Well, there’s not much new to talk about this week (aside from my top secret mission that’s taking place this evening, but that’s a post for another day), so I thought this would be a good time to provide an update on Jump for Diabetes.

First thing everyone wants to know about is what are we giving away at the raffle?! Well, let me tell you that this year’s prize list is more robust than ever, and I don’t even know where to begin to thank the skydiving community for their generosity. We have more than $15,000 in prizes and discounts to give away. You can find the updated list on our website, or look below.

• 1st Prize: FREE custom main (non-cross braced) or reserve canopy from Performance Designs!
• Taste of Base with Miles Daisher
• x2 – 50% Off Wings Containers
• x2 – 50% Off Cookie G3 Helmet
• FREE Helmet from Bonehead
• 20% Off Vigil
• x2 – 35% Off Vector, plus 15% options from UPT
• x2 – 40% Off Javelin container from SunPath
• Hypoxic Certificates
• Three $100+ Discounts from Ouragan Suits
• x4 – 20% Off Phoenix Fly Discount Certificates
• FREE Freak’n Suits
• FREE Reserve Repack from String Theory Productions
• 35% Off Bev Suit Voucher
• x2 – 30% Off Mirage Systems container
• x2 – 50% Off Deepseed Jumpsuits
• FREE Cypress Maintenance Certificate
• x3 Brian Germain Books
• FREE Phantom X helmet from Square1
• $100 Off SDC Rhythm Tunnel Camp
• $1400 off a complete Aerodyne system
• 2 Go Pro Hero cameras from ChutingStar
• FREE First flight course with iFlock Academy at Skydive Chicago
• 25% Off Vertical Suits
• x2 25% Off Merlin Suits
• FREE Merlin Pants
• $100 Off STF Block Party Tunnel Camp
• 15 Min Tunnel Coaching by Mickey Nuttall ($219 value, use it or lose it).
• Stay Tuned for More!!!!

We are also so incredibly thrilled with how many jumpers have come out of the woodwork to pledge their jumps for the weekend. We have some at both events (Skydive Chicago and Skydive The Farm for those who haven’t been following along) as well as from other states including California,  Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, the Carolinas and more. This is a great way for anyone to get involved no matter where you live. Email us at JumpForDiabetes@gmail.com if you’re interested in becoming a sponsored jumper and pledging your jumps to the cause that weekend (July 6-8, 2012).

As I’ve mentioned numerous times before, all proceeds of the event go directly to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to support diabetes research. Yes, we are an incorporated not-for-profit ourselves, but partnering with the JDRF ensures that the funds go directly to research and gives us piece of mind that we’re contributing to the most ground-breaking science in the space.

If you’ll be attending the events, we’re going to have other amazing things going on as well, from local give aways to a bake sale, t-shirt sale, and more! Stay tuned on Facebook for more details.

Of course, if you’re reading this going, “I don’t skydive so I can’t participate???” well, the answer is no, you can! If you head over to our website: http://jumpfordiabetes.org, and click on the donate link across the top navigation, you can submit donations via PayPal. This is a great way to support the cause and feel good about giving back to the diabetes community.

It truly is a disease that touches so many, and every year I am blessed to be connected with so many who are affected on a daily basis. Let’s work together to find a cure, shall we?

Love and Blue Skies!

Ashley

Transcending Fear: The Doorway to Freedom, by Brian Germain

It’s written by a skydiver and is an incredible read from the perspective of a skydiver, but even if you’re not a jumper or never plan to be, I believe you should still pick up this book.

It’s a quick read, but even if it wasn’t it would be well worth your time. I found myself reading a chapter, then re-reading it just to make sure I absorbed every last word. For anyone who finds that their actions are driven by fear from time to time (and honestly, I’m not sure anyone can say this hasn’t happened to them at least once in their life) this is a must read. Everything from starting a new chapter in your life, to taking a risk like jumping out of an airplane for the first time, or even making a simple life change can cause anxiety and fear we never knew existed inside us. Brian’s incredibly well-written text will walk you through the process for overcoming your fear by controlling what you can and deepening the connection and trust you have in yourself.

Brian shows you not how to stop your fear, but how to slow down the physiological effects of fear and to channel the energy in a positive, constructive manner. He stresses slowing down, breathing, focusing. Anyone who is active in yoga will find that this is highly relatable to the practice.

I don’t want to go too deep into it and give away too much of the book because I truly believe you should read it for yourself. You can buy it on Amazon – click this here link – and once you’re done I guarantee you’ll have a handful of people you’ll want to pass it on to so they can benefit.

Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. You might be surprised just how much it changes your outlook on fear and helps you manage your responses in daily life.

And PLEASE, if you are going to skydive, you’re a newbie jumper, or even if you’ve been in the sport for years, get this book now! Even if it doesn’t open your eyes to your fear, it will at least help you understand the inner-workings of those around you.

Love and blue skies!

Ashley

Normally I pimp out Jump for Diabetes, after all, that is an event that I help coordinate every year – can you blame me? But there’s another cause I’d like to talk about for a moment.

Fellow skydiver and all around awesome chick Alisha is coordinating the Jump for the Rose, a non-profit breast cancer organization. She’s currently selling some bad ass skydiving glassware to help with this cause along with proceeds going to the Leukemia Foundation. Both great causes and something that touches many lives.

When I saw the Fly Free glasses and shot glasses, I just couldn’t pass ‘em up. And knowing they were for a good cause really swayed me into purchasing.

I personally bought two of the larger glasses and two of the shot glasses and gave one of each away as a gift. To me, that’s the best way to help out a cause, you get to donate and you get to spread the love by gift giving.

If you haven’t already, be sure to contact Alisha today to get your glasses and help out some great causes!

Love and blue skies!

Ashley

Hard to believe that the 4th Annual Jump for Diabetes is right around the corner. This will be my 3rd year coordinating the event and I am proud to say that it’s going to be bigger and better than the last!

We recently launched our website http://jumpfordiabetes.org (thanks to our friends over at nDevix), where you can keep up on the latest raffle items as they come in (we all know that’s what skydivers are interested in, free shit, right?), get the latest information on sponsors and participating dropzones, and you can even donate online!

We are so blessed to have both Skydive Chicago and Skydive The Farm on board this year. We’ll be hosting two events, in tandem on July 6-8th to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. If you’re on Facebook and haven’t already be sure to RSVP to our event. You can keep up with the latest updates there as well.

So let’s get to what everyone wants to know about – those gear donations. We’re still over two months out and already we have seen more generosity from this community than ever. It warms my heart to see all the manufacturers who are standing behind us to help find a cure for diabetes. This year we have Deepseed on board with us and they are eyeballs deep in supporting this cause. Huge thanks to Liam and his crew for all they’ve already done! Check out their website and Facebook page. They’ve got some great stuff going on and they’re just plain fun!

Once again PD is all in and the first ticket drawn on Saturday, July 7th after the fireworks at SDC will be the lucky recipient of a free custom main (non-cross braced) or reserve canopy from Performance Designs. Bad ass! And of course, there’s thousands of dollars in free gear and discounts:

• FREE Taste of Base with Miles Daisher
• 2 – 50% Off Wings Containers
• 2 – 50% Off Cookie G3 Helmet
• Bonehead Discount Certificates
• 20% Off Vigil
• 2 – 35% Off Vector, plus 15% options from UPT
• 2 – 40% Off Javelin container from SunPath
• Hypoxic Certificates
• 3- $100+ Discounts from Ouragan Suits
• 4 – 20% Off Phoenix Fly Discount Certificates
• FREE Freak’n Suits
• FREE Reserve Repack from String Theory Productions
• FREE Phantom X Helmet from Square1
• 35% Off Bev Suit Voucher
• 2 – 30% Off Mirage Systems container
• 2 – 50% Off Deepseed Jumpsuits
• FREE Cypress Maintenance Certificate
• 3 Brian Germain Books
• $100 Off SDC Rhythm Tunnel Camp
• And MORE

Donations are still coming in and we will keep you posted on our website as we get more.

If you want to purchase tickets, see Rick or myself at Skydive The Farm, Morgan at Skydive Chicago, or email us at JumpForDiabetes@gmail.com. You do NOT have to be present to win, so please feel free to purchase remotely!

I will be managing the event at Skydive Chicago this year, so if you want to find me the day of the event to purchase, please feel free. If you’re planning to head to The Farm for the event, don’t worry, Rick will be on the ground there, and on the phone with me so all winners will be announced immediately after the drawing.

Oh, and if you want to be a sponsored jumper and pledge your jumps for the weekend to the cause, you can do that from anywhere too! Just shoot me a comment, Facebook message or email and we’ll get you the sheet so you can get pledges.

Thanks to all who are working so hard to make this a great success! We couldn’t do any of it without the unwavering support of this community.

Love and blue skies!

Ashley

The holidays are always a funny time of year. Some people cherish the time they get to spend with friends and family, others dread it. I’m lucky to say that I fall in the former category.

Since college I’ve always lived hours from my family, who, for the most part, all reside within an hour of each other in the mitten (Michigan, for those of you who are geographically challenged) – weather by car or plane, I’ve been a solid 4 hours away.

The holidays for me has always reflected the ability to head home and spend some QT with the fam. There’s not enough time spent together for burnout. Arguments over the holidays are rare with my family, though most of us tend to let a lot roll off our shoulders, so that helps.

But what am I saying, this isn’t about me.

I want to talk about holiday wishes. Everyone has things they wish for during the holidays, weather it’s the latest, greatest TV on the market to appear under the Christmas tree, getting the chance to kiss that someone special under the mistle toe, or simply that the holidays will be happy and stress-free, everyone has hopes of what this time with family will bring.

For me, aside from wanting a peaceful, wonderful experience with my family and my in-laws (as I wish the same for each and every one of you), my biggest wish is that the JDRF will receive more funding than they’ve ever seen this holiday season.

As most of you know, diabetes research is close to my heart. Jump for Diabetes was founded to help find a cure for this disease that touches just about everyone, in one way, shape, or form, and I want nothing more than to see the JDRF succeed!

This year, I’m asking friends and family, rather than giving presents that may or may not get used, to donate to the JDRF and help find a cure for diabetes. Every little bit helps, and I know most are strapped during the holidays, but giving doesn’t have to just happen now. Any time of the year, a few extra dollars can really help take research to the next level.

So, if you’re feeling extra generous head on over to http://jdrfillinois.org and click that Donate button. In the special instruction, be sure to mention Jump for Diabetes so we can keep a running tally of how much this wonderful community has supported the cause.

Wishing you and yours a very, merry holiday season.

Love and blue skies!

Ashley

This is such a cliche blog topic it almost makes me want to vomit just thinking about it. But, here I am, writing about it again anyway.

See here’s the thing, everyone goes through these periods where they become acutely aware of their own mortality – as skydivers, this has a tendency to creep up on us from time to time.

I’ve written pseudo bucket lists before – participated in blogger challenges like the “30 before 30″ list and all the jazz – but to me, those things are a bit self-centered (yes, I realize that, at it’s core, blogging is pretty self-centered, but bear with me here if you could).

This time of the year I have a tendency to get pretty reflective – to look back at the year, what I’ve accomplished vs. what I set out to do. I’m not one for “new year’s resolutions,” but I do like to set goals for myself just to keep me going. At the beginning of the year, I’m not going to lie, I was struggling with a lot. My heart and soul was focused on fixing what was wrong inside me and in the environment surrounding me, and I have to admit, as the end of 2011 is bearing down, I came out on top. Take that 2011.

Along with the changes, the accomplishments and the overall happiness that surrounds my world, December has brought on reflections not of myself, but of others in need.

As you’re all very aware, one of the things I pride myself on is the yearly Jump for Diabetes event that helps raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research foundation and support diabetes research. It’s a cause close to my heart, and given that my husband is the founder of this wonderful event, it makes me even prouder that our little family is able to do something to give back every year.

(Small plug here, but if you want to continue to support our cause, you can do so throughout the year at http://jdrfillinois.org and when you click Donate Now, enter Jump for Diabetes in the special instructions. Help us get to our goal and find a cure for diabetes!)

With that, I’ve realized that a true bucket list is about more than what you want to accomplish, the places you want to visit and things you want to purchase by a set date, it’s about how you want to live your life and the ways you want to leave your mark on the world before you pass on.

I’m a firm believer that bucket lists are not set in stone, rather, they’re living, breathing documents that allow us to focus our energies on those things we want to accomplish in our lives. If thought through properly, a bucket list can set the tone for your adult life, provide a foundation for where you want to go, and give you motivation to achieve those goals. It’s not simply a list of to-dos, but a guide for who you want to become.

So below, in no particular order (hence, this list is not numbered) are a few of those things I see as bucket list material. Maybe one day I’ll sit down and draft my bucket list in full and post it here for all to see – but then, it’s seems rather “finalized,” and I like the idea of always being able to alter your path as changes occur in your life. For now, you get to see a few of my goals for living a positive, enjoyable life I can be proud to call mine.

Personally impact one person’s life in a positive way.

Give back in ways that life has provided for me (through mentorship, career and skydiving support, etc)

Spend one holiday season volunteering.

Travel.

Establish a not-for-profit and spread the word (this one, though accomplished, will be ongoing throughout my life).

Appreciate. (My husband, my extended family, my career, my health, my friends – appreciate all the good life has to offer, even when times are tough)

Commit to health and fitness with green smoothies, limited processed foods, regular workouts, etc.

Give animals in need a home: always adopt from rescue organizations and foster homes.

Don’t miss out on great opportunities because of obligation. Carpe diem – live life to it’s fullest.

Spend every day as if it might be the last – with friends, family and love in my heart.

I have to be honest, I really wanted to put something on this list about living out my wedding vows, and loving my husband. But truth be told, I don’t need to put that on a list, it’s something that comes completely natural to me. Appreciate… even when times are tough, seemed more appropriate, as I, like many people, struggle with focusing on the bad, even when so many things are good and right in my life.

What are some things you’d put on your bucket list? They can be specific or broad, but how do you want to live your life? How do you see your future playing out?

Love and blue skies!

Ashley

Blogging holds a special place in my heart. Writing has always been an outlet for me. It’s cathartic to sit down and type out your thoughts, opinions, emotions – on any subject that might tickle your fancy (do people still say that?).

When I started SkydiveChick.com in 2009 it was because I was incredibly passionate about the sport – and I still am to this day. I wanted to share it with the world. I wanted this site to be a destination for anyone interested in hearing about skydiving from someone who does it on a regular basis. It was, and continues to be, as I get about an email a week from people who stumble upon the blog and want to know more about the sport. It’s heartwarming to know that I have inspired others to jump into this sport (no pun intended), or provided guidance to students and other fun jumpers in the sport – it’s also quite flattering. *Blushes*

Of course, that was never an intended purpose of the blog, but I’d be lying if I said my audience didn’t keep me coming back to write on a regular basis.

Since the birth of SkydiveChick so many changes have occurred in my life – I graduated AFF, started traveling to boogies, switched from RW to freeflying, met my husband, started wingsuiting, moved to Chicago, switched careers, switched dropzones, adopted a dog, got married and now I’m staring the 3rd winter since I started skydiving in the face – and let me tell you, Chicago winters are the worst. Through the whirlwind that my life has been these past two years, I can honestly say my outlook on life as well as my lifestyle has changed – and I really want my creative outlets to mesh with these changes. I’m happier than I’ve ever been and I’ve got some great goals for my near and not-so-near future, but where does blogging fit into that mix? Do I want to continue focusing on skydiving, or is it time to make SkydiveChick more of a lifestyle destination? Given that my life isn’t just about skydiving, shouldn’t my blog reflect that?

One thing that hasn’t changed is my desire to write. With my daily commute via public transportation I’ve been lucky to have extra time (not spent behind the wheel every morning and evening) to do some reading, which actually makes me want to write more. However, with everything that’s changed, I find my time for blogging just isn’t as available as it once was. Which brings me to my dilemma – to write or not to write.

I’ve taken quite a few weeks off, as you’ve likely noticed, but it’s been much needed. I still must admit that I’m unsure if I’ll be returning to blogging at SkydiveChick on a regular basis, or if this return will be short lived. I guess it’ll depend on how this feels – because as much as I love knowing that my writing is benefiting others, I have to think about what that means for my writing as a creative outlet. If I find that my return to the blogoshere continues to be a mutually beneficial experience, then you can count on my regular blogs posts once again. If it becomes a burden on my creativity, then you might just have to settle for Twitter updates and the occasional witty Facebook post. Of course, if I do start to disappear again, you might just find more of my work over on my Flickr page.

I guess we’ll just have to see where life takes me.

Blue skies!

Ashley

p.s. – a couple pictures from my recent wedding below (for those who are interested). Thanks to Ms. Amanda Huebner for being our wonderful photographer on our special day!

The Skydiver Superiority Complex. Now, I’m not talking about those people who rag on other people within the sport – like freeflyers who think their better than belly flyers or wingsuiters who claim “this ain’t no head down bitches!” (one of my favorite lines, btw), as most of this is said in jest, giving others crap around the dropzone – it can be a favorite past time.

What I’m talking about are those jumpers out there who think that, simply because they are skydivers, they are superior to everyone else in life. Like skydiving is this club that, until you’ve gotten in you’re just not cool enough.

Sure, I’ll be the first to admit that skydiving has this way of changing your perspective on life, but that doesn’t mean that, in order to get the most out of life you MUST skydive. Certainly, I’d love to have all my friends experience what freefall is like, to understand the change that this sport can bring about in your way of approaching the world, but that certainly doesn’t mean I think that I’m better at life than those who haven’t jumped – that’s just pure foolishness.

Too often I hear skydivers, especially the newbies, talking about how they just didn’t get the meaning of life until their first skydive. That until you save your own life, you just can’t understand what it means to truly live. Well, here’s the reality of the situation –  just because YOU didn’t get how to fully embrace life until you experienced flight, doesn’t mean others don’t get it.

I mean, sure, if you grew up in a middle class family (or above) that sent you to college and you’ve either been in school or working on your career since then there’s a good chance you fall into this category (I certainly did). But I know plenty of people who had different paths who, most likely, know the value of living just as much, if not more, than I do.

I guess the questions here is, do you really think you’re superior to others now that you’ve fell from 14,000 and successfully saved your own life, or is it that you just encourage everyone else to seek out this opportunity as well, but you have a really strange way of conveying it? I’d like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt on this one and say the latter, but I truly believe there are people out there “knowing” and speaking of their superiority because skydiving has become their favorite past time. And for all those, there are an equal number of rock climbers and motorcyclists and other extreme sports junkies scoffing because in reality, their sport is a whole hell of a lot more dangerous than ours.

Next time you think about opening your mouth about how someone just can’t know what living is until they jump out of an airplane, maybe take two seconds to remind yourself that you have no idea what others have been through in their life, and there’s a good chance they know so much more about life than you. Instead, swap some life stories – you might actually learn something interesting about them.

Love and Blue Skies!

Ashley

Listening to skydivers chatter on incessently about how great they are can seem like fingernails on a chalkboard to even the most interested audience. One thing to remember though, is that it’s not just that we like to hear our own voices go on and on about ourselves – though so often that is also true – it’s that we have a true passion for this sport.

It’s easy to get caught up in the madness of a dropzone, the drama and politics that come along with a group of highly connected, type-A personalities who are all working toward the same goal. Thing about that goal is this – you’re truly only fighting with yourself to get there. And I think that’s what I like most about this sport. If you’re good enough, and you practice enough and you put enough of your heart and soul into it, you can get exactly where you want to be.

For some, they crave the ability to be instructors – to get their ratings in order to give back to the community some of what they were given as young pups in the sport. For others, they are focused on getting invited to that next big way invitational. Others spend hours in the tunnel in the off season and bucko bucks when it’s nice out to get extra coaching needed in order to compete at nationals. And some of us just want to be good enough in our discipline to know that on every jump we’ll be a part of the formation and can keep on having a blast! Whatever the goal is, most of us out here have one, or two, or three – all of which include a desire to improve ourselves.

So, it’s not just about being on a record or being the “best” or even having trained with the “best,” but it’s about being your best, and really making something out of the passion in your heart. If that wasn’t the case, I can guarantee 90% of us wouldn’t be here in the first place.

Love and blue skies!

Ashley

Well it’s official folks, the 3rd annual Jump for Diabetes will be held at Skydive Chicago.

As I mentioned in the last post, this year’s event is going to be low key compared to the past couple years. We’re encouraging jumpers from all over the country to take part by collecting pledges for their jumps for the weekend (Aug 12-14) to support diabetes research.

Remember folks: tax write off here!

For those who plan to attend at Skydive Chicago, here’s what you can look forward to:

* Saturday night raffle: Tickets are being sold for $25 each or 6 for $100.
Prizes include:
-PD main or reserve canopy (grand prize)
-Bonehead Helmet
-Free Taste of Base with Miles Daisher
-Cookie Helmet package
-Free first flight course with Flock U at SDC
-% off Vigil
-% off Infinity and Wings container
-% off Bev Suit
-SDC gear store discounts
-And MUCH more!

For the price of a lift ticket you have a chance to win a new canopy, or other badass prizes, just like that. We’ll continue to keep you posted over at the Facebook Page as we get more sponsors.

* Support the cause with each skydive: For those who want to participate and are feeling a bit too lazy to go out and collect pledges from their friends and family, you can help the cause just by jumping. If you’re at Skydive Chicago Aug 12-14, all you have to do is tell manifest when you check in that you’re Jumping for Diabetes and a portion of your skydive will be donated to the cause. Thanks Rook, for generously taking part!

We’ll be hanging out at Summerfest this year selling tickets, handing out pledge forms and working some general excitement for this incredible cause. Or, you can always email jumpfordiabetes@gmail.com to enter the raffle, get your pledge sheet or simply to find out how to donate to the cause.

So many of us have been touched by diabetes in one way or another, let’s all join together to help find a cure for this disease, shall we?

Love and Blue Skies!

Ashley