Chocolate on a High Protein Diet? Yes!

When discussing what I wanted to write about this month with one of the RCH editors, we talked about chocolate, and she was surprised when I said I would be happy to share a recipe. "You mean you can eat that while training?!"

Challenge on!!

During my prep for a body building competition, I was eating SUPER lean, no sugar, and high protein. But, that doesn’t mean my sweet tooth went away!

One night, in total desperation, I mixed cocoa powder with Stevia and water in a tiny Tupperware container, the size used to store a serving of dressing for salad.

I placed it in the freezer to solidify, and decided it was just like ice cream…. To my ice cream starved brain, at least - ha!

Then I really started thinking, how can I make this more beneficial: uh, duh, PROTEIN!

You see, me and protein go way back. So, I played around with the liquid, using egg whites in place of water.

Egg whites are a great super bland base that absorbs the flavors of whatever is added to it.

As I played, I got more creative with toppings, too. This is one of my favorite desserts even now, even after the reintroduction of a little bit of ice cream.

Chocolate Protein Mousse with Peanut Butter Topping

Mousse:
4 oz pasteurized egg whites
2 tbs pure cocoa powder
2 tbs sugar-free fat free Chocolate Pudding Mix
2 packets Stevia

Peanut Butter Topping:
2 tbs powdered peanuts (I usually use PB Fit, but used a different brand this time)
2 tbs water
2 packets stevia (or 3 of you want it sweeter!)

For each layer, it's super simple, just combine all ingredients, and mix. I use a small whisk and mix until blended smooth.

Mix the chocolate protein mousse first, then place it in the freezer for the few minutes it takes to mix the peanut butter frosting. Take the mousse out of the freezer and slowly pour the frosting all over to evenly coat and cover the mousse.

Place in the freezer again until cool, about 10 to 15 minutes, and devour!!

18g protein
24 g net  carbs
2 g fat

Side Note:
Again, in the name of experimentation, I have added PB Fit to non-fat plain Greek Yogurt, or just the plain Greek yogurt with a packet of Stevia for a cheesecake-like tang.

I have not yet attempted other concoctions, but I am thinking about how to incorporate Almond extract, and Walden Farms sugar/fat/calorie free caramel or chocolate syrups into this protein packed dessert.

I would love to know if you try this, and how you change it up and personalize it!! Definitely let me know!

Preparing for a Fitness Competition

I have watched some of my friends enter into bikini and physique competitions; some placed well, two even won their pro cards, and overall first place. I found they are all brave, and inspiring, and driven women.

I've wanted compete to but definitely never could. Nope not me! I did however do the "bikini exercises" and "bikini diet" with some of them for a while - eating like this 5 times a day:

1 Herbalife shake, 2 sugar free Herbalife protein drinks called Bev Mix with almonds, and 2 meals consisting of chicken or turkey, 1/3 cup green veggie, and 1/3 cup brown rice.

The exercises on that challenge are a variation of 300 crunches, and 400 legs lift variations. Abs and bootie, baby!

I definitely saw results, but did not stick to the diet, as I was not ready to commit to a competition.

When you know there is an end goal with a specific date to get there, it is easier to not have treats staring you in the face! 80% of the results seen are from diet.  Have you ever heard abs are made in the kitchen? So true!

Doing that challenge changed my mind about what I could do.  Just a few months ago, I discussed the idea with my husband, and decided I was ready to train for a competition.

Kari, Missy and I, getting ready to take over the gym at Jon Andersen's Training Performance Complex.

Kari, a friend of mine, had decided to compete, and asked me to join her. I talked to her about my cousin Missy, who had also mentioned an interest.

Misery loves company. Just kidding! Surrounding yourself with like minded, determined women is definitely the way to go!

We met with Kari's personal trainer, Strongman Jon Andersen, at his training facility, Jon Andersen's Training Performance Complex.

He explained that he would create a personalized meal plan, based on our individual needs, an exercise plan that changes weekly, and provide us daily accountability.

The training facility is really the foundation of knowledge for this journey.

My awesome trainers, coaches and mentors: Jon Andersen and his wife Terri Smethers.

We were asked to send in a scale picture every morning. Based on the scale, and our description of how well we stick to our meal plan and water consumption, Jon will tweak the meal plan.

He answers every question we have in person or via text, and is incredibly mediating - every morning he tells me that I am doing a great job, and helps me get over my self doubt with encouraging words, and actions to take.

This started the beginning of April, 2017!

I started this specific journey to train for a competition feeling terrified and excited.

Jon had me eating this 5 times a day:

Meal 1- egg whites, Greek yogurt, almond butter
Meal 2-  Herbalife protein shake
Meal 3- Steak, chicken breast, or turkey, green veggies - specifically broccoli, asparagus or Brussels sprouts.
Meal 4- Herbalife protein shake
Meal -5 chicken breast, green veggie

Getting off of sugar was something I had only ever done for a two week span and just a few times - there were withdrawals (yeah, sugar is a drug!).  At this point, I don’t even miss it!

Foreign Gym Language!

Seriously, stevia, Splenda, and especially sugar free maple syrup are by besties.

The exercises were a foreign language to me at first. The white board that they are written on looked like Greek, mixed with trigonometry.

5 exercises are created each week, each focusing on different muscle groups, and can take up to two hours to complete.

Rigorous, strenuous, and incredibly effective.

The exercises started out with moves that I was familiar with, even if I had not done them prior to training. Exercises such as dead lifts, bench presses, lunges, bicep curls, pull ups, etc.

All of these exercises are still part of the routine, but some crazy moves have been added in. I swear, once I learned to decipher the language of exercise though, it has changed! 

All new exercises that hurt my brain to figure out (just until I get it!) and hurt my body (in a good way).

They are so much more intense, thank you Terri! Terri is Jon's wife, also a personal trainer and a physique competitor.

Some of the more intense and interesting exercises are:

Superman Angels - lying on floor, lift legs using glutes to hold, and raise arms off ground hands raised above head, like flying in the sky as Superman does, this is the starting position. Then do the motion of a jumping jack, or like making a snow angel, just on your belly. Keep arms and legs raised high the whole time - 50 reps, 5 times.

Superman Angels with added organic weight.

Belly band row - while lying on your belly, grasp a band with handle, arm extended above head. Pull band down horizontally along floor as far down as you can go. keep tension on the band all the way down, and up, going slow to feel every bit of it. 15 rows per arm, 5 times. So good, so hard!

Belly Band Row

I have been going to Jon's training facility one day a week, working out at Kari's or at home the rest of the time, and sticking to the strict meal plan.

Many days I miss carbs, and when I am stressed I miss sugar.

I have learned to figure out eating out - that was a really hard one to navigate at first.

If I keep it to a plain salad with chicken (basically lettuce, or if I'm lucky, spinach and chicken), or steamed veggies and a lean protein, I am good to go.

Thai Chicken Salad from Extreme Pizza. No wontons, orange slices, sliced carrots or onion. Add spinach, broccoli and mushrooms. Oh and no dressing, of course!

I have learned I need to be very specific though with the server. Steamed veggies, or grilled with no oil, and NO sauce on my bison burger at BJ's Brewhouse!

My meal plan has evolved two more times in the past few months.

Now I eat 6 times a day, depending on my scale reading and what Jon tells me. I eat every 2.5 to 3 hours, and have to add in fiber for digestive regularity. I have learned to love sugar free orange flavored store brand Metamucil!

This is how my meals look now:

Meal 1: (my favorite meal EVER!!)
non-fat plain Greek yogurt, egg whites. If I get a serving of fat I add almond butter.
Meal 2: chicken*, green veggie
Meal 3: protein shake
Meal 4: chicken, green veggie
Meal 4: egg whites
Meal 5: chicken, green veggie
Meal 6: chicken, green veggie

*The chicken is interchangeable with turkey, or white fish.

Amount of each food is specific to individuals needs, so I am not adding that in.

Tilapia with Green Beans in Soy Sauce

When I get fancy, I will make a protein fiber cake - and use the other half serving I get of fat in the form of almond butter as "frosting":

Protein Fiber Cake with Almond Butter "Frosting"

1/2 cup water, more or less to make cake batter consistency
1 serving protein powder
2 rounded tbsp fiber
1 tbps unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder

Mix well, microwave in very large mug  for 30 seconds (baking powder makes it expand). This creates a very moist, soft fudge like consistency, and is ridiculously delicious - depending on the protein powder. They are not all created equally!

(As a side note Walden Farms makes 0 calorie, sugar free, fat free caramel and chocolate syrups that are fantastic, and definitely fit into my meal plan!)

I have found that I prefer to drink my egg whites, rather than cook them most of the time. It is quicker, and easier, and I can make it taste like dessert.

If you had asked me when I started this if I would drink egg whites, I would have looked at you with a stink eye. But, the liquid egg whites are pasteurized, so safe to drink, and are just about tasteless. 

I add 2 packets of Splenda, and maybe 1/2 tsp of sugar free, fat free pudding mix - cheesecake and butterscotch are my faves right now.

I am super lazy, so I just pour the egg whites in a mason jar (it has measurements on the side - again, lazy), pour the Splenda and pudding mix in, and whisk. If the same ingredients are blended with some ice it is awesome… but then you have to clean the blender, and….well, I'm lazy.

(Another way to eat egg whites is by making my delicious Cinnamon Clouds!)

I find it is important to meal prep whenever possible.

I love to grill everything - throw it on and forget about it until it's time to remove from the grill. Pink sea salt, pepper, and garlic go on everything, and I am good!

I grill up extra chicken, or an extra turkey burger (the premade Kirkland Signature from Costco are amazing, and more cost effective than the ground turkey). The turkey burger is by far the easiest as you can grill from frozen.

When the hubby is cooking, I just have to remind him sometimes to not put BBQ sauce, or cheese on my burger. He is getting much better about remembering not to!

Meal planning is not just making several meals and having them ready to go in Tupperwere in the fridge, but planning out your day. You have to know when you need to eat by, and if you will have access to a refrigerator or a microwave.

If the answer is no to the fridge, I will freeze my protein shake. Then it acts as the ice I need to keep meals cold, and by the end of the work day it is thawed and still cold.

I rarely microwave anything anymore. I eat chicken or turkey cold with a plastic fork, or fingers. I really don’t care. I am all about the ease of eating when I need to.

If I do have access to a fridge, I will reuse my shaker cup to have a serving of fiber mid day. Again, easy and less dishes make me a happy girl.

The last thing I want to write briefly about as it comes to preparing for a competition is the emotion that goes into it all. 

There are days I do not want to work out, because I am tired, or I just am not motivated to do it.

I don’t get to all 5 workouts every week. After all, I do still work full time, managing in retail, which means full time can often be 50 hours a week.

And there still needs to be time to see my family and sleep!

And there are days I REALLY WANT POPCORN!! Or lasagna, or ice cream.

But then I think about the goal I have, and know this is not forever. I have to remind myself "abs are made in the kitchen", and I am better.

But there are days that I am not sure this is all worth it. 

There are times when going out I have not planned properly and have had to skip a meal, or purchase a protein bar or protein shake on the road, having to pay very close attention to the nutrition info - making most readily available foods unacceptable.

And there have also been arguments about the lifestyle changes, and the time commitment this has taken.

Talking about doing a competition and kind of eating a meal plan or sometimes working out, and truly preparing for a competition are two very different animals.  This has understandably been very hard for my husband and me to see eye to eye on.

Pull ups to fail.

There is still so much more that go into preparing for the competition that I have not done yet, like getting the bikini, shoes and accessories.

Like getting orange, I mean tan, and then finding a foundation to match. (yes, this matters!)

Like taking posing classes, to learn how to stand on stage and platform myself on stage.

I will have to do a follow up blog to let you know about my experience with these, and anything else that comes up!

In the mean time, wish me luck, and wish me a six pack. That sucker is alluding me! Heck, even a two pack would be cool! Its coming, just hiding still - only a few more weeks!

I have been logging my workouts and progress on Instagram, noting all the changes I am now seeing weekly. feel free to follow!

To learn more about Jon Andersen's training visit http://getprotrained.com/.

My Journey into Fitness

I remember literally crying to my friends at a party just after high school ended,  "This is what 130 lbs *really* looks like!" as I pouched out my stomach, and felt depressed about myself (while drinking another beer).

I remember wishing I could be 130lbs again, knowing that I would feel so much better about it.

I remember quitting smoking a few years later, giving myself permission to gain weight. 40lbs later,

I was done smoking- for me 180lbs was equivalent to a size 15/16. Not what I was used to seeing in the mirror!

I remember having non stop headaches, and no sleep due to sleep apnea.

I remember wanting to get to a healthier place, and not knowing how.

About 4 years ago, I had a few health issues - mainly recurring headaches and migraines, but also very low energy and a lacking ability to get good sleep. I wanted to get to a healthier place so that I could have a baby. I have written about my experience trying to get pregnant. That is really where it all started.

I had a phone appointment with my doctor to discuss what I needed to do to be healthy enough to have a baby. I brought up my health concerns, and asked if I should be tested for allergies. 

Instead I was told to lose 40lbs minimum to be at 140, and get tested for sleep apnea. It turns out that was one of the root causes of most of my health issues. Later I found that I also have hypothyroidism, which also leads in to easier weight gain.

Shortly after the doctor appointment I was invited by my best friend Noella to get a smoothie following a workout we had just done. 

We went to Live it up Wellness, which is an Herbalife nutrition club in Santa Rosa, CA. They gave me aloe, tea and a shake that tasted like mint chocolate chip ice cream. They explained to me about how all the shakes are 200 calories or less, have all the nutrition my body needs, and will help me to lose weight, and gain energy.

They were right. It literally changed my life.

The club hosted a free 4 week boot camp exercise classes that I decided to join. I had so much fun exercising, and getting stronger!

When I went to sign up for the second session of boot camp, I became a coach, and an Herbalife distributor. I wanted a discount on the shakes, and I wanted to help others to feel the way I did.

I was having so much fun and seeing consistent positive results - losing inches, and weight! I was drinking  2 shakes a day, having 1 colorful meal and snacking on almonds and Bev Mix, instead of Oreos.

At first, the hardest part for me was seeing what my body thought.

I received a wellness profile that told me my body thought I was a healthy 78 year old, due to my body fat percentage, visceral fat, and low bone density. 

When I asked what it would take to change the scale, my coach Kari told me I would have to eat more. 

That was the second hardest thing to learn, and adhere to. Eat MORE!?

I was so calorie conscious, eating maybe 1200 per day, or less. That is what popular media told me would help me to lose weight - caloric deficit mattered more than nutrition.

I learned you are what you absorb!

Before I knew better,I would skip breakfast, feeling like I wasn’t hungry anyway!

I would have  a 50 cent, 6 pack of Oreos from the vending machine at work for lunch, and eat dinner with my husband: usually chicken or turkey with boxed rice, or pasta, bread, and a huge bowl of ice cream for dessert.

I deserved the ice cream, I'd tell myself - it was my right as an adult! And look how much I didn't eat all day?

I would eat breakfast if we went out, and it was always Eggs Benedict with extra Hollandaise.

Now I know that by not eating breakfast every morning, I was telling my metabolism "I don’t need you!" And that eating the Oreos because they didn't have too many calories was not the nutritious thing to do - sugar and fat are not what my body was craving!

The boxed carbs I was consuming in large quantities were full of chemicals that were feeding into my headaches.

I had no idea. I really just had no idea how to eat!

With the shakes and exercise, I lost the 40lbs I was looking to lose in about 4 months. I was so motivated by the success of myself, and others.  Doing the boot camps, I really enjoyed celebrating the success of the campers! My results were and inspiration, and by helping others to lose weight, I stayed motivated to maintain my results.

I taught myself how to eat again - to eat what my body was craving (and learning how to interpret those cravings), and by doing so and losing weight, I am able to sleep through the whole night. My sleep apnea is gone, as there is less weight on my lungs, and throat so I can breathe properly.

This, along with eating clean has lessened the amount of headaches I experience. Now I only get them monthly, as an early warning system that my cycle is coming.

I have so much more energy, specifically in the mornings, and feel better all around.

I also noticed that my goals are ever evolving. I have always been competitive, and motivated by growth, and in this area of my life that holds fast!

My goal was to lose 40lbs. I have since lost over 50.

In the beginning, I wanted to see a specific number on the scale. That number still has significance, but is not as important to me anymore.

I want to feel awesome. I want to be active, and workout, I want to push further, harder, and faster.

I have looked at myself and very proudly said: "This is what 130lbs looks like!"(In the week since starting to write this, I have lost 2lbs.)

I remember what it felt like to go to the mall, and know that I couldn’t fit into the clothes in many of the stores.

I remember looking at "skinny" girls, and feeling jealous that they didn't have to readjust, and pull on their clothing constantly to ensure it laid just right to cover a bulge, ever self conscious.

I remember editing every picture before I posted it to social media, blurring my stomach, or side of my arm, or bringing in my jaw line, and cheek bone.

It is hard for me to look through my old photos and find a true "before" picture, because all that I posted are edited. I have to find pictures that were posted by others, that I untagged myself out of embarrassment.

Years ago I was 180 pounds, and my goal was a number on a scale: get to 140.

Now I am 128, and my most recent goal has been to compete in a fitness competition October 28th, to be lean and toned, and maintain my health.

I will write about my journey in preparing for the competition soon. It has been a whole new level of meal planning, exercise routines, and a lifestyle I never thought I would have.

For me, Herbalife and the support I received learning to eat and exercise made all the difference. For anyone interested in learning more about Herbalife, weight loss, and gaining energy, feel free to visit my website.

How to: Half Frankenstein Halloween makeup

Halloween is, oh, only the best holiday ever. It is so great, in fact it is my wedding anniversary.  Happy 10 years, babe! For the first five years of my marriage, I did not get dressed up out of respect for the sacred-ness of getting married on that day. Being the makeup artist I am, I decided 5 years is good, and I started getting dressed up again!

I am also competitive, mainly with myself. So every year I have to out-do myself.

Today, I'm going to show you what I did in 2015 for Halloween. I didn’t take enough pics of what I did for last year's awesomeness, so this is what you get, peeps.

The first thing that I do to plan year after year is search Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram for spooky inspiration. This process usually takes weeks, and I find a few things I like and will create from a compilation.

While researching for this, I found and fell in love with Lex from Made Yew Look. She is down to earth, a great artist, and is fun to follow. I used much her video, and made some tweaks.

FrankensteinMakeup Tutorial (MadeYewLook)

One of the things I did differently was to use liquid latex to create the center wound.  Lex was able to use a Mehron Special Effects kit which I did not have access to. Instead I went to my local costume shop, Disguise the Limit.

Liquid latex is very similar to lash glue. I found that it is easy to build up, so I was able to make the edges of the wound thinner, and thicker toward the center. In the video, Lex cut the wound open, however with the liquid latex, I found it was easier to create the two sides of the wound separately.

The latex does take quite a while to dry, so ensure you have about 32 years available. (hah!)

I did my eye makeup before hand, but realized later that I could have better used my time creating the wound, then doing the eyes.

I did them smoky with purple, inspired by Lex, and color theory. Purple is a great compliment to the green. Lex used a cooler green than I did, as was the purple, I went with warmer hues to make it a bit more different.

The liquid latex dried a milky clear, and absorbed any color I laid over it very nicely. I used a primer all over first, then mixed a green and white face paint with my regular foundation for a hue of green.

I contoured with green face paint at the hair line, cheek bone and jawline, then set with a translucent powder. I then used a variety of green eyeshadows to create more depth with further contouring. For blush I used a very bright pink just on the apple of my cheek.

As Lex showed, I used a brown eye shadow in the center of the wound before using fake blood, though I decided I should have used more to make the blood darker.

For the stitching, I found the thread I had, even though it was thick, was still too thin. I used a sparing bit of liquid latex as glue to triple and twist the thread. I used a brown eye liner to create the "holes" that the stitching needed.

I made the string too long in my practice round, but loved that as I made faces, and changed expression, it showed that the thread was real stitching, not just drawn on lines.

I used the Liquid latex as glue to attach the thread to my face where the stitches would enter the wound.

I did a basic beauty makeup for the other side, adding a plum color eyeshadow, and blush on the far side of the wound, to create "irritation" to the skin. Add realism.

Taking the wound off was easy an relatively painless. Again, think lash glue. Or Elmer's glue when you were a kid, and had to peal it off. What is super cool, is the stitching came off at the same time.

I am so glad that I practiced before the big night.

I got a better feel for the makeup I don’t use daily, latex, blood, stitching, green all over my face…

I also looked at other Halloween makeup ideas, and decided I wanted more drama with veins.

For the veins, I took a basic triangular sponge, gouged irregular holes in it. I then dipped the sponge in a dark green eyeshadow powder, and sponged the veins in place, never going over the same place twice.

Again, I like the drama, and am competitive, so had to out do my practice round.

This was accomplished with a better executed wound, but then I also extended the center wound down my chest, onto my collar bone, and on my hand.

I used a liquid liner to create cracks coming off the wound, and eye.

I used more brown beneath the blood, and extended the veins onto my chest.

On the Frankenstein side I used dark green to vein, and on the beauty side I used purples, and a deep red color shadow.

I already had purple contacts, and decided again to be like Lex and go with the yellow eye. Everywhere I went, they were out of neon green, my first choice. The result was still awesome though!

I have no idea what I will be doing this year, as usual I will go big, not home.

I still have tons of the liquid latex even after a practice round before the big night, so I plan on using that again. That’s about all I know!

Pinup Update - Photo Shoots

After sharing my experience winning the Miss Peggy Sue Pinup Competition, I promised an update when I got a photo shoot under my belt. I am happy to report I have now done two photo shoots, and have a few more lined up, possibly a calendar shoot as well!

Do you think it's ok for a calendar I want November (my birthday month) and October (my anniversary, which also happens to be HALLOWEENNNNN!!!)?  That's not greedy, right?? (I love Halloween… if you couldn't tell.)

One of the awesome prizes I won in the Pinup contest hosted at Peggy Sue Car Show was a photo shoot by Ron Pearson.  He specializes in pin up and vintage inspired photography, though he does everything!

He had some great ideas for location, and even had some wardrobe pieces for me to use!

But  the first photo shoot that I did with Ron was for a local diner called Zee's Diner. This is not the shoot that I won, but an opportunity to model for the first time!

Ron let me know that I would be working with another model, Bridget Codoni, who has done several photo shoots with him, and could give me some tips and hints.

What I found interesting is if the pose feels awkward, it's probably a good shot.

For example, swan neck is a real thing, and super important, and arching the back to the extreme looks great to the camera.

Ron told us where to stand, where to place our hands, which way to face, and asked us to smile, or look more serious. He made me feel comfortable, and his direction was clear, and friendly - "smile like you are happy to be here!" and "Put your chin down, and toward me - perfect!"

I next met up with Ron a week or so later at Starbucks to get some prints of that shoot. I thought it was super cool that the Barista gave him my drink free of charge, thanking him for his service - he served in Vietnam, and wears a hat with pins that shows his pride.

While we were there, Ron had me kiss, and sign a large print of Bridget and me, "to Zee's Diner, Love Miss Peggy Sue." How fun is that?!

We also discussed what I would like to do for the photo shoot I won. He let me know about other shoots he had done, even on a large ship with a navy theme.

He suggested we could go to nearby Schellville, where there is an airport with tons of vintage planes. OMG, yes! So we set a date, and talked wardrobe.  He had a few pieces, and several ideas.

I ended up ordering an outfit on Amazon, Smiffy's Women's Wartime Officer Costume.  

I wanted to look beautiful and sexy for the photo shoot, but as I said in my Q&A portion of the Peggy Sue pinup contest, I like that pinup allows me to be sexy without showing my entire body.

The feedback on this costume looked good, so I went with it - as a costume it's pretty good, and was perfect for the photo shoot. I only wish the skirt were a true pencil skirt - I had to do some awkward poses for sure to make the silhouette right.

I did this photo shoot with Terri Boyer - who, like Ron, is a military veteran! She is super fun, and sweet. She came over, I did her makeup, and assisted with her hair, then we got dressed up, and she drove us to the airport.

Ron had already set up lights, staged a fan and a smoke machine in the hanger where we started - we shot with an airplane mid repair, a helicopter, and a vintage jeep.

I kept looking at camera with my head too high, or looking too far to the left or right. Ron explained that when I do that, too much of the white of my eye shows. I understood when he showed me in the camera, and later when I got the proofs - don’t look too far off camera! Lesson learned!

When we were done in the hanger, we went to meet a couple of brothers who had a Fairchild plane that they pulled out of their hanger just for us to shoot with!

They were incredibly sweet, and offered Terri and I seats while Ron got the camera in the right mode to shoot in the sun light. Terri and I had changed and brought props (courtesy of Ron!) with us - hats, sunglasses, pearls, long gloves, a vintage camera and vintage Samsonite luggage.

Again, Ron let us know where to stand, what to hold, when to smile, etc.  I enjoyed switching it up, some more serious looks, some cheesed up with a big smile! I also liked that Ron was open to suggestion on poses.

That morning, I'd spent hours getting ready in the morning, doing hair, makeup, and getting all my outfits together. We spent several more hours at the airport, shooting, and dealing with wardrobe changes, and yet more shooting.

It all seems so easy when you see the finished photos,  and it certainly was tons of fun - but doing a photo shoot is super exhausting!  When we were done, I was so ready for a cold brew!

Ron has already gotten me proofs, and prints, including one - Mechanic Jen on a piece of heavy tin instead of in a traditional frame!!  I will cherish that keepsake forever!

I cannot wait to do more photo shoots, get more practice at being a model! It is a great confidence booster to see the finished result, and all the beautiful shots.

What is even better are the memories that go with the photographs. I see a picture, and I remember what we were laughing about.

I love that the people I was surrounded by were fun, and nurturing - this was a low stress environment, and all fun. It was not intimidating, or awkward - no one told me to make love to the camera like I have seen in the movies.

I did however take some lessons from when I used to watch Americas Next Top Model almost 10 years ago! Pretty hands, and pretty feet, and swan neck!

I will keep you all posted on this yearlong journey as Miss Peggy Sue 2017, and Lady Lipstick, my pinup alter ego. So far, it's been a blast!