June 6, 2012 In Indiana, News & Updates

road trip!

Blue Lollipop Road has been invited by Taltree Arboretum & Gardens to be a guest at their Annual Gala this Friday night! Of course I accepted. What’s not to love about supporting a a gorgeous green space that so many good people are working to continuously preserve?!

I’ve never been to Valparaiso before, so naturally I’m excited to explore this area. The weather report for Friday is looking like sunny and warm so it will be the perfect setting for great photo ops around the gardens. This Vermont girl loves the Windy City but really loves getting back into beautiful green space too.

Are you in the Chicagoland or Valparaiso, IN area? Do you like to go to spots you can relax, be inspired and breathe in some fresh air? We love it. Come join us for this event on Friday!

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June 4, 2012 In Inspiration

reflections

In finalizing mission and vision statements for the new BLR site, I ran across this that I haven’t read in a long while:

If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television – and more while watching life. I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day. I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.” There would have been more “I love you’s”.. More “I’m sorrys” … But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it … live it…and never give it back.

~Erma Bombeck

Quite a last line to keep swirling in your head eh?
 …given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it … live it…and never give it back.
How great would it be if we were all brave enough today to encourage someone around us to seize every one of their minutes and maybe do a little more seizing ourselves?
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June 1, 2012 In BLR Play it Forward 2012, BLR Reunion Soccer Weekend 8/18/12

that unforgettable feeling

I just saw the first draft of the BLR Play it Forward Event logo, gasped and jumped back like I’d seen a million dollar winning lotto ticket.

We are near 10 months into planning, I have been eating, drinking, sleeping, dreaming this event- and then some. It’s felt real the whole time, but with one glance at a colored image just now? BAM! – It’s officially really for real for real. (Yes, I meant to write that.)

The excitement that’s running through my veins as I type, is one kind that I dream of having every day with the work I do. That kind that makes you jump out of bed in the morning because you know you are doing something good. By good I mean something great. I have said for so long, all I want to do is work that matters. With the help of  incredibly talented, committed and generous ladies from my home town, and some serious inspiration from above- we have created this amazing thing that totally matters, and event weekend isn’t even here yet.

I’m so thankful for the years of encouragement to always keep going from the people who know me best, and the inspiration from the ones above. Those two things paired with my drive to do work that matters, have brought me to moments like this one where I know without a doubt I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to do.

Today is a big, huge, enormous, crazy awesome feeling.

Whoop!

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June 1, 2012 In News & Updates

news and updates

It’s been quite an interesting week since the wild disappointment about the Best of the Road Rally. To say that Rand McNally did not follow their own rules or “play” with integrity is a major understatement. Nearly every single one of the top voted and social media active teams (including us) have been in touch with Rand McNally of course questioning their processes and asking for much deserved explanations. The response Mom and I received was exactly what we assumed would come; A canned, corporate, patronizing one, of course -admitting no fault.

We are not sore losers and this is not a case of sour grapes. No one can really be that upset when a game is played and a better performing team wins. Who could argue that? This situation was different though. A giant red flag flew as soon as finalist results were revealed. Out of all of the teams that had worked so hard for weeks fully filling out bios, writing reviews on towns and places, submitting videos, soliciting the most votes, being social media active like crazy, and following all the rules to the T (again, including us)- none of us were chosen?

Hmmm….sound fishy? We (all the top rejected teams) thought so too, so we did some poking around.

Oh the things we could share.

Tsk, tsk, tsp Rand McNally. Your blatant disregard for following your own rules set for the Best of the Road competition, your lack of integrity, and your inability to step up and fall on your sword when the true facts have been found by so many of us who played fair is absolutely outrageous. We all never even had a chance to win a spot in the game you play. As Mom and I stated in our letter to you, you have lost two fans, followers and customers forever.

***If any fans, followers, press, Rand McNally or USA TODAY want to discuss any of our findings- please contact us. We believe in transparency and truth so are happy to share any facts, at any time, with anyone. Unless we are asked to approach this subject again by an outside party however- we are closing this door and moving on to much more positive things. We say let karma work, eventually the people and facts that need to be exposed- will be :)***

Now Moving on.

The Blue Lollipop Road Play it Forward Reunion Soccer Weekend is just 2.5 months away! YIPPEE! We are so happy and proud of the event we have planned. It’s been a furry of work this week getting the last details set and information laid out ready go on the new BLR site. We can’t wait to share with you all!

Look for a June kick off with a new look and updated message here. Here’s to a great summer of positivity and Blue Lollipop Road!

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