9 posts tagged “vox world tour”

Hey, Vox. My little rant down there? I need a vacation. Badly. And I do believe you've got one for me, yes? I'm ready to go to Paris, to Tokyo like you promised. And I'm ready to SHARE it with everyone here and take everyone with me along the way. So, let's go.

 
So far, I've got many fantastic memories to fill it with and I haven't even figured out where to go first... or when!
How fantastic to see my best friend and I appearing on the Vox/Six Apart corporate web site.

Me and Cate on SixApart.com

4 comments

I believe She said it all...

I was talking to Cate via messenger today. We're both just in absolute shock - still. It's setting in slowly, but it's really taken my mind a while to grasp all this. I mean really, quite a while. However, I think today was the day it finally became real. I'll explain...

I have been given an amazing gift by Vox - The Vox World Tour!

So many people are thrilled for me.

I'm going on a grand adventure!  With my wonderful father who deserves this more than anyone!

Cate passed this along to me. I read this article on Six Apart's website, written by Anil Dash, and like Cate did when she read it, I too cried like a complete baby. To see my words being quoted and my writing being praised as "profound and universal" drove me to burst into tears.

You see, I never in my wildest dreams thought something this would happen to me. Never.

I have struggled with the fact I've been given this amazing gift for the past 48 hours, asking myself, "Why me?"

Why me. Why me. Why? Me?

I haven't felt worthy these past two days.

I have struggled with wondering if I really deserve this. Honestly, I have had a very hard time grasping the fact my entry was chosen! Then being told by Mena Trott herself, the owner of Vox and Six Apart, that my words made her tear up! I can't believe it!

Yet, I am beginning to finally see. Slowly the realization is materializing.

I basically told Cate today that I have been trying to maintain normalcy for my husband and baby while all this has been happening by taking time to prepare meals, change diapers, play with my son, ask my husband about his day at work and not let things go neglected in my home.

I went on to tell Cate how it's been hard. At one point yesterday I felt like a bad mother. I hadn't attended to my son's needs like I should have because I was answering emails and telling all of my friends and family the big news.

But Cate assured me that I wasn't a bad mother and I deserved this. And my son was just fine. I think she's right. I do deserve this.

I really do.

You see, I haven't always had it easy. In fact, my life has been quite a struggle. However, despite the struggles and despite the hardships, I have endured. Not only have I endured but I have managed to be positive, accepting, loving, optimistic and hopeful. I've always believed that life is what we make of it. I've fought for my happiness.

One of my favorite sayings reads something like this:

"The sun shines brightest after the storm."

Today, my husband has assured me as well. "Kristen," he said to me, "you deserve this so much. Don't worry about things. The laundry can wait. I'll take care of William. You focus on you. It's fine. You've earned this."

Last night I deserved to sit on my butt and answer emails and type my heart out. My life has been one trial after another with a few breaks of happiness in the midst of turmoil. And so, this may be one of the greatest rewards ever bestowed upon me.

I earned this by being me. I held on. Things have paid off.  Good things do happen to those who believe, those who push on with hope in their hearts.

This is the sunshine after my storm. This is my dad's hard work, love, sacrifice, sweat and tears paying off.

Thank you Vox. Thank you  Mena, Gladys Krissy ...
and everyone who gave me this.

You saw my potential. You gave me a great reward. Thank you so much.

I may never stop thanking you all. It just means so much.

And so, I sit here again on my butt, enjoying the wonderful reward and gift I have been given, thinking of newlywed Cate who now gets to go on a second honeymoon with her husband, around the world. I'm smiling, thinking of her...

I think video blogging me chugging a Vox Vodka straight out of the bottle, whilst eating pink cupcakes as I dance around in my Vox T-shirt and screaming "THIS IS GOOOOOODDD!!" may help you grasp how gosh darn excited I am..

...and I laugh. I love this girl.

Because, I can see her doing it too! I really can. She says she has boundaries, but I'll bet she'd do it or possibly has, with the help of Vodka of course.

She's my best friend. I love her so much. I think that Cate probably understands me better than most people out there. I love her because she has true happiness for me. Cate has always encouraged me and inspired me. Cate has never let me down. She's always been there, like a true friend.

She wrote:

Kristen is just...absolutely, amazing.

This girl has had it tough. Tougher than most. Tougher than she should...

This girl needed a break. Dammit, this girl needed the world.

     But it has all come full circle now.

Thank you Cate.

She's right. It has come full circle and winning this contest, being showered with love, congratulations and appreciation has shown me...

I've made it. I am here. The sun shines.

All of the people who read my blog, send me emails, offer me their friendship by peeking into my life every day - I love you all. I love all of you here. Every one of you. A simple [this is good] from my friends means more to me than you might know. I am a woman of expression. I share my life. My life is not just my own but it is also for those around me.

Thank you my friends, for allowing me to be a part of your life. Thank you for all you do for me. I may never stop thanking you either. I may often struggle with the fact I have so many people who care - it's unbelievable. It's wonderful.

I've always felt that, as people, we have the capability of touching each other in profound ways. Be it a simple, small,  yet magical gesture such as being the kind of Starbucks barista whose smile and "have a wonderful day" lasts, even after she's left the espresso bar and gone on to have children. I really believe we all have a little magic in us to use towards being good, happy people who touch others as only we can, if we only find that magic within ourselves and use it. 

My friends, you let me shine. Without you, I'd be insignificant.
You let me use my magic and nurture my potential.

Before Cate and I said goodbye in our online chat today, I asked her, "Where do I begin? How do I find the words? What do I write about next? I'm so overwhelmed with joy and happiness, I don't know what to do. My mind can't seem to grasp this."

Her answer was simple. She said...

"Accept it. This is yours."

This is one of the many reasons I love Cate. Her words are so full of simple wisdom, leaving me with just the answer and peace I needed to hear.

Today as I spoke to Cate and she delivered this answer to me, It finally hit me. The knowledge and realization sank in for the first time in these past two days.

It's real. I earned this. I deserve this. It's not luck, it's a blessing. It's an opportunity to honor the gift I've been given - to inspire, to grow, to be happy.

"What next?" I asked her.

"Let it unfold," she said.

Later on I went to a book store and I bought a book on traveling Paris. It felt so rewarding to pay that $7.50 towards my future journey.

Let it unfold I will... with every one of you.

Yesterday and today were probably the best days of my life next to marrying my husband and the birth of my son. Yesterday I found out my post won the Vox World Tour. Yesterday I found out I was going around the world! And because I won, the person who invited me to Vox wins too! Even my best friend  Cate gets to go!

Cate, who would have thought? I mean honestly! This is insane! [This is good]

A year ago, Cate and I barely knew each other! We were just a couple of Starbucks girls. Who would have thought our friendship would amount to this wonderful surprise! Who would have thought because we met, became friends, and Cate invited me to Vox and I wrote that post, that we'd get the opportunity to go around the world!!?!

Last night I wanted to tell everyone in my 'hood.'
I wanted to shout it from the mountain blog-tops last night but I was on order to keep it to myself until the news was announced. It was killing me! I wanted to blog: "HOLY CRAP! I WON! OH MY DEAR LORD!" But I couldn't!

And, I must have checked TeamVox's blog a gazillion times before finally crashing into bed at 2am! I didn't sleep much last night. How does one sleep after being told they won something so fantastic!?

I remember quite clearly dreaming in text. That's when you know you've had too much computer time!

Yes, that's right. I was literally dreaming in words.

Text appeared in my dreams as events unfolded. It was bizarre and I often woke up freaking out from words being played out before my eyes in my sleep, only to fall asleep again with a big goofy smile on my face, cuddled up next to my husband with the thought on my mind "I did something good." More text dreams followed until I finally hit R.E.M. sleep sometime in the wee morning hours. So then, basically I overslept. I felt like my mind was about to rocket itself right out of my skull from all the excitement!

I woke up and laid in bed until 11am. I know what you're thinking - lazy slob! But... thankfully my husband took the day off from work so I could relax and enjoy this special day. I laid in bed for what seemed like an eternity asking myself:

"did this really happen? Is it real? Was I dreaming? Am I really going on these trips? For writing? For expressing myself? For believing and hoping?"

Yes, I am going! I'm going around the world! Holy cow!

The first thing I did after lying in bed in a dazed, happy stupor, was reach for my laptop. I logged on just a few short minutes after the announcement was made. The comments and emails began to flow and once again, my tears.

I was overwhelmed with people congratulating me, wishing me well, praising me and my post that won, sending me emails of personal congrats and advice on the cities I'll be visiting. I've even received offers from people letting me know if I need a digital camera or picture phone, I can have theirs! Their own personal equipment! All day long I've received comments and emails from all walks of life, sharing their happiness for me.

And yet, even in the midst of all this fantastic joy, I can't believe I won!
It's still not set in fully. I may be in shock for days! I may be in shock forever!

These kind of things don't happen to me!
Me? Kristen. Mom. Wife. ME! Suzie Homemaker herself!

How is it I won? What luck is this? Did I really write something so inspirational and meaningful to win a contest I had no idea I was going to win? I had completely dismissed the possibility I'd win after I clicked "save." To say I was surprised would be putting it way too lightly.

I was shocked! Floored! Stunned! Astounded! Astonished! Amazed and downright dumbfounded!

When Mena Trott, owner of Vox and Six Apart told me over the phone that I had won, I think I may have wet myself a little! Seriously, I was in complete shock. I didn't know what to say or do. I just know that I basically freaked out, flipped out and started bawling like a baby while at the same time laughing hysterically. You may have heard the recording.

My Happiness

I was so embarrassed! I hate my voice! I sound like a little girl or a "As if" Valley Girl. But I have to laugh each time I listen to it. I sounded so hysterical and also like someone who suspects a joke is being played on them! It was no joke, however, to my absolute astonishment.

I'm going to cherish this memory forever.

So, imagine this:

What I thought was a scheduled Vox Beta Tester Phone Survey actually turned out to be a little trick to tell me I was the winner of the Vox World Tour, and after I hung up the phone upon finding this amazing news out, I literally ran around my house for 10 minutes giggling, screaming, whooping, crying, jumping up and down, I may have farted even, laughing hysterically, and opening my front door and screaming to my dog on the porch...

"Oliver! I WON the contest!" The dog really wasn't impressed.

Then I called my husband.

Me:  Hello Matthew!
Matthew: Hi.. are you ok? You sound like you've been crying?
Me: I'M GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! GUESS WHAT!
Me: You'll NEVER guess
Me: TRY to guess!

Matthew: Uhh... I don't know, what?
Me: I won the Vox World Tour!!!!!!! Remember me telling you about it!? I won! I WON!

Matthew: What? (long lause)
Matthew: Oh my GOD! (hysterical laughing)
Me: I KNOW! I won! (crying, laughing, peeing myself)

Matthew: Holy shit! WOW! You really ARE a good writer!
Me: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA *squeal, giggle, scream*

Matthew: Wow! I'm in shock!
Me: ME TOO! I've been shaking since I found out! I think I peed myself a little bit!

After I hung up with my husband, I picked up my baby and swung him around in my arms. "Mommy won, mommy won, aren't you so proud of me?" He was laughing and giggling too. I then ran around the house, giggling and jumping some more. This was pretty much my entire night.

I think I said to my husband at least five thousand times last night, "I can't believe this!"

Me and Dad - Once upon a Carousel.

After I called my husband, I then called my father. He was absolutely stunned. He told me how proud he was of me and how he always knew I had a gift. He kept asking me:

"Is this real? Are you sure it's not a prank?"
"Wow! Around the world! Kristen, that's amazing! I can't believe this! I am so proud of you!"

To hear the joy and giddiness in my dad's voice was overwhelming. My heart filled up with joy and nearly burst. Honestly, I'd love to share more of what he said to me but it was so special, I want to keep it between just me and him. I want to hold his words close to my heart and never let them go.


Still, even after hours have passed since I found out... I just don't understand it! Why me? I don't win anything!

I'm just a stay-at-home mom of a 15 month old baby boy. My days consist of waking up, cooking breakfast, changing diapers, cleaning the floors and the bathroom, doing dishes, cleaning kitty litter pans, changing more diapers, making dinner, cleaning more, taking trash out and if I have time, walking around my suburb and blogging about my mundane daily activities as a housewife. I don't get it!

People have told me I have a way with words. But I'm just a 25 year old high school drop-out with no driver's license who likes to wear aprons, cook, clean and invent clever recipes. Sure, there's more to me than that, like the fact I am an artist and a good photographer but honestly, I don't see these things! I don't have super high confidence in myself. It's hard for me to believe in me!

Yet, I write. I continue to express myself and in doing so, I've inspired others. Vox has given me an outlet to voice my feelings, my fears, my demons and my triumphs. Vox has allowed me the opportunities to inspire others and encourage them, even though, I myself, have a hard time believing in my capabilities.

I'm just a housewife.

However, this housewife has learned something here. I really am a writer. I could make something of myself. I should. I ought to. People have told me and I should be listening. It's really time for me to stop ignoring the potential I have and honor the gift I've been given.

From Mena:

I'm really happy for you and I'm glad that we could give you this opportunity. Like I said, your entry really moved us all -- I actually teared up reading the part about Three Amigos and your dad. And from the reaction on Vox, people are so happy that you won this trip!

Winning the Vox World Tour has opened my eyes. When I go on this grand adventure, it won't be just for me. I will take pictures and record my feelings and experiences of this trip in detail so that every person I hold dear and every person on Vox who wanted to go can be a part of this adventure themselves.

I'll take my dad and take him on the adventure of his life. I'll show him how much his love and dedication has meant to me. We'll walk up the Eiffel Tower together, we'll stand together and hold hands as father and daughter at the Mona Lisa and ponder her meaning, as so many have. Then we'll travel the corridors of the Louvre and devour as much art as we can. We'll travel around the world together and bond as father and daughter and on the journey, forge some of the best memories and lessons learned a human being could obtain.

But most importantly, I will be going not just for myself and my father, but for everyone on Vox and all those who dream, to see the world and know upon my return, I'll finish my education and refine the talent I've been given.

I will write. I will shoot for the stars. I will inspire.

I just want to thank the creators of Vox and everyone who participates in the Vox community for their emails, comments and warm thoughts. I am overjoyed and overwhelmed by Vox and all of you who make up the fibers of it's wonderful fabric.

Seriously... It took me SIX tries to get the following video recorded. I went through hell! But I wanted to extend a personal thank you, despite my camera fear and absolute death-gripping anxiety of being "out there" for all to see!

I'm not trying to sound like a Hollywood brat on stage with my emmy, crying fake emotional tears of "first of all I want to Thank God." Seriously, gag me there. But really, I wanted to show my face and thank the people of TeamVox for picking my entry and all my friends and those out there on Vox for your comments and emails, congratulating me!

Thank you all.
I am so happy.

Click here to hear me sqealing and saying "Oh my GOD" over and over. lol

I'm in shock! I'm absolutely happy beyond belief! There aren't words to describe how in shock and thrilled I am! This is dream come true! Literally - A Dream. Come. True.

I'll post more about this very soon but right now I have to get some food down because I haven't eaten anything since I found out I won yesterday and I feel kinda sick!

I can't wait to tell you all about winning the Vox World Tour! I am so happy! And so is my dad! And Cate!

Thank you Mena, Gladys, Krissy and everyone on TeamVox!

YAY! YIPPEE! WOO HOO! [This is AMAZING]

Who's your 'blog crush' on Vox?

• CupCate, the CupCake goddess herself. I love this woman (in a non-gay way) and I hope she knows it. Not only do I love Cate's writing and her blog's sarcastic, I-don't-give-a-damn, "stop being so twatish" style, but I cherish her as a part of my life. Cate's inspired me in so many ways and been a wonderful friend. She always finds ways to let me know she cares, she's even penned a poem in my honor. Also, I am lucky enough to have known her in person, as we worked together at Starbucks before she left the coffee world behind to follow her dreams. When working with Cate, employee duties and responsibilities became fun. I miss her so much! However, thanks to Vox and other various places on the net, we can keep in touch as if we were a few cubicles away or a hop and skip over the coffee bar. I could go on and on about Cate but it wouldn't be fair and I'd be typing into the night. Let's just say that Cate is one of a kind and the closest person I've found that understands me. Her blogs are absolute riots to read. I love how she gets people talking.
  

• Jenn - Or Dom and Jenn, as her Vox addy says. She was the first person to comment and take an interest in my writing here on Vox. Jenn always lets me know that my thoughts matter as we share a common bond - Motherhood. I love her blogs because they are simple, yet profound. She inspires me to be less uptight, more relaxed as a mother and wife. She has a little girl and I have a little boy. We have high hopes they will get married one day! Maybe they will be Vox's first marriage arrangement, haha. She's a gem and I adore her more than her blogs actually.
  

• Marque - She's new to my Neighborhood but she's fast become a big time blog crush. Why? Well, she's super sexy, smart, witty, funny, serious and she's a super-mom and wife too! I love that she knows "how it can be," as a woman, wife and mom. Her writing style and use of words is pure greatness and in my mind, she deserves an award.

• David, aka GrowingYounger- David is an amazing writer and he also so happens to be my brother-in-law. He's been a reporter and columist for the Davis Enterprise (Davis California) and he's interviewed sports celebrities, high-ranking officials and politicians, soldiers serving in Iraq, and hundreds of other interesting individuals. He has a very touching and encouraging way of writing about his life, his lessons learned, his family, his hopes and dreams, life's simple pleasures and the things he loves. He's truly inspirational. He's also new to Vox so to all reading this: I encourage you to add him to your Neighborhoods!
  

I love my Vox blog crushes and my blogging friends.
They keep me inspired to be a better writer and share my life.

There are so many other blogs that I love and visit on a daily basis, including my dear friends who know who they are. I just love blogging and I love Vox. It's opened up a whole new world of creative expression for me and allowed me to stay connected with my friends and blog crushes alike. I Thank CupCate for introducing me to Vox  by being so kind to send me one of the Beta-Tester invites way back when it was all new. Thanks to her, I have many blog crushes and I have formed many wonderful friendships.

San Fransisco

I cherish this place, this wonderful world of creative, expressive opportunity. Vox is my second home.

 My friend Cate, known as CupCate here on Vox, invited me and I became a Beta tester. It was love at first "blog-site."

I read in an update by email that Vox is holding a contest to send two people around the world to San Fransisco, Tokyo and Paris! Normally I don't enter into contests but this time I thought, "why not? It's worth a shot. It could happen. It doesn't hurt to dream."

I've never won a contest in my life. But it's worth a try, right? If I just believe...
Actually, I'd like to use this as an opportunity to thank the creators of Vox. This site has enriched my world.

Tokyo

I thought I would try this contest because well, I love this blog site and I love writing and I have never traveled. It has been my dream to see the world, especially Paris. I am an art lover and a self-taught, freelance artist. To see Paris and perhaps the Louvre, would be a dream come true for me.

The internet has been a place of hope and discovery for me. Not only did I meet the love of my life online, but I've made friends online who have enriched my life. I have invited those friends to write and share their lives here on Vox because like them, I was searching for a place to share my life too.

Oh, I've been all over the internet. I have a Myspace account, a Hi5, a popular blog on a site called Spinchat.com. I've even been an operator in a Prince fan's chat room. I talk to people from all over the world on various chat sites. But no website has enriched my life like Vox has.

The Louvre, Paris

2 comments

The very fact I can so easily keep in touch with my friends and family, without any hassle or confusion was enough to win me over. The simplicity of this blogging site also sold me immediately. I love organization! To be able to sort my photos, my audio files and even videos, that was just a thrill for me.

I love how I can change my theme for the seasons and Holidays. I love how I can share my thoughts with music to go along. I love how Vox encourages it's bloggers to seek out other bloggers and compliment them.

I love QotD. When I'm out of ideas, this little feature always  inspires me and sparks creative thought within myself.

[this is good]
One of the best inventions in blogging history.

A simple [this is good] can really brighten someone's day and I have had the opportunity to brighten the days of many by using this wonderful phrase attached with a compliment. To help others, to encourage and lift their spirits is what I am all about. Vox was the perfect place for me from the start.

I was amazed at how fast other people found my blogs and commented on them. Other sites I have posted on have gone unnoticed, never getting a single compliment or kind word of understanding. But here on Vox, I have become a writer. I feel as though here, my thoughts do matter and I am not so insignificant as some of the other sites have made me feel.

This place makes me feel wonderful in every way.

The best thing to happen to me on Vox was when I made a post about The Three Amigos called Just for you, Daddy, dedicated to my dad.

The Three Amigos

1 comment

The Three Amigos is an 80's movie staring Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short.

When I was a child, my father and I used to watch this movie together and laugh ourselves silly. It was our favorite movie. It is still my favorite movie. Some of my best childhood memories are of me and dad, watching this film.

Well, my father has been suffering from depression and life just being cruel to him. For years his spirit has been down. When I made that post to him recently and talked about what a wonderful memory it was for me, I received emails and phone calls from him thanking me in the most wonderful way. It had revived him. That post I made brought me closer to him.

He used to play his guitar and sing to me the song on that movie that Chevy Chase, Steve Martin and Martin Short sang called Blue Shadows. Not long after , when I was still a girl he just stopped playing and he lost his spirit and will to play. Oh, he was and is such a talented musician. He could pick up his guitar and play anything he heard. But life and tragedy beat him down and he just stopped.

Blue Shadows

Recently, my post to him not only revived him, but it caused him to feel the spirit of the Holidays again. He has since picked up his guitar, found the chords to Blue Shadows and began to play again. When I spoke to him on the phone he said "I play for you because you are my sweetheart, I love you and you revived me by that post on Vox."

Vox has not only brought me wonderful friendships and higher self-esteem, the confidence to express myself in words,

Vox has brought me closer to my father.

If I won, I would take my father. He's always looked out for me and loved me, even now when I am 1,000 miles away in another state, living my own life. He's never taken a trip in his life, always working hard instead to provide for those he loves. He's had dreams of traveling but he's never been able to because he's had to sacrifice instead for me. I would take my father, yes, without a doubt. He and I would travel the world and be close, as father and daughter.  It would be a dream come true.

This is one of those opportunities of a lifetime, to write an essay and enter to win a contest around the world to travel with my dad, who I love with all my heart. I can't not take this opportunity to write Vox and express how much Vox has changed my life for the better. I had to submit this essay and I hope that it is considered. Vox has touched my life in such a profound way.

A trip would be a wonderful, amazing experience but just simply saying thank you for making my days brighter, giving me a second online family of wonderful friends and bringing me closer to my father is enough.

Thank you Vox!