BLR Play It Forward 2013 Archives - Page 3 of 3

April 5, 2013 In BLR Play It Forward 2013, California

the valley of magic

Hello Napa!

I’ve been in California for a week now and have loved every minute of it. There’s something about the west coast that makes me feel peaceful, healthy, and happy. The Napa Valley has a certain magic for me that I don’t think will never change. One of those magical things is the drive through Sonoma over the Golden Gate Bridge. This time of year the rolling hills in Sonoma are becoming that gorgeous green and the buds on the grapevines are barely showing. The weather is 65 and misty one minute and near 80 and sunny the next. You can sleep with windows open and sip wine and have dinner outside even this early in the season. Ahhh…

Of course I love that mild weather and this magical place means I can go for long walks, long runs, and sit on coffee shop patios to work at dozens of places in flip flops. It’s always easier to get good work done when you’re feeling healthy and inspired so I am happy as a clam house sitting here for this good portion of April. I’m really excited to update that the possible work project I mentioned in this post, is coming together beautifully and has turned from yellow light to bright green! I’m staying unusually protective this go-around about sharing too much yet, probably because I’m still in a bit of shock (good shock) so I don’t want to jinx anything.

We are just a little over 3 months away from BLR Play It Forward Weekend. An exciting summer is coming and I can’t wait for it all!

What makes you happy and inspired?

March 29, 2013 In BLR Play It Forward 2013, News & Updates, Photos, Virginia

springing around

I took these during sunset at a friends house during Virginia wine time the other day:

There are no edits, no Instagram fixes, or color enhancements in these photos, nothing but a good click of an iPhone 4S and a gorgeous nature view. I love the reflection in the wine glasses. Not much beats a sunset view and good laughs with a friend.

I’m now en route to Napa for another house sitting gig continuing my spring of making sure pets and homes are well taken care of as their owners are in dreamy places like Italy and New Zealand. I’ll be sipping California wine in the Napa Valley during the next few weeks and hopefully watching more gorgeous sun setting like I was during the above photo session. (PS on the pet and house sitting note ~ I’m for hire and happy to provide stellar services anytime for absent home owners, so drop me a line if you need someone to stay at your pad: Diane(@)bluelollipoproad.com)

As I wrap up my 7 month stay in the DC area, I’m thankful for a few of the fantastic people I’ve met and spent time with. (People and conversation are always the best part of any stay wherever I travel and work.) In serendipitous timing of a location that I never expected to be in (isn’t that always the way?) there is one person in particular I finally got to meet face to face after 8 years which has been an incredible surprise. Go figure- click, click, click, and we’ve started work on a project that’s coming together like magic. I will share more when I can. For now I will say I believe more than ever if you keep fighting to be able to do work you love, always following your heart and instinct, it might be 1 year, 10, or 20, but eventually the tipping point will come. Sure, you’ll likely have to endure the shit storm (god knows I have) of horrible bosses, lazy company owners, long hours, little pay, coworkers you’d rather never see again than be in the same room with, or wearing some absolutely absurd embroidered maroon polo shirt (thanks Bottoms Up Pizza!)- but eventually your good fight will pay off and opportunity will knock for you to actually do work you’re passionate about and get paid for it.

Whoa. Awesome.

Until I can share about the above project (fingers double crossed) I keep working on my book, the 2nd Annual Play It Forward event, and a few other client projects that are always fun and rewarding. April through June I’ll be in the following areas (in order of travel) in case any of you out there will be in the same spot of the country and wish to meet up:

San Francisco, Napa, DC, Richmond Va, Wilmington NC, Raleigh, Charlotte, Nashville, Columbus OH, Chicago, Vermont, Upstate NY, Vermont again (BLR Play It Forward July 13th!) Then, drumroll please…(of course I can’t tell you yet:)

See you on the road! (That’s a hint by the way.)

February 14, 2013 In BLR Play It Forward 2013

announcing dates for blr play it forward 2013!

It’s official…BLR Play It Forward 2013 is set for the weekend of July 12!

That’s right- just 5 months away. Start booking your road trips, flights, and plans for a Southern Vermont Weekend of fun with friends and family this summer! On the agenda? Social gatherings, mentoring/summit session where local middle and high school female soccer players will have a chance to meet and connect with MAU alumni, award of the 2nd annual Blue Lollipop Road Memorial Scholarship, and tons of fun!

I’m honored and thrilled to kick off year 2 of an event and scholarship that mean the word to me. If my posts here, Blue Lollipop Road in general, or the Play It Forward event inspires/supports just one single young person to travel and/or keep pushing toward a big personal goal that might seem impossible- I will keep doing this all forever.

Come one and all to the 2nd annual Blue Lollipop Road Play It Forward Weekend! Soccer player or not, male or female, young or old, this is a fully inclusive, everyone welcome, community event. More news and detail coming soon. In the meantime- if you’re a female soccer playing student at MAU, please check with the guidance department for scholarship applications, and if you’re an individual or business who’d like to support/sponsor Blue Lollipop Road, the Play It Forward event, or the memorial scholarship, please click here.

Other questions? Email [email protected] or call 804.339.6514

Thank you- far in advance to all family, friends, alumni, and community members who I know will make this event amazing just like last year!

February 5, 2013 In BLR Play It Forward 2013, News & Updates