How do YOU enter the arena?

Hello World!

I just concluded a delicious sushi lunch at In the Raw, Bricktown with the fabulously inspiring and down to earth, Bethany Gerber, Miss Kansas USA 2010.  It was a fun, and extremely constructive lunch meeting! She imparted to me her personal pageant experiences as well as answered any questions I could think of.  Bethany is beautiful inside and out, and I look forward to getting to know her more.  Completely appropriate to the "Everyone knows Everyone" mantra in Oklahoma, I will see Bethany again tonight when I drive southbound 35 to support my teammates and friends in the NPC Red River Classic in Norman! She is doing a promotional job down there...small world! Just received a text from my teammate, friend, and fellow bikini competitor Jillian Taylor that the preliminary show went really well! I can't wait to see her strut her stuff in the finals tonight! Here is a picture of our division at our first show, Darrell Terrell's Hot Bod Fitness Modeling Competition in conjunction with the NPC Total Package Bodybuilding Show.

She is the pretty girl in the green! Can you tell we go to the same posing practices? LOL.  Here is another one of us with our coach and trainer Darrell Terrell.  It was at his encouragement and urging that I even began to believe I could achieve success in fitness and fashion modeling.  I know I speak for Jillian and all of Darrell's other athletes in saying "THANK YOU DARRELL" for teaching us to believe in ourselves and helping us chase our dreams!

I am proud to say that I took home 3rd at Hot Bod and equally proud to say that Jillian rocked it and took home 1st place! Sounds like prelim's went the same way today, Jillian needs to place Top 5 to qualify for nationals in Atlanta next week! I have full confidence she will do just that! Keep working hard Jillian, it is such an honor to have a teammate equally motivated and driven to succeed :)

More pictures from NPC Red River Classic to be posted shortly!

I am also writing as promised to recognize my second featured sponsor of the week, Lush Fashion Lounge! I had the honor of walking in the Sunset at Sapphire Fashion Show for Lush and Jen Austin Designs back in September.  Owner Carrie Boevers' collection is eclectic and FUN featuring designer clothing for both men and women! Here are a couple shots from the show at Sapphire featuring pieces that are in store NOW!

Featured models:  Cherisse Miller, Shannon Green, Cory Nolan, and that's me at the end! Yes I am holding sparklers...like I said, super FUN show!

Absolutely ALL men's merchandise is currently 50% off! Come see me for a coupon for 20% off anything in the store! Lush and Carrie are absolutely fabulous and I have no doubt you will find everything you are looking for to express your individual, funky-cool style.  

Hurry in to LUSH FASHION LOUNGE today! 

They are also on Facebook :)

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1706029390

I leave you today with a Harry Potter quote.  Albeit cheesy, this is without a doubt my favorite quote from any of the books and I read it when I need that extra little boost of confidence and help keeping my eye on the bigger picture:

"It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high.  Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew -- and so do I, thought Harry, with a fierce rush of pride, and so did my parents -- that there was all the difference in the world."

39 days until the premiere!!! Eeek! (Yes I just counted on my phone's calendar, LOL.)

Until next time, and in the true British sense, Cheerio Darlings!

xoxo

Britt

Terry Fox, The Ultimate Inspiration

Hello World!

It is now 12:50 (AM!) and I just got home from the gym.  I think it is safe to say I am dedicated!!! My home gym (and employer!) Aspen on Rockwell and Northwest Expressway is now open 24 hours Monday through Thursday.  Pro about the new, extended hours:  I no longer have any excuse to not get all of my cardio in on the dreaded stair machine.  Con about the new, extended hours:  I no longer have any excuse to not get all of my cardio in on the dreaded stair machine!!! LOL! It is certainly a love/hate relationship I have with that particular piece of cardio equipment, but you can’t argue with results and there really is no better machine on which to get your cardio done on, because not only does it get your heart rate up and get you sweating something fierce, but it also firms, tones, and shapes the hamstrings and the ever elusive glutes with the constant “stepping up” motion.  If you are intimidated by this miracle-working machine, it is okay! Start out with shorter intervals such as 20 minutes and work your way up in resistance and speed.  Once you can handle it, switch up the kind of exercise you are doing.  I take turns going at a constant speed for an allotted time, speed intervals, and the fat burning programs.  And try to have fun with it! Bring along your iPod set on your favorite, motivating playlist or embrace your inner nerd like I do with your favorite Harry Potter novel ;)

One thing in particular got me through my borderline grueling full hour of cardio tonight.  ESPN was showing a documentary entitled “Into the Wind,” directed by Steve Nash and Ezra Holland.  Being an avid basketball fan, it was Nash’s name that caught my attention, but I was soon captivated by one of the most inspiring stories of determination I have ever heard.  (Anything that makes me put down my book has got to be LEGIT!) The documentary followed the tragic to triumphant journey of Terry Fox.  After losing his leg to cancer in college during his athletic prime, Fox set out to run across Canada to raise money for the cause.  I’m not sure if it was the pain from a killer leg workout yesterday courtesy of Jason Neville, or the story itself that reduced me to small but actual tears 20 minutes in, but I gained inspiration from every minute of the program I was able to watch.  If Fox could average 10-14 miles per day running the expanse of an entire country, I could certainly knock out this next forty on the silly stair machine.  I was so inspired by Fox’s courage, I couldn’t even wait until I got home and started looking up additional accounts of this incredible story using the internet on my phone.  Nash was personally inspired by Fox as a boy.  His personal recollection of Fox’s Run can be found here:

http://30for30.espn.com/film/into-the-wind.html

Although Fox did not reach his goal of actual distance when new tumors appeared, and took over his body, his story of perseverance inspired a nation and raised new awareness.  Keep an eye out on ESPN for “Into the Wind,” I am sure a story like that will air more than once.

As always, thank you so very much for stopping by and I leave you with a quote that makes me work harder when I am tempted to quit, just like “Into the Wind.”

“We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence then, is not an act.  It is a habit.” -Aristotle

Take a minute to think about that…

Until next time, sweet dreams! Dream well, Dream BIG!!!

xoxo

Britt

PS. Check out my dear friend, Lyndsee Gray Hargett's blog, Mrs. Payne County, and follow her journey to Mrs. Oklahoma in January! Find her under my followers ;)

Life is TOO short!

Hello World!

Although healthy eating habits are extremely important, life is just TOO short not to indulge once and a while! I say this while I sip my last Panera Frozen Caramel and munch on their Fuji Apple Chicken Salad and whole wheat baguette, my last cheat meal until December!

YUMMMMYYYY!!!!!

Better BELIEVE that Bad Boy was finished in about 5 minutes! hahaha!

A couple tips about when you do indulge in a cheat meal:

1. As far as burning it off goes, it is best to have your cheat meal midday or before, but there is a catch to that! The problem with eating those yummy sugary/fatty/salty DELICIOUS foods earlier in the day is that it triggers your hormones and it is 10x more difficult to resist further cravings! So it's basically a pick your poison kind of thing, LOL!

2. I'll admit, I went waayyy off course with a FROZEN CARAMEL...I'm not even going to bother looking up the calorie, sugar, sodium, etc. for this devilish delight...otherwise I might cry myself to sleep tonight (ONLY KIDDING!) When you do have a cheat meal, and if you are going to with something like...THAT...try to balance it out with something a little more on the healthy side! For instance my personal fave and complex carb Whole Wheat Baguette.  With this combination, you are getting something (semi) good in, while pleasing your inner rebel ;)

3. Portion Control...fairly self-explainatory.  I'm not saying eat a crumb...buutttt try as much as you can not to eat the WHOLE cake either.  Your tummy will thank you!

4. Have your cheat meal, enjoy it, and then do not make it an option to cave a cheat again! If that means really going all out on your cheat, do it! Make the commitment though, that after it is said and done, you are back on track for whatever your allotted time is. NO EXCEPTIONS.  The toughest thing about making the transition to healthy eating is not hunger itself, (your body will sustain itself on healthy food longer than junk AND you are eating more regularly than before to speed up that metabolism,) it is the mental factor.  If you do not put in your head that cheating is NOT AN OPTION, you will do it and therefore might not reach all of your set goals.  

Looking for a diet and workout plan to jumpstart your transition to a healthy lifestyle? Contact me ASAP at britttL@hotmail.com for personal training and nutrition help! It has and will keep working for me, let me help find something that works for you!

I'm off to finish my delicious CARB LOADED baguette...mmmm...thanks for checking back and until next time-

xoxo!

Britt

PS!!! Sending yet another birthday wish to my B E A uuutiful sister Courtney who turned 21 yesterday! She is currently driving the vast expanse of Kansas to see me here in the great OKC! Love you Boo :)

We are prittaayyy!!!

Take 2!

Hello World!

Upon receiving my official title of Miss Greater Oklahoma City USA 2011, I opted to create a new blog site with a more easily followed and recognizable web address.  So here it is! September has been a fabulous month so far and as each day passes, I can feel the excitement building for the Miss Oklahoma USA 2011 pageant in November.  A few updates:

I competed in my very first fitness competition, Darrell Terrell's Total Package NPC Bodybuilding Competition and Hot Body Fitness Modeling contest and am thrilled to say I took home third place! My goal for the competition was to place so I was so excited to reach my goal.  Since my commitment to train for and compete in the show back in May 2010, I have made a total body transformation culminating in an overall weight loss of 25 lbs.  That commitment was what really opened doors for me to chase my dreams in modeling and now pageants, and I am so grateful of all of those that helped me make that life changing decision and reach my goals so far.

A special thanks to Darrell Terrell, Dawn Haffner, and each and every other kind, thoughtful, and selfless person that helped me find my true self and helped me learn to set my goals high.  Because of your efforts, my has never been better and there is nothing but blue skies ahead!

Update Number 2! I have been test shooting left and right doing my best to prepare for my long awaited interview with Kim Dawson Agency in Dallas, TX coming up in less than two weeks! I feeling nervous and excited, and after my recent fitness success, I feel like I have prepared my body, mind, and self to the best of my ability to be considered for such a prestigious modeling agency.  I will give it my best shot and after that, it is in God's hands! I trust that He will make whatever is best for me, happen for me, and in light of that truth I continue forward eager to see what He has store for me next.

I would like to thank the photographers I have so far test shot with to prepare for this and other opportunities in the future.

John Fullingim
Jordan Hendrickson
Josh Hamon
John Hazelton (Sooner JH)
Andrew Vargo
Fotoqu (Vlad)
Artworks Tulsa (Rebecca)

Also the MUA's I have thus far had the privilege of collaborating with for mine and their various projects.

Amber Coles
Ashlee Bivins
DeAndrea Daniels
Austin Greene

If you are looking for some great up and coming photographers/MUA's, I would be happy to give stellar references on any one of these individuals.

I am happy to finally take the opportunity to highlight one of my very best (not to mention very first!) sponsor companies, The Body Wrap Spalon!

At their main location in Northwest Oklahoma City on May between Britton and 63rd (across from Ted's!) Tiffany Lenox and Dana Carter as well as the rest of the fabulous women of the Spalon do an incredible job helping each and every individual that walks through their doors find and "Be your OWN kind of beautiful." This empowering phrase, which has become one of the main foundations of my run for Miss Oklahoma USA 2011, is beautifully crafted on a plaque sitting on the welcome desk as well as reflected in each and every service offered to their clients.

From a variety guaranteed inch loss slim wraps (featured on programs like the Tyra Banks Show and Doctors,) to rejuvinating facials, massages, and foot detox treatments, The Body Wrap Spalon has everything you could possibly need, want, or imagine to find and "Be your OWN kind of Beautiful."  Tiffany and Dana's dedication to "your own beauty" is evident in every elegant detail of the business including the exclusive organic slim wrap formula used.

There is never a day I don't leave the Spalon feeling better than when I walk in.  The entire staff works together for each clients success and satisfaction.  Whether you are looking to start living more healthy, tone/lose/slim, or just want a day to unwind and escape the hustle and bustle of your day to day, The Body Wrap Spalon is the place to do it.  Call today and tell them Brittany sent you!

For more information including memberships, phone number, and hours please visit www.bodywrapspalon.com.

9 weeks away from the pageant and counting! I am already in great debt to my good friends and fellow competitors Michelle Bruffett and Carolyn O'Connor for their help this far.  I am so blessed to have friends bent and determined on building you up even when you can't manage it yourself! Thank you girls.

Today I was lucky enough to meet with the beautiful and inspirational Laci Scott, Miss Oklahoma USA 2005.  She really is one of my biggest role models and I always look to her work when I need inspiration.  We enjoyed and really pleasant chat at Starbucks this afternoon about the pageant, modeling, and a few things in between! I can honestly say Laci is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the out, and I am honored to continue working and preparing with her.

Keep checking back as I continue my search for sponsors and do my best to create a winning team! Each week leading up to the pageant I will feature one of my sponsor team member's business on this blog site.  If you, your business, or anyone you may know is interested in joining me on the road to Miss Oklahoma USA 2011, please do not hesitate to contact me via Facebook or by email at britttL@hotmail.com

I look forward to working with all of you and want to thank you ahead of time for all of your unfailing efforts to help me achieve my dreams.

Until next time, do something to make somebody smile today and glorify God in all you do with all of you!

-xoxo-

Brittany