New Beginnings and Holiday Cheer!

Okay so OBVIOUSLY I haven't been blogging in a while and the last that I did, I was blogging about the Miss South Carolina Pageant. First of all let me say that it was one of the BEST experiences of my life and CONGRATULATIONS to ALI ROGERS the 2013 Miss South Carolina!!! Don't forget to go watch her compete on that Miss America Stage in January of 2013. Secondly I can't believe I have not been blogging more. There is so much on my mind that I could be blogging about on a daily basis but I guess that just means that I will be taking my computer everywhere with me more often :)

Well first of all I have had a wonderful last couple of months. I am now a professional dancer/cheerleader for the Charlotte Checkers! By the way this Blog is not affiliated with the Charlotte Checkers. If you don't know who or what the Checkers are it is the AHL Hockey team in Charlotte, NC. What an experience this has been so far! I love every but of it and the girls on the team (CHECKMATES) are so much like a family and very supportive. We practice minimum two days a week and depending on the Checkers schedule obviously we can have up to 3-4 games weekly. Now all of the Checkmates do not dance at every game. People ask me all the time when they see only 8 of us on the ice or cheering at a game. haha It is easier for the team since there are so many home games and each of us are either in college or working full-time jobs. I have had so much fun volunteering and getting our name out in the public and helping out in the community. Especially during the holiday season. People also ask what type of dancing do we do. Well, we dance to Pop, to Rock, to Hip-Hop and even Country. Yes we dance on the ice and yes it can be a little slippery at times but we make it work. So if your ever in the Charlotte area during Hockey season I highly suggest you come out and see the Charlotte Checkers, not just the Checkmates ;)

Anyways, back to the Holidays!

ummm can you believe that it is almost Christmas? Better yet, can you believe that it is almost 2013? Time is flying by its so crazy. I was looking at pictures from a couple of years ago to even just one year ago and how much I have grown as a person and the life lessons I have learned in just a few short years is mind blowing. Although there were many hard times I would never trade them for the world because that has shaped me into the woman I am today. I am still in school working on my Business degree, I have many ideas that I want to pursue and keep my options open. I am still of course working on my music career which I was given the opportunity to sing the National Anthem this past Thursday night at the Charlotte Checkers game! Thanks so my amazing coach that has believed in me since day 1. I am taking every opportunity that comes my way and staying positive which is what keeps me going strong.

Jumping to another subject since I have so much on my mind LOL I am leaving for New York this weekend and I can't wait! ahhh I have not been to the Big City in a few years and let me tell you...I MISS IT! This weather though is just crazy and I don't know how I should pack for this certain trip. So that is going to be alot of fun and something to look forward to Blog about while I am there.

This Blog def. jumped all over the place but it is a small update on a little bit of what has been going on in my crazy, beautiful life :) I will be back shortly! xoxo

Miss South Carolina Workshop Weekend

This weekend was the Miss South Carolina workshop weekend in Columbia, SC. It was so much fun and met a lot of the ladies competing. Did I mention how sweet and gorgeous they were? It is such a blessing to be competing against all of these woman and I can't wait until July. Here are a few pictures taken from the weekend and I should have more coming soon. God Bless.

All of the beautiful ladies competing as well as the gorgeous Miss South Carolina herself Bree Boyce.

From left to right: Myself, Hannah Barfield, and Megan Cammer <3

Harvest Hope

So I have been volunteering at the Harvest Hope Foodbank in Columbia South Carolina because my platform for Miss. South Carolina is feeding the hungry :) Here are a couple of pictures that I have so far...I am so excited and can't wait to help others...this has been an amazing ride so far...and state is only so far away <3

I love coloring books :)

This little girl was so cute and wanted to be a princess so I couldn't help but let her wear my sash for a second or two :)

New Beginnings

Okay so I am not gonna lie these past couple of months have been so crazy but I feel good that I have become strong enough to get through it (not without my family of course). I really proved to myself that I can do anything and the sky is the limit. Tonight when I was thinking about what to write about, a trillion things came to my mind all at once haha but I think that mainly today I feel the best because I did something that I felt I had to do and what was best for me. I am the type of person who feels she can handle anything and everything all at once and take it all on, and this whole time I kept praying and asking God what he is trying to tell me or what is he testing me on...to take on more? (I hate to say it but I was hitting the bottom pretty hard and I am a very positive and bubbly person) So I never did anything about it and I kept it up...and then I was laying in bed last night and was like if I want to do it all I have to start by doing whats best for me and not necessarily getting "rid" of anything but pausing certain things in my life. (like a second job), It got really tough for me handling everything from school to work to meetings and performances and something had to give. In my opinion Miss. York is a job and helping others is what I want to do. Singing is a job and that is one of the main and only things I know, is how to get on that stage. Going to school full-time is a job and that is also a commitment that I have made to myself that I won't stop or give up because that is something that nobody will ever be able to take away from me. So to make my long story short I put a pause on one of my jobs where I was a server. I feel like it was a great experience and I learned a lot. I can not describe the feeling I felt afterwards though knowing I was taking a long break from it, like so much weight was lifted from my shoulders. I guess it was a sign because I automatically started thinking positive again and was ready to take on the rest of my life and then I knew it was meant to happen because I got a text from my mother telling me I am singing the National Anthem for the opening of a New Wal-Mart in Charlotte NC next week. Now let me just say this THAT IS A PRETTY BIG DEAL! I was like wow I am so blessed and thankful that I went through the hard times. Some people really don't realize how great they have it. I feel like you have to go through the rough to appreciate the great because it can be taken away at any second.

Its so funny because I seriously will be driving down the road and can picture myself in music videos or even on stage singing a duet with somebody who has already made it hmmmm idkkkkk....Carrie maybe? haha All I can think about is what I can do to better myself and set a better example for my sisters and their friends and my friends and the people around me. I want to make a difference because I know that I can. I work really hard at what I do and I know what I want and go for it. I think we all get down a little bit sometimes but thats when you gotta get right back up on your feet and thank God you still have them. I am so excited about working with the Feeding the Hungry Organization you have no idea. I can't imagine what it is like to not eat for weeks or days and to know that CHILDREN or ANYBODY in general do it on a daily basis makes my stomach hurt. Which is why I am going to help in anyway that I possibly can and give to others because that is seriously what I love doing. Whether its food or clothes...anything is possible and nobody should ever NOT EAT.

I am so ready to take on what this year has to offer and striving to be the best at whatever I do. I know that I am not perfect and thats okay, but I also want to help other people realize that they can strive too and learn to think positive more :) I know I am going to have many more entries...I like this blogging thing...hopefully I will be able to reach out! The Sky is the limit, and IM shooting for the stars.

Just the Beginning...

Okay so this weekend has impacted me tremendously and now I realize what I have to do even more to get to where I want to be in life. I do love music with all my heart and it is by far my biggest passion. I am a young lady with big dreams and I won't stop until I reach my goal. I feel like 2012 will be a great year! Not only am I a singer and dancer but I am also the oldest of two sisters that are my world. I could not be doing the things I am if it were not for my family and their support as well as the true God himself. I have a long journey ahead of me and have met with many people and have performances coming up. Like I said I am very new to this whole blogging thing but I think it is a great way to reach out to the public and get involved even more and maybe find out information that I didn't know yesterday or today. God has sent me through many obstacles that have changed me as well as my life and I would not be who I am today if it weren't for those hard times. Always stay strong. I am a very positive person and strong willing. As you may know already I will be running for Miss. South Carolina in July and I am so excited, I feel like its a dream come true. I have never done anything in the pageant world before so this journey should be a great one! I am wanting you all to follow me on my journey and I will try to log in everyday and at least tell how my day went. I have a busy schedule coming up. BUT I AM SO READY FOR IT!

Carrie Underwood is such a HUGE influence on me and I can't help but look at her style and beauty and how its all put together like a package! I look up to her as a guide to show me who I want to be like and how grounded you can still stay. This is just the beginning of my wonderful journal of blogging. I will have much more to ad tomorrow. God Bless <3