Hey all!!!!

OK...I have just spent the weekend getting my act together, both in my house and with my NEW COMPUTER!!!!! Yes folks, I had to break down and buy a new computer...mine wasn't running right and it was only a matter of time before I lost everything. So....I went to the Apple Store and bought a MAC. I was really encouraged to do so as I am so technologically challenged. I have taken a couple of workshops this weekend and will bw signing up for one-on-one tutorials once my travel slows down. So far, so good...so hopefully I will be able to be much more efficient in regards to getting on and staying on the internet!!!
This is the last chance I get at organizing my home and life here as I will be traveling every weekend until after the Olympia. I am trying to limit my clients here at home until then so as not to make myself totally crazy.
I also will be competing in Atlantic City to honor MOM. Stacy agreed to let me compete as long as I have the backstage covered..for that I have hired Lena..she has worked with us before and is AWESOME!!!!!
So...back on the diet and cardio wagon as soon as I got home form TAmpa...let's see what happens right...

I have felt my mom more lately, have missed her and keep seeing beautiful butterflies everywhere....you suppose she is here????

Lightweight, Lori Steele, came to see me last night and stayed over. Seh will be going to Cleveland for the North Americans this coming weekend and she looks phenominal!!!!! You big girls better look out she is crazy looking!!! She is exhausted but that is expected...she just needs to keep her head on straight...her body is there!! You go gurl!!!!

I will be leaving Thursday and will get a chance to see Tim and Brandie as they will be there coaching Darrell Terrell in his quest for a pro card. Tim and Team Body Tech had a great showing at the Florida State...but I would expect no less!!!! Tim is da BOSS!!! Congrats to all the techers!!!!
Big shout out to Jose Santiago...not only are you a survivor you are brave....hugs!!!

OK all...go get 'um this week!
Ciao
C

I really feel like a professional athlete!! I earned my first IFBB $$$ by winning the best poser award at the Tampa Pro last night!!!! It is amazing...I never thought I would have been able to earn money as pro!!!! I'm not gonna be rich from it but it is the principal of it. I have to thank God for bringing me to this place...wihtout his grace there is no way I would have done made this achievement. With all I went through this year and the incocnsistencies in my prep it amazes me that I was able to come in looking like I did. God definately is etching my path with this success and it humbles me.

Tim really put on such a great show!!! Attention to ALL detail...in house banquest, after party, picking up the dignitaries, shuttle service, live music in the lobby, greaqt venue, flowers for all the women...the list just goes on and on...he is such a wonderful host, trainer and friend...I wish he and Brandie so much success and can NEVER thank them enough for ALL they do for me!!!!!!

Being on stqage felt so good...I didn't have the rookie jitters...I felt confident and and a total BLAST!!! I feel like I improved on my posing and the night show was so much fun!!!! I got great feed back fromt he judges and people in attendance. It has lit a fire under me to to go Atlantic City!!!! There was some dead time in between the posing routines and announcing the top 3 so they let all 10 of us have an impromptu pose down...that was fun...the big girls were dwarfing me so I went right between their legs!!!! It was a blast!!!!

The after party ended up being a blast because we were just silly and dancing...Dave won the under 202 and took third in the open. He really gave the big boys a run for their money!! Toney Freeman and Dennis James (1 2 respectively) had to really work around the GIANT KILLER!!!! Nicki, Dave, Kris, Jose , Tania and some other peeps partied at Flyods in the Hard Rock till 4 am!!! It is amazing what alittle Goose and red Bull will do for a girl!!!!!!! We haven't had that much fun after a show in a minute!!!! I also can't thank Krissy Murrell enough for being my B all weekend...she rocks and will be rocking the North American stage in 3 weeks....go Kris!!!!

I wished I could stay in Tampa for an extended period of time!!!! I so need the extra break...I will be here again soon though...the Hurricane is coming up and a wedding in Ocotber!!!!

More later...I'm cooking some rice and beans before I gotta get back on teh diet train!!!!
Peace out
C

It's a sunny day in TAmpa Bay!!!

I am getting really dry and shredded..my facelooks like a monster...I GUESS I AM READY!!!!! I move on over to the host hotel today to settle in and attend a press conference and do the last minute touches. I have soooo enjoyed my time just relazing here...it's funny that I look at what I am doing as relaxing but...it is to me...no responsibilities of home! I don't caqre if I eat or not..Ifeel still, like I should be going out to do cardio...the rituals that you develop prepping for a show and then they stop...you feel wierd...like something is missing!!

I picked up Fuoad from Canada and Dave and NIcki Henry yesterday and got them to the hotel...the boys are ready to go! Kris Murrell and I hung out and watched the season finale of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE ..congrats to Joshua the winner...he dance with such passion all season!!

My Godson humg out with me all yesterday....it was nice to be with him..he is an awesome kid and has so much going for him!!!

I got my suit from Maggie Blanchard..it's hot coral tied dyed and blinged out...it's pretty cool! Thanks MAGS!!!!

Talk to you all soon!!!
C

Good Morning!!!

It is a beautiful day in Tampa Bay...more humid than it has been and expected to be hot...just for the kick off of the inagrual Tampa Pro...Tampa's first IFBB pro show, hosted by Tim Garnder!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!

This week is just flying by....I already wished there were 2 more weeks of doing just what I am doing now..I don't care that I am hungry, thristy or a bit loopy...it feels good to have no responsibility to deal with, no stress, time to MYSELF!!!! I hope that I can do it again soon...maybe when I come back down for my friends wedding in October...I just hope I can hold out till then. It's funny...you cruise through life and don't realize how it wears on you...when you have to pay bills and be responsible you do that first and forget about relaxing and feeling peaceful...I have to find that balance somehow. I am able right now to sit back and watch those around me bustling around with their jobs...stressed, sometimes liking it sometimes not...I get scared sometimes that being alone feels so much more relaxing than bustling around....I hope I don't end up isolating myself as I age.
I dreamed about my mom last night for the first time...I think maybe it'
s just that I was FINALLY relaxed enough to see my dreams??/ Who knows...what I do know is I love this feeling.

The show...well...I am happy with how I am looking right now...I weighed in around 109 the other day so who knows...I will be LITTLE up there for sure??? Oh well...keeping it pretty , right? Althoughmy face isn't so pretty right now...all sorts of sucked out!!!
I am excited for the next few days to unfold...I already don't want them to end!!!!!

OK all.....gonna get on with it for today!!!
Peace!
C

HELLO!!!!

I am sorry I havne't been able to update this blog...I hope you are all still checking in on me....Life has been just sooo crazy since my mom passed away on 6/20. I have been prepping to competge on 8/9 at the Tampa Pro show and I guest posed at Dexter Jackson Classic on 8/2. I was in Vegas for USA"s before that to work and I have been trying to clean up and reconstruct things that have gone wrong in my house over the past 6 months while I was caring for mom.My mind was full of chaos before I got to Tampa!

I got here on my birthday 7/31...I realized that birthdays are celebrated most by mothers...it makes sense..they are the ones who gave birth and they are the ones who are truely celebrating that day...my birthday this year was just another day...there were well wishes but it was strangely different...I made me realize my mom's role for that day that I never really understood until she was gone.....celebrat4e YOUR MOM ON your BIRTHDAY!!!!

My main problem right now is that I am having problems focusing at times and I also get overwhelmed very easily. Too many things at once seems to put me over the edge, which is wierd because I have always prided myself at multi-tasking.....

People tell me this is a normal reaction to being a caretaker for so long...kind of like PTSD...my emotions are all tapped out with that and I get easily overhwlemed becasue of it??? We will see...I decided to take an extended trip to Tampa prior to my show to try to GROUND MYSELF AND REGROUP...I am actually feeling much better, just prepping for my show and not doing anything but what I want to right at the moment...only problem is that I think I may need another 2 weeks of this before I feel rejuvenated (and that isn't gonna happen!)...I am so fortunate to have friends that are like family down here to watch over me and support me!!

Vegas was OK...lot's of work, over 400 athletes but I got to see Nicki and Dave and actually felt like I clicked into my prepfor the first time. Brandie took a 5th in tall calss, which at the USA's is phenominal!!! You go gurl!
I spent some time with Kris Murrell (up and coming national level heavy wieght and all around sweet girl), and her friend Melissa. Kris is currently living in Tampa so she is helping me with my prep as well.

My godson,Chris, who just graduated from high school and is going to Temple University is down here this week with us which is a nice treat. I am so proud of him...he is a great kid with all sorts of opportunity in front of him!!!! Go Chris!! WE will be celebrating all togegther once the show is over by going to eat and to Busch Gardens on Sunday!!!! WOOHOO!!!!

The Tampa Pro is this weekend and truthfully I am jsut happy to look as good as I do with the year and inconsistent prep I have had this past 6 months...being in Tampa and at Boddy Tech with Tim right here with me is so awesome!!! I spent last weekend hanign out with Tim and Brandie and their kids in Jacksonville at the Dexter Jackson Classic (I had to gueat pose)and it was fun!!!Tim is the best...genuine, sincere, family oriented, warm, smart, always knows the right thing to say to motivate!!!! I love you Tim!!!!!!

Once this show is over I will be traveling for work every weekend until the end of September...it's gonna be a busy 2 months. I will be at: Europa(dallas) 8/16, North Americans(clevland) 8/30, Team U(new york) 9/6, Atlantic City Pro 9/13, Hurricane Bay (Tampa)8/20, Olympia (vegas) 9/27....

I will be based out of Gold's Gym West Side Monday thru WEd during these months.

I wanat to thank; Protan, Gold's Gym, West Sprinfgfield, Body Tech and Tim Gardner, Maggie Blanchard and all my friends who have been sooo supportive all this year...I also want to remember my mom...I know she is with me in my heart...I MISS YOU MOM!!!!