1.5.14
Where’s my Blue Lollipop Road taking me today? Fun with dishes after a yummy breakfast with my person:
I think we were all taught not to “play with your food”, but no one ever said anything about the dishes!
Where’s your Blue Lollipop Road taking you today?
#BLR365 #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #SundayBreakfast
*(Want to get in on the fun? Submit your “BLR” to me; Diane(@)bluelollipoproad.com and I will share it here!)*
1.4.14
What’s more inspiring that laundry?! (Hee hee…:)
I decided today’s BLR should be made out of a few bright-colored bathing suits/pieces of clothing I wore during my Caribbean Christmas trip! I’m sure I won’t get to wear these again for a while until it get’s warm, so before I started the washing machine…
Those colors and patters make me take an ahhh… moment and dream of more sand, surf, and palm trees.
Smiling.
Where’s your Blue Lollipop Road taking you today?
#BLR365 #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #LaundryTime
More specifically, El Chalten.
Meet Erin, who’s sporting her BLR tee:
Erin’s Blue Lollipop Road took her here on a trip of a lifetime. Can you say gorgeous? Sign me up! Oh the paces to go.
Where does your Blue Lollipop Road take you?
#LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #Adventure #Travel
***(Want to make a “BLR” if you don’t have a tee and send me a photo? I love it- please do, and I will post and share here:)
I drove to feast this year once again with friends out of state. Look what the BLR-Mobile hit on the way back “home”:
My partner in crime (this time carrying another partner in crime…wink wink…more on that later…) continues to be reliable and run perfectly.
I love you little Honda!
Who do you rely on?
#LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #HondaLove #RoadTrips
Want to stump a leasing agent? Ask them what direction the unit they are trying to rent, faces.
One of my first questions besides price? Direction of course. During a recent apartment search, when I asked, “Does the unit face north or south?” I got deer-in-headlights, absolute terror filled look as if the agent just witnessed a train-wreck and they were still in shock or something. (I think at one point one of the many agents I spoke to made up a direction they were so confused.)
Compasses for all this holiday season!
This Vermont girl (who often still wonders why the stork dropped her off in the green mountains instead of the Bahamas) needs sunlight and warm to survive, just like a plant, so obviously I am going to ask about direction. After giving up on getting my north, south, east, west question answered, I just made multiple appointments for viewings until I scored and signed on the line for a spot that gets a happy sunrise:
…afternoon blazing sun- even through big strips of clouds:
…and a pretty clean and clear sunset:
It might sound crazy that I passed up a city skyline view to opt in for no skyline and all day blinding southern sun, but I did and I love every minute of the warmth that beams in as I lay in bed in the morning all snuggled up, or on the living room floor as I read or type away on a chilly fall afternoon. (I also have this sky/cloud obsession thing ever since living in Chicago- so lets just say my current home is my “happy place” for more reasons than one.)
What direction do you face?
#OperationCharlotte #VermontGirlInLoveWithSun #Sky #Clouds
I met henry today at Griffith Street Consignments, and bought this antique trunk from him:
It’s no secret that I like talking to strangers, but today I was on a search and in one-track mind mission mode, not necessarily my chatty self…until Henry came over to ask if I was finding everything Ok.
There we stood near that fantastic trunk for the next 30 minutes, talking away. I started the bartering process (of course– my Mother taught me well!), he gave me a bit of a discount, he asked where I was from, I told him Vermont, he said I was the first person he’d ever met from Vermont. From there we went into full life story speed-share. He’s from North Carolina, retired Army (thank you military men and women!), he used to own a big furniture staging company after he retired and before the housing market crash, I told him I’ve traveled all over the US and beyond, have always lived pretty sparsely, that all my belonging fit in my car, and that I had come to Charlotte because It’s one of the only east coast cities I haven’t explored much of yet. He shared about his time in the military, that he has dogs, keeps a garden, and for years himself- lived very simply and sparsely when he was young, owning few belongings:
“Once during my Army years, I flew in from Germany to Brooklyn and drove back down south with everything I owned, including a parakeet in a cage…all in my Austin-Healey!” – he told me with an adorable chuckle. (The above photo does no justice to Henry’s happy, smiley face in real life.)
(Side note: I love that Hemmings Motor News– which is based in my home town- popped up first when I Googled “Austin-Healey” to get car info.)
I asked Henry if I could take his photo and joked, “unless you think I am crazy of course…” He replied “Oh I am crazy too, so no worries!” We laughed. He was kind, sweet, interesting, and full of life & stories. I could’ve stayed and talked with him for hours.
One of my most favorite ways to spend time has always been to spend it with kind, sweet, interesting people, who are full of life and full of stories, especially with those who happen into your path and make a little mark on your day when you least expect it. What a treat.
Thanks for making my day Henry! I’ll look forward to hearing more stories when I come back to pick up my new (old) trunk.
What kind of people do you enjoy spending time with?
#Connecting #PeopleAlongTheWay #OperationCharlotte #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad
…I took these photos:
I run a lot in the morning and have for years. Last fall, I ran and drove but this gorgeous scene daily. Love this set of trees.
This morning like many, as I beat feet in a different place observing my surroundings with my mind swirling in a million directions as usual, I thought of where I was one year ago today and what’s happened since. Lot’s of growth and change. A few things that will always remain the same; A huge appreciation for nature, being thankful I have healthy legs to still run regularly, and a curiosity, anticipation, and excitement for whatever is next to come.
A very odd, unexpected, monumental life paradigm shift has happened to me during this past year- especially in the last few months. I am a control freak who feels out of control, I am a normally comfortable in my own skin girl who’s feeling wildly uncomfortable, and it generally feels like an alien has invaded my body. (So much for trying to be the never faltering, I’ve got this- I don’t need anyone, total badass I try to play on TV!) I’m being forcefully reminded once again:
1.) No one can control everything.
2.) Good and necessary growth is impossible unless you feel wildly uncomfortable at times.
3.) We can’t fight nature, so we may as well embrace it.
As I reflect on a year that seems worlds away from any other I’ve had, I’m trying to keep the parts of myself I know should stay forever, and I’m doing my best to leave behind the ones I probably should’ve let the death-grip go on, long ago.
Here’s to staying true to your old self while growing into your new.
Where were you one year ago today?
#FallColors #Running #NewBeginnings #OperationCharlotte
YIPPEE!!!
Today is Wednesday October 16, and this makes b-day number 5 for BLR. Let’s celebrate!
Cupcake anyone?!
This is the perfect time to write about the above de-lish treat (sun drop pound cake with a sun drop glaze and lemon buttercream) that Wendi, Owner of She Daisy Cupcakery gifted me a few weeks ago after she bought a pair of my vintage Frye boots. (Craigslist rocks.) So yeah, I took a treat from a stranger. (I seem to keep breaking all those rules our parents told us to live by.) Wendi was a blast to talk to. She quit a career that was blah, followed her passion to the land of things sweet- and voila a cupcake company! Another good story about a random encounter with a hard-working, inspiring person who followed their heart. I love being able to share about these kind of people here.
Without a doubt the best part of these past 5 years on the Blue Lollipop Road, has been meeting new people, the kindness of strangers, and spending time with those already in my life that I love. What else is there, really?
Ahhh- yes, the people I’ve met along the way, who share similar interests:
…the cities I’ve fallen in love with:
…my various office locations:
…the food I’ve noshed on:
…the places that’ve helped me find the way back to myself:
…the signs that make me laugh:
…the excitement, energy, and adorable kids (and adults) who keep the Strong Mojo alive:
…the adventure from coast to coast and beyond:
…the lessons I’ve learned:
…the special friends I’ve reconnected with:
…honoring lost friends by giving back to hometown female athletes, so they have the opportunity to go out and see a bigger world too:
(Above left 2012 Blue Lollipop Road Memorial Scholarship recipient Hannah Patterson, and 2013 recipient Mercedes Chen at a recent soccer game:)
…events with good friends in beloved landmarks:
…the strangers out there who’re also on the Blue Lollipop Road:
…the freedom I have found and felt:
…the truths I’ve come to know and trust:
…the journeys and daydreaming in the sky:
…and on the road:
…the cheesy places I’ve been:
…and the beautiful:
…the nicknames I’ve acquired:
…knowing that there will always be bumps, so I better strap in tight:
…never losing faith in things that I hope for:
…and to wherever, and whatever- the road leads to next:
5 years ago today I drove down a road in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and “Blue Lollipop Road” popped ever so randomly into my head as I was brainstorming a best way to share my stories with more than just family and close friends. Who knew this is what it would become! I’ve managed all the above on a shoestring budget and with no plan whatsoever. I didn’t grow up with a trust fund, I never spent my childhood jet-setting the globe with my parents (I barely made it out of the state of Vermont until I was 15), I’ve never taken any writing or computer classes (I’m sure that is very obvious considering my regular grammatical errors and other:), and at the risk of sounding so cliche’- I’m just a small town wildly curious kid, that came from humble beginnings, learned in an heartbreaking incident at a very young age how short life is, and since then have decided that every day is a chance and a choice to live like I mean it. During my journeys on this Blue Lollipop Road, I’ve learned things that’ve absolutely changed my perspective and my life as a whole, I’ve seen places that’ve taken my breath away, and I’ve met people I wouldn’t have been able to in my wildest dreams- all because of this platform. Now that is something to celebrate!
I’ve written and shared here in and effort to keep myself in check and awake about what’s really important, to prevent myself from falling into the drone-zone, and to remember all the things that are possible. I hope by visiting here, you stay fired-up about life, like a kid in a candy store too.
Here’s to the next 5 years, and to going for it all.
What are you celebrating today?
#HappyBirthday #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #ThisIsWhatILove
I’d like to think that I’m the last person who needs anymore you just never know lessons. Most waking hours, my mind races; “Today the day! Don’t wait! Life is short! Do it now! Carpe diem!” (Insert whatever other go get ’em saying, here.) Then again, a healthy dose of holy sh*t did that just happen?! How am I still alive?!- is good for me. (For all of us, really.)
I’ve been working & staying deep in the country of VA for 2 weeks. I’ve driven/moved my car just twice during this time. Two times only in two weeks. During my regular routine, I’m moving, shaking, driving, and grooving 100 times a week. Thankfully during my current much lower-key than usual routine, I decided to venture off retreat mountain, to meet an old friend for lunch on Tuesday. If I hadn’t, me and my precious Honda partner in crime could’ve very well been crushed.
Yikes.
This is where the BLR-Mobile had been parked for days- minus the branches of course:
And this happened:
Tree guys came to the call of duty:
While It’s fun that my fantasy of having a big, strong, scruffy, strapping, lumberjack-type man coming to “rescue” me has finally happened, really I’m just happy that no one was home when this branch decided it was too tired to stand up any longer.
Dear lucky stars, timing, whoever/whatever out/up/around “there” is looking after me,
Thank you.
I’m really not sure what else to say.
~Diane
What’s keeping you in check this week?
#AdventuresInTheCountry #LumberjackRescue #MotherNature
I left for a day trip out of Charlotte on a warm weekend morning a couple weeks ago, when I walked out of my apartment, I looked up and saw this beautiful sunrise sky:
And this is what I saw as I drove out of the city:
Ahhh…
As I woke up today feeling the first real fall chill with my windows open, I couldn’t help but think how I am not ready for cold weather! Good thing I have this French Press Coffee I’m sipping and images like these to keep me warm and cozy.
#What makes you feel warm and cozy?
#Sunrise #MorningSky #OperationCharlotte