Rodeo Drive-Des Moines Riverwalk

What does Rodeo Drive and the Des Moines Riverwalk have in common ?

You might not have guessed  "Diner en Blanc"

Both Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and the Des Moines Riverwalk were scenes of a successful and fun filled Diner en Blanc.   Yes, Rodeo Drive had 1,200 people and Des Moines had 200 but Los Angles didn't have a beautiful river setting with a gorgeous sunset.

And exactly what is a Diner en Blanc ?

Yesterday at noon I had never heard of it either........at 6 PM I was dressed in white unloading a card table,  chairs and two coolers with friends down at the beautiful new Des Moines Riverwalk area.

25 years ago Francois Pasquier from France was scheduling  a picnic with friends in a large park in Paris and they decided all to wear white so they could find each other.........and with that came the idea.

Sure enough ..........25 years later the Diner en Blanc is held in major cities around the world.

It's like a Flash Dinner............the date and location is kept a secret until the last day ...........an e-mail is sent out and then everyone takes off decked out in their finest white outfit ready to setup a wonderful impromptu dinner setting with strangers somewhere outdoors.  

Los Angles had tuxedos and beautiful gowns..........Des Moines had a guy who sprayed painted his tennis shoes white and wrapped white duck tape around  his belt to hold up his white pants.  Midwesterners have a unique and creative answer for everything.

It was a lot of fun...........wine, candles, white linen table cloths, fresh cut flowers and even local entertainment with a couple gals on guitar.

This was Des Moines' 3rd shot at Diner en Blanc.........the first two were held at the sculpture garden, another really neat spot in the capital city.  The  Cleverly and Formaro families who are the organizers promise there will be a fourth calling next summer...............get ready to assemble a beautifulWhite Dinner setting at a moments notice !!!!!!!!

It's OK to have FUN

Denny and Renee

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned

When we break our regular routine we start to experience new thoughts, ideas and awarenesses. This 3 month sabbatical from the everyday has given us that opportunity for which we are extremely grateful for.  Here's some things we picked up along the way.

1. It's OK to get upset..........if you are willing to look at it.

2. If given a chance, people will constantly surprise you with their tremendous capacity for compassion and love.

3. Anger can be the front door to many future blessings.

4. Fear can be a powerful window to look through for  personal growth opportunities.

5. Love is a really scary thing, until it's not.

6. Letting Go has the potential to be fun and exciting...........it's our choice.

7. Life has an unlimited series of lessons to learn.......and then some.

8. Decisions based solely on money can be very paralyzing.

9. Allowing for change is not the same as giving up.

10. Letting new people into your life can be very exciting.

11. Once you feel like you have the answer is when you'll have the opportunity to know you don't.

12. Life is not a part-time position.

13. Listening to the body takes a lot of awareness.

14. I find it much easier to blame others than to accept my own truth.

15. Accepting the gift of life is opitonal.

16. It can get pretty dark before dawn.

17. Tomorrow is not an answer.

18. Living in the NOW is a full-time opportunity.

19. Oneness is a very difficult concept to understand until we surrender to it.

20. Magic and Miracles are the true M&Ms of life.

21. Happiness can have many disguises.

22. Being Alone is not the same as Loneliness.

23. Living life is so much more fun than reading about someone else's.

24. It's so much easier to see faults in others than owing up to my own.

25. The heart is very vulnerable but even more elastic.

26. It's OK to live your passions.

27. Looking is not the same as living.

28. Excuses can tell a lot.

29.  Giving ourselves Permission to be Happy...............is a really big first step toward fulfillment.

30. Everyday has awakenings.

31. Our thoughts are very magnetic in nature.

32.  Love is more fun when used as a verb.

33. Limiting thoughts over time can create a very small life.

34. Firsts can really be fun.

35. Allowing for new experiences can be contagious.

36. Don't let someone else lead your band.

37. Just fitting in is not really very fulfilling.

38, Trying to impress others leaves no impression.

39. Sharing multiples the happiness of any experience.

40. Being cautious can be a cover-up for being scared.

41. Moving forward is always optional.

42. Change is something we are really good at encouraging others to do.

43, Would you buy your own autobiography ?

44. Happiness is not spelled with a ? mark.

45. Who decides for you what to do?

46. It's never to late to change your thoughts.

47. Being predictable is not necessarily a strength.

48. Letting go of control is not the same as being out of control.

49.  Asking questions often leads to understanding what we already know.

50.  Talking a good story is not as much fun as living one.

3 Months-3 Continents-12 Countries-40 Cities

The Summer of 2013

Here is a highlight photo from each of the 12 countries we journeyed through this summer.  Our trip created so many wonderful memories and life lessons as we experienced each of the countries. What an amazing summer !!!!!!!!

Summer of 2013

England

Buckingham Palace- Changing of the Guard

France

Eiffel Tower- Paris

Spain

Sagrada Familia- Barcelona

Portugal

Fatima Church

Morocco

The Market- Marrakesh

Monaco

Monte Carlo

Switzerland

Swiss Alps- Jungfraujoch

Austria

Summer Palace- Vienna

Hungary

Parliament Building on the Danube River- Budapest

Czech Republic

Clock Tower- Prague

Belgium

Church along the Canal - Bruges 

Holland

Tree Lined Canals of Holland

We would like to profoundly thank all the people who supported us on this trip.  It was an amazing journey..........we truly didn't know if we could pull out of the "everyday world" for 3 months..........we did and we're so glad we did.  We learned a lot about ourselves, each other and the world we live in. We were gifted with the opportunity to meet some amazing people along the way that added some real enchantment and new perspectives.

We'll return to Des Moines, Iowa now to process our lessons and to plan for Phase Two of our journey around the world.  Thanks for checking in with us through our blog and for cheering us on. 

Much Love and Happiness to Everyone

Namaste

Renee and Denny 

Messages Along The Way

MESSAGES

Along the journey the last 3 months there were all kinds of messages that popped up.   Each one at exactly the right time.

It's funny sometimes how the messages appear or who delivers them to us........but always right on the money.

Listen Closely To What Life Has To Share With You

Denny and Renee