"There's a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."

I haven't blogged in awhile. I'm not the best at sitting down for a large amount of time to spill my feelings, experiences, and emotions on a computer. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram are more my forte but it's about time that I take time to update y'all on my life... Here goes...

So my journey as Miss Georgia ends in three months. I have a lot of mixed emotions. It has no doubt been the best year of my life. I get emotional thinking about the incredible things that I've experienced. Sometimes I really don't know what I did to have all the blessings that I have. But then I remember that our God is a loving God and he is constantly doing what is best for us. This is a concept that I had months ago but had somehow forgot recently. I was pushing for things that didn't need to happen when there were clear and HUGE signs that it was not the right time nor would ever be. If He shuts a door or throws some sort of curve ball your way, there's always a reason and there's always a lesson. The past few months have taught me that. Although it has been one of the best years of my life, it has also been one of the hardest. But I know everything that has happened was a lesson sent from Him. And things I may have thought were right a few months ago, were not in His plan and I'm trusting in His vision, in His plan for my life.

I HAVE A JOB. This is a serious announcement. One thing I was so worried about and have fortunately been blessed with that the least expected time. I have taken on the role as and executive assistant/administration manager at the Drapac Group, a real estate investment company. I have been working part time for the past month and will work up to full time after my reign as Miss Georgia ends. It's not what I went to school for but it's a job, it's a blessing, and I've enjoyed it so much so far! I can't wait to see where else it leads.

The past few months as Miss Georgia have been crazy, busy, but SO SO SO rewarding. The Miss Georgia class of 2014 is complete and we will soon meet the next Miss Georgia. I'm thrilled for another girl to experience what I have. I can't wait for her to experience Miss America. But I really can't wait for her to experience the love, support, and inspiration I have this year. My life is forever changed and I have an entire new outlook on life. I had a quick second to sit down tonight and write for you all and I promise I'll try to update with more specific things that go on in the life of Miss Georgia during these last three months. Thank you to those who have been there and believed in me continuously... even when I didn't believe in myself.

"There's a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."

xoxo

Lip liner, brussel sprouts, and friendship.

I wore fake eyelashes three times last week. I think that's a new record since Miss America. I've also started wearing lip liner... It's never been a regular thing for me. I know, shocking and I apologize Kristen White. It's an incredible tool though. If you haven't discovered it you're missing out. The most important part of my three things are the veggies! I've tried to incorporate more veggies into my diet lately. I have an obsession with brussel sprouts. Del Frisco's Grille in Buckhead has the most AMAZING ones. I got to eat an entire little pot of them on my birthday with some people who mean the world to me. My birthday was absolutely spectacular. I spent it with almost every person who has helped me succeed not only in pageantry but in life. It really made me realize how important it is to keep a close group of people who want to lift you higher and to never surround yourself with negativity. I then got to spend the Friday after my birthday with all my girl friends. It was entertaining to say the least... I'll leave it at that.

The Miss Fulton County pageant was this past Saturday. I always enjoy being in the audience and cheering on the girls because I know exactly how they feel. The feeling you get when they call your name out is unlike any other. It makes my heart smile when I see the genuine excitement in a girl's eyes when her name is called out. Brooke Doss is the new Miss Fulton County! This will be her first year at Miss Georgia. I couldn't help but think about the first time I won a prelim. I was Miss Historic Southern Plains 2011 and I cried like I had just won Miss America. There really is no other way to describe the feeling you get the first time you realize that you are going to Miss Georgia. It didn't matter to me if I won or lose at state, I was going to Miss Georgia! Two other girls were crowned this past weekend. Emily Bordon is the new Miss Augusta and Hilary Pulos is the new Miss Savannah River. I am so thrilled for all three of these girls!

I promised you I would post some healthy recipes and workouts! I've been getting super crafty in the kitchen lately... One thing I LOVE to make for breakfast that takes no time is my healthy breakfast "muffin."

Healthy Breakfast "Muffin" Ingredients 

1 pack of organic quick oats

1 egg or 2 egg whites 

1 1/2 tablespoons of unsweetened vanilla almond milk 

1 Stevia packet 

Dash of cinnamon 

You can also add in any fruit you want. I love to add blueberries. 

*add all ingredients into coffee mug and microwave for 1 min and 30-45 seconds

*empty out of mug and enjoy! 

I've come to the conclusion that my life will always be a balance of the unexpected. Young girls post how inspiring and "perfect" I am on social media. I'm a "woman crush Wednesday" every once and awhile and somehow the word "perfect" is typed by them. I am flattered, don't get me wrong. But I have a huge confession... I'm not perfect. In fact, I'm way more flawed than the sweet 12 year old girl who tweets at me. I've made more mistakes than I can count and I still make them as Miss Georgia. I'm a human being and unfortunately since almost the beginning of our existence we've been sinning. Every single one of us... even Miss Georgia. Thankfully, God gives us more chances to be the children he wants us to be. I know now that the mistakes make you who you are if you can learn from them. And believe me, I've learned A LOT in my 23 years of life. Remember to always surround yourself with people who want to lift you higher and who will love you even when you aren't that lovable. That's who you need to stick with. I've got a ride or die group of friends and I wouldn't trade them for all the money in the world.

Miss University of Georgia and Miss Troup County are this weekend! I'm so excited to return to Athens and watch the Miss UGA pageant. Good luck to the girls competing in both! Do it for YOU.

xoxo - Carly 

Back on the path...

I haven't blogged in awhile. My life has seemed like it's been non stop for the past few months since Miss America. It's a new year! Everyone makes resolutions. One of mine is to blog more and the others will be explained throughout the rest of this blog... *breathe* here goes nothing...

As most of you know I competed in the Miss America pageant where I was honored to have made the top 10 and to have won a swimsuit award. If you've known me for awhile then you know how long I have struggled with my weight. Most of you may laugh and wonder about that statement. The truth is, I was 35 pounds lighter at Miss America than I was my senior year of high school. I was never obese but I was definitely not healthy. I would eat Sonic after school (a chicken club toaster and a milkshake to be exact) then go home and eat another dinner. I used to hide jars of icing in my room and eat it with a spoon. I was a binge eater. The struggle with my weight also brought about a lot of self confidence issues. There were many times I would go home crying from school because I had been made fun of. I was constantly comparing myself to my friends and I prayed every day that God would make me look like the girls in magazines. I realize now that it's not ideal to look like a girl on the front of a magazine. HOWEVER, it is important to be healthy. When I say healthy I mean exercise regularly and eat a clean diet. When I got back from Miss America I somewhat let myself go. I wasn't working out as much, I was eating things just because I could, and making up excuses whenever I wanted to eat something unhealthy. I do 100% believe in portion control. It is OKAY to eat a piece of cake every now and then but I wasn't doing that every now and then. I let old habits become habits again and now I have let a lower self esteem get the best of me. But this is my promise to you... I owe it to everyone who has believed in me and told me I was inspirational. We're going to get back on track together and we're going to make HEALTHY a habit. It is not realistic to be in competition mode 24/7 and train like I did before the pageant but being healthy and fit is realistic. If you want to do it with me then follow my blog to check in with my status!

I mentioned self esteem and self confidence issues... I have them. You may wonder how a girl who won Miss Georgia and did fairly well at Miss America had so many self confidence issues. I let other people's opinions get the best of me and I trust entirely too easy. BUT one day I saw a quote that opened my eyes... "If you live for a man's compliments you'll die from his criticism." If you are constantly worried about what other people think of your outer appearance, it's going to ruin you on the inside. The past few days I've done a lot of soul searching... maybe it's because I'm about to turn 23 and had a slight pre quarter life crisis. I have realized how much worth I have if I just believe in myself. If someone hates your outfit, who cares. It makes you happy. If a boy you like doesn't like you back, who cares. It's their loss and God has something better coming. These are all minor aspects of life but extremely relatable. I left Miss America extremely positive but somehow I've let my positivity slip a little bit. I was hit with a tough reality check... Not everyone has your best intentions in mind. It's a way of life. Sometimes you have to be your own hero. I'm writing this entire blog to be my own hero and gain the positivity and happiness that I had 3 months ago. I want to share some pictures that I promised I would never post. I have come to the realization that inspiring others is more important than being embarrassed on social media.

This is when I first started working out with Stephen about 4 years ago. Not obese or fat (I hate that word) but not fit. The picture next to it was right before I left for Miss America. Still proud of the transformation!

I don't know how old I was in this picture... 

I don't know how old I am in this picture either but it's proof that eating clean and exercising regularly can make a huge difference. I hope by posting these people will realize that with hard work and determination all things are possible. I also want people to understand why being healthy means so much to me. My mom has told me that there was a time in my life when I never let her take a picture of me. I never want anyone else to feel that way. You don't have to be a size 0, 2, 4, 6 to love your body. You can be healthy and be none of those sizes. Every person's body is different. Some diets and workouts may not be the best for you but there is something out there for you. It doesn't have to take hours out of your day and you should never be starve yourself. EVER. I ate every three hours before Miss America but I also ate clean. 

I flew home from Las Vegas a few days ago where I was reunited with Miss Oklahoma, Miss Alabama, Miss Arizona, and Miss Connecticut. Being around this group of girls made me realize just how special the Miss America Organization is. We had not seen each other in months but we were just as close if not closer during our time together. I realized that no matter how far apart we live or how many miles are between us I have this group of girls for life. I have an amazing group of woman that love me. That is something to be extremely thankful for.

So... what's next for me? I've decided to take the LSAT again to apply to law school and I have been looking at potential jobs in and out of state for broadcast journalism (ESPN, CNN, FOX... gimme a call). My current job will be over June 21st so it's time to begin my search for my next adventure. I don't know exactly what it's going to be but I know it's going to be amazing since God is in complete control.

Ok so let's go through my new year's resolutions...

1. be a more frequent blogger

2. be HEALTHY, fit, and eat a cleaner diet

3. be POSITIVE 

This is just an intro... I plan to post some quick and easy workouts, clean eating examples, and I promise to blog more about a day in the life of Miss Georgia. If you're in the state or just want to come, the Miss Fulton County pageant is THIS Saturday Jan. 11th! Oh and my birthday is tomorrow. I'm going to eat cake. 23 is an odd age but I'm ready for it to be the best yet (POSITIVITY)! 

Until next time... xoxo

Dancing through the fire...

I've thought about what I was going to write after the pageant and I wanted to wait a day or so to let everything sink in. Sunday night was one of the best nights of my life... Ok I take that back it was probably the best day ever. It's like all of your dreams thrown into one night. Everything you ever worked for swirled into a pot and made into a perfect night. I'm going to start out by saying I was lucky. There were other women left on that stage Sunday night that were just as talented and qualified to be in the top 10. I am still so humbled to be one chosen. I was very calm the entire time I was there. After I walked out of interview, I knew they either loved me or thought I was a complete goof ball. But hey, that's me y'all... When they called my name Sunday night it's as if all my troubles and cares went flying out the window. I had the same feeling I had when you was 10 years old on Christmas morning. Your stomach starts to flutter and you're so giddy you can't even stand it. I was so happy... anything after top 15 was a blessing. My name was called two more times that night and I got the same feeling each time. I was able to perform EVERYTHING except answering a question. If you didn't know, Miss CT and I are best friends. We were called out back to back in the top 15 and made it to the 10 together. Talk about perfect. I could not have asked for more. I want to also use this blog to address a few things...

Yes, my sweet dog has met the President. In fact, my entire family has except for me. When the Obama's when to Panama City after the Gulf oil spill my parents met them while they were out at lunch. President Obama looked at Sable and said "Well, if I had known you were going to be here I would have brought Bo." How cool is that? They didn't shake hands, but she got a pat on the head from Mr. President.

I've already addressed this once, but I have not had liposuction. Good grief, come on people. And I haven't had my nose done. If you look at my entire family you would realize we all have the same nose. No girl that competed was perfect but we try to present our best self at all times. If you don't like the way we look or think someone else had a better body just keep it to yourself. Think of how you would feel in 5 inch heels and close to no clothes at all on stage. Scary thought huh? I could go on forever about this topic but I'll stop there... 

My evening gown... I was absolutely in love with it. It was my style which is why I was so proud to wear it. Thank you so much to Tony Bowls and W.C. Webb for seeing my vision and making the gown of my dreams. I would not have wanted to wear anything else on that stage. 

I was absolutely blessed this year at Miss America. And especially blessed to have so many incredible people behind me. My family, friends, and the most amazing board/prep team in the country. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I am so proud of myself and proud to have represented Georgia. My year as Miss Georgia doesn't stop here. I still have the job until the end of June and you better believe I'm going to cherish every moment. I can't wait for another girl to experience what I did. I tear up every time I think of my experience. It was absolutely perfect and more than I could have ever imagined. I didn't win and I wasn't what the celebrity judges were looking for at the end, but they at least liked me a little bit. Lance Bass kind of liked me... I can't even fathom that concept. Nina, our new Miss America, is the epitome of strength. She has already been through so much, but she has handled it with grace. That's what Miss America is all about. I'm so proud of her and can't wait to see what she does this year! Thank you again for all the UNCONDITIONAL love and support. I did my best. I have absolutely no regrets. That's more than I could have ever asked for. 

I think all 53 of the contestants would agree our theme song this week was "Roar" by Katy Perry. We've all had troubles, none of us are perfect, and we've worked so hard to get where we are. 

You held me down, but I got up 

                                                             Already brushing off the dust

You hear my voice, you hear that sound

Like thunder gonna shake the ground

You held me down, but I got up 

Get ready ’cause I’ve had enough

I see it all, I see it now

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire

'Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar

There are so many people I want to thank but I'll start with wardrobe/sponsors/glam squad first... 
Interview and walk on: Gregory Ellenburg
Opening number: Joseph Ribkoff and Pink and Pepper Shoes 
Walk on, visitation dresses, and way more: Scott Marchbanks at Frills 
On stage question: Keith Pittman at Lasting Impressions 
Evening gown: Tony Bowls and W.C. Webb at the Parlor Boutique
Talent: Tony Bowls and W.C. Webb for my gown. Bill Wolfe for my arrangement. Thomas Barnette for making sure it was perfect and I was able to perform it to the best of my ability. 
Swimsuit: Miss America by Catalina. Stephen Smith for pushing me to be my best self. I'll never forget that swimsuit win. Thank you. Kaylin Reque, thank you for helping me ignite forest fires with my walk.
Parade: Randall Smith and Raydale Jones. Everyone loved my fabulous peach costume and it was fabulous none the less!
To the glam squad... Kristen White, Stephen Smith, Thomas Barnette, Randall Smith... No words. You are all the reason I am who I am today. Our journey doesn't end here. Thank you for always believing in me. 
Galen Kovash and Greg Blazer: We have laughed more this year than anything else. Thank you for always believing me. I can't wait to spend more time together this year! 
Snooky, Oz, the rest of the Miss GA board, and the Miss Atlanta board: Thank you for supporting me and loving me. I have never felt so much love. 
My family (Mom, Daddy, Tripp, Nana, Papaw, Meme, Aunt Alta, my cousins): Thank you for loving me no matter what and keeping me grounded. I'll never forget where I came from... Partly because yall will show me pictures of when I was socially awkward ha! I love you guys to the moon and back. 
Leslie, Devon, Taylor, Lindsay, Jess, Elizabeth, Dianna, Tori: Thank you for being the best most supportive friends a girl could ask for. 
The patties: Leslie, Bri, Cassie, Malone, Colleen, Court, Mary Ashley, Ama
Leighton and Mrs. Clemmie: Thank you for always being a light. Your support and love will stay with me forever. I love you both so much. 

There are many more people I need to thank and I will but that's just a start... Another blog post to come.

Finish the drill...

There is no way to describe how loved I have felt the past two weeks. There is no way to write down exactly how I am feeling at this very moment. However, I can honestly say the past two weeks in Atlantic City have changed the way I look at the world. Spending time with 52 of the brightest women in the country has given me hope for the future. I admire every single contestant for their bravery and dedication to this organization. Each girl would be an incredible Miss America. Unfortunately, there can only be one. Although I would love for that to be me, I know whoever is chosen can and will be able to handle the job. My experience here has been like night and day from my experience at Miss Georgia. I pray that each state can see just how supportive we have all been to each other and realize that it is more than a pageant. God decided who will be the next Miss America before any of us were born. I am comforted in the fact alone. I have no regrets for the way I performed and was nothing but myself. I WORKED to get where I am and especially WORKED to have the body that won a swimsuit prelim. No lipo or weird weight loss surgeries. No fad diets. Just 8,000 sit ups and lunges. Sweat and tears led me to this moment and I am perfectly at peace. Thank you to everyone who has believed in me and the person I am. No matter what happens I want everyone to know how happy I am of my performance and there will be no disappointment. God has a plan and it is greater than I could ever imagine. Jeremiah 29:11.

The Climb

The title of this blog is so appropriate to how the last few weeks have been. It has truly been a climb.  Yes, it has been stressful. Yes, I am now battling a cold probably caused from stress. However, I have already experienced some of the greatest moments of my life and I'm not even at Miss America yet. I am finalizing all of my wardrobe and have mock interviews every week. My body is sore all the time but I have never felt more confident about myself! Stephen Smith, my trainer, is truly amazing. There are trials that affect us every day. Some are big and some are small. I started writing this yesterday and of course I now have something else on my mind. It's crazy how everything can change in an instant. God works in mysterious ways that's for sure. I know He has a grand plan and it's all up to Him! I have not had the opportunity to sit down long enough to write a new blog post and for that I apologize. The good news is... I LEAVE FOR MISS AMERICA IN 12 DAYS!!! *I think I can... I think I can... I know I can...* 12 more days until I begin the most important journey of my life. I have worked my entire life for this day and I want to thank each person who has stayed by my side through thick and thin. Being a state titleholder is a hard job. This job is extremely demanding and sometimes it is not as glamorous as people would think, but it is wonderful! This is something that a lot of people will never experience. I want everyone to know that I will never take this opportunity for granted. I'm the kind of person that wants to make everyone happy. It's just how I was raised. The past few months I've learned that sometimes you're put into situations where you can't make everyone happy. It's just unrealistic. You just have to do your best with what you're given and that's all you can do. I have been given the this incredible opportunity to make a difference. My life hasn't been perfect and it never will be. That's what I want people to understand. I want people to know that no matter what life throws at you, it's going to be ok. Just a little vent for the day...

So what have I been up to? Goodness, it's hard to even remember everything that has been going on. I was in Orlando last week to watch my beautiful teen, Kelly Hutchinson, compete for the title of Miss America's Outstanding Teen. She represented the state of Georgia so well and I was SO proud of her! I know she has BIG things to look forward to! I also met the 52 other women who will be applying for the same job as me! Every contestant I met was so warm and full of life. I couldn't believe I was surrounded by so many incredible women my age. We led the parade at Disney World and signed autographs. It was a pretty perfect week! We didn't even have to say goodbye because we all get to see each other again so soon.

I am now finalizing wardrobe and have almost received all of it. That has been a nerve wracking experience with the pageant being in September but it is all coming together! My send off party is THIS Sunday at the Cunningham Center in Columbus at 3 PM. Please come if you are in the area! I will be showing the wardrobe that I have but some of it is not completely finished yet. As I end this short blog, I want to again thank everyone who has supported me. Also, a HUGE thank you to my incredible sponsors. I am still in awe... Just so in awe of this entire experience. I may not always understand why things happen in life or why curveballs are thrown at the most unexpected times but God is good... and because He lives I can face tomorrow.

Please continue watching my America's Choice video on YouTube and vote at missamerica.org/videocontest :)

Because God is graceful, I am brave...

"But life inevitably throws us curve balls, unexpected circumstances that remind us to expect the unexpected. I've come to understand these curve balls are the beautiful unfolding of both karma and current."

Where do I even begin? I haven't blogged in awhile. This is a time of my life where I should be blogging constantly to remember the adventure that I have just begun. So let's just say I'm turning over a new leaf and beginning not only my life as Miss Georgia, but my life as a blogger.

As many of you know, I was crowned Miss Georgia this June. The day I was crowned was when my life changed forever. If I remember correctly, I slept all of about 30 minutes that night. But let's be real, who could sleep after something like that? Thankfully the next day I was able to take an hour nap after interviews in Columbus. It's hard to remember everything that happened the final night of Miss Georgia. I was extremely calm. That's when I knew everything was going to be ok. I knew I would be ok if I went home as Miss Georgia or remain Miss Atlanta. I knew that I had done everything in my power to become Miss Georgia. The rest was left up to God. It was by no means an easy journey this year as Miss Atlanta. I had to go through the dreaded time of not knowing what happens after college. The unknown is a scary thing. But like I said, that's when you leave it up to God. Graduating from college mixed with pressure that I put on myself to do well at Miss Georgia almost ruined my chance. I wanted to be perfect so bad that I was not allowing myself to be... well, myself. I felt defeated after almost every mock interview and could not figure out why I wasn't connecting with the judges. I recently had a conversation with a very special person about how my experience can be compared to the psychological aspect of sports. You can't physically perform to the best of your ability if you don't have the right mindset. Once I let go of all the negativity and all the pressure I had put on myself, I knew everything would fall into place. I thought to myself, "Why am I worried? God has already worked everything out. It's already decided." That was my comfort throughout the entire week of Miss Georgia. Why should I be worried about something that has already been decided?

And so it happened... I am so humbled and honored. There are really no other words to describe how I feel. I have the opportunity to share my story and passions with so many people across the state and country. It's hard to believe the overweight 12 year old girl I once was is about to compete for the title of Miss America. I wouldn't change what I've been through. I wouldn't change the fact I was overweight and bullied. I wouldn't change any rough time in my life. It made me who I am today. It also has given me the opportunity to be an example to other people who may be going through the same thing. You can get through it, you will get through it, and you will accomplish what you set your mind to. Life isn't easy, but that's what makes it so rewarding. I am thrilled about my year to come as Miss Georgia. September will be here before we know it. On September 15th I will become Miss America or I will come home the next day as Miss Georgia. Either one is ok with me. God already has that one decided, too. His plan is great and I can't wait to see what it is. 

Before I end my first blog post I want to thank some people who have already impacted my life as Miss Georgia... 
- W.C. Webb at the Parlor Boutique in Albany 
- John Siggers for taming this hair of mine and always making sure I look my best 
- Keith Pittman at Lating Impressions for the incredible wardrobe that I have already been blessed to wear. I have felt like a rockstar. 
- Scott Marchbanks at Frills and Fancies... Where do I even begin? You have already spoiled me and I can't wait to make the trip to Statesboro to visit your amazing shop 
- Matt and Meredith Boyd for my incredible head shots! You two are absolutely amazing. They turned out better than I could have ever imagined!
- Stephen Smith with Viva Fitness. You are more than a trainer... you are an incredible friend and thank you for pushing me to always be the best I can be. 
- Thomas Barnette... you are part of the reason I am who I am today. Thank you for always believing in me. 
- Kirsten White... thank you for making me feel fabulous. I can't wait to spend even more time together at Miss America! 
- Randall Smith for my alterations and my fabulous outfit that I will be wearing on the boardwalk at Miss America! 
- Kia and Mr. Braun... I have already put over 2,000 miles on my car. Your support of the MGO is appreciated more than you will ever know! I love my car! 
- The entire Miss Georgia Board... thank you for already being so supportive and there for me whenever I need anything. I have already had the pleasure of spending time with most of you but I can't wait to spend time with those I haven't quite gotten to know. 
- My friends and family... there are too many to name but your support has meant more than you will ever know. I pray that I show you the exact same love. Thank you a million!
- Leighton Jordan, thank you for being an incredible role model to me. I know I have huge shoes to fill. You have blessed my life in so many ways and I am so thankful that we were able to become close this year. You were an amazing, amazing, amazing Miss Georgia and touched the lives of so many people... including mine. 
- I'm sure I have forgotten someone. There are so many people who have touched my life this year before and after Miss Georgia. Please know that I am forever grateful and that I never get much sleep. I promise I'll be well rested by September ;)

I have already experienced so many great things in the past three weeks. I attended the Miss Florida pageant, have already started extensive work with my platform of Heart Health and Heart Safety, have had countless interviews, sang the National Anthem at the Braves game (whatttt!!!! dream come true)... while meeting incredible people along the way... I can't wait to see what's next! I have so much more that I want to write about but I'll let this be my first post. Until next time... Jeremiah 29:11