The scary dreams are the ones worth chasing. Recently I visited Oklahoma City and was filled with all sorts of emotions, fueled by life’s natural high. Passion. Excitement. Fulfillment. I’m just a person who went for it and put myself out there to accomplish some bucket list items...
To speak on a stage passionately.
To host an in person wellness event.
Those dreams became a reality September 2019 as I stepped on stage at TEDxOU (9/13) and hosted an all day health & wellness event called the Legg Up In Life Movement (9/14) at the Sheraton Downtown Oklahoma City Hotel. These accomplishments were for a bigger purpose than just checking things off a bucket list and that’s IMPACT. At the end of the day, before my time is up on this earth I just want to connect, inspire, be inspired, teach, learn, grow, smile, laugh, feel accomplished, love deeply and to love out loud. Life is so short. Chase those dreams. Do things that set your soul on fire. Create your happiness NOW.
There are special places that resonate with you in life and one of those places for me is “OklaHOME.” I love and adore the state of Oklahoma. I got emotional on the plane ride there. My deep connection for this state stems from many memorable moments in my life. I moved there in 2013 after accepting a news reporting job at News Channel 4. It was my first job away from home or family. I met my now husband Ryan in Oklahoma City at the gym within a month of moving. We adopted our rescue dogs there, Cowboy Buck & Dixie. We got married there because our families are located all over the U.S., it was the perfect central spot.
This trip I partnered up with Visit OKC, Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau, to reconnect with some of my favorite places to see and eat, and explored some new hot spots along the way. There is so much culture there and the city has evolved immensely, offering modern metropolis amenities in one of the most friendly environments I’ve ever been in. I’m a midwestern gal having grown up in South Dakota, so I fully embrace it’s cowboy culture too. But beyond the fun list of things to do, it’s the people that make Oklahoma incredible. The Okie spirit that touches your soul and keeps a soft spot in your heart forever.
I checked into my hotel, 21c Museum Hotel, located along Film Row, revitalized from its original purpose as the Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant. It’s now a boutique hotel with a contemporary art exhibit inside that’s free to the public to admire. Inside you can’t miss the iconic purple penguins, interactive pieces of art that move throughout the venue, surprising and maybe even startling you throughout your visit. At check in the staff was so friendly and aware of my reservation. They handed me a welcome gift bag from Visit OKC and presented me with a gift card to their restaurant, Mary Eddy’s Kitchen x Lounge.
As I headed to my hotel room I was immediately mesmerized by the high ceilings, wide open spaces and bright art structures. When I entered my room, the exposed walls and large windows stood out, giving it a historic feel with a modern touch. I couldn’t wait to open my gift bag, filled with all sorts of Oklahoma goodies from dad hats with the letters OKC on them, mouth watering Bedre chocolates, Coop Ale Works beer and Visit OKC suntan lotion and chapstick. You can never have too much chapstick. Plus, there were passes inside for the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Wheeler District, Riversport Adventures and restaurant gift cards. What a welcome!
First things first though, I needed FOOD. One of my best friends Stacy, who I met at the gym back in 2014 in Oklahoma City, went with me to this neighborhood cafe called Stitch OKC. It was super neat located in a plant-filled garage, hanging string lights, and greenery everywhere. The house brewed coffee was smooth and strong, the food light and fresh and the service, friendly. I wouldn’t expect anything less. I ordered the “Grain Bowl, with organic farro, homemade vegetable stock, sautéed seasonal veggies, balsamic grilled chicken, topped with pickled red onion, cotija cheese and toasted almonds. It was exactly what I needed, protein, healthy complex carbs, healthy fats, micronutrients, fuel after a long travel day.
Next up I headed to Botanical Balance FREE yoga at Myriad Botanical Gardens. It was the perfect place to relax and center in nature surrounded by the beauty and tranquility of the outdoors to help relieve stress, quiet the mind and stretch the body. FREE yoga is available to the public Tuesdays at 5:45 p.m. and Saturdays at 9 a.m.
After working up an appetite once again, it was time for dinner. My girlfriend Stacy picked me up and we headed to VAST in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City for the Chef’s tasting with wine pairing. The staff was expecting us, greeted us with a smile and walked us to our table located in a private corner of the restaurant with the best view of the city; lights as far as you could see. What I enjoyed about this experience is their commitment to locally sourced foods. I loved my main course, the filet, prepared perfectly medium rare the way I like it. Every bite melted in my mouth. The ultimate treat though had to be the homemade pina colada sorbet to cleanse the palate. The sweetness took me right back to the beach. I highly recommend making a reservation at VAST, OpenTable’s 100 Most Scenic Restaurant in America. Click here to check out more information.
Onto OKC day 2, which was more than just OK. Get it? OK for Oklahoma, I had to :) It was another success. I kicked off the day with a full body kettlebell workout at Lifetime Fitness, which is fairly new to the metro offering top of the line amenities and workout classes. Then, I had an amazing photoshoot with one of my favorite local photographers, Leia Smethhurst. It was quick & easy and got so much great content for my personal brand, Legg Day Fitness. Leia is most known for wedding photography but also captures a variety of styles. She’s truly talented and connects with her client’s visions. Check out her work HERE.
After my shoot, I met up with my mom who had arrived late at night after one heck of a travel day of delay after delay. I was so excited she flew in to support me and it was fun we got to explore OKC together once again. She has been my #1 supporter and will be my best friend forever. We had the most delicious meal at Plant OKC, a fresh and local plant based cafe. I got the roasted roots bowl with beets, carrots, sweet potato, onion, quinoa & cashew miso dressing. Plus I got “The Athlete” smoothie which tasted WAY TO GOOD. Somehow we ended up shopping, which we always do, and I got to see some familiar faces like Rachel at The Black Scintilla, which carries clever nicknacks, novelty gifts and clothing. We also stopped by Nhu Avenue, a contemporary apparel store with high quality pieces at an affordable price. I love supporting local, just feels good.
It was a fun day of eating and shopping and we continued the celebration with dinner at Mary Eddy’s at the 21 C Museum Hotel and it was divine. My mom and I ordered our own version of surf & turf by splitting the Missouri Trout with charred napa cabbage, scallion rice, bacon, red pepper puree and the Prime NY Strip with yukon au gratin, smoked mushrooms, red wine jus. It was PHENOMENAL. Dessert was glorious too, we had the key lime semifreddo with toasted meringue and graham cracker crumble. We savored every bite. Let’s just say I went to bed with a full heart and full tummy.
OKC Day 3 was one for the books. It started with coffee with one of my great friends Emily. We tried out this new spot called Eote Coffee which reminded me of a speakeasy because it was hard to find in this new development area on NW 6th street. EOTE stands for “End of the Earth,” which embodies the business going to the ends of the earth to source the best coffee beans. From land-locked country of Burundi in Central Africa to the mountains of Matagalpa, Nicaragua. We shared the French Press and it was divine.
After coffee, I met up with my mom to explore the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, where there are so many traveling exhibitions and collections. We walked through the Van Gogh, Monet, Degas: The Mellon Collection of French Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. It was fitting because last year my mom and I were exploring France, so the visual experience took us back to our trip. It was fascinating.
Next, we headed to Lake Hefner to have lunch at Mama Roja Mexican Restaurant. We were seated on the outside patio with the best view of the water, boats, ducks and turtles. It was a crystal clear day, perfect temperature. I used to love coming to this place for the vibe and the food. Their chips and salsa are top notch. I ordered the fajitas with chicken and shrimp with corn tortillas and lettuce wraps and they were so delicious. The service was great! For dessert we headed to my ultimate favorite sweet tooth spot in OKC, Roxy’s Ice Cream Social, Plaza District location. I can’t visit OKC without getting the salted caramel ice cream sandwich. It is rich, it is sweet, it is salty and oh so delicious. Every bite was 100% worth it.
Then it was onto TEDxOU rehearsals, the night before the big talk! Rehearsals were a little rusty for me. My nerves were off the charts. I kept forgetting my place, I was getting in my own head. TEDxOU organizers were so supportive and encouraging, cheering me on! Afterwards, I got to meet all the other speakers and organizers at a mixer to celebrate and gear up for Friday where we got to deliver our talks we’ve all been working on for months. Surreal.
OKC Day 4…TEDxOU day!
I was awakened next to my Husband who arrived in the middle of the night, to support me for my talk. It was just what I needed. His support, his love and encouragement. My adrenaline was pumping. We went straight to the gym to run off some of the built up energy, where I practiced my talk, mouthing my words in silence with hand gestures. The other gym goers probably thought I was crazy, but I was in the zone. This was it. I was ready. From the gym, I hopped in the shower and was done just in time for hair and makeup with my dear friend Malorie Avaline.who also happened to be one of my Legg Up In Life speakers. More on her excellence later in the blog. This glam session was more than just that, we talked about our worth, our messages, our visions for the future. Just what I needed heading into the big talk. And just like that, I was off to the University of Oklahoma for TEDxOU.
There was one word to describe my TEDxOU talk, ELECTRIFYING. That is how it felt to step onstage under the bright lights. The energy of the crowd calmed me, I felt supported the moment I spoke my first word. Then, I just let it all out. I poured my heart & soul into every second of the clock ticking. I knew exactly what I wanted to say, how I wanted to connect and the message I wanted to resonate with every human in the audience and beyond. I had worked on my talk for more than a year. It evolved over time, throughout many growing stages in my life, throughout my husband and I’s miscarriages, throughout the seasons of pain and healing.
It was in the dark when the light started to shine and I found healing in sharing our life experiences on social media to open conversations about taboo topics and to connect with women/families to let them know they’re not alone. After living out loud, exposing our heartbreak, being vulnerable and transparent in life from the good to the happy and sad to the unthinkable. I knew my topic. So here’s my BIG IDEA.
To post with a purpose.
To share you to connect and inspire.
To build relationships to seize your online tribe.
To seek opportunities to create lasting impact.
I look forward to sharing my talk in its entirety soon (takes about a month for it to be edited and approved by TED). I have to take this moment to say THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me along the way. This trip was eye opening for me. I’m human and have doubted myself so many times, felt resistance, questioned my purpose. BUT coming back to Oklahoma for this opportunity, I felt like I truly embraced my worth and I’m proud of myself. I know that strength came from the love and encouragement I received from my family, friends and online tribe! I cried so many happy tears this trip.
Also, I wanted to take the time to thank all the TEDxOU organizers for their hard work. They were incredible to work with and always there to answer questions and offer support. I also enjoyed meeting the other speakers and listening to their talks on so many diverse and interesting topics out there. The concept is truly fascinating, ideas worth spreading and there’s always something to learn.
After the talk we grabbed lunch then checked into the Sheraton Downtown Oklahoma City Hotel, where I was to host the Legg Up In Life Movement, an all day health & wellness day dedicated to improving health and confidence both inside and out. We were greeted with a smile, staff ready to assist us at a moments notice. The Sheraton upgraded our room to a suite and it was so spacious. On one side the suite was our bed and a bathroom and on the other side was a big living room, additional closets and another bathroom which made it super convenient for my personal clothes and event materials.
Later that even we went to Wheeler District to ride the historic Ferris Wheel , formerly the Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel. The Wheeler Riverfront Plaza is neat too because there are so many places to sit, relax, play games, take pictures. It's a hot spot to make memories at, plus has the best views of the city!
Then we had dinner at The Parlor located in Automobile Alley. This is a neat concept of bringing a variety of chefs and mixologists together under one roof, which gives the consumer options on what food style they want to eat. It’s set up like a combined gathering space so people can order food, pick it up then find a seat. We were on the rooftop for a friend’s birthday, Lacey, who I used to work with at News Channel 4. It was nice to reunite with my morning news team and other journalists I spent years working side by side with. While I wanted to celebrate the night away, duties called and we needed a good night's rest to prepare for the Legg Up In Life Movement the next day. We hit the bed and I was out in five minutes.
OKC day 5...Legg Up In Life Movement day!
I got to sleep in and it was glorious. After a day of sensory overload, I needed it. I was awakened by excitement though, it was Legg Up In Life Movement day, a day dedicated to mental and physical transformation. I’ve had this idea for a long time, hosting an in person event where like minded people could come together to connect, be inspired, have breakthroughs, grow and leave feeling a fire in their bellies that they can achieve anything they put their mind to.
I wanted to create a safe place for people to open up, not be afraid to be vulnerable or have the fear of being judged. Hmmm, sounds like my TEDxOU talk :) I had spent about two months organizing this event, which should have been way longer, but I definitely bit more than I could chew preparing for the talk and this event. There were days I was completely overwhelmed, but it was 100% worth it and I learned a lot along the way.
The morning was spent setting up for the event. The event space was nothing short of perfect. It took place in the Plaza North ballroom on the second floor of the Sheraton Downtown Oklahoma City Hotel. The room was set up to have a classroom setting on one side where the workshops and speaking sessions took place and open space on the other where the movement portion was.
I was amazed by our event backdrop which was made by Marissa with Cultivate Event Planning. I envisioned an arch with balloons that people could stand under together uniting us all. I explained the design and color scheme to Marissa and within an hour she sent over a sketch to me. She used her creativity to bring my ideas to life and ultimately created an eye catching backdrop that was even more elaborate than I envisioned. It was so aesthetically pleasing and truly represented the event.
The event was designed for all ambitious souls out there to have the tools to ultimately create the life you love on your terms with mindful eating, movement, discipline & passion for life. We all owe it to ourselves to have the courage to take that scary leap, to put our mental & physical health first, to take our happiness to the next level, EVEN in the midst of life’s chaos.
This event was a one stop shop to motivation, empowerment, endorphins, personal success and growth on so many different levels. Some of the highlights included were: endorphin building workouts, mindset breakthroughs, self confidence workshops, empowering tools, inspirational speakers, health & wellness vendors, wellness swag bags, networking, photo booth station, plus food & social hour!
The food came out excellent too and fit the theme of healthy and intentional. I expressed to hotel event staff that I wanted food options to be fresh, with clean ingredients and balanced. I strongly believe in meals balanced with a lean protein source, complex carbs, healthy fats and micronutrients which are fruits and veggies. The chef took my ideas and created a spread that tasted good, was nutrient dense and looked decadent. For brunch we had a savory egg bake with veggies, sweet potatoes, lean protein sliders with fruit on the side. For our healthy snacks there was lean meatballs, hummus with pita bread and veggie, plus more fruit!
The goal was to have all participants feel empowered and inspired with mental/physical exercises designed to push you outside your comfort zone, to increase confidence inside & out and to make yourself a priority every single day. Together we rewrote our stories about confidence, purpose & healthy success. All of our participants left the Legg Up In Life Movement with knowledge, connection and love for ourselves and each other. It was INCREDIBLE!
I have to brag about my speakers and their topics too. These people are all good friends of mine with positive and impactful stories of strength, resiliency, passion, drive and more. They say surround yourself with people who support and push you and all of these incredible humans do just that for me and everyone else they cross paths with.
Scottie Gee Hines is a mouthpiece for LOVE and dreaming BIG. He's finally baring his soul to the world, and sharing his most vulnerable parts. Scottie is a TV journalist, happiness ambassador, community builder, storyteller, host, consumer advocate, and Ironman, who boldly shares with his whole heart and voice. His energy lights up a room and is electric, bound to leave you inspired and hungry for more. Scott led us through some deep breath work and a deep meditation that led our attendees to tears, smiles and open hearts.
Emily Sutton is known for her sense of humor as much as she is for her sense of the weather. She'll encourage you to love yourself, challenge yourself, and have fun along the way. She opened up her talk with a dance off to N’Sync and talked about how pushing the limits will make you discover more about yourself and help you in the long run in all aspects of life! Emily even created a worksheet to inspire our attendees. Her personality, energy and smile will capture you, she's the best!
Ali Meyer whose purposefully public battle with breast cancer doubtlessly touched hearts and saved lives. She shared her story of overcoming adversity and how facing a life-threatening challenge strengthened her. She encouraged our tribe to always have the last say when it comes to our bodies and health.
