Spinning through life

Have you ever been the victim of bullying? I have and it’s awful. I’m not sure if I have the personality type that draws them in if that’s a thing. Or if I have it written in my eyes somehow saying be mean to me, but I have been bullied multiple times throughout my life.   I was bullied in the traditional sense in junior high for having a flat chest – jokes on them I still proudly have a flat chest. The kids used to chant at me, “Dogs bark. Ducks quack. Why is your chest as flat as your back?” I’m literally laughing as I type this because it is quite catchy. But, as a 12-year-old, who was super insecure about this issue already, I cried myself to sleep at night. As an almost 35-year-old, I still don’t need to wear a bra, so those kids can stick it. Lol. I’ve also been bullied in places that are supposed to be traditionally safe: I was a victim of child abuse both physically and emotionally by my stepmother; I was in an emotionally abusive and manipulative ...

Since I’ve gotten back into pageants and become a local titleholder again, my life has moved into the express lane. Talk about zero to sixty in five seconds.  One thing that sets you apart in this world is the crown and sash. If I’m walking around as Mrs. Capitol Hill, I can’t have my hair in a greasy bun, because I worked out and didn’t have time to wash and fix my hair before an appearance. Or if you are the unofficial hair and makeup artist for the state queen that night (ahem Mrs. DC, LOL) So, I’m in the process of learning — yes still learning, each time a little more — what works in a pinch and what is best for big events (full blowout and extensions always). My hair, as I’ve gotten older, has hit a growth limit. It never really grew much longer in reality. Maybe a few inches or so. My hair stylist speculates that this could be due to all of the heat styling that I’ve been doing. In my previous life as a communications specialist at a research center for an Oil and...

We haven’t had a vacation in well over a year, which is extremely odd for us. So, when we decided to book a last-minute beach vacation, I was pumped. Living the last ten years – and all of my adult life – in Texas, a last-minute beach vacation was almost always to Mexico and sometimes the Caribbean. But usually Mexico to Riviera Maya and on the rare occasion the Pacific Coast to Cabo or Puerto Vallarta. Being on the East Coast now, we needed to get our bearings on what actually is doable: where is easily accessible, what is affordable and what can be done quickly and easily. (I learned my lesson the hard way that Vegas is no longer a two-hour flight – it’s five and there are not many nonstop flights, except one that leaves at the crack of dawn!) We narrowed down our search to The Bahamas and Bermuda, based on proximity, cost and what we were looking for: beautiful beaches and warm weather. We discovered that The Bahamas was out this time due to costs on the last-minute bookings. S...

#IWokeUpLikeThis swept the nation a few years ago when beautiful young girls started posting selfies in full makeup in bed or with their coffee claiming to have woken up in their gorgeous, perfect state. Partially, I think they did this to make themselves feel better about whatever it is that bothers them about their own self-image. And, partially, because they are trying to intimidate other women—maybe subconsciously. I used to jokingly post on my story “I didn’t wake up like this!” Or laugh with my best friend, Katie, about how ridiculous these posts were. And I do still believe that they are just that ridiculous. However, now it’s not odd to see these posts, and I no longer make fun of them. They are the norm. What was once a viral happening has now become part of the American culture. As someone obsessed with makeup, beauty and self-care, I can definitely attest to spending way too much time in front of my makeup mirror primping and pampering myself to a fault. In ...

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been watching Miss USA since I was old enough to watch TV. I’m assuming if you’re reading this that you have as well. I had all of the pageant Barbies. In fact, the only Barbie Dolls that I deemed relevant enough to save were the pageant queens:   I found these ladies, during my last move! When I got into high school, I decided that I wanted to be a part of this mysterious world and entered my first pageant. It was a small local pageant that wasn’t a qualifier for anything. If you won, you were awarded a beautiful crown and sash and the ability to ride in parades and do appearances all around town. Without any coaching or idea of what I was doing, I placed first runner-up in that pageant!   I can’t tell you right now, nearing 20 years later, if I even thought I was going to or wanted to win when I entered. But placing first runner-up struck me in a way that I would NEVER have expected, and I can’t explain to this day! Loo...