ABOUT US

Hello,

When my kids were young, I would leave little notes in their lunch boxes. Not everyday. Usually just on those days that I thought they might need to hear some positive praise. Little pick me ups with messages of love and encouragement.

Well, those days are long gone. As they both grew up and started to become independent, I knew it was time to give up the "love notes." But that doesn't mean I wanted to or that I ever stopped worrying about them. As moms, we often think, "oh please make good choices and hear my voice in your head." No, not the nagging voice, you know, the sweet little voice that had the power to lift them up. The one that made them question..."what would Mom think?" The one that made them feel confident and loved. 

Now, take a look at your wrist. Are you wearing a "just in case" hair tie on your wrist? I know I am, and on any given day, my daughter will be sporting several.

And that is how Olive Lou was born. 

The Power of Words

The words we have heard throughout our lifetime have significant power to affect the people we become. These words may be small, but together they form the building blocks that lay the foundation to help us be the best version of ourselves.   

The positivity of words are seeds that have the ability to nourish one's soul. Unlocking your confidence has the power to take you far. My mom always said “a confident girl is a beautiful girl.”

Why the Association of Frontotemporal Degeneration?

Four years ago, my beautiful mother, SueSue, was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia/Frontotemporal Degeneration. The frontal lobe and/or temporal lobes are the part of the brain that are responsible for language and understanding. In my mother’s case, she is gradually losing her ability to form sentences.

Despite this, my mother tells me every single day "I love you." 

Unfortunately, there is no cure for FTD. I just hope and pray that one is found soon enough to help someone else’s mother. So in honor of my mother SueSue,  Olive Lou will be donating the proceeds from “Always remember that you are loved” collection to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. To learn more about FTD, Please visit  www.theaftd.org 

I will cherish every day I get to hear those words “I love you” from my mother. And when she is not able to say them, I will still know it to be true.

 xo,

Ilene Kaplan

P.S. Olive Lou (I love you)