Citi Every Step of the Way


Today marked the start of the 2014 paralympics in Sochi, and while many of us pay more attention to the “mainstream” Olympics event, the talented athletes who take part in the paralympics deserve to be highlighted too! Two of the paralympians representing the USA are Team Citi athletes…

Alana Nichols is a 2 sport athlete who can boast about becoming the FIRST American Woman to win gold at both summer and winter games. In 2008 in Beijing she earned a gold medal in wheelchair basketball and 2010 in Vancouver for Alpine Skiing. This time around in Sochi she will compete for more gold in Alpine Skiing. The other Citi athlete is Rico Roman, a US Army Veteran who is playing for Team USA in sled hockey at the 2014 Paralympics.

Both of these amazing athletes along with 7 other Team Citi athletes have each teamed up with a US Olympic, Paralympic or Community program in need….and YOU can help decide where Citi’s “Every Step of the Way” $500,000 donation goes! All it takes is a click and you can decide to award Citi’s donation to any of the 9 programs.

Watch this video and then visit the official Citi Every Step of the Way page to help decide where the money goes!! >> http://citi.us/1ek5E7S

  • U.S. Paralympian Alana Nichols is partnering with The Team USA Paralympic Champions Fund to increase financial support for athletes pursuing the dream of participating in the Paralympics.
  • U.S. Paralympic athlete Rico Roman is teaming up with the Operation Comfort to give wounded veterans the opportunity to participate in sled hockey by giving them the financial support and equipment they need to succeed!

So, what are you waiting for!?!? These programs need your help and these athletes are competing with everything they’ve got to make the USA proud! You make the call and help award Citi’s $500k donation.


 

This post was created in partnership with Citi®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Give It Up – Lent 2014

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I guess I’m writing this blog to go on the record as saying I am giving up all dessert for the 2014 Lenten season. I’m still talking myself through it! If you know me well, you know how much I LOVE cookies…and cake..and cupcakes and ice cream, and well many forms of the “dessert” variety. I know it’ll be a tough challenge, but I think the mental & spiritual (and possibly physical too), benefits will be well worth it. I just have to keep all temptation FAR away from me and my kitchen!!! 🙂 1 day down, 39 more to go…

Bride For A Day

I recently booked a shoot in a Miami, and my role was none other than as a “bride!” I have yet to actually be a real life bride and had never even tried on a bridal gown before, so I was looking forward to the experience. We worked on location in downtown Miami, and the scene was pretty simple, bride and groom in convertible…just married, waving goodbye to their guests, as they drove off into the sunset!

And — here is a photo with my entire “wedding party,” on set! 😉

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Be on the lookout for my “wedding day” image in print coming to nationwide displays at Mobil Gas Station near you!

 

 

 

Cover Girl x Vixen Workout

I finally got an opportunity to check out and try the “Vixen Workout.” And, it just so happens that the class I went to was actually part of an event where the #vixenarmy teamed up with Cover Girl to promote Bombshell mascara! The event was on South Beach in Miami and while I had some idea of  what the workout was going to be like, I don’t know if anything could’ve quite prepared me for its intensity!!!

First things first, they had Cover Girl makeup artists on hand to assist with the #bombshelling look…so I did that. The event took place in a large space with lighting to set the “mood.” The idea was to have a concert feel, since the Vixen Workout is taking a page out of a video vixen’s “book.” There was a great turnout, I mean hundreds of women ready to work it out!! I was told this fitness regimen has a cult-like following, and from the large crowd of excited ladies who showed up, that is clearly evident.

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Now about the workout, it is seriously a heart-pumping, energy-inducing, sweat producing, non-stop dance-filled workout. The creator of the Vixen Workout is Janet Jones, a former Miami HEAT dancer, who basically incorporates some of the hottest dance moves – often seen in music videos, and then choreographs workout routines with lots of sexy, sassy sweat! I loved that Janet, along with her dancers had incomparable energy and while they were “leading” the 1-hour workout, I felt like I was watching Pitbull’s dancers at an award’s show! Lots of fist-pumping, cheering and HIGH ENERGY… Just check out this quick snippet video I shot on my iPhone >>

I will be the first to admit that 30 minutes of this workout quite enough for me…until I can get my cardio up and my thighs/knees can handle all the squats and “drop down and get your eagle on” moves! 😉 Note — if you have any issue with explicit lyrics found in rap music, or walking out of a class with your ears ringing, then this may not be for you! **Plus, I couldn’t help but think of rapper “drama,” when songs by Kanye West, Rick Ross, Chief Keef, etc… came on! It’s not all rap either, there’s lots of Beyonce to go around with some Dancehall, EDM and Latin spice sprinkled in.

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The “Vixen Workout” definitely has Miami written all over it, from the gyrating booty pops to the constant chest thrusts and slinky body rolls…many of the ladies ditched the ponytails and let their hair down while getting some extra lift from wedge sneakers. And — I can’t really think to any “downsides” to this workout…unless you count the all-over soreness you feel the next day. I did find myself getting a bit too technical, wanting to have all the choreography down, and not “mirror” the women on stage – as a dancer I tend to want to have the exact hand placement, movement and timing…but reminder to self, this is all in fun, and after a few classes, you’re sure to have all the vixen moves down pat! What else can I say, I loved it, would totally do it again! And what better way to feel like I was up in the club getting my late night groove on! I mean even my “Cover Girl Bombshell” eyelashes were sweating!! 😉

Right now the Vixen Workout is only in Miami and New York, but it’ll hit the West Coast soon…and I’m sure all my Bay Area U-Jam girls would LOVE it! Visit the website at http://www.vixenworkout.com/

GNO: Justin Timberlake Concert

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I took a trip to the Bay Area this past weekend and it just so happened a group of my girlfriends were planning to all attend the Justin Timberlake concert for his current 20/20 Experience tour, in San Jose for a Girl’s Night Out (GNO)! It could also have been dubbed Mommy’s Night Out aka Mommy’s Gone Wild! haha! From pre-gaming at Mau’s place to catching the end of teh NFC Championship playoff at San Pedro Square…and the walk to SAP where the concert was being held…..FUN!!

At any rate, JT concert was fun…although I am so unfamiliar with his newer stuff, it really kinda made me feel “dated.” Good times for sure…thankful for the opportunity to get out with the ladies who’ve I’ve known for DECADES… Check out some of the photos from our night of shenanigan’s below.

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Dubs All Day

I spent part of the 2nd day of 2014 at the HEAT vs. Warriors game at American Airlines Arena.

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It’s only once a year (NBA season) when my hometown, Bay Area, Golden State Warriors make it to South Florida, and after many years of struggles and heartache for fans, the team is finally competing (and beating) the competition! Plus, I have to make sure to show some “California Love” …so, it was exciting to see the team in action in Miami and to represent & support a team I grew up watching!

DUBS ALL DAY! I also got to sport a custom shirt design by Tony.psd in the Warriors Blue and Yellow – in fact there were lots of Golden State fans in the crowd Thursday night… so that was fun to see too!!

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And — post game my friend Maite and I were invited to check out “HYDE” – the ‘exclusive” court side club, which was nice because I hadn’t been down there yet when it was “club” time… and coincidentally I ran into my friend Jenn, who was visiting Miami from the Bay! Good times!

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2014

Seems like the year’s keep getting shorter and go by even faster….here’s to another one…

Colourful 2014 in fiery sparklers