“Life is so great that we only get a tiny moment to enjoy everything we see. And that moment is right now.” 

-Neil Pasricha

I saw this quote on tinybuddha.com. It made me think of some tiny moments that I enjoyed this past weekend.  I got to spend time with my family at Christian’s last soccer game of the season.  The team was generously sponsored by the Vein Center which provided the awesome trophies for the kids.  That evening, we had an impromptu PSU party with some incredible friends.  Sunday morning was blessed with a mountain bike ride with my pup, proto.  The crunchy leaves covered all the rocks, in turn making for a bumpier ride than I was expecting.  The crisp air left me refreshed for a lunch date with my girls.  I cherish the times I get to spend with my friends.  It happens a lot less then what it should.  The weekend rounded out with a nice evening at home with the husband, kids, and a gigantic spider in our living room.  Eeeek. 

What are some of your favorite moments? 

So, I did it. I took the first step and applied to the LUNA Chix team.  I am very excited about this along with some other ladies I know.  If you'd to join in on the excitement, let me know.  Even if LUNA does not choose our area to start a team, you can still hit me up for a ride.  The Village is a great place to meet, ride and have a beer.  

Also, check out another project I started.  http://womenheartmtb.blogspot.com/

If you are a woman who is slightly interested in mountain biking or one who LOVES the sport, WOMEN ❤ MTB is for you!  It is a place where I will list tips, tricks and tracks. It's a place where I hope you grow as a mtbr along side the growth of WOMEN  ❤ MTB. I look forward to sharing stories of your trails, wisdom and inspiration with each other through WOMEN  ❤ MTB!

(Pic of the women's clinic at DirtRag DirtFest.)

“Have respect for yourself, and patience and compassion. With these, you can handle anything.” ~Jack Kornfield

10 Ways to Let Go and Overcome a Bad Mood

I recently read an article on tinybuddha.com regarding something that we need to overcome on almost a daily basis.

10 Ways to Let Go and Overcome a Bad Mood

1. Get to the root.

2. Be real.

3. Complete the “I’ll feel better when I …” sentence.

4. Take responsibility.

5. Think it out.

6. Change the story in your head.

7. Want to understand.

8. Uplift yourself.

9. Use the silly voice technique.

10. Repeat.

Great suggestions on how to readjust your mood. However, the weekend we just had was also a remedy for a bad mood.  Getting outdoors, and more importantly getting exercise are both a way to overcome a bad mood. It was a beautiful weekend to breathe in some fresh crisp air, view the fleeting foliage, and laugh with the company of good friends.  We had an early trek through the woods.  Proto was a happy little pup taking an early morning swim and diving for rocks. If it was a little colder, his fur would have formed icicles. My husband had a great day of mountain biking which came in three parts.  First, a father and son ride which usually has a little battle up the hills but ends with a proud father and a stoked son. Next an adventure with a friend and then a solo mission through the mountains of Michaux.  Later he made a comment about needing to remember days like today when things aren't going so well.  All in all, if life is throwing you some negative vibes, take those vibes and turn them around.

“Every day may not be good, but there’s something good in every day.”  

~Unknown

I'm pretty excited about possibly forming a LUNA Chix mountain biking team in the Harrisburg area.  

I hope this is what my husband was referring to when he chose to put LUNACHICK! on my ABC Mug Club mug. Hmm...


Attention all women who love to get active outdoors!  I am assembling a group of women who would love to get together, promote an active lifestyle and help raise awareness for Breast Cancer. Team LUNA Chix brings together women interested in being healthy, learning new sports and giving back to their communities — mixing equal parts fun, fitness and philanthropy. 

I am interested in starting a Mountain Biking LUNA Chix team in the Harrisburg area. Women of all ages and fitness levels are welcome.  Don’t be intimidated by the Mountain Biking part, we could do easy, intermediate and harder trails or maybe even a road ride. We welcome women at any fitness level, whether you’re working towards your very first bike ride or a seasoned athlete with some mad skills to share.  The Team’s goal is simple -inspire, motivate and connect women through sport, while also supporting LUNA’s non-profit partner, the Breast Cancer Fund.  

The season would run approximately April through October.  During that time, together as a team we would:

-  Host two no-drop workouts a month  — open to any and all women who want to get out there and have a good time.

-  Host two skill-based clinics during the season. (Examples include shoe-fitting clinics for runners or a demonstration on “How to Change a Flat” for cyclists.)

-  Promote the team at two local women-based events, either through an on-site booth or other activity. (LUNA helps with costs/materials.)

-  Raise a minimum of $1,000 for the Breast Cancer Fund.

-  Maintain a team web page at teamlunachix.com where photos and calendar listings can be shared. We ask that the team also contribute two blog posts per month to highlight all your exciting activities!

-  Distribute 1,000 LUNA samples per month. (This is the easy one — LUNA Bars practically give themselves away!)

There’s also a Team LUNA Chix Summit March 30-April 1 in Berkeley, California that you could attend with the team. The summit is a weekend for LUNA Chix teams to get together for clinics, rides, seminars, good food and wine.  For more information about joining the teams check out: http://www.teamlunachix.com/tlcprogramnews/application-details

Feel free to email me ( jendownie[at]aol.com) with any questions.  Please contact me by November 18^th if you are seriously interested in participating (Harrisburg PA area).  Skills other than mountain biking that could be helpful: sports background, mentoring, volunteering, fundraising, technology, marketing, and accounting.   Keep in mind that right now, I’m just gathering contact information of women who would love to join the team.  I do have to apply to LUNA Chix and hope they choose to start a team in our area. I hope you will join me in this journey!

Cross your fingers!

The village was alive with ghosts and goblins lurking around for Trick-Or-Treat this past Monday.  It was a fun and festive time with friends ushering our kids from door to door.  But it wouldn’t be Halloween without the chaos and rushing around beforehand.  I even left work a little early to try and tackle the task of getting things ready without the rush.  As we gobbled down some pizza, I unpacked the mess of costumes from the kids’ book bags.  Okay, Kirra’s Princess stuff… check.  Christian’s Mad Scientist gear… uncheck.  Christian looked shocked and upset that his costume was not in his book bag since he swears he put it there.  My son is a really smart and sweet boy but he would lose his hair if it wasn’t attached.  Luckily I spiked his hair for their school Halloween party using moose, hair gel, wax stuff and hair spray. He definitely was not losing his hair today, or maybe he would with that much product in it. 

Next set in Christian's biggest scare of the evening-- not being able to go Trick-or-Treating.  After drying some tears and reassuring that he could go, we moved onto plan B. Call Fuzzy Papa for another Dr.’s Jacket and scrub shirt to create the Mad Scientist look again.  But could we really wait for him to show up?  Sound the horn - Dad to the rescue.  With some swift snips of the scissor, face paint and fake blood, Christian was the happiest Zombie on the block complete with a bloody sword.  I’m pretty pleased that this year imagination was used to make not one but two costumes for Christian rather than relying on something store bought.  

So Trick-or-Treat was a successful night of pulling the princess around on her thrown and a Zombie hungry for candy instead of people.  Happy Halloween!

The man who has no imagination has no wings.
Muhammad Ali