Blue Lollipop Road

June 1, 2012 In BLR Play it Forward 2012, BLR Reunion Soccer Weekend 8/18/12

that unforgettable feeling

I just saw the first draft of the BLR Play it Forward Event logo, gasped and jumped back like I’d seen a million dollar winning lotto ticket.

We are near 10 months into planning, I have been eating, drinking, sleeping, dreaming this event- and then some. It’s felt real the whole time, but with one glance at a colored image just now? BAM! – It’s officially really for real for real. (Yes, I meant to write that.)

The excitement that’s running through my veins as I type, is one kind that I dream of having every day with the work I do. That kind that makes you jump out of bed in the morning because you know you are doing something good. By good I mean something great. I have said for so long, all I want to do is work that matters. With the help of  incredibly talented, committed and generous ladies from my home town, and some serious inspiration from above- we have created this amazing thing that totally matters, and event weekend isn’t even here yet.

I’m so thankful for the years of encouragement to always keep going from the people who know me best, and the inspiration from the ones above. Those two things paired with my drive to do work that matters, have brought me to moments like this one where I know without a doubt I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to do.

Today is a big, huge, enormous, crazy awesome feeling.

Whoop!

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June 1, 2012 In News & Updates

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!

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May 27, 2012 In Funny signs, Photos

pool rules

The pool in my building opened this weekend for the kick off to summer and with the access key, of course came the rules.

#20 is my favorite:

Pool rules- summer 2012

It’s a good thing they made that clear for all of us!

To think all the other residents and I were all about to head downstairs with our soap, shampoo and razors. Bummer.

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May 25, 2012 In BLR Play it Forward 2012, BLR Reunion Soccer Weekend 8/18/12

bad day nothing!

What an amazing and happy surprise to come to my inbox and see that Paul W. from Chicago has made a donation to Blue Lollipop Road today! We are super excited and thankful, especially after the disappointing and confusing news today that were not chosen for Best of the Road. This goes to prove that people out there still believe in Blue Lollipop Road and want to support our message.

I am thrilled because this is the first $ donation that will go towards the Blue Lollipop Road Play it Forward Event weekend and the Blue Lollipop Road Memorial Scholarship fund to be awarded 8/18/12 in my hometown in Vermont.

Huge thanks to Paul. Every penny is appreciated and will absolutely make a difference in the life of a young person who will get the chance to travel and see things they would never otherwise be able to.

Yay for generous donations out of nowhere. You help keep us plugging away at this entity we believe so much in!

 

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May 25, 2012 In News & Updates

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…

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May 25, 2012 In 2012 Best of the Road Rally

it’s results day!

That’s right! In just a matter of hours, Mom and I hear whether or not we were chosen for Rand McNally and USA TODAY’s Best of the Road Rally 2012!!!

A few special shout outs and thank you’s:

1.) Thank you to Sean, an old high school friend who’s been an awesomely supportive follower of Blue Lollipop Road. Sean sent me the link for the Best of the Road Rally a month ago, to which I jumped all over to sign up for the first second I could. Thanks Sean! Without you Mom and I might not even be in the running!

2.) Thank you Mom. We both know we have given this portion of the rally fun our all, so no matter the results, we are already winners because went for it!  Thank you for jumping right in and being as excited as me to be the other half of Team blue Lollipop Road! Thanks for being that parent that is unconditionally loving and supportive of the dreams we all have.

3.) Thank you Rand McNally and USA TODAY! What you are promoting with best of the Road, is what Mom and I, and Blue Lollipop Road are all about; The incredible amount of delicious, fun, beautiful, history, people and lessons in every nook and cranny of America. We are so happy there are organizations encouraging curiosity, exploration, and travel- to uncover the amazing people, places and things that are on the “back roads” all around us.

What a fun few weeks. We can only imagine how much of a blast the actual rally itself would be!

We are so thankful for all our family, friends, coworkers and neighbors for voting, spreading the news, and “rallying” for us. We have definitely felt the love and it’s been humbling.

Here’s to anticipation and running fast and furious to your passions. Life is short, so Team Blue Lollipop Road says GO FOR IT!

 

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May 24, 2012 In News & Updates

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!

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May 23, 2012 In 2012 Best of the Road Rally, Photos, Videos

biting our nails

Mom and I are waiting on pins and needles for word from Rand McNally to see if we are one of the 5 finalist teams for Best of the Road 2012.

I wish Mom was closer, or on the same works schedule as me so we could be making these videos together, but we are 1,000 miles away from each other today, so you just get my mug:

Thank goodness for cell phones, email, social media and Skype! At least Mom and I have been connected through those technology mediums during this rally. What a blast we have had! Funny how even if you are super close with someone and have traveled or spent a ton of time with them before- teaming up with that same person on a project makes you like or respect them even more.

I hope Rand McNally and USA TODAY see the genuine spirit of Mom and I and how much of a great asset and total fun we would be for this rally. Through this initial rally part we have worked hard to show who we are and what we are about.

It is my dream, my happy place and my most favorite thing to be on the road encouraging others to get out and explore. My believe that travel makes you a better person will always stay at the core of my soul and that will never change. I love being on the road more than anything. Mom has fallen in love with travel too over the past few years as she’s adventured to visit all of  us Peacock kids around the country where we’ve lived. It’s been fun for me to watch her see things while traveling for the first time, finally taking time for herself after working so hard  for years raising us. It’s pretty amazing as a “kid” to see your parent’s eyes light up the same way I’m sure she watched mine when I was a little girl finding new exciting things to learn about and explore.

For you kids of any age out there who want to do something, anything that is your big dream, the one that might seem unreachable, unreasonable, or unrealistic- it’s not. Mom Peacock always told me and still tells me to “go for it”. Reach for the stars, work hard and you will get it, keep a smile on your face when you fall down, jump right up- wipe that dirt off and try again because you can do anything you set your mind to.

She’s right.

So to Blue Lollipop Road readers and followers:

What’s your Rand McNally Best of the Road?- That thing you so badly want to be a part of or create for yourself? Jump in and tell them or yourself why you want it so badly. Show them who you are and what you’re made of. You might not be chosen or succeed the first time, or even the 22nd time, but keep plugging, work hard, and stay true to your passion and eventually someone will listen.

Mom and I hope Rand McNally is listening to us, because Team Blue Lollipop Road was born for this rally!

 

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