I had such a fabulous time speaking with Bruce Cameron this afternoon on LA Talk Radio!! Thank you for having me, it was an honor being on your show!! You can hear about my journey as we talk about my childhood, education, pageants, music, writing, professional career and everything in between. Click the link in my bio to listen to the interview✨✨✨✨ (12/03/18)

http://www.latalkradio.com/content/coaches-120318%20#audio_play

As we enter into the Holiday season and celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to bring attention to this beautiful time of the year, and to focus on what it truly means to be thankful. To be thankful for what we have been given, and to live in America, a country where we are free and have certain liberties.

In today’s society, I feel we get caught up in wanting more – wanting to be more successful, wealthier, prettier, smarter, and stronger. We always want more. There is nothing wrong with wanting more and wanting to be better, but it becomes detrimental when that is all we focus on. We tend to forget the important things in life, and forget how blessed we are.

I have seen firsthand people who have nothing, and yet they still have joy in their hearts and are thankful for the simplest of things. A few years ago I had the opportunity to travel to the beautiful country of South Africa. Going on a mission trip to Africa was always a dream of mine and something I was passionate about doing. I went through an organization called Global Expeditions, and it was my junior year of college at Texas State University during my Christmas and New Years Break. I flew out of Houston and met my team in Washington D.C. and we flew to Johannesburg, South Africa. I was there for two weeks.

We went into the impoverished squatter camp communities of Kya Sands and Diepsloot. While there, my team and I were able to share our Christian faith, pray with the people, bring water, and help with daily tasks needing to be done. We saw how another part of the world lived. Dirt roads and dirt floors with tiny houses made of cardboard, mud, and wood. It was humbling and heartbreaking. I saw people who had nothing, but were grateful. They were thankful for a hug, a helping hand, water, and shelter. I remember the tears, the smells, the sounds, and the hearts of people I met.

We were able to love on the children and adults, sing songs and dance. We volunteered with Impact Africa and helped with their Impact Kids program. It is a non profitorganization that provides quality Christian education to underprivileged and at risk children who are in preschool. The organization also has an Impact Baby Rescue program. This program rescues babies that are abandoned when moms are unable to care for their child.

On my flight home I remember thinking about all I had experienced and seen. My eyes were open to a whole new meaning of life and a new perspective of being thankful for what I had – to live life with joy, abandonment of fear, and to thank God for all that he has given me.

After getting back to the States I decided to sponsor a little girl’s education through Impact Africa. She lived in KyaSands, one of the villages I visited, and her name is Ayanda. Being able to sponsor her while back in the States was very meaningful to me. I recently started sponsoring a little girl named Amanda from Guatemala through the organization, Food For The Hungry. I am passionate about child sponsorship because I have seen the places and the children who are positively effected by child sponsorship organizations in the world. My friend and role model, Joanne King Herring says, “help people help themselves”, to teach, uplift and encourage others to be the best they can be. Nelson Mandela once said, “education is the most important weapon in which to change the world”, aside from love.

I went to South Africa in hopes of changing lives and helping others; however, it was my life and my heart that was changed. This Thanksgiving I want to encourage everyone to be thankful for what you have. Be thankful that you have a roof over your head, food, clean water, and healthcare. Be thankful for your home, your education, and your job. Be thankful for your family, friends, and loved ones. Be thankful for this one precious life that you have and never forget how very blessed you are.

If you would like to sponsor a child’s education or provide food for a child in need, please contact me and I can recommend incredible organizations through which to do so.

This article is also seen in and written for Bay Area Houston Magazine 2018 November issue.

What are your dreams and goals? Why?

The “why” to these answers are far more important. “Why” is what drives and motivates you. The dreams and goals you have would mean nothing if you didn’t know why you wanted to pursue them. Every decision you will ever make is fueled by a “why”.

Life is a journey. During your pursuits and adventures in life, you sometimes tend to forget why you started something in the first place. The journey can be exhausting, heartbreaking, and confusing when you loose sight of “why.” I have experienced this firsthand and had to pause, refocus and refresh, and really concentrate on my “why” along the road to following my dreams.

On a side note, I believe sometimes God allows you to break in order to build you back up stronger than before. Personally, in these moments when I have been so weak, I have seen His power and grace revealed. When I let go and look towards Him, He picks me up right where I am and brings me to a better place. Afterwards I am stronger, wiser, more refined, and have a clearer meaning of my purpose and my “why”.

“Do everything with passion and authenticity”, says Ana Barron, Co-owner of SWEAT 1000 Houston. SWEAT is the 1st studio in the United States of its kind. The gym is based on a concept originated from Cape Town, South Africa. Husband and wife, Jordan Strouse and Ana Barron are the proud owners of SWEAT 1000 Houston.

Ana fell in love with fitness while living in South Africa. “It was a way for me to improve myself, and it helped me develop a healthy lifestyle. It has now become more than that. I enjoy inspiring others to live a better and healthy lifestyle and create a healthy environment.”

In 2015, Jordan and Ana meet the founders of SWEAT 1000 in South Africa, Paul and Andrew Rothschild. Jordan and Ana decided to partner with them and bring the concept to Houston, Texas. “SWEAT is a high intensity interval training workout session using treadmills as the base workout, and integrating components of functional training, core stability, and athletic training.” Sweat is a fun and healthy place to workout and achieve goals, and you can burn up to 1,000 calories in one workout class. It is very high energy and Jordan and Ana typically play EDM, hip hop, and Latin music; Ana loves to incorporate her Hispanic culture into her workout classes. In the future the couple plan to grow and expand to new locations in Houston and beyond.

Fitness and working out reminds me a lot about life. It you want to see results, you have to stay positive, motivated, and consistent. When it gets hard, you have to remember why you started, tell yourself to keep going and push through. You may be sore the next day, but eventually the soreness leaves and you become stronger.

Ana’s advice is to, “believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams. Whatever goal it may be, there is no magic pill, you have to work really hard and stay very consistent.”

When life gets tough, pick yourself up and keep going. It may not get easier, but you will get stronger. You have to remember your passion and your purpose everyday, and never forget your “why”.

http://www.bayareahoustonmag.com/current-issues/

https://www.sweat1000.com/studios/usa/

The Pregnancy Resource Center East presents the annual Tee Up Fore Life Golf Tournament. If you love golf, you don’t want to miss this!

The event will be at Stonebridge at Newport in Crosby, Texas, on Saturday September 8, 2018.

Also, there are wonderful sponsorship opportunities available! If you are passionate about supporting the Pregnancy Resource Center or want to advertise for your business please see details below or contact Paula at (281)-427-2273.

#golftournament #houston #golf #pregnancyresourcecenter #teeupforelife

Come join myself and the rest of the Bay Area’s most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes, Thursday Sept. 6 at Sundance Grill II! All proceeds benefiting The American Diabetes Association.

This event will feature the Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, and live music from The Mechanix. Tickets are $35 and space is limited. For tickets email TheAListbyAnge@gmail.com.

Presented by Bay Area Houston Magazine.

#bayareahoustonmagazine #sweetheartsauction #bayarea