Happy 31st Braydan

31 years ago on the 31st of January 1979 at 11:36 AM I became a Mom. Braydan Scott Shaw was born 3 weeks early, since that day he arrives early for everything!

Braydan is the 6th generation owner of Burns Saddlery, Braydan totally amazes me, from the time he was a small boy I knew he was gifted, the school confirmed it when he was tested in the first grade, he tested highest in the district in many subjects.

In school not only did he receive straight A's he excelled in athletics. The basketball team Braydan played center on won state three times, his senior year North Sevier's football team had a perfect season and Braydan playing defensive end was awarded all region for his great ability to sack the quarter back.

Sounds like I am a bragging Mother, of course I am!!!

Braydan graduated high school with high honors, he received the Sterling Scholar for business not only at NSHS but region as well. As I look back I am astonished what an amazing, dedicated kid he was. Braydan has always done his very best, and unlike his mother he does it humbly.

After high school Braydan was the first of all 6 generations to get a degree, he finished his associates in one year where he worked for Burns on the weekends, and after finishing school came to work for Burns full time in 1998.

Marrying his high school sweetheart Misty, they both worked for Burns either in the store or on the road with our mobile stores. They have 3 beautiful daughters which of all their accomplishments rank highest!

I am a very proud Mom, Braydan always strives to be the best, he is patient, smart, funny, and accommodating to everyone. I am very proud to have him in my life, I learn so much from him and receive inspiration to become a better person because of his example.

Anyone who knows Braydan respects him for the kind of person he is, he truly makes a positive difference not only in our company as President, but in the lives of all his family members, friends, and co-workers. He is a remarkable human being.

I give thanks daily for the gift he is in my life.

Happy 31st Braydan, I love you,

Mom

Rave Reviews and Recipes

"Those who speak most of illness have illness; those who
speak most of prosperity have it, etc."
— From the movie The Secret

I love the movie, book, and audio book The Secret. When it first came out I bought 24 copies and gave them to everyone for Christmas, I recently listened to it again on my IPOD while winding down one evening. I studied the Law of Attraction a few years before the movie came out and I was very excited when a mainstream film came out about it. Learning about the Law of Attraction has changed my life tremendously, there is never a time that it is not working, I am very careful what I think and say, if it does not serve what I want, I quickly discard it and get back in the flow and focus of what I do want.

I have Rave Reviews for the movie, if you haven't watched it, do, if you have watch it again, I always get something new out of the experience that helps me in training my mind to keep in sync with my desires.

Happy Thought Filled Trails,

Danna

Funny Friday

A WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM

If you read this without laughing out loud, there is something wrong with you. This is dedicated to everyone who ever attempted to get into a regular workout routine

Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, I purchased a week of personal training at the local health club. Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.

I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.

Friends seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
________________________________
MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 am. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god-- with blond hair, dancing eyes, and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!

Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines.. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!

Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around.

This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!
________________________________
TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life for me.
_______________________________
WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.
Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying.
My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other shit too.
_______________________________
THURSDAY:
Asshole was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late-- it took me that long to tie my shoes.
He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny bitch to find me.
Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine-- which I sank.
_________________________________
FRIDAY:
I hate that bastard Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic, little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it.
Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.
The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
________________________________
SATURDAY:
Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel..
________________________________
SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun-- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

Happy Weekend,

Danna

Dream Big

Paul Hoffman from www.successsongs.com sent me the following,

Believing that you can do something is a prerequisite to making that something happen. Listening to your inner sense of knowing that you already have all you need to manifest your dreams creates the consciousness of anything is possible. Giving yourself the opportunity to play in a field of excellence offers you the insights that bring value and benefit to everything you do. Aligning with your magnificence creates the confidence for you to meet any challenge with an open mind so that you are always in a solutions oriented mindset. Freeing your thinking from fear, doubt and worry creates a dynamic flow of ideas that bring you that which you are seeking.

Appreciating who are and being grateful for what you have opens the door for the Blessings Of Life to shine upon you. Getting out of your own way absolutely invites you to walk the path you dream about. Make certain each day that you are aware and in sync with the calling of your heart. Be mindful of the choices you make so that the actions you take propel you forward towards your higher purpose. There is no need to force something to happen but to rather let what is seeking to emerge have a path to come into existence. You already are brilliant, you already are extraordinary, you already are a gifted presence, who is powerful. Let your genius break free today from the hold of mediocrity and fly on the wings of greatness so your viewpoint becomes one of unlimited possibility.

"When you decide to take an action make sure that you recognize the effect it will have on everything you do. Be mindful that everything counts as you create your life the way you want it to look like "

Happy Successful Trails,

Danna

Tipsy Tuesday

"Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek,
but a means by which we arrive at that goal."

Martin Luther King was a passionate, peaceful man, we celebrated his birth earlier this month and I felt compelled to share his words with you today. Peace is everything, when the mind and body are at peace life is wonderfully comfortable. Peace should begin within, if everyone would strive to have peaceful, loving thoughts towards themselves first, tolerance for others would be easy.

My tip this Tuesday, feel that inner peace that resides within in each of us, cherish it, feed it with love and appreciation, then this planet will unite in peace.

Peaceful Trails,

Danna

On The Road Again

Second week of Sundance Film Festival Begins!!!

I LOVE Park City!!! What a wonderful mountain town! This past week was the beginning of the festival with 60,000 visitors from all over the world, this event is truly a gift to the state of Utah, thank you Robert Redford!!!

This past week stars such as Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, and Chris Owens not only were playing in our shop on our television as they do daily (Lonesome Dove) they were strolling the streets and making appearances at the premiers of their new films.

Famous people hustling around town, you recognize them, but for me it is hard to remember their names, however we all know Paris Hilton, everyone knows her, she definitely did something right.

This week will be a busy week, Braydan and Jake just left after working here with us for the weekend, we needed a couple of real cowboys to add personality:-) Rand Houk our Lucchese rep left yesterday after spending a couple of days with us, Fred Gibbon Lucchese's boot designer will be in the shop Wednesday and Thursday, make sure you come in and design a boot with a master boot designer, this is an amazing, rare opportunity for you to own a personal pair design for you by Fred.

Alan Michael a top leather jacket designer will be in the Cowboy shop for the closing weekend of Sundance, (Fri-Sun), another great opportunity to meet and work with a very talented artist, together you will design your beautiful one-of-a-kind heirloom quality jacket.

Burns team members Wendy, Emily, Destiny and Dru are heading home right now from a 2 week excursion in Arizona, their adventure included record breaking rain, wind, and tornado warnings. Burns set up and sold product at the BRND 4D and the Pac West barrel races. Destiny had a successful weekend her fast barrel horse Serina ran a 16.7 in a full set, that's one tick off a world record nice job Destiny, I am such a proud Mom!!!

Another fast paced week ahead, the last week of January, simply incredible how fast the months fly bye, oh yeah that reminds me, Braydan's birthday is on Sunday the
31st, he will be 31, 31, 31, that's cool. Birthday week for Braydan!!!

Happy Trails,

Danna

Funny Friday

This year's Darwin nominees are:Nominee No. 1: [ San Jose Mercury News]:

An unidentifid man, using a shotgun like a club to break a former girl friend's windshield, accidentally shot himself to death when the gun discharged, blowing a hole in his gut.

Nominee No. 2: [ Kalamazoo Gazette]:

James Burns, 34, (no relation) (a mechanic) of Alamo , MI , was killed in March as he was trying to repair what police describe as a "farm-type truck.." Burns got a friend to drive the truck on a highway while Burns hung underneath so that he could ascertain the source of a troubling noise. Burns' clothes caught on something, however, and the other man found Burns "wrapped in the drive shaft."

Nominee No. 3: [ Hickory Daily Record]:

Ken Charles Barger, 47, accidentally shot himself to death in December in Newton , NC . Awakening to the sound of a ringing telephone beside his bed, he reached for the phone but grabbed instead a Smith & Wesson 38 Special, which discharged when he drew it to his ear.

Nominee No. 4: [UPI, Toronto ]:

Police said a lawyer demonstrating the safety of windows in a downtown Toronto skyscraper crashed through a pane with his shoulder and plunged 24 floors to his death. A police spokesman said Garry Hoy, 39, fell into the courtyard of the Toronto Dominion Bank Tower early Friday evening as he was explaining the strength of the buildings windows to visiting law students. Hoy previously has conducted demonstrations of window strength according to police reports. Peter Lawson, managing partner of the firm Holden Day Wilson, told the Toronto Sun newspaper that Hoy was "one of the best and brightest" members of the 200-man association.

Nominee No. 5: [The News of the Weird]:

Michael Anderson Godwin made News of the Weird posthumously. He had spent several years awaiting South Carolina 's electric chair on a murder conviction before having his sentence reduced to life in prison. While sitting on a metal toilet in his cell attempting to fix his small TV set, he bit into a wire and was electrocuted.

Nominee No. 6: [The Indianapolis Star]:

A cigarette lighter may have triggered a fatal explosion in Dunkirk , IN. A Jay County man, using a cigarette lighter to check the barrel of a muzzleloader, was killed Monday night when the weapon discharged in his face, sheriff's investigators said. Gregory David Pryor, 19, died in his parents' rural Dunkirk home at about 11:30 PM. Investigators said Pryor was cleaning a 54-caliber muzzle-loader that had not been firing properly. He was using the lighter to look into the barrel when the gunpowder ignited.

Nominee No. 7: [Reuters, Mississauga , Ontario ]:

A man cleaning a bird feeder on the balcony of his condominium apartment in this Toronto suburb slipped and fell 23 stories to his death. "Stefan Macko, 55, was standing on a wheelchair when the accident occurred," said Inspector Darcy Honer of the Peel Regional Police. "It appears that the chair moved, and he went over the balcony," Honer said.

Finally, THE WINNER!!!: [ Arkansas Democrat Gazette]:

Two local men were injured when their pickup truck left the road and struck a tree near Cotton Patch on State Highway 38 early Monday.. Woodruff County deputy Dovey Snyder reported the accident shortly after midnight Monday. Thurston Poole, 33, of Des Arc, and Billy Ray Wallis, 38, of Little Rock , were returning to Des Arc after a frog-catching trip. On an overcast Sunday night, Poole 's pickup truck headlights malfunctioned.
The two men concluded that the headlight fuse on the older-model truck had burned out. As a replacement fuse was not available, Wallis noticed that the ..22 caliber bullets from his pistol fit perfectly into the fuse box next to the steering-wheel column. Upon inserting the bullet the headlights again began to operate properly, and the two men proceeded on eastbound toward the White River Bridge .
After traveling approximately 20 miles, and just before crossing the river, the bullet apparently overheated, discharged and struck Poole in the testicles. The vehicle swerved sharply right, exited the pavement, and struck a tree.. Poole suffered only minor cuts and abrasions from the accident but will require extensive surgery to repair the damage to his testicles, which will never operate as intended.
Wallis sustained a broken clavicle and was treated and released. "Thank God we weren't on that bridge when Thurston shot his balls off, or we might be dead," stated Wallis "I've been a trooper for 10 years in this part of the world, but this is a first for me. I can't believe that those two would admit how this accident happened," said Snyder.
Upon being notified of the wreck, Lavinia ( Poole 's wife) asked how many frogs the boys had caught and did anyone get them from the truck? (Though Poole and Wallis did not die as a result of their misadventure as normally required by Darwin Award Official Rules, it can be argued that Poole did in fact effectively remove himself from the gene pool.

Happy (Think before you do something stupid) Trails,

Danna

Dream Big

Paul Hoffman sent me this and I wanted to share it with you this incredible day!


Life happens In The Moment! It is always unfolding everywhere you are, inviting you to catch it's creative impulse so that you can begin to create magic in all you do. The perfect time to do something is right at the time you get the inspiration for it. That's when your creativity is at its highest! However, there is a fine line between spontaneity and recklessness. You must always be in alignment with what you are seeking to create so that the resources you require begin to seek you. You must be certain about what you want so you are flowing in the direction towards it. Don't let a false idea that things have to be perfect hold you back from following your dream.

All the great discoveries happened when the discoverer was committed to a vision. You are that kind of discoverer. Let the adventurous spirit within you have its way. Break free from the chains of mediocrity and step into the light of your greatness. Be fearless in your desire to climb your personal mountain. Let your passion for excellence guide your way today. Release any thoughts of not being enough and recognize the magnificent fullness of your being. You are an amazing expression of infinite intelligence and potential capable of having it all. Stay present In The Moment and ride the wave of possibilities that surround you with confidence, determination and a sense of purpose so that you communicate your brilliant genius in all you do!

Happy Inspired Trails,

Danna

Tipsy Tuesday

"In minds crammed with thoughts, organs clogged with
toxins, and bodies stiffened with neglect, there
is just no space for anything else."
— Alison Rose Levy: Health journalist and coach


You already know the health of your body without stepping foot in the doctor's office, because your body constantly communicates with you. If you ran a mile right now, would your body scream that it needs oxygen, needs stronger muscles, needs more nutrients? Or would it reveal that you are in great health? Listen to your body... it's never been wrong before.

I read this and thought if I ran a mile I would need a oxygen mask after 2 blocks, screaming would not be an option because of my lack of oxygen, my tight muscles however would do the screaming, I really need to get back in the eat right and exercise mode. I did really well before NFR, then I fell off the wagon as they would say, I know how much better I feel after a few weeks of consistant daily exercise and proper nutrition. I am commiting to start today, this incredible vehicle I have been gifted with deserves to be stronger through exercise and nutrition.

My tip this Tuesday is directed to myself, Get back on the wagon of eat right and exercise, it is so worth it!!!


Happy Healthy Trails,

Danna

On The Road Again

Sundance Film Festival begins this Week!!!

This Thursday Park City will transform from not only the best ski resort destination in the world (Deer Valley) to one of the worlds best Film Festivals. This prestigious 10 day event brings in a record breaking 92.1 million dollars to Utah's economy and 2000 jobs, making it the largest event annually for the entire state. People from all over the world flock to Park City to view films, mingle and meet the top film makers, actors, producers, directors, and sponsors. Our little town of 9000 will burst at the seams with an influx 60,000 visitors over the 10 day period. So the only on the road for me will be the slow commute from our home to a hopeful parking space.

Today our friends Dirk and Krista will be arriving all the way from Belgium! A few years back we stayed with them when we traveled to Europe where they treated us by escorting us to 4 outstanding cities, Brussels, Bruge, Gent, and Antwerp. We are planning a Deer Valley Sleigh ride, with an escort to incredible dining, and a visit to the Olympic State Park where who knows maybe we will Bobsled.

The world cup just wrapped up and spots are being filled for the 2010 Winter Olympics, they are weeks away and local skiers did very well, we may see some Parkites winning gold medals this year.

Hope all of you have a wonderful week, come visit us this week and spot all the movie stars that will be wearing our boots:-)!!!

Happy Sundance Trails,

Danna

Inspire Me

I learned that if you want to make it bad enough, no matter how bad it is, you can make it
Gale Sawers

Believe everything begins with a positive idea. Positive thinking is the key to success in business, education, pro football, anything you mention. The mind is your most powerful muscle.
Ron Jaworski

We control by attitudes positive mental attitudes not by rules.
Woody Hayes

It's the NFL playoffs!!! Good Luck to your team, I like Earl Nightingales description of luck, "where preparedness meets opportunity", the opportunity is here, we will see who is the most prepared. It is inspiring to watch what the human body is capable of doing when it's continually conditioned and nourished.

My personal favorite are the Colts, the reason being I sold a pair of boots to Payton Manning's wife:-)!!!
Funny how we become fans isn't it. Why do you like the teams you like?

Happy Football Watching,

Danna

Rave Reviews and Recipes

Chance and Circumstance

By DAVID LEONHARDT

In 1984, a young man named Malcolm graduated from the University of Toronto and moved to the United States to try his hand at journalism. Thanks to his uncommonly clear writing style and keen eye for a story, he quickly landed a job at The Washington Post. After less than a decade at The Post, he moved up to the pinnacle of literary journalism, The New Yorker. There, he wrote articles full of big ideas about the hidden patterns of ordinary life, which then became grist for two No. 1 best-selling books. In the vast world of nonfiction writing, he is as close to a singular talent as exists today.


OUTLIERS

The Story of Success.

By Malcolm Gladwell.



In 1984, a young man named Malcolm graduated from the University of Toronto and moved to the United States to try his hand at journalism. No one could know it then, but he arrived with nearly the perfect background for his time. His mother was a psychotherapist and his father a mathematician. Their professions pointed young Malcolm toward the behavioral sciences, whose popularity would explode in the 1990s. His mother also just happened to be a writer on the side. So unlike most children of mathematicians and therapists, he came to learn, as he would later recall, “that there is beauty in saying something clearly and simply.” As a journalist, he plumbed the behavioral research for optimistic lessons about the human condition, and he found an eager audience during the heady, proudly geeky ’90s. His first book, “The Tipping Point,” was published in March 2000, just days before the Nasdaq peaked.

These two stories about Gladwell are both true, and yet they are also very different. The first personalizes his success. It is the classically American version of his career, in that it gives individual characteristics — talent, hard work, Horatio Alger-like pluck — the starring role. The second version doesn’t necessarily deny these characteristics, but it does sublimate them. The protagonist is not a singularly talented person who took advantage of opportunities. He is instead a talented person who took advantage of singular opportunities.

Gladwell’s latest book, “Outliers,” is a passionate argument for taking the second version of the story more seriously than we now do. “It is not the brightest who succeed,” Gladwell writes. “Nor is success simply the sum of the decisions and efforts we make on our own behalf. It is, rather, a gift. Outliers are those who have been given opportunities — and who have had the strength and presence of mind to seize them.”

He doesn’t actually tell his own life story in the book. (But he lurks offstage, since he does describe the arc of his mother’s Jamaican family.) Instead, he tells other success stories, often using the device of back-to-back narratives. He starts with a tale of individual greatness, about the Beatles or the titans of Silicon Valley or the enormously successful generation of New York Jews born in the early 20th century. Then he adds details that undercut that tale.

So Bill Gates is introduced as a young computer programmer from Seattle whose brilliance and ambition outshine the brilliance and ambition of the thousands of other young programmers. But then Gladwell takes us back to Seattle, and we discover that Gates’s high school happened to have a computer club when almost no other high schools did. He then lucked into the opportunity to use the computers at the University of Washington, for hours on end. By the time he turned 20, he had spent well more than 10,000 hours as a programmer.

At the end of this revisionist tale, Gladwell asks Gates himself how many other teenagers in the world had as much experience as he had by the early 1970s. “If there were 50 in the world, I’d be stunned,” Gates says. “I had a better exposure to software development at a young age than I think anyone did in that period of time, and all because of an incredibly lucky series of events.” Gates’s talent and drive were surely unusual. But Gladwell suggests that his opportunities may have been even more so.

Many people, I think, have an instinctual understanding of this idea (even if Gladwell, in the interest of setting his thesis against conventional wisdom, doesn’t say so). That’s why parents spend so much time worrying about what school their child attends. They don’t really believe the child is so infused with greatness that he or she can overcome a bad school, or even an average one. And yet when they look back years later on their child’s success — or their own — they tend toward explanations that focus on the individual. Devastatingly, if cheerfully, Gladwell exposes the flaws in these success stories we tell ourselves.

The book’s first chapter explores the anomaly of hockey players’ birthdays. In many of the best leagues in the world, amateur or professional, roughly 40 percent of the players were born in January, February or March, while only 10 percent were born in October, November or December. It’s a profoundly strange pattern, with a simple explanation. The cutoff birth date for many youth hockey leagues is Jan. 1. So the children born in the first three months of the year are just a little older, bigger and stronger than their peers. These older children are then funneled into all-star teams that offer the best, most intense training. By the time they become teenagers, their random initial advantage has turned into a real one.

At the championship game of the top Canadian junior league, Gladwell interviews the father of one player born on Jan. 4. More than half of the players on his team — the Medicine Hat Tigers — were born in January, February or March. But when Gladwell asks the father to explain his son’s success, the calendar has nothing to do with it. He instead mentions passion, talent and hard work — before adding, as an aside, that the boy was always big for his age. Just imagine, Gladwell writes, if Canada created another youth hockey league for children born in the second half of the year. It would one day find itself with twice as many great hockey players.

“Outliers” has much in common with Gladwell’s earlier work. It is a pleasure to read and leaves you mulling over its inventive theories for days afterward. It also, unfortunately, avoids grappling in a few instances with research that casts doubt on those theories. (Gladwell argues that relatively older children excel not only at hockey but also in the classroom. The research on this issue, however, is decidedly mixed.) This is a particular shame, because it would be a delight to watch someone of his intellect and clarity make sense of seemingly conflicting claims.

For all these similarities, though, “Outliers” represents a new kind of book for Gladwell. “The Tipping Point” and “Blink,” his second book, were a mixture of social psychology, marketing and even a bit of self-help. “Outliers” is far more political. It is almost a manifesto. “We look at the young Bill Gates and marvel that our world allowed that 13-year-old to become a fabulously successful entrepreneur,” he writes at the end. “But that’s the wrong lesson. Our world only allowed one 13-year-old unlimited access to a time-sharing terminal in 1968. If a million teenagers had been given the same opportunity, how many more Microsofts would we have today?”

After a decade — and, really, a generation — in which this country has done fairly little to build up the institutions that can foster success, Gladwell is urging us to rethink. Once again, his timing may prove to be pretty good.

David Leonhardt is an economics columnist for The Times.

I highly recommend this book, it is a fast easy read and will make you think about your life circumstances.

Happy Lifetime Trails,

Danna

Funny Friday

THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES

Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks.
Each kid will playtwo sports and either take music or dance classes.
There is no fast food.
Each man must take care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, and complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of 'pretend' bills with not enough money.
In addition, each man will have to budget in money for groceries each week.
Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives, and send cards out on time--no emailing ..
Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment and a haircut appointment.
He must makeone unscheduled and inconvenientvisit per child to the Urgent Care.
He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a social function.
Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside and keeping it presentable at all times.
The men will onlyhave access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.
The men must shave their legs ,wear makeup daily, adorn himself with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep fingernails polished and eyebrows groomed.
During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, back aches, and have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties.
They must attend weekly school meetings, church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting.
They will need to read a book to the kids each night and in the morning, feed them, dress them , brush their teeth and comb their hair by 7:00 am.
A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information: each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size and doctor's name.
Also the child's weight at birth, length, time of birth, and length of labor, each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink, favorite toy, biggest fear and what they want to be when they grow up.
The kids vote them off the island based on performance.
The last man wins only if...he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice.
If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again for the next 18-25 years eventually earning the right
To be called Mother!

Oh, and also maintain a daily blog:-)

Happy Trails,

Danna

Zen Horse

Training Tip of the Week:
By Clinton Anderson
Fix the cause, not the symptoms.


The majority of horse “problems” aren’t really problems at all, they are really just symptoms of a cause. Seventy to eighty percent of all the problems you will ever have to deal with as a horse owner will fix themselves if you do the groundwork and earn your horse’s respect. Most people think that their horse’s problem (biting, bucking, rearing, pawing, etc.) is the real issue, but it’s not. What most people think is a problem is nothing more than a symptom of a cause. But people get so focused on the horse’s bad behavior that they can’t see what is actually causing it. It’s like a weed growing in the ground. You can chop it off with a weed whacker, but two weeks later it will grow right back because the root system is still intact. If you really want to kill the weed, you need to pour weed killer on it to kill the root system. When you kill the roots, the weed will die. It’s the same thing when training horses. Any problem that a horse could possibly have comes from either a lack of respect or fear, or in some cases, both.

Happy Trails,

Danna

Dream Big

Paul Hoffman's Dream Big Message

There is a presence in you that is so powerful and supportive of the desires that you have for excellence in all you do, that to deny its existence is denying YOU the opportunity to create amazement and magnificence in all you do. YOU have what I call Your Genius Code always available to you in each moment of your day. It is the true intuitive vibration that supports you. Right where you are even as you read this there is a silent calling that is louder than anything you may be thinking that is communicating to you about how YOU are blessed and special and that when you commit to those qualities in you the days will always look like you dream they could. The inner desire for what it is you want will become the outer reality of what is. YOU will finally begin to embrace the gift that you are and begin to share it powerfully in your world.

Your life is made up of experiences that lead to choices and actions that either support you or they don't. It is that simple. You see when you say yes to your vision of how you want your world to look like, then the correspondence you receive from the universe will be in alignment with yours. Denying that you are brilliant and capable of creating anything you choose to shuts down Your genius Code and therefore keeps you in a state of mediocrity. Listen to your heart for it will always tell you the truth and step into the authenticity within you that will guide you to the realization of the successes you KNOW you deserve. You are powerful beyond what you may believe. Don't get caught up in talking yourself into something you don't want. Let Your Genius Code express itself fully and ride the wave of joy that is present as you create extraordinary results in your life. It's up to you...just do it!


"In each moment there is greatness that is the real vibration of who you are. Step into it and create magic!"

Create an Extraordinary Day,

Danna

Rave Reviews and Recipes

I'm Back!!!

For a week now I have been without a computer. How did we ever live without them? I now have a mini size lap top, my old computer was a 18" screen, 10 key, 25 lb. work horse, I now have a small light weight, easy to carry, computer that the keys seem to be too close for use. I know, quit complaining and type, I am trying, did my fingers expand with my waistline this past holiday season?

Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!

This past week has been very exciting and exhausting!!!! We moved, yes, we moved for the 2nd time in the past four months! With the outstanding help of Tori, Rick, Jake, Bryson, and Braydan, we packed, unpacked and set up the new house in less than 2 days!!! Just hours after the last load of merchandise was delivered someone came to view the house. If you did not know, Scott and I live in multi million dollar houses we stage and take care of for the owners , we make them look amazing for the showings for potential buyers. This particular house has been on the market for 2 years, with little or no interest we assumed we may have a shot at staying in this one for awhile.

Hours into the positioning we get a call from the realtor stating they had a showing, we stated we have 5 days to have the house ready before a showing, they stated this customer wanted to see the house, the condition did not matter, so we hustled and got the house 80% ready. Three days earlier, the house looked cold, plain, and uninviting, now it transformed into a house full of life energy!

Our cowboy roots definitely cross over into our home decor, the 133 years of cowboy family tradition, and years of gathering western art pieces from all the incredible artists we have met over our lifetime and lifetimes of my forefathers create a feel of western heritage. We also showcase our cool handmade Lucchese boots, the look, smell and feel of leather surround each room. Well as luck would have it the guy loved the house, he has been back 3 times to see it, and an offer has been put in, now we wait and see what happens. It is out of our hands, we just laugh and enjoy it while we can, I told the company we work for that we must be a good luck charm, people should be paying us to live in their houses if they want a quick sell:-)!

Life is about experiences, we are definitely getting experienced at moving!!! I will keep you posted. Cross your fingers, we really need to be in a home until after ski season.

Rave Reviews for Helpful Family and Friends that helped us move!!!

Happy (stay in the same house) Trails,

Danna

Funny Friday

Life really boils down to two questions, should I get a dog, or should I have children?

Now that my children are all over 18, I can say, have children, they give you grandchildren.

Happy Trails,

Danna

Zen Horse

(A page from an 87 yr. old horsewoman's handwritten Journal)


I Ride....

I ride. That seems like such a simple statement. However as many women
who ride know... it is really a complicated matter. It has to do with power
and empowerment; being able to do things you might once have considered
out of reach or ability. I have considered this as I shovel manure, fill water
barrels in the cold rain, wait for the vet/farrier/electrician/hay delivery, change
a tire on a horse trailer by the side of the freeway, or cool a gelding out before
getting down to the business of drinking a cold drink after a long ride.

The time, the money, the effort it takes to ride calls for dedication. At least,
I call it dedication. Both my ex-husbands call it 'a sickness.' It's a nice sickness
I've had since I was a small girl bouncing my plastic model horses and dreaming
of the day I would ride a real horse. Most of the women I ride with understand
that meaning of 'the sickness.' It's not a sport. It's not a hobby. It's what we
do and-- in some ways-- who we are as women and human beings.

I ride. I hook up my trailer and load my gelding. I haul to some nice trailhead
somewhere, unload, saddle up, whistle up my dog and I ride. I breathe in the
air, watch the sunlight filter through the trees and savor the movement of my
horse. My shoulders relax. A smile spreads across my weathered face. I pull

my floppy hat down and let the real world fade into the tracks my horse leaves

in the sand.

Time slows. Flying insects buzz loudly, looking like fairies. My gelding flicks
his ears and moves down the trail. I can smell his sweat and it is perfume
to my senses. Time slows. The rhythm of his walk and the movement of the
leaves become my focus. My saddle creaks and the leather rein in my hand
softens with the warmth.

I consider the simple statement: I ride. I think of all I do because I ride. Climb
rocky slopes, wade into a lily-pad lake, race a friend across the hayfield... all
the while laughing and feeling my heart in my chest. Other days just the act of
mounting and dismounting can be a real accomplishment. Still I ride, no matter
how tired or how much my sitter bones or any of my other acquired horse-related
injuries hurt. I ride. And I feel a lot better for doing so.

I think of the people, mostly women, that I've met. I consider how competent
they all are. Not a weenie in the bunch. We haul 40 ft. rigs, we back 'em up
into tight spaces without clipping a tree. We set up camp, tend the horses. We
cook and keep our camp neat. We understand and love our companion--, our
horses. We respect each other and those we encounter on the trail. We know
that if you are out there riding, you also shovel, fill, bathe, wait and doctor. Your
hands are a little rough and you travel without makeup or hair gel. You do without
to afford the 'sickness' and probably, when you were a small girl, you bounced a
little model horse while you dreamed of riding a real one.

"My treasures do not chink or glitter, They gleam in the sun and neigh in the night."

The group of inspiring women I ride with will appreciate this journal entry, I am always asking them if they journal their wonderful experiences, reading this entry felt like I was reading one of my riding companions or my own.

I love being a Cowgirl!

Happy Trails,

Danna


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Dream Big

Paul Hoffman's message today is,

Your life is an extraordinary sum of amazing experiences that you get to live from. In each of these experiences there was a dream that birthed itself from the unlimited imagination that is available to you in each moment of your day. You even have been given the opportunity to be touched by others dreams as you create relationships that have brought to you things that have changed, challenged, and lifted you as you travel your path in life. We all have a Reservoir Of Dreams within us. A sacred place that inspires and motivates us to become more and more of who we are. These dreams empower us to take action in our life and come in many forms and ideas. The purpose of our dreams is to awaken us to the authenticity of the moment and to say yes to the calling in our hearts.

LIFE becomes so much richer when we are present to it. Rather than running away from something that may challenge our resolve it is when we face a challenge head on we get to experience what it is like to stand up and declare our vision. No matter what may be appearing before you the gift of who you are includes the capacity to carve your own way as you blaze a new trail. Remember that inside of you is a pure place of awe and wonder that is ready to surprise you in every moment so that your life begins to look like you dream it can. Your Reservoir Of Dreams is alive and well. Begin to develop the mindset of anythings possible so that your inner reality becomes the outer reality you dream about.


"Life has a rich flow to it and a divine presence in it. Capture that feeling and watch as everything around you begins to line up in your favor inviting you to have all you desire!"

Always Dreaming Big,

Danna

Rave Reviews and Recipes

I have Rave Reviews for Louise L, Hay's I Can Do It calendar, this flip calendar has daily affirmations and monthly intention messages. I love to start my day with a positive, I have my calendar next to my computer and the message stays fresh in my mind, today's message reads.

Today is one joyous experience after another.

The January message is:

Make a plan for this month. List the many ways in which you can make your life more joyful. What negative expressions could you eliminate from your vocabulary? How can you turn chores into games? Remember, this can be a year of joy and you need to start the ball rolling. Make the effort and Life will match you every day.

You can buy these calendars on Louise's webstie or Amazon.com. I highly recommend anything Louise puts out, this calendar happens to be one of my favorite things.

Happy Trails,

Danna

New Years Day 2010

Twenty Ten!

Last night I sat in awe at the beauty of the snow, the full blue moon and the feeling I felt of complete fulfillment. As the time ticked off of 2009 I felt overwhelmed with appreciation as the memories of the fleeting year came and went. I pondered my experiences, my growth as a business women, mother, grandmother and friend.

Life is about relationships! This year I experienced great relationships, and what I discovered was the reason I had so many wonderful relationships was I had the best relationship with myself. I learned how to love and appreciate myself this year. After 5 decades of life I finally started enjoying me!

Life is so perfect, if you need to affirm this go outside and just look around at nature, everything is always working perfectly. I took my annual New Years morning walk this morning in complete amazement, deer, elk, birds, and bunnies all united in welcoming in 2010. No New Years sunrise for me, instead soft snowflakes fell reverently, a kiss of sun shone on the top of the divide giving a glow upon the brilliant white mountain.

The Cowboy Shop was hustling today with visitors from all over the world enjoying our fun little shop. I am excited for the new year, people are positive and upbeat and ready to make a positive change.

Thanks to all my friends for texting and sending warm New Years wishes, I am so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life.

Happiest New Year,

Danna