Cuteness Overload!

If these pics don't make you smile....I don't know what will.



 

ScubaDog!





HelloKitty!



Red Riding Hood and "Grandma"

Marilyn Manroe

iPhone!





SuperDog!





PirateDoggy!

All Pictures from iVillage


precious pets & big smiley faces



30 Days to Greater Happiness

I was going through my emails this morning when I came across an email with the subject line…. 30 Days to Greater Happiness.  As most of you are aware of, I’m constantly seeking for new reasons to be happy, so I immediately opened up the email.  To my great surprise The Daily Spark came up with a November calendar with daily tips on how to beat the fall blues (Who could possibly get the fall blues…but anywho).  I downloaded the calendar and taped it up next to my vision board in my office.   I love it so much in fact I had to share it with all of you!!!

Here’s the link to Happiness in a pdf format!!!

Please let me know if you do follow along because I would love to hear about it!!!

happiness & sharing

♥ NPC GNC Natural Colorado Open ♥

First off I must start with some serious gratitude. I can't even begin to express how blessed, humbled, and happy I felt when checking my Facebook page to find well wishes and love on a daily basis.  On top of all that I received cards and gifts from dear friends with encouraging words and post show goodies :)!!  Not to mention I had a fabulous friend dinner last night complete with a homemade pumpkin pie (Thank you Des...it was fabulous while it lasted..nom nom nom) and beautiful flowers (Thank you Lizette..they are so beautiful) and more beautiful cards to boot.  You all have truly spoiled me and shown me how powerful words and support can be.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

So what about my experience? I'll try to sum it up as best I can. First, wow, I must say how truly honored I was to have been selected as Overall Bikini Champion along with  1^st place Bikini Novice A and 1^st place Bikini Open at the NPC GNC Natural Colorado Open!  It took me awhile to fully digest it all, as a matter of fact it didn’t hit me until I got home on Monday night when I had an OMG moment!!!  I jumped up and down on my bed and had an impromptu dance party to celebrate!

So how did this all start….Back in June I was toying with the thought of competing but had no idea how to go about it.  I happened to be talking to my amazing friend Kristie Houser, (thanks to her my nails look impeccable at all times) about competing.  She told me she had a friend named Deanne Munro who was a NPC Competitor and suggested I talk to her about starting out.  By fate Deanne happened to workout at the same gym I did so I sought her out and pumped her for information.  Deanne was so nice and encouraging and told me she was a member of Team Bombshell and suggested I check them out online.  I immediately went home and googled them and sent an email to the team.  I applied and was selected for the Bombshell Competition Team!!!!

 I started training immediately then decided to attend Bombshell Bootcamp in Daytona Beach, Florida.  The training was intense but in the process I was able to meet like-minded, beautiful, successful, ambitious women with similar goals and lifestyles.  These amazing women include  Shannon Dey (Momma Bomshell), Coach V (Vanessa Campbell), Coach G (Gennifer Conn Strobo), Samantha Billig, Aniedra Lynn, Anna Prettyman, Jennifer Elliot, Ruthie Harrison, Anna Virmajoki , Sarah Oldakowski, Gloribel Pagan, Christine Nicole Nobles, Gabriella Reeve, Nicole McClain and Tia Marie Kelley.  Little did I know that these incredible women would have such a HUGE impact on my life as well as my fitness journey.   To you ladies---I will forever be grateful for your support and motivation, I couldn’t have done it without you!

 Next on my agenda was actually finding a show to compete in.  I looked up shows that were nearby and came across the GNC Natural Colorado Open in October. Two of my best friends (Andrea Pino & Therese), currently live in Denver and I was hoping I could talk my other best friend into flying in from LA.  As time passed amazing things kept on happening along my fitness journey, I was offered a sponsorship from MD Designs (formerly known as Skinscriptions) for all my skin care needs and another sponsorship by Lifestyles/Yoli’s for all my hair needs!  I still can't  wrap my brain around how many people truly supported me and believed in my dream to compete in the Colorado Open.  Then the best news of all, my best friend (Candace) emailed me her flight itinerary confirming her travel plans to Denver for my competition! 

My entire experience in Denver was phenomenal from beginning to end.  I had the love of my life & my best friends by my side to help with my hair and makeup and everything else imaginable on show day.   I’ve always said that I am truly blessed to have so many amazing people in my life and I would not be who I am without you.  There is so much to learn about the value of relationships you make, maintain and enrich throughout your life.  To my amazing fiancee David & best friends-Candace, Andrea Pino, Therese, Warren & Raynee-thank you, thank you, thank you, you all make me feel like I can conquer the world!!

  

So what now, well I’m Nationally Qualified!!! Eeek!!!! So I’m taking everything one day at a time and still haven’t decided what show I want to do next. I have no idea where I'm off to next and while that's slightly terrifying it's also incredibly exciting. 

 I know, I'm blessed, so so blessed! Thank you all for being such an important part of my life!

lash glue & butt glue,

The art of smiling…. :)

Did you know that there is an actual name for the smile that reaches your eyes, the kind of smile that makes the corner of your lips move up and the skin around the corner of your eyes crinkle up?  It’s called Duchenne smiling!  

Thank you George Clooney for:
1) being so darn good looing and
2) giving a perfect example of a Duchenne Smile!

It is impossible to fake a Duchenne smile because it comes from within and the facial muscles involved are difficult to control voluntarily.  I absolutely love a genuine Duchenne Smile, there is nothing as beautiful, in my opinion. 

Here are a few pictures of my nearest and dearest friends with Duchenne smiles that I stole off of Facebook. I truly love you ladies and hope life gives you so many more reasons to Duchenne smile!

Today I challenge you to look for reasons to Duchenne smile and remember

Happy Tidbits

Hi friends,

Today’s post is going to be short and sweet.   I have a presentation for my business Zia Promotional Products, (like us on Facebook!!), that I need to work on.

Here are a few things that made me HAPPY this morning!

1. This picture of my friends' adorable baby, Jordan Berlin Jameson! I looooove him so much!

2.     Emails with Sales!!!!!

Support a good cause and get a Free Bracelet, yes please!  Just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October).

3.       Green lights all the way to the gym!

4.       At my Gym, I’m known as the Perky one! Ha I love it

5.       My friends enjoying the magic of Pinterest!  

Now I’m off to work on my presentation but I have attached some Happy Thoughts for your day.

It's really as simple as this!

Thank you for joining me on my week of Happiness!

Happy Songs

There are just some songs that make you smile when they come on the radio or your playlist….here are a few of the (happy) songs that makes me want to have an impromptu dance partaaaay anytime I hear them…..!  You may laugh at my list but I know deep down inside you feel the same way :)

1. Baby Got Back-Sir Mix A Lot

2. Juicy-Biggie Smalls



3. Ice Ice Baby-Vanilla Ice

4. Motley Crue-Girls,Girls,Girls

5. James Brown-I Got You

6. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun-Cyndi Lauper

7. Material Girl-Madonna

8. I'm a Slave for You-Britney Spears

9. Thriller-Michael Jackson

10. What's My Name-Snoop Dogg

 

My list could go on and on but these are a few of my favorite songs.  What songs make you happy?  I would love to hear about them!!!!

Instant HAPPINESS!

1.       Smile at someone you don’t know.  I try to smile at everyone I come across; it makes me feel instantly happy!!!  Plus smiling is contagious…..hopefully they’ll pass that smile along to someone else!

2.       Popping a bottle of Champagne…How can you not be instantly happy once you pop the cork to a chilled bottle of your favorite Champagne?!  Then…. the first taste of sparkly goodness….ah amazing.  It's happiness from beginning to end!

3.       Pinterest…..I’m totally obsessed!  Pinterest is a virtual pinboard — a place where you can create collections of things you love and "follow" collections created by people with great taste. It’s so amazing and so addicting.  It’s by invitation only so submit your email address and enjoy the amazingness that is Pinterest.  Check out my boards!!  They are of course a work in progress :)

4.       Hugs…. I’m rad, you’re rad..lets HUG! I love hugs they make me soooo happy.  There is nothing better than a huge hug at the end of a looooong day.  Make someone’s day…give them a hug!

5.       Do something nice for someone else.  It’s usually the little things that have the biggest impact.

If the above ideas are not your cup of tea then I suggest  looking at the following piccys and try not to smile & be happy!











I need a sign like this :)



What gives you an Instant Happiness Boost....I would love to hear about it!