Yes they're real.

Sometimes I get so tired of this question, "So are they real?" My answer is YES! Hip checks, booty blocks, rock blocks. They're ALL real hits. This ain't your momma's fake sport she used to watch on TV in the 70's.

Okay, so like I said before there's this monster that ate my free time. It's called roller derby. The fastest growing women's sport and I'm lucky enough to be a referee with a league that does both flat and banked tracks. If you ever end up in San Diego, check us out San Diego Derby Dolls. The derby community is a huge family. We come from every walk of life, literally. They are some of the coolest people I have ever had the honor of knowing.

As a blog about designing and putting myself out there, why am I bringing this up?

Here it is, derby has given me a lot. Helped me prove things to myself. It's where I finally found the strength to stand on my own. Where I found strength to believe in myself.

Being part of roller derby for the last few years has really changed me, for the positive. Yeah I still may be quite when I don't know you. But I'm more likely to say hi to you first. I can stand in front of a group of people, and not be dying to stand in the back of the room like a wall flower. I'm more likely to tell you what I really think about something. I'm not afraid to stand up for myself. The sport and the community gives me a lot of strength I really didn't know I had.

I'm getting ready to launch my new website, with new product line. All original. My designs, my patterns. I have tried selling shirts and accessories before. But never 100% on my own. Making my own designs. Not being influenced by others. It's all me, and what I like. It's scary, being open to criticism. But I'm a lot stronger than I was a few years ago. I think I'm ready.