to spill out on to lists and sticky notes.  A never ending to do list.

I wonder how many other moms stress over the smallest details and who lets some things slide so they can accomplish the most important ones. And what happens when we let things slide?  Do we feel guilty we never made it to eat lunch at school with our kids more than once this year? Or worry that if we don't keep perfect records for our home business we'd have to pay more taxes?  Well, yes and yes.  It's hard to keep a good balance when you are a perfectionist.  I am not saying I'm a perfectionist to give myself a pat on the back.  I am a perfectionist more out of fear for what will happen if I don't get it all done, and done "right." With the stress of that,  I don't even always get joy and comfort from the fruits of my perfectionism. 

I read an article recently (see below link) about what you should stop doing so you can become more productive and lo and behold, there was my problem!  As a belated Mother's Day gift to myself (and my family who puts up with me when I'm not paying attention to them because I have a million things on my mind), I am going to do my best from now on to let some things go so I can do other things really well.  I never liked getting a million things halfway done anyway (or half-assed as my mom would say, God rest her soul and happy belated Mother's Day! Oh, and thanks for the OCD mom!). If I can "perfect" being imperfect, I'm sure I'll be a happier and more productive mom.

7 Things You Need to Stop Doing To Be More Productive, Backed By Science

https://medium.com/business-marketing/a988c17383a6

Thanks for reading!  Come see what I'm passionate about --  Visit my webpage at www.nobleniches.com for Vintage Inspired Treasures for Children & Home. Add your email to subscribe to my blog posts. 

Diane Graci
Noble Niches
Treasures for Children & Home
www.nobleniches.com
(704) 962-0089

An Italian Leprechaun?

There is an Italian version of a leprechaun.  I always wondered if anyone else has heard a story about them in their family.  One of my great grandmothers was Neopolitan and she called them minuscolo, which literally means miniscule (I had to look it up--I'm pretty sure that's the Italian way to spell it, but the dialect sounded more like moon-a-zhella).  

The way my mother told my siblings and me the story, she swore that elf left my great grandmother a dime every day in the same spot on her walk to work.  She would sometimes see him and he would stand there with his hands on his hips and laugh at her and tease her.  He said if she told anyone about him, he would stop leaving the money.

After a while, she couldn't help herself, and she told her husband.  Shortly thereafter, the elf appeared to her in her room and jumped from corner to corner laughing and laughing while she pointed him out to my great grandfather, "Look, there he is! Look over there!" He never did see the elf.  On her walk to work the next day, in place of a dime, she found a button.

Come visit my webpage at www.nobleniches.com for Vintage Inspired Treasures for Children & Home. Add your email to subscribe to my blog posts.  Thanks!

Diane Graci
Noble Niches
Treasures for Children & Home
www.nobleniches.com

Dreams

      The dream of owning my own retail shoppe was one I had since college, when I helped out at my mother’s antique reproduction and decorative accessory boutique in Amityville, New York.  The years went by working as a teacher, administrative assistant and in medical billing at various insurance companies and doctors offices.  None of it was as fulfilling as finding beautiful and unique things at antique stores and trade shows to sell at at the shoppe (and surround myself with at home). When I married, I ran an internet sales business with my husband, Mike.   Although we were very successful and I enjoyed working for myself, I still had the “bug” to seek out and sell things that would delight my soul (and hopefully others).

         After having Julianna and Sophia, my two beautiful little girls, I began to scour specialty shops and magazines getting ideas for their nurseries and when they were ready, their “big girl” rooms. Creating spaces that bring comfort and joy was my goal when I finally opened Noble Niches inside Linda’s Childrens Shoppe, a local clothing boutique in Matthews, North Carolina.   Having a web shoppe allows me to work with people around the country offering the most exquisite things not only for children, but also for your home.  Please come back and visit often.  Because the site was recently born, I am continually adding new treasures.

Happy Shopping and Dream Big!

Diane Graci
         Noble Niches           
Treasures for Children & Home
           http://nobleniches.com/