My Journey to Mrs. North Carolina 2014!!!!

    Well, I thought I would kick off my new year, new blog with some exciting news from 2013! October 19th, 2013 I was crowned Mrs. North Carolina 2014! It has been a dream of mine for a long time to represent my beautiful state of North Carolina but just a few months ago I didn't think it was in
the cards for me!

I competed in my first pageant, the Miss Reunion pageant when I was 15 years old because my wonderful dance teacher Miss Krista Whitener talked me into it. I had never done anything like it in my entire life. I had always played sports, danced and cheered. That night I was crowned 1st runner up and little did I know that I would spend a lifetime in pageantry as the forever 1st runner up until now….


Since that first pageant when I was 15, I was hooked and competed in numerous pageants but I actually only won very few. I competed at various local pageants and then had my try at Teen Miss North Carolina which I competed two years in a row and only cracked the top 10. My first try at the Miss America Preliminary system I was first runner up and competed at numerous other preliminaries that year receiving other first runner up placements and never making it to the Miss North Carolina stage. I then competed two years in a row at the Miss NC United States pageant and was first runner up both years.

For those of you pageant girls if you have ever been first runner up you will know how hard that position is to be to come close but never win. It is an honor to place so high but also very dis heartening at the same time.

I then moved on from pageantry for a while and got married and had my beautiful daughter Elouise and the pageant bug came back and I wanted my try at the Mrs. North Carolina title and that opportunity to finally represent NC.

I competed two years in a row at another system in NC and you can probably guess I was first runner up both years in a row! I really thought it was destined for me to be the queen of the 1st runner up and my dream of being Mrs. North Carolina was something I needed to move on from. I had a few friends that told me if this was my dream that I really should compete for Mrs. North Carolina America they all felt it was the best system in the state and that it was really the perfect place for me!

I will say I was a little intimidated to compete at Mrs. North Carolina America. I knew it was the best of the best and the women who had won in the past were just amazing queens and I couldn't even imagine being one of them!

I decided to give my dream one last shot and put everything I had into it. I worked out harder than I ever worked, I spoke with people about my interview, I practiced my walk but I also knew that I was on a strict budget and I needed to get a new gown.  I competed in the local preliminary to help save on fees and fortunately won Mrs. Greater Catawba Valley 2013. It still came down that I needed a knockout gown! While my sweet Elouise and I were playing dress up one day, it came to me. I had a few old pageant gowns in the back of my closet; one was a gorgeous long sleeve black knit gown and one was a tea length ball gown style cocktail dress and it all came to me to put them together.

 I took the two pieces to oh so fabulous Diane La Rose and for less than $100 I felt like I was walking in couture! I borrowed my swimsuit and my opening number and I traded out the stones in my old pageant earrings with new stones I bought at local craft store.  Lets just say I was a queen on a mission, but also a queen on a budget!


Everything was in place and I was so excited to compete one last time for my dream to become Mrs. North Carolina.

 The Saturday before the pageant life took a different turn my sweet Papaw went to be with Jesus, and the furtherest thing from my mind was competing in a pageant. I spent the week mourning with my family and attended his funeral that Wednesday. I finally picked up my gown that Thursday but I was really having a hard focusing on the pageant ,but if my Papaw taught me one thing is that he appreciated hard work and I knew I had worked hard for this.

I walked into registration on friday morning with a new outlook I knew this was going to be my last shot so I wanted to have fun, I wanted to relax and not worry about the outcome and just enjoy each moment.

( Registration Day Look)

(Contestant Dinner at Jeffrey's in Moorseville, NC)

Saturday there was all kinds of issues that could have derailed me from even wanting to compete; my brother was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder and had to start Chemo that Saturday, my family was still mourning the loss of my papaw, I woke up an hour late so I had to do my hair and makeup on the road and the list goes on; my opening number dress didn't fit, my hairbrush broke,I burnt my head with my curling iron I mean if it could have go wrong it did but for some reason there was a serenity around me that weekend and I just wanted to enjoy it and have fun!

(Getting ready for the pageant)

My papaw collected coins and would always give us coins and as I was walking into interview I looked down and there was a shiny penny heads up and I knew that I had a little piece of him with me that day which I immediately picked up and put in the bottom of my shoe.

Interview with the judges (the most important part) I felt went great, I felt at ease and I felt I really got the opportunity to give them a glimpse of who I was and why I wanted to be Mrs. North Carolina!

I truly felt like I enjoyed each moment of competing and the Galles put on an amazing show and make each contestant feel like a queen. As the night went on and the contestant went down to top 5 then it was the final 2, it was a place I had been many many times before. As I stood there holding hands with this tall gorgeous blonde I just couldn't imagine what it would feel like to call my name…

Well this just says it all and it has been more than two months and I still cant believe they called my name and that I am really Mrs. North Carolina 2014!

 I really want to make a difference as Mrs. North Carolina. Volunteerism is part of my platform so I really want to serve my community in anyway I can and encourage others to do the same. I am so glad that I went for dream and didn't give up. I am so honored to represent North Carolina at Mrs. America this year! If you are interested in competing or have any questions about competing for Mrs. North Carolina or South Carolina feel free to email me!  All I can say is WORK HARD and GO FOR YOUR DREAM!  www.mrsnorthcarolinaamerica.com

xoxo,
Christy Creson
Mrs. North Carolina America 2014

Emmy Style

All fashionista everyone love awards shows for the red carpet! I was loving the Red Carpet looks at this years Emmys and here is my  Fashion Faves and Fashion Fails for Emmy's 2013!

Fashion Faves

Super Caliente as always Sophia Vergara in Vera Wang

Julia Bowen in Zac Posen I love love this Blush gown!

Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Monique Lhuiller

Giuliana Rancic in Tadashi Shoji

I acutally liked a few more but my best dressed for the night was….

Kerry Washington this gal can do no wrong and if I was walking Red Carpet I would go Marchesa too!

Ok so now onto Fashion Fails...

Heidi Klum in Versace I just dont feel this flattered her at all and if it doesn't flatter a supermodel….and I do not understand her hair and makeup choices at all? Sorry Heidi, I normally love you!

Connie Britton in Naeem Khan I love the show Nashville and Connie Britton is one gorgeous lady but this just dated her she could have done so much better!

Cat Deely in Armani she is normally a showstopper and does like to take a fashion risk but this just seemed so wrong to me?

Anna Farris in Monique Lhuillier I love her but this is was just horrible and hair and makeup were the worst she is ever looked. I did think the fit was nice but that school bus yellow with her skin and bleached out hair or wig was just awful.

and my worst dressed might be a surprise and I think this dress could have been gorgeous but my worst dressed goes to Claire Danes in Armani Prive All night I just wanted to go pull her dress up. Seeing her boobs sagged down was just horrific and I want even talk about her faux bob and makeup. This could have been stunning and I loved the actual dress and color with her skin but it was all wrong!

Who's ready for Golden Globes!!! I sure do love me a red carpet!

Saturday Swag Outfit of the Day!

Here is my Saturday Swag outfit of the day!! I'm loving everything about this look and perfect for a Saturday night date or night out with girlfriends! Did I mention this whole outfit is under $150 shoes and all! It's all available at www.lulus.com!

                                

Can we just talk about how super sick those shoes are?? 

Have yourself a fabulous fashion filled weekend! 

Fall Fashion

Cool nights, skinny jeans and boots for days are finally here!!!

 I love fall and especially pumpkin spice lattes yum!!!

Here are some of my favorite fall fashions that will also take you into winter that I am just loving right now. 

Did I mention they are all under $100!

Skinny Jeans/Pants I am a lover of the skinny jean and is my go to pant. I love H&M pants they are inexpensive and have a great fit.  Did I mention H&M just opened the online store about a month ago…fashionistas everywhere are swooning!!!!

All of these skinnies are from H&M and right now most skinnies are 20% off with prices starting at $29.95! I wont tell you that I snagged the last pair of the black wax coated denim skinnies from the Winston-Salem store for $7….yes I said $7 for a pair of jeans! Still denim under $30 is a great deal too! I love skinnies paired with a silk button up.

Dresses Dresses Dresses…..I love a great dress and is great with boots or tights for fall!

                                                                                                                                   

All three dresses are from www.asos.com in the petite section, but most petite items come in regular lengths as well.

I love this big chunky sweater from H&M I just picked one up and cant wait for the southern heat to subside so I can wear it with my olive green skinnies!

Lastly, are these great tan booties from Target and for $20.99 who can beat that???

I will post more fall fashion  but these are some of my favorite pieces….what is your favorite fall fashion?

www.asos.com

www.hm.com

www.target.com

Tips and Tricks for a messy life!

One thing I know about having a two year old, a dog and just every day life is that in can get messy!

This is my daughter and what happens in 30 seconds with a tube of mascara ;)

So here are two tricks I use that have been great and obviously necessary!!!

Makeup or dirt stain on your clothes!  

Ugh….nothing like running out of the house and you get some blush on your shirt or pants! Tide sticks do not work in a rush it just leaves a wet spot on your clothes until you wash it!  Now its a good pre soak to your stain especially if its something more than just a lil makeup.

However, in a rush Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cloths are amazing great to keep in your purse and have taken a few makeup stains out my clothes perfectly!

My second trick is for carpet stain! I swear my daughter spills something every day!

This is a DIY stain remover for carpet and it works like magic!

1 part dishwashing soap

1part white vinegar

1part baking soda or powder

3 parts water

Mix together in a spray bottle and spray away and just scrub with a towel!  I would add a lil febreze on top because the vinegar can be strong but it comes right out and I have had no residual stains come back and its been months! 

Hope it works as well for you as it did for me!

Fit Fashion

I love merging my love of fashion and fitness! Who says we cant look good even while working out!

As the cheerleading coach for Lenoir-Rhyne University our football team was just recently sponsored by Under Armour! (Super Cool for a little D2 school)

My cheerleaders will be completely "underarmoured" (My new word) next year to match our football team so I thought I would put together my fashion fitness look all "underarmoured"

I think I really need all these pieces next year and they are all available at www.zappos.com and www.underarmour.com. I am loving the break from black workout pants with the strobe pink workout leggings.

Hope you enjoyed my Fit Fashion Monday!

Fit for life!

Who says Fitness cant be fun???

My husband has been in the fitness industry now for 10 years. He has his masters degree in Sport Science and Pedagogy an Undergrad in Health and Exercise science. He has worked for two universities as a Strength and Conditioning Coach, trained professional athletes,  worked in excersise rehab and cardiac rehab, and of course personal and group training. ( Let's just say he knows his stuff!)

Last year I took my fitness goals sersious as I prepared to compete in the Mrs. North Carolina pageant and in just six weeks I lost 10 lbs and 3 inches in my stomach, inch and half in each thigh and went down a whole dress size all in thanks to my awesome husband and his wealth of knowledge!

I went grain free a version of paleo where I eat no grains and only concentrate on Protein, Veggies and some dairy and fruits. Healthy living at its finest. I had never felt better in my life than I did during this time.

I placed first runner up in the pageant and for a while I still lived partially grain free and I started incorporating more and more grains back into my life and eventually I wasn't doing my part in healthy living and my diet became poor again. ( No one said this is easy!)

8 months later and I made the decision that I couldn't just eat for show anymore but for my health!

I am now living 90/10 I eat grain free 90% of the time and yes that means no bread, pasta, cereal, anything containing a grain and 10% of the time I will have just a few things I love.

JUST REMEMBER YOU LOSE WEIGHT IN THE KITCHEN AND GET FIT IN THE GYM!!!

I have never felt better and I can see my body slowly starting to change. Yes slowly is the key it will not happen overnight but I FINALLY realized this needed to be lifestyle change!!

GRAINS ARE UNNECESSARY but it doesn't mean I cant have a few things in moderation.

I also incorporate my workout regimen that my husband designed for me which is working with weights and I participate in dance fitness classes at HG Fitness in Hickory and I am now obsessed with Barre workouts!! I try to get a minimum of 3 days of workouts with the hope of 5.

I am not where I want to be yet but I know I am on the track to being very healthy and I know it doesn't happen overnight~

One of my favorite recipes is the cauliflower crust pizza which I bragged on earlier but here is a video my business partner Stetson took of me making the pizza to help you step by step.

Click the link here:
Creson Kitchen Cauliflower Pizza

Good luck on your healthy living and fitness journey and let me know if you ever need help or have questions!