new site…
…and fundraising campaign time! We are just over a month out from event weekend!
…and fundraising campaign time! We are just over a month out from event weekend!
We are just 38 days away from BLR Play It Forward in Vermont! We can’t wait. It’s been so fun to reconnect with old friends who we will see soon, not to mention reading the scholarship applications for the BLR Memorial Scholarship; Better than what we ever expected to receive. There are some amazingly inspiring kids out there in high school sports these days!
Recent unexpected but welcomed surprise:
A couple of fun and exciting opportunities have popped up for BLR to be involved with after the big reunion soccer event. Details are in the works and we will share news when we have it. Never a dull moment around here and we like to keep it that way. Whoop!
Something we all know but It’s always good to be reminded:
Work your butt off, do what you love, and opportunities will present themselves.
What are you waiting for?
Hold please.
The interwebs take a few days to work their magic and populate the new Blue Lollipop Road site so next time you log on here get ready for the big face lift!
Check out our awesome event poster designed and donated by Tracy Bushee:
Thanks Tracy! We love it and can’t wait for the event! Only 44 days away…
Yippee!
A donation was just sent in yesterday to help support the BLR Play it Forward Event & Blue Lollipop Road Memorial Scholarship. We just got one today too! What a lovely surprise popping in during the day when we are plugging along working here.
Thanks to Gail and thanks to Jim. You’re making us smile and helping us to encourage young people to travel and maintain a healthy & active lifestyle- how great it that?!
The spirit of Blue Lollipop Road is seriously buzzing…
Final revisions to the BLR Play It Forward poster are being made today and final tweaks are being put through on the new site too! It’s been a very exciting and busy week, not much time to post about all the work and fun we’ve been having gearing up for our big 8/18/12 event weekend in Vermont.
If you visit here before the 4th of July and see an “error” message or something funky instead of the usual BLR, it just means the interwebs are transitioning the site from old to new- so don’t worry. Our sparkly new look will be here before you see fireworks!
Remember, if you are an alumni and haven’t registered yet- please do so here, and if you’d like to support us for this Play It Forward Weekend and the Blue Lollipop Road Memorial Scholarship, click here.
Only 50 days until we come together to reconnect, reminisce, play soccer, honor lost friends and reward a travel scholarship to a young female athlete to help support her travel goals. How much are we anticipating this special day? Mucho mucho big time!
By now you know that I am back home in Vermont. I decided to make the 900 mile road trip from Chicago a few days ago because working satellite on an event that means pretty much everything to you (that would be me)- is tough. It’s a bonus that in addition to working on our awesome event, my timing was perfect for partaking in this past weekends mad feast of the best ever VT strawberry season. Yum:
I get to see family, and hang with a few friends too while I’m here. (If I can make the time for it all that is!)
After 10 months of planning from so far away, being in the actual place that BLR Play it Forward will happen makes it all that much more real and exciting. I’ve toured the park/fields where events will take place 8/18/12, visited my old elementary school for the first time in about 22 years, met with various Chamber of Commerce folks, chatted with local business, and there are plenty more meetings and greetings scheduled for this week. I can’t wait!
I’m thrilled to officially announce our first round of sponsors/donors:
*The town of Shaftsbury, VT: Full usage of Howard Park facilities for the Strong Mojo Summit and Alumni Game
*Web Designer Bobby Holliday: Web services to completely re-build www.bluelollipoproad.com that will launch later this week
*Tracy Bushee ~ Graphic Design : Event logo. ( Contact for graphic design services:Â [email protected]Â )
*Clear Brook Farm: Donation of locally grown, fresh organic foods. See above strawberries for a sample of their deliciousness 🙂
*Willy’s Variety Store & Bakery: Donation supply of our famed blue lollipops
We are so incredibly thankful for these individuals and companies who have jumped right in to help make this event possible, and Blue Lollipop Road looking It’s best! If you, or your company would like to sponsor or donate to help support our event logistics and the Blue Lollipop Road Memorial Scholarship Fund, please click here or contact Diane Peacock:
[email protected]
804.339.6514
We’ve got 6 weeks to go and grow more excited every day. Back to work- so more soon!
*Breakfast at favorite hometown diner with Mom- check.
*Work on Blue Lollipop Road at local coffee shop– check.
*Best 2 hour random chat/encounter with complete stranger at that local coffee shop. Serious potential for epically cool project with new stranger friend- check.
*5 mile run through small town roads in total silence breathing in the fresh air while brain works on overtime- check.
Unplanned but intentional days that include unexpected events like I had today are the reason why I will never give up on working hard at myself, my life, and things that I am passionate about.
You shouldn’t either.
Happy Anniversary Title IX!
I’m extra proud to be an athlete today during all the celebration going on around the country for Title IX. As I peruse news articles and watch videos like this one by Nike, I get even more fired up than I already am for BLR Play it Forward and the message behind it all.
Blue Lollipop Road believes that making a commitment to a healthy and active lifestyle is by far one of the best investments in yourself.
I will share again what I wrote months ago about sport and travel when starting to plan our BLR Play it Forward 8/18 weekend:
There is no doubt that if I hadn’t been a part of soccer teams every year growing up, and if I hadn’t participated in the student exchange program through Mount Anthony High School like I did in 1994, I wouldn’t be the woman I am today and Blue Lollipop Road would not exist. Through sport and having coaches who were incredible mentors- I learned about teamwork, and confidence. I learned that by taking care of my body and exercising, that I would take care of my mind and soul too. When our team had all hands in before each game chanting: One…two…three…â€STRONG MOJO!†we each knew we had the power together or alone- to go, be, and do anything. As I stood in Germany during my student exchange month abroad never having been out of the state of Vermont before, my eyes flew open to see there was a whole big world out there to discover. Since then, I’ve spent time in all 50 states and 13 countries. I’ve learned how to be resourceful, savvy, flexible, independent, and open. I’ve met people I would have never otherwise met, tried foods I never imagined I’d try, and seen sights that have taken my breath away. What I’ve learned most from athletics and travel is that I can do anything I set my mind to.
Today I thank all the badass women out there who’ve made it possible for girls play, and go for their wildest dreams. I’m one of those girls, and that’s why It’s so important to me to keep playing it forward.
A few days ago my mind started to wander. When that happens, especially in the summertime- it usually means 1 thing: That I’m jonesing for the open road.
I’m about to throw a few things in the BLR-mobile and off I go with windows down! 1,000 miles on a Friday is my kind of day at work.
Have a guess to where I’m going? Let’s just say this country girl is ready to get out of the city.
Here’s to the open road! Next post from destination fresh air…