Missoulian’s Lament

This one goes out to all the Missoula drivers. Something's been on my mind. I think it's been on yours too. This is about... POTHOLES!

Missoula tempts us with Spring, but we all pay a price

The water expands and turns into ice

Between cracks and crevices under our feet

and it all does a number on Missoula streets.

Potholes! They’re everywhere, if you haven’t seen,

So big you can barely drive in between!

Weaving and swerving through each intersection,

Just to protect your precious suspension!

This is a cry to our lawmakers, (who must not have cars)

Or who live in a section not as bumpy as ours,

Please see the plight of Missoulian motorists,

And clean up this warzone, looks like bombs have been dropped on us!

And if you don’t hear us, I know what I’ll do,

I’ll move to the third world… where the roads are more smooth!

A Favorite Inspirational Quote

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

I hope you draw some wisdom from this quote. I first heard it from a friend I met in my first year of college. She told me she wanted to be the first female President of the US! A woman with that kind of ambition is a good match for a quote like this, don't you think?

So maybe I will be bold today and let you in on a little secret. Did you know I co-own a small screen-printing business?  I love giving discounts to members of MBN, SBC, and non-profits. We are the sustainable choice! http://www.alpenglowapparel.com/

Related reading:
Quotes of Note: Brilliant Thoughts Arranged by Subject
Great Quotes From Great Women
The Smartest Words Ever Spoken: 1001 Timeless Quotes

Thanks for reading, and I would love to hear your favorite quotes!

~Laura

A new thing

I'm doing something new!! Surprised?

It's called Alpenglow Apparel. A custom screen-printing service that is causing local businesses to re-think their printing practices and make the switch to Organic cotton and Eco-friendly, permanent inks. We are the only screen-printers in Missoula with a full commitment to our eco-friendly product and a member of the Sustainable Business council.

As a co-owner of the company, I've joined the Missoula Businesswoman's Network and made some great connections at their Symposium last week. Check out our website at www.AlpenglowApparel.com and friend our facebook! Alpenglow Apparel Facebook Page oh yeah, and I've  been tweeting about this a while at @MTgreenTee

Please connect with us and help us build our influence in the community as we help Missoula businesses to adhere to true sustainable practices!!

Oh my goodness, it's 2011!

My blog really took a back seat to life for the past few months! There has been much purging of the old to make way for the new! My time at the floral shop has come to an end but it was a wonderful learning experience. I also ended employment with the local grocery store in favor of something better, something NEW.

Robin and I formed a business called Alpenglow Apparel. I do not attribute its formation to the loss of that cashiering job, all praise goes to Robin for his level-headedness during this tough time and thinking on his feet how to best manage our dwindling resources.

Alpenglow is a German word meaning the phenomena of light refracting off snowy mountain-tops just before sunrise. A rosy glow results- and it's truly breathtaking. This is a scene we've become accustomed to in the beautiful Missoula, Montana valley. 

The company is an LLC and we will be working exclusively with organic cotton and screenprinting with eco-inks. The website is here: www.AlpenglowApparel.com 

Hopefully this venture will be enough for us to live off of for now and hopefully it will thrive in the future. It requires our combined 200% effort in every department and since its incorporation we've been met with some success.

I embark on another amazing year, grateful for every day I've been given. Trying to make the most of it.