Blue Lollipop Road

365 days of blue lollipop road; day 1

1.1.14

Happy Happy New Year!

It’s January 1, 2014 so I’m officially kicking off a project I’ve been thinking about for a long while now. Before I dish full details of my undertaking, I will start this first day with the below photo I took while taking a walk on Delray Beach in Florida today:

Check back tomorrow for the next “BLR”! Until then, a question to ponder…

Where’s your Blue Lollipop Road taking you today?

#BLR365 #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad #Beach

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nothing says christmas like the caribbean

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

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a freeze and thaw december

‘Tis the season for holiday travel!

I’m en route to Chicago now (BRRR…) and no surprise a major delay on my flight (BOO…) so I will miss a lunch date at one of my most favorite Windy City chow spots, but at least I have the rest of a long food, love, fun-filled wedding weekend to look forward to. (Maybe I didn’t really need those pretzel encrusted pancakes with white chocolate sauce today anyway. I do have to fit into a pretty tight dress on Saturday night.) I cannot wait to be back in one of my favorite ever cities!

In an effort to balance out the chill, we are going to the Carribean for Christmas! (Whoop!) Nothing says Happy Holidays to me like a sandy beach, warm sunshine, a tropical drink, and a super-awesome, fun, cute man to frolic and adventure with. Thank you, Santa!

Having a home base is good and all, but lets face it- travel rules and the road will always call. (For me anyway.) I love watching people, I love new experiences, new foods, and exploring everything possible. I can’t imagine that ever changing. As I sit here in the hustle and bustle of the busy CLT airport, I feel invigorated and alive. So many places to go, so much to see, so little time…

Travel Channel, Discover Channel, Travel company X- when are you going to hire me already? 🙂

What makes you feel invigorated and alive?

#CantShakeTheTravelBug #TravelJunkie #LifeOnTheBlueLollipopRoad

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hello, monday!

I just finished up a 5:30am run in the 34 degree and drizzly dark on this December 9th morning. It’s amazing how tortured you can feel getting up out of a warm bed before sunrise to go out in the cold to work out- but even more amazing how awesomely badass you feel when you finish.

What are you up early for today?

#LoyalToTheSport #Running #GetUpGetOut

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unexpected attachments

I don’t usually get attached to possessions. I generally think “stuff” weighs us down, physically and emotionally, ties up money unnecessarily, and ultimately, isn’t what’s really important. Well, I might be eating my opinions on that subject for a moment as I just threw out my favorite running shorts I’ve had for at least 10 years. (Ten years!) Here they are:

Favorite Brooks running shorts!

…I got attached!

I’ve been holding on for weeks, but the elastic finally wore completely out, so as this set of trusty gear kept falling down during my run this morning, I decided it was time to say goodbye. (Otherwise the gift that would’ve kept on giving this holiday season would be my full moon to all the neighbors. Ho ho ho!)

Running is a huge part of my life, a near daily and very necessary thing for my sanity, but I hadn’t realized in addition to the running, these shorts have been necessary as well. I’ve cranked out between 20 and 55 miles a week for years, because I like to eat, and want to stay fit, but mostly because, like driving- running is this healthy drug for me, this high, my religion. It makes me feel like a million bucks. The thoughts, the plans, the hopes, the dreams, the everything and then some that’s swirled like wildfire through my head while wearing those shorts all this time beating feet, all those miles. I’ve run on sweltering days and in frigid temperatures, in the rain, in the snow, in the country, in the city, through the woods alone, through crowds of people, I’ve cried tears as I’ve jogged down trails and laughed too, I’ve almost lost limbs as I’ve bobbed and weaved between cars, I’ve had aha moments, I’ve been inspired, disappointed, I’ve pushed through heartbreak and loss, and felt exhausted, elated, empowered- I’ve even run a marathon:

Diane Peacock at the PF Chang's Rock N' Roll Marathon, 2004

…and then some, all in that one little pair of plain black Brooks brand running shorts. Oh the countless stories and secrets these shorts will hold forever. Thank you Brooks for making a near indestructible product! Never did I consider I’d have a panic moment finally letting a piece of clothing go (I mean- that seems crazy, right?)- but as Kenny Rogers says:

You’ve got to know when to hold ’em
Know when to fold ’em
Know when to walk away
Know when to run

From now on, my feet-beating while dreaming up next adventures and possibility will have to happen in some new shorts. Maybe I’ll get over-attached to a rainbow print pair this time.

What possession holds countless stories and secrets of yours?

#RunningRocks #RunHappy #PlayToGrow #LifeOnMyBlueLollipopRoad

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blr goes patagonia

More specifically, El Chalten.

Meet Erin, who’s sporting her BLR tee:

Erin sporting BLR tee in Patagonia

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:)

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dance like nobody’s watching

Starbucks happens to be my office today (Don’t judge- I support the local man anytime I can, but certain Starbucks locations are huge/busy/buzzing and let’s face it- just work for feeding off energy to knock out a big to-do list occasionally.) The guy sitting next to me in a big comfy leather chair is jamming out. I’m talking bopping, weaving, smiling like Ray Charles during one of his favorite performances.

Awesome.

Oh the pleasure in seeing someone just feeling it and do their thing in a happy place like nothing else in the world matters other than enjoying the moment.

Go you, my coffee-sipping neighbor! You’re  making me smile big time.

Where do you dance like nobody’s watching?

#CoffeeTime #OperationCharlotte #TheWorldIsMyOffice

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qotd

Ever have one of those weeks that leaves you wondering how in the world some people got to the point they’re just plain hateful and miserable?

(Yeah…that’s why I’ve been absent from here. Sorry about that. Won’t be happening again- I promise:)

A perfect time to share this quote:

“Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.” 

~Rumi

I will always seek those who fan my flames, and hope you will too.

Who sets you on fire?

#FireMeUp #LifeOnTheUpswing #LiveLikeYouMeanIt

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today is world kindness day

There are few better feelings than being kind to someone just because.

Hop on the train today during World Kindness Day and join Blue Lollipop Road in doing something sweet for someone! Already been kind-ing it up? Awesome, share your story here. Stumped for an idea on how to get all kind-y? Get one here.

Here’s to being nice!

How were you kind to someone today?

#NiceGuysFinishFirst #BeNiceStayHappy #Kindness

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