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February 2, 2018 In Do good, Inspiration, Links, Photos, Uncategorized

celebrate everyday: day 31

1.31.18

I help clients get unstuck. That means I work with people to create the LIFESTYLE they want. Typically this is after (ahem) sh*t has hit the fan and change is forced from not so fun situations. (Death, divorce, debt.) When we’re unfortunately split open to the core, there seems to be an odd magical lightbulb that goes off which makes us stop and think a little more about what really matters.

I LOVE MY JOB.

Really good things can come from change. Like these garbage bags:

Today I celebrate hyperlocal donations to people in need from those who have too much.

What’s in the bags? Books, movies, games, music, towels, and linens. They all went to a local battered women’s placement office and shelter.

I’ve donated probably millions of dollars worth of client items since starting my business. One mans trash is another mans treasure indeed. Leaving it all behind and running towards the life you really want can be scary, but those things you say goodbye to, can make a huge impact on someone else’s. Everybody wins.

Today is the day. What are you waiting for?

#LessStuffMoreFreedomHappyLife #LiveSimpleDoMore #LoveYourWork

*Ready to get unstuck? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

February 2, 2018 In Freedom, grow, Inspiration, Links, Live the life you want to live, News articles/Links, Photos, play, Today Is The Day, Travel, Uncategorized

celebrate everyday: day 30

1.30.18

I’m a AAA member, and have been for years. (Road Trippin’/travelin’/nomadin’/adventurin’ peeps, unite!) These horrifying stats just came to my email inbox from AAA about National Plan For Vacation Day:

Last year 54% of American didn’t use all their vacation time?!

Oh. Em. Gee. My heart breaks for people out there who are a part of that 54%. WHAT ARE Y’ALL WAITING FOR?! (I just had to get all southern for a minute, I’m so sad for that fact!)

Dear Friends,

Let’s start respecting the clock. Shall we?

Love, Diane

I bet:

*You could use a break

*You have a grand baby across the country you want to snuggle more with

*Your mom has been bugging you to visit

*Your jeans are bursting at the seams after the holidays and the gym is calling

*Your college reunion is coming up

*You’re in love with someone across the state you want to smooch

*You have needed to go to the dentist for a while now

*You are so over that closet piled full of crap you don’t use, need, or want

*Your kids kept you up all night last night

*Granny keeps calling, she wants you to meet her for lunch

*The Big Game is coming up and you sure would like to stuff your face with nachos watching it with friends

*Your passport is about to expire and it has no stamps

I’m wrong? None of the above? Ok, then I bet:

*That nonprofit you’re super passionate about could use some more extra help

*Your brother misses you

*Your guitar is collecting dust

*That cooking class only has one spot left available

*Your convertible hasn’t seen the sun in ages

*That book! That book is still sitting half-read on your bedside table

*You keep staring at that photo of the glaciers in Patagonia wondering why you haven’t been

*You’re daydreaming of a palm tree, a cold beer, and a moment of silence

One or more apply to you? Think it’s maybe time to go, be, see, and/or do what you want, need, or should?

Today I celebrate saying goodby to the office/cube/”work” for a day, week, or month, and hello to taking the time you have earned.

Not taking vacation…time…for your heart, health, and well-being, is about as bad as showing up to your should be inspiring commencement speech and telling all the fresh faces in caps and gowns the world sucks, there’s no hope for anyone, and Dr. Seuss was wrong, because they will never go anywhere.

Please don’t do that.

I challenge you to walk in to the big kahuna and tell her (see what I did there?) you’re going to take a few days to go hiking in nature alone, then spend the rest of your other few days just hanging with your family doing a whole lot of nothing other than being together. (Or whatever other very simple or over the top thing you can think of.) You will be taking ALL of your vacation days this year thankyouverymuch.

Let’s wipe out waste (of every kind.) Especially wasted time.

#RespectTheClock #TodayIsTheDay #LifeUnstuck

*Ready to get outta dodge, near or far? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

January 31, 2018 In California, De-lish, Food, Food Porn, Links, Travel, Travel Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

celebrate everyday: day 28

1.28.18

Today I celebrate French Onion Soup. The at home version we made this afternoon:

…wasn’t quite as pretty as what we got last week at Bistro Jeanty, (a must go to in the Napa Valley):

…but, hello! Soup that’s topped with bread and melted cheese on a winter Sunday?! Oui, oui! It’s tasty, no matter what it looks like.

Good food, I so love you.

What are you feasting on?

#ExperiencesNotThings #Travel #Foodie

*Feeling stuck? So bored you’re falling asleep in your soup? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

January 28, 2018 In Be active, Cool companies, Deals & Steals, Freedom, Great companies, grow, Links, Photography, Photos, Projects & Organizations I dig, Travel, Travel Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

celebrate everyday: day 27

1.27.18

Today I celebrate friends who start their own travel companies:

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.

January 28, 2018 In BLR Play It Forward 2017, Inspiration, Links, People, Photos, Thank you

celebrate everyday: day 26

1.26.18

Today I celebrate my Mom, whose love, honesty, and quiet determination are a force to be reckoned with:

My graduation:

Her graduation:

Fun times in European travel:

BLR Play It Forward 2017 Welcome Back Party:

This woman defines hard work and selflessness, and she always leads with love. I sure am one lucky kid.

Cheers, Mom! Happy Birthday! You are brilliant and beautiful.

How do you thank the people who continue to support you?

#RememberCelebrateLive #AlwaysLookingUp #ThanksMom

*Want to thank someone you love and don’t know how? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

January 26, 2018 In Do good, Great companies, grow, Inspiration, Links, North Carolina, Photos, Thank you

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:

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.

January 25, 2018 In Be active, Business, Cool companies, Great companies, grow, Inspiration, Links, Live the life you want to live, North Carolina, Operation Charlotte, People, Photos, Projects & Organizations I dig, Today Is The Day

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:

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.

January 24, 2018 In blue lollipops, Links, People, Photos, Travel

celebrate everyday: day 23

1.23.18

Today I celebrate that moment the last person enters the plane for a red eye flight, and walks right by your row leaving an empty seat:

I’m all about talking to strangers, but room to stretch and snooze on a long overnight journey sitting in coach is like, hallelujah! These blue lollipops always bring me good luck:

…some say they have a little mojo. (Wink.) I believe!

What brings you luck?

#Wanderlust #EverydayAdventures #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad

*Need to get back to being excited about the little things? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

January 23, 2018 In California, De-lish, Food, Food Porn, Links, Photos, Travel, Travel Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

celebrate everyday: day 22

1.22.18

Today I celebrate cheese (of any kind), because it’s so damn good. Fresh burrata and epi bread:

Appetizer of champions, tonight! (PS ~ Have you heard cheese builds muscle? It’s true.)

What are you feasting on?

#Eat #Foodie #Travel

*Want the scoop on great places to nosh when you travel? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

January 20, 2018 In California, Links, Photos, Travel, Travel Tips and Tricks

celebrate everyday: day 19

Today I celebrate bubbles, and catching up right where you left off with old friends:

A favorite stop as a tradition with a friend I’ve had for years now, is Mumm Napa when I’m in the valley. The company is always the best part of anything of course, but throw in the afternoon sun sitting in a vineyard, add these bubbles with lots of laughs, and oh happy day, Friday!

Who are you spending time with?

#ExperiencesNotThings #Travel #LifeOutsideTheDroneZone

*Need to make more time for afternoons in the sun? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.