Life’s Pathway

Hello friends of Pinkskate,

When life happens there’s not a whole lot you can do to stop, slow or impede its effects. Life simply happens and we have to strap in our “life seat belts” and hunker down for the ride. For some

folks, “life happens” sounds cliché, but for many that phrase takes on a deeper meaning and represents a variety of moments we’ve experienced. What I know for sure is that these moments look different for each of us.

Like many of you, I consider myself someone who wears multiple hats for a myriad of reasons. For example, I’m a Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sibling, Aunt, Friend, Mentor and a Business owner. Each role brings certain responsibilities and weight to bear; typically one I can handle but a weight none-the-less.

For example, I have aging parents who require far more care and assistance than they have in recent years. This can be especially difficult when one parent requires serious aid and attendance due to memory loss coupled with physical disability. As many of you already know this can be hard watching a loved one loose the independence they once enjoyed.  Like I said, nothing I can’t handle, but it is challenging.

So, what does all this mean and what does it have to do with figure skating?? I’m so glad you asked because the point of this blog post is NOT to make anyone sad or to feel sorry for me! Quite the contrary, the point of this blog post is to encourage you as well as myself. The good news is that in spite of some current challenges, life is still happening and moving forward in a very positive way!

In order for that to be possible, it required that I step down from a volunteer position on a local figure skating board, as well as pull back from non-profit work with a local domestic violence agency. Although these were tough decisions to make it allowed me to become more available to care for my aging parents. It also provided more flexibility in my schedule to support my Daughter in her continued growth and progress as a figure skater. In fact, she recently passed her Juvenile Moves In The Field test, landed her double salchow and joined a girls high school hockey team. Hmm, I wonder where she gets all her ambition from??

Lastly, I’m happy to say that since prioritizing my life and busy schedule, I’ve been afforded more time to keep building Pinkskate. My desire to build Pinkskate is not just for myself but for every skating family who gets it and understands that life can and will be challenging while we support our loved ones in this great sport. Fortunately, I’ve learned that when “Life Happens” it doesn’t mean that we have to give up on our goals, dreams or ambitions. There may be some tough decisions and even sacrifices to be made but hopefully, you’ll still be moving forward and getting a little stronger along the way.

Thanks for visiting the Pinkskate blog and I hope you’ve all had a wonderful Summer! As we head into the Fall season, please be on the look-out for some fun and exciting news about the Pinkskate brand.

Lots of love from my Pinkskate Family to you and yours.

Terri

So what do you do when smack dab in the middle of all the hustle and bustle you experience the loss of a loved one? This is one of the hardest blog post I’ve ever written because that’s exactly what our family is dealing with. On August 9, 2015 just 15 days shy of her 87^th birthday we lost the beautiful life and loving Woman that we’ve known as Mom, Mother-in-law, Grandma and Friend. Losing my Mother-in-law feels very much like we’ve hit a brick wall. Watching my Husband deal with the loss of his Mom and my Kids with the loss of their Grandma is a compounded situation. Although it affects us all in different ways, the impact is still very hard and painful. She was such a sweet and tenderhearted Woman who had a smile for practically everyone she met and we will miss her dearly. I believe the thing I will miss most about my Mother-in-law is her hearty laughter and her contagious smile. The stories she’d tell us of beating my Husband and his brother in a game of hockey on the frozen pond in the back yard of their farm, all while wearing a pair of figure skates. Mom was always full of laughter and smiles, you couldn’t be in her presence more than five minutes before you were also smiling and laughing. I always felt that this was an incredible gift she shared with us and we were so fortunate to partake in her joy and zest for life.

Mom had a passion for baking, gardening, flowers and collecting sea shells. She enjoyed laughing at all the silly jokes my Husband told and she was one of the most generous and selfless individuals I have ever known.  Most importantly, I know that my Mother-in-law had an unwavering love for her three Sons, her beautiful grand children and her entire family.  She was proceeded in death by her beautiful and vibrant 18 year old daughter Karen who loved the Arts and had a true zest for life just like her Mom. Also proceeding her in death was her beloved Husband Kenneth. Prior to his passing they enjoyed almost 60 years of marriage together and we all know that she truly missed both her precious Daughter and Husband.

Although our hearts are beyond sad and our pain is real because we miss her terribly,  I think more than anything my Mother-in-law would want us to keep moving forward, keep pressing on, and keep encouraging each other to be all that we can be.  Most importantly, I believe that she would want her family to keep loving and sharing moments of laughter with one another. Also, when we think of her, I believe she wouldn’t want us to be sad but would encourage us with the truth that she will forever be smiling down on us until we catch up with her. RIP Mom and thank you for being a true Woman of strength and courage. You overcame some of the hardest adversities that life has to offer and you never lost your gift of laughter and love. We will miss you dearly and although you are gone you will never be forgotten.

Lastly, I want to encourage you, especially if you have dealt with a recent loss or still grieving the loss of a loved one. May you also find peace and comfort during your time of recovery.

In Loving Memory of Shirley Ewert

Figure skating fashion

With so many characteristics to love about the sport of figure skating, its hard to pick just one. However, what we love most here at Pinkskate, is the FASHION of the sport. In fact we can’t get enough of it. Whether it’s a great costume for your solo performance in the local ice show, your favorite competitive skater rocking a Vera Wang design or your cutest Chloe Noel practice ensemble. Fashion is such a big aspect of this sport that it is mind boggling. From Glitter and Rhinestones to Swarovski Crystals, if it Bling’s and Shines, then you will see it on the ice.

With so much fashion represented on the ice, I would love to see fashionable apparel geared toward skaters for off-ice wear. What are your thoughts on the topic of off-ice apparel? How would you envision that apparel to look and feel? Please share your thoughts.