The Mary Kay Way

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The Mary Kay Way

JUly10-5She found me on Facebook.  I didn’t know her beforehand.  Her message was simple – she was a Mary Kay consultant and wanted to use me for her makeover portfolio.  It would take about 90 minutes and I would leave with some free products.  Sure, I said.  Anything to help the community.  I took almost two months for my schedule to allow me to participate, but I finally found myself driving to the Mary Kay facility in Jtown to meet Lisa Bailey.

I was joined by a small handful of other “models” along with a room full of energetic Mary Kay consultants.  You could tell they were excited not only about representing their product, but also just about being around each other!  After being together, dancing, singing and bringing a smile to everyone’s face, all of the “models” were taken into another room.

The first thing we did was clean our face and use some of the Mary Kay cleansing and moisturizing products.  I actually really liked their lip products to help with chapped lips. We each took ‘before’ pics with our bare face.  From there, were proceeded to get a makeover.  The foundation, blush, eye shadows etc… had been perfected matched for each of us.  I was given red lipstick.  While this is a color I would never select for myself, I actually liked the way it all came together.

With our newly ‘pur-tee’ faces, we walked back out into the group.  Prizes were given out to different people.  I left wishing I had somewhere to go since I was “all dressed up with nowhere to go”.  Lisa and the other consultants were all very friendly and knowledgeable.

But here’s the thing – Mary Kay is offering “GPS” (Girlfriend Pamper Sessions) free of charge to groups of women.  All you need is three people.  They will either come to you or you can come to their location.  It only takes about 60 minutes and includes a free facial and makeover.  They provide the snacks, music, free gifts and the fun.  It’s a great way to bond with your friends and do something for you.  If you’re interested in scheduling one for your girlfriends (or even in going to a session by yourself), contact Lisa Bailey – (502) 409-9056 or lcbailey@marykay.com.

 

M.Y. July 2010

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 No Comments Please

July10-4For the first time since I started competing three years ago, I am taking a break.  It’s a much needed offseason.  Although I placed in the top five in my national shows this year, the feedback from the judges is that I needed to put on more muscle, especially in my upper body.  (They also completely hated my Lady Gaga routine, but that’s a whole different story).

So, for the first time in a long time – I get to eat a larger number of carbs. Carbs help with energy which also helps to lift heavier weights.  It should be an interesting, yet hopefully fun, process although I haven’t been successful thus far.  Last week was my first week in the offseason and I ate everything off my “temptations” list.  Maggiano’s lasagna and chocolate cake; waffles; Famous Dave’s Sausage, baked beans and apples; pretzels;  Qdoba breakfast burrito; Panera Bread muffin, Avalon lobster macaroni and grilled cheese;  Wild Eggs Creole Omelet; Red Lobster biscuits;  Zaytun’s gyro and cheese bread; Homemade Pie Kitchen Boston Cream Pie; Skyline cheese coneys; Dairy Queen Oreo blizzard ; Blue Dog Bakery muffin and bread; Southern Cravings catfish, macaroni and sweet potatoes; Red Lobster Chocolate cake; IHOP pancake breakfast and Domino’s pizza. Wow oh wow, yum uh huh!

Yes, it was all VERY good (in flavor).  Yes, I helped to support the local economy.  However, by the end of the week my stomach was poking out so far that people probably would have thought I was pregnant.  I even wore a t-shirt at the gym so people wouldn’t start spreading rumors about me.  Although it was okay for me to splurge for a week, I knew that I couldn’t maintain that eating forever.  So I’ve come up with a plan.  I will be eating more carbs, but there are healthier carbs that I should be eating.  I also must watch the portion of the carbs I eat and try to eat all of my carbs before the afternoon ends.

Most people don’t look forward to gaining weight, but I’m excited to get a slightly larger muscular frame. To put it in perspective, I generally compete at 110 lbs (which is about 10 pounds under my normal weight).  The goal is to be a solid 115 lbs on stage (which means in the offseason I’ll possibly be 10 pounds over that). Here’s the kicker – in order to gain muscle, you must gain weight – which also generally includes gaining fat.  So I may be “thicker” over the next couple of months.  If my jeans fit a little tighter or my face looks a little fuller, don’t assume something is wrong.  I may look a little more ‘phat’ than usual (for me).  Just know it’s part of the process!  Cheers to sweet potatoes, whole wheat pastas and fruits!

M.Y. July 2010

Whole Foods Drama

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Whole Foods Drama

July10-3I had just left Whole Foods with a bag full of tilapia, chicken and asparagus.  I am a regular there.  At least twice a week my face graces their aisles.  While competing, I frequent the seafood and chicken section.  When not competing, I love their turkey meatloaf, salmons burgers and health(ier) desserts.

This was a typical visit for me.   I had a friendly conversation with workers, walked through the Prepared Foods section, just to intake the smell of what they were cooking, and then checked out in the Express Lane.  I walked out of the store to the bright sun.

And then a police car pulled up in front of me.  I didn’t think I had any unpaid speeding tickets.  I don’t owe anybody child support.  I decided to mind my own business and kept moving.  I looked to my left and noticed another police car.  This was all pretty odd for St. Matthews.  I saw a man in a striped shirt talking on a cell phone standing directly to my right.  As I kept walking, the police officer walked up to the guy, and he took off running full speed.

By now, I’m halfway from the store and the location of my car in the parking lot.  The guy runs right past me as the police try to catch him.  But he was too fast.  Several other men in the parking lot start trying to chase him as well.  Although my track skills are pretty impressive, I knew I wasn’t about to test them out on Joe Blow whom I don’t know.

But I had a dilemma.  I didn’t know how this situation was going to turn out.  I didn’t know if the guy had a weapon.  Should I keep moving and run to my car or should I run back into the store?   When you’re in a situation like that, you really don’t’ have time to rationalize each option – you just act.  I stooped down and ran to my car.  In the process I saw an elderly lady with her grocery cart and I pointed at the chaos and suggested she take cover.

I knew the situation was under control when I looked (from my rearview mirror) toward the Whole Foods and groups of people were standing outside watching the drama.  Obviously the threat was at a minimum.  As I drove off, I found they finally caught the guy close to the Taco Bell.  I have no idea why the police approached him and had no interest in staying around to discover why.   I went to Whole Foods for tilapia, but left with an increased heart rate and the knowledge that although the po-po may be slow, they will track you down!

M.Y. July 2010

Burn Baby Burn

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Burn Baby Burn

July10-2We all have certain talents in life. We all have things we are passionate about.  We all have claims to fame that other people envy.  There is one area of my life where none of this applies – in the kitchen!
I don’t “throw down”.  I don’t have favorite meals that people crave.  I cook simply because I have to eat six times a day.  Everything is very basic.  I admire people like Loretta Sugg, James Bentley and the entire Palmer family women who have made some amazing dishes that made my stomach full of joy!

Four years ago, I needed to eat.  My boyfriend needed to eat.  But we were both lazy.  So, after a trip to the grocery store, the meal of the moment was decided.  It’s not delivery, it’s Digiorno.  A step down from a home cooked meal but a step up from Ramen noodles.

The pizza sat on the lower rack in the oven.   I smelled the frozen ingredients begin to cook and excitedly opened the oven to let the eating begin.  As I reached in to pull it out, I somehow forgot there was a top rack and burned my arm. It was pretty painful and pretty nasty looking.  So, now, four years later I have a mark on my forearm that is a permanent reminder of my cooking skills.

Well, you would have thought I would have learned my lesson then.  I assumed I learned my lesson. Until last week.  I had carefully weighed and cut over 15 chicken breasts weighing between 4-6 ounces.   When in competition prep, I generally cook my food a week at a time so I was happy with the meals that were to come.   The chicken was in the oven with some other protein.  As the timer went off and I took some food off the top rack, I went to move the chicken from the bottom rack up.

I should have known better.  I know that ovens are hot.  I know that oven racks are even more hot.  But that didn’t stop my arm from once again touching  the top oven rack.  I jumped as I felt the pressure.   Exactly one inch below my previous mark, I am now the owner of a new burn mark on my arm.  I think God is trying to tell me that cooking is not my calling in life – and I’m okay with that!  Or maybe he’s just telling me from now on to just cook with one rack in the oven.  Hmmmm……..

M.Y. July 2010

When Lightning Strikes

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When Lightning Strikes

July10-1It was time for my first national competition of the year.  Chicago, IL.  I had a lot of people on my side predicting that I would win my height class and turn pro.  All 25 fitness competitors were backstage warming on.  The first woman was lined up to perform – and then the lights went out.  A storm with 70 mph winds swept through the city.  We were without electricity with over 300,000 other people.  No tv or radio for updates.  No clue as to how long, or even if, it would be until we would compete.

For the next hour and forty minutes myself and the other competitors sat backstage and took the time to get to know each other.  And then out of nowhere, the bright lights came back on.  They asked us if we wanted to warm-up again on stage, but some women said “no, let’s just go”.  I hate to jinx myself at shows, so I usually don’t watch the competitors that go ahead of me.  On this day – it was a bad idea.

I sat in the dark for an extended amount of time, I never looked at the stage before going on.  When it was my time to perform and as my music started playing, I stood on the stage and couldn’t see a thing.  My eyes hadn’t adjusted to the change of light.  I just had to wing it.  As I walked off the stage, I knew I didn’t perform my best routine.  I was disappointed in myself.  It was a good routine, but not the great routine that I knew I would need to win.

And I let that get me down.  I wanted to win.  People expected me to win.  There were some amazing competitors there and I assumed that I would place 3rd.  But when the awards were presented, I ended up placing 5th.  I was so disappointed and frustrated and thought about just hanging up my competition shoes for awhile.

The day I was contemplating what to do, I received this great email message from OnyxLouisville reader Margaret Davis.  “You may have had some unfair things happen, things that you don’t understand; but let me tell you, you have come too far to stop now. Instead of allowing those things to hold you back, why don’t you let go and take a step of faith into the new? It’s time to get a new, bigger vision; it’s time to get a new, fresher outlook; it’s time to rise up with a new attitude! Instead of settling where you are, pick up and move forward. Have the attitude that says, “I may not understand it; it may not have been fair, but I am not getting stuck on this page. I know God has a new chapter for me-a chapter filled with blessings, favor and victory!” Her email was related to something completely different, but it was just what I needed to read at just the right time.  We need to quit dwelling on the past and what ‘could have been’ and instead stay focused on the opportunity that will exist in our future!  Thank you Margaret for helping put it all in perspective!

M.Y. July 2010

Bling Blang Thang

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Bling Blang Thang

June10-4Thanks for all of the great responses on what you would have done in the “ex-bling” situation.  I will admit that it definitely took me off guard since it just came randomly out of the blue.  I had various thoughts run through my head.  The first one was to completely ignore the message since I felt that if he truly wanted it back that he would call and ask me for it.   But, unfortunately, my patience wouldn’t let me go more than an hour without feeling as if I should respond.  Didn’t know how to respond, but I did know that I needed to respond.

I first had to think about the necklace and what value it had to me.  I haven’t worn the necklace all year.  I don’t even think about it.  It’s tucked away in the back of a drawer.  It was a very nice gesture on his part while we were together, but I really feel zero sentimental value to it.  However, it was appraised for several hundred dollars and several weeks ago I had considered pawning it so I could upgrade some other jewelry.   I also realized that the way he treated this situation was the way he reacted in other situations in our relationship, which is why I knew he wasn’t my end all be all.

Now, I will admit that, like everyone else, I am no angel.  If you catch me on a day that I have little carbs in my system, I take no responsibility for what I say.  Unfortunately, he caught me on one of those days.  I emailed him the following:   “Right after we broke up I met this amazing guy. I didn’t want to give him a chance because it was ‘too soon’. But I gave it a chance and found how true love should feel.  I found a relationship full of love and void of petty actions.  I don’t know what our future holds, but I enjoy each day he and I spend together. We are headed out of town and then I have a competition. Once I get settled again, I can search for the chain and mail it to you.”  And that was that.

The real ironic thing about the entire situation is that this year for my birthday I received a bracelet from my current boyfriend.  It was too big so he had to have some links removed.  The day he got the bracelet back, was the day I received the email from the “ex”.  Since I tell him any and everything, I shared the story with him.  We both laughed about it.  He assured me that his present was a permanent gift and there was no return policy whatsoever. The only thing I had to do was ‘handle with care’.  Sometimes you just need small reminders to value the treasure the sits in front of you.  Love is definitely more valuable than silver, gold or diamonds.

M.Y. June 2010