Great companies

this is how two vermonters celebrated today

Ben & Jerry’s FREE CONE DAY! I had to get a photo of the 40th Annual poster on the window as we waited in line:

Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day

Not surprisingly, the place was packed, but the line moved fast. The wait gave me just enough time to play around with a magnet board meant for the kiddos:

Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day

Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz and Chocolate Therapy, please!

Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day

(See what we did with the cone wrappers there?:)

It’s nearly 8PM now, so this glorious ice cream give back event will be over by the time I press publish, but don’t worry, it’ll be be back again. In the meantime, grab yourself a pint of your favorite flavor at the grocery store. You can cozy on up with your buttercup, and listen to the great story of Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield, and how they started their delicious frozen empire on NPR’s How I Built This.

We love you, Ben & Jerry! Thanks for loving us back and showing it.

#DoGood #GiveBack #CelebrateEveryday

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celebrate everyday: day 27

1.27.18

Today I celebrate friends who start their own travel companies:

The Vagabond Monkey

Check out this trip to Ireland in May! A great deal and opportunity for off the beaten path adventure with a couple of experienced and talented hosts. It’s pretty awesome when people find their super passions and want to share them with others.

Maybe it’s time for you to fly away, little birdie?

#Wanderlust #LifeOutsideTheDroneZone #ExperiencesNotThings

*Ready to take a trip but don’t know where to start? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

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celebrate everyday: day 25

1.25.18

Today I celebrate kindness, and notes from strangers.

I went to this event last night at Advent Coworking, and when we were about to walk out the door, a woman asked “Do you know anything about this place, and details about membership?”

I don’t work there, but told her how great I think Advent is. (Who can argue with affordable work space, interesting entrepreneurs, free events, and great opportunities for networking with a zillion different kinds of cool, creative people?) I gave her my card after we chatted for a few more minutes, and of course threw in, drop a line if you ever want to come join for girls wine night or some other fun! (I’m never afraid to invite more people to the party. You’re all welcome too. Anytime:)

Today this note popped in on my phone:

Kind Notes

Amazing! Lesson for the day:

AN UNSOLICITED NOTE OF KINDNESS CAN GO A LONG WAY.

It really doesn’t take much.

You know what else made me feel high as a kite today? During my morning run, I saw a Pepsi delivery guy unloading stock going into a CVS store. He had parked his huge truck in the middle lane of a 4 lane road. As he crossed the road his computer clipboard flew off his cart and he couldn’t grab it. (No free hands and traffic coming fast.) I ran into the street and picked it up to bring it to him and was on my merry way. Big deal? Maybe not to some people. To me? Totally. To that guy? A huge help. (He and the computer were about to get run over.) One little thing that was so easy peasy for me to do and made me feel like a million bucks even though I’ll likely never see Mr. Pepsi again.

We may never know the kind of impact a note, smile, or bit of help has on another person. And really? It does reward us so much more to give than to get. Take an extra minute in your day today to help someone, or say something NICE. The karma gods are watching, when nobody else might be.

How are you being kind?

Thanks for the note, Cooper!

#AlwaysLookingUp #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #DoWhatYouLove

*Feel like you need a little more happiness in your life and don’t know how to find it? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

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celebrate everyday: day 24

1.24.18

Today I celebrate entrepreneurs, because it takes a lot to keep the hustle going when you work for yourself:

Advent Coworking F*ck Up Night

Advent Coworking F*ck Up Night

I went to F*ck Up Night a Advent Coworking tonight. F*ck Up Night is, you guessed it…an event where a panel of entrepreneurs share their stories about how they got to where they are, and all their f*ck ups along the way.

The kind of passion, drive, and hustle it takes to work for yourself is not for the weak or tired, to say the least. There’s a whole lot of regular “Why don’t you just go get a real job?” and other ridiculous opinions we’ve all heard, as we scrape the last penny out of the bank account, put in another late night, and wake up early to pound the pavement again. Those things would make most people break down and cry like babies. (And we have at times.) But! Figuring out ways to navigate this crazy world and make a living doing what you love and believe in so hard core, even your hero couldn’t talk you out of doing it? That, is pretty f*cking awesome. And totally worth the expenditure of those blood, sweat, and tears days.

NEVER GIVE UP!

Does something you overhear in a conversation at a cocktail party make you want to jump over the appetizer table, knocking over the hostess as you spill your martini, just so you can be talking about it, too? I think you’ve found your thing, baby. Go for it.

You know what you love to do. It’s ok to feel like you want to punch someone in the face next time they tell you you’re nuts to chase the life you want. You don’t have to punch them, just keep looking straight ahead, and let all that bs outside noise fall far behind you.

What lights your fire?

#LoveYourWork #StartDriving #LifeOutsideTheDroneZone

*Ready to join the hustler club, but don’t know where to start? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

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celebrate everyday: day 5

1.5.18

I went to booty shaking (technical term) class this morning, as usual (have to support the bread, cheese, and chocolate habit), and as soon as I got out, I saw a voicemail on my phone from a client. My initial uh-oh thought was because I knew this was a day I had set up a vendor to work with this client and I wasn’t going to be there. Did I forget to do something?! I played her voicemail with a slight cringe, hoping not:

“Diane! Hey it’s (name), I just wanted to tell you that the guys from Junkluggers are the nicest people I’ve ever met. They’re unbelievable! I just wanted to let you know, I love these guys!”

The Junkluggers are a vendor of mine. I send them to clients often, to do moves or junk removal. Since the first time I met the owners, they have been nothing but friendly, efficient, communicative, timely, and helpful. So incredibly professional.

Customer service seems pretty terrible these days. It’s a total bummer. It’s hard to go to a restaurant and get a smiley server, and too often the check out clerk is just plain miserable. I wonder why so many people look like they’d rather be doing anything else other than their job, and then I think of the fact that even though I’m 39 years old, my mother would smack me if I put in any less that A+ effort in my work life/with a client. You treat people with respect and hospitality, right? And keep cranking until things are done appropriately, right? Always. That’s what these guys do, and never fail.

My client thought the Junkluggers crew were some of the nicest people on planet, because they are. They’re nice, they get the job done, and best of all, I never have to worry in a bit that their service will be anything less than impeccable. It feels fantastic to be able to have that level of confidence in a vendor. I’m so thankful for this crew! The Junkluggers

Moving and junk removal are not glamorous, so extra high-fives to these guys for doing the “dirty” work, and smiling every minute along the way.

Today I celebrate good customer service, and being able to take comfort in the people I trust most to go into the homes of my clients during big life transitions.

Thanks, guys!

Who are you choosing to work with?

#LoveYourWork #KeepSmiling #LessStuffMoreFreedomHappyLife

*Need some help during your big life transition? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

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less hate. more inclusion. happy life

I was already a big fan of Airbnb, but after last nights Super Bowl, I’m now a super fan:

(Click here if you don’t see video.)

In my experience I’ve found, those who have any bit, of any hate, for any kind of rainbow, (sex, skin color, religion, etc.) are actually afraid of themselves. 

This world is big. Every heart beats the same. Let’s not be afraid of that. 

Hats off to Airbnb and every other voice, continuing to share the message that love will always win.

#WeAccept #LoveTrumpsHate #AlwaysLookingUp

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community support = awesome

What a happy surprise to arrive at my office today from the Bank Of Bennington!

Scholarship Donations

One of our alumni friends works for Bank Of Bennington, and now for 2 years in a row, they’ve matched her donation to the Blue Lollipop Road Memorial Scholarship fund. Now that’s what I call awesome! I dig companies who do good.

Thanks Bank Of Bennington! Your support helps give students the opportunity to travel and see a world they might not otherwise have the chance to.

#Community #DoGood #PlayItForward

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don’t forget your condoms

We are going to this event tonight; Art, entertainment, and fabulous people- all to benefit Planned Parenthood:

Don't forget your condoms!

Whoop! Fashion creations made out of condoms by local artists? Awesome.

I’m a huge Planned Parenthood fan.

Years ago, I remember reading a gigantic binder full of thank you letters sent in by girls of all ages when I was in a Planned Parenthood office in Virginia, waiting to have my annual exam. (God those exams are about as fun as never eating chocolate again.) Some of the letters made me smile, some made me cry, mostly they made me thankful that there was a safe place to help girls who had nowhere else to go. When you’re a young woman sitting in a quiet waiting room reading words written by a 15 year old who lived in an abusive home and was always told she’d “get the shit beaten out of her” if she ever came home pregnant, but was fortunate enough to have a place to get birth control pills, or from a 23 year old who was scared out of her mind not knowing how to tell her boyfriend she was pregnant, but was fortunate enough to have somewhere that offered counseling to coach her to have that conversation with a positive result- it makes you stop and think about your own life; That could be me, any of us- and what would I have done if I was in those shoes and had no where to turn? 

Thank you, Planned Parenthood.

I believe that every one, every day has a chance and a choice to change their life. I will always be in major support of any organization that offers chances and choices for those who might not have them otherwise. Hat’s off to Planned Parenthood for all their years of education and advocacy to protect and advance women’s health and rights.

If you are in Charlotte, NC tonight- come join us for a fun night with an awesome mission!

How do you support the organizations you believe in?

#SupportYourCommunity #Choices #CLTEvents

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tax day reveal

Nobody likes Tax Day, but maybe this year it will be a little more fun for us all, because the BRAND SPANKING NEW BLR site will launch on April 15th!

Can I get a…

(You know…:)

I got the first glimpse of the new site last week and I nearly jumped out of my skin it was so perfect. (And it was just the first draft!) Thanks to Aaron Frey of Frey Brothers Media, my Blue Lollipop Road is about to get a whole lot brighter. I can’t wait to share what we’ve been working so hard on!

This is year 6 for BLR. What a crazy, awesome and unexpected ride. I’m so proud and excited for all that’s happening as a result of serious love and dedication.

What are you dedicated to?

#LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #RevealYourself #MakeItHappen

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365 days of blue lollipop road; day 34

2.3.14

I had coffee today with LT, owner of Pistol Polish. She’s a member/has an office where I sometimes work. I thought her company looked fun & interesting, so of course emailed her curious to learn more.

Well, you would’ve thought we were long lost friends the way the two of us sassy Yankee ladies instantly started chatting about anything and everything, barely taking a breath between words. It was a blast! I’m always impressed to meet those, I want to work for myself so I’m going to make it happen go-getters. Bonus that LT is not only a super smart & savvy business woman, but she’s hilarious and a blast to be around too. I love that she let me play around with some bottles of her nail polish:

Do you see what I see? This bottle below looks pretty close to Blue Lollipop Road Blue!

Maybe I’ll be able to talk her into naming a blue polish, Blue Lollipop at some point:)

If you’re a mani-pedi kind of gal (or guy!) and are always looking for a new color for your nails delivered right to your door- check out the Pistol Polish subscription options.

If you’re not a mani-pedi kind of gal, you’ll still be inspired by LT’s message to be your best badass self:

pis•tol: noun; a refined yet fiery woman

A PISTOL Woman envisions who she wants to become – whatever that may be – and devotes her life to making that vision a reality. PISTOLs chase their dreams every damn day.

Amen, sister!

This is where I found my Blue Lollipop Road today. Where did you find yours?

#BLR365 #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #PistolPolish

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