Not the stereotypical Aspen family, neither owning a private jet nor having a nest egg of funds designated towards exotic adventure trips, humanitarian explorations or top notch sport camps, my husband and I decided to have an unscheduled summer for our three boys. This was back in 2012, just when Colorado Amendment 64 was being passed. At the age of thirteen anything alluding to the idea … Continue reading Pot
Questions: What does ridding the ego mean? The key is to pay attention to what you already intuitively know. You can’t possibly get rid of your strong healthy sense of ego. There is a difference between having an ego and being egotistic. Don’t get rid of something that is productive. What is a bodhisattva? Somebody who takes a bow to come back and help people to … Continue reading Paying attention to what you already intuitively know.
I often wonder what it would be like for he who is always so concerned about his little brother of whom he adores, if we played role reversal and were stoned for a week straight. If more of the money from pot sales went to educating our children on substance use and what it does to our bodies. If they were more aware of the … Continue reading Role Reversal
You are right in the middle of this beautiful spiritual stew and I want to go all the way back to your mother’s fairies. Fairies are the mystical beings that are guides. Have you tapped into your spirit guides? There is your next journey. Research animal spirituality. Ted Andrews says that if an animal bites or attacks you that is your spiritual guide. Steve has … Continue reading Spiritual Guides
ooooh baby, it has been getting way to serious over here and so I decided to take some time off from parenting and spend the Labor Day weekend gathering some downright entertaining content. It all began What worry is: Worries are movies that you make in your mind complete with images, characters, scripts, you write it, film it and you run it and you watch … Continue reading Worry
Where’d you hide the pot, he shouted out in his sleep. My eyes popped wide open from a deep slumber and I sat straight up in bed, wondering weather I was having another one of my crazy dreams again, or not. Wake up Thumper!? You’re grounded, I said loudly into his 13 year old face. That was the moment we both knew that the innocence … Continue reading Sleeptalk With Me
Since school has let out I feel as though my feet have been permanently planted in the kitchen. I attribute that to my effort to focus on feeding the family less processed food and turning my attention to more whole foods. It’s so much easier in the summer! The problem is that as soon as I’m done with cleaning up from breakfast it is time … Continue reading Feeding the Family
[su_heading]Hire Me or Invest In Me[/su_heading] In a world where people are needing positivity and optimism, I am more determined to stay true to myself and my passion for connecting people and promoting brands by telling their stories. This is why I am getting the word out today on LinkedIn that I am either looking for an investor to help me turn AspenRealLife into the production company I know … Continue reading Hire Me or Invest In Me
Aspen Real Life is now three years old and as I reflect upon the life of my blog I wonder if I have it in me to continue. I need more feedback. What would you like to see more of? How do you think I could change things? Continue reading The beginning of Aspen Real Life
[su_heading size=”18″]Meet The Oldest Boy of Aspen Real Life[/su_heading] Meet Thumper – The Oldest Boy of Aspen Real Life. With him I became a mother, which brought forth a fierceness that I didn’t know I was capable of. With the birth of Thumper, our now seventeen year old son, Baddy and I were the happiest people alive, running to his crib at the first sound of his little … Continue reading Meet The Oldest Boy of Aspen Real Life
[su_heading size=”18″]Meet Axel, Aspen Real Life’s Middle Son[/su_heading] And then came Axel, a sweet, mellow, quiet little brother for Thumper to play with. Axel is Aspen Real Life’s middle son, a savvy, skillful, empathetic, compromising trailblazing risk-taker, sound like your middle child? Having a yellow lab as an older brother is not an easy fate. Axel has always needed to be on guard for Thumper to come barreling … Continue reading Meet Axel, Aspen Real Life’s Middle Son
Some of our favorite days have been when the boys and I have ridden our bikes around town searching for treasures at these sales. It was my belief that everybody loved to buy other people’s junk. Especially in this economy. Continue reading Embracing the Garage Sale
[su_heading]Moving to Aspen[/su_heading] We are moving…again. This time to a 1950’s tear-down house in Aspen with the most beautiful single-paned glass views one could ever hope for. As much as I meditated on this exact scenario to happen; a tear-down deal made in Aspen by Baddy, and a rent we could afford, I was not ready to jump when the actual scenario was presented to me. That’s the thing … Continue reading Moving to Aspen
If you follow my social media channels @AspenRealLife you will already know that I am on a mission to prove a theory that one can gain success through the practice of meditation and the belief in oneself and it all begins by learning how to shut the front door on negative thinking. Step 1: Surround yourself with people who believe in you and encourage you to stay … Continue reading Bear in da house
Moving Up to Aspen Last I lived in Aspen was 1997. A lot has changed since then and I’ll tell you what….our move up to Aspen has been incredibly invigorating. Those fears I had of moving up to Aspen, well I apologize right here and now to the world for being too comfortable in my safe place. Being in the core, with all the mountains I play in looming … Continue reading Moving Up to Aspen
Don’t Hate Me (or anyone else) For Being Loving It’s not easy staying true to one’s dream in a small resort town with a perceived bottomless pit of money that nobody seems to actually have. A place where many business owners see you not as an asset but as a threat, assuming that you are using them to rise above them. What these people don’t realize is that … Continue reading Don’t Hate Me Or Anyone Else For Being Loving While Reaching Dreams
I don’t know how he ended up in my car but he was there with a big smile on his face, “It’s all gonna be fine,” he said, “You’ll see”. It was Fletcher, the boy down the street who once babysat my boys, before he went off to college. He was the one they loved the most for there were no rules other than to … Continue reading An Anxiety Dream About Moving
It just so happens that I tricked Baddy into having that third boy in Playa del Carmen. The window flew wide open when he happily emerged from the bar where he had been watching the Superbowl, to hand deliver a quart of ice cold margarita in?a styrofoam cup?to my beach chair. “No, no honey, you drink it,” I encouraged, “I’ll just go slip into something less … Continue reading Now We Have Three
(This chapter was written in a 2017 Aspen Words Summer Workshop taught by Chinelo Okparanta, of whom I absolutely adored!) My body lay horizontally across the bed with my head hanging off the edge. The world felt so upside down at that moment, this was my feeble attempt to turn it all right side up. Glancing away from the yellow water stain on the ceiling that had expanded into … Continue reading Chapter Nine: Meeting Baddy
Having children impacts our lives in ways that are impossible to predict. In this past year our son’s artistic talents have introduced us to the art sub-culture of our valley, beginning with Axel’s art teacher at Aspen High School, Stephanie Nixon, and continuing on with his being awarded scholarships to take art classes both at The Art Base and at Anderson Ranch Arts Center over … Continue reading How Children Impact Our Lives
I’ve been thinking alot about how when one’s mind is turned off the answers just come without searching for them. So I thought I’d share this story…. Over the summer I had one of those rare night’s out where my girlfriends and I were all available to go out. Baddy was probably out getting his vert on. I think we ended up taking over the … Continue reading Stop Searching
Don’t get me wrong. The conversation that evening was absolutely beautiful. Another manifestation unfolded. Picture this mother/daughter guests talking about a life lived like none of us will sadly ever know of. A life that is now being documented for a podcast about life lived on a cattle station situated alongside the Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal community in the remote Australian outback. The event was Moderated by Elise … Continue reading Taking the Leap
Right now, all over the world, people are reaching out to each other and new relationships are being formed. So many of us throughout the world are in a constant state of despair and hopelessness moving through space in an anxious state of mind. There are also many of us who are feeling the results of slowing down and tuning better in to nature and … Continue reading Building Relationships
It just so happens that I tricked Wade into having that third boy in Playa del Carmen. We thought we were done as I was about to turn 40, but since I was the third in my family, I guess I always felt that a family was not complete without that third child, plus Tucker is a persistent boy and I do believe he willed … Continue reading Now We Have Three
Once upon a time there were three princesses, Melanie, Michele and Jillian. Their mother, Queen Nicolette, was adored by all for everything and everybody she encountered opened up like the most beautiful blossoms when hearing her singsong voice that when spoken flowed as sweet as honey and as melodious as a fresh breeze of air blowing through wind chimes made from Mother of Pearl shells. To be near Queen Nicolette was truly a … Continue reading The Three Princesses Chapter One
“It’s good to be lost, that is where the journey begins,” was what she said to me when I was in the deepest valley of my frustration, and somehow it helped me to be patient with my travels and just be in for the ride. Little did I know that it would be a two year journey just before COVID-19 struck on another year. Continue reading Super Manifester
(This chapter was written in a 2017 Aspen Words Summer Workshop taught by Chinelo Okparanta, of whom I absolutely adored!) My body lay horizontally across the bed with my head hanging off the edge. The world felt so upside down at that moment, this was my feeble attempt to turn it all right side up. Glancing away from the yellow water stain on the ceiling that had … Continue reading Chapter Nine: Meeting Baddy
Hosted by CEO and Founder of Equus Private Wealth Management, Ron Speaker, our Aspen Business Connect professional social network gathered together on a beautiful June evening in the garden of the Equus building in Carbondale, Colorado. At the front door greeting guests were three lovely Aspen High School students. Supporting young adults is a true passion of ours and bringing in their vibrant energy always … Continue reading A Beautiful June Evening Spent with Aspen’s Professional Social Club
I was getting on the chair single, when an older man skied up to ride the chair with me. As always a conversation ensued. I can tell immediately if I should whip out my video camera and interview the person for their interesting and/or inspiring story, but opt first to get to know one another, create a comfort level, and in the last 10 mins … Continue reading pro ski bum
Watch this video created by BrandMaker Media and see why businesses are signing on to be included in our boutique storytelling marketing agency. Also, BrandMaker Media now has an 8-week course that begins July 7th, “Jumpstart Your Brand Online: NEW Immersive Experience”. This is what we’re talking about. Collaboration and referrals. Join in! Click here for more information and to register. Use code JILLIAN for 10% off. Continue reading How to use Social Media for Business
I have been fascinated by the concept of changing my vibration and raising my frequency. Last May, after throwing my most successful sold out event, I felt empty and had to retreat from my work of connecting others and discover what I required to continue. What fun to share the results of hours and hours of meditation, visualizations and raising my frequency as the magic … Continue reading Changing Your Frequency
A Halloween tale Continue reading A Spiritual Encounter
Usually I look at the astrological charts when my life feels flat, but not these past few months … well, this past year really. It’s as if I’ve been bound up in a crystalis, just opening myself up to the universe to transform me and tell me what’s in store for me. Then suddenly it’s as though I get lifted up and blasted through the … Continue reading If you Believe in the Magic, Than the Magic is Real
Just living life as best as possible over the Aspen Food & Wine Classic. Stay tuned to all of our social media for fun live feeds and interviews as we seek out lobster, caviar and bubbles. Santa Margarita Brunch Chefs Club Presents Park90 Chef Tom Coohill Continue reading Uni for Breakfast and Santa Margarita at the Food & Wine Classic
Teen Mental Hygiene Through Mindful Parenting I have wanted and needed answers to my questions on what resources and programs are available in our Roaring Fork Valley and in our schools to keep the mental hygiene of teens healthy. I have needed to learn what to do when I question the behavior of my boys, their friends or other adult influencers in their lives. I … Continue reading Teen Mental Hygiene Through Mindful Parenting
Knowing that there have been many conversations occurring throughout the valley addressing the health of our teens, I felt the need to quickly produce the next Aspen Connect conversation, Helping our Teens Through Communities and Families, and bring the health professionals of the entire valley together with our local families at the Aspen District Theatre to hear the stories of teens, parents, prevention specialists, youth … Continue reading Why Helping Teens?
Substance Use and Addiction Hello, My name is Ashley Adams and I am a freshman at Glenwood Springs High School. I am reaching out to you to bring up an important and necessary topic where we all need to have a conversation, and this is substance use and addiction in teens and how it affects the family. On May 20th myself along with mom and … Continue reading A Letter From A 15 Year Old About How Substance use and Addiction in Teens Affects the Family
Thanks for joining me! Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton Continue reading The Journey Begins
A Mother Gives Thanks If we could, would we raise our children any differently knowing then what we know now? The woman who submitted her story for me to publish to my readers listened carefully as I trepidatiously asked her for more details. I appreciated her wanting to tell her story, and I knew that I was venturing toward raw territory when I asked her … Continue reading A Mother Gives Thanks
The problem was that I was on my own island. I needed a team. My head was becoming very cloudy with the not knowing where I was heading with all of this that I had felt driven to build. Nine incredible conversations in 12 months. And I was spent. And still broke. The community loves my events, but I was not receiving what I required … Continue reading Jillian’s Real Life
Arriving in Littleton at 5:30pm, the boys were fed hamburgers grilled by grandpa and ate them in Grandma’s greenhouse encased in glass. As they sat there eating they looked out into her garden sown beloved with her own hands. The windows were bordered by French lace curtains that she bought in Brugge and sewed. Grandma told a story about a book she was reading about … Continue reading Grandparents
After my ninth sold out Aspen Connect conversation held at a venue that I had set my sights on from the inception, rather than feeling as though I had arrived, I felt so very lost. If I could define what it was to drive me to produce eight back to back events in 9 months, I would say that it was the disconnect between business … Continue reading Finding Clarity – surfing salidadas
“All traffic is shut down at the El Jebel light due to a structure fire,” I read in the text, but I didn’t think twice about it, I was heading down to a thank you barbecue for the Lake Christine Firefighters at Jill Soffer’s house, and nothing was going to deter me. Thus far, I have been covering the fire from afar and I needed … Continue reading Firefighter Stories of The Lake Christine Fire
It is with bittersweet emotions that I post these pictures taken by Michele Cardamone on prom night 2018. With our boys growing up so quickly before our eyes, I meditate religiously and do yoga to do my best to slow down and soak in every moment in time that I am with them, even if it is spent getting reprimanded for lingering too long in … Continue reading Letting Go Of Our Children
Waking up to Highland’s Peak, bathed in the deepest soothing pastel pinks and reds, I rose out of bed and packed up my road bike. I was heading down to Basalt to get the air conditioning fixed in my Hÿûndaī. My plan was to stay down there all day; coffee at Confluence; road bike ride up the Frying Pan River with a good friend; stop … Continue reading Singing a Huge Hallelujah in Basalt
It is always difficult to read or watch movies about the Holocaust but as I listened to my Aunt Tutti tell me of her experience as an eight year old in a concentration camp I was able to hear the truth and envision myself and my family in the same nightmare that occurred only thirty years before I was born. Continue reading Surviving a Concentration Camp
Living Fearlessly in Aspen With 2018 rounding the corner many of us are preparing to shed the stressors from 2017 that have been occupying our thoughts and actions so that we may return to feeling totally alive again and live life at the top of our game. I myself have been shedding the stressors for some time now, as a necessity. With three boys now … Continue reading Living Fearlessly in Aspen
Parenting Teens in a Legalized Marijuana Resort Town When people think of life in Aspen, some may sneer at thoughts of kids being dropped off at the high school in cars that cost more than thir homes. They may feel envy for families with private jets who fly off on a whim on exotic adventure trips for the weekend, or for the year if their … Continue reading Parenting Teens in a Legalized Marijuana Resort Town
Going Up in a Hot Air Balloon in Snowmass and seeing the peaks and valleys of the landscape confirmed that there is absolutely no place like home. As the tips of the leaves turn from a deep and luscious green to a bright yellow that in the sun’s light set the trees aflame in golds and reds, we throw ourselves into fall in Colorado with a fervor, … Continue reading Going Up in a Hot Air Balloon in Snowmass
Getting My Palm Read with Cynthia Clark As many of you know, I’ve been working with experts to help me to stay on my creative path. In this podcast Cynthia Clark, Author, Teacher, Hand Analyst Expert and Intuitive Life Coach, reads my palm and helps steer me along. With a desire to help people to understand how people can grow and progress, Cynthia has written the book, … Continue reading Getting My Palm Read with Cynthia Clark
Chapter Six: Protecting Our Innocence The mornings in my bedroom were the antithesis of the nights; warm, safe and my own haven, where I’d spend oodles of time alone letting my imagination go, dancing wildly to my 45 records, spending time on my CB radio, or playing with the barbie dolls I so wanted to look like. The superficial messages of how to look began early, with barbie dolls. … Continue reading Chapter Six: Protecting Our Innocence
Cruising Around Aspen Below Photo Credit: Gus Goldman [su_carousel source=”media: 44234,44233,44232,44231,44230,44229,44228,44227″ limit=”50″ height=”380″ items=”1″]Bikes lined up outside of the Aspen Brewing Company on Hopkins Ave. People stuffed six packs of Brew Co.’s delicious blondes and IPA’s into baskets on the front of their bikes. String Cheese Incident, Grateful Dead, and Justin Bieber permeated from different speakers rigged any way they could be to people’s bikes. … Continue reading Cruising Around Aspen
Encountering Wildlife, and Pain When I read the text, “Let’s go for a walk today???” I had to pull the phone closer to my face to confirm that the message came from Pam, my long-legged, golden-hair She-Ra of a friend (think Amazon Goddess meets Tarzan, Scrat and Sacagawea). With all of those traits packed into one, Pam is not the type to take walks, preferring to push her physical … Continue reading Encountering Wildlife, and Pain
Spring is the time for we Aspenites to get away. This time it was a girls mountain biking trip to Fruita and Moab and man it felt good! (A waiver has been signed to protect the innocent). Continue reading Girl Getaway Weekend in Moab
What happens when I enter a challenge to write half drunk? I admit that my husband is an alien. Continue reading Half Drunk Challenge
Guest Writer: Matt Fisher Matt is a yoga teacher, college student, and most importantly a student of life. He likes to think he has interesting and unique thoughts to share about life. Read more of Matt’s thoughts here. Finding Strength and Compassion Through Struggle My friend I recently had a conversation. He is a Reiki healer and has helped me through a lot. He told me that he … Continue reading Finding Strength and Compassion Through Struggle
Welcome to Our New AspenRealLife Podcast on RadioCMC Well … our media kit has been designed, thanks to the amazing Max Inc, and our new Marketing and Sales Rep is hitting the streets getting the word out about all of our incredible multi-media platforms to help spread the word of local and national businesses. And as the other mountain media outlets catch on that social … Continue reading Welcome to Our New AspenRealLife Podcast on RadioCMC
Written by Guest Blogger: Isabella Reynolds Turning 18 in Aspen “Dad, I want to go to Aspen for my birthday.” The facial expression I received in response was essentially what you’d expect from the father of a seventeen-year-old daughter that had never been west of New York. It was August, and I had just come home to Connecticut after living with my grandmother in Cape … Continue reading Turning 18 in Aspen
A Girl’s Powder Day in the Life of AspenRealLife It usually isn’t until January when the girls of AspenRealLife get to gather together and hit the slopes, making up for lost time on our mountains. Before we get out, there is a mutual feeling of despondency amongst us. A bit beaten up by family abuse demands, and what the pressure of holidays bring, we crave those moments where we can … Continue reading A Girl’s Powder Day in the Life of AspenRealLife
A Media Stay at The Marble Distillery Inn Before the frenetic schedule of the holidays came upon us, my husband and I headed down to Carbondale for a romantic media stay at the Marble Distillery Inn. As wonderful as life can be in Aspen, we still get cabin fever and feel fortunate to be able to escape to a less homogenous town with a completely different vibe. About Marble Distilling Co. … Continue reading A Media Stay at The Marble Distillery Inn
Chapter Five: Three Sisters It is when I am in nature where suddenly a feeling of total elation passes over my being and I recognize what that feeling represents, memories from times in my chidhood where I was completely one with nature as it beckoned me in to play and get lost in my imagination. The memories are of times spent with my sisters, Melanie and Michele, playing in the woods … Continue reading Chapter Five: Three Sisters
Chapter Four: All About Harold My father, Harold Melvin Wernick, was born in 1917 and lived through two wars, as well as the great depression. A tall and sporty man with a shark grin and a mischievous twinkle in his baby blues, he was single into his forties and had a treasure chest filled with photographs telling tales of his bachelor life. From skiing in Switzerland with one gorgeous woman, and sailing in the … Continue reading Chapter Four: All About Harold
Chapter Three: Living in a Fairy Tale My childhood was its own fairytale. Yes, it’s true, I grew up in a fairytale within a fairytale. My two sisters and I grew up in Massachusetts in a white house set up high on a hill. A white picket fence enclosing our mother’s wonderfully British bright and cheery hand-planted gardens. She was always in the garden with … Continue reading Chapter Three: Living in a Fairy Tale
I had to sheepishly apologize to the crew for moving in before they were ready for us. I couldn’t stand to live in our tiny condo anymore. Two years was enough. I agree that living in small areas keeps the family closer together but Im not convinced this was healthy for our particular family. Continue reading Chapter Two: Our Dream House
The first Chapter – Looking Back on AspenRealLife It was summer of 2010 when my eyes opened, slowly focussing in on black storm clouds rolling in, threatening well needed rain. As the shadows were cast over Goldie & Kurt’s ranch land and the elk and packs of coyotes who frequently grazed and played in our backyard, I slid down deeper under our down-filled comforter and rolled on top of my very own electric furnace, digging my nose into his … Continue reading The First Chapter – Looking Back on AspenRealLife
Everybody who lives here knows that the place to make business deals and to possibly fall in love, is on the gondola on Ajax Mountain in Aspen. Sure, there are other, darker, things that happen on the gondola like the Colorado Quickie (which originated in Aspen) and Clackwagglers who stand the chance of being tossed out of the gondola by locals. (Haven’t experienced this or don’t know what these are? Look them up in the Urban Dictionary). Continue reading The Stories You Hear on the Aspen Gondola
The Forgotten Season To live in a mountain town is to be bound to the change of the seasons. November snows invigorate the powder hounds as the sound of clicking ski boots return, and May thaws once again fills the rivers with rushing water and the trees with bright, green leaves. Each season complements one another in the duality of Aspen’s Ying and Yang. The … Continue reading The Forgotten Season
Wait…What Day is It???? TGIF Well we may be expecting a little rain through Sunday but since when does that ever stop us? According to Weather.Com the future looks pretty bright with sun and temps in the 50’s for most of the week (of course…we all know that can change in a second). So wrap up in layers, grab your friends, grab your kids and get … Continue reading Wait…What Day is It????
Mr. Gaga The Film, An Interview in Aspen Attending the 38th Annual Aspen Film Festival, I had the opportunity to interview the Producer of the film Mr. Gaga, Barak Heymann. Before I interviewed Mr. Heymann, I was able to sit in the beautiful historic Wheeler Opera House and transcend into the film, from the first frame until the last. Gripped in awe at the dancers, … Continue reading Mr. Gaga The Film, An Interview in Aspen
“When I think about the things that we’ve been through, I know just one thing is true, life is better with you!”. Happy 15th Anniversary to my hubbie. Continue reading Happy BIG Birthday Baddy!
Aspen Princess Visits AspenRealLife When my intern/lead writer, Christopher, Gsell, left me to head off for a year in Spain, his one request before he left was to have the Aspen Princess, Ali Margo, visit AspenRealLife. He wanted to meet her in person to tell her how much he enjoys her column in the Aspen Times and to thank her for directing him to me when … Continue reading Aspen Princess Visits AspenRealLife
Carbondale, Aspen’s Real World Relative The choice to live in a place as unrepentantly gorgeous as the Roaring Fork Valley likely seems to be a rather straightforward one for anyone who has been lucky enough to visit. Gorgeous, slanting mountains set an epic scene for skiers, mountain bikers, fishers, drinkers, all like minded in their desire to spend more time outside than in. Yet, what … Continue reading Carbondale, Aspen’s Real World Relative
[su_heading]Delving Deeper into Meditation with Thomas Droge[/su_heading] Taking Taoist Insight and Five Element meditation classes with Thomas Droge and interviewing him live on our Facebook feed afterwards helped me to delve deeper into the intellectualization of meditation during Wanderlust Aspen-Snowmass 2016. As our conversation unfolded it was apparent that Thomas Droge has a very intellectual mind that breaks down meditation both scientifically and physically. A practitioner of Qi Gong, Tai Ji … Continue reading Delving Deeper into Meditation with Thomas Droge
[su_heading]An Interview with MC YOGI[/su_heading] I had heard MC YOGI’s music before and downloaded it to my yoga practice playlist. His voice was soft and soothing and his music made you feel light-hearted and happy, so it really was a pleasure to practice yoga in the first row of his yoga class with Amanda Giacomini and DJ Drez in “The Nest by Yoganonymous” and hear him sing during Wanderlust Aspen-Snowmass … Continue reading An Interview with MC YOGI
An Interview with Eoin Finn at Wanderlust Aspen-Snowmass I’d like to thank Eoin Finn for helping to dissolve my shyness and willingness to stay insular while in yoga practice, and insight me to throw all inhibitions to the wind in his blacklight “Yogi Rockstar Classic Rock Vinyasa Flow” class during Wanderlust Aspen-Snowmass 2016. In 1999 Eoin founded Blissology, a yoga system that mines for the source of love inside of all … Continue reading An Interview with Eoin Finn at Wanderlust Aspen-Snowmass
A Wanderlust Aspen-Snowmass 2016 Recap Wanderlust Aspen-Snowmass always looked intriguing to me but as someone who is more partial to practicing yoga and meditation in my own space – without having to get touchy feely with strangers (sorry, it’s my East Coast/British genetic structure), I have always been a bit reluctant to purchase that ticket. This year though, master teacher, Rod Stryker, was going to be there. This … Continue reading A Wanderlust Aspen-Snowmass 2016 Recap
An Interview with Rod Stryker If you have been reading AspenRealLife you will know that I left my blog after nine years to work for a digital marketing firm, at a time when my analytics were strong with over 14K unique visits a month. Having never marketed the site before, as passionate as I was about writing inspirational stories I had absolutely no desire to become an advertiser, I was all about … Continue reading An Interview with Rod Stryker
[su_heading]How to Make Money While Retaining Freedom[/su_heading] An interview with local Aspenite, Dr. Ryan Moriarty, PhD, CEO and Founder of LOLSpots, an audience development network and quality traffic source for pop culture, humor, and entertainment sites, brought insight to my burning question of how to make money while retaining freedom. And now, with AspenRealLife blowing up “for reals” because I am sticking to my dream of working on … Continue reading How to Make Money While Retaining Freedom
How do parents get release? It is a real psychological dilemma. Continue reading Are All Mothers Superheroes?
[su_heading size=”28″]Imagining Life Without Children[/su_heading] When people ask me if I love having children my answer is always conflicted. Honestly, I love having children. It is my vocation, my life, it is what I signed up for. There would be no magic for me without my children showing me the world through their eyes and helping me to understand the value of nature to a … Continue reading Imagining Life Without Children
[su_heading]An Interview with a Teen DJ on KDNK[/su_heading] As the silver sliver of a moon cradled itself between the twilight silhouetted hilltops, I switched on Aspen Public Radio to accompany me as I drove down the dark country highway. I was rewarded, as usual, with a melodious stream of music that complimented my state of mind. As if he knew not to break the spell, the DJ … Continue reading An Interview with a Teen DJ on KDNK
How often do we find that connection with another person that happens out of nowhere and lasts forever? This happened to me on the corner of 61st and Madison while in New York City. Continue reading Finding Talent on the Streets of New York City
[su_heading]Earning Cloud Nine After Hiking Aspen Highlands Bowl[/su_heading] Last Saturday I experienced the Highland Bowl and the infamous Cloud Nine restaurant as if for the first time, through the eyes of two new friends I met on the chairlift. On yet another absolutely gorgeous spring-like day I closed up my computer and drove up to Aspen, the bowl was calling. It was to be my third day in a row … Continue reading Earning Cloud Nine After Hiking Highland Bowl
[su_heading size=”28″]Interview with U.S. Paralympics Skier Thomas Charles Walsh[/su_heading] In continuation of covering the U.S. Paralympics World Cup I have been fortunate to have had the chance to interview Vail local, Thomas Charles Walsh, here in Aspen skiing for the U.S. Paralympics Alpine National Team during the IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup. I first was introduced to Thomas by my nephew seven years ago. Thomas and Devon were … Continue reading Interview with U.S. Paralympics Skier Thomas Charles Walsh
[su_heading]Dogsledding with the Aspen Animal Shelter [/su_heading] As one thing tends to lead to another, Hootie-Hoo’s school project to encourage people, especially his mom, to save a dog lead to our getting our very own special dogsled adventure with Seth Sachson. Dogsledding on the Rio Grande Trail with the Aspen Animal Shelter was a remarkable way to experience the beautiful relationship between Seth and his dogs. With … Continue reading Dogsledding with the Aspen Animal Shelter
[su_heading]The U.S. Paralympic Alpine Ski Team in Aspen[/su_heading] It has always been a desire of mine to acquaint myself with the adaptive skiing/snowboarding community and to get to know the people involved. Now with the U.S. Paralympics alpine ski team in Aspen training for the IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup, I am determined to take this opportunity to dive in and meet the amazing athletes competing. My curiosity … Continue reading The U.S. Paralympic Alpine Ski Team in Aspen
[su_heading]Living Life to the Fullest[/su_heading] As many of you know, these past nine months have been devoted to being true to myself and my dreams of sharing the local’s perspective on living in Aspen. In order to do this, I have tried my best to stay committed and live each moment as honestly and completely as possible. Over the weekend I attended a memorial service for Ryan Jennings in Carbondale, … Continue reading Living Life to the Fullest
[su_heading] Living and Breathing Freestyle Skiing [/su_heading] With the Winter X-Games rapidly approaching, January 28-31, 2016, we are going to be introducing to you our local badasses of whom we respect and admire, beginning with our beloved local teenagers who have been living and breathing freestyle skiing all of their short 16+ years. Meet Joey Lang, Cassidy Jarrell and Keenan McIntyre, three boys who by … Continue reading Living and Breathing Freestyle Skiing
Bringing spirituality and meaning to our childrens lives can be stressful over the holidays with our mixed marriage. Continue reading Living in Paradise in a Mixed Marriage
[su_heading]I Am THAT Social Media Person You Need[/su_heading] In a world where people are needing positivity and optimism, I am more determined to stay true to myself and my passion for connecting people and promoting brands by telling their stories. This is why I am getting the word out today that I am either looking for an investor to help me turn AspenRealLife into the production company I know … Continue reading I Am THAT Social Media Person You Need
[su_heading size=”18″]Seeing Aspen Through a Teenager’s Eyes [/su_heading] It has been a long time since I have actually written about the children of Aspen Real Life, as soon as the older ones turned 14, all bets were off. They went from take me, film me, let me see, to MOOOOOMMMMMMMM! Now they get soooo pissed off if they are remotely aware that I am writing about them … Continue reading Seeing Aspen Through a Teenager’s Eyes
What you have no time for sex with your spouse? Time to change the scene and add some spice into your life. Life is to short for drudgery. Continue reading Have Sex With Your Spouse
If you haven’t been living this way already, it’s time to start letting go and live for the moment…even if the consequences may make you blush. Continue reading A Funny Story About Wanting Sex
My family and I have been wallowing down in the depths of a turbulent sea but we are coming up for air and as we swim out of the steely blues the light seeps in and the tones get warmer. Soon we’ll be gasping for breath as we break the surface of a new beginning.
Continue reading Hiking To Cathedral Lake, Aspen, Colorado
There is a quiet buzz of concern one can hear if one listens carefully enough to the conversations of many parents in our valley regarding the health of our youth. Last year, while on the board for the Valley Partnership for Drug Prevention I tried to start a movement along with the Executive Director, Michael Connolly. We began a Parent to Parent Alliance to … Continue reading Top Ten Ways to Help Keep Your Teen Safe
As I sat at the bar I imagined what it would be like to still be single and living in New York City. When an attractive young man sat down alone right next to me I thought about…. Continue reading Fantasies of a Mother
[su_heading]A Family Stay At A Colorado Dude Ranch[/su_heading] When I was a little ten year old rag-a-muffin of a girl my parents took my two sisters and I on a trip to Colorado. Part of the trip included a stay at The C Lazy U Guest Ranch & Resort, and this is where I fell in love with Colorado and little cowboys, swearing that one day I would … Continue reading A Family Stay At A Colorado Dude Ranch
[su_heading size=”18″]Can True Love Survive Children[/su_heading] Everybody wants to know how to find that true love, but what about finding it and keeping the love while raising children? So far, Baddy and my love has endured the true test of time, from building and then losing a dream house together, to the trials and tribulations of raising boys in “Paradise”. After watching writer Mandy Len … Continue reading Can True Love Survive Children
When I think back, he was always there in my imagination, the man I would fall in love with one day. A tall, dark and handsome cowboy version of a straight Carey Grant with a chiseled jaw and smiling eyes. My search for the literal man of my dreams began well before my father, whose life was about to be extinguished by Melanoma Cancer, set … Continue reading Chapter 1: Morphine Drip
Anybody who has moved understands the emotional and physical distress it causes, and here we are possibly about to do it again! Anybody want a home on a gorgeous lot in Basalt, Colorado? Continue reading Moving From Old Snowmass to Basalt, Colorado
I’m thinking it would be far easier to live with a Buddhist philosophy if we didn’t live in Western society. So, how to live peacefully in a fast paced environment? Don’t get stuck in a rut. Continue reading Is it Possible to Live in the Moment?
Jillian's Real Life 