Why limit yourself?

As most of you know, I have been spending an awful lot of time... Not dancing. Many times I have said, "I don't know what to do with myself. Everything I am, everything I know is off limits. Everything I am is dance." For all of my life I have been Heather and I am a dancer. From being voted most talented in middle school, to being the artsy girl who didn't go to parties, football games, or concerts because of dance, I dedicated myself to being a dancer. 

Over the last few months I have been challenging myself to be something out of my comfort zone. Garrett, my family, some close friends had tried to tell me that I was indeed more than just a girl who dances. However, I was unconvinced. It was until recently, when working with a voice coach for the first time, he told me something so special. I am MORE than Heather the dancer. I am capable of anything I believe in. And right now I choose to be heather the singer, heather the artist, heather the leader, heather the follower of Christ. Among many more things. 

I am at a crucial point of life when you realize the choices you make are important in shaping your future, your happiness. I feel so empowered to find out what I really am capable of. All of my boundaries have truly been set free. How could I even let people define who I am? As an artist, I realize I couldn't live a day without music. I need it. Performance is the same. Sometimes it is used as a gift for others. Sometimes, it is a gift for yourself... A little free therapy. This year, my performance at Miss Oklahoma is for ME. As selfish as that sounds, I can't wait to prove to myself what a hard worker I've been, how capable I am of achieving and being anyone I want, and most importantly how great it feels to do something when you've truly worked so hard to do it to the best of your ability. 

I hope you believe in me. And I hope you believe in yourself even more. Because everyone deserves total happiness, and I think I'm on my way.

xoxo,

Heather

Cancel the Pity Party!

Hi friends. 

This blog post isn't really about any healthy choice in particular, but it's not any less important. This morning, in church the lesson was about canceling the pity party. It made me realize something very important. 

Just because I'm not going to be dancing at Miss Oklahoma, does not mean I don't have something to offer. 

It does mean, I have something different to offer this year. Of course it was a dream of mine to make my Miss Oklahoma debut dancing my heart out to an incredible pointe routine and maybe even win rookie talent, however, that was not my mission. God needed to find some way to show me, and He knew I wouldn't make the decision to sing on my own. 

For a few weeks, I became so frustrated with singing. I felt like I was "bad" and I knew this wasnt my "talent" , but once again God swooped in and showed me that this is all part of the journey. I was terrified of what others would think of my voice, because I know most people who know me associate me with my dancing feet... Not my singing voice. 

Then I realized one thing... Singing or dancing my mission is to serve. To serve my state as a role model. To serve the other girls by being a friend, and to serve my Lord and Savior by being the brightest light I can be during the Miss Oklahoma pageant.. And always. I was so focused on something so trivial that I didn't realize that regardless, I would still get to fulfill the best mission of all! 

So long story short, this "pity party" is cancelled, it's time to start loving the experience for all that it is and all that it is going to teach me. Sometimes it's frustrating, and what bothers me most is that as a perfectionist I want to give my all! Luckily, I am blessed to have family and friends who are ready to push me in the right direction so that I WILL walk off the stage knowing I gave 150% and performed to my best ability. 

Thank you to everyone who has supported me and been a part of this journey! 

xoxo,

Heather 

A very red velvet valentines day!

Some days, especially in this cold weather, you just need something sweet! But how about something just big enough to not kill your diet! Isn't that what all of us girls want this Valentine's Day?

We would be lying if we said there is little to no temptations during the month of February. CHOCOLATE IS EVERYWHERE. And not only that but in the shape of hearts, sometimes in pink wrappers, or attached to sweet messages. As silly as it sounds, most of us fall for these yummy treats... And eat the whole bag! 

So tonight, I'm sharing one of my newest, semi healthy, perfect size treat for when you need something to treat a sweets craving. 

Introducing "Fast Cake"....

You will need:

1 box of angel food cake

1 box of any cake mix of your choice

water

And a regular size soup bowl.

First, mix your angel food cake and choice cake mix (I chose red velvet!) in a gallon ziplock bag. 

Then, put 3 tablespoons of the combined cake mix into your bowl. 

Add 2 tablespoons of water. 

Mix together until completely mixed as such 

Now, put into the microwave for approximately 1:00 minute. 

TA DA!! Fast cake! 

Add a dollop of fat free cool whip and enjoy your yummy perfect size treat! 

*note this is still a slow food ;) 

xoxo,

Heather

S"no"w excuses!!!

Happy snow day to all!! I admit, these fun days are for sleeping in, drinking hot cocoa, indulging in junk food... Wait what? It's all about moderation right... But what if we decided to take a different approach. 

Competing in pageantry, as well as being a dancer, I commonly see women strive to have a great body up until an event. Then it seems they take their very own "snow days" after it's all over. I am guilty of this too, so I'm not pointing fingers! However, this isn't health.. That's dieting. Your body needs a constant healthy lifestyle. That's right, the key word here is lifestyle. Getting your body in awesome shape is wonderful, as long as you have full intentions to keep it there. 

Taking a "snow day" on your health is understandable in very limited moderation. If we completely cut off our favorite dessert, or let's say guilty pleasure food of choice, we would go crazy!!!! Just know, snow days only occur so often for a reason. Think about how the public school system designates snow days. In Owasso, each year we get 5 "free" snow days. After we use up all of those, we have to make up school days at the end of the year. 

Think about this.. Let's apply it to real life. Sit down and think about how many "snow days" you will give yourself each week, month, or year. Keep track of them, and when you've reached your limit then you will just have to wait! If you want, you could even take it a step further. For example, if we don't use up our snow days in school, at the end of the year we get out X amount of days early depending on how many snow days remain. At the end of your month, if you don't have a cheat day reward yourself!  

Important: Do not reward yourself with food. First of all, you're not a dog. Why reward yourself that way. Second of all, we should not see food as a reward! Sure it's yummy, and it should be, but a reward should be something like allowing yourself to get your nails done, go to a movie, or something you really enjoy but don't do often. 

Now whether you're playing in the snow, or inside all day, challenge yourself to find some form of exercise. Make it fun, or a game. Do jumping jacks or crunches during commercial breaks! Anything to get your body moving... Your brain can take a break on this snow day :-) 

   xoxo,

Heather