0. Nicole Rebecca Berman-born 1-2-1974Santa Cruz, CA 
1.Parents: Ralph & Lisa, Brother: Robert
2.Loved playing in the water-all the time!
3.Loved visiting Big Sur every summer
4.Started playing soccer-favorite sport
5. Kindergarten-loved school but wasn't a great listener....
6.Held hands with boy...beginning of my deep affection for the opposite sex...
7.First conscious thoughts of my liberalism
8.Performed at Shakespeare Santa Cruz-Merry Wives of Windsor
9.Started Junior Guards-loved it!
10.Performed in Peace Child
11.Loved 5th grade!  Rocked super short hair 
12.Played the Wicked Witch of the West in Wizard of Oz-Brook Knoll Elementary
13.Had my Bat Mitzvah-one of the toughest things I've ever done
14.Attended Branciforte Junior High-voted biggest flirt!!!
15.End of the innocence...
16.Listened to a lot of Prince
17.Became Senior Class President & Performed in "You Can't Take it With You" & "Bye Bye Birdie"
18.Traveled East for college & dropped out after 2 months
19.Traveled to Europe with a boyfriend
20.Started at Cal & met Brendan
21. Suffered major depression.  Not a high point of my life....
22.Modeled w/ Brendan for Glamour Magazine!!! Whaaat????
23.Lived in Venice, Italy; Possibly the best year of my life!
24.Graduated from UC Berkeley & moved to Truckee
25.Started designSense w/ Brendan-models & design co.
26.Traveled around the world, got hit by a bus in Brisbane, Australia & shaved my head
27.Married my best friend, Brendan Riley, at Glen Alpine Springs
28.Ran for Town Council, lost but became a Truckee Planning Commissioner
29.Started NeDesigns w/ Ed Lupyak
30. Loved turning 30-felt more comfortable about myself; much more excited about 30s than 20s
31.Gave birth to Dylan Jasper Riley-hands down the most painful & difficult thing I have ever done!
32.Worked at home and struggled through my first year of motherhood.  
33.Worked at my first non-profit & learned a ton, both good & bad; made lifelong friends 
34.Gave birth to Harlan Shane Riley-thank goodness for epidurals!
35.Introduced to the world of blacksmithing.... instant love 
36.Visited Kauai-deep affection for Hanalei & North Shore
37.Quit my job and started my own business, Nikki Riley Designs
38.Celebrated my 20 year high school reunion-a most wonderful time!
39.Started Colorburst Mirrors & designed my first house, start to finish.  Can't wait to see it built!
40.The world is my oyster...it's all up to me! 

It's kinda cool that my birthday coincides with the start of a new year.  (thanks for reminding me, Sarah)
Aside from the fact that most people, including myself, are tired and/or hungover on the 1st and back to work on the 2nd, it's an opportunity to reflect on the past and set goals for the future.  I'm big on lists and making plans.  Most of the time I am successful at seeing my plans through to fruition, other times those items remain on my to-do list, never getting completed.  I'm at the point in my life where I am not so troubled by those things that I don't complete.  (not entirely true...)
Either it's not that important for me to finish, or it will get done at the right time. Don't get me wrong, I will get that shit done, I promise.  At least the stuff I really care about.  (the burden of being a highly productive individual)
This past year has brought great opportunity for growth and development, both personally and professionally.  I designed my first house (thank you, Karen)
and continue to work for myself (thank you, Brendan) 
in order to eliminate that uncomfortable dynamic between employer/employee. I represent myself.  I do work that inspires me and my clients.  None of the messy, unnecessary interpersonal crap that can occur in an office.  I'm a communicator.  I believe in sharing thoughts, ideas and have no problem with critical analysis of my work.  
On a personal note, I have the benefit of being able to work at home, allowing me to play a more active role in my children's lives.  There were times in the past when I worked full-time and utilized a lot of childcare.  This served a important purpose, but made it difficult for me to spend quality time with my kids during the week and balance the work/mom/spouse/homemaker/me role. 
From the world of the non-profit, I love being President of the Board for Mountain Area Preservation and while it doesn't provide a source of income, it does fill my desire to make this world a better place.  Our staff is awesome (thank you, Alexis and welcome Haley!)
and I am honored to be a part of taking this organization to a place of greater recognition and success.
This year brought an end to my time as the Truckee Representative for the Nevada County First Five Commission.  I learned so much about a field that I knew so little. (children ages 0-5 and their caregivers/educators)   
I met incredible people who work daily to change the lives of those who need extra support, whether financially or emotionally.  
On a physical level, I started Crossfit in October and feel as strong as I did in my 20s. Yes, I drank the KoolAid and it has changed my life.  The results are incredible.  I started out hanging from the chin-up bar wondering if I would ever be able to do a pull-up.  After a few months I can do 6.   Soon I hope to do 10. If a person is going to be addicted to anything, it may as well be strength building exercise. 
My professional goal for 2014 is to invest more time in my design business and find places to sell my mirrors.  I'm ready for Colorburst Mirrors to take off and be a sustaining source of income.
I'm hopeful from a personal perspective that this next phase of my life brings more self-assurance, resilience and time laughing with my family and friends.  
Tomorrow I will share some little bits o' honey from the last 40 years.....adieu