Hey hey hey!
Today is Sunday April 13th, and we’re getting ready to launch a brand new Blue Lollipop Road in just a couple of days! We’re pretty excited, so stay tuned to see what’s next.
Here’s to growing, still going, and never giving up!
What are you growing?
#NewBLR #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #LetsDoThis
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
I’m thrilled to announce I’ve officially set the 2014 BLR Play It Forward Event for July 12th!
Mark your calendars to come play (if you are MAU soccer alumni) come watch and cheer (if you are family/friends/community members) at the alumni game and/or join us for various social events that will be going on around Southern Vermont that weekend! If you are an MAU soccer playing female student in grades 9, 10, or 11 and want to apply for the Blue Lollipop Road Memorial Scholarship, visit the guidance office at school, or contact me:
diane(@)bluelollipoproad.com
804.339.6514
…and I will be sure to get you an application!
For general BLR Play It Forward and scholarship information click here, for specific details about this years events, stay tuned here.
I look forward to seeing everyone July 12th weekend!
#ThingsThatMatter #BLRPlayItForward #PlayForwardGiveBack
A move. Check.
Start concierge biz, so I can make some money and use my talents and experience to pay bills while I work on my bleeding heart projects (Read: Blue Lollipop Road/BLR Play It Forward/BLR Memorial Scholarship Fund.) Check.
Start a great gig with a fantastic local co-working space, spend time with totally awesome entrepreneurs and interesting business people. Check.
In process of redesign for a whole new website for BLR. Check.
Book writing continued. Amazing amounts of good progress. Check.
BLR Play It Forward/BLR Scholarship Fund details getting ironed out for a July event. Check.
Working so hard for so many years wondering if I will ever have that aha moment, and finally getting to a place where I have clarity on what I am an expert at, what I suck at, and moving forward with those findings. Check.
Foreign, and hard to absorb but totally welcome feeling; OMG! Things really are falling into place and momentum works! My blood, sweat, and those tears really did work. Check.
Pinch me. Check.
All happening. Check.
Happy. Check.
The seed was planted and the flag was in the ground a long time ago. I’ve poured firehoses of water to grown the seed, the plant has been stomped on, the flag has been bent and beaten down and broken, then taped back up again. About 86 times.
#GluttonForPunishmentButHeyThatsHowYouGetThere
#WouldntChangeAThing
Even though I might seem that I believe unicorns & rainbows make things happen, I’m really a believer in endurance and persistence to make things happen. (AKA: Working your a$$ off and giving a sh*t.) I’m not a big fortune from the fortune cookie, keeper- but I got this one years ago and It’s stayed tattered and believing in my wallet ever since:
Amen!
So a little thought/opinion/inspiration for today:
If you’re out there, and broke, exhausted, frustrated, or feeling like you’ve often lived on a island alone with no help, or that you might go nuts if you spend one more minute working on or over analyzing how you can make your dream/job/life/existence become a reality, first of all- welcome to the club. Second of all, good for you for not giving up. (Seriously- good for you!) Third of all, if you still believe in what you’re doing even though you might be nearing the end of your rope, don’t you dare stop or I will come find you and beat you. (Capeesh?:) Keep swinging the bat, take help and constructive criticism if It’s offered, but push negativity away, take steps back when you need to, maybe take a day, week, month off to regroup or rethink, but keep pushing. Endurance a persistence will be rewarded.
When people tell you you’re crazy, say “Thank you! I’ve worked my ass off for this crazy.”
What are you pushing for?
#NotStopping #IBelieve #WorkThatMatters
1.) I survived Chicago a couple weeks ago! (Even though I froze my butt off:) It was -3 degrees one of the days, I got to stuff my face with some of the best food around, catch up with a bunch of super fun friends, and celebrate the marriage of two amazing guys who are some of my favorite people in the world. YAY!
2.) Last week? I spent (or should I say we spent) Christmas in the Caribbean. (OMG am I a happy camper.) We drove to Florida to our port and cruised away into the warm. What a week it was. My kind of holiday is sand and surf. YAY!
I’ll share photos from my last two trips, and a few BLR updates and happenings for 2014 soon. For now, I’m writing to say…
HERE’S TO THE BEST NEW YEAR YET AND LIVING LIKE YOU MEAN IT.
How are you going to live like you mean it in the new year?
#LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #LiveLikeYouMeanIt #NewYearNewPossibilities
I’ve been asked for a second time to speak at a middle school career day in Virginia and tomorrow is the day. I can’t wait! Having a platform to share my stories and encourage young people to find what they love? Awesome. I’ll look forward to posting a follow-up here…
Who inspired you when you were in school?
#Career #DoWhatYouLove #SharingLessons
Are you willing to share with me what matters to you, for a potential future BLR project? If so, please leave a comment below here, or email me:
Diane(@)bluelollipoproad.com
Feel free to elaborate as much as you wish and thank you! Remember, there are no rules. This is The Blue Lollipop Road- anything goes:)
#DoWhatMatters #PersonalPriorities
I’m heading to get some last northern green space love in my favorite place ever in the summer : Upstate, NY. Adirondacks- here I come! I’ve got a pile of books packed and lots of BLR homework to-do’s. A perfect writing and work place to be inspired, especially on mornings with coffee overlooking a scene like this:
(This one is from my July visit there.)
A few days back in the north to celebrate the last of summer fresh country air will be icing on the cake to my most fantastic, odd, growing, and clarity filled summer yet.
This is my Blue Lollipop Road. Where is yours?
#RoadTrips #Adirondacks #OperationCharlotte #SayYes #StretchYourself
Italy is my favorite. As in the feeling, the food, the wine, just all things Italian. (Ok, maybe It’s mostly just the food and wine, but..) I’ve always been in love with the romance in the air there, the cobblestoned streets, lazy long wine-sipping lunches, and feeling of just enjoying life. When I find my ultimate partner in crime, he better like all things Prosecco, Pinot grigio, Sangiovese, bread, olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, espresso, and affogato– or we are going to have a serious problem fulfilling my fantasies of spending a few weeks each summer eating, drinking, and frolicking through the Italian countryside.
(Take note guys.)
So how did I- the slightly Italian obsessed girl (woman? Do I call my self a woman now that I am turning 35? I dunno, it just sounds a bit stodgy and boring for myself…) not know about Ferragosto until last week? I mean- It’s on my birthday for pete’s sake!
Ferragosto:
An Italian holiday celebrated on August 15. In the past it was common for businesses to close and the entire month of August which was then taken as a holiday and leisure time in Italy in honor of this feast day. In present days, Ferragosto is mainly a short holiday (for those who are not on a longer holiday already) when most Italians take short vacations at the beach, and enjoy large communal meals.
A day of rest that Italians take to the countryside or beach to enjoy relax time, and partake in big meals with friends and family?! Sign me up! Hello I have the best birthday date ever!
Guess who’s already planning a trip to Italy for her 36th?
L’Italia o busto per il mio trentaseiesimo compleanno!
It’s only been 2 weeks but that’s enough for me. I’ve got to get out of home base dodge already if I want to keep my spirit and sanity. (I can’t quit the road full cold turkey- I’m already feeling suffocated being mostly off the road as it is.)
5:30am wake up call, French press pot piping hot coffee, and I’m hittin’ the road off to the beach for the weekend to take some time in the salty air.
Sand in my toes, journal in one hand, book in the other- here I come.