Come on in... sit down, and have a cup of dare!

Come on in... sit down, and have a cup of dare!
The Dare Chair... scroll down the page to find out what this chair is all about!

Quote of the Week

"Happiness is like a kiss. You must share it to enjoy it." ~Bernard Meltzer

Get Your Groove On! Choose any song you wish, and start dancing in the kitchen!


Wednesday, July 25, 2007

The Mommy Test




I was out walking with my 3 year old daughter. She picked up
something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the
item away from her and I asked her not to do that. "Why?" my daughter
asked.
"Because it's been on the ground, you don't know where it's been, it's
dirty and probably has germs" I replied.
At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and
asked,
"Mommy, how do you know all this stuff? You are so smart."
I was thinking quickly. "All Moms know this stuff. It's on the Mommy
Test.
You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Mommy."
We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering
this new information.

"OH...I get it!" she beamed, "So if you don't pass the test you have
to
be the Daddy."
"Exactly" I replied back with a big smile on my face.




Thank you, Suzee for the great story! ~Lisa

Saturday, July 21, 2007


There are people who put their dreams in a little box and say, "Yes, I've got dreams, of course I've got dreams." Then they put the box away and bring it out once in awhile to look in it, and yep, they're still there.




Take out those little boxes ladies, open them, and live your dreams!!! What are you waiting for?

Friday, July 20, 2007

To Catch a Butterfly


Ahh... summertime. Living in the North Woods means having a deep appreciation for summer. I believe many would agree that the season is much too short.
I had the privilege of witnessing a sweet sight today. My three and four year-old children were running through the sprinkler. Along came a beautiful butterfly. It seemed to be playing with the kids; they danced with glee. My two little ones truly thought they could catch that beautiful butterfly. They tried again, and again.
They were an inspiration to me. They saw no limitations. They both had their eyes on that butterfly, and were determined that they would catch it no matter how long it took.
I need that kind of determination. My kids never seemed to get frustrated; they chased the butterfly with huge smiles across their faces, giggling the whole time. Let's giggle and dance as we chase our dreams, and reach for our goals. Pack up your bags of frustration, your boxes of self-doubt, and smile and giggle until your tummy hurts. You will be so beautiful!

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Care to Take a Dare?


Hey, all of you friends that have uncomfortably sat down in the swanky Dare Chair...


How are you doing? Have you conquered any mountains lately? I'm just checking in on you; I'm ready and willing to give you a little nudge, or push. Those goals you've written... GO FOR IT! That dream you've dreamt... dust it off and LIVE IT!


Those of you who know me, know that I have an incredibly large sweet tooth. I love sugar, and it loves my hips, thighs, and derriere. Well, I knew I had to do something, so I made my husband DARE me to go without refined sugar until our vacation. (total of almost 8 weeks) Now, my husband is a wise man; he knew he was on shaky ground. But, I told him he MUST dare me, because I know myself well enough... if someone dares me, I HAVE TO DO IT! I am happy to say, the dare worked, and I haven't had any treats/refined sugar for about 5 weeks. I feel so much better. (Although, it is a funny thing... once I cut sugar out, I started craving salty foods. I'm working on that now, too. It's a cruel thing!)


So, what is the bad habit you are trying to kick? You may want to have someone DARE you out loud. You must take the dare seriously for it to work. No bad habit? How about a DARE to take a class, write a book, or sign up for a marathon?


I think dares are great... they keep us young, and alive!


Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Let Freedom Ring...


The clash of ideas is the sound of freedom.


~Lady Bird Johnson
1912-2007

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Ahhh.... music!


Isn't it funny how a song will play that you haven't heard for years, and you still find yourself singing along, remembering most of the lyrics? That never ceases to amaze me. I have many play lists on my Yahoo Jukebox. Right now I am listening to my "Idaho Days" play list. The songs bring me back to 1990 in Idaho. Most of the memories attached to the songs contain my friend, Deb. Each and every song brings back a moment, a great memory, and a smile.

I'm not sure Deb ever knew just how important she was, and still is in my life. She was my lifeline in Idaho. I moved out there fresh out of college... didn't know a soul. We met shortly after I arrived, and were inseparable. We went to country music concerts, (wish she could fill you in on Idaho's largest State Fair cattle shows... Clint Black's crew was amazed, I am sure!) dancing, and hung out at my apartment. Our friendship has lasted for 17 years, and spans half way across the United States. Still, I'll pick up the phone, and we'll continue our friendship as if I lived next door.

Girlfriends and music are priceless. They are constant links to joy, comfort, and sanity.

Wednesday, July 4, 2007


Liberty is to the collective body, what health is to every individual body. Without health no pleasure can be tasted by man; without liberty, no happiness can be enjoyed by society.
~Thomas Jefferson

Sunday, July 1, 2007

Cheers


Do you remember the show, Cheers? The place where everybody knows your name...


I am a server at a swanky place in the town where I live. I love it... it is a "play with adults time" for me. I love my kids dearly, but it is my little break in the week. We have regulars that come in just like "Norm" on Cheers. After living in a small town for quite some time now, I can relate to Norm. It's nice to have people know your name when you walk into a room.


Let me tell you, it is equally as nice being on the other end... the end that is calling your name. My "Norm" happens to be Bob. About once a month or so, I get to cheerfully call out, "BOB!" when he walks into the room. Bob has an infectious smile, a great bear hug, and a sincere heart. He cuts straight to the chase and really, truly wants to know how I am doing. I am a server. Just that. I bring great wine, excellent food, and try my best to make my customers enjoy their experience. Bob makes me feel like a queen.


May God bless Bob and all of the good people like him in this world. They have a true gift... the gift of making people feel cherished.

The Dare Chair

Come on in, and pull up a chair! I'm here to inspire you, encourage you, or just plaine Double Dog Dare you to get out and do something you never thought you could do! Periodically, I'll add a quote, comment, or story which will hopefully give you just enough of a nudge to follow your dreams... to take that class, go rock climbing, run a marathon, start that exercise routine, eat healthy, write a book, or whatever your heart desires. You are the author of your life... live it!

Monday: Sit down, have a cup of dare, and write down your goals. Post them all over the house, if it helps! No matter how crazy the goals seem, don't talk yourself out of them! You are strong, you are invincible, you are WOMAN!

Tuesday:
Find a friend to hold you accountable. Accountability is huge! If you have a network of support, your chances of failing are less. Make sure you choose someone that is not afraid of pushing you! Usually moms, grandmas and husbands are not the best choices; they're either afraid of hurting your feelings, think you are fine just the way you are, or do not want to end up in the dog's house! So, choose that friend that is honest, no matter what the cost... trust me, you'll need her!

Wednesday:
Okay, so now you have someone to hold you accountable; great start. Now, be a blabber-mouth. Tell as many people as you can what your goal is. Knowing that so many people are waiting for you to succeed will be a huge motivator. I know when I skiied the Birkie, there were many times along the trail that I truly wanted to quit. I knew I had a cheering section on Main Street waiting for me to cross that finish line. That was enough to motivate me to keep going, one stride at a time.

Thursday:
If you fully realize nothing else, take a big dose of reality on this one... this is going to be hard, uncomfortable, and many times not enjoyable (depending on what the goal is). So, now that you know that, get over it! Achieving your goal will be worth the sweat and tears. Really... it will. Push yourself beyond your former limits. Get rid of self doubt! Even if it is the hardest thing you've ever done, do it with all you've got! Swallow your insecurities, hide your inhibitions, and show yourself just how strong you really are. YOU CAN DO THIS!

Friday:
Try not to look too far into the future. Break your goal into steps, and focus on one at a time. Now, if your goal is to join a class, by all means bite the bullet and do it now; no need to take baby steps on that one! But, if your goal is for example, a marathon, don't quit after the first week because you can't run ten miles! Give yourself time to reach the larger goals. In the meantime, give it ALL YOU'VE GOT, and be pleased with the little steps towards your goal.

Saturday:
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, GIVE UP!!! (Take it from Winston Churchill... he knew what he was talking about!)


Sunday:
Take one day to rest, or have a special treat. You've worked hard all week, but make sure you don't reward yourself too much... i.e. a whole bag of Hershey's Kisses!!!

SHARE YOUR SUCCESSES WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. SHOW THEM YOUR PROGRESS, WHETHER IT IS ART WORK YOU'VE DONE, CLASS WORK, A NEW DANCE YOU'VE LEARNED, OR THE NEW PAIR OF PANTS YOU NOW FIT INTO. CELEBRATE!!

Check out the Blog Archive for writings pertaining to the Dare Chair: April--Uncomfortable, Checking In

INSPIRING QUOTES: If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or Fight Like Hell. ~Lance Armstrong
If human beings are perceived as potentials rather than problems, as possessing strengths instead of weaknesses, as unlimited rather that dull and unresponsive, then they thrive and grow to their capabilities.
Barbara Bush
Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.
John F. Kennedy
He who believes is strong; he who doubts is weak. Strong convictions precede great actions.
Louisa May Alcott
There's a need for accepting responsibility - for a person's life and making choices that are not just ones for immediate short-term comfort. You need to make an investment, and the investment is in health and education.
Buzz Aldrin

This Chick's Groovy Music... start dancin'!

  • Aretha Franklin
  • Chicago Motion Picture Soundtrack... This one is great to sing along to... especially when cleaning the house!
  • Chris Botti... great trumpet player, his music is just beautiful!
  • Christmas Music, of course! Bing, Frank, Rosemary... all the classics!
  • Diana Krall
  • Ella Fitzgerald
  • Eric Clapton... I can' t seem to hear enough of his music lately!
  • Eva Cassidy... worth finding!
  • Johnny Cash - great for two-stepping around the kitchen island... if a babe is in your arms, all the better! (A tiny babe, or a Hunky Babe... either one will do!)
  • Loggins & Messina.... ahh... "feel good" music
  • Neil Diamond... I've loved his music my whole life.
  • Norah Jones
  • Phantom of the Opera (motion picture soundtrack)
  • Ray Charles... I can't help but to smile when I hear him sing.
  • Renee Olstead
  • The Notebook Motion Picture Soundtrack