Blue Lollipop Road

welcome to vintage blr!

2011-08-31T14:24:00.002-04:00

Here is the original.

We hope after you have seen the vintage stuff here, you will join us on the NEW BLUE LOLLIPOP ROAD SITE!

Make sure your browser says: www.bluelollipoproad.com

See you there!

creepy?

2011-04-28T10:14:00.007-04:00

I'm sure this moving company wanted to have a cute, friendly looking kid on the side of their truck in attempt to be appealing to potential customers, but I'm thinking you might agree that this little one looks more horror movie, less welcoming:

She's even channeling some Poltergeist glow!

During this break in posting and BLR site transition, I have collected quite a few funny and strange photos around the streets of Chicago. This city is chucked full of Mom-and-Pop joints and funky neighborhoods. Those of course provide plenty of off the wall signs and store fronts, as well as some very interesting characters...

easter breakfast of champions

2011-04-24T13:29:00.000-04:00

the case of the mysterious nameserver pointing...

2011-04-23T13:40:00.006-04:00

A challenging week with Go Daddy saying everything is set and pointed to the new site and some of you are writing me and telling me you see this one. My web guy and I are scratching our heads and still working on figuring out what's happening. On a fun note, he was able to steal a couple days to ski and explore around Vail this week- so as the theme of BLR goes, I don't like to bug people to do much technical work while they're hitting the slopes with a local pint of delicious brew. Saying that we are hoping to have things hashed out this weekend and be back in the saddle of daily fun posts soon.

In the meantime I am collecting fun photos around Chicago, have had quite a surprise adventure myself this week, and I'm about to go get some Cadbury Mini Eggs; my single favorite holiday candy. I have a feeling the Easter Bunny might have a hard time finding me this year, so I need to take my chocolate situation in my own hands.

Happy Passover, Easter, Spring, One day late Earth Day!

the new blr

2011-04-21T10:42:00.004-04:00

We have switched nameservers, so hopefully the next time you log onto www.bluelollipoproad.com you will see the new site! I appreciate everyone being patient these past couple months. There will be a few little kinks as we get rolling this first week, but lots of fun news and many surprises to come...I am thrilled!

Best of all I have so much more capability with the new site so if there is something you'd like to see, put in a request. The sky is the limit from here.

Here's to new beginnings and the best spring ever!

who doesn't love hot asian buns?

2011-04-20T12:51:00.002-04:00

saddles and cilantro

2011-04-18T17:06:00.006-04:00

One of my favorite questions is: "Hey Di, I am going to/trying/visiting/touring X this weekend. Want to come?"

Well of course I do!

This weekend it was horseback riding lessons and a neighborhood Asian market/deli for lunch.

We drove north of the city to the farm. A view from the barn:

In the barn:

The gear:

(Isn't that saddle leather gorgeous?)

Had to take a photo of the liability sign:

This was a neat experience. I didn't ride, as it was my friends lesson. (I've only ridden a horse once, so I would've been a hot mess out there anyway.) I did get to watch everyone collect all the gear they needed to ride and brush and prep the horses. The amount of prep time and gear involved surprised me, along with how much skill it takes to just simply stay on the horse. I've been skydiving and I think I'd be more scared to be on a jumping horse than I was jumping out of a plane.

After the riding lesson, we drove back to the city and stopped at this great little Asian market for lunch:

To go goodies:

...and you've got to love those random food items that are in some kind of gel, liquid or other:

I wasn't brave enough to try any of those items, so I opted for a veggie sandwich and it was oh so good. Can you say avocado, jicima and cilantro? Yum:

Good company, New experiences, cheap, fresh, and delish eats = happy Saturdays.

signs around chicago

2011-04-17T14:17:00.001-04:00

Chicago dog anyone?

barboursville wine, berkeley hotel, very happy guests

2011-04-14T22:51:00.015-04:00

***(I am hoping Jason, Winemaker Luca from Barboursville, and all the wonderful staff at the Berkeley will forgive me for this severely delayed post.)

On March 24th during Virginia Wine Week, I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Barboursville Vineyards Spring Wine Dinner in Downtown Richmond, VA at the Berkeley Hotel. The reception started at 6:30pm sharp and we were greeted by the friendly staff at The Berkeley, along with some delicious Barboursville 2010 Sauvignon Blanc:

To accompany this first wine, going with the local and Virginia theme were Rappahannok River Oysters on The Half Shell:

There were plenty of wine glasses lining the bar ready for a full evening of tasting:

...and Winemaker Luca Paschina cheerily greeted us and the rest of the guests. Meet Luca:

He could not have been more humble, warm, or genuine. It's always refreshing when I meet someone so accomplished and talented who doesn't have an ouce of ego.

After chatting with Luca and the Berkeley staff for a while as we sipped our Sauvignon Blanc, we were welcomed to the dinner table where we met the menu illustrating the 4 courses we were about to indulge in:

Can I just note here how much I love a long dinner, with a group of people who appreciate the art of food and drink? I am a true believer in feasting with good company, no one checking cell phones or watches, but simply engaging in interesting conversation and all laughing together fully appreciating the moment. No matter what state, country, time, place- this is my idea of a perfect night.

The first course; 2010 Barboursville Pinot Grigio with tuna tartare over arugula salad with toast points:

The fresh-made puff pastry and arugula with dressing on this course was absolutely to die for.

The second course of grilled mushroom stuffed with mushroom risotto and white truffle oil came beautifully decorated and included 2008 Barboursville Barbera:

They had me at white truffle oil!

Course three was braised beef cheeks over herb scented polenta served with Barboursville Ninth and Tenth Edition Octagon:

I may have actually licked the plate after this one. I think my "I am a vegetarian" thing might be getting old at this point. I'm fairly regularly consuming dishes like this- the one's that are prepared to perfection and I'm simply not able to hold my veggie only willpower. (I think I'm Ok with that actually.)

Each wine was paired impeccably with the first three courses, but I have to say, my favorite was the last; Bubbly. Ahhh...

To finish up the evenings feast, we were served Babroursville Brut NV with two local Virginia cheeses, one California, One French and three local Virginia honeys:

Cheese, honey, bubbles and the privilege of sitting next to Winemaker Luca while I dined? I'm still smiling. Cheers to that!

After working in Napa last fall, it was a special treat to get an invite to this dinner and sit next to the chef of grapes, Luca, as I often miss that Napa lifestyle and conversation. I asked Luca loads of questions which he was happy to answer. All in all it was a fantastic night that could not have left us all more stuffed or satisfied.

If you live in, or visit Virginia, add Barboursville Vineyards and The Berkeley Hotel to your list of must experience places.

Many thanks to Jason and Luca from Barboursville and all The Berkeley Hotel staff for the invite an accommodation. I'll be back for more!

blr loves roadside farms

2011-04-14T01:05:00.001-04:00

Had to stop:

cone and get it!

2011-04-12T11:18:00.007-04:00

Today is Free Cone Day at all Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops.

Who else is sprinting to one of those shops besides me? Jimmy Fallon, I love you and your delicious new flavor Late Night Snack.

I LOVERMONT.

I LOVE BEN AND JERRY'S.

I LOVE FREE TREATS.

This reminds me of the day last year my Mom, sister, brother and I ate the Vermonster:

My sister and I didn't waste any time digging in. We couldn't stop laughing at ourselves and all the people in line were laughing at us too:

This one absolutely cracks me up every time I see it. My brother; Spent, completely done and stuffed in an ice cream coma:

Who's says ice cream can't build muscles? One of the reasons why I run and zumba all the time? So I can eat the treats I want of course!

Our nearly empty bucket:

My sister actually walked to the car finishing it all off. Good to the last drop. That's my kind of girl:

Peace, Love & Ice Cream. I'm with you Ben & Jerry.

Here's to Free Cone Day and much sugary fun with people you love!

ttaa (things that are awesome)

2011-04-11T10:47:00.002-04:00

Train rides to work. Whirly Ball. Midnight dinners with old friends. Sunny and 80 degree Sunday afternoons. Morning runs in new neighborhoods. Perogies. Walks along a river. Being able to walk to a Mom and Pop bakery. Surprise emails from people you don't know. Finding video from old vacations with your little brother. Fresca.

Anyone want to add some TTAA?

i love notes like this from people who see me on the road:

2011-04-10T22:10:00.003-04:00

Had to say hi. My family and I saw your car Friday night, Apr 8th heading west on 80/90. Are you doing the trip again?

Best wishes, Sue

I hope you got my return email Sue. Thanks for the note!

drumroll please!

2011-04-09T12:21:00.001-04:00

So yes, I have been a bit absent because of packing, traveling, working and all that business, but we've also been taking time from the BLR site here, to start posting on the new BLR site which we hope to launch by 4/15. This is the official transition period! I know it's been a long time coming, so thanks for being patient and stay tuned...

adventure #876

2011-04-09T11:10:00.003-04:00

(My friend Bethany threw out that # yesterday as I was doing road trip phone catch-ups. I think it fits.)

I drove 525 miles on Sunday, then 900 miles yesterday. The BLR Mobile ran perfectly as usual, without a hiccup while turning over 158,00 miles. Here's a photo of my partner in crime this morning, still shining and ready to go for more:

Good thing it's great on gas too, because here's one of the places we stopped for gas last night:

OUCH. Let's just say I am very happy the Alaska or Bust trip happened last summer instead of this one. Holy expensive gas! I am very excited to be using train transportation daily starting this week. The Civic will get to rest a bit. She deserves it, she has worked very, very hard for me this past year.

Hello Windy City. Here we go!

grinder anyone?

2011-04-07T11:10:00.001-04:00

Yes please.

The only good excuse for eating that giant white bread.

Mmmm...lunch in the northeast at old-school Mom and Pop joints.

who are you? (part 3)

2011-04-05T17:27:00.016-04:00

...continued...

I arrived to table #18 full of welcoming strangers and attentive staff immediately at our service pouring bubbly for everyone. (You know how much I love bubbly, so I was in heaven.)

Our dinner feast started with soup; Roasted butternut squash bisque with cre'me fraiche:

Then salad. Butter lettuce; lolla rosa, radicchio, port wine poached pear, crumbled gorgonzola, candied walnuts, citrus vinaigrette:

For palate cleansing; Blood orange sorbet:

Between servings, beautiful bride Ginny perused the crowd and greeted the guests:

I will say here again, that she looked like the perfect bride. Of course her hair, jewelry, dress and all were gorgeous, but I really think it was the genuinely sweet and happy way Ginny had about her that made her look so perfect on her most important day. She was the vision of what all little girls dream about.

While Ginny made her way through the crowd, there was lots of dancing going on:

...and of course more eating:

I chose the entree of sauteed filet of beef; Duck fat fried potato dice, creamed salsify, roquefort red wine sauce. I nearly licked the plate. I still wonder how the Rittenhouse could possibly execute 200-plus plates of entrees, all piping hot at the same time. It was as good as if I were dining at a small exclusive restaurant with the chef cooking 10 feet away.

Just as I thought it couldn't get any better, dessert arrived and cake. (I mean seriously, I was like in food coma, euphoria at this point it was all so incredible.) Dessert trio; Chocolate pate', cre'me brule'e, coconut ice cream:

Those sweet treats stood no chance with me as I gobbled up everything. Thankfully we all burned off some calories by boogie-oogie-oogie-in to the fabulous band. I just love a wedding where the dance floor stays packed. The band at this one played from the moment we entered the room, through dinner and even extended their playing time beyond what was originally scheduled. Talk about perfectly executed! Eat, speech, dance, eat, chat, dance, eat, drink, speech, toast, dance, chat some more, dance some more, and eat some more.

As I thought the night was wrapping up, and that we could not have had any more fun, or eaten anything else, the groom announced the party was moving into another area down the hall. We had to laugh when he noted that there would be a Philly cheesesteak bar waiting for us:

We had barely finished dessert! Then again, who am I to stop eating when I was in Philadelphia and there was a dish of liquid cheese waiting to be drizzled over meats and veggies? I think I counted 3 mini cheesesteak I consumed in the 2 hours we were at the after party. We all had plenty of cocktails, stuffed ourselves silly and I'm sure looked like long lost friends after partaking in 12-plus hours of wedding festivities together. My friend Jocelyn (who was the reason I was at the wedding- a friend of bride Ginny for years) joked that I was like the roaming gnome from those travel commercials. The one that pops up in random places like photos of families on vacation. Maybe it was because by the end of the night I exclaimed; "Ginny! We have got to get a photo of you and I for Blue Lollipop Road!"...so we snapped this funny one:

As the full day of celebration was coming to a close and the Rittenhouse staff was cleaning up the cheesesteak bar, our table looked like a war zone:

I don't know if groom Chris will remember this until he reads it here, but see that plate in the right corner? Those were Jocelyn's leftovers that Chris snuck a few bites from as we were all gathered around the table starting to say our goodbye's. I can't paint the scene any better than to say what he asked me, was like when the record stops and the whole party's eyes are on 1 person. (Remember, I had still not met this man but had been "crashing" his wedding all day and night.) Chris picked up the fork, leaned over the plate, took a bite, looked up at me and said: "Who are you?"

And scene.

Laughter erupted and there you have the perfect punchline that actually happened during the last moments of the wedding I crashed. It was a riot. That scene will no doubt go down in Blue Lollipop Road history.

Ginny and Chris~

As a perfect stranger coming in to your world, I appreciate your openness and generosity. Throughout the day it was easy to see why so many people came from far and wide to celebrate with you. Your love for each other was a treat to watch and something remarkable. I have no doubt that you will grow even happier together in the coming years.

Here's to new beginnings, and new unexpected friends. Thank you so very much for inviting me to share your special day!

i am a master at honda packing tetris

2011-04-04T14:58:00.005-04:00

Minus the love seat pictured; add 2 huge suitcases and me (as in my body), look at all I fit in the BLR Mobile:

Practice makes perfect after all these years I guess!

Thanks for everything Jeff! You are the best friend a girl could have.

2011-04-02T07:43:00.001-04:00

today i looked up

2011-03-30T22:47:00.002-04:00

...and I looked in:

...and I laughed of course!

Here's to always being curious, easily entertained, and keeping a camera on hand.

who are you? (part 2)

2011-03-30T09:43:00.007-04:00

...continued...

So after the wedding ceremony, Ron our bus driver took us back to the Rittenhouse Hotel for cocktail hour and reception festivities:

We were greeted by a beautiful room full of dapper looking people:

Of course I made a beeline to the bubbly, where I met Maiel:

What you can't see in this photo, is that there was champagne all over his face. I walked up to the bar through the crowd of people and asked him for a glass. As we were chatting and he was twisting, the cork came out way to fast and shot clear across the room of 200 people as the bottle overflowed and bubbly went everywhere. Somehow the cork didn't hit anyone. We cracked up and I told him I wouldn't tell anyone, but all of you on the world wide web. Thanks Maiel! No one will ever know our secret- ha! :)

The appetizers during cocktail hour were absolutely delicious:

I managed to steal a quick shot of bride and groom Ginny and Chris greeting guests:

I didn't want to jump in as the crazy wedding crasher and bother them when they were visiting with friends and family, but I had to at least get a back view of Ginny's gorgeous gown. We all kept saying how much she looked like one of those perfect bridal magazine models! Groom Chris is British so naturally the two ladies in the fabulous hats were from his side. (We American gals were swooning over their hats and wondering why we don't dress that way for weddings.) Of course after staring at these two ladies I had to introduce myself and ask if I could take a picture of them. Meet Mother and daughter Lynn and Chloe:

(Confession; This is the first time I have ever played around with red-eye edits on my iPhoto and look what I did to poor Lynn's eye. This is is why I just leave photos as is, mess with the original and look what happens. Ack! Sorry Lynn, You still look fabulous even though I made your right eye look blurry...)

After a bit of bubbly and a belly full of hors d'evoures, it was time to go upstairs to the grand ballroom for the reception. I found my alias stand in name on the table list:

We were led by staff in white gloves. I felt like royalty for a minute there:

The grand ballroom met us just as it was called, decorated impeccably. I found my seat at table #18 and drooled excitedly as I looked over the menu for the evening.

To be continued in part 3...

who are you? (part 1)

2011-03-28T17:28:00.005-04:00

Finally, the start of the much anticipated wedding crashing post.

Meet Ron:

Ron was the super sweet bus driver that took us from the Rittenhouse Hotel to the church for the wedding last weekend. We were late for the meeting time, so my friend and I ended up being the only 2 people in one of these busses:

Talk about a personal coach! We enjoyed talking to Ron during the 45 minute ride through spring-fever Saturday Philadelphia traffic.

Ron told us he was from Philadephia, born and raised. He said he drove for a lot of different events like the wedding we were at. We laughed when shared stories about late night trips. Apparently groups of fancy people often get all schnockered up, then have a late-night hankering for the only place to be in Philly when it's after midnight and you're in a happy state of mind: Geno's and Pat's, so he drives them there to get their fix.

I'm sure Ron could could start his own blog about people on his bus; wit, or wit-out cheese, drippingly good cheesesteaks. We didn't end up going on Ron's bus for a cheesesteak run but we sure did have our own version at the Rittenhouse.

I'm getting way ahead of myself here, so a bit of back story on how the wedding crashing actually happened:

A while back my friend had told me she was going to a wedding for a weekend away, driving up, had a hotel set and told me I should come. As everyone knows, I love a road trip and I thought, oooh what fun. I haven't been to Philly for years, but I used to spend quite a bit of time there. I could explore the city and do what I love most; wander, snap photos, find good food, and hope to meet cool and interesting people while my friend participated in her festivities. I was in.

We arrived on Friday night, went to dinner with some other out of town guests as the bridal party was busy with the rehearsal stuff. I end up meeting the bride Ginny at the end of the night with the rest of the crew I was with. Ginny tells my friend there are two extra spots paid for because 2 guests bowed out last minute and that I should come. Why not?

The rest is history.

The next morning we raced around the city to find something for me to wear just in the nick of time. We got on the bus with Ron, I went to the wedding, cocktail hour, reception, and the after shindig, having an absolute blast, meeting fantastic people, eating delicious food and dancing the night away. It was a marathon of wedding fun and I loved every minute of it.

To be continued in part 2...

i just got a sneak peak...

2011-03-28T15:50:00.003-04:00

...at the nearly finished brand spanking new BLR site. Then did cartwheels through the house.

Ooh I am excited! We only have a little way to go, then watch out world!

My friend Bobby RULES!

HOLY CRAP! GO VCU RAMS!

2011-03-27T16:59:00.000-04:00

I have to give some love to my small home city base of 13 years, Richmond, Virginia: How about those VCU Rams?! The streets are screaming right now. Awesome, just awesome.

Everybody loves and underdog.

Final Four baby!

yep, that's snow on my car...

2011-03-27T09:04:00.001-04:00

...this morning, in Virginia, and it's almost April.

Blech!

Someone send me to the tropics!

for those of you who've asked...

2011-03-26T00:57:00.002-04:00

...about when the new BLR site will be done. Update!

More work is being done as we speak. My fabulous design and programming pal is cranking this weekend. Good things come to those who wait, so I appreciate this friend doing all he is for me therefore I'm going to be the last person to rush him. Thanks for being patient and I am glad you are all as excited to experience the next phase of BLR as I am!

In other news, there is a...well, we will call it a "trip" in the works, that I will be able to tell you more about in 2 weeks. Yessssssssssss.

Full crashed wedding post from last weekend will be here before you get back to your desk on Monday morning along with a post about my incredible Barboursville wine dinner at the Berkely Hotel last night. I am a feasting machine. Isn't that what it's all supposed to be about? (Smiling...)

vino work- tough life

2011-03-24T16:53:00.002-04:00

I got an invite to go crash another event tonight unexpectedly. Yay! I get to write about more yummy food and wine!

Did you know it's Virginia Wine Week?

Between getting back from a long weekend in Philly and NYC, completing 2 proposals for some fun upcoming projects, the event tonight, and working the next 3 days at a big ol' film festival, my blog time has been limited this week. (You know that is a total bummer for me, but all worth it in the long run. All part of the big picture.) Sleep? Who needs it. I'll sleep when I'm dead. So many people to meet, things to do, delectable treats to try, and adventures to find, so little time...

dear secco~

2011-03-24T13:54:00.001-04:00

You rocked my late-afternoon Monday lunch world:

Thanks!

Fried chickpeas? I don't even like chickpeas and I could eat these things by the bucket full.

Good food is pretty much the best thing ever.

new blushing bride ginny, if you are reading this...

2011-03-24T00:53:00.003-04:00

...I'm sorry for the delayed wedding post! I can't wait to share here about what an amazing time I had on your special day. I've had some good surprises and work pop up this week, so I am one busy woman. I had such a blast that I don't want to miss any details, so I will work on the doozy of a good time story this weekend when I have some more time.

Thank you again for having me and making me feel like part of your crew of wonderful friends. It really was a weekend to be remembered.

I hope your first few days of wedded bliss have been everything you ever dreamed of!

what's that saying again...timing is everything?

2011-03-23T12:03:00.000-04:00

The past 5 days have been a whirlwind of unexpected fun and opportunity.

Enough said for now. Oh yeah- that and WAHOO! I swear when you stop trying so hard things just happen.

mean stinks

2011-03-23T00:51:00.000-04:00

I just read about this Secret campaign. I totally dig it. Doesn't it feel better to say something nice about someone instead of something mean? Give it a try here.

today at grand central station

2011-03-21T19:09:00.002-04:00

I heart New York.

a teaser from my wedding crashing

2011-03-20T23:16:00.003-04:00

...and this was just the cocktail reception before all the rest of the festivities happened.

Full post to come in the next 2 days. (It's going to be a doozie...I took over a hundred photos!) I had the most fun I have had at an event in I don't know how long, ate absurd amounts of delectable food, met people that could not have been nicer, teared up at the Dad of bride's speech, and boogied the night away. To say it was a crazy blast of fun and marathon wedding celebrating is a severe understatement. I am still flying high from what a beautiful day it was with 200 perfect strangers.

While I complete this Philly and NYC long whirlwind weekend, I'll be off computer spending time and and on to human spending time collecting more great stories to bring back here, so hold tight.

See ya soon!

today i am a wedding crasher

2011-03-19T12:44:00.001-04:00

No lie.

Totally unplanned, but just got last minute invite to complete stranger, friend-of-a-friends wedding.

I just did a sprint through Rittenhouse Square speed shopping like I never have before to find something to wear.

This is going to be super fun. I love talking to strangers, especially 200 of them during all day and night festivities.

I'll be bringing you loads of photos and stories tomorrow so check back!

heading north

2011-03-18T16:55:00.001-04:00

Nothing makes me feel more alive or hopeful that all things are possible than being on the road.

2 girls, 2 cities, 4 days

2011-03-18T07:26:00.003-04:00

It's very rare that I am not the driver, but this one is someone else's trip- I am just a tag along. I'm glad I have kept myself nuzzled nicely on the "Ask Diane! She'll go!" list. (I once got to go to two games of the world series with killer seats because I am all about jumping in when an adventure is offered.)

This morning a friend and I head off for a few days. First stop; The City of Brotherly Love, Second; The city so nice, they named it twice. Can we talk about how excited I am? Years ago I spent significant time in Philly and I have said since then, that it is a very underestimated city...love it there. New York? Well, you all know my thing about New York. I haven't been since the kick off of Alaska or Bust last July. There has been a part of my heart there since that time. I can't wait to feel that energy again.

ROAD TRIP!

You know you'll be getting good stories from this one so stay tuned!

2 guys all about some green

2011-03-17T13:56:00.005-04:00

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, of course I had to find some Guinness related thing. Lucky me I met Kevin; The guy with the ever-so convenient bottle opener on his hat. I introduce you to Kevin with the great hat:

Looks like Kevin won't have any problem opening his beers tonight.

The other gent I'd like you to meet is Erin. Yes, very Irish E-R-I-N:

Erin is from the states. I met him when we lived in the same city. He left to go live in Dublin several years ago and absolutely loves it. I always look forward his annual St. Patrick's Day email and photo. This is the one that came today:

"...from the Ring of Kerry, Co Kerry...next stop, the USA! Thinking of you and yours this sunny St. Patrick's Day morning in Ireland. Wear your green with pride and enjoy the day!"

Cheers Kevin and Erin! Thanks for being the Blue Lollipop Road, St. Patrick's Day mascots.

gogobot loves blue lollipop road!

2011-03-16T09:47:00.002-04:00

(We love them too.)

I got a note from Amy at Gogobot yesterday telling me they had added BLR to their "Blogs we love" section. See it here. BLR is proud to be a part of the travel-loving, adventure-seeking, yummy food-searching network of resources!

Have you started your Gogogbot passport yet?

Log on and get stamping!

"star-light, star-bright, first star i see tonight..."

2011-03-16T09:15:00.004-04:00

Hey loyal readers!

Final touches are going on the new BLR site. (Happy dance! YIPPEE! Too bad we aren't on Skype right now.) Of course we have put our vision into play, but are all about feedback and pie in the sky wishes. Especially for anyone who's stuck around riding out this adventure with us for the past 3 years. We always want to hear about what you love to see here!

If anyone out there has a "I wish to see this or that"- please shoot me a note. We will see what we can do.

Can't wait for you all to be sticking around for the next 3, errr...333 years!

meet vinny

2011-03-15T13:38:00.005-04:00

Vinny was the amazing, dancing step great-grandpa from a friends wedding a couple weeks ago. What an absolute riot and adorable spirited 97 year old man...

...channeling some serious Frank Sinatra and even throwing in a little striptease action!

After his dance and the cake cutting, I stopped at his table to tell him I thought he was one fine dancer. I asked if I could have a picture taken with him. He was delighted at my request:

He was also very thankful for my compliments and said: "Well, thank you young lady, the name is Vinny. Vinny Vasta, from East 39th street in New York!" (And they he pulled out his drivers license to confirm his age. He was very proud.)

I have to tell you, it was one of the cutest things I have ever experienced. This man at 97, was more full of life than most 7 year olds. He had that perfect amount of sass and sweet that reminded me very much of my own grandpa who grew up in Brooklyn.

Thanks for the dance and making us all smile Vinny. I hope to be as full of life as you are in 65 years.

this is how i feel today

2011-03-15T00:29:00.000-04:00

feast, shake it, repeat

2011-03-14T00:06:00.004-04:00

How I love a sunny and warm day. Especially when it's clock spring forward day. I hate to admit it, but if I never saw anything but sundresses in my suitcases again- I'd be one happy camper. Sweaters be gone forever!

Sun and warmth- you make me want to do and be everything...

My sunny day today included morning coffee with bedroom window wide open, then off to zumba to sweat out all the garlic I had in my dinner last night. Ladies, gents- I am telling you if you have not zumba'd before and you want to sweat your money maker off while you're shakin' it, try this salsa, meets hip-hop, meets belly dancing, meets Bollywood moving. We ended my class today with a Latin soul train that would've made even a corpse rock out. I am in love with zumba.

After shakin' it off, naturally I had to put it back on at Millie's for brunch with a crew of fun people:

(Whoopsie! I am forming a bad habit of gobbling up all my delicious food before snapping a shot of it, so all you get this go around is the classic Millie's table juke box.)

A walk around town was a must after the brunch feast, so away we went meandering around the canal walk and flood wall:

I love the sound of traffic and trains. Underneath the train tracks:

Somebody needs to let this guy out! He clearly has spring fever just like all of us:

Happy springing forward!

What will you do with more daylight?

look who showed up in my inbox!

2011-03-12T12:04:00.011-05:00

I wrote about a "nice man" I met in Minot, ND (pronounced my-knot) on August 5th last year. Minot was my last stop before entering Canada on my way to Alaska. I found a Starbucks, got my java and camped out like I often do when I'm on the road. While I was there a gentleman chatted with me from a table near. I gave him my card and told him what I was doing. I never heard a word from him, and like others I meet in my travels, I often wonder if they ever log on to check out this site. What a great surprise today, 7 months after I met this gent, I get the following note from my contact form:

Nice man in Minot Starbucks? Thanks! It was a cold day for anyone in shorts, but your Vermont sweatshirt must have helped. Great to see the Big Loop completed...James Ryan

How cool is that?!

He thought the website contact form didn't work, so I got this message on Facebook too:

Meeting you on a cold Minot day in Starbucks reminded me of my own journeys in Europe many years ago. Cold, but cheery, and with a mission. Glad you completed your journey north and around, and are on to your next ones. I tried making the posts work on your website and could not, but was showing my daughter your website this morning and thought I would try again. Nice man in Minot, how sweet...James Ryan

You all know meeting and talking to new people is my most favorite thing to do on the road. Contacting or keeping in touch with those I have met along my journey is a special thing to me. I've learned from every single person I've meet, and often made friends for life. I have ended up staying with some of these newer friends, they send me photos of their kids and grandkids and share stories about their lives. That is just the coolest thing to me. The best part of making new friends in the most random of places, is that I continually see that we are all the same. Everyone can relate to each other in some way. I have found overall, that perfect strangers are much nicer, more generous, and willing than anyone would ever believe. I love that- it keeps me inspired.

Thanks James Ryan from the Starbucks that day back in August on my journey of a lifetime. You just made my day. I hope you will keep adventuring and stay in touch!

antique cars are cool

2011-03-12T11:29:00.002-05:00

I spotted this one today:

The Hemmings Motor News headquarters is in my hometown, so I got to see lots of neat cars like this one growing up. Maybe I should add going x-country in a car like this to the list of by train, RV, and convertible...

meet lily

2011-03-10T21:43:00.005-05:00

Yes, this is a real child- not a doll. Can you even stand how adorable she is? I want to eat her!

Lily is the granddaughter of a reader whom I met a couple years ago. We keep in touch via email fairly regularly and I always ask about the grand baby so he sends photos. Of course I had to ask permission to post this one. This kid is a Cheerios model in the making!

Thanks for sharing a BLR kid B! Now tell me, how far does she have you wrapped around her little finger?

free redbox rental

2011-03-10T01:47:00.005-05:00

For real!

It's only a buck and they still send me coupons all the time. You know I love a deal. Click here for a freebie and I will get one too through 3/17.

Can you say movie marathon?

no gps needed here

2011-03-09T18:20:00.005-05:00

Thank you to P&G’s Have You Tried This Yet? program and Kroger for sponsoring my writing about trying new things and breaking out of my everyday routine. Click here to find great savings on high-performing P&G products at a Kroger store near you. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

I am all about trying something new and getting others to hop on board with me. You could call me a cheerleader of adventure. I keep the excitement and curiosity of kid and constantly want to explore as if I'm still 8 years old. I hope that never changes.

Last May I quit my job, got rid of my apartments and sold everything I owned then drove from Virginia to Alaska with no plan. (If you have read here for a while, you know the story: Alaska was my 50th state, it was a lifelong goal, and I ended up on the road for 5 months with the trip being a wild success.) I didn't use a GPS and I still don't use one. On the trip I didn't even stop at a AAA office or look at a map until I got to Madison Wisconsin. I didn't know Alaska Highway was "world famous" until I got to it:

The great part about trying new things is that you never know what kind of surprise will be around the corner. I personally think it's better not to plan out/know what route you are going to take somewhere until day of. Can you imagine driving along and happening on something like this out of nowhere?

(See Pablito, Juan and Juanita hanging out?:)

I spent a long time wandering around the rows and rows of signs and plaques people had left from all over the world. This spot was a complete surprise to me and wouldn't have been nearly as cool if I had known it was coming.

There were countless new things I saw and tried on my journey to and through Alaska. Here's a fun first of me crabbing for the first time:

So, Ok- instead of scoring a bunch of crab, I caught a couple of creepy giant gelatinous starfish. I'm not going to be a pro fisherwoman anytime soon, but this wasn't too bad for a first try. I was thrilled to catch anything (as if you can't tell by the look on my face.)

I will always love to travel, because travel makes me to try new things. I connect with people I'd not otherwise meet, I'm more flexible, open and less judgemental. All those things help keep me being the person I want to be.

Here's to switching it up and trying it all. What new things have you tried lately?

a wise man once told me:

2011-03-08T11:04:00.000-05:00

(Ok, so this wise man is actually a friend who emailed me this morning...)

"When you've plucked all the pollen from a pasture, it's time to pollinate elsewhere."

Thanks G.

taking votes

2011-03-08T00:23:00.002-05:00

I'd love to hear what you all vote on for the best city (place) to live. Dish here!

run for the border

2011-03-08T00:15:00.003-05:00

I woke up in Florida with the balcony door to my hotel room wide open this morning and rolled over to see a text from my sister. She wasn't able to get to the gym for her boot camp class because the snow drifts where she currently lives had buried her car. After I responded: "Boo! Better you than me!"- she emailed these photos:

Nuts.

This is Church Street in Burlington, Vermont. (Usually hustling and bustling any day of the year.) If you've ever been to Vermont, you know that even during the frigid winter months, people are out, about, driving, shopping- you name it, snow doesn't stop them. Well, today was obviously a different story. Even the interstate was closed! (My sister sent me a photo of snow drifts halfway up the sliding glass door at her house too but I can't find that one now...)

I think I'd rather be hung by my toenails upside down for a week than to live in these kind of conditions. This means I am one whimpy Vermonter and have been gone long enough to think that 70 degrees is cold. Hats off to you Green Mountain Staters that can hack it in this stuff. I be you'll be happy when (if) spring comes.

If you live there, send me you address and I'll send you some hot cocoa!

i'm here...

2011-03-07T12:20:00.001-05:00

...just on the road and have been partaking in wedding festivities and high school reunion catch ups, so not much computer time.

Lots of photos and videos of dancing great-grandpas named Vinny to come. What a great weekend!

this honda has been everywhere

2011-03-05T10:06:00.002-05:00

...and now we are in Florida, enjoying good times with old friends for a wedding weekend. Palm trees, 80 degrees and people I haven't seen in 16 years make for a seriously fantastic weekend. (And laughing until my stomach hurts.)

fill your trunk with pedros junk!

2011-03-04T07:40:00.006-05:00

It's South of the Border fun! If you have ever driven I95 you know it's impossible to pass this place without stopping. Pedro welcomes you. How could you not stop at "America's favorite highway oasis"?

During my stop, I discovered once again that:
1.) I am the worlds worst videographer.
2.) I am the epitome of classy; I managed to use the words "crotch" and "pee" within 2 minutes of video. (Mom is so proud.)
3.) It takes very little to entertain me.

During my visit, I learned that Pedro could work on his bathrooms a bit:

...and poor Pedros Ice Cream Fiesta looked more like a no-show Pedro party than a well- attended shindig:

A few of the best parts of my South of the Border stop this go around:

1.) Posting real time photos on Twitter and Facebook and hearing responses and suggestions as to what to buy. (Man, people love this place!)
2.) Adding another crazy spot to the BLR-Mobile passport. In less than 6 months, my auto bff and I have driven through half of the country of Canada, all around Alaska, among the grapevines in Napa, 4 feet of snow in Vermont, South of the Border, just to name a few and there are more spots coming. Did I mention not one brake job, break down, or issue? Honda, I love you. If it weren't for you my life would not be nearly as fun. That is no lie.
3.) Finding out once again, that not much beats a road trip. People do really love cheesy roadside entertainment and the hope of meeting an interesting character.

I'm glad you have now met Pedro in case you have never been to S.O.B before. (Hee hee...S.O.B.) I told you I was going to start posting regular BLR "People." I never promised whether they'd be human or not :)

Off to search for more characters and the world largest jar of Nutella...

v pizza

2011-03-03T09:28:00.007-05:00

Perhaps I am overly aware of state shapes because I have been to all 50? Here's a previous post about Virginia cheese. The v cheese was just as random as this Vermont pizza I had last night. I started cutting and all the sudden:

(Not the best photo ever...I had to quick snap so I could gobble it up before it got cold.) It even has Lake Champlain crust on the top left side! Vermont image here.

(DP and LP~ You laughing yet?)

I really don't look for states in my food. It just happens. If you know me, you know food doesn't stick around long enough for me or anyone for that matter- to look for shapes in it.

Yummy states of pizza at Belly Timber!

last round of surprises...for now

2011-03-02T21:52:00.008-05:00

Ok, so I don't know if some of these things qualify as surprises or not, but recently started calling the next phase of BLR and things I am updating surprises, so we will just roll with it.

If you've been following, you know that:

*We are in our 3rd year here on the Blue Lollipop Road
*We launched BLR Adventures last weekend with a wildy successful outing
*We have been working on a completely new site out to launch in the next couple weeks. I just got the tiniest little sneak peek and almost jumped out of my pants. (FYI that means I was really excited because these jeans are so tight I can barely breathe. Thank you winter and Nutella habit.)
*I remembered that I used to write a lot of TTAA (Things that are awesome) and had forgotten, but have recently brought them back and will make them regular posts.

So the other little surprise I have been brewing up...

One of the best things about my day is the people. Whether I meet and chat with a new person or old friend where I am living, or whether I am on the road in some teeny town in the middle of now where and meet a friendly stranger. Sharing time with people I can laugh with or learn from is hugely important in my day. Posting photos and stories here about people I meet in my travels has always been a favorite of mine and apparently yours too. The two entries that have the most all time hits here are "Meet Jack" and "Meet Willy Robinson." I like talking to kids and older people like these two gents best because they are so unfiltered. Those are the genuine moments I am looking for.

So?

The tribe has spoken! You all like to read about everyday people and I like to challenge myself to ask complete strangers random questions and if I can take photos of them. (Most people look at me like I'm nuts when I ask them this. Then they warm up once they see I just want their story, not their money.) I'm adding a "People" category here and will be posting fun stories about interesting characters on a regular basis moving forward.

Here's to meeting the next Jack and Willy.

it's time for another road trip...

2011-03-01T23:25:00.002-05:00

...sunshine and warm style. Casualty of the job, what can I say- twist my arm.

This trip will be a fairly short one, but certainly provide for some good stories and blasts from the past. Get ready for some funny photos and video!

reincarnated

2011-03-01T08:59:00.001-05:00

Ever think about what you could make out of all that junk you throw away or that stuff you walk over in the woods?

and the strong mojo carries on

2011-02-28T11:56:00.012-05:00

Go MAU Lady Patriots!

Check this NY Times article out about girls competing against boys in the state championship wrestling tournament this weekend. Is it cool to geek out because my high school in tiny Bennington, Vermont made the NY Times? Especially because the article is about girls kicking ass and taking names in sport?

Folks, my Monday was just made.

Mount Anthony Union High School, where this girl made wresting history this weekend is where Blue Lollipop Road originated! I guess all that strong mojo that lived among us other MAU lady athletes back in the 90's has stuck around. I'm happy to see it's still a force to be reckoned with. (Ladies from my old team, are you smiling as much as I am? This wrestling champ is a soccer player as well. Gotta love it.)

Watch out boys and watch out world- here comes Rachel Hale! Congrats Rachel. What an amazing accomplishment. Glad to have you as a MAU soccer soul sister too!

it's official

2011-02-27T18:14:00.018-05:00

As you all know, I had promised a surprise Blue Lollipop Road announcement/next project about a month ago. It was bit delayed because of a few good unplanned opportunities, and now we are ready.

BLUE LOLLIPOP ROAD ADVENTURES IS BORN!

After 16 years of my own adventure travels (50 states, several countries, delectable foods, interesting people, and thousands of miles and stories), it's time to pass on the laundry list of resources and information I have, to all of you out there: I put together a plan that includes anything from a small local quick outing to a far off extensive journey, add a fantastic food and drink element, and there you have the perfect storm for fun, meeting like minded people, and getting out of your everyday grind.

Sounds pretty great right? I use my buckets of experience and do the "dirty" work. (Planning and figuring out all details.) You show up and have a blast. It's so easy!

The 1st ever BLR Adventure happened yesterday. A group of incredibly fun and diverse people dove in to be my "test" case. (Thanks again guys!) We had a most fantastic 9 hours of road tripping, exploring, food and drink. No one from the group knew each other. (You know I love to watch worlds collide!) I laughed so hard my stomach hurt, heard "I haven't had this much fun in forever!", "When is the next one?!" and ended the day with a big fat smile on my face. As I drove home last night, I had a euphoric feeling, just as I had hoped I would. Nothing makes me happier than exploring outside of the regularly scheduled program, and encouraging other people to hop on the train to share that time. Isn't that what it's all about?

I truly believe that an adventure a day keeps the doctor away. That simply means doing anything that makes you feel alive and excited.

Yesterday, we were all very much alive and excited. A road trip to Virginia's Wine Country with our first stop at Veritas Winery. We toasted to the launch of BLR Adventures:

...ordered a cheese plate snack:

... and had a glass of each of our favorite vino outside while enjoying the sunshine:

Here's some of the happy crew:

After Veritas, we drove to our next winery reservation, but we had lounged at Veritas in the sun for so long we were too late. That ended up being perfect because the next portion of the adventure I had planned was to go to Mas Tapas in the Belmont Neighborhood in Charlotesville. There is always a wait at Mas. This place is slam-packed jam-packed every second it's open and they don't take reservations. We managed to score a table in no time because of our early arrival. Before we sat we met and chatted with a sweet and interesting couple. (Transplants from New Jersey to Charlottesville.) They were on a "date" for their 21st wedding anniversary, so cute. Talking to strangers fit in with the theme of our day.

The food was so delicious, I didn't even have time to take any photos before our table was empty!

Clean plates = happy people.

Some of what we ordered:
*Pequeno Plato de Queso - sliced, aged raw-milk Manchego, local apples, on a slice of hearth-baked bread
*Queso cocido con alcachofa - warm artichoke and goat cheese spread w/ brick-oven bread
*CocaMAS - wood-fired flatbread w/ smoked tomatoes, Caromont Farm’s Chevre, Manchego, Basil on hand-crafted dough
*Carne asada - marinated hanging tenderloin -grilled rare w/ smoked tomato alioli
*Chuletillas de cordero - tender, young lamb chops w/ grilled flatbread and a mint-mojo sauce

Drooling yet? So, so delish.

Cafe' con leche to end an amazing meal:

We are big fans of Mas, especially these funny tees the chefs were wearing:

The first BLR Adventure was a wild success!

I will announce yet another surprise this coming week. The big kahuna is the complete overhaul of this site. We will launch in the next few weeks. Thrilled isn't a big enough word for how I'm feeling about a new full-on website to go with the next big phase of Blue Lollipop Road. The new site will have complete information on BLR Adventures and other projects we are working on so stay tuned.

To my test crew from yesterday~

Thank you for your support and participation! I can't wait for our next one.

Here's to exploring, eating, drinking and being merry!

it's oscar day baby!

2011-02-27T09:54:00.003-05:00

Time for chocolate ice cream, twizzlers, and camping out in front of the TV for a ludacris amount of hours for pre, actual, and post shows. Red carpets, dresses, jewels and speeches- this is one of my favorite days of the year. (I was a fashion designer in a former life.)

Regardless of who wins tonight, I will be a watching winner.

Happy Oscar Day everyone.

nothing says happy saturday like...

2011-02-26T12:35:00.003-05:00

A BLR Adventure.

ROAD TRIP!

Sunny day with good company, yummy eats, drinks and gorgeous views. Throw in a little trying something new and talking to strangers. We like it.

Here we go! Check back tomorrow for photos and video. Group fun, Blue Lollipop Road style...

Maybe you should join for the next one eh?

reader ttaa

2011-02-26T05:43:00.002-05:00

What a great surprise I got from a new reader today. She passed by the BLR-mobile today and left a comment on my earlier TTAA post. These kinds of things make me very, very excited.

TTAA from new reader Gayle:

*Finding an interesting writer because her license plate was parked in front of my house, and blue lollipops are my pediatricians favorite in the DumDums bag
*Celebrating the human connection that pen pals can bring
*Children
*Kittens
*Joy

Thanks so much for sharing Gayle! Those blue lollipops certainly do have a special mojo.

Who else wants to share some TTAA?

ttaa

2011-02-25T01:05:00.000-05:00

Yes, that would be more things that are awesome...

Early morning coffee with friends. Zumba class. The Oscars on Sunday night. BLR at over 900 posts. The first BLR Adventure on Saturday. Egg and white cheddar cheese bagel sandwiches. Balconies on apartments. Jimmy Fallon. Surprise emails from someone you haven't talked to in 7 years. Friday night happy hours. Tattoos of blue lollipops. Cookie dough. Fried pickles. Fleece blankets. Old t-shirts. Christmas gifts that come in February. Attending the wedding of my 2nd grade boyfriend. Moleskin notebooks.

Anyone? Please feel free to comment and add below!

i need these

2011-02-24T23:43:00.002-05:00

Lollipop speakers? Fabulous.

I love it when readers send me links to fun things I should totally have.

vermont to oregon on a bike sounds fun to me!

2011-02-24T14:19:00.003-05:00

So many people are out there doing good for their communities and working on interesting projects. I can't keep up. I could write 24/7 posting links and information. This is a good problem to have. Reading about what guys like Robert and Aaron have done at Bikeloc help continually inspire me to do what I love and believe in.

It's pretty swell that my days include reading and research, so I can bring stories and resources here. It's like a BlR learning and connecting with cool people fest. You know I like that.

Robert and Aaron~

Looks like an amazing journey you had. I know this doesn't classify as a fresh, local potluck, but I hope you noshed on an extra sugary and well deserved Voo Doo doughnut when you finally reached Portland. They are a once in a lifetime treat not to be passed up, especially if you have worked (out) so hard.

Keep up the good work!

february beach time is just as good

2011-02-24T09:43:00.007-05:00

Somehow even if it is winter cold and cloudy, the beach is always be gorgeous and peaceful. In my 1,050 miles in the reliable BLR-Mobile this weekend, we stopped off to face the ocean and listen to the wind and waves for a few minutes at Wrightsville Beach.

(Yes I saw the sign. Don't worry- we didn't park there for very long. Occasionally I do follow the rules:)

Sand and salt water; Another example of a free and simple pleasure.

the one and only mocha java shake

2011-02-23T21:18:00.000-05:00

Maybe it's a bit ridiculous that I've written about this shake 3 times in 3 years, but it is that good. My mother and I took a little road trip to Wilmington, NC this weekend and naturally I told her she had to try it. We practically licked the cup.

I love you Port City Java, for making the single best espresso chocolate milkshake I have ever had.

what does adventure mean to you?

2011-02-23T16:37:00.002-05:00

What I hear all the time: "My life is so boring compared to yours!" or "Well, we went and did X,Y,Z but that's no where near as cool as what you probably did."

I think that is just silly. No ones life is boring in my eyes. Funny enough, I am constantly thinking to myself, How did this amazingly smart, interesting, generous, accomplished person come into my life again? I might need to kick it up a notch to keep in that company!

"Adventure" means different things to different people. While my go to answer would usually be that I love traveling and road trips, I also know that I could (and have) made adventures out of watching paint dry, or seeing a snail walk across a sidewalk. Jet-setting or shmoozing with some big wigs at a fancy event, are not requirements for a good time or to be known to have an interesting life. The little things are an adventure, like time with people you love and a scoop of chocolate chip oatmeal cookie dough. (Thanks Stef!) Why shouldn't we see as much excitement in the regularly scheduled and mundane activities as we do in the big fancy stuff?

This past weekend I posed the question: "What was your adventure this weekend?" The responses were a pleasant surprise:

*Nick said: Vereen Gardens; Calabash NC.

*Jen said: (A walk around) Church Street, Burlington, VT

*Abigail said: Bennington Free Library with a toddler.

*Danielle said: Good ol' Bennington, Vt

*Bernice said: Falling in love with my husband, again and again...

*Craig said: Atlantic city with friends. Good times.

*Donna said: Politics~ Madison, WI

*Cathy said: Meeting my sons future in-laws!!! :)

*Tom said: Sitting in the car with my daughter for 45 minutes while my wife got a salon treatment. We told each other knock knock jokes.

*Sean said: Watching OSU men's lacrosse in the 'Shoe and doing yoga!

*Emma said: During my high school reunion with 2 old high school girlfriends I:
1.) Rode in a white stretch limo to an amazing Trey concert (we called a cab)
2.) Got a free round of beers by some jagoff cutting in line, "Um, since you want to cut you can also buy my girlfriends and I beers!" go me.
3.) Had a 3 hr breakfast with the best conversation ever.
4.) Shopped for jewelry.
5.) Got a massage in my hotel room.
6.) Had the best authentic Thai food.
7.) Got hit on by the guy in front of us in line for Thai.
8.) Had "that guy" invite us to "his" concert across the street after dinner to which I replied, "Sure, if you put us on the guest list." go me again.
9.) Saw a great musician.
10.) Flirted. Got a signed copy of his album after the show.
11.) &$#&^@! and watched Justin Timberlake's "Dick In A Box" video in a hotel bed with my hommies.
12.) Laughed till dawn.
13.) slept.
AMAZING weekend for this happily married mumma of 2.

*I say: Dinner with 2 friends I hadn't seen together in months, dessert at home because bars were too loud and we are "old" now, and lots of chatter and laughter as we conked out on couches and floors, 12 year old sleep-over style.

Aren't these great? No one said they hopped a private yacht to Bali or bought diamonds and jewels. It's all time exploring, laughing with friends, exercising, yummy food, and knock knock jokes.

All of the above is what "adventure" is all about. It's what Blue Lollipop Road is all about. Toss out the supposed "boring" and lets all keep adventuring.

Thanks for sharing everyone!

and one more makes 900!!!

2011-02-22T09:59:00.005-05:00

Today is my 900th post.

NINE HUNDRED!

This is hard for me to believe. So exciting. Especially because this Saturday marks the first outing/surprise/adventure and we have been working very hard on the complete rebuild of this site.

Can't wait to share more.

Check back tomorrow for stories from readers about the "adventures" they had this weekend and my run-in with a mocha java shake.

Wahoo, wahoo! 900!

I wonder what all of you out there have done 900 times or more. Send me a story won't ya?

there's a business for this?

2011-02-21T08:18:00.004-05:00

Word to the wise: Always keep a camera on the front seat of your car while driving. You wouldn't want to miss signs like this on weekend road trips.

I think I'm a driving and chocolate eating specialist.

What's your specialty?

brunch time quotes

2011-02-20T12:39:00.002-05:00

"If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way."

~Buddha

Thanks Humble Pie:

this platter didn't have a chance against 5 women

2011-02-19T07:35:00.004-05:00

Of course I was happy to be a part of the devouring team.

Before:

After:

I love friends having birthdays.

who needs their own bike...

2011-02-18T17:06:00.000-05:00

...when you can have the Conference Bike.

This thing gives a whole new meaning to team building.

(Insert infomercial voice here...)

Sweat it out during your 8 hour day wheeling away and having so much fun! And you thought that smelly guy from the cube next to you and that woman who eats Lean Cuisine frozen meals for lunch everyday weren't any fun! Well now you can discover all you ever wanted and more about your coworkers with the Conference Bike- YEAH!

(It is truly amazing how much I crack myself up.)

can you imagine?

2011-02-17T23:50:00.008-05:00

It's nice having people in my life that are 6,000 times smarter than I am. My hodge podge of friends keep me on my toes. One friend I have, who's brain is on a different universe than mine (meaning on the brilliant universe)- works for Corning. He just sent me this video.

Possibilities with Corning Glass:

These are the kinds of things my friends work on during their days? Blows my mind.

With technology like this, soon enough I'll be able to buy a robot that senses when I have a craving for chocolate chip cookies, it will insta-bake and deliver them to me with some icy cold milk. Now I think that would be the perfect addition to all this glass amazingness.

i guess this means i'm a bad ass

2011-02-17T17:02:00.001-05:00

I love spotting funny bumper stickers. Especially ones like these, on trucks.

I know you all out there must have some too. Send them to me at diane(@)bluelollipoproad.com and I will post them!

surprises continued...

2011-02-17T08:14:00.002-05:00

Did I mention we are completely rebuilding the BLR site too?

Indeed we are and little worker bees we have been. I just love a head to toe makeover.

Keep checking back and spreading the word. Oh the many adventures to come...

everybodys girl friday

2011-02-16T09:00:00.001-05:00

Word of the Day for Wednesday, February 16, 2011

factotum \fak-TOH-tuhm\, noun:

A person employed to do all kinds of work or business.

it's 4:06am

2011-02-16T05:11:00.002-05:00

Obviously I just gave up on trying to sleep, so I'm now sitting here in the dark on my laptop.

If you are a regular reader here, I know you have been waiting patiently for next project announcement. Thank you! I've been working my booty off day and night on all things Blue Lollipop Road. While we all know hard work pays off, it's also pretty tough to force those aha moments that bring all that hard work together. Sometimes we have to wait. I am so bad at waiting, but I've been holding off on announcing the next project BLR because there was a tiny little piece missing that didn't quite feel right yet. (We've all learned that lesson right? Good gut feeling is key.) Today that tipping point, my tiny little missing piece for the next project BLR came unexpectedly while chatting with a friend over coffee. Now it feels right, so let the project roll...Whoop whoop!

The best things always seem to come in unplanned moments and when you're not even trying. Don't you just love that?

Other things I continually find to be true:

1.) If you commit to something, give it full-on blood, sweat, tears, and are organized too, you won't fail.
2.) Being authentic is the only way to be.
3.) You get what you give.
4.) If you don't ask, no one will ever say yes.
5.) In order to do something you have to start doing it first.
6.) If you focus on what you're best at and well experienced in, there will be no such thing as "competition."

Hold tight, the ride gets better and better! The next Blue Lollipop Road will be announced by March 1.

Insomnia is a total bummer, unless of course the only reason you can't sleep is because you are just too excited to...

sharing is nice

2011-02-15T02:19:00.003-05:00

If you are reading this and like what you see, look left <--- and click "Share this" on Facebook or Twitter. Spread the word, spread the love.

Thanks for coming on the ride with me!

snail mail rules

2011-02-15T01:39:00.016-05:00

Wandering around the Xpedx paper warehouse is fun. I geek out on sending snail mail, so naturally this is a place I like to visit. Xpedx supplies print shops and stationary companies with papers all colors of the rainbow, envelopes in every size, brand, and more.

I took a stroll in today as I do a couple times a year wondering if anyone actually likes those gold-embossed Hallmark cards with bad poetry that cost 4 bucks each. Why not go to a supply store and make something personal instead? Fun + uber cheap + get crafty. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

I like to peruse the clearance wall of overflow, wrong orders, and returns. All kinds of goodies:

Last summer I got some fantastic recycled card stock. I picked out the size envelopes I wanted, had the card stock cut down, stamped my BLR on them and voila, my own stationary. Plenty of empty space to write completely personal notes.

Whether it's 2011 or 2111 one thing is for sure: Emails, texts, Facebook or other, will never compare to a hand written love note, a homemade birthday card, or a surprise letter just to say hi.

Who will you write your next letter to?

look mom... i can run again!

2011-02-14T16:00:00.024-05:00

I got exactly what I wanted for Valentines Day: Vibrams FiveFingers.

If you know me, you know I love to run. Running to me, is one of the best forms of therapy, zoning time and of course that thing which allows me to continually participate in my Oreo and Nutella habit. (By the way did you know that Oreos are vegan? Score! Something else I just thought of for the first time too: Oreo blue is the same shade of blue as Blue Lollipop Road blue. Can we blame the color twin as the reason for my addiction?)

Anyway, back to running:

As you will hear in my below video, I acquired some serious injuries after way over training for a marathon In 2004. 55 miles a week in traditional running shoes will do that to you. I used to run races regularly and I've only been able to run 3 miles at a time since then, which for someone like me feels like losing an arm. I love running about as much as I love traveling and chocolate. My horribly painful IT band issues have left what feels like a forever bump on the outside of my right knee. Fittings at various stores, long chat's with "professionals", Gait training, stretching practically every way including hanging from a chandelier, yoga, different shoes, new shorter stride, blah, blah, blah, you name it- I have done it and spent on it, I still have major pain and swelling when I wear traditional running shoes. The shoes have been the culprit.

A year and a half ago, I had one of those days and took off running, completely zoned out on the beach. When my brain broke free from my stress zone, it registered that I'd run about 6/7 miles. I stopped dead in my tracks and remember exclaiming "Holy sh*t! I just ran way over 3 miles barefoot and I have no swelling or pain?!" It's as if a doctor had just told me I'd be able to walk again.

After that beach run, I started running barefoot whenever I could. When I was on rough surface and couldn't go totally barefoot worrying about foot protection, I wore some ridiculous non-sport fashion-y shoes which were essentially flip flops that tied up. It scared the crap out of me to put on a regular running shoe. I ran like that 6 days a week for about 4 months. Even though I felt healthier and less swollen then I had in years, at some point I started doubting my research. I also think it was hard to permanently break my habit of those traditional shoes. So what did I do? Glutton for punishment, I went out and bought another pair of traditional running shoes. That was a mistake and like all the rest I had bought before, a waste of my money. The Nike Free is what I got. They were Ok, but still made my leg swell. That pair is now retired for zumba class only, never again for a run.

After all these years I have learned my lesson.

The only time I have no pain or swelling when I run, is when I'm barefoot. Makes sense right? Any shoe with cushion, arch, etc. whether it's an everyday shoe, a heel, sneaker, whatever- throws off the alignment of your spine, forces your foot to do something it doesn't do naturally. In the end makes you injured. There are many arguments as to whether or not running barefoot or like barefoot will ruin your body. Well, running is always going to wreak havoc on your legs. We all know that. It is what it is. All I know is that less pain while wreaking havoc on my body is better than excruciating pain. Vibrams might not work for everyone, but they sure work for me.

I wore them on a treadmill yesterday. No pain, no swelling. (YIPPEE!) Here are my before and after run videos from this morning. (Excuse the sideways shots and long winded 2nd video. I was very excited, the run was a success, and who needs to edit? These things are a one shot deal.)

Sorry Nike, Adidas, Reebok and other; I'll reserve you for sports bras and soccer cleats only. Vibrams have given my feet protection from elements while allowing them to strike how nature intended. I have officially ditched your shoes and the pain and suffering that comes with them.

Anyone out there who has heartbreakingly given up a running hobby, career or race- try out some Vibrams. I'll see you back out on the road!

it sure does

2011-02-13T22:28:00.001-05:00

Check out this site Makes Me Think. The name of the site says it all.

Thanks for sending this Bob.

up for some music and fashion?

2011-02-13T09:31:00.005-05:00

Me too!

We are in luck. The Grammy Awards are on tonight at 8pm EST.

I'm all about snuggling up under a blanket on a chilly Sunday night, catching up on emails and writing snail mail while watching these awards shows. One of my favorite ways to prep for a busy week ahead.

Let the red carpet begin!

they must be kidding

2011-02-12T16:46:00.001-05:00

nutella sweepstakes?

2011-02-11T15:43:00.003-05:00

I am so in!

They are giving away a case a month. I just entered to win.

You can too. Click here for details. The hitch is, if you win you have to share a few jars with me, deal? (Or you can just come meet me, I will provide the Oreos for dipping and we will just share all around:)

Dear Nutella~

I love you. Will you be my Valentine?

my name is diane and i'm a...

2011-02-11T13:13:00.004-05:00

...chocoholic.

Chocoholic was the fantastically delicious event I was at last night.

From cupcakes, to cookies, to chocolate cocktails and chocolate fountains, (white, milk, dark, champagne, mint, chili, cinnamon flavored and even caramel and peanut butter ones!)- we were one happy crew of indulging friends. Of all the treats, my favorite of the night was the sea salt caramels covered in dark chocolate. Here's a recipe to make them. The perfection is in the combo of salty and sweet. Mmmm...

Naturally during the course of hundreds of ravenous sugar lovers roaming and noshing, there were bound to be drips and drops flying everywhere. This poor sign didn't see it coming:

Gee, I wonder why I was wide awake until 2am this morning.

I'm still smiling from my chocolate high.

and more...

2011-02-11T12:00:00.005-05:00

I just love audience participation!

From reader Gretchen. Her ttaa:

*Getting the car and starting the drive for a very long road trip
*Watching (my kids) N and G learn and love the excitement of accomplishing and conquering something new
*The sense of peace I find in going for a hike
*A quiet house: (Kids asleep)…husband out with his friends, drink in hand, TV/remote to myself :)
*That first sip of coffee...Yuuummmmmmmmmmmm

Notice all these things that are awesome readers have shared are free or really cheap? Isn't that great?

reader ttaa

2011-02-11T11:08:00.001-05:00

From Gabi:

*The warmth of the sun on your skin when you're cold
*Watching a live concert of a band/artist you love
*Cookies and cream ice-cream (topped with a lot of chocolate syrup)

From Troy:

*The smell of fresh cut grass.
*The giggle or smile of a child/baby.
*Chinese take out on the second day...always better.

Thanks guys! Love these. Anyone else want to share?

here comes v-day

2011-02-10T18:00:00.001-05:00

"Happiness exists in action. It exists in telling the truth and saying what your truth is, and it exists in giving away what you want the most."

~Eve Ensler

What a fantastic woman.

Watch her in one of her many TED Talks here and pass it on.

ttaa

2011-02-10T09:39:00.004-05:00

In going back into the Blue Lollipop Road archives recently, I had forgotten that I used to write about TTAA (Things That Are Awesome.) Here's one I wrote while in Chicago a couple years ago. I am bringing back the TTAA, so look for it regularly moving forward. Here's some from yesterday:

Driving by old antique stores that have rusty signs on the side:

Zoning out at a stoplight and looking up to see the sky and clouds look like this:

French fries. Zumba. Catching up with friends you haven't seen in almost 3 years. Coming home to a new fashion magazine in the mail. Knowing that it's GOT to get warmer eventually. Looking forward to weddings. Looking forward to road trips. Owning who you are and what you do. Reading books friends have written. Phone calls from friends across the country.

Post a comment here and share what you think is awesome!

bored sitting there at your desk during lunch?

2011-02-09T15:06:00.003-05:00

See Sean during 1 of his 52 jobs. Webisode here. Good stuff, great people. Watch one and you'll be hooked.

a little morning drive

2011-02-09T14:23:00.000-05:00

Today I had to drive deep into the country to a county office to pay my car taxes. (My current home base is off the beaten path.) While most would've grumbled about a 15 mile detour, I was thrilled. It's amazing where my thoughts go, in just a few minutes driving in silence on a road I've never been on before. I'll be road tripping to North Carolina and Florida within the next month. I'm sure you can imagine how excited I am for that. (Good thing I've got a Honda!) It feels like a dream that it's my job to do all this. It's hard to believe all the places the BLR-Mobile has been:

...and oh the many more places it will go...

time flies when you're having fun

2011-02-08T12:22:00.007-05:00

Two years ago in February, I was riding a double decker bus...

...traveling to see places like Iguazu Falls...

...taking boat rides into the falls...

...having yummy vegetarian lunch (which is laughable considering we were in Argentina)...

...taking gondola rides over Salta...

...strolling in the warm sun near San Lorenzo gazing at beautiful flowers...

...finding fresh fruits on the street...

...then running through a hail storm like I had never seen before, drenched, laughing and freezing to get back to the hostel...

...to eat dinner with friendly and interesting strangers from around the world...

As I imagine my brother adventuring around on gorgeous beaches today in Thailand, (where he's currently traveling) it makes me happy to know that just like when we were in Argentina together 2 years ago, he is making memories, meeting people and having experiences he will never forget.

Here's to dreaming it, then doing it- because that's all it takes.

i'm calling for a heat wave

2011-02-07T14:56:00.003-05:00

I don't know about you but I am so over this winter. By that I mean SO OVER this winter. It seems like the skies are more grey and the temperatures are consistently colder than previous winters. I cannot wait for the heat and sun again. As I was daydreaming of the summer, this photo I took of my morning coffee overlooking the beach in North Carolina's Outer Banks came to mind:

Off in the far distance? Yep, that's the beach....the warm, warm beach...

Come back to us warmth, come back I beg of you.

i want to be a roadmonkey

2011-02-07T12:06:00.001-05:00

I get to talk to them today so I might just be one before to long! Exciting. Very, very exciting. Check out everything about Roadmonkey here and spread the good word.

What have you done to give back to a community that has given to you?

amen dude

2011-02-06T15:31:00.003-05:00

I just sent a note to the guy who wrote this article and asked him if was living inside my mind. Minus the getting chicks and super-boozing parts (because I happen to like dudes and I enjoy a cocktail but don't regularly tie one on) it's as if his words were taken out of my mouth. I have written almost this exact article before.

Boris, you are the male version of me. Scary and fantastic.

Readers, see article below from The Single Dude's Guide to Life & Travel:

Escape the Corporate Prison
By Boris

If you’re anything like me once you got a taste of what life really has to offer (or at least what life outside the Western world really has to offer) you can’t get enough of it. You have one little problem though: two weeks of vacation (or four to six if you live in Western Europe) just isn’t enough. If you’re like most young professionals out there as I was, you probably spend 40% or more of your waking hours working as a corporate slave chained to a desk in a cube. To add insult to injury you probably spend another 10% or more of your waking hours driving to and from that corporate prison.

Sure you travel and experience the possibility of something else a few weeks a year and every long weekend you can get your hands on, but it just isn’t close to enough and makes your regular life seem that much worse. The experience of going from hell to paradise and back again gets harder and harder and begins to effect your mood at home.

As your mental health suffers so does your physical health. You spend 8-10 hours at your desk and 2 hours stuck in traffic and it’s 8pm at night by the time you walk in the door to your Ikea apartment and now you have to worry about dinner. Do you pay too much to order in or eat out or do you throw together some mediocre concoction comprised of whatever food you can find in your refrigerator that doesn’t resemble some kind of science experiment? All you want to do is sit down on the couch with a glass of Johnny Red (you can’t afford black on the pittance they pay you) and drink yourself into a stupor. You go out sometimes at home but now that you know what you’re missing the the sight or more often the sounds these American girls makes you sick. Their incessant, vapid, vacuous ramblings are like nails on a chalk board. You would give your left nut for another night with your favorite Latin American beauty queen or Eastern European princess but she’s oh so far away. Going to the gym on a regular basis is virtually impossible with a schedule like yours, so now you’re probably getting fat which further affects your mental health and self-esteem. It’s a vicious cycle.

But there is another way! The first step is to escape from the rat race. Now I’m not going to tell you can just invent a website today and zip off to the Caribbean tomorrow and only work 4 hours per week as advocated in The Four Hour Work Week, however you should read that book. As I see it you have four basic options for freeing yourself geographically:

1.) Live off savings, trust fund or proceeds of the sale of a business you already own, etc.
2.) Convince your boss to let you “work from home”
3.) Become an entrepreneur
4.) Derive your income from “the arts”

Let’s examine your options in depth:

Live off savings, trust fund, proceeds of the sale of a business you already own, etc.: Fuck you if you’re lucky enough to have this option. You don’t need help or advice, you just need balls. Go do it. Stop living the safe life, stop pursuing more material possessions and a bigger payday that you don’t need when you can already go live the life of your dreams now. It’s cheaper than you think.

Convince your boss to let you “work from home”: Some people have managed to pull this off and Tim Ferris gives a formula for doing it in The Four Hour Work Week but for every one person that can pull it off I bet there’s a thousand or more that can’t. More power to you if you can do it but most people can’t. Besides I’d rather make $20,000 per year working for myself than $40,000 working for somebody else. Fuck that, once you’ve been your own boss you’ll never go back.

Become an entrepreneur: Easier said than done. Requires a lot of up front effort, dedication and discipline. Also will require a lot of trial and error and a willingness to fail outright and try again. My father once imparted upon me a great piece of wisdom: there is a high correlation between 8th grade dropouts and successful entrepreneurs. It’s not that there’s no value in education, it’s just that these individuals didn’t have the luxury of giving up. They had to make their businesses work. The most important thing in entrepreneurship is not to give up. Being an entrepreneur is a huge topic and I will write a follow-up article in the future. For the moment I will again recommend you read The Four Hour Work Week along with Viral Loop: From Facebook to Twitter, How Today’s Smartest Businesses Grow Themselves and Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant. Make sure you’ve read those books and start doing a little brain storming with yourself and any like-minded friends you may have and you’ll be well on your way.

Derive your income from “the arts”: If you’re lucky enough to have the talent and dedicated enough to develop that talent, become an artist of some type, performing or otherwise. If you make your living as an artist chances are that you can either: a) do your work from anywhere or b) get paid to travel. Some people can even do both. Charlie and ¡Raul! are a couple of class A examples. If you are already an artist but you feel you’re tied to your location, chances are you aren’t really, at least not as much as you think. Unless you make 15 ton sculptures out of metal in a airplane hanger you probably don’t really need to be anywhere in particular. Even if you do there is probably a cheaper airplane hanger somewhere else more desirable to live with cheaper metal to boot. Rethink your life and strategize accordingly.

Freeing yourself geographically is a long term project, not an over night decision, however it could be the most rewarding thing you ever do for yourself. It also can be a lot less expensive than you might imagine. If you travel anything like we do you may find that sometimes you actually save money by going on vacation. Why not make your entire life like that? The first year I spent as a geographically free man was in a place that I would call “middle of the road” in terms of price among our favorite destinations. I spent less than my annual salary at my first job after college and it paid for:

1) Rent for a fully furnished 1 bedroom apartment in a relatively new building with all the modern conveniences including air conditioning, internet, and security.

2) The ability to eat out and go out drinking whenever I wanted and wherever I wanted. And I did, I partied my ass of in the best clubs with reservations, VIP tables and bottle service. I also ate every meal in at least a moderate scale restaurant or had food delivered. I never needed to cook.

3) The ability to travel about the region relatively freely and do things like visit the beach and go skiing, staying in hotels or guest houses when I did.

4) No need for a car, I took a taxi wherever I went. On less than double my budget you could own a car and have a private driver in many places.

5) Paid way less taxes.

6) Generally wanted for nothing.

The best part is that I was still figuring shit out, it could easily be done for less knowing what I know now. If you’re not a heavy drinker you can knock thousands off your budget right there. I never did a breakdown but I would have to say if I made a pie chart of my total budget, “drinks in clubs” would definitely be the big piece.

Freeing yourself geographically is the best way to live the best possible lifestyle. If you want to move past the rat race and the tyranny of low quality western women this is key.

Even if you aren’t in a position to fully or permanently unplug now, why not embrace The Four Hour Work Week concept of “mini-retirements”? Whatever your case 99% of people certainly could live a better, happier more fulfilling lifestyle – they just don’t want to put in the up front effort to make it happen. Don’t be one of those guys. The world is your oyster. Fuck your boss. Fuck your desk. Fuck rush hour traffic. And most importantly, Fuck Mondays! I love Mondays! I don’t mind spending 8 hours a day in my office. My office is our favorite coffee shop full of hot chicks wherever we happen to be that week. It’s where we write our blog and I run my businesses remotely using nothing more than a laptop. I love my life. How many people do you know that can say that and mean it? Do you want to be able to say that? Then make your life into a life that will allow you to.

Free yourself from the rat race. Start living or keep dying.

game? there's a game on?

2011-02-05T11:19:00.001-05:00

I can't lie. Even though I love sports and have always been an athlete, all I really care about tomorrow for the Superbowl party is:

1.) Socializing
2.) Commericals
3.) Food
4.) A few good beers
5.) Halftime show with the Black Eyed Peas

What football? (I know, all you legitimate cheese-head and Steeler fans are cringing right now, sorry.)

My friend who's hosting the party sent out a "BYO burger or dogs, we are firing up the grill!" As to be expected for a chill, sporty get-together. I am not a burger or dog kind of girl (unless I'm at Wrigley Field) so what to bring? I don't want to be fancy, this is not a formal dinner party- that's next weekend. I can't exactly break out a cucumber salad. The word "salad" is almost illegal on Superbowl Sunday, we all know that.

Maybe I'll make those extra crispy garlic parmesan fries that are always a fan favorite. Mmmm...

Anyone have a great idea for a yummy veggie side-dish, dip, or other you want to share?

on the ice cream subject

2011-02-04T16:14:00.001-05:00

A gift idea:

I was just telling a friend about the Ben & Jerry's pint cozy so I had to share with you all here. This thing is a must have if you're a fan of those yummy pints. I've had one for years. I love to give it as a gift along with some other goodies in a bag to expectant mothers or other people like me who just can't keep their hands off ice cream. No more paper towel wrapped around your pint while you dig away with your hands frozen!

Another brilliant creation from Ben and Jerry.

i can have all the toppings i want?!

2011-02-04T15:46:00.002-05:00

I don't know about you, but usually when I am road tripping and hit up DQ or whatever other roadside ice cream place to get my chocolate fix, I find myself wanting to say: "Come on dude- add another scoop of M&M's!" or "Feel free to put in 96 Oreos if you wish. I can handle it." Often when I order ice cream there are just not enough chunks of goodness in my cup. (A terrible problem to have.) Enter: Verry Berry.

Verry Berry is a grab a cup, pull your own ice cream or frozen yogurt...

...load up any amount of goodies your little heart desires, from fruits to nuts to all things chocolate...

...and enjoy.

Yum.

They leave piles of Post-it notes and Sharpies on the tables, for those feeling creative (which of course we did.) Write what you wish, plaster them on a big ol' Post-it wall:

A treat and entertainment for only 2 bucks. Whatta deal! I would have never walked into the place had it not been for my 2 young pals Lily and Thabea who I was looking after. The kids always know where the best treats are.

Thanks girls! Pencil me in for a Verry Berry date again soon. This makes the favorites list for sure.

whoop whoop!

2011-02-03T11:22:00.005-05:00

Yesterday we had the most hits ever. (As in visitors here.) That deserves a big CHEEEEEERS! So? Some bubbly:

Those delightful glasses were the ones I sipped at Mumm Napa during a day off in the Valley this fall. I love some good bubbles. Especially bubbles at Mumm.

Baby steps have turned into big steps. We are hitting the tipping point with Blue Lollipop Road. Every new reader, shout out, comment and collaboration we get to work on makes me screech with delight. Thanks everyone!

Keep reading and spread the word. More to come and it's going to get even better!

Cheers to trusting your gut and following what you love.

What are you all following out there?