Don't Forget to Smell the Roses


It's true there is nothing quite like the smell of a freshly picked rose and reminiscing about being a Rose Princess! Those two things just go together that is if you were lucky enough to be among the chosen few.
Growing up in Pasadena it was a huge honor to be on the Rose Court. Thousands of girls from Pasadena and the surrounding areas would gather at the Tournament of Roses house ( the old Wrigley Mansion) to try out. The selection process would start off with 1000 girls, then cut to 250, 75, 25 and then to the final 7 girls. Looking back I wonder how on earth I made it, but what a honor it was to be on the "Rose Court". We had a whirlwind of excitement that started in December with over 85 appearances meeting celebrities and having the time of our lives preparing us for our big debut on the Rose Float that would travel down Colorado Blvd. and be seen world wide on TV. Actually, that year I was suppose to have walked in the parade with my drill team from Pasadena College but instead got to ride in style on a float full of fresh roses! Wow that was a day I will always remember.
So this year it will be fun to share the day with my little granddaughter and teach her how to do the Rose Princess wave, smell the roses and watch the parade.

Wishing you a very "Rosy" New Year!

Lynda & Erin



Still Lookin Rosie after 30 Years!

Lynda Drake aka BURP (1) will be celebrating yet another year reminiscing being a Rose Princess! She still looks like a rose princess to Rylynn and I and we are proud to have a "celebrity" in our little family. Every year we all enjoy watching the Rose Parade and the new beautiful floats float down Colorado Blvd and of course see the new Rose Court..."mom's replacements." When I was little I would think about living in Pasadena and trying out for the Rose Court...but the OC ended up being my home instead, better weather but no parade. Now Rylynn will have a cool story to tell her children one day... and fun pictures to share.
Leaving a legacy for your children is important, what kind of legacy are you leaving yours? The world we live in is only going to get harder and more trying for our little ones, having core values instilled in our children and their children will continue to build a strong generation. Values like respect for elders, patience, compassion and empathy and self confidence, those are worth cultivating and are not just automatically built into a person....
We wish you a Happy New Year!
Erin & Lynda

Precious Moments

Today, Rylynn and I were at the park on the teeter totter and we were all alone - no one was at the park, really nice and quiet. A woman approaches and says as she continues walking "what a nice mom you are, you both are so cute sitting on that teeter totter together, what a cute moment." After she left I had thought what a nice woman...and what a nice thing to say. Its those little one or two sentences that someone says to you that can be so positive and give you a jump start in your day...today was my day.
I started to also think how great it is to take that extra time to say a kind word or sentence to a stranger, it just might make their day!
Take time in your day to focus on the little things, the things that seem little and non important just might be the thing that someone talks about for the next week!
Erin & Lynda

Family Christmas Shows on TV -

Here is a link to all the fun family Christmas shows on TV. We were watching Santa Clause 3 last night and really liked it! Hope your December is going great and you are finding time to focus on what really matters - Family, Christ's love and birth and our fabulous weather!

http://insidetv.aol.com/2009/11/22/holiday-tv-schedule-2009/

ENJOY!
Erin & Lynda