If you blinked, you missed it. Birthday celebrations, the PJ Set drop, Greek Easter, Spring Break, Ricky Gervais Live, and the ASL Slam 20th Anniversary.
I turned a year older last month. It was not one of those big milestone birthdays, but it hit differently in the best way. What came out of it all was simple. I’m feeling good. Exhausted, but good. A little wiser. A little freer. And officially giving fewer shits.
Life might look like a circus, but in truth, it’s just proof you are alive and kicking.
It is a talent, really. We want everything and nothing at the same time. One minute we are overwhelmed. The next, we are bored. Watching the clock. Begging for something to happen.
It makes no sense, but we have all been there.
Work, people, problems. There will always be something to stress about if you are looking for it. But the real shift happens when you catch yourself in the spiral and choose gratitude instead.
Soak it up. All of it.
If you dwell on what’s missing, that is what you will feel. But when you shift your focus, your whole energy follows. Complaining closes the door. Gratitude cracks it open.
That is where joy, growth, and momentum sneak in.
Sounds a lot like life, does it not?
Gratitude does not fix everything, but it opens the door to what matters most.
The month ended on a high note with a visit to NYC for the ASL Slam 20th Anniversary. Believe it or not, I was one of their original attendees when it first started 20 years ago. And I’ll admit, I hadn’t been back since. Showing up again after all these years felt like a full circle moment.
It was exhilarating to see how much ASL Slam has grown. The richness of the art, the culture, the energy. You could feel the heart of the community pulsing in every performance.
I was happy. I was present.
Until my friends decided to volunteer me for one of the ASL game skits on stage.
*Cue horror movie soundtrack.*
Doug Ridloff—director of ASL Slam—himself came down to pluck me from my seat. I wanted to run. I seriously considered it. But there was no way out. I had to go for it.
Mind you, it has been a while since I have been out on the scene. My signing was rusty, and I felt out of practice. But then I remembered who I am at my core. I am someone who faces fear head on. Someone who likes to have fun. Someone with an IDGAF mindset.
Here is a weird confession: I like fear.
Fear is good. Just like self doubt, it's an indicator. It points you toward what matters. The more scared you are, the more it probably matters to your growth. If something meant nothing, you wouldn’t feel that kind of resistance. But when it matters? That fear shows up loud and clear.
So was I scared?
Hell yes. I was gonna shit my pants.
And honestly? That was the sign I needed. It showed me exactly what I had to do: Get up there. Be myself. Have fun.
Did I win the game? Nope. It didn’t last long, and I totally flopped. But I won in a bigger way—I faced the fear. I got out of my shell and said yes.
And I would do it again, even if it means almost shitting my pants again.
That moment reminded me why I started Lovecore Apparel in the first place.
I’ve never wavered from this vision. Never lost faith in what I was building. Why? Because it is me in there—all of me. Heart and soul. I am living my own metaphor.
Ninety-nine percent of the time, I don’t know what the hell I am doing. But I know I’m out here on a journey, chasing something beautiful, something meaningful. Some kind of treasure.
And here is what I've learned: the treasure was with me all along. The desire to create. The drive to give. And that treasure? It is love. That is what I have always wanted to give to the world.
When you want something deeply, the universe moves with you. That is love in action.
I’m not creating clothes just for the sake of fashion. It is more than that. It is a mission. It is a journey. It is a movement.
We all forget who we are at the root. We get distracted. Disconnected. But love brings us back. Love is magnetic. Love multiplies. That’s the reminder I am here to offer... again and again.
Takeaway:
Fear means you are onto something.
Leap toward it.
Love is the reward.
That is how you grow.
Lovecore HQ: What’s Been Happening?
💖 Love Buzz PJ Set: Dropped on Friday, April 11 and it has been buzzing ever since. Watch the reel and see how it came to life, from sketches to stitches.
🤝 Networking and Collaborations: Doing my homework, researching Deaf organizations to support, and scouting content creators who might be the perfect fit to collab with.
🎤 Exciting Collab News: I found someone amazing who will be spreading the love on her platform. I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but here is a hint. She is a mad-talented performer who signs popular songs. Get ready to get your groove on.
🍌 Next Collection Update: The banana sketches are finalized and I’m utterly obsessed. Even more hyped for this drop. I’m seriously thinking about turning the men’s boxers into a unisex style because honestly, I think the ladies would love them too.
What I’m Loving Right Now (Because Sharing Is Caring):
🎬 Movie: The Life List. A cute Netflix rom-com with just the right mix of heart and cheesiness. If you feel like you are just existing, not living, watch this.
📖 Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Reading it again because it speaks to a different part of me. A quick, powerful reminder that your dreams are bigger than comfort.
💄 Makeup: Kevyn Aucoin's Sculpt and Define Contour Book Volume IV. Kevyn was my makeup idol. This palette does it all. Warm tones, cool tones, matte, shimmer. Total staple.
👗 Clothing Obsession: Marcella New York, Carter Top. Wore it to ASL Slam and felt like a true New Yorker. Simple, clean, confident. My kind of energy.
🍫 Snack Attack: Jacob, The Cleanest Protein Bar. The best one I have tried with clean ingredients and real flavor. Pricey, yes. But perfect for when I have no time to eat.
What’s Next?
I am following the signs, trusting the vision, and choosing love every step of the way. Do I know exactly where it is going? Not really. But it feels right, so I'm rolling with it.
If you are figuring things out too, you are in good company. Let us keep growing, laughing, and loving through it all.
Stay fearless. Stay rooted. Stay you. 🫶🏼
XO,
Nickie
P.S. If you have not checked out the Love Buzz PJ yet, what are you waiting for? Go get cozy and feel the love.
P.P.S. Oh, and if you’re eyeing something for Mother’s Day? Whether it’s for your mom or your fabulous self, I gotchu, fam. Free shipping’s on me. 💌 Use code: LOVEMAMA through May 11.
