Procrastination = Update!

I have no idea how it is already January 24 - How did that happen?

I'm sitting in front of my laptop, looking at the 525 unopened emails in my inbox, feeling slightly overwhelmed, and wondering how I'm going to make it all happen.

For those that are curious, the response from Shark Tank was greater than we ever imagined. Just a few stats:
1) We were the #2 most searched term on Google on Friday, January 15. We were #3 on Saturday.
2) Web traffic increased by 5500%.
3) We nearly tripled our sales in 2009 in 1 week.
4) We have received thousands of emails since the show. Tim & I are trying our best to personally respond to each one.
5) We now have people knocking on OUR door, versus us begging them to answer theirs.
6) Our little company finally has legs!
7) For anyone curious, we talk with BC & RH (our investors) at least a few times a week. The deal was real - and they are amazing mentors. With these partners, however, comes a huge level of accountability. It's a good thing, for sure, but it's also new for us!

Meanwhile, I'm still working full time. I am very lucky to have a supportive company - I had to take a few days off just to handle some of the response, but I'm back at it full time tomorrow. I really do enjoy my job - especially all of the people I work with.

Then there's the house I am building. I haven't mentioned much about it on this blog, but let's just say it's a project. I'm lucky enough to have amazing contractors that make my life easy, but there's still been so many big decisions to make. This past weekend I finalized my exterior paint colors; over the past few weeks, I've finalized plumbing, flooring, roofing, siding, textures, tiles, countertops, cabinets, windows, decking, etc... Today, I picked out some new paint colors and painted the front of the house to test them. (ETG came over and said they were perfect for me - yay!) As I stepped back and surveyed the house, I was overcome with this feeling of pride and accomplishment. I can't believe that I am building my very own house!! I can't believe that in 2 months (hopefully) I will move my stuff into a house that I created nearly from scratch - in exactly the way I wanted it - without compromising a thing. It's so exciting!!!

So, amongst all of this huge stuff going on, what did I opt to do this weekend? I headed to San Antonio with Joe, his best friend Frank & his wife Nicola. We had a blast - albeit I'm still recovering from too many nachos & alcohol - but it was so worth it. I managed to go over 24 hours away from my laptop, and actually enjoy a real mini-vacation for the first time in a long time.

I'm also doing my best to stay in close touch with my friends. Breakfasts + lunches + dinners + phone calls... I have the best support group I've ever had. I owe my sanity to them! My awesome parents are finally coming to visit me next weekend, and I'm so excited for that!

One more thing I should clear up - I am officially NOT doing Ironman this year. When I signed up for it last June, I had no clue my life would be as full as it is. For me Ironman is about setting goals, striving for something big, committing to yourself... I'm happy to say that I feel like I can check that Ironman box off my life to-do list, and if I want to do it again - it will be there. But for now, I can't happily fit it into my life.

I wrote last Friday of being scared that I was peaking... of course that was silly, even if I felt it. I guess peaking is just what you make of it. If I end up failing at all of what I have going on right now, at least I know that I get the chance to experience it all.

Some thoughts before tonight...

I'm only 29 years old, but I have learned a few things during my life. One of those things is that it's not every day that you end up on TV. National TV. National TV doing a reality TV show.

As many have pointed out, "thank goodness you're not on the Bachelor, and at least on a show where you use your brain!" Good point.

Anyway, I am sitting here looking at the clock. In 5 hours, tons of my friends will join me at a watch party and will get ready to see the show. In 5 hours, 15 minutes - my heart might jump out of my chest when the intro music starts. Just a warning. I most likely will look just as I did on the commercials!
There are so many thoughts running through my head right now... and I want to be able to look back and remember them when this is over... so I figured I would write.

First, my parents are amazing. I write that all the time, but it's not enough. They are supportive and caring and intelligent and wonderful and frankly, just amazing. I am devastated that they won't be with me tonight to watch the show. (However my longtime dear sweet friend Jenna will be watching it with my dad in Atlanta since he's on a work trip, and my mom is covered with her friends in Dallas.) The thing that has been the most fun about this experience is making them proud. They don't care what the results are, they care that I took a chance and went for it. So, to be able to make them proud... in such a way that I can hear the excitement in their voices... it's just awesome.

Second, my friends are equally amazing. People are coming out of nowhere with help, ideas, contacts, resources, words of encouragement, etc... Every time someone clicks "like" on my facebook status updates, I can't help but smile and feel so blessed. Everywhere I turn, someone is offering to help me. I feel obligated to mention a few that have gone way above and beyond the call of friend duty and surprised me to no end. It's hard to single anyone out, but there are a few very specific people who have really amazed me. Carrie B came to Interbike with me - free of charge - just to see the sites and support the business. Most recently, she has become a PR maven for me. Jeff B has done it too - coming up with ideas, spreading the PR, lending his time and expertise. Then there are people like Mike & Dionn who just listen to the craziness of running a business and offer up advice, or don't, and they are always on target. And then, there is the person who gets to (has to?) hear it all, every day, via email/text/chat/in person/and back again. (Well, he gets to deal with most of my issues, not just related to my company, but that's another story.) Multiple insane asylums can thank Chris for having one less inmate in Austin. :) Five years ago he told me, "one day I'm going to say 'I knew you back when...'" and that simple conversation has been a motivator ever since.

Third, I've been thinking about how I got to this place. Seven months ago, I didn't have much on my horizon. I admit it - I was scared not to have a plan. Seven months later, my awesome boyfriend & I are stopping by my "new" house that I'm in the process of rebuilding on the way to the viewing party for my national TV debut for a company that just by way of being on this show has more potential than ever. So how did I get here? I think I just opened my arms to the world and said "what have you got for me? I'm ready!" (Well not physically of course, but mentally. Mentally I did do that.)

Fourth, I'm scared. I'm scared that I haven't take full advantage of the opportunities I had. I'm scared that footage of me falling down on my bike will air on national TV. I'm scared that this is it for me - that I get my 15 minutes of fame - and it will all be over. I realize this is pretty silly, but I don't want to peak at age 29, dammit!

So fifth, and most important... I am here. I'm taking it all in, relishing the experience, and not predicting how the next seven months will turn out for me. I am happier now than I have ever been in my whole life, and I am thankful for every piece of it.

So... there you have it. The basketcase mind of a soon-to-be-washed-up reality tv contestant. ;)

Stay tuned for more...

Quote...

One of my very best friends wrote this:

"If you're living life by moving forward,
The wind won't always be at you back, you can't always be on the downhill side.
The path taken may be rocky and sky's full of rain.
But no matter where you turn, the earth will always be beneath your feet and the sun will always shine."
January 10, 2010

And it's friends like him that remind me the sun is always shining. :)

Sneaky No More.... Shark Tank, Here We Come!

It's been about 6 months in the making, but I'm excited to finally share something really amazing for me, for my business partner Tim and most importantly for our company, Grease Monkey Wipes.

On Friday January 15, 2010, Grease Monkey Wipes will be featured on the Mark Burnett produced reality TV show Shark Tank on ABC. That's right - we are going prime time!!

The premise of Shark Tank is this: entrepreneurs pitch their business to 5 multi-millionaire investors in hopes of getting funding in exchange for equity.

We can't share what happened to us... for that you have to wait and see. Obviously our fingers are crossed.

For an inside look into how long Tim & I have been waiting to announce this... we started the application process in June. We shot our audition video about 2 weeks before my Ironman, worked on more paperwork in July, and were finally selected to go to Los Angeles to pitch our company in August. (Remember my LA trip where I got to hang with my friend Lara? Yeah, that was all to go shoot this tv show. Sneaky, sneaky I am!)

Below are some pictures from our very own trailer on the Sony studio lots.


And here's a sneak peak of what we were up against... Kevin O'Leary (i.e. you crazy chickens!) was shooting us as we set up to pitch!

At any rate, at this particular moment - we are relishing the experience. I am every combination of nervous, excited, scared, thankful and just very grateful for the opportunity.

from my mother...

"You may stumble, but you will never fall."

Just something for me to keep in mind. Yay for moms. :)

momentary reflection...

I was thinking back to a conversation I had with Katy & Alisa back in May. We were sitting in Lift, just after our pre-Ironman meeting, talking about life post-Ironman. I admitted that I was scared of life post-Ironman, as in not having a big goal ahead or knowing what was out there. It was scary.

Katy sent me an email that night that was inspiring and touching, in which she said "be true to yourself" and explained that I didn't need to figure it all out in a day. (It was the perfect email - the one you keep and look back on from time to time.)

That night, I wrote the following in a post:
By the way, in reference to learning to appreciate balance: I don't have any *big* goals lined up post Ironman. There is a huge part of me that is scared of not having something ahead, and scared of the unknown, really. However, I'm giving up fear and instead I'm going to embrace whatever lies ahead in my life. I have more confidence than ever that I will always land on my feet and that I can do anything if I just believe in myself.

If only the girl typing this post today could have given the girl who wrote that post just a *glimpse* of what was to come.

Let me just say - I followed through on what I said I was going to do. I gave up fear. I am certainly embracing life. Hell, I would say that I am giving life one giant bear hug. Life won't always be so rosey, but I WILL land on my feet. And... I'm definitely not scared anymore.

crossword bliss

Have I mentioned that my folks know how to keep me happy (and occupied) when I visit home? This picture is worth a thousand words. (Hahaha. I'm so punny... er... funny!)

I would have taken a pic of our Scrabble boards, but I want my dad to continue speaking to me.

Morphing...

I'll post more updates later, but for now I just had to share this picture from the 2009 Dallas Turkey Trot. Doesn't my dad look so happy?

Each year, my dad and I grow more and more alike. Doing the Turkey Trot is expected now. Doing heaps of crossword puzzles and pouring over games of Scrabble while watching football is what we do for fun. This year, by the time I left Dallas, my dad had a new gym routine in his pocket and was drinking his cereal with blueberries and soy milk. I love it!

I am so blessed to have amazing parents. My mom made sure that I didn't have to do anything Thanksgiving day but lounge around in my pajamas. She spent hours helping me research products and make decisions so I could cross some major headache items off my to-do list.

Our immediate family is small (just three of us) but I wouldn't trade them for the world. If we end up morphing into our parents, I'm glad that I get to morph into mine.

Lucky me!

As I was running around campus this morning, I was pondering what makes me blog (versus the times I don't update this for days or weeks.)

Well, most of the time it's just because I want to put something in writing and then get it out of my head. Today, however, it's just because I am feeling blessed and want to share.

I am thankful that I have friends and family who will listen to me and talk me off the ledge and make me laugh and push me and carry me and just hug the life out of me.

I'm also thankful that I get to play with this little rascal every day. :)

Guess it's fitting that I'm feeling so blessed the week of Thanksgiving. But in all honesty, I feel like this every day. Lucky, lucky me.

Favorites from E.A.S.T.

I have a few favorite weekends in Austin. In no particular order, these are:
1) Art City Austin
2) AIA Homes Tour
3) E.A.S.T.

Coming from an East-side livin' + art lovin' Austinite - I'm thinking that E.A.S.T. might win out this year. E.A.S.T. (aka East Side Studio Tour) is just freaking awesome. Artists all over the East Side open up their homes/studios/galleries to share not only their artwork, but the space where the creation happens. So. Freaking. Awesome.

Mike, my art festival partner in crime, accompanied me on Sunday to 10 stops on the tour. Here are some highlights:

Chris Levack
I had *just* drivin by these sculptures at Mueller, curious as to what they represented, and low & behold, not but 1 hour later, I found myself in deep conversation with the artist himself! It's one thing to appreciate a piece of art... but a whole new thing to speak first hand with the artist and understand his vision for the work longterm.

Robbie Ortiz
I don't think Robbie gives himself enough credit. His art was fantastic, and I have to say his pricing was *WAY* off. For anyone looking to own some badass cubist art, check him out. He's a really nice guy, too, which for me makes the art even better.

Judy Paul
I first noticed Judy's art at the Blue Genie Christmas Bizarre last year, so I was really excited to see her new stuff. She painted one of my favorite pieces from the tour, called "Moving On," and dammit I wish Mike would have bought it. She has lots of bird & house themes. (Anyone who has seen my walls would know I like birds and houses.) By visiting Judy, we got to tour Flatbed Press as well, and see a printmaking demonstration. Very cool!


David Bjurstrom
I snuck a peek in David's space early Sunday morning... knowing that if I could show off just one place, this might be the one. I have never seen someone as talented with a pencil as this man, and I was in awe of nearly all of his pieces. In fact, if I was able to buy from any artist this year, it would have been him. I'll let his drawing speak for itself. Yes, I said DRAWING. Wow.

Okay, to end my psuedo tour of E.A.S.T.... here is where I turn a little bit nuts. When I looked at the tour map, I noticed that there was an artist right across the street from Joe's house. As in, I could see it from the front window. When I looked at the name, I freaked out. I've been following this artist for YEARS.... and I've been looking at his house for months not knowing that genius lived there!!! Of course I darted over to his studio as soon as I could. (No, I didn't admit my obsession with his work. I can remain calm when necessary, honest!)

Nate Jensen
Yeah. He's pretty much amazing. In addition to his crazy cool art, he illustrates children's books. You may have seen his Armadillo book all over Austin... Um, I'm just not even sure what to say about him and how awestruck I was that he lived next door.
And... It turns out I live next to greatness too!!! I mean, I look into this artist's studio/house from my yard! I had no idea what was inside!

Denise Prince
I saw Denise's photos during a show at Women & Their Work. I thought they were really interesting - the kind of photos that stick with you for a long, long time. I merely wanted to introduce myself to my neighbor, but when I walked inside her house and saw her photos, I was nearly gushing like a preteen at a Miley Cyrus concert. She. Rocks. (And she lives next door!!! Wheeeeee!!!)
So, there you have it. A few of my favorites from E.A.S.T. 2009. It still goes on next weekend, so check it out if you can! I'll leave you with my last favorite piece from the tour (photographed beautiful by Mike) - a metal willow tree. One last time... SO. FREAKING. COOL!!!!!!

Two New Things I Love

Sam & Blue! That about sums it up. Yes, I'm crazy enough to put a tiny golden retriever puppy atop a 2.5 foot robot. She... uh... loved it! :)

Tripods!

I think I'd be more upset than John if this really happened!

It's not news, but gosh I love the library. Just sayin'. Granted... lately I've been immersed in books from my childhood. Ones that I didn't even have to check out, thanks to Dionn. (I arrived at my hotel room in CdA to a super thoughtful gift of the book series we both loved as kids.) Anyway, I now have about 150 pages left of The Tripods Trilogy. It is so awesome. Better than I remembered, even.

Yeah, I'm reading "young adult" fiction. I'm not embarrassed. I love it!

Running

It's no secret that I have issues with running.

But lately, I *really* have issues with running.

As in, I will do anything to avoid running. And I don't even HAVE to run.

The thing about running is that it's a necessary evil of triathlon. And, more specifically, that little triathlon called Ironman that I signed up to do next year. I've walked that thing, and I'm not doing it again damn it. Which means I still have to train to run.

And I don't want to.

Ugh. Here's to hoping it's just another phase.

Halloween Fun Facts

While doing a bit of research for work, I came across this info & thought I would share. Fun!

- Halloween, referred to as All Hallows Eve, was originally a pagan holiday in which they honored the dead. It was celebrated on October 31 since this was the last day of the Celtic calendar. The celebration dates back some 2,000 years.

- The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts wondered the streets on all Hallows Eve so they began wearing masks and costumes in order to not be recognized as human.

- The jack-o-lantern tradition comes from an old Irish folk tale about a man named Stingy Jack. It was said that he was unable to get into heaven and was turned away from the devil because of his tricky ways. So he set off to wander the world looking for a resting place. For light, Stingy Jack used a burning coal ember in a hollowed out turnip. When the Irish immigrated to the U.S. during the Great Potato Famine of 1845-1850, they found that turnips were not as readily available like they were in the homeland. So they started carving pumpkins as a replacement for their tradition.

- On Halloween, Irish peasants would beg the rich for food. For those that refused, they would play a practical joke. So, in an effort to avoid being tricked, the rich would hand out cookies, candy, and fruit – a practice that morphed into trick-or-treating today.

Soulmates...

It's only Wednesday morning, yet I've had 3 separate conversations about "Eat, Pray, Love" already this week. It's amazing how that book speaks to such a broad range of people.

I love this quote.

…A true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you
everything that’s holding you back, the person who brings you to your own
attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most
important person you’ll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and
smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever. Nah. Too painful.
Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself
to you, and then they leave. And thank God for it.

Hehe....

Frankly, I don't think this picture needs any explanation. All I will say is.... AWESOME!!!!
Hehe...

45 Life Lessons

Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on
Originally published in The Plain Dealer on Sunday,May 28, 2006

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don't ask, you don't get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

It Ain't About How Hard You Hit...

What a week. Let's just say I'm glad it is Friday...



(Some people always know just what to say. And for that, I am okay with getting hit...and moving forward.... Thank you, like always.)

"It's All a Matter of Priorities"

What comes first, the compass or the clock?

Before one can truly manage time (the clock), it is important to know where you are going, what your priorities and goals are, in which direction you are headed (the compass.)

Where you are headed is more important than how fast you are going. Rather than focusing on what's urgent, focus on what is really important.

-Source Unknown

Over Vegas

I'm not a Vegas girl. Nor is Carrie... which was good since we were traveling together. Last night we hit the Wynn buffet (Oh. My. God...YUM! The ocean called and they want me to bring their seafood back!) Then we went to the crits at the Mandalay Bay. We were both so tired that we left halfway through the pro men's race. We were going to go to the PowerBar party at Blush, in the Wynn, but after waiting in line for 2 minutes we opted to go upstairs instead.

And today, after roaming the show floor again, we had a few hours to kill. I hope Carrie doesn't kill me for saying this, but we spent our time riding the Monorail. We were looking for a cheesy double-decker bus tour, but couldn't find one. So we rode the Monorail. (It was kinda fun, though!)

Anyway.... we were at the airport ready to depart and return to lovely amazing wonderful Austin, Texas. Interbike was great - Vegas was Vegas - and we are ready to come home.

Yup. We are definitely over Vegas.