The truly good stories last for more than just a lifetime. As Maurice Sendak, the true king of all the wild things, left this earth today, we celebrate his life and his works, which have been part of our lives for more than 30 years. He provided the inspiration and the words, and in case you (like we) need to bring a little of his legacy home, we’ve scoured Etsy for our favorite Wild Things-inspired art.

“Then from far away across the world he smelled good things to eat, so he gave up being king of the wild things.” Rest in peace, Maurice Sendak.

The inspired artists, from top to bottom, left to right: 1. Hyssop design 2. Branded Eclipse 3. Stoic 4. Breeding Fancy 5. Dear Colleen 6. Little Light Prints 7. Lark’s Eye Design 8. Ruka-Ruka 9. Raw Art Letter Press

Sometimes, it is important that you show your true colors.

We may be currently deep in the heart of Texas but I, Jennifer, owner of Polka Dot Peacock, am an LSU graduate. And tonight, in case your family doesn’t live and breathe sports as much as mine does, LSU plays for the BCS National Championship. I’ve been sporting my purple and gold all day, dressed my dear Henry (my 4-year-old) in his favorite LSU t-shirt, threw out a few “Geaux Tigers” (to others with an obvious amazing sense of style, similarly styled in fabulous purple and gold) at our local elementary school when I picked up the twins… and I’m hoping for an LSU victory.

So today, whether you are a football fan or not, here are a few of my favorite goodies. Inspired by LSU colors and Mike the Tiger himself, it is game time… Geaux Tigers!

1. WallCandy Arts Purple and Yellow Hearts Temporary Wallpaper 2. 3 Sprouts Tiger Organic Hooded Towel 3. Cherry Blossom Birdies Canvas Wall Art (A Winborg Sisters design printed by Oopsy Daisy, Fine Art For Kids 4. Lil’ T Night Light (A Jennifer Mercede design printed by Oopsy Daisy, Fine Art For Kids) 5. JJ Cole Boysenberry Fleur Nora Diaper Bag 6. Ferm Living Dottie Yellow Pillow 7. Arteriors Home Plum Linen Tennyson Stool 8. DwellStudio Draper Stripe Amethyst Throw

I am thankful for adventure.

When I was a child, on occasion, hot air balloons would fly high near our house. We’d jump in the car and try to chase them, hoping to see where they’d land. On nights good for star gazing, we’d take my father’s telescope to the field at the end of the road and peek at the planets. Every May we’d pack the car for a picnic, drive downtown and spend the afternoon listening to the symphony play along the banks of the Mississippi River, with a finale of fireworks and James Hyter bolting Ol’ Man River.

A sunny day in 2008 was spent in East Texas at the Athens Old Fiddlers Contest. We’ve oohed and aahed at the Southlake Arts Festival and were five of 7,000 at a Texas high-school football game. We’ve spent afternoons wandering around Bass Pro Shop, filled up Saturdays with trips to Joe T. Garcia’s in Fort Worth, and, for the twins’ fifth birthday we took the Dart train into Dallas to meet my husband for lunch.

Though, by all certainty, my children will have different stories to tell,  I hope they, too, love a good adventure.

Yes, I took a break during the weekend. It was crazy busy, my computer wouldn’t connect at my in-laws’ house and I took that as a sign that I need a few days off.

I am thankful for the little things that make my life big and amazing.

• My rain boots. Especially if it is raining.
• Coffee. Black, no sugar. And keep it coming.
• Cherry Diet Coke from Sonic.
• Christmas Vacation — the movie. A family tradition for years and years.
• Pandora. Providing hours of music as I work day in and day out.
• Toaster strudels. All you have to do is make a pretty shape with the icing and the whole house is giddy.
• Socks in the morning as I walk the hardwood floors. I recognize I look ridiculous; I just don’t care.
• Jeans. I love them. Love love love them.
• The stars. And how much I can see them living where I live.

I could go on and on. What little things are you thankful for? Post below and let us know!

I am thankful that it is finally Friday.

The end.

I am thankful to those who have come before me.

It was four years ago today that my Memother was taken from this earth, and I don’t believe that a day has gone by without memories of her. She made an amazing manicotti, refused the leave the house without her make-up and was a regular at Value City. She took me to the Discovery Place, the local Salisbury football game and to Shot Tower — one of those non-experiences that she had built up so much we’d never let her forget. We spent summers together on sunny beaches and winters sledding down her snowy West Virginia hills. She surprised me in Memphis for my high-school graduation and flew to Louisiana four years later when I received my college diploma.  She traveled to England when I studied abroad, to my apartment in New York City and made it to California for Matt’s law school commencement. She baked potato-chip cookies {I will share the recipe soon as it is awesome}, was always “blonde” and lived every day of her life, even when dying, with grace, love and understanding.

She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the summer of 2005, and she would fight the battle for 18 months. Though my girls don’t remember her — and only now know her as the lady in the red dress, referring to the picture on my desk — she was able to know them and for that I am eternally grateful. I hope I am half the woman she was. I would’ve loved twenty-eight more years with her. I will be forever thankful for the twenty-eight we did have.

I am thankful to those who have come before me.

I know that my pre-algebra teacher Ms. Knight, who passed away during the semester she was was my teacher, is one of the reasons I so love math. I believe that my sweet Estella would’ve loved to have painted along side my {great} Grandmother Agsten. I think my little Madeline and my Grandma Ruby would’ve enjoyed each other, as it is common knowledge they each favor {favor with their whole heart} the color pink. I think Henry and Uncle Jimmy would’ve really enjoyed watching the Memphis Tigers together, and the girls would’ve envied Frankie’s fancy jewels.

I am thankful to those who have come before me.

My father was one of six boys. My uncle Jimmy died in February, leaving my father as the last Perry brother. His burial was held at Veteran’s Cemetery in Memphis, where Taps was played by a lone bugler and the United States flag was presented to my father. I am thankful for the Veterans of this country — both those of this earth and those who have left it — who fight and have fought battles near and far so that we can all live a safer life. I am thankful to each my five uncles — Donny, Bobby, Billy, Frankie and Jimmy — for serving their time in the military.

I am thankful to those who have come before me.

I would not be who I am today without the influence of the family and friends I have known, loved and lost. Today I am thankful for each one of them, for leaving their footprints on my soul.

Memother, front row, and Jimmy, back row, amongst the rest of us overlooking the Pacific Ocean, May 2005.

I am thankful, at least most of the time, for the suburbs.

Mrs. Lyn, our next-door-neighbor, calls us when the donkeys, alpacas and llamas come along the back of her property and we take our carrots and feed them. Yes, we used to be city-folk. But, at least for now, we can see the stars. And feed the donkeys.

We love seeing our products in your world!
Shown here: My son Henry sporting his Kicky Pants dragon outfit!

Have your own product pictures?
Email your picture(s) to realpeacock@polkadotpeacock.com
and we’ll be happy to make you a star!

I am thankful for my mini-van.

My family had a Dodge Ram van growing up — there was nothing mini about it. There were two bench rows and you could flip them so that they’d face each other. A table would pull out in between the two bench rows, and we’d eat our McDonalds and play cards as we drove towards our family vacation. My father — a mechanical engineer — had installed earphone jacks so we could listen to our music and my parents didn’t have to. We’d line up stickers on the ceiling from Cracker Jack boxes next to the fans he’d installed in the rear since the air-conditioning didn’t travel so well.

As the years passed, we’d trade in the Dodge Ram for a station wagon and, one summer, even rented a Chevrolet Gladiator. Nonetheless, the theme remained the same. Through the years, we visited Disneyworld and waited for hours at Cape Canaveral to watch a space-shuttle launch that wouldn’t happen. We paused in South Carolina to visit Robin –where they’d hang our breakfast on the door — and traveled on to Washington DC, when my little brother would hang a sign in the window, pointing to my sister, that read “We are not related.”  We visited my grandparents in West Virginia and another set in Georgia. And, in 2000, after I’d graduated from LSU, my parents drove their Toyota Previa to New York City and dropped me off so I could begin my “real” life.

I am thankful for my mini-van. Not, let me assure you, because I love mini-vans. But simply because I hope that my van can provide my kids at least half the adventures the Dodge Ram — and the Previa and the Buick and the Gladiator – provided me.

I am thankful for Nutella. Since the day my kids discovered it at the grocery store — and then saw it paired a few days later with jelly and marshmallow fluff at Square Burger in downtown McKinney –
my lunch-making task has become much easier on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.