Uncategorized

February 3, 2018 In Be active, BLR365, Books to read, California, Freedom, grow, Inspiration, Links, Live the life you want to live, People, play, Projects & Organizations I dig, Today Is The Day, Travel, Travel Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

man, that girl parties a lot

2.1.18

Hi there. If you haven’t been here before, welcome to the celebration. This is day 32. For the year 2018, anyway.

I’m Diane. This is me goofing around at Domaine Carneros a couple of weeks ago:

I love the bubbles there. They’re extra special with good company, too. Life is about celebrating everyday, right? And the people. Yes. The ones you love and those who make you laugh.

I don’t think we celebrate enough. I think we wait until it’s often too late. I think we’ve made a bad habit out of “saving up” for the perfect time or chance to live like we are actually alive.

The clock is ticking. When will we learn?

I do my best to work and practice what I preach by getting all fired up and excited about small, silly, insignificant things everyday, and taking anyone who let’s me, along for the ride. Kid in a candy store baby, it’s the only way to be while all the sweetness is there for the taking. When we practice having more gratitude, we have less attitude, and a helluva lot more fun.

So about this whole “celebration” thing?

Since meeting Noah Scalin years ago at an event where he shared his Skull-A-Day art project, I’ve been a little obsessed with doing my own 365 project. I attempted one in 2014 and it lasted for a bit over two months. This year I’m determined to go all the way for 2018, filling your inboxes with funny, strange, head-scratching things each day that I’m having a little party (celebration) about. I hope you will continue to follow along, and think a little more about feeling the thrill of at least one little ridiculous awesome thing everyday, too. (Scroll down to the bottom of my webpage and sign up for daily email notifications if you haven’t already.)

When we do things that make us happy, we stay unstuck, when we are not stuck, we are more badass, when we are badass, we take life by the you know what’s and don’t wait for damn permission from anyone to do whatever the heck we want.

Did you know you have the choice to do whatever the heck you want?

Bingo!

CELEBRATE! DO IT UP! TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE.

This Blue Lollipop Road was inspired by a couple of crazy joyful girls who didn’t care what day it was, they lived like they meant it. I will always be inspired to do the same. Today I celebrate making the choice to celebrate. Staying happy is a practice. Lace up, buttercup, and get in the game. The whistle just blew and it’s go time…

How are you going to start celebrating more?

#StartDriving #LifeUnstuck #TodayIsTheDay

*Feeling stuck as a pig in a pit? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

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 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 22, 2018 In Inspiration, New York, People, Photos, Uncategorized

celebrate everyday: day 20

1.20.18

Today I celebrate women (and men) who continue to stand up against every form of hate and inequality:

(Photo credit to a friend participating in the march in NYC.)

Crowds at a standstill can be a pain, but in this case, I’d say too many people = totally awesome.

#StandUp #HopToIt #StepOutside

*Ready to take more action in your life? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

January 16, 2018 In Inspiration, Links, Photos, Travel, Uncategorized

celebrate everyday: day 16

Today I celebrate anticipation:

Empty suitcases typically mean adventure awaits. It doesn’t matter if your adventure is across the state or across the country, it just feels good to be excited about going somewhere old or new. Taking off to go hug someone you love is like the. Best. Thing.

Where are you going?

#ExperiencesNotThings #LiveSimpleDoMore #LifeOutsideTheDroneZone

*Need a kick in the pants to step off your gerbil wheel? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

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 13, 2018 In Links, Uncategorized, Videos

celebrate everyday: day 13

Today I celebrate Anderson Cooper:

(Click here for video.)

…and Rex Huppke. Thank you for your powerful and positive words.

In end, you have ZERO strength, Mr. Trump. Zero. You will never truly win because you see nothing but yourself when you open your eyes. While you continue being a racist fool and absolute embarrassment, the rest of us will continue to to stand up and let love rule.

Who do you stand for?

#LetLoveRule #AlwaysLookingUp #StandUp

*Want to stand up, but don’t know how? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.