The skin I'm in.

It is the first week in December...already. I've purchased 0 Christmas presents and my skin is angry! Well I take that back, I got a facial last week and it helped clear up some breakouts from my work trip to Vegas that wouldn't go away. (Gia is amazing at Spa Social) Now it is just a little dry and some post acne redness. BOO! It is a work in progress. I just long for that day that I can wake up and not have the need for makeup, maybe just a little tinted moisturizer and go. But on the bright side my guns are getting HUGE!
See:

 But in other news, just finished up a fashion segment at WGN for The Shops at North Bridge....Erica and Dee (and Amanda) are just so wonderful to work for. I have been fortunate enough to have modeled for them for so many years. They really are so genuine and fun to work for. Plus who doesn't love being on tv? I worked with all these models from Factor (go figure.) I of course feel like an outcast because I am not apart of their "agency" ( I quote agency mostly out of annoyance, they really are with a great Chicago agency.) I am not with an agency. I have in fact been freelance or "independent" for almost the entire duration of modeling. I started off with Lily's Talent Agency but after making the mistake of going exclusive and cutting my hair off (Thanks Nick Arrojo) it didn't work out. Why is it that they don't educate 15/16 year old models on what they should and shouldn't do when they send you to a casting?  I decided to leave once my exclusivity was up and here I am. I can't really say many negative things about my career thus far considering I have been lucky enough to have great connections and a good reputation of being professional, reliable, and good at what I do. I mean who gets to model for the Chicago Bears, walk in Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, and model consistently for the most amazing fashion boutique in the city? (KRISTA K BOUTIQUE) That's right me! So why am I not signed? Beats the heck out of me, I see girls all the time that are signed and I wonder what is so special about here (sounds harsh) but truthfully we all want to think highly of how we look and how superb our portfolio is. It really is very subjective (just like anything that is based off esthetics.) I guess I just get frustrated that I know I can deliver and somehow I am not the chosen one.  I do get some great opportunities but being at a stand still and not progressing is always so annoying regardless of the situation. Being 25 means I am not getting any younger, but at least I stay in better shape than a lot of these other fellow string beaners out there. Suck it, I have the same hip size but at least I have a nice firm muscular glutes to work with. 

In most recent news
UPS just came through, I decided to buy the Neiman Marcus/Target collaboration stuff....I got the Tory Burch Thermos and Lunch box...totally cute..very excited to splurge on myself these days.

 And of course I couldn't end it without taking some pictures of myself and my cats.  Seeing Cephalic Carnage tomorrow night, so that'll be swell. The Hobbit is next week. Well I can't even begin to describe my level of excitement there. Until next time, stare at my pictures of me being vain.

<3

Evogen Nutrition by Hany Rambod Competition

So at the beginning of last week Mike came across the supplement company Evogen Nutrition on facebook and noticed they were doing a Bikini Model/Athlete Search/Competition and told me to enter. It was a pretty simply competition where you post a photo of you in a bikini (I used the photo John Lathrop took at the ABA competition) and you get as many people to like their page and vote for you by liking your photo. I am NEVER good at any popularity contests only because I just feel like if you put in the work things will happen for themselves. But in this case I got a pretty awesome response at the start of the competition and decided to spread the word on Facebook, and my fabulous friends/family/friends of jumped on and supported me. I got a great response and by the end of the competition I had 138 votes putting me in first. The prize for this weekly competition is a Feature on the Evogen Nutrition Website  and a supplement stack. Even better at the end of the 12 week competition they are doing, they will take all 12 of the winners and have voting again, the next winner will get to be their next Sponsored Athlete! That is huge, they are a great supplement company, started by Jay Cutlers trainer/nutrition guru Hany Rambod. So exciting!! If anything the feature is a huge deal for me! My ultimate goal is to be a sponsored athlete and eventual IFBB Pro, but it is a slow process of getting to the size I want to be to compete again!

My training has been going very well, I have been eating a TON of food (all good stuff I swear), sometimes more than I can handle, but it is really necessary because of how high my metabolism is. I am incorporating more healthy fats/carbs, as well as  red meats! Woohoo!
Can only go up from here!!!
Less than a month until we go to Las Vegas for the Mr. Olympia Show and Convention! So excited for that!

Here are some progress photos and a shot of all the bikini diva tall class competitors and trophies!

<3
Danielle

So close I can taste it!

I have decided I am going to update each day until the show, it really helps me feel calm about everything. I have always gotten so nervous before anything big I do, this is no exception.

Monday and Tuesday were my higher carb days, now I am slowly tapering them until the show so I fill out as best as possible. I don't want to look too flat or too cut so I won't know until Saturday what I really need to take in.

I had a really good upper body work out yesterday, this week is much different than my regular training schedule. Typically I am doing a split-routine so I can really isolate the major muscle groups and focus on hypertrophy (or increasing muscle growth.) It has really worked great for my glutes/back. I will be starting a new approach for my upper body after Saturday. As for this week I just have my major leg day (Monday), upper body (Tuesday), and for today I will be focusing on a total body pump. I won't hit any weights Thursday or Friday, maybe only do some Stairmaster tomorrow to help my glutes/hams recover and some pump up stuff.

As for today, I had my solid balanced Protein/Carb/Fat breakfast with my normal supplements and now sipping on some Apple Cider Vinegar. My cold or allergies are still lingering but I am hanging in there. Not feeling too shabby this morning. Gotta go get MORE chicken and eggs for Mike and I. I can't wait to eat more red meat again! Yay for steak!!

I can really see the difference in leanness from last week to this week. Taking pictures often really does show your exact progress. It is really great. I will post some of those post competition so I can share my bodys transformation just from dieting so well and lifting heavy!

Have a great day! Today is my bartending shift, so it'll be a later night than I prefer :-/

<3
Danielle