Sharing the light from every day life......

An inspirational, lifestyle blog

“Back From the Dead” by Bill Walton

Joy

Joy

Hi there & welcome to BdaKiNE.com

Okay, I need to give a shoutout and some love to my hubby for publishing his latest book “Back from the Dead”. This is the first book that he has written all by himself. It was a long and hard process but after two years, he has finished it! He would get up at 4:30 every morning and start writing and researching. Around 3pm, he would finish up for the day and go ride his bike to clear his head.

For those of you who don’t know him, he tends to be very long winded and he writes in a similar manner. The original manuscript was probably twice as long as the published book – Simon & Schuster felt very strongly that his audience is not of the 300,000 word type. After much back and forth with his editor, they finally agreed to a finished copy.

He was very lucky to have an amazing publicist who got him on just about every major newspaper, magazine, radio and television show. A lot of people don’t like doing book tours but Bill thought it was a lot of fun. He combined book signings and appearances with his basketball broadcasting schedule which made it easier for him time wise and saved Simon & Schuster money on airfare. Bill’s publicist told me that a lot of authors think that once they finish their book, the hard part is done. What they don’t realize is that selling a book takes a tremendous amount of time and effort.

I could not be more proud of my husband for his tenacity, determination and discipline in writing, finishing and selling his book; what a blessing that he is “back from the dead”.

Thank you for visiting BdaKiNE.com & Have a grateful day

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San Diego Police Foundation

Inspiration

Inspiration

 Hi there &  welcome to BdaKiNE.com The San Diego Police Foundation is a 501 (C) (3), non profit organization that raises much needed funds for the San Diego Police Department to help our heroic men and women in blue keep the public safe by:

  • Funding critical needs such as protective vests that were once eliminated by budget cuts

  • Supporting programs that fight domestic violence and online predators

  • Advocating for improved safety measures and practices

  • Enhancing the relationship between the police and the community

  • Raising awareness of the services that the SDPD provides to the community

No big surprise that my favorite program is the K9 Unit which has been recognized as one of the best teams in the country. The Canine Unit is called upon when a burglary, robbery, or vehicle pursuit is in progress. The dogs clear areas and flush out suspects who are hiding or fleeing a scene. Often times a criminal will surrender to a police dog before they will to a human police officer! The human police officers can persuade a criminal to give themselves up by threatening to send the police dog in after them.

Police dogs are also trained to sniff out narcotics and explosive devices as well as locate missing or dangerous persons.  Because the K9 Units are not designated to a specific area or division, they patrol San Diego’s streets working 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the entire city for the benefit of all of our communities.

These dogs are every bit the heroes as their human partners and I’d like to thank them for risking their lives to defend the freedom that we so often take for granted.

Thank you for taking the time to visit BdaKiNE.com & have a grateful day

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Literary Lunch

Inspiration

Inspiration

Hi there & welcome to BdaKiNE.com 😁

February’s Literary Luncheon featured author Michelle Gable who spoke about her novel “I’ll See You in Paris“. Michelle is a local girl who grew up in Cardiff-by-the-Sea and her first novel, “A Paris Apartment” made the New York Times & USA Today best selling list. Michelle began writing in the fourth grade yet majored in accounting at The College of William and Mary. Upon graduation, she worked in finance, private equity, investment banking and is currently the head of Investor Relations at a publicly-traded software company.

Despite a career in finance, Michelle said that she wrote every day and submitted manuscript after manuscript only to receive rejection letters. Thirty years after Michelle began writing and several week before her 40th birthday, “A Paris Apartment” debuted and became a national and international bestseller.

While researching her first book “A Paris Apartment“, Michelle found herself fascinated with Gladys Deacon, the Duchess of Marlborough and knew she would become the heart of her next manuscript. “I’ll See You in Paris” follows the story of a nineteen year old Laurel who moves to England after her fiancé dies in the Vietnam War. Flash forward, 30 years later, Laurel’s daughter Annie becomes engaged and as a result, is determined to learn more about her father. Laurel is evasive about Annie’s father and Annie is sure that her answers can be found in a book her mom has about the Duchess of Marlborough. Annie’s questions lead her to Europe to discover the truth at last.

I’ve been going to the Literary Luncheons for about seven years now and in all that time, I can only remember one author who was able to sell the first manuscript they submitted. For the large majority of authors, their experiences are similar to that of Michelle’s. I am so ADD that I am absolutely in awe of the tenacity of these people. I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for someone who can continue to pursue their passion after being rejected time and again for so many years.

These authors are truly an inspiration as well as role models for the power of perseverance. Thank you for visiting BdaKiNE.com & have a grateful day 💚💚💚

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Mangelsen Gallery – La Jolla

Inspiration

Inspiration

Hi there & welcome to BdaKiNE.com 😁

According to their website (www.Mangelsen.com), “the Mangelsen Images of Nature Gallery opened its doors in 1991 in the heart of La Jolla’s historic village.  The gallery is filled with nature photographs by legendary nature photographer, Thomas D. Mangelsen. Tom has traveled throughout the natural world for over 40 years observing and photographing the Earth’s last great wild places.”

“One of the most prolific nature photographers of our time, Tom is as much an artist as he is a conservationist. In 2011, Tom was named the Conservation Photographer of the Year by Nature’s Best Photography, placing his work in the permanent collection at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.”

Tom is also a philanthropist, opening up his gallery to host a fundraiser for the Spay Neuter Action Project (SNAP). I firmly believe that out of any animal welfare group in San Diego, SNAP has had the greatest impact on reducing the number of animals euthanized due to homelessness. SNAP is a 501 (c) 3 not for profit organization that is primarily volunteer driven. SNAP is on a shoe string budget and as a donor you can rest assured that your money is going towards the animals and not a CEO’s huge salary, car allowance and expense account.

SNAP has a state of the art mobile veterinary clinic called the “Neuter Scooter” that goes into the areas that need their help the most. Every day in the United States, 10,000 babies are born whereas 70,000 puppies and kittens are born. As a result, last year approximately 3.7 million animals were euthanized just because they were homeless. So, obviously, we cannot adopt our way out of animal overpopulation. The only way we can make a dent in the euthanasia numbers is through Spaying/Neutering.

🐾 PAWS UP 🐾 to Tom Mangelsen for recognizing the need to support an organization that has their head, hearts, and pocketbooks in the right place. Thanks to supporters like Tom, SNAP is saving lives and preventing suffering .

Thank you for visiting BdaKiNE.com & have a grateful day 💚💚💚

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McGuire

Inspiration

Inspiration

Hi there & welcome to BdaKiNE.com 😁

Emmy award winning broadcaster, Dick Enberg wrote his first play called “McGuire” which chronicles the life of Marquette Basketball coach, Al McGuire. We had the opportunity to see the play when it debuted in Indianapolis at the 2007 Final Four. We loved it so much that we’ve seen it several more times at various locations including the North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach.

McGuire is a one man play staring Cotter Smith who does a brilliant portrayal of the Coach. Members of Al’s family were present at one of the performances and they were visibly impressed. It should be noted that these are people who are not easily impressed.

I’m always intrigued by a performer who can get up in front of a crowd all by himself and keep the audience’s attention. I always wonder, “what about if he has to sneeze or cough or worst yet, what does he do if he spaces out and forgets his lines?”

In all the times we’ve seen McGuire, Cotter Smith has been nothing short of perfection. And when we talk to him after the play, he’s almost unrecognizable – his mannerisms are completely different and he doesn’t have an accent of any kind.

We are hopeful that Dick Enberg will continue to take his play on the road because it’s one of those feel good stories that everyone can appreciate, not just basketball fans.

Thank you for visiting BdaKiNE.com & have a grateful day 😁

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Jeremy Denk – SD Symphony

Inspiration

Hi there & welcome to BdaKiNE.com 😁

We saw pianist Jeremy Denk perform Bach’s Goldberg Variations as part of the San Diego Symphony‘s Chamber Music Series. I know most people consider classical music a yawn but you don’t have to know or even like classical music to have appreciated Denk’s performance.

The piece he played was an Aria with Thirty Variations that Bach wrote in 1742. So, first off, I find it fascinating that music written almost 300 years ago is still not only relevant but also considered one of the greatest works ever written. Denk performed flawlessly for 45 minutes without any music;  he had the entire piece memorized! We watched in absolute awe – I knew I was witnessing a great talent who had obviously spent countless hours practicing. I truly admire people who have the passion and patience to accomplish such greatness.

If you have a chance to see a pianist in person, try to get seats with a view of their hands. I know you will appreciate and be inspired by the combination of God given talent and hard work of these musicians.

Thank you for taking the time to visit BdaKiNE.com & have a grateful day 😘

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Spreading Joy, One Bracelet At A Time

Inspiration

Hi there & welcome to BdaKiNE.com!

I know I’m totally dating myself  but when I was a kid, we used to give each other “friendship bracelets” which were basically a piece of string that you tied to your wrist and never took off. Besides being a symbol of friendship, you were granted one wish upon making the commitment to wear this bracelet 24/7. When the string finally disintegrated and your bracelet fell off, your wish was supposed to come true.

Friendship bracelets have come a long way since I last wore one, I recently discovered some from a company called Puravida Bracelets.  I for the life of me can’t remember how I stumbled upon them but I am glad I did. I know that I’m about 30 years older than Puravida Bracelets‘ target market but when I give the bracelets to friends, they get so happy! And it doesn’t seem to matter if I give the bracelet to someone who is 20 or 50; they all get so excited at this simple gesture.

 Another reason I love Puravida Bracelets is that they have an awesome story behind their success. In 2010, Griffin Thall and Paul Goodman traveled to Costa Rica for a graduation trip. While there, they met two men named Jorge and Joaquin who were living in poverty and selling bracelets to try to put food on the table. Liking the bracelets and wanting to help out these men, Griffin and Paul asked them to make 400 bracelets. Upon returning to the states, Griffin and Paul put the bracelets in a bowl at a local store and within days, the bracelets had sold out! Griffin and Paul realized that they were onto something.

In a few short years, Puravida Bracelets has grown into a multi-million dollar company with bracelets sold around the world. Thanks to Puravida Bracelets, Jorge, Joaquin and more than a hundred of their friends now have full time jobs.

Puravida Bracelets also has a “Charity Collection” that they created as an outlet to give back to over 190 different charities with sales totally more than $667,000. They are also members of 1% for the Planet which means they donate 1% of their annual net revenue to environmental organizations.

I am totally inspired by these young guys who are living the dream with their entrepreneurial spirit, desire to help others and their contribution to our planet and other charitable organizations.

Thank you for visiting BdaKiNE.com & have a grateful day!

 

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Flat Bread Company – Paia, Maui

imageHi there & welcome to BdaKiNE.com!

One of our favorite towns in Maui is Paia – founded in 1896 with the establishment of a company store for plantation workers. It’s a super cute, hippie area known for windsurfing but I love it for their shops, restaurants and galleries. My husband loves their bike shop, Maui Cyclery, which he thinks is the best on the island.

Everything in Paia is pretty darn cool including the Flat Bread Company. I have a special place in my heart for this restaurant because it’s responsible for me eating pizza again after a three year break. I don’t have celiac disease but eating gluten does give me a scratchy throat so I try to avoid it.

When we were in Paia five years ago, I didn’t even know that gluten free pizza existed until our friend Mischelle told  me about it. I will forever be grateful to her for turning me onto the Flat Bread Company. I cannot even begin to describe to you how delicious this pizza tasted – many of the ingredients are from local farms which adds to the freshness, flavor and aloha. I almost cried, I was so happy eating pizza again!

Another reason I totally love the Flat Bread Company is that they host fundraisers at their restaurant every Tuesday for local groups ranging from the Maui Humane Society to the Carden Academy to the Maui Mediation Services. The Flat Bread Company’s love of humanity, sense of caring, and nourishment of their community is an inspiration and a model that we should all aspire to be. Bon Appetit everyone!

Thank you for visiting BdaKiNE.com & have a grateful day! Hugs, Lori

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All photos are courtesy of the Flatbread Company, Maui Facebook Page

Neiman Marcus & the San Diego Symphony BdaKiNE

 

imageHi there & welcome to BdaKiNE.com 😁

The Harmony Project is a Los Angeles based nonprofit that provides free music lessons to low-income students in gang-ridden neighborhoods.

Researchers at Northwestern University did a two year study of 44 children at the Harmony Project and concluded that the music lessons changed the children’s brains, making it easier to process sounds, which resulted in improved reading and speech skills.

90% of the Harmony Project’s students graduate from high school whereas 50% or more of the students who are not part of the classes, do not.

Like the Harmony Project, the Symphony Notables understand the correlation between music and academic success. The Symphony Notables is a group dedicated to building a strong foundation for the San Diego Symphony’s future by coordinating fundraising efforts and developing the potential of children in our community through promoting appreciation and participation in music education.

Because many schools are cutting music programs, the Symphony Notables are raising the funds necessary to provide children with the opportunity to experience music education where none currently exist. The Notables believe that music education should be available to all children, not just the ones who can afford it.

Yesterday, the Notables had the pleasure of being treated to a luncheon and fashion show at Neiman Marcus.  Neiman Marcus is an important supporter of the Arts in San Diego and the Notables are proud to partner with them to help children open their eyes, minds and hearts to the beauty, joy and possibilities for music to inspire and heal our souls.

I am INSPIRED by the mission of the Symphony Notables and the philanthropic spirit of Neiman Marcus, they BdaKiNE!

Thank you for visiting BdaKiNE.com & have a grateful day🌞 Hugs, Lori 😘

 

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The clothes were of course beautiful but it was difficult to imagine wearing any of them when it was 88 degrees outside!

 

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I don’t know how the models could keep from sweating, I was sweating just looking at all of those layers.

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I highly doubt I could get my foot let alone my leg into these leather pants!

 

I love the hippie look of this fringed purse and faux fur vest.

I need to start buying more red!

So beautiful but with a black cat & a bull mastiff that constantly drools, I never wear white

So beautiful but I have a black cat and a bull mastiff that constantly drools so I never wear white

Sneakers are hip for guys to wear, even with suits!

Patrons of the Prado BdaKiNE

 

imageHi there & welcome to BdaKiNE.com 😁

On Sunday we had a really fun day celebrating Balboa Park’s 100th Anniversary with the “F Family.” We met the F Family’s Matriarch and Patriarch  at the Patron of the Prado’s Gala earlier this summer.

We go to a lot of fundraisers and I’m telling you that I will ALWAYS remember this one!!! As you probably know, San Diego is experiencing a severe drought right now. Our average rainfall is 10 inches; in 2007 we had 3.85 inches of rain and each year since then the numbers have improved slightly but we are still well below our average.

So, for us to have rain in July is unheard of to say the least. Well, on July 18, the day of the Patrons’ OUTDOOR Gala, we had a storm like no other – rain, thunder, lightning and crazy humidity!!!! The storm brought 1.03 inches of rain which shatters the previous record for this date in 1922 of .01 inches of rain!!!

I’ve chaired big fundraisers before and we normally start setting up several days beforehand and the day of the event, we start working in the early morning. The day of the Patrons’ Gala, it rained ALL day until 3:30pm. I kept checking the Patrons‘ Facebook page waiting for the official announcement that they were cancelling the party.

To the credit of the organizers, they decided to proceed with the gala. I still cannot fathom how it was physically possible for them to set up tables for 600 people as well as decorate the venue in 2-1/2 hours.  I was even more surprised that everyone actually showed up!

Back to the F Family, it’s so heart warming to see a multi-generational family that seem to actually like each other! The grandchildren showed genuine love, respect, and admiration for their grandparents.

And the grandfather was very proud to have his children and grandchildren involved in the business he started. I love that Mr & Mrs F are being such wonderful role models for their children and grandchildren on the importance of giving back to your community and being of service.

I am INSPIRED by the “F Family” and the Patrons of the Prado; they BdaKiNE.

www.patronsoftheprado.org

Thank you for visiting BdaKiNE.com & have a grateful day 🌞 Hugs, Lori 😘

 

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