OK Mozart

Tomorrow evening I will attend an OK Mozart concert in Tulsa with Sasha Townsend, one of my fellow competitors in the Mrs. Oklahoma Pageant.  I am so looking forward to meeting her.  We have communicated via Facebook over the past several weeks, so it'll be great to finally meet her in person!

OK Mozart (www.okmozart.com) is an annual festival and concert series that began in my hometown of Bartlesville, OK.  It has grown immensely over the years, and now they are also doing concerts in Oklahoma City and Tulsa!  This will be a great opportunity to meet some new people and talk to them about MENC, the National Associate for Music Education.  MENC is the national platform for the Mrs. America Pageant (www.menc.org).

Pageant Progress

It is way past time for a new blog!  I have been very busy over the past two months working on raising money to cover all of the pageant expenses.  That is almost a full-time job!  Now that I have taken care of all of my deadlines, I will be able to focus on keeping my supporters updated!  I am now focusing all aspects of pageant preparation; working on hair and makeup, getting my wardrobe together, brushing up my interview skills, educating others about health and fitness (which I would be doing even if I wasn't in a pageant), and spending as much time as I can with my family!  This has been such an amazing adventure.  I have met so many wonderful women along the way.  I always had preconceived notions about what a 'pageant girl' was, and couldn't have been more wrong!  The women I have met are intelligent, generous, kind, and truly want to make a difference in the world around them.  I am honored to be associated with all of them!  This has been an experience that I never thought I would be a part of--but am so glad my supportive husband encouraged me to go for it!  Regardless of the outcome next month, I have grown so much and will definitely continue on this path. 

Facebook Fan Page

I have reached and surpassed the 400-fan mark on my Facebook Fan Page.  If you haven't seen it yet, please check it out!  My friends recruited their friends, and I was amazed at how quickly it grew.  I have been giving a Fitness Tip of the Day each day (with occasional exceptions).  It has been a lot of fun to share what I have learned over the past several years with other people.  I think a lot of the time, people know what they need to do to get healthier, but sometimes they just need some encouragement!  And boy, can I encourage!  :-)  If I even help one person to overcome their battle, then I will consider that a complete success.  Christ has given me such a passion to help other people.  I think I get as much out of it as they do, if not more!  I pray that if any of you are having struggles with health and fitness, whether it be knowing how to cook, or which way to exercise, please let me know, and I will do my best to help you.

New Sponsors!

I have been so busy working on sponsorship that I haven't blogged much lately.  Time to catch up!  First off, thank you to all of my new sponsors:

• Two Sisters Accessories (in Quail Springs Mall)--they will be providing my jewelry for the pageant
• Dillard's in Sooner Fashion Mall, Norman, OK
• Dr. J. Gregory Cox--my OB/GYN; I have been going to him for almost ten years now!  He delivered Katie, took excellent care of us, and I just think the world of him! (www.oklahomacityobgyn.net)
• Stacie at SJordan Designs--graphics artist who will design my ads for the pageant (www.sjordandesigns.com)
• Mom and Dad Gibson
• Mom and Dad Flint
• The Sechrest Family
• The Hindman Family
• My former co-workers at General Builders Supply (www.generalbuilders.net)
• The Blankenship Family
• Dr. Brant Worthington
• Alicia Tolbert
• Michelle Byte
• WilPower International
• Brandy Price
• The Doughty Family
• Thomas De la Cerda
• Darla Maynard

I have been blown away by your support, and I hope you know just how much I appreciate all ofyou!  I hope to make you all VERY proud next month! 

Tom's Formalwear

I contacted Tom's Formalwear recently about being one of my sponsors for the Mrs. Oklahoma Pageant.  Although the pageant falls right during Prom season, they graciously agreed to provide Ben's tuxedo.  Ben will be my escort on stage, and will look SO handsome!  We went and picked out the tuxedo and got his measurements already.  A special 'thank you' to Shannon at Tom's Formalwear for helping us out.  You were great!

Ice Storm

We've been warned about bad weather looming in the forecast for a while now.  I quickly dismissed it, thinking that like last year, absolutely nothing would happen.  This morning, though, as the precipitation began and the temperature started to drop, I realized that we were, indeed, going to be shut in for at least a day or two.  My awesome husband went and bought a generator this morning to ensure that we can at least run our refrigerator and space heater if we should lose power.

Most people dread this kind of weather.  I am one of the strange ones that secretly looks forward to it.  I love being shut in.  I love the unplanned extra time with my husband.  I inevitably begin organizing and sewing.  I catch up on housework, and think about baking, but try to talk myself out of it.  Sometimes I even get a nap (although not today; too much caffeine on board).

This time around, in addition to the things previously mentioned, I also have time to think about the upcoming pageant, determine what steps I need to take next to get ready, and catch up on my blog.  Ever since I decided to compete in this pageant, it seems like each day passes faster than the previous day.  I get more and more excited about representing my city, and look forward to the challenges that lie ahead.  I have already grown so much just in the past few weeks; getting out of my comfort zone is something I have been doing a LOT lately...and no end in sight!  Although I don't like being uncomfortable, the feeling of accomplishment that follows that is priceless, and totally worth it.

Today, though, I am completely IN my comfort zone.  My husband and daughter are both here with me, and we're all safe and warm.  God is good.  :-)

Tans, Etc.

Thank you to my newest sponsor, Tans, Etc.!  Owners Jeff and Krissy Henderson generously agreed to sponsor me for the upcoming Mrs. Oklahoma Pageant.  Krissy, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and look forward to working with you over the coming months!

Tans, Etc. is located on Douglas Blvd, just north of SE 29th Street.  They are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the week, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.  They have a cozy atmosphere, clean beds, great music, and excellent customer service, so if you live in this area, you have to give them a try!

Toastmasters

I have been wanting to join Toastmasters for a few years.  After taking speech in college, teaching high school for two years, and going through Air Force Officer Training, I am fairly comfortable speaking in front of other people.  But there is always room for improvement.  After entering the Mrs. Oklahoma Pageant, I decided (along with the advice of the current Mrs. Oklahoma, Heather Rouba) that this would be the perfect opportunity to join and get some more experience.


I got on the Toastmasters website, found a group that meets only a few blocks away from my home, and last night, I went to my first meeting!  I left the house so excited but a little nervous, wondering what it was going to be like.  Would they make me stand up and speak my first night?  I figured they would probably have me stand up and introduce myself, and maybe say why I had decided to come to Toastmasters, so I was prepared for that.  But as it turned out, they take it pretty easy on new guests--they probably don't want to scare them away too fast!

They gave me the option to speak about thirty minutes into the meeting during the Table Topics portion of the meeting.  They ask a question, and you are supposed to speak for two minutes about that topic.  I accepted.  I only spoke for 37 seconds.  I didn't know you were supposed to use up the whole two minutes, or I'm sure I would have thought of more to say!  I'll know next time. :-)

Overall, it was a wonderful and only slightly uncomfortable experience.  I enjoyed meeting the members, and look forward to going again next week!

My Platform

I am a fitness and nutrition buff, but it hasn't always been that way.  Ten years ago, I was happy sitting on the couch in my spare time, eating 'convenience foods' and getting a headstart on the middle-age spread.  I didn't like the direction I was heading.  It occurred to me that if I continued in that pattern, even just gaining one pound a month, I would put on an additional fifty pounds in just a few short years!  I started educating myself on how to eat right, and eventually added in exercise, too.  I changed one habit at a time, which made it almost easy to do.

I have developed a true passion for teaching others how to drastically improve their lives just by changing a few habits.  Healthy eating and exercise reduces hypertension, bad cholesterol, keeps diabetes in check or eliminates it altogether, and can improve depression--and that's just a few of the things it can do!  Teaching others that it's not difficult and not as intimidating as it seems is something that is so rewarding--and easy enough to do anywhere!

As Mrs. Oklahoma, and later as Mrs. America, I look forward to teaching men, women, and children that they are Free To Be Fit.  By taking baby steps as I did, they will lead happier, healthier lives.

Sponsors

This week, I really started working on sponsorship for the Mrs. Oklahoma Pageant.  There are only about three months remaining until the pageant, so procrastinating is not an option!

I contacted Caroline Hayworth about  being my photographer for the Mrs. Oklahoma Pageant.  She quickly agreed, and will be doing my headshots, as well as any other photography that I need in preparation for the pageant.

My friend Anna Walcher, who has done my hair for years, enthusiastically agreed to be my hair sponsor for the pageant. 

Thank you, Caroline and Anna--I know I am in great hands!

It's Official!

It's a new year, and with this new year will come an abundance of new experiences.  One of my biggest experiences this year will be competing for the title of Mrs. Oklahoma in April.  I officially entered the competition yesterday, and am so excited for everything I will learn on this new journey!


In preparation for the pageant, I have so much to do!  I am currently contemplating my platform, assessing my wardrobe needs, thinking about possible sponsors, and just enjoying all the excitement of doing something totally new! 

Today, my main focus has been getting back on track with clean eating and exercise.  Those who know me are aware of my passion for health and fitness.  So getting back to eating right after a week or two of indulging in Christmas goodies is a very welcome change.

I will keep this initial blog entry short, but before I sign off, I would like to thank my husband and Mrs. Oklahoma 2009, Heather Rouba, for all their support and encouragement up to this point.