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

Feel the fear... and do it anyway!!!

Hi Everyone!

Many of you may know that besides being a blogger for BeautyFit Inc. my full time profession is as a makeup artist.

In my industry I work in so many different realms with all types of people from brides to actors, models to fitness competitors. But no matter the client or job, one thing is always the same... I'm BEHIND the scenes! lol

So when the opportunity arises for me to be in front of the camera or a large group of people, my first reaction is to avoid and shy away from the experience!
This was especially true when I was at my heaviest... oh the chances and experiences I missed out on because I was so worried about how I looked and what others may think of me.

I am still very apprehensive of being in front of the camera lol (the fact that 2 of my closest friends are photographers makes this especially difficult!!!)
So you can imagine my thought process when confronted with the reality of going onstage to present awards at the OPA London Championships... as one of their major sponsors... YIKES!!!

BUT... as the title says and I'm learning very quickly about SO many things... it's OK to be afraid!!! Feel the fear, embrace it, and DO IT ANYWAY!!!
I know, for me, I'm done passing up opportunities because of fear!

Here we are with the Overall Figure winner!

And here is the presentation to the Overall Bikini winner (oohhhh... recognize BeautyFit Inc' s very own Sandra Compton ;)

And here we are... having a photo op at the booth!

(from left...)

Nancy Barbosa Alaimo, Lauren Fazio, Katie Lesperance, Sandra Compton and Me :)

What did I learn from all this? Well, I went up onstage and didn't get laughed off! lol I didn't feel out of place AND I had FUN!!! Who knew?!?! lol

Til next time... 

Feeling free Hugs... Crystal :) xo