A Lovely Life

  When you hear the word “boundary”, what do you think of? For so long, the word "boundary" meant "no" to me. No to bad relationships. No to things that didn't fulfill me. That was it.  I've seemingly always been able to set boundaries. I used to say it was easy. I've made the hard decision to go no contact with not one, but both parents (and one step-parent) in the last 20 years. I walked away from a marriage mid-trying-to-have-a-baby because I just knew I couldn't be tied to this person forever.  I've recently realized that even though I've been setting some hard boundaries since my early twenties, it's actually never come easy. I know what you're probably thinking, "Well, no. Setting boundaries isn't easy for anyone." And I get that. However, I'm one of those super-feeling types of people. Also known as a (diagnosed) generalized anxiety-ridden people pleaser who is both prickly as a pear but super loving stemming ...

  I see inspirational, thought-provoking quotes daily. This one hit hard, though. If you were to ask me all the things I love, it would go a little something like this (in no particular order): Craig, Jerry, my friends all over the country, my extended family, mac and cheese, writing, bike riding....it would include a lot of things and a few people. None of which would be ME. It never would have crossed my mind.  So what does that say about what I think of myself? In a world where we stress self-care and self-love, shouldn't I be at the top of my own list? That doesn't mean I don't love myself, but it does make me wonder where I put myself on the list of all the things I love in the world. If someone were to ask you to name all the things you love, would you have put yourself first? 

Well. Here we are. 381 days later.  My last post was December 31, 2019, and had a rather hopeful tone. Then 2020 said "grab my beer" and the world slowly fell into shambles. You know. We ALL know. And, if for some miracle, you've been living under a rock just Google 2020. And that's enough about that for now. The last several months have been nothing short of a mind fuck, shit show. (BTW, as a refresher, this blog is not SFW or children) I've had to re-evaluate every aspect of my life, most importantly my mental health.  I've been searching for ways to re-center and find my way back to Helen. Baby steps. And this blog is one of them. I'd like to spend less time anger-scrolling on Facebook and more time putting my thoughts into words here. It's my little corner of the world that a small group of people can join in if they want. I have a lot of thoughts I want to share moving forward. But there's time for that. For now, I want to re-start this with a...

I try to live my life based on a couple of principles: 1. Treat others as they treat you. 2. Do no harm. Take no shit. It happens all too often that I'm told to "curb it", "calm down" and essentially stifle my fiery nature and have been labeled a bitch or bitchy. Why? Is it because I'm being strong and standing up for myself? Or because I believe I deserve better? Or is it because all of that makes you uncomfortable? Curb it? No thanks. Not happening. If you're going to be straight forward, rude or down right abusive with me, then do not expect me to sit back and take it. If you're bold enough to treat me that way, then by all means be bold enough to take it in return. If my standing up for myself gets me the label of "bitch", then GREAT! Y'all can get me a monogrammed bag with B-I-T-C-H on the front and I will tote it proudly. I used to be apologetic about it and my mouth. While my mouth still gets me in trouble from time to...

I've been away! Work has me busy and I got to travel to California last week for a little bit of "work" and a little bit of play, so I'm just now trying to catch up on life.  Missed y'all... Last week I attended Specialized Bicycles annual dealer event. This is where dealers are educated on all the brand new products and ideas for the upcoming sales year. I was out 2 years ago in Utah and this year the event was held in Monterey, CA! That's a stone's throw from my birthplace and family...I HAD to go, right?! I can't not get almost giddy when surrounded by the sport that I'm passionate about along with 600 other people who have that same passion. We sit through presentations, go through the trade show and meet other dealers to talk about business trends, etc. It's a big ole bike lovin' week (with beer included) and it's heaven in my eyes.  So after the women's product presentation, the question of whether I was offended by how wo...

I feel like I find myself thinking this on a regular basis lately.  Like, a TON. I've recently increased my time on the bike trying to get in at least 3-4 days per week.  To some, that's not much, but to me it's a big improvement over nothing.  While riding has brought on feelings of empowerment, it's also brought on some other not-so-great feelings.  If you aren't aware, my life pretty much revolves around this industry (hence, the desire to actually RIDE more) and my renewed love in the sport has also begun to shine a light on some of the more judgmental side of this sport I love. Since starting out on a "real bike" in 2003, I've always just enjoyed the ride.  I started it because I "knew a guy" and continue it because riding has introduced me to some pretty awesome people and a career I never imagined...  I've never been into going fast or timing myself or paying attention to my heart rate zones.  It's just not my thing. That t...

After a long weekend, I'm lucky to say I have a short work week!  Hooray!  We kicked off Summer this weekend and, in the spirit of warmer (H-O-T) days, I thought I'd share some fun Summer quotes. Here's to a warm and sunny next few months! "Ah, Summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it." -- Russell Baker “Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence. Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance. Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence. Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.”  -- Yoko Ono The summer night is like a perfection of thought.  -- Wallace Stevens

Thank you to the service men and women whose strength and courage makes my whole world possible.  I am forever in debt to those who sacrificed their lives so that I can live mine as I wish.   "Memorial Day this year is especially important as we are reminded almost daily of the great sacrifices that the men and women of the armed services make to defend our way of life." -- Robin Hayes

Sorry for the absence, y'all.  We've been working on our home, enjoying each other and getting back to normal after a pretty intense Winter with work.  More on all of that later!  For now, I hope you have a lovely day! "I hope everyone that is reading this is having a really good day. And if you are not, just know that in every new minute that passes you have an opportunity to change that." -- Gillian Anderson "Probably the worst time in a person's life is when they have to kill a family member because they are the devil. But otherwise it's been a pretty good day." -- Emo Philips "You have to remember that the hard days are what make you stronger. The bad days make you realize what a good day is. If you never had any bad days, you would never have that sense of accomplishment!" -- Aly Raisman Quote Source

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." -- Anne Bradstreet,  Meditations Divine and Moral “It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want—oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”  -- Mark Twain "April prepares her green traffic light and the world thinks Go."   -- Christopher Morley Picture source here .

Well, sort of.  The last week of work has been, well, INSANE and there's still some work to do, but the worst is over.  I kept saying all week that I felt like I was on an episode of HGTV mixed with a little Punk'd . Everyday included an early morning, often working late into the night/early the following morning. We were furiously working to get the construction phase of everything ready for our big party on Saturday night.  It was close, y'all but we did it! This was LATE Monday Night/WAY early Tuesday morning Thursday We used LOTS of this stuff Wednesday morning's "mud puddle" front yard Toilet seat replacement Saturday right before the party! Unless you've lived it, it's impossible to truly grasp the amount of physical and emotional energy it takes to go from where we were on Monday to where we were on Saturday night.  I was pushed further than ever before, but the feelings of pure joy and accomplishment at ou...

6 DAYS. We are 6 short, yet long days away from Peachtree Bikes' Grand Reopening Party. Monday morning marks the first day of trying to figure out where things will go while also remembering those last minute things we forgot.  Funny what you forget you use day-to-day when it's taken away from you . I'm apprehensive about this week.  We're on a tight schedule and far behind where we're supposed to be, but that's how it goes right?  "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans."  Or something like that.  I'm anxious and sentimental setting up another shop knowing where we were just under 4 months ago.  I'm excited to put some of this behind us and to start fresh.  I'm scared that I won't complete my normal tasks in addition to this huge undertaking.  I'm happy to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I hope my little "Motivational Monday" post will not only help me today, but through the week and past tha...

The shop has been busy, busy with the reopening of our temporary location looming in the not-so-distant future.  We also started a 10 day sale on Friday that's created a big buzz and a TON of traffic in our Sandy Springs store.  Combine all of that with the set up of a brand new store all that goes with it and you've got OCD Helen in panic mode.   I don't think people really get what it means to have all of that craziness going on.  Fire.  Fire Sale.  Inventory reports to prove burnt stuff actually existed.  Daily duties.  Ordering for new store.  Setting up new store.  Staffing new store.  The list goes on...  The good news is that in two weeks, we'll be back into our 'hood and back to some sense of normalcy. The last few days, when someone has asked me how things are going I've been honest, but positive ending our conversation with, "It will all fall into place."  It's been said to me a couple of times and I've said...

As mentioned earlier , I'm not the most educated t.v. and movie watcher.  I rarely get it when people reference an incredibly popular scene.  I usually just smile and stare blankly when this happens, then embarrassingly admit that I have ZERO clue as to what they're talking about.  Yup, I'm that girl, y'all. To continue my earlier discussion about things I haven't seen that most of the world has, I thought I'd list a few movies that I haven't ever seen.  Ever. All of the Star Wars Movies The Godfather Lord of the Rings (I tried, but just couldn't get into it!) Gone with the Wind Monty Python and The Holy Grail Any of the Rocky Movies The Waterboy Rudy Any of the Harry Potter Movies Just to name a few.  Some I'm embarrassed to say I haven't seen and others, I just don't really care to.  I have been trying to broaden my movie knowledge lately.  J and I have recently added to my list of WATCHED movies all of the Bourne movies, all...

Yesterday, we got the chance to say thank you to the men who so bravely fought the fire that took our store on December 4th.  While we suffered a total loss to our business, the entire building would be gone if weren't for their actions that night. We organized a ride from our Sandy Springs location over to Station 21 in Buckhead to meet the same guys who were with us that night.  The fact that they're the ones who fought our fire makes me smile a little bit.  They're the same guys that would drive by the shop, sirens blaring almost daily on their way to other emergencies.  If the doors were open or you'd happen to be walking outside, those sirens would make your ears bleed and my eyes roll... It was nice to chat with them.  They each played an important roll that night, like the guy who was on the roof resulting in our fancy new skylights.  :-)  Or the guy who, while we were standing on the street, brought us out our charred Peachtree Bikes st...

You know when you're in a conversation and someone uses a popular movie or television show as a reference to what they're talking about?  You ever know someone who NEVER gets the reference because they haven't seen that show?  Yeah, I'm that girl.  For some reason, I've managed to miss out on some of the world's most popular t.v. shows of all time.  Don't get me wrong...if it was a popular show in the 80's I'm there!  Cheers and The Cosby Show among others. I often play a little game I like to call: "Helen hasn't ever seen this show and doesn't get your reference at all so just give up".  Also known as: "a day in the life of any of my relatives, close friends and coworkers". Here's a list of just a few examples of shows that I seriously haven't watched.  Seriously. Friends The Sopranos It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Lost Seinfeld Curb Your Enthusiasm The Office Modern Family Now, this isn...

The weather was really gorgeous on Saturday and I knew early in the week that I wanted   needed to get on my bike.  I needed the exercise, the release of stress and the fun of riding with a friend in a new area.  Y'all, I'm ashamed to admit that it was the first time I actually rode from our now former shop.  Not sure why I've been so scared to ride in town, but I'm glad I finally did! I called our ride the "Tour of Homes" because we rode by some ridiculously gorgeous homes.  The weather was perfect and sunny and all I needed were some knee and arm warmers.  It was great getting back out there and I'm thankful for a friend who will stay with me no matter how slow I am.  ;-) Along the way, we stopped and snapped a couple pictures at The Swan House .   After lunch and a shower, I decided to head out and do something I rarely get to do: SHOP!  I was on the hunt for some fun Spring stuff as well as some basics and did pretty well. ...

Since J and I started the new year with a better approach to eating and exercise, I've found myself even more conscious of diets, exercise plans, health food blogs, etc.  I see these things in my news feed on Facebook or in articles on blogs I read.  Most recently, I've heard more about this growing movement for women to embrace their bodies for what they are.  I hate that this is even a "movement" and not the norm, but I've gotta say I'm happy to see it. I listen to a local radio morning show on my drive into work and after I've gotten settled at my desk.  It seems like they've been doing more segments lately with weight loss challenges, interviews of women and men who are overly body conscious and most recently the No Body Shame Campaign .  They interviewed the woman who started this whole thing the other morning and she was really inspiring and lovely.  After years of struggling with weight and bouncing from 130lbs up to over 300lbs, she realized ...

I feel like people either LOVE Valentine's Day or they HATE it.  I'm the former.  I love all the pink and red and hearts and candy.  I love that there's a holiday to celebrate one of life's most amazing emotions: L-O-V-E!  And I'm not just saying that because I'm married. In fact, one of my favorite memories was when I was single.  My bestie, E, and I made Valentine's cookies and home made cards and "anonymously" delivered them to our friends and family around town.  It was a fun way to show everyone that we were thinking about them. J and I have started a tradition of just doing cards and a yummy dinner in to celebrate.  We like the quiet of it and that we can focus on each other.  It's nice to be casual and just spend time with my sweetheart.   Even though we don't do gifts, I came up with a great idea that I'm pretty excited about!  I'll post about it later, but I'm pretty excited to see his reaction.  I've been w...