Blue Lollipop Road

November 25, 2011 In News & Updates

hey hey hey!

I’m here, had a great Thanksgiving with friends this year, still lots of buzz and work for BLR going on behind the scenes and a bunch of goodness to be updated this week- finally!

I am so thankful during the holidays to have a fantastic warm apartment to home base in for a year, so many amazing people in my life to share time with, reflect on the fact that I’ve done exactly what I have wanted to do with my days, and thinking/planning the next year of great adventure.

Here’s to living fearlessly. Whoop whoop!

 

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November 18, 2011 In News & Updates

update

I’m currently spending some very important time with a friend who’s going through an unimaginable traumatic loss. If you’re visiting here and wondering where my regular posts are, know that I’m using my BLR time to be with that friend right now.

2012 is coming fast and furious, so watch for the launch of the next phase of Blue Lollipop Road.

Life sure throws unexpected and difficult curveballs sometimes. I’m so thankful for my health, and time I have with family an friends. I’m reminded of that more and more everyday, especially recently.

More soon…

 

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November 14, 2011 In Live the life you want to live

connecting

Ever have those conversations with friends that include “We really need to talk more and make time to see each other.” ?

Now is the time to do it.

This weekend I talked to 2 girlfriends for 2 hours each. I hadn’t talked to either of them in several months, and I haven’t seen either of them for a year. We’ve been friends for over 20 collective years and these women both know me very well. The conversations were fast and furious with so much to catch up on. We talked until we were forced to stop because either it was time to go to work or phone batteries were dying. I love those conversations. I always hang up with a big smile and feel so lucky to have such incredible people in my life. It doesn’t get much better than spending time connecting and laughing with someone who knows you well and completely loves, supports and respects you. It’s as if the years knowing each other have created an invisible concrete link that’s unbreakable even if life has gotten so busy and time has flown so fast that it’s been weeks or months since you’ve last spoken. Those friendships are the best and ones that are precious to me.

Facebook, texting, and email communications are so typical for all of us- digital connection that’s quick and easy. While quick and easy is convenient an acceptable these days, there will never be a replacement for in person time. Hearing someones voice, or actually being with people that are important to you is so much more special and remembered than that “quick and easy” communication.

As I think about yet another girlfriend today who is having to say a final goodbye to someone who meant the world to her, my heart feels like lead weight, so heavy for her loss. It makes me so thankful for all I have, and reminds me the incredible importance of making time to really connect with the ones we love.

Pick up the phone today if someone is too far away to see in person. If that someone is close by- stop to see them for a few minutes, meet for a coffee, give them a hug and thank them for being in your life. Those are the times that will be cherished and never forgotten.

 

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November 12, 2011 In News & Updates

click around a bit eh?

As I work behind the scenes of the next BLR project, you’ll notice I’m moving some pages around, adding updates, photos and more. I like to switch things up to keep them fresh and shiny. (Like glitter of course!)

Have you ever clicked on the “i” above in the middle of the photo reel above to read about where and when I took each photo?

When was the last time you clicked around the other pages?

Are you checking in on the daily awesome? How about posting a comment and sharing what’s awesome in your day?

 

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November 11, 2011 In Deals & Steals, Great companies, Maine

as i dream of barbados

I don’t like to use terms and words like hate, despise, etc. because I try to choose a positive and hopeful mindset about everything I can, but I have a confession; I REALLY don’t like the cold. I mean I totally suck at it. I’m living in Chicago right now so that doesn’t make much sense, I know. I’ve never dreaded a season more than I dread the frigid temps I will experience these next few months, but I’m determined to embrace it and be a survivor! There’s a method to my madness for being here and a reason for everything- even torturing myself through the brutal misery of The Windy City winter. So I will keep my goals in mind as I cuddle in and do my best to stay cozy warm while I enjoy all the amazing sights, sounds, people, places and things around this awesome city.

Now I need boots.

I was in Maine at L.L. Bean a few weeks. Who doesn’t love Bean? At the time I couldn’t bring myself to by boots, because well- I don’t want to live in a place where you need things like boots, but attempting a Midwest winter without them would just be silly.

So I signed up for email alerts from Bean and have found a triple threat of deals that I’m going to take advantage of:

*FREE shipping, any size order

*10% off any order now through 11/13

$10 off any order of $50 or more for anyone who signs up for email alerts.

Check out the above and take advantage here! 

I love a deal and L.L. bean rules at them.

L.L.Bean is open 24/7 and 365. Yes- everyday, every hour, year round. There are no locks on the doors at the Freeport Maine flagship store. Even better you can return any thing and any time for any reason. No joke. When I was a teenager I had a backpack that I used for about 10 years. I actually cut the zipper with scissors one day because I kept getting it stuck. I sent it back to Bean, they didn’t even make the same bag anymore but with no questions asked sent me the most similar one to mine shiny and new. If you’re not satisfied they fix it plain and simple. They want you to be happy and confident with your purchase for it’s lifetime. (Or yours for that matter.) Do I feel confident in putting my hard earned money into a purchase at L.L. Bean? You betcha- and like no other company.

Now off to order my boots. Wish me luck this winter…

 

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November 9, 2011 In News & Updates

this just in: i’m human

I know. Alert the presses. Probably one of the hardest things I have ever admitted.

To say I have been running on all cylinders or burning the candle at both ends for years is an understatement. In fact, if you Googled “Balls-to-the-wall” (I’m so classy..) right now, I’m sure there’d be a photo of me there waving like a poster child for that saying. I’ve relished in the momentum and madness, I love a seemingly impossible challenge and I’ve previously believed I could be and do anything in 2. 5 seconds.  Well, I reached a spent point a few weeks ago:

Just friggin’ tired.

I never thought this would happen. I think it’s been 17 years since I’ve taken a nap until this month. I’m that girl who would bleed out of my eyeballs before going to bed without washing every dish in the sink, returning every call or email, and I always think I can fit just one more thing in before sitting down. I am a master multi-tasker and I have far more energy than most humans. (We are all still trying to figure out where I came from 🙂 I’ve somehow kept up a consistent lighting speed go go go pace, even during some serious tragedy, when I’ve been hosed, and when I’ve been so exhausted it’s felt impossible to keep my eyes open. I’ve recently joked several times that someone could beat me in the face with a steel stiletto heel while I was running a marathon and I’d be able to say “That’s all ya got?.”

I’m here to announce that I crashed after my Honda September trip. I mean crashed. I’ve rested and relaxed like I was on a beach with a bucket of Coronas (except I’m in Chicago on a couch) for about a month now. I’ve allowed myself to leave dishes in the sink, I’ve let myself fall into bed right after work if I have felt tired, and even powered my phone off at times. (Livin’ on the edge I am!) It’s been amazing. I feel like a new woman. Really, I feel like an entirely recharged new human. This step away, reflect, rework and rest time has been one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself and gotten me even more jazzed up for what’s next in the Blue Lollipop World than I’ve ever been before.

If you have been checking in here wondering when I was going to post my September Honda trip wrap up, the Million Mile Joe celebration and more, those posts will be here soon and are promised to be awesome. While the timing to rest when coming off such a big exciting trip could’ve been better, when my body, mind and soul got to a point where they couldn’t even see straight anymore, shut down mode happened and I had little choice in the matter. Believe me, I am a pusher (My Mother is laughing right now along with a lot of other people) and if had been humanly possible to maintain my typical pace this past month I would’ve, but it simply wasn’t so there you have it: I’m human.

Man that feels good to say.

So reading this now if you have concluded that my pervious post titled “Site Maintenance” really meant “Diane Maintenance”, but actually really does mean site maintenance in the end. (Yes, this would be the first time I caught a clue that it’s possible to get more work done while actually “doing” very little.) Two gifts I have been given by cutting myself some slack these past few weeks:

1.) A clear vision of where I want Blue Lollipop Road to go from here and how I am going to get there.

2.) Being reminded once again that Blue Lollipop Road is my heart and soul, I love spending time here and doing what I do more than anything else.

Awesome.

So does this mean the rested me is going to move at a snails pace and keep taking lots of naps? Heck no! It’s engrained in my DNA to be a million miles and hour and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The difference is I’ll be less hard on myself when I need a breather. I’m already back up and off to the races like the energizer bunny. Of course I can give you all the dish in one night, so you’ll just have to check back and see what’s next. It just might involve you…

 

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October 31, 2011 In Live the life you want to live

dear readers, fans, and followers~

As we all know, unfortunately sometimes things aren’t so awesome. Somehow we have to keep trucking.

I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t been a huge challenge keeping BLR rolling 24/7 these past 3-plus years, because it has. I’m not a trust-fund kid, I don’t make money from this, and it’s quite a finagle-fest to be a nomad and maintain a job that actually brings cash in, so I can live the life I want to live and pay my bills too. It’s all good, all worth it, and I’m not going to stop doing whatever I have to. But? As I get some sleep, play catch up, and work on a planned big ol’ shift for things here, you might find my daily posts a bit sporadic over these next few weeks as I make some changes behind the scenes.

Just as I had written the above to post a couple days ago, I found out some beyond heartbreaking and tragic news about a very good friend. The kind that makes you gasp for air, your knees buckle, and feel like you are going to lose your lunch all at the same time. The kind that I haven’t felt for 17 years, and the kind that I will never forget.

A freight train of perspective once again.

What really matters? People, time, and doing what you love. What else? Nothing.

So, as I feel like I might be behind on everything, when I’m tired, and have those Grrr! Days; Are things ever going to be easy, just flow, and what the heck am I doing this all for anyway?! – That perspective flies in and I know I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to do. I’m also reminded that my bad days are nowhere near the nightmare of what some others are living through right now.

Life is way too short. If there’s something you really want to do, start doing it. Please. Follow your heart, your gut, and do what you want, then encourage and support someone else to do the same.

See you all back here soon…

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October 28, 2011 In News & Updates

how ’bout a click on the daily awesome?

Take a gander HERE.

…because even on hard days, crazy days, and busy days- there are always so many awesome things!

Want to add to the awesome list? Come on- it will be fun.

Thanks for being patient with me as I FINALLY get internet installed in my apt. today! I will be so excited to finally upload at “lighting speed” so I can post videos about my Honda September trip wrap up, food photos from life changing Sicilian pizza in Portland Maine last weekend, and all the good stuff I have from the Million Mile Joe celebration.

Here’s to TGIF and weekends planned for catching up on that giant list of to-do’s!

 

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