LululemonORL

on April 9, 2010

Fun times at the Lululemon Outlet in Orlando!

Lululemon asked me to come out and host an Operation Beautiful booth during a mall-wide â€œparty.â€ I happily obliged! The fun thing about the booth was I just helped customers write notes and then we stuck it around the store together. It was a neat way to spend a Friday afternoon.

I wrote Operation Beautiful notes with a TON of kids while their moms shopped around. I used to be really afraid to talk to children (Iâ€™m an only child and never babysat in my entire life), but Iâ€™m starting to realize that kids are human, too. :) Just shorter. You pretty much just talk to them like you would an adult! I think they like it when you treat them with that level of respect, too.

This one girl was smart as a WHIP:

And can I tell you how STRANGE and SURREAL it was to walk into a dressing room and be surrounded by Operation Beautiful notes? Iâ€™ve never actually found a â€œlegitimateâ€ (i.e. random) note, but seeing the notes on the mirror while I tried stuff on made me smile!

The little boy left me this note on my water bottle. It made me tear up. I love that kid!

Another kid note:

Beyond the event, I had a bowl of Chobani pineapple and 1/2 a cup of raw oatmeal:

And afterwards, Ashley and I went to Whole Foods for dinner.

I got:

Macaroni and cheese
Roasted broccoli and cauliflower
Rice
Potatoes
Seawood tofu (Ashley made me get it!!! It was alright. Couldnâ€™t get over the seaweed part.)
Veggies

And a sugar cookie:

I am leaving for the 15K at 4:15 in the morningâ€¦ Iâ€™ve got to get in bed!

Have a wonderful evening!

Are you good with kids?

{ 81 comments }

Runeatrepeat April 9, 2010, 10:12 pm
I’m lucky because I have a little brother that’s 17 years younger than me! So, I’m good with kids 🙂
Jocelyn April 9, 2010, 10:12 pm
I like to think I am great with kids…as that is what I do (at the moment) for a living 😉 I like working with autistic kids…they are so smart.

Love all the operation beautiful notes!!!

Good luck at the 15k!
Heather @ Side of Sneakers April 9, 2010, 10:15 pm
I think I get worse with kids as I get older…maybe because I’m getting further away from being one myself?! What a cool event- teaching kids about positive self esteem is priceless!
Heather (Heather's Dish) April 9, 2010, 10:15 pm
how cute is the note that says ‘you have nice eyes?!’ i would say i’m good with kiddos, but it’s the babies that scare me!

hope the race is great tomorrow!!!
Kate April 9, 2010, 10:16 pm
I think I’m pretty good with kids. I went to a camp for 10 summers. As you get older you start hanging out with the younger kids and eventually I became a counsellor and I did that for 3 summers. I think that that is what set me up for being good with kids!

Those kids that wrote notes at Lululemon are so cute and smart!
Katy ( The Balanced Foodie ) April 9, 2010, 10:17 pm
I’m an elementary ed major so I had to be good with kids to graduate! 😉 I’m used to them now after teaching a class full of first graders for a semester. Plus I babysat a lot growing up. I can totally understand why they’d be intimidating if you’re not used to it! What a fun event, if I didn’t have an event to go to I would have so been there! 🙂
- Jessica @ The Process of Healing April 9, 2010, 10:20 pm
  Awww 1st graders are my favorite to work with! Such an amazing age!
  - Katy ( The Balanced Foodie ) April 9, 2010, 10:22 pm
    They are! I just had them their first semester so they were still on the kindergarten mindset which was good and bad. Good because you feel like you really are impacting them and teaching them stuff they’ll remember for the rest of their lives but bad because their behavior was crazy and it took forever to get them to calm down! They are SO sweet though so you can’t blame them and I got lots of pictures and love notes. Those are the best! 😉
Megan April 9, 2010, 10:17 pm
I love kids, I am basically obsessed with little cousins (especially 4-month old George)! Example – just recently my mom called to tell me my three-year-old cousin was napping in my bed! It made me insanely happy.
Jessica @ The Process of Healing April 9, 2010, 10:19 pm
Good luck with the race!!

Those kids are precious!!!! I love kids, and I mean that in a non-creepy way haha I actually work with kids. I’m not a teacher but I work at an after-school program with kindergarten and first graders and they are my babies. And they respond SO well when you treat them with respect. I have several kids who are my “favorites” (you can’t help it) and they are all the ones that the other workers dub as “bad.” But i’ve found that if you just get on their level and explain things to them rather than yelling at them or fussing at them, they respond. In fact, many kids listen to me that don’t listen to other workers who just boss them around. I would seriously take some of them home with them… I’ve been with them for 2 years and watched them grow up, i’m going to cry like a baby when the year is over and I won’t see them again.
Ok you probably didn’t want to know all of that lol
Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) April 9, 2010, 10:22 pm
That looks like such a fun event! I’m usually good with kids but sometimes run out of things to say or get nervous when I feel like the parents are analyzing me.
Tonyne @ The Unlikely Success Story April 9, 2010, 10:24 pm
I’m actually really good with kids…although I’m not sure how or why, I don’t like other people’s kids that much. :/ I swear I’m not a bad person, I just don’t do the screaming and temper tantrum thing well. haha 🙂
Morgan @ Healthy Happy Place April 9, 2010, 10:26 pm
kids are so honest. When they tell you things, they really mean it!! those notes are adorable 🙂
Adriane April 9, 2010, 10:36 pm
I worked as a nanny throughout college, so I think I am fairly good! I also coached soccer camps for kids when I was in high school. I love working with kids and see it as something i would like to incorporate into my future career as a dietitian.
Amanda April 9, 2010, 10:37 pm
I think I’m pretty good with kids. I guess mine will let me know in a couple years if I am or not. Loved the notes!

Good luck with your race tomorrow! I’m running a 10K in the morning.
Kristen April 9, 2010, 10:42 pm
I love kids 🙂 I am in my 4th year teaching 1st grade…and I find that kids say more funny and insightful things than most adults I know! They say it like it is – and aren’t afraid to do so! I have been working with my students on ways to be a good friend and show others you care about them. Reading this post made me think of a great idea…I am going to give my kids packages of post-it notes, and allow them to write anonymous notes to others to make them feel good about themselves 🙂 Can’t wait to see what they come up with!
Ange April 9, 2010, 11:08 pm
Wow – that is an awesome way to spend a Friday!! I love the notes the kids wrote – so genuine & sweet!
Mary April 9, 2010, 11:13 pm
I love kids! I’m actually working on getting onto a pediatric floor at the hospital I work at. I sometimes feel like I relate to them better, I think I also have a higher “tolerance” if you will for them than a lot of other people do. 🙂 plus, they’re hilarious! they say and do the funniest things!

good luck with your 15k tomorrow morning! 🙂
ari April 9, 2010, 11:18 pm
good luck on your race! you’re gonna rock it.
also, maybe you can clear this up for me. looloo-lemon? looloo-luh-mon? looloo-lee-mon? hahaha IDK!
Sarah April 9, 2010, 11:19 pm
I used to be good with kids. I babysat and volunteered with kids so much when I was growing up.

But now I feel I’m out of practice. I think maybe I try too hard with them and end up seeming kinda freaky, lol.
Sarah April 9, 2010, 11:20 pm
Oops I forgot to say, Good Luck on your race tomorrow!
Cynthia (It All Changes) April 9, 2010, 11:20 pm
They had OB notes at my Lululemon store in Dedham, MA and it made me think of you 🙂

I love kids and I’m really happy to spend time with them. I was a teacher for a few years and do a lot of the kids ministries for work.
Morgan @ Life After Bagels April 9, 2010, 11:29 pm
ohhhhh I love lululemon, so positive!
Mama Pea April 9, 2010, 11:32 pm
I’m terrible with kids. They are just rotten, horrible little things. 😉

Good luck with your race!
Amber K @ sparkpeople April 9, 2010, 11:33 pm
Sounds like a really fun day!

I have been babysitting since I was probably too young to be allowed to do so! So I definitely have experience with kids. Practically every weekend from about age 12 up I was somewhere babysitting.

Currently, I work part-time in my church’s childcare and I also volunteer as a Sunday school teacher. Kids are pretty awesome. =)
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday April 9, 2010, 11:33 pm
I didn’t know there were Lululemon stores in the US
Nora@LiveLifeEatRight April 9, 2010, 11:35 pm
I love kids! Growing up I always wanted to be a pediatrician but bio/chem weren’t really my thing. I taught swimming lessons all through highschool and get a kick out of the things they do/say. They are so simple minded…it’s refreshing. Good luck at your race!!! I’ll be rooting for you!
Nicole, RD April 10, 2010, 12:09 am
What a wonderful experience! Those notes would make me cry too!

Have a wonderful race tomorrow!

Not so great with toddlers, but I like babies 🙂
eatingRD April 10, 2010, 12:15 am
awwwh how nice! I’d like to think I’m getting better with kids since I work with 8th graders, but I guess they aren’t really ‘kids’? And my dad has 3 little ones all under the age of 8! It would be neat to somehow expand OB to a grant-funded educational program in high schools, that would be awesome!
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter April 10, 2010, 12:26 am
You are doing such a wonderful thing Caitlin. What a beautiful person you are.

I’m intimidated by kids honestly! I’m always afraid of messing up with them! I was a camp counselor this past summer and I still never got completely comfortable with them.
Jacquie April 10, 2010, 12:26 am
I love kids! I don’t know why, but I’ve always been good with them and at the beginning of school, I wanted to be a pediatric physical therapist just to work with them. Even though I don’t want to do that anymore, I still love them and can’t wait to work with them in another way in the future.
Christina April 10, 2010, 12:36 am
I absolutely ADORE kids!!! I think they are such brilliant little things. I don’t know if kids can “sense” that I like them or not but it seems that if I’m in a room with a bunch of people, there will be at least one kid that comes up to me and just starts talking. I think they are really precious & special and they are full of lessons for US to learn.
steph-exercise physiologist and artist! April 10, 2010, 12:52 am
Oh I sooo wish I knew you were going to be there!! I am always looking for a good excuse to go to the LLL outlet!!
Next time you have an event like this let me know and I will come out and support 🙂
Kids saying are the greatest 🙂 My mom was a preschool teacher for years and she used to tell me the funniest, cutest things they would say. so free innocent alive and free from judgments or better yet fear of being judged 🙂

Good luck tomorrow. Hope you have a great race!!
Run Sarah April 10, 2010, 12:54 am
What an awesome event, would have loved to have seen it!! Good luck tomorrow!!
Emily April 10, 2010, 2:03 am
I have an education degree–in secondary education. I always swore I would never teach anyone younger than middle school age–and then started a job where we teach all ages, but most preschool to about 4th grade. I got good wit kids FAST! Now I just love them…they say the greatest things and are so genuine! Now I think about going back to get my elementary ed degree! Crazy how things change. 🙂 I wasn’t sure I wanted kids b/c I didn’t know how I’d handle the younger, elementary stage…thanks to this job I am super excited to have kids someday!
maria April 10, 2010, 2:29 am
You are 100% right. Kids want to be treated with the same respect as adults and not “babied.” I teach ages 5-12ish and while it’s a large gap, they all want the same thing: respect.
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs April 10, 2010, 3:08 am
Yaay good luck with the race!
I’m OK with kids, but they do scare me…I think you’re right, the key is to talk to them like adults!
Awh I love that ‘you have nice eyes’ note, bless!
Diana April 10, 2010, 3:51 am
That sounds so awesome 🙂
I used to be really good with younger kids when I was younger but as I grew up I stopped interacting with them and now I’m a little awkward with them ahah I do treat them like little adults though. 🙂
Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] April 10, 2010, 4:17 am
Your afternoon sounds so rewarding. Did you reward yourself with any Lulu purchases? : ) Have fun at your race!
- Caitlin April 10, 2010, 5:57 am
  Haha oh you know it!
Jo April 10, 2010, 4:21 am
I’m told often how good I am with children and children all seem to love me but I’m not *that* keen on other people’s kids lol. I have a son who is almost 13 (goodness, that makes me feel old!) and we have an awesome relationship and you are so right when you say they like being treated with respect as you would an adult – that is one thing I have always done with children and that is respect them. As you said, they are people too 🙂

I love the notes that those kids left you, it made me a little teary eyed.

Good luck with your run today

xx
Rachel @ Suburban Yogini April 10, 2010, 6:16 am
I used to be kind of scared of kids. I never babysat and my brother is a lot younger than me so I never had much to do with him.

Then I started to teach yoga to kids and just realised what fonts of wisdom they truly are!
Kelly April 10, 2010, 6:51 am
I grew up with younger siblings and cousins so I’m pretty used to kids. Now I teach kindergarten so I talk to them all day. Still get intimidated by middle/high school age kids though. I think you are right- I basically talk to my K kids like they are adults for the most part, at least during normal conversation. I think thats the best way to go. I can’t stand people who start talking in a ridiculously high voice lol- if I was a 5 year old I’d be like whats wrong with this lady?
April April 10, 2010, 6:51 am
I love kids….and have two of my own. I did tons of babysitting through highschool and even into college.

You are right about talking to kids. They are just little people and you can talk to them like they are people. They respond to you giving them some face time. And, often, you just have to get them started and they will guide the conversation!
Becky April 10, 2010, 7:24 am
What a great event! The kids’ notes are the best – because kids are awesome! I teach kindergarten and my kiddos never cease to amaze me. I have a “wall of fame” dedicated to their notes and drawings. They are so smart and positive. Glad you enjoyed them 🙂
chandra hall April 10, 2010, 7:37 am
awwhhh, this is weird, but I think I just like you a little bit more now that I know you were nervous around kids. I’m also an only child/babysat v. v. little growing up and felt intimidated by kids (sometimes when I WAS a kid). but you’re right, they are human, too! I have a bad habit of acting “too” cutsey or babyish around them (when I don’t know what to do/say) and they sometimes just end up staring at me like i’m a freak LOL.

sounds like a really fun event to be a part of! 😀

♥

http://www.prettytimepiece.org
Diana (Mymarblerye) April 10, 2010, 7:46 am
for halloween this year can you dress up as a big ol post it operation beautiful note? I think that’ll be awesome!
- caitlin April 11, 2010, 10:34 am
  haha that is an excellent idea!
Anne P April 10, 2010, 7:54 am
Awww that looks SO fun! Kids are great… so unfiltered and honest. They can be total devils, but SO cute sometimes, too.

I miss teaching my little Czech middle schoolers in Prague! 🙁
Midgetkeeper April 10, 2010, 7:59 am
Sounds like a great day! I think I’m good with kids well at least for my kid’s sake I hope so 🙂
Susan April 10, 2010, 8:39 am
I’m good with kids over the age of 5. They are just like little adults and a blast to play with. I LOVE the imagination and creativity kids have. Babies and toddlers though make me clam up though.

Operation Beautiful would be a really cool program for elementary schools… Have you ever thought of something like that?
- caitlin April 11, 2010, 10:35 am
  yes i really want to put together some sort of programming model!
Angela (Oh She Glows) April 10, 2010, 8:40 am
We’re having my 1 yr old newphew stay overnight with us tonight and we’re a bit scared! lol. Training I guess…!
So fun that you got to do that at lulu! Oh and I totallly meant to leave you an OB note in your bathroom before we left and I forgot 🙁
Angela (Oh She Glows) April 10, 2010, 8:41 am
oops I meant nephew! but I geuss he is sort of a ‘new’ phew too 😉
lauren @ Eater not a runner April 10, 2010, 8:43 am
I love my half-siblings but I wouldn’t say I’m the biggest kid person in general!

Good luck at the race 🙂
Rachel April 10, 2010, 8:43 am
What a great event! Those notes make me smile and feel good inside. I hope I am good with kids because I want to work in the schools as a school psychologist after grad school. I am an elementary ed and psychology major right now and spend quite a bit of time working with kids. They seem to like me alright 🙂
Amanda (The Beautiful Army) April 10, 2010, 8:58 am
That was awesome! (dang. I forgot to cal;l my uncle)I love that little kids wrote notes. Even a 6 year old can make a difference. I guess I’m OK with kids. My mom teaches 2-3 year olds 2 days a week so I helped out there last week. (No one ran away so that must be good) Personally I want to teach middle schoolers because you can have in depth discussions. Can’t wait! (My dad and I are talking about a TBA website since ipetitions went crazy)
Heather (runningwithsass.com) April 10, 2010, 9:11 am
I am a teacher, so I would like to think so haha! I babysat all growing up, too. They are funny little things!

Looks like the booth was a success! GL in the race today!
Morgan April 10, 2010, 9:18 am
Great job! Some kids are so clever, and we really don’t give them enough credit! I love kids, always have, always will. I love to spoil my nieces and nephews rotten, and really miss working with kids. I even hope to open a cooking school for kids one day. I better love them, I have one coming soon!
Lex @ sweettoothlex April 10, 2010, 9:22 am
Awww, my heart would just melt if that kid gave me that note! What a little sweetheart!
Kids can definitely be so intelligent and they have incredible things to say. Talking to them as a “regular” person goes a long way. They can be so insightful!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) April 10, 2010, 10:09 am
I love that you spent time with some of the kids in writing notes. Loving yourself starts young, and it’s awesome to see what an impact you’re making on little girls (and little boys! 😀 )

And those notes they left you are too sweet. 😀
Kelly @ Healthy Living With Kelly April 10, 2010, 10:42 am
Goodluck on the race!! I am great with kids but sadly I don’t think my husband and I are going to be able to have them. We are thinking of adopting…
Ellen Collis April 10, 2010, 10:57 am
I’m pretty good with little people. It’s BABIES that freak me out. Every time I’m around one, it bursts into tears. I think they can smell my fear.

http://www.firednfabulous.blogspot.com/
Erica April 10, 2010, 11:03 am
What a cool event! I so have no idea what I’m doing with kids either! I babysat like 3 times when I was in high school. Fun times with Ashley- the food looks great (especially the sugar cookie…I want one now). Good luck today at the race.
Miz April 10, 2010, 11:24 am
I guess time will tell huh?

🙂
caronae April 10, 2010, 11:34 am
I think I’m pretty good with kids; I work with adolescents a lot, but not younger kids. That sounds like an awesome event! I love the idea 🙂
Paige (RAN) April 10, 2010, 11:41 am
I’m not great with kids either. I wasn’t an only child, but my brother is 10 years my senior. My husband is an only child, so we’re going to have quite the journey ahead when we decide to have children! haha Oh, and babies, don’t even get me started. I love them, but I feel a little insecure holding them while standing up. I have to sit down to hold one! lol
Sounds like the event was a great success:)
Tasha - The Clean Eating Mama April 10, 2010, 12:28 pm
What a positive afternoon!! It is so great to see kids get involved with your project =)
Leah @ L4L April 10, 2010, 12:35 pm
I’m good with kids when they aren’t screaming. I don’t do well when they are being difficult for long periods of time. Hence why I’ve opted to not have them.
- caitlin April 11, 2010, 10:36 am
  yea… screaming kids make me nervous.
Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) April 10, 2010, 1:12 pm
I hope so … I am a teacher 🙂

I don’t like teaching the younger grades as much as the older kids, because it can be very draining. A class of 26 little ones can be very needy. I teach grade 7/8. Much less needy 🙂
beth April 10, 2010, 1:21 pm
Children are so honest and unfiltered, which makes their gratitude and compliments all the better!
Caitlin April 10, 2010, 1:49 pm
Love the “you have nice eyes” so cute!

I am good with children, but am uncomfortable around babies. My sister is expecting in July so hopefully things change by then! haha
Wendy Irene April 10, 2010, 1:52 pm
I love the note the little boy left on your water bottle! I like to consider myself good with kids because I have 2 of them 😀
Lisa April 10, 2010, 3:32 pm
I am MUCH better with kids than adults. 🙂 I would love to have a few of my own someday!
Krystina (Organically Me) April 10, 2010, 4:29 pm
I’m going to Orlando next month and I SO need to go to that Lululemon store!
Alisha N April 10, 2010, 11:00 pm
Aww! That note on the water bottle is so cute! That’s great what you got to do at Lululemon!
Carolyn @ lovinlosing.com April 10, 2010, 11:05 pm
What fun! Soon you’ll be sitting at one of those tables autographing your book!!
Kacy April 11, 2010, 11:30 am
That sounds like a great event! Go Operation Beautiful 🙂

I’m pretty frightened by children, but they’re cute to look at lol.
Whit April 11, 2010, 11:12 pm
When you move here I will introduce you to Cecily. You will laugh your butt off at her once she warms up to you. She is hilarious. And will be good practice for later. You know, when you decide to procreate.
Corinne April 12, 2010, 2:10 pm
“your a great person” how flippin cute!!

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