Blue Lollipop Road

March 20, 2012 In Live the life you want to live, News & Updates

happy first day of spring!

It’s been in the 70’s and 80’s in Chicago for the past 10 days. According to the weather report, it will be the same lovely record tropical temps for the next few days too. If you know me, you know this makes me very, very happy. My windows have been open 24/7, I’ve been outside “playing” (roaming the city, soccer, running on the lake, etc.) every second I possibly can, and I’ve spent lots of time unplugged and planning for the future. I’m wrapping up a job that takes me away from my goals and time here. (Unacceptable!) T-minus 10 days until no more toxic work environment! More on that soon…

My thoughts for the day after just getting back from a long lake trail run in the sun:

If you can put off tasks that can be done after dark, or when it’s raining- do. Get outside in the air and light, wander somewhere alone, leave your phone at home and explore what’s around you for free. If you are not learning or becoming a better person doing the work you do, make a change. If you are in an unhealthy place- get the hell out.

Seize the sunny days, save the dishes for later, and lets all spring forward together.

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March 17, 2012 In People, Photos

direct from ireland this morning

Meet Erin:

Erin Mullaly at Carrauntoohil, Co Kerry Ireland

Yep, he’s an “E-r-i-n” male Erin. Irish you think?

Erin and I have been pals for years since living in Virginia. He moved to Ireland about 8 years ago. Each year on St, Pat’s Day he sends a photo of himself in some Irish spot with a big smile. It’s become my favorite part of this day. (I think I have posted his pix here before…) This just came in via email with a caption:

“…from the top of Carrauntoohil, Co Kerry – highest point in Ireland!”

Love it. Thanks Erin!

Here’s to tradition, fun days with friends, green rivers, and people who move for adventure because they’s always wanted to.

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March 13, 2012 In News & Updates

coming this week

1.) Photos and stories from my quick but majorly fun road trip to Wisconsin this weekend.

2.) Updates on the BLR Reunion Soccer weekend event.

3.) 2 work announcements that are very exciting.

…these things and photos of the mayhem festivities for St. Patty’s Day here in Chicago I’ve heard about. 4 days until the river is turned green and I’m celebrating the above and more with good friends and an ice cold Harp in hand!

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March 10, 2012 In People, Photos, Wisconsin

road trip!

To my horror, I realized the other day that I had not been out of the state by car in 5 months. How did that happen?- I though. Simply unacceptable for me.

So I decided I’d drive to Nashville this weekend.

The week didn’t turn out quite the way I had anticipated, so I am taking a a shorter, quicker road trip. Hint: To a cheesy place with really cute kids:

Ali and Wisconsin Farmer's Market cheese bread

I’ll have to go get my country on in Nashville another weekend soon. This face is too hard to resist.

The road and good old friends await, so I am off…

Here’s to not letting too much time (like 5 months) pass in between doing what you love and seeing who you love.

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March 9, 2012 In News & Updates

some VERY exciting work news

An opportunity I’ve been in talks about for a while now has come to fruition this week. I am doing the happy dance! I should be able to share after tomorrow, but for now I will give you a hint:

It’s about finding your passion.

What I have been taught for sure once again- is that if you leap, there will always be a safety net on the other side to catch you. The key is, you have to actually leap…

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March 8, 2012 In News & Updates

humble pie

I had a thought about a new page I could add here along the lines of the BLR Daily Awesome called the Daily Humble Pie. The Daily Humble Pie would be stories for those times when your day is going silky smooth. Yes, those everything is going my way baby! Then you get regulated real quick.

Those times like yesterday:

I was feeling all fresh, clean and sassy with a full day of up-and-atem cleaning my apartment, returning emails, crushing jump rope boot camp class, and major progress on some client work. Freshly showered at 4pm I walk downstairs 5 minutes early to catch the bus. (Yesss! I thought.) As I stood there patiently all happy and on time, the bus approaches and flies by not seeing me. (“Sh*t!”) I tuck my purse under my arm, curl my toes to grip my flip flops so they will stay on my feet, then sprint after it like a wide receiver heading for the end zone. I didn’t catch it of course, because for the first time in Chicago history, every light was green, green, green. (Hello! when does that ever happen when you actually need to get somewhere fast?) After my bus vs. Diane 6 block race, I gave up I walked 2.5 miles to work sweaty and peeved. (Really laughing mostly because you just have to.) This same incident has happened about 20 times now. Ahhh public transit. All that potential I’m going to attempt to look cute getting places thing flew right out the window when I started participating in this daily city rat race a year ago. Never a dull moment. I don’t even wanna talk about the time I tore like a lunatic by bare foot on these Windy City streets after taking my heels off chasing a town truck that had chained up my car in 2 point nothing seconds and taken off. I was not a happy camper to eat humble pie that day. (Now I laugh of course, like we all do.)

Apparently I don’t run as fast as buses or tow trucks even though I have this fantasy that I “crush” things like jump rope boot camp.

Humble pie is so yummy. Who’d have any good stories without eating some?

 

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March 7, 2012 In Great companies, Inspiration, Live the life you want to live, People, Videos

what makes you come alive?

Check out my friend Sean, Founder of One Week Job:

Today is a prefect day for me to share this, as I have made a big decision in this theme of coming alive. I will share all about it here in 3 weeks, so stay tuned.

If whatever you are doing with your time isn’t making you come alive, the time is now to make a change.

Thanks for being an awesome inspiration Sean!

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March 5, 2012 In Live the life you want to live, News & Updates, Thank you

thanks for the thanks!

Last week was like summertime at the cottage in Upstate NY + a huge road trip + warmth and sunshine + flip flops and sundresses + booty shakin’ + soccer + running + Vermont in the summer + prosecco, cheese, fresh coffee + laughing until my stomach hurts, with Oreos, Nutella and blue lollipops on top. (I could go on!) In other words, last week was REALLY fantastic- just like some of my favorite things in the whole wide world that I just listed above.

Why?

Because I was in a big ol’ awesome travel article on Forbes.com?

Yes!

Because I have had buckets of family, friends, readers, supporters, fans, followers, strangers, and other pouring in to thank me, congratulate me, send love, support, and tell me they are proud of me?

Of course!

Because the mission of Blue Lollipop Road to step towards life keeps spreading, and I see that by fearlessly doing what I love for all these years really does make a difference and inspire people to do the same?

Most definitely.

Finding that thing for yourself that makes every once of your body want to scream with joy from the rooftops- that thing you do all alone, in silence for hours, and love it so much that you lose time is awesome. When you don’t care if anyone else might think you are weird, freakish or geeky for loving something as much as you do, you’ve you know you’ve found your thing.

Blue Lollipop Road is my “thing”, and I am so happy to be able to continue to share it all here and elsewhere. Thank you for sharing back and appreciating what I have to say!

Here’s to running towards life because you’ve only got one…

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