Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Arnolds Sports Festival 2012!


Hey Everyone!

Here it is... the rest of my recap from the Arnolds!

Friday Day 2 was our day to check out the expo. I was so excited to see everything and everyone!
I knew it was going to be busy there but… WOW!!! Now I'm a people watcher and one of those crazies that enjoys crowded Christmas shopping etc. so this was just plain FUN!

I was completely blown away at how diverse the crowd was! I was a little intimidated when preparing to go to the Arnolds... was I going to "fit in" or look like I don't belong there at all?! I know, it sounds crazy but those were the things that ran through my head leading up to the weekend. 
Needless to say, I was so excited to see so many different people from hard core body builder types to those that looked more like runners and yoga buffs :) 
Then there were people that looked like I used to... men and women that were overweight and much "softer". These people inspired me! Why? Because I know how terrified I was to go into a gym for the first time... let alone one of the biggest sport/fitness shows in the world!


Speaking of diversity, the booths were just as different as the crowds!!! Obviously there were amazing clothing booths and supplements but also vegan/vegetarian lines, products to organize food etc. gym bags and gear the list goes on and on! There was even a guy selling roofing supplies?! lol


If the crowd and booths weren't enough to keep me entertained I actually got to catch the pre judging for Ms.International Fitness and Figure! WOWZA!!!
These women looked incredible...It was pretty cool to see!


I even got to have my photo taken with the beautiful Ava Cowan! :D

Wow... I need a tan! lol 

Day 2 of the Arnolds ended with a trip to a local club... nothing more needs to be said about that... except I had a ton of fun dancing!  ;)


From L: Me :), Nancy Barbosa Alaimo(finally in front of the camera lol) and Lauren Fazio
just before the dancing started!!!



Day 3

I was so excited to start day 3 bright and early! It began with a trip to the host hotel to get Sandra "Coach Compton" ready for her day with BeautyFit Inc. at the LoneStar Nutrition booth!

Once again, video genius Derek was in tow, ready to capture all the action and possibly blackmail material! :P lol 
After getting Sam ready, we all headed down for breakfast with the BeautyFit team... Mr. BeautyFit himself Jimmy Mentis, Sam "Coach", John and Sophia. I honestly can't tell you enough how much I ADORE my BeautyFit family just straight up good people!


So after changing... and missing Mr.Arnold himself :(  Derek and I headed back to the expo to see the BeautyFit booth and get some video footage... at least that's what was supposed to happen! lol


We get to the the LoneStar distribution booth where BeautyFit is stationed and its a MAD HOUSE!!! Mr. BeautyFit (Jimmy Mentis) gets us behind the booth to save us from the crowd, I finally get to meet fellow "BeautyFit blogger" IFBB Pro Stephanie Billings, give Sam a hug...  and then it happens... I feel at "home"!!! I feel like I actually belong here... as part of the BeautyFit Family. 
It's so busy that I start handing out samples and catalogues and talking to people about the great products... talking to people that reminded me of "me" less than 2 yrs ago. Women were flocking to the booth to see what we were about... what made us different? 
I found myself telling my story about training with "Coach Compton" doing what she told me, the BeautyFit Values and showing my before and after photo. I was blown away by the response!
Jimmy stopped me at one point and asked what I was doing lol I thought I was in "trouble"... I said "helping" and he just laughed and told me to keep doing what I was doing :P


In the meantime... Derek and his video camera are in prime location to get kick a$$ footage for him to work his magic with! 


Me, IFBB Pro Stephanie Billings, Sandra "Coach Compton"

Derek "video genius", Sam (Sandra) and Me!


We finished up at Lone Star... got some much deserved coffee and sat down to chill with the crew!
The rest of the day was spent pretty low key... chilling at the hotel, getting Sam ready for her evening meetings, having dinner and great conversation and getting ready for the next day at the booth!!!




Day 4


The last day of the Arnolds  : (
Our day started out much the same... get Sam ready (hey, I'm a MUA... it's what I love to do!) lol
Meet the BF family for breaky and get to the expo! But this time I was prepared to represent! :)


Steph and I in BeautyFit RED!!! :)



And the weekend wouldn't be complete without...


a pic with my Coach ; )


Once again the booth was buzzing with amazing women wanting to know all about BeautyFit!

Unfortunately, like all good things, this too had to come to an end.

HOWEVER!!!

When you travel with your own movie man (i.e. Derek) you get the killer bonus of a kick a$$ video recap!!!

So... here it is! ENJOY!!!

Until Arnolds 2013... I'll be back hugs (in Arnolds voice) ;) 

-Crystal :) xo










Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Day 1 at the Arnolds!!!


Hey Everyone!

I am so excited to tell you all about my amazing time at the Arnolds Sports Festival weekend!



There are so many reasons this trip was special to me, that I am finding it hard to focus for just one blog lol (doesn't sound like me at all huh?!) 
Soooo… having said that, be prepared for this to "Be Continued".


Just some insight on myself, I love road trips! When the chance came up to go to the Arnolds with some of my favourite people… I was NOT about to say no! 
Our road trip crew consisted of Sandra "Coach" Compton, Derek "video genius" Montalbetti, myself and a whole lot of Pitbull CD's (much to Derek's dismay lol). How could this NOT be a total BLAST?!?! : ) Well, let me tell you… we had SO much fun driving to Columbus that I completely forgot to take any photos!!! :( 
Good thing we had our favourite video guy with us to document our weekend and antics! : P
Can't wait to post those for you all!

In the meantime...


I had been wanting to go the Arnolds for a couple years now, to see what it was all about. When you start hitting the gym, training and being surrounded by "fitness people" you can't help but be curious about the one of the biggest shows in the industry!

Being part of the BeautyFit family has been such a blessing in so many ways. Not only has it given me the BEST coach/friend a girl could ask for but it has allowed me to meet amazing women (and men) from so many walks of life. From figure and bikini competitors to "everyday" women like myself that struggle with weight and health issues. This trip to the Arnolds was going to give me the chance to meet some of these women that, until recently, were a name and photo on Facebook, Twitter or a blog.


Now add the fact that I'm a MUA and work with fitness competitors/models and this trip has just become that much cooler!!!.
I now have the opportunity to see and meet so many of the same female athletes that grace the covers of so many magazines, up close and ready to go onstage!

Soooo stoked!!! 

So here is the first pic of me in Ohio! lol

(Arnolds crew #2 lol at Smokey Bones BBQ in Grove City OH... From left Tony Alaimo, Lauren Fazio, ME lol and Derek Montalbetti... behind the camera as usual... Nancy Barbosa Alaimo!)

My first night in Ohio was spent eating with great company (above) and having 2 drinks (I'm NOT a big drinker) but the drink of choice was called a "Skinny Redheaded Hottie"!!! SO I had to have one... then a second! lol

I'll leave you at day one cause day two and three are super exciting!!!

Til next time...

Skinny Redheaded Hottie hugs... Crystal : ) xo