Winter Bling Tour 2012

This past week, I made a trip to Palm Springs, California.  This was my first trip to Cali and it was beautiful!  Could not have been better weather…80 degrees and sunny!  I am such a warm weather girl that I was loving it!  The hotel we stayed at was The Riveria Resort and it was stunning.  It was very contemporary and the rooms were so beautiful.  We checked in to the hotel and the fun began!

This Winter Bling Tour is a collaboration with Sarah Lyons of Picturegroove and Lauren Lyle of Maison Lyle.  Sarah is one of the most amazing photographers I have ever worked with and Lauren is the most talented designer I know.  Lauren is a designer of one of a kind costumes, suits, shoes and so much more.  She crystallizes everything by hand with Swarovski crystals….just stunning!  I met up with the two of them for hair and makeup on Wednesday evening.  We began shooting in the hotel lobby in costumes that Lauren had made for all of us.  I was transformed into a “Snow Bunny…crystallized Uggs and all!”, I had a blast!  It was a long night but so well worth every minute of it.

By 6:45am Thursday morning I was up for hair and makeup.  Sarah had two of the most amazing hair and makeup artist…Maria Hairhustler and Lindsey Benay!  They made each and everyone of us feel so beautiful!  Love the two of them!!  Once I was all dolled up it was time to head to the spa at The Riveria for some “steamy” photos.  The shots were quite steamy in there, lol!  The spa shots were so beautiful and can’t wait for you guys to see the pics!  Next we were on to more fun at the Palm Springs WWII Naval Air Museum.  Words cannot describe how interesting this place was.  The planes were just amazing…not to mention the men working the museum were the actual pilots of some of these planes.  These were the coolest photos, with a backdrop like no other!  We spent most of the afternoon there, I think entertaining all the older men, lol!  Back at the hotel, we took an hour and half break then we were back at it.  This time we were back in the lobby for some interesting photos with all the cool decor this hotel had to offer.  I think I even entertained some of the guest, welcoming them with views of my tush laid across the piano, lol!

Friday was a free day that I got to spend touring Palm Springs.  Palm Springs is a very small quant and surprisingly slow paced town.  I did a little shopping that morning and then met up with some friends after lunch to go up St. Jacinto Mountain.  This was an experience!  We were all out of breath just getting from the parking lot to the tram for the 12 minute ride up the mountain (which is at an elevation of 8510 ft).  I am not one for anything with height, especially roller coasters!  That is what I felt like I was on.  It was so well worth it for the most breathtaking views of Palm Springs!  There was even a restaurant that overlooked the valley that we had dinner at, great food and scenery!  So glad I was able to experience this with my friends Michelle Hanson and Carla Sizemore.

Saturday I was up bright and early again getting ready for more shoots at the Air Museum.  This day went by much faster and we were done noon…just in time for my spa appointment.  After getting a long overdue massage, I met my two girlfriends Michelle and Carla at the hotel restaurant for lunch.  This is where the trip goes a little CRAZY!  While sitting in the restaurant, the wind picks up.  Still being sunny outside, we don’t think much of it.  Then…the lights go out before we can get our food and doesn’t come back on until early Sunday morning!!!  With wind gust up to 90 mph, it was a little erie in the hotel.  We all survived the freak windstorm with the help of glow sticks provided by the hotel personnel.  It was an experience that I think we will always remember.

Sunday was our day of travel back to Gulfport, Mississippi or so we thought! Because of the weather the day before, flights were delayed.  My flight through Dallas was delayed about 2 hours.  Once I arrived in Dallas I found out my connecting flight to Gulfport, MS had been CANCELLED!  At this point I was just ready to get home.  I found a flight to Jackson, Mississippi where my car was NOT, lol!  I had to rent a car at midnight and finally arrived back home at 2:30am with no luggage in tow and a rental car, who knows at this point where my luggage is!  I was just glad to be home, so Monday morning I had to drive to Gulfport in the “RENTAL” to get my car and my luggage from the airport!!

As eventful as this trip was I am so happy with the photos that I shot.  I feel this is one of my best shoots yet and I cannot wait to share them with each of you!  And don’t forget if you ever travel to Palm Springs…pack some glow sticks, lol!

Tomorrow is the NPC Southern Classic in Jackson, MS. This will be my second time to compete in this show. Don and Betty Hollis put on a great show with lots of great athletes being represented! I am excited and nervous all in the same sense! This is going to be one of their largest shows ever! Wow, to be apart of that is great!

This show is also going to a lot of fun because I have so many friends competing in it. If you live in the area come out and support everyone. I have been training a little different for this show. I have put on a little more muscle so, we shall see how it goes. I am very happy with where my body is and how far it has come from last year. Can’t wait to hit the stage and show the judges all the hard work I have put myself through these last 3 months!

I will keep you guys posted on the outcome of the show! Good luck to everyone competing! Let’s go out there and have a great time!!

Last weekend I traveled to Greensboro, NC for the 2010 FAME Carolinas Show. What a fun weekend! I have competed in several other FAME shows and everyone is like a huge family! I enjoyed getting to see a lot of old friends.

The weekend started off by getting there on Friday afternoon. Little did we know that the hotel we were staying at was also hosting a soccer and track tournament and the ACC Baseball tournament! Needless to say there were kids everywhere!

I brought two girls with me for their very first show! Beverly and Ana did great…so proud of them! The show went great and we all had a blast cutting up backstage. Thanks to Jill Coleman for putting the show on and to Kevin Freisen and Amy Barnes for hosting it. They made everyone feel at such as ease.

We all placed well! I got 1st place in Figure Elite and 2nd place in Fitness Model Elite. Beverly Browning got 3rd place in Fitness Model Novice and 3rd place in Bikini Novice. Ana brought home the 2nd place win for Bikini Novice!

Thanks to everyone for their support! I have so much fun competing and that’s what really matters. Getting ready for another show on Saturday, NPC Southern Classic. I will keep you guys posted on this one as it is going to be a BIG show!

Well, this time tomorrow I will be in Greensboro, North Carolina for my next endeavor!  I will be competing in FAME North Carolina on Saturday night.  I am really excited and can’t wait to hit the stage.  I have a new trainer and this is my first show with him.  I am really excited and nervous all in the same sense to see what changes my body can and will make!  I have gained some muscle size since my last show.  It is amazing how ones body can react to change in your diet and routine. 

FAME which stands for Fitness, Athletes, Models and Entertainment is a great show to do, if you have never competed in one before.  It is so much fun and entertaining!!  FAME has several categories Muscle Model, Figure, Fitness Model and Swimwear.  My favorite is the Fitness Model category which has a “theme round” where the contestants come out in a themed costume.  It is a lot of fun to see the creativity of everyone.  FAME  is like a big family.  I have met so many great friends through FAME that I have kept in touch with.  I look forward to seeing them again.  I am even taking a few friends with me too!  Good Luck Ana and Beverly!!!!

 I am ready to ROCK the stage!!!  I will keep you guys posted on how I do at the show!  Hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend!

Trying to find the balance of eating healthy and tasting good is all in getting creative in your recipes. I like to fix recipes that I know my whole family will enjoy! You can just about turn any recipe into a healthier version.

One of our favorites recipes to add lots of flavor but not all the calories is a corn-black bean salsa. It is great with tortilla chips, in wraps, salads, great on top of chicken or fish, and just recently added it to ground turkey for stuff bell peppers! Yummy!!

Corn and Black Bean Salsa

 1 can of black beans, drained

1 can of white corn, drained

1 green bell pepper, finely chopped

1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped

1 large tomato, diced

2 limes

Fresh Cilantro

Combine black beans, white corn, chopped bell pepper, jalapeno pepper and tomato. Add as much cilantro as you like for flavor (chopped fine). Mix well and add juice from 2 squeezed limes. ENJOY!

For the stuff bell peppers…

1 lb of extra lean ground turkey breast

1 tsp of Tony’s Seasoning

4 bell pepper

1/4 c. Low fat cheddar cheese

1 c. Cooked brown rice

Brown turkey in skillet. Add 1/2 c. of Corn and Black Bean Salsa and let simmer. Cook brown rice and add to the meat mixture. Spoon into bell peppers and sprinkle with cheese. Bake on 375 degrees for 30 minutes. ENJOY!!

I hope you guys enjoy these recipes as much as we do! I will continue to add more to help you understand that eating healthy can be fun and full of flavor!

Sarah is a former Fitness Model who started www.picturegroove.comabout 3 years ago.  When the economy started to go on the down slope, Sarah put her real estate career to the side, and went full force in to photography.  Sarah said, “I have learned so much along the way, and I continue to learn every day.”

In getting ready for my competitions, my diet can get a little crazy. Cutting carbs can cause me to feel very drained. I lift weights 5 days a week and need all the energy I can get. I have found what I think is a MIRACLE drink…Xtend by Scivation! Comes in several flavors…my favorite being lemonade and grape. It is an energy drink that helps burn fat and increase lean muscle. It also reduces muscle breakdown during workouts, reduces cortisol levels and reduces fatigue.  No stimulants, caffeine, or sugar! It has “Energy Aminos” consisting of  Amino Acids, Glutamine and Vitamins B6 to give you that energy without the jitters!

Start today by getting some….and you will have more energy. Therefore, you will be able to maximize your workout  whether it is weights or just doing cardio. It also will aid in the recovery helping to reduce soreness. I am a believer in this product and have recommended it to all my friends. Get you some today! It can be found at health and vitamin stores. Some gyms carry it, mine did not, but now does!! Hope you have a great weekend!

Happy Mother’s Day! Being a mother of two beautiful children has been one of the best blessings in my life. I have a 6yr old son and 9yr old daughter who are growing up so fast! I am thankful to God everyday for allowing me to have them and I pray that I may teach them how to be the best that they can be! Being a mother is a very demanding job but, so rewarding. We, as mothers, must teach them how to be a Christian and how to be a great father or mother one day!

We must also teach our children the importance of eating healthy and living an active life. This starts with you! I have brought my children up in an enviroment where they must always be willing to try new foods. They never know when they might like something. If you start your children out early eating healthier it makes them more aware of what they are putting in their mouths! My children love all sorts of fruits and vegetables and will just about try anything.

Exercise is another important part of our daily lives. I know we sometimes get so busy but, we must take time out everyday for physical activity. Not only do I take my children to the gym with me but, we try to be outside everyday. We like to ride bikes, play baseball or soccer or just go walking. It also gives us some one on one quality time together. I encourage each of you to take the time to try to get outside for some “playtime!”

On this day make it a commitment to be a healthy role model to your children! Start teaching them about eating right and exercising. Let them help you make cook in the kitchen. This can make it fun therefore they want to help and are willing to try what they have made.

Hope all of you have had a wonderful Mother’s Day! Enjoy your children because they grow up quickly!

In my training and diet,  I am teaching my children the importance of  eating healthy and exercising.  We go to the gym on a daily basis as a family.  This is something that has become important to me.  On the other hand, there is a lot of planning and preparation that this requires from me.  I want to start sharing some  of my tips, secrets, and even recipes that make this more of a family affair.  It is not just about my training but, how we live…it is a lifestyle change. 

TIP FOR THE WEEK!  Today start with precooking meals for the week.  I will take a Sunday afternoon, and precook all meals for the week.  It does take time out of my day but, it helps me plan for my busy week ahead.  I will bake, broil or grill a 5-10lb bag of boneless chicken breast, bake sweet potatoes, cut up and wash veggies for steaming, boil eggs, and even cook rice.  This will save so much time in trying to go to the gym in the afternoon, get home get homework and supper cooked before bedtime quickly approaches.  Try this for I know that you will feel a relief knowing that supper is pretty much done!  You will be able to spend more quality time with your family in the evenings!

I will continue each week to add new tips to help you utilize your time.  You family will benefit in the long run!  Hope everyone has a great week and keep up the good work!!  Stay strong!

I am still trying to grasp the amazing weekend I had in Columbus, OH at the Arnold Classic!  I competed in the Arnold Amateur for my first time.  Let me just say, I had no idea the size of this show!  In the fitness and figure categories there were 450 girls!!!  Yes, 450 girls together in one room registering, at athletes meeting, and getting ready backstage.  This is an experience that I will never forget.  Having that many beautiful girls in one room was like being in a reality show!

I got to the Veterans Memorial that Thursday night around 5:30 for registration.  We then had an athletes meeting at 6:00 and the show was scheduled for 7pm.  I was beyond excited to be there amongst all these girls from all over the world!   As I am sitting there waiting for the athletes meeting to start…who walks in the room?  JEN HENDERSHOT!!!  I was star struck.  She was one of my first fitness idols.  When my trainer first came to me about competing, I had no idea what competing even was.  I went and ordered Jen’s CD on posing (great information by the way!).   I was just so happy at this point just be be there!

Once the show started, there was 3 1/2 hours before I went on stage!!  This is where the anxiety set in me…I was so ready to get out there.  Sitting backstage, girls were sleeping, putting tanner and make-up on, pumping up and just getting to know everyone’s secrets!  This made the time pass by a little faster.  Some of the girls I met were from Florida, Texas, New Zealand, Australia, and London!

By the time my class was called, all the girls lined up for over 30 minutes waiting backstage.  We finally could see the magnitutde of it all!   Before this we were not allowed in the backstage area.  When it came time for my class to go on, all 14 girls lined up and hit the stage!  I was just in awe of being out there.  I was not quite as nervous as I thought I would be.  Did my best posing and smiling for the judges.  As soon as we got off stage they started calling out the top 10.  I was called in the Top 10, however, I was still on cloud 9!  I was just honored to be there and was just blown away by the expereince of it all.  I had a great time and will definetly be back on that stage for 2011!

For the next 2 day, we attended the Expo.  This was a whole other experience within itself.  I got to meet some many of my idols…Jamie Eason, Monica Brant, Ava Cown and Nicole Wilkins-Lee!  It was a great networking with so many of top fitness magazines and supplement companies in the industry!

Now I am more motivated than ever.  I am ready to hit it harder in the gym.  Getting my game face on for my next competition.  Again, I will be attending the Arnold Classic next year better than ever!!!