Team Travis

Posted on May 16, 2013 by brandcheerleader

I attended a wake for the brother of a co-worker from my job at the bar yesterday. He was 23. He died of a brain tumor. After an hour or two of waiting in line we finally walked up the steps and into the funeral home. Immediately I was overwhelmed with that smell… the sent of flowers…. but so much more than that – its that over powering, awful smell. I waited in line, got on my knees, said and “Our Father” and hugged the family. I hugged my friend for an extra minute… I didn’t want to let her go… I got outside and talked to Bailey, about the year we have had… about how we thought we had gone through so much… but how this stuff really puts it into perspective.

I got sick, really sick, her boyfriend and roommate was deported, we went to jail, we packed his stuff, we packed her stuff, her grandfather died…. this year sucked but God … its days like that when its all put into perspective. I am lucky, we are lucky… all that stuff happened to us for a reason. What in the world could be the reason for this? All I know is the love you have for siblings is unlike any kind of love in the world. We have this connection, unmatched, un comparable, in equivalent to anything else in the world.

I am lucky and I know that….

Project Oregon Trail

Posted on April 29, 2013 by brandcheerleader

Bailey has decided to move to Cali – i knew this was coming when she booked tickets to Cochlea. Its been something she has talked about doing for so long – but I think I was (selfishly) praying she wouldnt go…

On a much brighter note… she asked me if I wanted to drive cross country with her… and of course I said yes…

We already mapped out all of our stops. We plan to make the trip in 1 week… there are SO many things to see, we had to compromise and make a list that would make both of us happy!

1. Boston to DC

2. DC to Nashville

3. Nashville to Saint Louis

4. Saint Louis to Kansas City

5. Kansas City to Denver

6. Denver to Grand Canyon

7. Canyon to Coast of Cali

8. Drive up the beautiful coast of Cali to San Fran

Think we can do it? Who has advice on making the cross country drive?

I thought I got over the worst heartbreak…

Posted on April 19, 2013 by brandcheerleader

To My One True Love,

Its funny I thought I had gotten over the worst heart break I would ever have – they say your 1st love is the worst, not because you LOVE them the MOST but because its the first time you experience the heartache of a break up. I think I realized “Mr” wasn’t my first true love, in fact the relationship I had with him never would have happened if it werent for my TRUE first love, you, I don’t know why it took this long, I mean its been over 7 years. I still remember the day we met, I was so nervous, I threw up on the way to meet you, my parents and sister were there, and of course my high school best friend V, you introduced me to the two other best friends I couldn’t live with out when I moved into a dorm looking over the Boston Common. My love for you grew as I got a job at the 21st Amendment, which when I started as a 18 year old, I could NEVER have imagined the opportunities I would get or more importantly the people I would meet.

I went to my first Bruins game, my first Celtics game, countless Red Sox games (I still get butterflies every time I walk into Fenway). It sounds so bad but you introduced me to the man who I thought was my first love, I traveled, I fell in lust, I laughed, I cried (too much), I laughed so hard I cried…

You taught me to think twice before you move, that most couches (esp the huge one I had to have as a Sophomore) don’t fit into the old stairways of the Northend, and no matter how much you think you can do on your own, moving is IMPOSSIBLE with out a mans help.

You taught me life lessons, some hard ones, I found out I was sick … you introduced me to the best doctors and specialists.

Marathon Monday which I have enjoyed with you so many times before, is the day I realized you are my first love, because the heartache I feel from the Boston Marathon is so much worse than anything I thought was love before. I can still here sirens outside the window, its been 3 days… I can’t beleive it takes someone hurting you for me to realize how much you mean to me.

You my Boston have made me who I am today, and I will forever be grateful. I will stand by you and everything you mean to so many people.

All my love, -F

As president Obama said, Boston is a tough and resilient town and so are its people…

mOtIvAtIoNaL MoNdAy: The weight is over

Posted on March 26, 2013 by brandcheerleader

Tonight I went to Yoga for the first time since I started Pilates, which was about 7 months ago. Getting to the mat is 1/2 the battle for me, I seem to always have something better to do (usually work) but I knew after the past few weeks I have had that I needed a good yoga class.

I have had vivid nightmares, about things I have tried to stop caring about, but despite my greatest efforts, my subconscious brings out the fears I keep trying to push aside.

As we sat on the matt tonight she tells us to hold the block, she asks what we think it weighs, people shout, 1/2 lb and other various guesses. She has us hold the block out to show that it doesn’t matter what the weight is, but instead how long you hold it.

Sarah tells us to close our eyes as she tells the story of a motivational speaker who held a glass with water in front of a group, she said “how much water do you think is in here?”, they all assumed she was going to ask the glass half full question… the guests shouted out answers as we did with the block. The speaker said, if i hold this water for a few moments it’s not really a big deal, if I hold it for a few hours it becomes heavy, if I hold it for days it becomes a burden and so on… The point is it doesn’t matter what the weight is, it matters how long you hold on to it, how much of a burden you allow the weight to become. Choose to let things go, to put down the block, for the longer you hold them the heavier the burden they become.

I literally felt like this class was meant for me. I have never felt so connected, my mind, my body, my emotions, not sad … almost relieved. In the smallest and largest sense. I hold on to things WAY to long + I am making a pact with myself right now, to let things go.

Strength Finding

Posted on March 7, 2013 by brandcheerleader

Last week we all had to read “Strength Finders” and take a test online where you had to pick one phrase or the other depending on what you feel more stronger about. The test determines your top 5 strengths based on the answers. The test was given company wide and the results were compared within each group to see where our strengths lie. “From cradle to cubical we spend our lives we devote more time to fixing our shortcomings than to developing our strengths.”

The idea is building a team through strengths. One of the ideas in the book is if you spend your life trying to be good at everything you will never be good at anything. Society encourages us to be well rounded but this theory breeds mediocrucy – instead we should focus on what we are good at. My top five were:

communication: people with strong communication theme generally find it easy to put thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters.

individualization: people strong in individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person, They have the gift of figuring out how people who are different can work together productively.

input: people strong in the input theme have a craving to know more. Often they like to collect and archive all kinds of information.

learner: people strong in the learner theme have a great desire to lean and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome excites them.

restorative: people strong in the restorative theme are adept at dealing with problems. They are good at figuring out what is wrong and resolving it.

Stella Dot Sample Sale

Posted on February 25, 2013 by brandcheerleader

Its time to make room for new Stella Dot Samples!! Email me at francesca.desforges@gmail.com if you are interested in any samples! Please note these are samples used in my Stella Dot display. None of which have any signs of wear. Non-Sample, never touched samples are clearly marked.

Lindsay Bangle, Original Price $59, Sale Price $30

Soho Wristlet Original Price $68, Sale Price $34

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Serenity Necklace: dyed jade with smooth glass and faceted stones set in hand hammered bezels hang from an oval link chain. 16″ length. Originally $198.

Sample Sale $100.

Serenity Small Stone Pendant: single hand cut, faceted aqua glass teardrop stone se in hammered bezel adorns an airy gold plated link chain 17″ with 2″ extender.

Original Price $49. Sample Sale price $25.

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Olivia Bib Necklace Original Price $118 – Not on Sale – Not a sample

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Jules Ring: Cluster of midnight blue + turquoise colored epoxy cabachons dotted with glass stones. Fits 5-9 ring size. Original Price $49. Sale Price $25.

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Hematite Link Chain Necklace, Original Price $79, Sale Price $60

Panther Pendant, Original Price $49, Sale Price $25 n251rg_2

Anabelle Necklace Rose Gold, Original Price $69, Sale Price $50

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Trio of gold plated brass charms strung delicately on gold plated chain. Features turquoise studded heart, vintage key and cubic zirconia medallion. 24″ length plus 2″ extender.

Alice Temperley is a famous British designer, known for combining femininity with cool Britannia sensibilities. She’s reigned over the London fashion scene for the past decade with an impressive celeb following including Beyonce and Kate + Pippa Middelton.

$44 Not a Sale Item