No, we do not live on a ranch. We live in the suburbs of California. We do however, have a full and interesting life with our seven kids and I though it would be fun to share a few family pics with you all. Enjoy!
Monday starts our Haute Cowgirl fitness challenge, and I am so excited to see so many signed up and eager to start. So the question is WHY? Why do you want to do this?
For me, its to feel better, have more energy, and look STUNNING for all the upcoming events I have. See I was the girl who never had weight issues then motherhood and business came into the picture. And well some things took a downhill slide. But the opportunity to work with Toni and get all of you on board is an amazing opportunity.
So I want to hear WHY you are joining the challenge? If you need any help please feel free to email Toni or check out the message boards on her site. And stay tuned to Cowgirl Life Radio, Monday, for the first weekly challenge.
Stay Pretty
Danielle
Can I tell you a secret? Lean in closer…closer…CLOSER! Okay. Ready?
I’m not rich.
Shocking, I know. Sometimes, though, I like to window shop like I am. I pine over gorgeous designer collections and leave drool puddles on my keyboard. My husband just shakes his head as he witnesses my horrid violation of the tenth commandment. I cannot help it. The bold patterns and soft silk of lines like Robert Rodriguez just entrance me and I am not able to look away. In fact, I have had my credit cards confiscated because of my infatuation with luxury and quality. Speaking of Robert Rodriguez, he has a fabulous summer line out right now that is making me consider getting a night job so that I can waltz around BlogHer in his pieces. The real problem would be deciding on which piece I would choose. Hmmm…think I’ll take on of each, Mr. Rodriguez!
There are probably a handful of people that have come into my life, aside from my parents, that have made a huge contribution to me becoming who I am. I’m quite certain that each person that comes to mind has no clue that they have made such a big impression on me, and I’m also quite sure that their efforts weren’t ‘efforts’ at all, that they were just being themselves. One of those magnificent mentors in my life has been my good friend, Jan Sowers.
Jan was the General Manager at Ethan Allen in Kalamazoo, MI and my boss when I worked there as an Interior Designer. Jan and I shared a kooky sense of humor and a very sound work ethic based on strong principles and a love of design. Aside from her love of interior design, she has amazing talent for writing, painting, and constructing almost anything her mind’s eye can create. We were fast friends…
Jan moved on from our Kalamazoo store before me, settling in South Carolina just about the time we uprooted from Kalamazoo ourselves. She and I continued our friendship through phone calls and email, both of us trying to adjust to moving to the south and deal with the stress and angst that ‘starting over’ brings… we were each others shoulder to cry on, each others cheerleader, and each others sounding board.
Somewhere along the way, the South began to rub off on Jan and calling me her inspiration, she created a collection called “Just Add Ranch”, chuckling about how everything is better with ranch dressing, and tipping her hat, so to speak, at the cowboy/cowgirl lifestyle that was my own. Calling it the ‘Casey Factor’, she created a line of handmade cards (Maverick is my favorite) and wall art that was never even rolled out because she wound up moving cross-country again.
To compare the amazingly talented woman to Martha Stewart would be a slap in the face because she is just so much more than that. Of course I am biased because she is one of my best friends, but really, she is JUST THAT TALENTED. I would like to think that some of that has rubbed off on me over the years, just by virtue of her inspiring qualities!
She created a line of small wall hangings called ‘Invisible Wings’, and they are small framed pieces of her original writing and I am going to be holding a giveaway on my blog next week to give away the one she wrote for horses…. I think you’re going to like it, for someone who professes to not be a cowgirl, she sure has a lot of cowgirl spirit!
“And then God said….
I shall bless the earth with a magnificent
creature that will possess enormous
strength and stature. All will stand in
awe, as they desire to befriend such
grace and beauty. They shall entertain
at the hands of their owners with great
pleasure, possessing pride and
showmanship with an eagerness to please.
They shall carry you and the
inherent free spirit that you both possess
across the land. You shall be one with its
soul as you discover things and places
you have never seen. They shall
instinctively know how to protect you
and please you, as the bond of their
unspoken friendship grows deeper with
every moment. They shall have a quality
about them that will make you believe
that they have invisible wings. Every
moment with them will be like heaven
on earth as you discover that you are…
one in spirit…
one in soul…
And they shall be called…. “Horses”.
-Invisible Wings by Jan Sowers
Right now the Just Add Ranch Collection is not available out in the market, but she has started to upload some other great things to her cafepress store. Please check it out and she just a sliver of what she can do… and watch my blog in the upcoming week for the contest to give this wall art to a lucky winner! It could be YOU!
Have a FABulous Day!
Casey Roon
In July, Kadi and I are headed to Chicago for Blogher. Blogher is a convention for women bloggers, amazing ones at that. We get to mingle and meet some of our favs. and make some amazing connections. It is our opportunity to get this little ol’ site in the spotlight.
So what is our main concern with this trip? WHAT ARE WE GONNA WEAR?!
Of course we need ensembles for the conference itself, parties, lounging by the pool, and whatever pops up along the way. This is a perfect opportunity for numerous wardrobe changes. The look has to be very Haute and of course cowgirl.
So I am thinking I need to add some lovely pieces to my suitcase like these below.
I need to get shopping, only 56 days till I take on Chicago!!
Stay Pretty
Danielle
