Enter to Win a FREE 12oz Beach Linen Scented Soy Candle by The Prismatic Peacock!

We are excited to announce that The Prismatic Peacock is having our very first giveaway!  Visit our Facebook Page and enter to win a FREE 12oz Beach Linen scented soy candle.  The contest ends on October 7, 2013.  Earn up to 40 entries by "liking" our Facebook Page, following us on Twitter, visiting our Etsy Shop to select your favorite item, Tweeting about the giveaway, and becoming a fan of our sponsor - Mad Girls Inc. - on Facebook and Twitter.  There are two ways to enter the giveaway.  Visit our Facebook page https://www.Facebook.com/ThePrismaticPeacock and click on the blue "Giveaway" tab at the top of the page or simply click this mobile friendly link http://bit.ly/199RgKp.  There is no purchase necessary, and it is free to enter.

Beach Linen is our top-selling fragrance across our entire product line!  This fragrance truly captures the pleasant aroma of clean clothes dried on a line in the beach breeze. It has an airiness that's incredibly fresh and is paired with the herbal, floral, and citrus notes of the best clean cotton. This phthalate free fragrance oil is infused with natural orange, parsley leaf, and patchouli essential oils.  The soft aqua color is a wonderful fit with any home decor and adds to the beachy feel. The candle is double wicked to provide an even burn pool and maximum scent throw. The 12oz apothecary jar comes complete with a flat top glass lid with seal.  This is a fabulous fragrance with universal appeal that works well year round in any room of your home.  To read more about this candle, please click the link to the item in our Etsy Shop.  https://www.etsy.com/listing/124522015/beach-linen-scented-soy-wax-candle-aqua?ref=shop_home_active. 



Beach Linen Scented Soy Candle 12oz by The Prismatic Peacock



Enter To Win This 12oz Beach Linen Scented Soy Candle by The Prismatic Peacock!



 

We're very excited about our first giveaway and wish you all the best of luck!  Please feel free to spread the word and share our giveaway with your family and friends.  Visit our Etsy Shop if you'd like to view more of our products or place an order.

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Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Ok, let me start off with an apology for being absent from my blog for so long.  I have been working hard on my business and attempting to build up product inventory for my busy upcoming fall and winter craft show season.  As usual, I had the best intentions for working ahead, but I'm playing catch up instead.  I'm really not sure how it happened, but somehow we are already into the month of September!

Growing up my parents always told me that time goes by faster as you age.  This fact is totally true!  It seems to speed up with age and with becoming a parent.  My little man is going to be four in two short months. I have absolutely no idea how that happened!  My business is going to be two years old next month.  What?!  They say time flies when you're having fun, so I must be having a blast!  In truth, I am.  I am a lucky girl.  I'm happily married, mom to a fabulous little man and four precious fur babies, running my own business, and living a life where every day is different.  Is it easy? Hell no!  But it is extremely satisfying to be able to do what I love, be creative, be my own boss, and have my hard work pay off.  It is a constant juggling act full of endless to-do lists.  I fall into bed exhausted every night, but I happily get up to do it all over again the next day.

 

The Croft Family June, 2013

If you are not following your dreams, living your truth, and pursuing your passion - I have one question for you.  What are you waiting for?  Life is short, and it flies by in the blink of an eye...apparently faster every year!  It can be scary to go for what you truly want and plow forward at full speed, but choosing to push through the fear and grow is really what life is all about.  As we head into a new season and the leaves begin to change it should serve as a reminder to us all that we need to evaluate ourselves to see if we need to change as well.  I encourage you to look at where you are and assess how you feel.  If you are not happy to your core about the place you are in, make a change.  Sometimes we need to make small tweaks, but other times we need to take a deep breath and make a leap of faith.  Wouldn't it be better to make a mistake than to live forever with the regret that you never tried?  I'd like to share a fabulous quote that I found by Marianne Williamson.

 
Just let that sink in for a minute.  We are all powerful individuals, and we were put here for a purpose.  The trick is to figure out what your purpose (i.e. passion) is and to pursue it will everything you are and all you've got.  Let the little light from within you shine with all its might.  Here is another fabulous quote I'd like to share from Bishop T.D. Jakes.

When you figure out what your passion is, your purpose becomes pursuing it. You will work harder than you ever have before, but it will not feel like work because you will be filled with joy while you do it. Production days are my absolute favorite days. I work long hours (usually at least 10 a day), but the time flies by. I put on my sneakers, crank up some fun music on Pandora, and shake my booty while I create my products. Sometimes I'm so swept up that it's suddenly 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and I realize I haven't even eaten anything yet! I usually don't stop until I run out of counter space.  I absolutely LOVE what I do, and I believe that my joy, passion, and creativity show in my products.




Fall Scented Soy Candles in Progress

I have recently made a few changes myself in honor of the new season.  I got a new haircut. My son started full time preschool.  I signed up for a new 11-week mastermind group that focuses on Bob Proctor's Book "You Were Born Rich" and I am reading several new books on the law of attraction to keep postive things flowing into my life.  I am trying new things and branching out to grow and expand my business.  I also plan to get back into a regular workout routine and lose 30 pounds, but I think I'll wait and start that on Monday.......



The New 'Do

If you'd like to check out some of the fruits of my labor, please visit my Etsy Shop!  You can also "like" my Facebook Page to keep up with The Prismatic Peacock.

The Prismatic Peacock Featured in THE BEST Candle Roundup!

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that The Prismatic Peacock has been selected by Sarah Pollock Boyd as one of THE BEST candle brands in the Candle Roundup!  We sent Sarah eighteen samples of our favorite fragrance options to test.  We were chosen to be featured alongside Air Wick in the on a budget category.  This feature was posted on the Simply Stylist Blog, across social media, and on Lucky Magazine Online Community.  In celebration of this amazing feature, we are offering 10% off your entire order in our Etsy shop with coupon code SIMPLY10 at checkout so that you can try our products for yourself and save!

Lucky Community Link: http://contributors.luckymag.com/post/candle-roundup
Simply Stylist Blog Link: http://simplystylist.com/candle-roundup/#.UcjiiSvEB5J.facebook

Please visit our Etsy shop to browse our current inventory, place a custom order, and take advantage of the SIMPLY10 coupon code to receive 10% off your entire order!

It's a World Full of Overwhelmed, Catty Women Who Could Make Miracles Happen!

Have you ever had one of those days when you have a million and one things on your to-do list and it's just so overwhelming that you feel like you'd rather do nothing at all?  Well, I have.  This has happened to me more than a few times.  I think that most moms struggle with juggling all of their daily responsibilities.  Whether you're a stay at home mom, work a full time job, or run your own business, it's not easy to manage a home, care for the children and pets, get the cooking, cleaning, laundry, errands, bills, and a multitude of additional tasks done every day and still have enough time leftover to pull yourself together and give your hubby some attention.  Some women do it alone (bless them!) and some of us do it with the help of a spouse, but for some reason women take on the majority of the household chores and childcare duties.  Not only that, but we're so critical of ourselves.  We always feel like we're just not good enough, not doing enough, not giving enough, not accomplishing enough.  Why is that?

While we're on the subject of why, why are women so hard on each other?  There's an epidemic of mean girl syndrome going around.  Women can be so catty and cruel to each other.  I've never really understood this.  I mean, we're all in the same boat right?  You all know how much you can accomplish when you really put your time, energy, and focus into it.  Just think what we could accomplish in this world if we all banded together instead of tearing each other down.  We could have this place whipped into shape in a matter of months!  We grow human beings for God's sake!

The next time you're feeling overwhelmed or you notice that you're being overly hard on yourself, just stop.  Take a time out to have a day that you do nothing.  Make yourself be the center of attention for just one day (or even a few minutes).  Take a nap, watch a movie, go shopping, read a book, have lunch with a friend, buy a new lipstick, go for a pedicure, drink a glass of wine (or two) or whatever it is that brings you peace and joy.  The next time you catch yourself or a friend being overly critical of another woman, just stop.  Remember that we all have moments when we're not our best self.  Everyone is entitled to have a bad day.  It doesn't make them a bad person.  Instead of a critical remark, give that woman a smile or a compliment.  I bet it will make you feel better too.  Imagine what could happen if we all cut ourselves and each other a break and shared a little kindness.  Miracles!

What's in a name?

I get asked a lot where I came up with the name of my business, The Prismatic Peacock, so I thought that it was time to put the answer in writing for you all.  I actually came across the peacock graphics first and instantly fell in love with them.  They couldn't have been anymore "me." They were colorful, eye-catching, flowing, and featured an animal.  OK, so I knew that my business name would have peacock in it, but when I started researching peacocks and what they represent I got even more excited.

Beauty aside, peacocks represent numerous characteristics and symbolism across multiple cultures and time periods.  To the Egyptians, the peacock represented royalty, immortality, and resurrection.  The Greeks and Romans viewed the tail feathers of peacocks as representing the "all seeing eye," and deemed them sacred and treasured animals.  In Hindu peacocks are associated with the deity Lakshmi and represent fortune, compassion, kindness, and patience.  Catholicism associates peacocks with resurrection, renewal, an immortality.  In Buddhism the peacock represents openness and living in truth.  Feng Shui uses peacock feathers to promote luck, enhance protection, boost awareness, and to attract a desirable mate.  Who wouldn't want their business to be associated with integrity, beauty, vision, royalty, spirituality, incorruptibility, and luck?

The next step was to figure out what the rest of my business name would be.  I thought about it, asked family members for ideas, and jotted down notes and catchy words in several brainstorming sessions.  Nothing was working out to be the right fit.  I knew that the majority of my business would be making soy candles, but I also knew that I didn't want to limit the possibilities for my business, future growth, or expanding my product line.  I knew that color, fragrance, and variety were key parts of what my business would be about.  So I jotted down some keywords and dug out my trusty thesaurus.  I looked up tons of words, played with different combinations, and then looked up name possibilities online to see if they were taken.  When I came across prismatic, I knew I had found my business name.  I loved the alliteration of the two P's and the meaning of the word.  Prismatic means like a prism, spectral in color, brilliant, and highly varied or faceted.  This was a perfect way to get across my love of color and to give me room to grow and expand my product line.

The Prismatic Peacock is not just my business.  It is my second "baby".  I love this business, nurture it, take care of it daily, and delight in watching it grow.  It's a huge time commitment and a labor of love.  It involves our whole family and is involved and interwoven into our daily life.  I take pride in it, and I'm proud to talk about it and promote it.  I take photographs of my products and shamelessly show them off to everyone.  It involves long hours, hard work, dedication, commitment, and perseverance.  It also takes love, patience, experimentation, sleepless nights, and courage.  The skills, experience, and qualities that I gained in becoming a mother are invaluable when applied to being an entrepreneur, artisan, and business owner.  The beautiful thing is that I have the amazing privilege of being both!   

Mother's Day, A Celebration of Love

Mother's Day is coming up next Sunday, May 12, 2013.  This holiday is supposed to be a celebration honoring mothers, grandmothers, motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.  Unfortunately, this holiday has become highly commercialized.  In the United States, Mother's Day remains one of the biggest days for sales of flowers, greeting cards, and the like.  It is also the biggest holiday for long-distance telephone calls.  Some people think that by simply buying a card and flowers for their mother on this holiday they have fulfilled all of their obligations for the year.  What a shame!  One day is not sufficient to honor the woman that gave you life, raised you, taught you, loved and nutured you, supported you, wiped your tears, defended you, cared for your needs, and would give her own life to save yours.  Maybe this day should be used as a time of reflection to remind us that we may be neglecting our duties as sons and daughters.  Definitely something to ponder.

The current holiday was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 when she held a memorial for her mother.  It became an official U.S. holiday in 1914.  The holiday is celebrated in various forms in many parts of the world, most commonly in March or May.  The United States currently celebrates Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May.  Jarvis ultimately ended up denouncing the holiday's commercialization and spent the rest of her life trying to remove the holiday she worked so hard to create from the calendar.  Many consider Mother's Day to be a "Hallmark Holiday."  It is possible that the holiday would have withered over time without the support and continuous promotion of the florist industries and other commercial industries.

The word mother is defined as a woman who has raised a child, given birth to a child, and/or supplied the ovum that united with a sperm which grew into a child.  Because of the complexity and differences of a mother's social, cultural, and religious definitions and roles, it is challenging to specify a universally acceptable definition for the term.  I would like to simplify the definition by asking a very simple question.  Who loves you?  If you have a woman in your life that had a hand in raising you, nuturing you, teaching you, influencing you, protecting you, defending you, supporting you, providing for you, or loving you, use Mother's Day tell her so and make sure she knows what it means to you.  That might be your biological mother, your stepmother, an adoptive mother, your grandmother, an aunt, family friend, neighbor, or any other woman who loved you.  Honor the women who have made a difference in your life and helped to mold and shape you into the person you are today.  Though a gift may be part of honoring those special women, don't underestimate the power of a handwritten card or letter expressing your gratitude and appreciation.  Motherhood is by no means an easy job!

Though I have always loved and respected my mother, I don't think one can truly understand what it means to be a mother until you become one yourself.  You view your your childhood, your parents, and the whole world differently once you become a mother.  People will tell you that parenthood changes everything, but there is no way to truly understand that sentiment until you experience it for yourself.  Anyone can have a baby, but not everyone can be a parent.  Being a good parent is the hardest job there is.  Love is the easy part, but caring for another life 24/7 and being fully responsible for how another human being turns out is tough.  You grow to have a new appreciation for your parents when you have children of your own.  You begin to realize that there are things you should probably apologize for...you really didn't know it all.

I always knew that I wanted to be a mom.  It took my husband and I two and a half years to conceive.  Frankly, I had begun to think that it just wasn't in the cards for us.  Boom!  Two lines on a stick.  People had been telling us that as soon as we stopping "trying" it would happen, and apparantly they were right.  Those two lines changed my whole life.  Brandon Thomas Croft was born on November 6, 2009.  He came into the world a full month early due to pre-eclampsia.  Despite his early arrival, he was absolutely perfect.  We had decided not to find out the sex of the baby until delivery day (Which I highly recommend as it is the single greatest surprise you can experience in your adult life!).  I will never forget the moment that my husband said, "It's a boy!"  This moment was complete because my mom was right there by my side to hold my hand and witness our son being born.  The day that I became a mom, my mom became a Gigi.

Becoming a mother has made me appreciate my mom so much more.  She has provided my sister and I with an incredible example of what being a good mother is.  Our mom had a fantastic example too in our Babci.  For those of you who don't know, Babci is grandmother in Polish.  Lenore Adamson, our Babci, was an amazing mother and grandmother.  We all miss her every day, but she left quite a legacy, a strong family, and a great example of motherhood behind.  My mom, Vicki Grauert, is an unbelievable mother, loving wife, supportive sister, loyal friend, and adoring Gigi.  I love her with all my heart and I am so grateful for her unwavering love and support.  My mom has always been there for me, and I know that she will continue to always be there for me.  She loves my son with all that she is, and I am so glad that we live close by so that my parents can have such a close and connected relationship with our son.  I aspire to be as good of a mother to Brandon as my mom is to me and my sister.

"I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My mommy you'll be."

This passage is from the book Love You Forever written by Robert Munsch.  This book has been special to my mom and I since I was very little.  We frequently include these words in our cards to each other.  They still make me tear up every single time.  I know that I don't say it enough, but Mom I hope you know how much you are loved, respected, and appreciated. Happy Mother's Day Mommy!

Why Should You Choose a Soy Candle from The Prismatic Peacock?

What is soy wax?

Soy wax is a natural vegetable wax made from the oil of soybeans.  After harvesting, the beans are cleaned, cracked, de-hulled, and rolled into flakes.  Then the oil is extracted from the flakes and hydrogenated.  This process converts some of the fatty acids in the oil from unsaturated to saturated.  The hydrogenation process dramatically alters the melting point of the oil, making it a solid at room temperature.

What are the benefits of using soy wax candles?

Soy wax is vegetable based, non-toxic, and is made from renewable resources.  It is biodegradeable and eco-friendly.  Soy wax contains no carcinogens and produces very little soot.  The soybeans used to make it are grown and produced in the United States, primarily in Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana, so using this wax helps to support American farmers.  Soy candles burn cleaner at a lower temperature and are consumable.  This means that you get to use the entire candle!  Soy candles hold scent well, release the fragrance slowly, and are very long-lasting.  A well-made soy candle lasts about twice as long as a parraffin candle of the same size.  Another benefit is that any spilled soy wax is easily cleaned up with a little soap and warm water.

What are phthalates and why should I avoid them?

Phthalates (pronounced "thah-lates"), or phthalate esters, are esters of phthalic acid and are mainly used as plasticizers to soften plastics and make them flexible.  However, they are also found in a wide variety of products from children's toys to electronics to household products and other items made of vinyl or PVC.  In fragrances and cosmetic products they are used to stabilize the fragrance, increase spreadability, and enhance absorption.  No conclusive human studies have been completed, but evidence is building linking phthalates to adverse health effects such as reproductive and developmental problems, respiratory impairment, and other harmful effects on organs.  Current studies are looking into the relationship between phthalates and asthma, timing of puberty, and cancer risks.  Currently, there are no labeling requirements in the United States for phthalates specifically.  If you would like to avoid using products containing phthalates, you need to contact the manufacturer directly.

Why should I choose a soy candle from The Prismatic Peacock?

The Prismatic Peacock uses only all natural Golden Brands 100% soy wax in all of our candles and melting tarts.  It is vegetable based, made from renewable resources, and is produced by American farmers.  This wax is non-toxic, contains no carcinogens, and is biodegradeable.  Our soy candles burn cleaner at a lower temperature and produce very little soot.  They are also consumable, so you get your money's worth and are able to enjoy the entire candle.  We also use only all cotton, lead-free wicks.  All of The Prismatic Peacock's fragrance oils are phthalate free.  Our suppliers package them in phthalate free, recyclable bottles.  They are manufactured in the United Sates, never undergo any animal testing, and are 100% concentrated.

All of The Prismatic Peacock's products are made by hand in small batches using high quality ingredients.  Our soy candles are the result of years of research and experimentation.  They are made by Owner/Artisan Jessica G. Croft in her kitchen in Cocoa, Florida and are truly a labor of love.  High quality, eco-friendly ingredients, brilliant colors, and aromatic fragrances combine with artisan knowledge and are infused with love to create a beautiful end result product.  When you choose a soy candle from The Prismatic Peacock, you can breathe easy knowing that you are making a good choice for your family, your home, and the environment.  The question becomes why would you not choose a soy candle from The Prismatic Peacock?!

Please visit our Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/theprismaticpeacock, website http://www.prismaticpeacock.com, or Facebook business page https://www.Facebook.com/ThePrismaticPeacock to shop online.  The Prismatic Peacock's product line currently includes soy candles and melting tarts, natural soaps, aroma bead sachets, air fresheners, and more.  Custom items are available upon request.     

Using Color and Fragrance to Boost Your Mood

One of the main reasons I started my business was my love of color and fragrance.  Surrounding yourself with the colors and scents that make you feel good can work wonders for improving your mood and enhancing your overall sense of happiness.  Our olfactory receptors are directly connected to the limbic system, the most ancient and primitive part of the brain, which is thought to be the seat of emotion.  Scent-preferences are often a highly personal matter.  Scent is powerful and is deeply tied to memory.  Picking the right scent can enhance an already good mood, and it can calm other moods.  Scents can enhance relaxation, create romance, or revive you with energy.  While perceptions of color are somewhat subjective, there are some color effects that have universal meaning.  Colors in the red area of the color spectrum are known as warm colors and include red, orange and yellow.  These warm colors evoke emotions ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to feelings of anger and hostility.  Colors on the blue side of the spectrum are known as cool colors and include blue, purple, and green.  These colors are often described as calm, but can also call to mind feelings of sadness or indifference.

The fact that colors affect our moods, emotions, and behavior, has been known to humankind from ancient times.  Although, the way a certain color affects someone's mentality is very individual, and one color can have different effects on different people.  Do you find that there is a particular color or shade that you are always drawn to?  Then perhaps you`ve experienced just a hint of how colors affect our emotions.  Chromotherapy is sometimes referred to as light therapy or colourology and is still used today as a holistic or alternative treatment.  Experiment with looking at different colors and choose the ones that make you feel good.  It is important to surround yourself with color that feels good to you!

Red - Red represents strength, ambition, and courage.  It is associated with power and high energy.  It can be used to promote alertness, speed, increase circulation, and to stimulate the body and mind.  It may help to promote confidence and is also an appetite stimulant.

Orange - Orange is a warm, joyful, inviting color that can be used to increase energy levels.  It can create feelings of happiness and socialbility, so it is a wonderful color to use in the gathering spaces of your home.

Yellow - Yellow is associated with optimism, brightness, and mental clarity.  It can be used to promote clear decision making and upbeat thinking. The color yellow may also be helpful for some in easing the symptoms of depression and encouraging brighter moods.

Green - Green is a very pleasing color with many positive qualities associated with it including renewal, balance, refreshment, and peace.  It can provide a calming influence and work as a stress reducer.

Blue - Blue is chosen by the majority of people as their favorite color.  It promotes rest, peace, and calm.  It can be effective to help ward off insomnia, promote relaxing sleep, and to treat pain.  It may also promote balance, imagination, and intuitive thinking.

Purple -  Purple or violet stimulates the problem solving areas in our brain.  It promotes creativity, intuition, and artistic ability.  It is also associated with royalty and communicates richness and sophistication.

Aromatherapy scents can trigger reactions within the body which relieve stress, enhance mental clarity and concentration, help us gain energy, create a sensual mood and setting, help you fall asleep at night, and even help you with pain management.  Many massage therapists and alternative medicine practictioners include aromatherapy in their treatments.  Popular scents for enhancing a calm mood include bergamot, sage, frankincense, lavender, patchouli, sandalwood, and ylang ylang.  Energize and refresh by picking fresh, citrus scents such as lemon, orange, grapefruit, tangerine, or lime.  Some good scents to pick for enhancing a romantic mood are jasmine, gardenia, rose, patchouli, and sandalwood.  Add to the warm and welcoming ambiance of your home by using spicy or bakery scents such as cinnamon, apples, nutmeg, brown sugar, and vanilla.

Scented candles are a wonderful way to experiment with different color and fragrance combinations.  It's an inexpensive way to try different options and determine which ones are the most appealing to you.  They can provide a pop of accent color and aroma to the rooms of your home and can be easily switched out seasonally or anytime you want to change the mood or ambiance.  Another benefit is the ability to combine colors and fragrances by using two or more candles that contain similar or complimentary fragrance notes.  A good example is lighting an apple cinnamon scented candle in your kitchen and a vanilla scented candle in your living room.  The combination is like hot apple pie a la mode.  Yum!

The Prismatic Peacock offers a wide variety of handcrafted soy candles and melting tarts to choose from.  All of our candles and tarts are made by hand in small batches with high quality, eco-friendly ingredients.  We use only all natural 100% soy wax.  This wax is non-toxic, vegetable based, made from renewable resources, and is produced by American farmers.  Soy wax provides a longer, cleaner burn time.  Soy candles melt completely and are consumable, so you are able to enjoy your entire candle.  The glass containers are completely reusable since the remnants of wax are so easily removed with soap and warm water after the life of your candle.  We also use only all cotton, lead-free wicks, and all of our concentrated fragrance oils are phthalate free.  When you choose a soy candle from The Prismatic Peacock, you can breathe easy knowing that you are making a healthier choice for the environment and for your home and family.  Please visit www.prismaticpeacock.com or www.etsy.com/shop/theprismaticpeacock to shop.

Introductions

Hello and welcome to The Prismatic Peacock's Show Your True Colors Blog! Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jessica Croft. I am a wife, mommy, sister, daughter, friend, business woman, entrepreneur, animal lover, and the Owner/Artisan of The Prismatic Peacock. It still seems surreal to me that I am officially a full time artisan and business owner. Though I had always wanted to own my own business, I never would have had the courage to take that leap if my circumstances had not required it. Let me give you a little back story.

My husband, Brian, and I wanted to start a family. It took us two and a half years to conceive. That thing that people say to you about getting pregnant when you stop thinking about it and trying so hard actually happened for us. We were thrilled! At the time I was working as an administrative assistant and parts buyer at an industrial electronics company. Definitely not my dream job by a long shot, but it provided a steady paycheck and health insurance. After having our son, Brandon, a full month early due to pre-eclampsia, I took a full two weeks to recover and adjust to my new role as a mommy. When I called in to the office to see if there was anything I could help out with and work on from home I was informed that I had been replaced. Nice! No warning, no maternity leave, no paycheck, no health insurance, and no job to return to. Crap!

Fortunately, I was able to receive unemployment compensation to help us get by. I diligently looked for work, but there were not many job options in our area. The tough economy meant that any job I did find did not pay enough for me to be able to afford to work and put our infant son in full time daycare. I began brainstorming ideas of how I could earn money working from home. I had been making soy candles as gifts for friends and family for a few years, but really just considered it to be a hobby. I decided to do some checking around, and I discovered that it was pretty difficult to find natural 100% soy candles. After quite a bit of research and a ton of experimentation, I locked down what I considered to be the highest quality and most eco-friendly materials and processes. I gave it some thought and decided that if I loved and used my products then other people would too. I took a deep breath, had a glass of wine, and began the business licensing process. I was a mommy now, and my son was depending on me. If I couldn't find a job then I would make one for myself.

Taking that leap of faith and starting a business was not an easy decision. What can I say? Motherhood gives you incredible strength and courage! There is an overwhelming need to protect and provide for your offspring. What I had viewed as an impossible situation turned out to be the most amazing blessing. Being laid off allowed me to be at home with my son every day and to watch him grow and change. It forced me to think outside the box and trust my gut and intuition. It afforded me the opportunity to become an entrepreneur, tap into my creativity, and utilize my business management education. The Prismatic Peacock officially took flight in October 2011, and I have not looked back. I have never worked harder in my life, but I have also never been happier! I am surrounded by color and fragrance every day. I am able to spend time with our son (now three) and pick him up from preschool every day. We eat dinner together as a family every night. The long hours and hard work that I put in are rewarded when I receive testimonials from happy customers.

I am extremely grateful for the love, support, and encouragement of my husband, family, and friends. I am proud of the goals I have achieved to this point, and I look forward to the future opportunities that lie ahead for The Prismatic Peacock. I hope that you will follow along on my journey as I spread my wings in an attempt to coast onward and upward as I chase my dreams. Though I'm sure that I will flounder along the way, I will attempt to personify the regal peacock. Here are some words of wisdom. Like a peacock, your beauty is multiplied when you spread your wings and show the world your stuff. Don't be afraid to be who you are - each peacock feather is flawed and imperfect, but collectively they create something of great beauty. Your flaws are what make YOU perfect! Show your true colors!