​In this heartwarming episode of Wisdom for Wannabes, host Jackie Morreale introduces her daughter Natalia, the youngest guest to grace the show, who has just co-illustrated a new children's book with her, called, 'The Furry Christmas Miracle.' The conversation explores the journey of creativity, entrepreneurship, and the magic of Christmas through storytelling. Natalia shares her experiences and insights as a young illustrator and entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of family support and the joy of giving during the holiday season.
 
Takeaways:
• Natalia is the youngest guest on the show.
• The Furry Christmas Miracle is the fourth book in the series.
• The book is dedicated to children who believe in magic.
• Natalia illustrates and co-writes the book with her mother.
• The story emphasizes themes of gratitude and responsibility.
• Natalia shares her entrepreneurial journey of selling shells to buy a hamster.
• The importance of family support in creative endeavors is highlighted.
• The book is available in both storybook and coloring book formats.
• The conversation reflects on the joy of giving during Christmas.
• Jackie expresses excitement for future stories in the series.
 
Quotes:
• "I can make ornaments for sale."
• "Natalia is an entrepreneur at heart."
• "One more high five for hope."
 
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Princess Tessa and Luke the Duke Series
01:45 Reading The Furry Christmas Miracle
05:49 The Journey of Responsibility and Giving
07:37 Natalia's Entrepreneurial Spirit and Reflections
 
In this special episode, Jackie Morreale introduces her daughter, Natalia Morreale, who is the talented new co-illustrator for "The Furry Christmas Miracle," a delightful kids book in the Princess Tessa and Luke the Duke series. This picture book is now available in both digital and print formats, perfect for reading. They share insights into the creation of these wonderful children's books, discussing themes like holiday cheer, giving, and making choices. ✨

Podcast Transcript:

​Jackie Morreale (00:00)
Hello and welcome to Wisdom for Wannabes. I'm the host, Jackie Morreale. Today, I am welcoming our youngest guest to the show thus far. She has just made her debut as illustrator for a newly published book: Book four in the Princess Tessa & Luc the Duke series, which is called The Furry Christmas Miracle. I am so proud to welcome, my daughter, Natalia Morreale.

Welcome to Wisdom for Wannabes, Natalia!

Natalia Morreale (00:32)
Guys, I'm so happy to be here. This is the fourth book so I want to show off one, two, and three from my mom.

Jackie Morreale (00:40)
Thank you.

Natalia Morreale (00:40)
The first book she ever made was Princess Tessa Meets Luc the Duke.

The second book she made is Princess Tessa and the New Look.

And the third book she made, Princess Tessa & Luc the Duke: Trick or Tiara Halloween Surprise.

Jackie Morreale (00:58)
Number four, we have Princess Tessa & Luc the Duke: The Furry Christmas Miracle. It's available in both coloring book versions so that you can fill in the pages with your own special colors, pencils, crayons, paint, whatever you like to make it match your own holiday experience. Or you can purchase the book version, which includes our collaborative illustrations, which are on the wall behind us.

Do you want to do some story time of our new book? 

Natalia Morreale (01:26)
I would love to.

Jackie Morreale (01:45)
Okay, let's start. The Furry Christmas Miracle, Book Four in the Princess Tessa & Luc the Duke series, was written by me, Jackie Morreale and illustrated by Jackie Morreale and Natalia Morreale.

This book is dedicated to all the children like Natalia, who dream, give, and believe in magic. Merry Christmas to all, especially Nonno Sal and Nonna Maria, all the aunts who spark conversations about Christmas at Thanksgiving dinner, and our cousins who share our love for pets.

Page one, Christmas is coming. I feel it everywhere - in the twinkling lights, in the songs in the air, and in the way my heart beats a little faster.

Natalia Morreale (02:10)
Before Christmas arrives, it's Thanksgiving week. School's out. Our house is busy and full.

Jackie Morreale (02:16)
Voices and laughter fill every room. The air smells warm and delicious. Nonno hugs me tight.

Natalia Morreale (02:23)
Nonna kisses my cheek. "Gioia mia," she whispers. My joy, in Italian.

Jackie Morreale (02:29)
Thanksgiving reminds us to be thankful, but my thoughts drift all the way to the magic of Christmas. While grownups talk and cook, I dream. I dream of something soft, something furry, something sprinkled with fun, a pet hamster that could be my very own.

Natalia Morreale (02:48)
We talk about gratitude. I'm thankful for my family and for the biggest Christmas wish.

Jackie Morreale (02:55)
After dessert, my aunt leans close.

"What do you want for Christmas, Tessa?" She asks and smiles.

Natalia Morreale (03:03)
I take it breath.

"A pet," I say. My heart thumps loudly.

Jackie Morreale (03:08)
Mommy and daddy listen carefully. Mommy smiles kindly. Daddy looks concerned.

"Maybe next year, Principessa," he says.

Natalia Morreale (03:16)
"We already have you and baby Luca to take care of," he adds. "Our hearts are too full." My heart sinks.

Jackie Morreale (03:24)
Later, Mommy and I have a heart-to-heart.

"If you can show us how responsible you are," she adds, "we will think about it."

Natalia Morreale (03:31)
That night Christmas decorations come out, lights sparkle, hope sparkles, too.

Jackie Morreale (03:37)
Luc the Duke and I place ornaments all over our tree. Daddy lets me decorate the high branches. "Principessa Tessa," he says, "You are the star."

Natalia Morreale (03:46)
As I hang ornaments, an idea grows. A big idea.

Jackie Morreale (03:49)
I can make ornaments for sale. If I can make enough for a hamster, that will show them how responsible I am.

Natalia Morreale (03:57)
Luc the duke and I open our own Santa workshop We press our hands in glitter and paint. High fives forever!

Jackie Morreale (04:06)
(Yeah!) We use our high five hands to make hearts, stars, and angels. Each sparkly ornament shines with love and remind us that there is always hope.

Natalia Morreale (04:17)
We set up a little ornament shop right outside our house. One dollar each.

Jackie Morreale (04:21)
Cars pass, we wait, my stomach flips.

Natalia Morreale (04:25)
People stop, they smile. they buy our ornaments.

Jackie Morreale (04:29)
Every dollar feels like progress. I count carefully. Luc claps proudly.

Natalia Morreale (04:34)
We go to the pet store. I see her. My shy black and white hamster hiding quietly.

Jackie Morreale (04:40)
A man gently lifts the hamster to show us. Suddenly, splash! She pees right on his hand. Daddy gasps. Mommy laughs. I giggle and think she might be shy, but she's definitely brave.

Natalia Morreale (04:54)
She hides again, but I know deep inside, she will be a wonderful part of our family. I just need to show I am responsible enough.

Jackie Morreale (05:04)
That Sunday, Mommy stops at a tree after church. Small handmade ornaments hang from its branches. But different than our high fives, each ornament has a child's wish written on a paper dove. Maybe some kids won't have Christmas gifts this year. I read the notes. My chest feels tight. I imagine how that would feel. I want to help.

Natalia Morreale (05:26)
I think about our I think about those kids. We make a choice.

Jackie Morreale (05:32)
"Give the ornament money to grant the children's wishes," I say.

It is hard, but it feels right.

Natalia Morreale (05:38)
Christmas Eve arrives. We prepare milk and cookies. We sing carols and laugh and dream.

Jackie Morreale (05:44)
I fall asleep peacefully, not hoping, but full of wonder and belief in the magic of Christmas.

Natalia Morreale (05:49)
Christmas morning comes. Luc the Duke and I bounce excitedly to our tree.

Jackie Morreale (05:54)
Close to the tree there's a...

Look online wherever you buy books to find Princess Tessa & Luc the Duke: The Furry Christmas Miracle to find out what was under the tree.

Although we won't tell our listeners what was under the tree in the story, we will give you a sneak peek of Luc the Duke's first POV, a short story at the end of the story, with Luc the Duke's perspective on it all.

Natalia Morreale (06:24)
May I read it? He sounds like this.

Jackie Morreale (06:29)
Of course. What does he sound like? Then you have to do it in his voice. Go for it.

Natalia Morreale (06:36)
I'm Luc the Duke! I crawl, wobble, and explore. Tessa has my big sister. She laughs and dreams. She's always busy.

The house smells amazing today. Ham, potatoes, and something sweet. I push my toy car across the floor. Vroom. Tessa giggles.

Tessa shows me high five hearts. I clap. I squeal, I bounce. Outside people buy our ornaments.

Maybe this will get us a furry friend for Christmas!

Christmas morning comes. Tessa runs to the tree. Under it sits...

Jackie Morreale (07:21)
You'll have to find out when you get your copy of The Furry Christmas Miracle, available on Amazon in coloring book and anywhere where you buy your books online, in storybook for children. Any learnings from this, Natalia, being your first illustrated published book?

Natalia Morreale (07:37)
I do want to add something. Do you know how Tessa works to get the money for a hamster? When I was little, I wanted a hamster, too. I went to this beach and there was shells everywhere. They were really pretty. I had the idea to collect them and sell them.

We collected all the shells, we got home, we washed them really went outside and tried selling them. Not many people came, because no one was really walking and wanting to buy things. We sold them online and then I raised enough money to get my own hamster, Leia.

Jackie Morreale (08:10)
Exactly. Natalia is an entrepreneur at heart. She's always been a creative and always looking for ways to make people happy. I'm so excited to see where this book debut takes her.

Excited to share the Princess Tessa & Luc the Duke stories with the world. Thank you, thank you to those who have purchased the books, read the books, shared the books. Excited to bring stories from our home to your home. We're very grateful for the support and can't wait to make more Princess Tessa & Luc the Duke stories. One more high five for hope.

Thank you very much for listening to our story time. Thank a great day.

Natalia Morreale (08:49)
Bye.

Transcript:

Hi there. My name is Jackie Morreale and I am the host of Wisdom for Wannabes. I am joined today by a firebird artwork that found me again.

This Christmas 2025 has already come and gone. Like every year, it carried with it a familiar warmth of giving and togetherness and reflection.

But this year, I received something completely unexpected, a gift that didn't just make me smile, it allowed me to revisit the past. Not in that nostalgic, "wasn't that so nice" kind of a way, but as a living time capsule.

A message from the person that I was 20 years ago, arriving precisely when the person I am today needed it most.

My mother brought me a framed painted silk piece that I created two decades ago. Back when I was a young designer in New York City, fresh out of school, painting silk in my parents' basement. Back when all I wanted to do, literally all I wanted to do, was paint whichever visions lived in my head.

Selling to stores came later, business plans came later, expectations came later.

At the beginning, all there was was silk, dye, movement, and instinct.

I learned a silk painting technique in school and it felt magical. Applying it to these scarves made for wearable artwork that someone could actually live inside. But seeing this piece now, 20 years later, framed, hanging on the wall, I'm reminded that it was always more than just fashion. The watercolor blending, the motion, the way the colors breathed life into each other. It was just meant to live.

The piece had originally been purchased by my grandmother, who's now 99 years old. (Hi, Grandma!) My mother found this silk painting in her possession, a firebird that I had created all those years ago, and she decided to frame it.

The image is striking.

It's a firebird with three red feathers emerging from its slender head. It has long, powerful wings layered in warm red hues and glowing tones. A dramatic curling tail feather rising from the flames beneath it. Behind it is a sky washed in cool rainbow-like hues.

Twenty years ago, it may have just been something "pretty," but today it feels prophetic.

Because here I am after two decades of trying to figure out who I am as a businesswoman. 

A designer, a mother.

A human standing in a moment of pause, a moment of surrender, a moment of following life's current instead of treading against it. Back to being an artist, into new waters as an entrepreneur, a writer, and someone who thinks outside of the box, just like that young woman painting silk in the basement.

Back then, we didn't document everything. We didn't have iPhones. We didn't have endless photo libraries. Files were saved on CDs. Computers came and went. And every single silk scarf that I made during that time was either sold or given away at flea markets, house sales, small boutiques, trunk shows, even department stores.

I didn't keep one.

So to have this firebird returned to me, something that I made with my hands, with my imagination, and with my whole a year of enormous change, healing, and transformation, it feels intentional.

It feels like timing.

I'm grateful for my mother who has always had an eye for art, always supported my creativity, and for thinking to bring this piece back to me now. (Hi, Mom!) She's the best at giving a subtle nudge, a window opening, and a reminder that maybe this artist path is not behind me but ahead.

I look at this firebird now...and I see myself.

Not just emerging from the ashes, but remembering who I've always been.

I was pretty scrappy back then, literally "material"-istic. Every dollar I had went into fabric, trim, samples, creation. I showed collections in New York City. I pitched lines to department stores. I sold pieces to buyers out of a room that I rented off of Fifth Avenue, more like closet, but it was a room.

All made by hand, with my family.

And when I committed to fulfilling an order, I fulfilled it no matter what. That same determination lives in me now, in my books, these three that 2025 has brought me, and more to come. In my deadlines, my promises to myself.

The difference has been wisdom.

I'm the same person but now with experience, perspective, motherhood, and a deeper understanding of putting others first.

My mother and I don't always see eye to eye. But she shows up and she always has. She understands the artist in me and has always supported that part of who I am.

I don't exactly know why I'm being led down this path right now. I just know that I am.

Maybe that's why I painted the firebird 20 years ago too. For this moment, now, for this remembering: who I was, who I am, and who I'm becoming.

No matter what, I'll always emerge from the ashes.

Looking ahead to 2026:

• What part of yourself have you forgotten?
  
• What's waiting to find you again?
  
• What's your firebird painting?

Reflecting on a wonderful 2025, and wishing you the best year yet for 2026.

Become new by remembering who you are.