Gold Meets Golden: My Golden Globes experience

I wonder if the big stars get excited for these big nights? Maybe some do, but possibly the others are tired of the whole thing. Who knows? For me it is SUCH a departure of my day-to-day life that I feel like a teenager heading to my first Homecoming. The most make-up I wear is a tinted moisturizer and mascara! Seriously, I am THAT lazy. I curl my lashes, and I use a bit of mascara. Yes, you read that correctly, I don’t even really know how to do much else, so getting glam and sassy for the Golden Globes was an experience. Apologizes now if I name drop, but it was that kind of night

When I asked my friend Trish Suhr if she wanted to go to a Golden Globes after-party with me, she had the fastest text response in history and then immediately began her trade, organizing. She knew I was gonna show up with my dress wadded up in my U.S. Ski Team Über backpack and my year old make-up. Uh-huh!And that was not going to happen on her watch. So this past Sunday turned into my own grown-up “Bibbity, Bobbity, Boutique”…just much less frightening.

I left my house in Park City at 9:15 am after snow blowing 8 inches of fresh powder off our driveway and white-knuckled it up and over the summit to SLC airport. I saw three cars off the side along the I-80 route, and I was focused and hell-bent on getting to warmer ground. My flight was filled with a ski team from Kazakhstan wearing surgical masks… which always kind of freaks me out but was probably smart for an Olympic athlete. As soon as I popped down into my seat, I sighed with relief. LA and Golden Globes here I come.

Read more about the night's events and check out my photo gallery at My Semi-Chlorinated Life.

Write It Down: Why I Love the New Year

I am a very goal oriented, motivated girl, plain and simple. I like to write it down, see it spelled out, and then focus on it. A goal gives me something to work toward and experience. During my swimming career, I would do this every year with my coaches, and I lived for it – that moment when you get to analyze where you have been and where you want to go, then plan how to get there. It’s like my vitamin boost for life, and it’s exactly why I love the new year.

With 2014 approaching, I realize one major thing: I’d better stay on top of things this year because 2013 went by WAY too fast and time doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. The kids are getting older, our careers are just as intense, and free time is a thing of the past. I had better get things organized so that I can make the most of every moment and remember as much as possible.

I find when you sit down with a piece of paper, or for me a composition notebook, and write down your goals, your dreams, and your life plans for the next 12 months; it can be quite exciting...

Read the rest of this post on my Semi-Chlorinated Life Babble Blog!

10 Tips for a Successful Family Ski Trip

After marrying a skier and spending seven years as a ski parent, I've developed quite a nice list of tips for a successful family ski trip. Ski trips are so much fun, but they can be terrifying to an unfamiliar parent whose wondering how old is old enough, what do I really need to do or pack, and is it worth the money? I've learned through my experiences as well as tips from my in-laws, who just happen to be the parents of three-time Olympic alpine skier Erik Schlopy (my husband) and NCAA champion Keri Schlopy Crockett (my sis-in-law). Skiing is so much different than my native swimming. The biggest difference is the equipment. Equipment is bigger, heavier, and way more important in skiing. Just thinking about the task can be daunting, but hopefully with my tips, it'll be just a little easier for you to not only survive but thrive on the hill.



TIPS

1. Choose the mountain that fits your family. Size doesn’t always matter. Some of the best ski racers were raised on the smallest ski hills so don’t worry about finding the biggest resort. Oftentimes, smaller resorts are more family friendly & make a smaller dent in your wallet. Our family goes to Deer Valley. It’s 13 minutes from our house and has the best kids trails, like Bucky’s Backyard. There are great options for families all around the country, just do a little research. And if your family is just starting out, these are less expensive and much more manageable. Forbes list 12 Ski Resort Vacations for Every Budget
2. Weather is by far the most important factor with small children! I realize that you can’t control the weather and that you’ve already paid for your vacation, but be aware of the temperatures and the wind. If it’s bitter cold or dumping snow, make run decisions accordingly so that your kids continue to love the sport of skiing. Ski for shorter periods of time, take the shorter runs, and enjoy lots of hot cocoa breaks. In the end, only getting a quarter or half day on the mountain and loving it will be worth more than trying to cram a full day in and being miserable later.

Read Tips 3-10 HERE on my Semi-Chlorinated Life.

Semi-Chlorinated Life: Unattainable Christmas List

My daughter is asking Santa for a puppy, and many other unattainable Christmas presents.

Here’s the whole story. We lost our family dog, Smalls, three years ago. Smalls was my pet. I’d had him for 14.5 years, and he was a loving, ever-hungry beagle (of course, I only remember his good side). The kids appear to get so sad when we talk about him, although sadly, they didn’t really know him. But I don’t say that to them; I just smile and brace myself for what I know they are going to say next. “Can we please get a dog?!”

They ask this at least five times a day, and have for quite some time. I have explained on multiple occasions that we do want another dog and that we will get one, but we have to slow down our travel first. I try to help them understand that dogs don’t like it when their owners are gone, that they like routine. And finally, after hearing me explain our reasons for waiting for the umpteenth time, that’s when my daughter said, “Fine. I am gonna ask Santa for a puppy!”

Hold the phone! Can she do that? I was looking for a referee to throw a flag! No ref. No flag. Just me, my daughter … and Santa.

In response, I told her that Santa couldn't deliver live animals. . . Read the rest and find out why I'm the "best hooker ever" on my Semi-Chlorinated Life babble voices blog.