Stories on stories on stories for the USO

It's been a while since I've been out on a video shoot for the USO, which consequently means I've been spending a lot more time writing blog posts, feature stories and vignettes for the organization over the past few months.

Between writing about USO supporters and entertainers who were nominated for industry awards this year, to traveling through time for the USO's 74th birthday, to interviewing a mom who's son made the ultimate sacrifice, I've had some really interesting stories to follow over the past few months.

I think one of the most powerful stories I worked on, however, was the story about a recent USO President's Award winner, Shannon Huffman. During her shift at the USO center in Germany, Shannon took a series of actions to save a potentially suicidal service member from taking his life -- something that really resonated with me and shows what the USO is all about.

See, people seem to think the USO is just an organization that provides food and respite to service members around the world, when, in fact, we do so much more. See, the USO is there from the moment a troop enters boot camp to the moment he hangs up his boots. We're there for wounded and recovering soldiers, their caretakers and even veterans looking to land a civilian job. The USO is always by thier side -- and I'm so proud to work for them.

Anyway. Now that you know how much I love working for the USO, here's a full list of what I've been up to:

• ‘I Can See Him Here’: Mother Finds A Moment of Solace Through Visit to USO After Son’s Death
  
• USO Entertainers Shine at Academy Awards
  
• ‘He Came to Us’: USO Staffer in Germany Takes Action to Save the Life of Despondent Soldier
  
• Celebrate Valentine’s Day With These Five Huggable USO Moments
  
• USO Tour Veterans and Supporters Have a Big Night at the Grammys
  
• Photos Through the Decades: Celebrating the USO’s 74th Birthday
  
• USO Tour Veterans Katy Perry and Idina Menzel Set To Take the Stage at Super Bowl XLIX
  
• Bringing the Big Game to the Troops: USO Centers Around the World Prep for Super Bowl XLIX Festivities
  
• USO Veterans Rake in the Awards Nominations and Wins
  
• Jiffy Lube Franchises Join Forces to Raise over $19,000 for USO Delaware
  
• USO2GO Kits Lift the Spirits of Troops in Liberia

Holiday Flashback: My Holiday Trip to Hawaii -- Part 1: Seattle.

Happy Hump Day! I hope everyone up north is slowly starting to dig themselves out from the crazy blizzard weather. Have an extra cup of hot cocoa for me please :)

You know, I can't believe its only been three weeks since I was in the warm Kona sun with my family, sipping lilikoi juice and eating pineapple, ah! If I can close my eyes and concentrate, I can still hear the ocean waves, crashing against the shore...

Let's go back to paradise today, okay?

Before December, I had never been to Hawaii, let alone Kona, or anywhere on the big island. I never really realized just how FAR away Hawaii was. So far, in fact, that I had an amazing afternoon layover in Seattle, WA, which was a total treat.

I'd never been to Seattle before, either, so I decided that instead of spending the day inside the airport terminal, I should hop on the lightrail and head into the city to see something -- anything -- to say I had actually been to more than the airport there.

After asking for suggestions on what to do with six hours in Seattle, I decided to head to Pike's Place Market, which was the perfect activity.

Between hitting up the original Starbucks...

... finding amazing flowers ...

... making friends with a seagull...

.... and just enjoying the local flavor, it's safe to say I enjoyed my time there.

Now, I just want to go back!

Behind the Shoot: Fiterazzi Leggings Test Photo Shoot

One of the best parts about writing for a new magazine like Fiterazzi is the chance to involve my friends and acquaintances in my work, and my latest project was no exception.

Last month, I released a HUGE review of 13 different fitness leggings brands to try, and, before doing so, hosted a wonderful afternoon photoshoot for the story at Union Station with two fab fit models and fellow Alpha Delta Pi - Pi Chapter sisters Pamela Fitzgibbons and Pavla Ovtchinnikova.

I hadn't caught up with either of these ladies in the longest time, so I was thrilled to have them be my models for an afternoon -- plus, who doesn't love taking pictures of their friends?

Not only did we shoot some fabulous pictures, but I got to hear all about their busy awesome lives and, let me tell you, they're both going to set the world on talent and look fit and fab doing it!

Besides the awesome company and fresh faces for this shoot, this was also one of the first indoor shoots I've done for Fiterazzi.

I don't normally host shoots inside for my fitness pieces because the lighting is so much better outdoors, but because the weather has gotten so cold (it was 30 degrees outside the day of the shoot), I've been scoping out more interesting indoor spots, and thought Union Station's bright but corporate look would be a nice change of pace for the shoot.

I think the shots turned out alright. Thoughts?

Like fitness? Like empowerment? Love your ta-tas? Then read this NOW!

I don't want to steal the clicks, from Fiterazzi.com, but I had to share a couple of snippets from some of my recent articles that I've done for them that I'm super jazzed about!

I just loved working all all of these stories -- they're all very real and very personal for me. I think that's why I like writing for Fiterazzi so much.

Anyway, enough of my blabbering. Check out a few snippets from my Fiterazzi latests below & be sure to head to Fiterazzi.com for the full stories and more good healthy living reads!

Sports Bras 101: What Your Mom Never Told You

Boobs. Ta-tas. The girls. Breasts. Whatever you call them, if you’ve got two X chromosomes and survived puberty, then you’re familiar with the fabulous (and sometime annoying) experience that is having a pair of breasts to call your own.

While having breasts makes for a sexy silhouette, caring for them and keeping them under control can be a tricky task, especially for an active girl. Let’s be real — who ever invented tuck jumps didn’t do so with chesty girls in mind.

As fitness companies are evolving to cater more towards the needs of female athletes, so too are their sports bras technologies. Gone are the days of non-supportive and uncomfortable sports bras and in are the days of specially designed, high-impact sports bras tailored towards just about any cup size.

(Read more here!)

This 12-Year-Old Girl’s Letter Sparked a Big Conversation about Female Representation in Fitness

[...]

When I was growing up, I remember dealing with this constant dilemma when I was looking for new sporting gear to wear while playing softball. Did I want to wear boy’s gear that featured an annoying baggy crotch? Or did I prefer some awkwardly cut, high-waisted women’s gear that transformed me into a pre-teen soccer mom? Why wasn’t there anything made just for me?

Only I was a teenager, circa mid-2000s, did I start to see a wider-variety of products tailored toward the tastes and styles of female athletes and fitness fashionistas like myself. Brands like Lululemon and Athleta popped onto the market and major sporting companies like Nike, UnderArmour and Mizuno started to create special lines tailored towards the growing female demographic.

However, as much as I love seeing more and more female sporting good products in stores, it’s hard to deny that the large majority of sporting good apparel is still tailored towards men.

It’s 2014, not 1964. The Title XI ruling was in 1972.

(Read the full story here!)

You're never to old to learn new things: Relearning lighting in photography

Happy Thursday! I can't believe its the third week of August. It seems crazy to think that summer is coming to an end, kiddos are heading back to school, and boot-wearing season is only a few weeks away!

I digress. Anyway.


Yesterday I had the chance to head out on a shoot with an awesome colleague of mine and learn a few new tools of the videography/photography trade. It was SO fun! I felt a little bit like an intern again, honestly. :)

We were shooting a promotional video for the USO about the story of one wounded warrior's road to recovery, and how the USO has been for him along his recovery. After he was medically evacuated from the battlefield, and taken to Germany, and then Walter Reed, this amazing service member was surprised (thanks to the USO!) by his entire battalion upon his arrival home to Seattle. Pretty cool, eh?

But back to photography takeaways.

More than anything, I re-learned the importance of good lighting. After all, a camera is just a glorified light-capture box. Good lighting means good pictures, no doubt about it. While I'm pretty comfortable using and manipulating natural lighting, I'll admit, using lighting set ups intimidates me a little bit-- plus, they're a little costly, if you want to purchase something that will grow with you as a creative artist. However, maybe it's time to take the plunge...

Thoughts?

Behind the Shoot: Brews and photography: My kind of night at Port City Brewery with United Women in Business

So, full disclosure, I'm on the board of a non-profit called United Women in Business (UWIB).

Basically, UWIB is a professional development organization for young women entering the workforce. We were started by a few alumnae from my sorority in college (Alpha Delta Pi - Pi Chapter) and now have chapters in DC, Chicago, and NYC-- pretty cool, huh?

Anyway, we had a wonderful fundraising event last night at Port City Brewery in Alexandria, Virginia, which was awesome and so fun! I didn't take too many photos, mostly because I was busy chatting and tasting, but I did manage to snap a few shots.

Created with flickr slideshow.

Thoughts?

Guess what? I throw like a girl.

Last week, my story about the female gender stereotype in sports published on Fiterazzi.com, along with a photograph from my photo shoot last week.

While I was totally tickled that my photos were featured on the site-- call me vain-- I was more excited that my small take on females in sports went live on the interwebs. While my article was by no means perfect, I really tried to show the push and pull that many females feel-- particularly those in the sports world.

See, I find the whole feminist v. traditional gender roles argument confusing, complex, and often convoluted. While I love the idea of women empowerment and equality, I also can't deny the fact that I, personally, enjoy the value of traditional gender roles. I love to cook. I love to keep a clean house, and frankly, someday, I hope that I become a mom who can stay at home with her kids, at least part time, while my future husband works full time. However, I also want a lifelong career. Success. And happiness.

See what I mean? Its not exactly a black and white subject.

Anyway, I'm pretty proud of my article. Check it out, and peruse Fiterazzi while you're at it. I feel so proud to be among a group of fit ladies who are writing about the real deal.