News & Updates

***UNDER CONSTRUCTION!***

…check back for the reveal of our brand new site by the end of June…

like a budding little flower

The past few months putting final details for BLR Play it Forward together, building the new website and working on several connections and partnerships for my BLR/work life have been very busy and productive. These things have obviously taken me a bit away from my usual daily posts about people, places, food and fun- but have been welcomed and exciting for me to be able to continue the path toward my goals.

This post is to send you all a virtual hug, and a thank you for following here, and your continued patience and support.

Blue Lollipop Road began as a space to share travel stories and photos with family and a few friends, and has grown into this entity and message that I’m incredibly proud of. It’s year 4 here and as much as it’s been sometimes exhausting with a feeling of wondering what it all would become, it also felt natural, easy, and like I’ve just been sharing my life experiences with friends. We hear of child actors who say they “grew up on TV.” I often feel like you have watched me “grow up” and find my niche/voice on “line” here. There have been ups, and downs, flips and flops, and things that I read when I go back in the archives that make me think; Did I seriously write that?! I laugh at myself a lot and think I should be completely embarrassed, but I’m not. This is life, this is growth, and my journey here has been an honest reality. It’s been fun to share, I think transparency is a beautiful thing.

If you’re out there and have a hobby, an idea, a thing that you’re seriously passionate about – even if you’re not sure why yet, but you can’t stop thinking about it- do it! Start it! You don’t have to have any answers today, you don’t need an audience, you don’t even need a reason. All you need to do is commit to spending time doing things that matter to you and eventually life will start making sense. Don’t expect a light work load- you have to be ready to put up a good hard and positive fight. If you’re ready for that, you’ll automatically create magical things. I know this to be true. I feel magic here. I see magic happening here.

Here’s to transparency, hard work, and watching something you’re passionate about come together better than you could have ever imagined.

Thank you all for being a part of this magic.

coming in june on blr

Happy Tuesday!

Here’s what’s coming up to keep June fun and progress rolling:

1.) A post and photos from my trip to Valparaiso, Indiana to the Taltree Arboretum and Garden Annual Gala.

2.) The reveal of the BLR Play it Forward Logo.

3.) Launch of fundraising campaign for the BLR Play it Forward Event and memorial scholarship.

4.) Launch of the brand new BLR site!

Come back and hang often. We’re glad you’re here!

news and updates

It’s been quite an interesting week since the wild disappointment about the Best of the Road Rally. To say that Rand McNally did not follow their own rules or “play” with integrity is a major understatement. Nearly every single one of the top voted and social media active teams (including us) have been in touch with Rand McNally of course questioning their processes and asking for much deserved explanations. The response Mom and I received was exactly what we assumed would come; A canned, corporate, patronizing one, of course -admitting no fault.

We are not sore losers and this is not a case of sour grapes. No one can really be that upset when a game is played and a better performing team wins. Who could argue that? This situation was different though. A giant red flag flew as soon as finalist results were revealed. Out of all of the teams that had worked so hard for weeks fully filling out bios, writing reviews on towns and places, submitting videos, soliciting the most votes, being social media active like crazy, and following all the rules to the T (again, including us)- none of us were chosen?

Hmmm….sound fishy? We (all the top rejected teams) thought so too, so we did some poking around.

Oh the things we could share.

Tsk, tsk, tsp Rand McNally. Your blatant disregard for following your own rules set for the Best of the Road competition, your lack of integrity, and your inability to step up and fall on your sword when the true facts have been found by so many of us who played fair is absolutely outrageous. We all never even had a chance to win a spot in the game you play. As Mom and I stated in our letter to you, you have lost two fans, followers and customers forever.

***If any fans, followers, press, Rand McNally or USA TODAY want to discuss any of our findings- please contact us. We believe in transparency and truth so are happy to share any facts, at any time, with anyone. Unless we are asked to approach this subject again by an outside party however- we are closing this door and moving on to much more positive things. We say let karma work, eventually the people and facts that need to be exposed- will be :)***

Now Moving on.

The Blue Lollipop Road Play it Forward Reunion Soccer Weekend is just 2.5 months away! YIPPEE! We are so happy and proud of the event we have planned. It’s been a furry of work this week getting the last details set and information laid out ready go on the new BLR site. We can’t wait to share with you all!

Look for a June kick off with a new look and updated message here. Here’s to a great summer of positivity and Blue Lollipop Road!

results?

No, we were not chosen for Best of the Road 2012.

Along with other top voted and social media active teams- we are baffled too, just doesn’t seem to make sense that none of us were chosen. Fear not! We (that’s Blue Lollipop Road) has our other normal exciting stuff going on and we are super excited to refocus on things back at the home front!

*The new Blue Lollipop Road site will launch soon

*Blue Lollipop Road Play it Forward Event is in Vermont 8/18/12 where we will award a travel scholarship to a young female athlete and have a great weekend of reconnecting, reminiscing and honoring lost friends

*More

Did  say more? Oh yes. Just because Blue Lollipop Road was hardcore vying for a spot in the Best of the Road- you don’t think we had other things in the pipeline? Oh come on now. There’s always something brewing…

gift ideas for dads, grads, brides and grooms

My favorite gift ideas ever- especially this time of year:

1.) Passports

2.) Annual National Park Passes

I started giving park passes as gifts in 2008 when 2 of my adventure outdoor loving friends got married. (I’m not so big on picking out a spatula and those last few towels people seem to need from the registry- what can I say.) They loved the pass and used it like gangbusters. At $80 it’s a steal! All that beauty and all that fun?! It’s a free for all into so many this USA gorgeous and play for a year. What a deal.

Now to passports:

It still amazes me that only about 33% of Americans have passports. Let’s be prepared people! Talk about the gift of freedom and something everyone should have. You never know when you might get invited to some far away locale, have to go overseas for work, or get an opportunity to explore a new place you never knew even existed  because your neighbor already paid for the trip but he can’t go for whatever reason.Why not be ready to rock and roll?

This holiday weekend marks the time when summer kicks off with a boom: Father’s Day, graduations and wedding season in full swing. Fret not for gift ideas that will make people smile and feel alive. Give the gift of passport or park pass and give the gift of freedom and fun!