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January 15, 2018 In grow, Photos, Uncategorized

celebrate everyday: day 15

Today I celebrate that we all have the right to choose not take sh*t from anyone who’s wrongly dishing it out.

This is part of a conversation I had today:

The amount of abuse I see is staggering. By bosses, spouses, friends, clients, neighbors- you name it. I hear about so many people continually being manipulated and manhandled, when they don’t deserve a bit of it.

Why are we saying please and thank you, to daily nut-punchings?

When we say yes to head, heart, or body pummeling from people who clearly don’t like themselves, it’s our own fault. Don’t we realize we promote what we tolerate? The sad humans who live on the level of treat others like garbage just because, don’t even know who’s in the path of their destruction they’re so unconscious. Run for the border! It ain’t ever gonna change, sweet pea. Let that toxicity be dust in your wind.

NO ONE SHOULD EVER GET TO PLAY KICK THE CAN WITH YOUR LIFE.

When did we decide that all the adult bullies on the playground, win? When did we decide that it was a better idea to stay in a completely unhealthy situation at work or home, than to stand up for ourselves and make a change? When did we forget about all the awesome stuff we’re made of, that we used to see so clearly?

People show you who they are pretty quickly. Next time someone is being a first class ass to you for no good reason, walk away my dear friends. You’re allowed to take control.

Oh the glorious CHOICES we have!

Today is the day. What are you waiting for?

#LifeUnstuck #StandUp #StartDriving

*Feeling stuck? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

January 14, 2018 In grow, Links, Live the life you want to live, Photos

celebrate everyday: day 14

Today I celebrate relaxing under a blanket in the sun with a pile of books and magazines in peace and quiet:

Go, go, go? No, no, no.

Less is more. When will we learn?

Here’s a trick on how to keep your sanity:

Take one day a week, whether a week day or week end and schedule nothing besides what you absolutely have to. (Work or school.) No errands, coffee dates, lunches out…nothing. Use the extra time to purge your closet that has the ski boots with 6 inches of dust on them because you haven’t been down a slope in years. Camping gear? You haven’t camped since Boy Scouts. Later, tent. Get all the things out of your house you don’t use or need, and then next time a winter Sunday rolls around, you won’t feel bad about sipping coffee in bed reading until 2PM because you’re less buried mentally and physically in all that crap.

Freedom. It’s a beautiful thing.

What are you holding on to that you know you really don’t need?

#LessStuffMoreFreedomHappyLife #LiveSimpleDoMore #TheYearOfLessCrap

*Feeling stuck or buried in your head or home space? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

January 12, 2018 In Funny signs, Links, North Carolina, Operation Charlotte, Photos, Travel Tips and Tricks

celebrate everyday: day 12

Today I celebrate businesses that have a sense of humor:

I took this at my favorite brewery. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone had this much fun at work?

When’s the last time you had a Friday cheers?

#AlwaysLookingUp #LessStuffMoreFunHappyLife #CraftBeer

*Feeling stuck? Need to laugh a little more? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

January 11, 2018 In De-lish, Food, North Carolina, Photos

celebrate everyday: day 11

Sometimes days are long. And stressful. And Expensive. And your car gets towed. And you’re tired. And the kids are screaming at you, along with your boss. (By the way, do you realize you don’t have to take that crap?)

Today I celebrate easy dinners:

(Don’t worry, moms…we had greens, too.)

Pizza is freaking delicious. And affordable. Especially from this place. (If you live in Charlotte.) And It’s easy. Yum. Next time you’re exhausted, call in an order for a pie and throw together this salad in 2 minutes or less when you get home. You’ll need:

1 bag arugula
Parmesan cheese
Pine nuts
1 lime
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Squeeze 1/2 to a full lime into small bowl with 3 tablespoons of olive oil, and a few shakes of salt & pepper. Whisk together, pour over greens and toss with shaved parmesan and pine nuts. Add a glass of wine (not in the salad of course, but right along side it), and voila! Full and happy.

What are you eating?

#EasyEats #Feast #Dinner

*Are your days too busy and chaotic? Need to simplify things? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

January 11, 2018 In Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Photos, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Travel, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin

celebrate everyday: day 10

1.10.18

I took this photo at the DMV today:

…and I had a shockingly easy, helpful experience. (See?! There’s hope for everything!)

The license plate is always the first thing I look at when I see a car. Still. Since I was little, anytime we drove anywhere, I would look for plates from states I hadn’t seen before, and daydream about where the people inside the cars were going. I would wonder about what these places looked like, and fantasize about going to them someday.

I’ve spent time in all 50 states and 19 countries at this point. Seeing this wall yesterday made me feel that fire inside I love, for adventure and the possibility of everything out there, to see, be, and do. I still believe “travel” is the fastest route to your truth; Putting yourself in any completely foreign/uncomfortable/new environment, staying flexible, and figuring out how to independently navigate is incredibly empowering.

Today I celebrate possibility in the unknown, and all the magic that can happen when you take a step towards life to somewhere new.

Today is the day. The road awaits. Where are you going?

#StartDriving #LifeOutsideTheDroneZone #StepOutside

*Feeling stuck? Overwhelmed? Ready to make a change? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

January 8, 2018 In BLR Play it Forward 2012, BLR Play It Forward 2013, BLR Play It Forward 2014, BLR Play It Forward 2015, BLR Play It Forward 2016, BLR Play It Forward 2017, BLR Reunion Soccer Weekend 8/18/12, Blue Lollipop Road Memorial Scholarship, Inspiration, People, Photos, play, Strong Mojo, Thank you, Uncategorized, Vermont

celebrate everyday: day 8

1.8.18

Today is January 8th. Teachers’ Day/National Teacher Appreciation Day is not until May 8th, so I guess I could’ve waited to celebrate and shout out to my favorite teacher until then, but I don’t like following the rules (shocker), so I choose today instead. He knows I’m not a rule follower, so the fact I just sent him this image I saved recently won’t be a surprise:

Quiet and shy have never really been my thing. My poor teachers. I always respected them (if mom ever found out there was any disrespect…whoa), but boy I know I had to have been a chatter-boxing pain in the you know what to have in class.

Thank goodness for teachers like Mr. B! (Now “Charlie” because I’m an adult, but I’m still not used to calling him that.) This man somehow had the magic that so many awesome teachers do, to keep kids like me on task back in the day when I was distracted with things like laser backgrounds, boys, and acid wash:

Flash forward from the 1989/1990 school year and now since the beginning of BLR Play It Forward, Charlie has come out to support me. We always have a lunch date (his wife included) during the week when I’m running around doing event prep, where we talk about all things life, then come the big day, we get our annual photo together. The first year in 2012, I was showered and clean after our alumni game at the art gallery that was part of our celebration:

…every year after that, not so much on the clean side, but smiling all sweaty from soccer and being in good company of course. 2013:

2014:

2015:

2016:

(Five for five in the pouring rain and thunder!)

2017:

Notice anything besides the fact that we look younger ever year? 🙂

Charlie’s shirt was never planned, he just happened to wear the same one on year 2 and 3, and then it became a thing.

It feels pretty special as an adult, to become friends with your teacher. Especially your favorite one, and especially because you get to simultaneously apologize to them for being mayyyyybe just a bit stubborn back then (who, me?!), and thank them, for being a positive part of shaping you.

Today I celebrate teachers! The grossly underpaid set of amazing people responsible for corralling all us monkeys and enlightening us, even when they’d probably like to throw us in detention for a week for being sassy little things.

Who always shows up for you? Send them a thank you note. Continued support from people who see promise and believe in you is a seriously big deal.

Thanks, Charlie! A million apples for you.

#LoveYourWork #TeachersRock #Community

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

January 7, 2018 In Inspiration, News & Updates, People, Photos, Today Is The Day, Uncategorized, Vermont

celebrate everyday: day 7

1.7.18

This announcement is happening today:

This is my brother.

Proud is a vast understatement for how I feel about Brad. He defines selflessness, hard work, generosity, integrity, kindness, and bravery. I wish there were bigger words, but I’m not sure they’d ever be big enough for describing how and who he is. He is undeniably one of the greatest humans ever made.

Today is a HUGE day for Brad. And all of us. Today is about standing up, speaking up, and truth.

Today I celebrate people who do the right thing when nobody’s watching. Those humble heroes like Brad, who are always loyal, fearless, and continuously look outside themselves to lead with love.

Maybe it’s time to stand up for things you believe in. Today is the day. What are you waiting for?

#VermontsNewWayForward #StandUpVermont #MojoWarrior

*Ready to take the plunge for something you want and not sure how? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

*Added Monday January 8th:

1.) News article here on announcing bid.

2.) Peacock for Senate website here.

3.) Facebook page here.

January 6, 2018 In North Carolina, Photos

celebrate everyday: day 6

1.6.18

I sort of feel like a big wimp continuously talking about how cold it’s been in North Carolina when it’s been in the 30’s all week. 30 degrees would feel like an epic heat wave to any New Englanders right now. I talked to a friend in Maine today and he told me it had been colder there than in Antarctica. Wha?!

I’m better suited for bare feet than booted, so I think I’ll stay south for home base.

A silver lining to frigid temperatures and having to hunker down, is that we can get things done that we’ve been avoiding, or too busy to do for the past X amount of time. Like clearing inboxes. I was able to delete 100+ messages from my phone today. At this very moment I have this gloriously empty scene on my screen:

Ahhh! Clean, clear, and under control.

What else about this snuggled in Saturday? I knocked out a bunch of work, took care of some travel plans, read a little, and even baked banana bread. (Don’t get too excited, I’m not that domesticated.) Sometimes the go, go, go feels better to stay, stay, stay. Today I celebrate the cold. (You’ll probably never hear me say that again, so note this day as monumental.)

Now that I’ve given the cold a little love…is it pool season yet? I’m ready for a tropical cocktail in the blazing sun.

What are you clearing out of your life to make room for, today?

#SimpleSaturdays #ProductiveHibernation #PassMeTheBlanket

*A project overwhelming you that needs to get done? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

January 4, 2018 In BLR-Mobile, blue lollipops, Honda, Inspiration, Links, North Carolina, Operation Charlotte, Photos, play, Sport, Strong Mojo, Vermont

celebrate everyday: day 4

1.4.18

Look what finally came in the mail!

Today I celebrate license plates!

It took me a LONG time to give up my green mountain state tags (and I sure didn’t want to), but imagine my delight to find a “Support Soccer” offering as an option for North Carolina.

Perfect. I think I’m in love.

You can take a girl out of Vermont, but you could never take her mojo away.

What are you doing to remember where you came from?

#StartDriving #AlwaysLookingUp #HondaLove

*Have you lost your mojo? Ready to make a change? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

January 3, 2018 In North Carolina, Photos

celebrate everyday: day 3

1.3.18

Balconies on warm days. The promise of that, anyway. That’s what I celebrate today:

(I only opened the door for about 3 seconds to take this photo. Brr. Is it spring yet?) I’m pretending that table is littered with wine (bubbles) and snacks (cheese) and it’s about 60 degrees warmer than today. When this was this actual scene (a very similar looking table) last summer at a friends house on several late Friday afternoons, her kids called them our “work meetings.”

Indeed. Being your own boss has it’s perks.

Who are you working for?

#ThisIsWhyWeHustle #PivotTribe #WorkUnstuck

*Ready to make a change in your work life? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.