Homegrown Lessons

Emily Stark ·

Are you following Marney Andes?

Here is a tidbit from her newsletter post the 2023 pageant -

Thanks again for joining the Homegrown Community! You're on the list to receive my weekly Homegrown Lessons newsletter. The topics I write and talk about here, I’m living and breathing. I share unfiltered stories and reflections from my own life and turn them into exercises you can use. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy sharing them.

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This week’s lesson: Say yes

When thinking back to some of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had the pleasure of participating in, I think of things like intense and exciting buzzer-beater games, meeting someone special, or traveling and doing something new. A new place, a new experience. 
 

Fifteen years ago, I had the pleasure of speaking to thousands of school children from across the country at the Lincoln Memorial, National Mall in Washington D.C. It wasn’t my first time visiting our nation’s capital but it certainly was different; never before had I been given a microphone on the steps of a memorial and asked to deliver an address. Afterward, I was flooded with questions, comments of “thank you for being here,” and hugs. It truly was an experience of a lifetime for a simple, Nebraska-raised young woman, who’d made her way to Colorado, and at the age of only 31 years, found herself with this opportunity. 
 

An opportunity made possible because, at the time, I was the reigning Mrs. America.

Many times when people ask me about my pageant experience, they tend to lead with questions like, “what did you have to do for the competition?” or “why would you compete?” For the longest time, I felt the need to respond with a well-thought-out answer, focusing on the hours and dedication it takes to prepare for a competition (which it does) and my goal of getting back into shape as well as proving to myself I could do it (which I did). But a few years ago, I stopped providing those responses. Not because they weren’t true, but after reflection, they weren’t the most important things to emanate from the decision; the experience of competing and the experiences that followed were what made it special and impactful to my life.
 

And it was possible because I said yes.
 

Pop over the Marney’s website here to read the rest of her blog post!
 

We love keeping up with Mrs. Colorado 2019

Emily Stark ·

5 years ago, I started a fitness business I wasn’t even ready for…

I remember in May 2018, turning to Luke Preslar and saying “there is never the perfect time to start anything new so might as well do it messy.”

We brought in 26 clients in my world that summer, I had just competed for Mrs Colorado for the first time and I shared everyday in my stories my meal prep, the workouts, the water reminders, the 330am wakeups, the treadmill walks…

And I made a lot of mistakes. I didn’t know how to do bookkeeping and file business taxes let alone start an LLC. Systems and tech were not my strong suit. Marketing on social media felt like a dog+pony show. Selling felt uncomfortable and scary. Even after world gold medals, degrees, a crown, #1 stats on my OPRs, certifications and experience in the wellness space I still questioned if I was “good enough” to coach.

I had moments I wanted to gut my eyeballs out bc I was balancing a LLC and active duty. I was stationed away from my husband for 3 years at that point so I had a lot of crying-emotional talks with my dog Shadow.

And no one knew that I was battling PTSD from multiple traumatic knee dislocations AND sexual harassment at work.

I was going through a lot but my clients were the brightest part of my day.

But because of those mistakes I’ve learned a hell a lot faster then “preparing for perfection”.

Fast forward 5 years and built a multi six figure brand. I have trained hundreds of women online and now have trained over 100 military women in the last year since my pivot in 2020.

I thought my mission was serving active duty for 20 years….instead God gave me the hint to train military women full-time when my orders in May 2020 to move farther away from the hubby (an extra 3 years on top of the 5 years we were already physically separated).

Military women are my mission. I want them to win. I want them to crush their PT test and feel confident in uniform. I want them to feel certain with their routine with an uncertain unpredictable life. I want them to become the high-performing leader at work AND at life.

The lesson here is that overnight success doesn’t exist- especially for long-term growth. I didn’t have viral posts or videos. I didn’t have a million dollar loan or family handing me money to start.

I had a dream and a passion to help. Money has never been the goal- the people are.

Because my hope is when I die…I want the people that I’ve inspired in my lifetime to say “because of you, I took a chance on me.”

You must love yourself

Emily Stark ·

From our Miss Colorado for America Strong 2022 - Alyssa Torres

Biggest question I got on my trip.

Why was I alone?

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Not surprising. I know traveling alone isn’t super common although I think for women it’s becoming a little more popular.

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But it had a few people baffled.

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Where was my boyfriend?

Why didn’t I have a boyfriend?

Was I looking to meet someone?

Did I get bored?

And I think it’s really interesting how many people said they couldn’t spend that much time by themselves.

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Friends no new news here: but you are gonna be with YOURself for the rest of your life, so better sink in.

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here’s the truth: I believe the key to cultivating true happiness is being able to be happy alone.

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I LOVE people.

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But if our happiness relies and is dependent on other people- doing things with us, being near us, giving us attention…it’s a conditional happiness that isn’t steady and one you can’t truly cultivate. And you are then literally spending the moments of your life WAITING for someone else, to do and be who you want.

If you can’t find happiness within yourself. The happiness you find in other people, will always fade.

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So sit with yourself, be still and find the things that bring you joy. Do more or that. Who are you? What brings you joy? Create spaces and time to cultivate that…in yourself. Always.

Words from Miss Woodlands Park 2022

Emily Stark ·

Between balancing my normal every day life, getting back to work, and decompressing after a long pageant weekend I must admit I have been putting off making this post. I haven’t been putting off this post because I was upset or disappointed, but solely because I truly do not know how to put my thoughts into words. Here it goes, I am going to try my best. As many of you know this Saturday I used my title as Miss Woodland Park, and competed for Miss Colorado for America Pageant. I did not win, or even place. However, I feel like the biggest winner. I left the pageant leaving no regrets or nothing behind. I tried my best and can honestly say I was stunning, strong, gorgeous, and stole the stage!!!! I left that day feeling like more of a women than I knew possible. Every women who stood on that stage was equally deserving of that title. It was not Gods time for me and he has other plans in store however, The Miss Colorado for America Pageant has not seen the last of Victoria Wallace! I am undecided as to whether or not I will take a year off, or presume another pageant but I will be back to tell my story and support my platform. I have gained so much confidence, knowledge, respect, and at least 40 new best friends. I have done pageants before and never experienced what I did this weekend. When Emily Stark told us many women did this for the friendships, I just couldn’t believe it. I thought there was no way possible all of these successful women competing for the same title could end up best friends but she proved me wrong. I entered the pageant knowing NO one and left with so many new relationships. Going back to work today was such an appreciative feeling. It was sooo nice to be welcomed in my classroom this morning by all of my dear students asking me about my “princess competition”. On top of that all of the parents who supported me, and half of the teachers I work with who surprised me at the show. It took a lot to not cry right before going on stage when I originally thought I would be doing this alone. My family, friends, co workers, everyone came together for this moment to support me and it means more than I could ever express! I’m soooo thankful for Shelbie Lynn for taking my photos, for my biological dad Ben Huber who came to see me for the first time in Colorado, along with my Aunt Monico Huber Nunez. For my uncle Brian Swanson who left Illinois for the first time in what seems forever. My delightful Aunt Carrie Myers Wallace and Philip Wallace who basically made the weekend happen while balancing there day to day life with 4 kids. For the sweet women who altered my dresses, to having them cleaned. To my mother and father who made this their main priority. To the sweetest sister of mine Abigeal Elaine Wallace who surprised me with half of the entry fee for the pageant. There are so many people who made this possible!! My family and friends who voted and supported me from a far, and even Taylor Richardson who came from Arizona just to support me win or lose!! I just want you all to know I got out of this experience everything I put into it and someone truly just deserved it more this time. This is something I would have never imagined i’d even get the courage to do BUT I DID and I mean it from the bottom of my heart when I say I could not have done it with out you all and I felt your support ever step of the way! Though I am not your 2022 Miss Colorado for America I still have some time to change the world as your 2022 Miss Woodland Park. As for Alyssa Torres you are my biggest role model and have some huge shoes to fill after the impact Emily Sanders has made on the pageant family and I know you will accomplish just that! There could not have been a more deserving queen and I can not wait to see what you do! It was such a blessing to have you as a pageant sister, dressing room neighbor, and wing women in line Shine bright like the star you are and show your little boys how wonderful of a mother they have!! xoxo

-your 2022 Miss Woodland Park

Top 5 for the Mrs. Colorado Pageant

Emily Stark ·

The highest scoring contestant becomes Mrs. Colorado 2022

Second highest scoring contestant becomes Mrs. Colorado American 2022 - previously known as the 1st Runner Up.

Third highest scoring contestant is the 1st Runner up to both titles!

Martin Luther King Jr said it best

Emily Stark ·

Martin Luther King Jr once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?”  As a young teenager I initially was introduced to community service as a requirement for a school group.  I choose to volunteer at a senior day center and after my first hour I was hooked.  The ability to help others and bring a smile to their face was contagious!  Now 25+ years later I still carry the same passion to help others in our community.  As many of you know my year as Mrs. Colorado American has focused on supporting the needs of the terminally ill and their families largely due to my experience of my father’s terminal illness, Frontotemporal Lobe Degeneration, also known as FTD or Pick’s Disease.  I have partnered with organizations like Make-A-Wish, HopeKids, Project Angel Heart, There with Care and AFTD (Association of FTD) to be able to help families, like mine, who have a loved one with a life-threatening or terminal illness. 

 

As Mrs. Colorado American it is also important to help our Colorado communities!  On December 30, 2021, the Marshall Fire ripped through my neighboring communities of Louisville and Superior and was making its way to my community of Northwest Arvada.  Being out of town at the time I first learned of the fires from a neighbor and then turned to social media where I learned the fire had spread to residences.  As I watched social media and national news coverage, my heart sank for the families who had minutes to flee their homes, some barely having enough time to grab their pets before leaving behind a home full of memories.  Those that know me, know that I am a solver by nature – if I see a need, I immediately start figuring out how I can help rather than waiting for others to help.  As I was thinking through different ways I could help families immediately and from out of state, the Marshall Fire got personal – I received a text message ordering my neighborhood to begin pre-evacuation immediately.  The feeling of helplessness hit a whole new level – now not only am I not in Colorado able to help those impacted by fire, but now I am not even home to be able to help save my family’s cherished memories.  Thankfully, I have an amazing friend and neighbor who immediately offered to get our cat Roscoe and each of my kids’ baby memory boxes and to bring them with her when it was time to leave.  Thankfully a few hours later the pre-evacuation order was lifted, and my neighborhood was safe from the fire. 

I share all of this with you because it fueled my determination to help the 1,000+ families who lost their homes to the Marshall Fire.  Had it not been for the heroic efforts of first responders, my family could have been one of the 1,000+ affected.  Upon returning back to Colorado, I began connecting with various organizations that were in need of donations and/or manpower to help meet the need of the Louisville and Superior communities.  One of the amazing gifts of participating in the Mrs. Colorado Program is that you immediately gain a sisterhood of local titleholders, many of whom share a passion to help their communities too.  With less than 48-hour notice, I was able to gather my sister queens Emily Sanders (Miss Colorado for America Strong) and Danette Haag (Mrs. Colorado America) to volunteer with me at the Arvada Elks donation site.  We spent several hours sorting and organizing donated clothes for Marshall Fire victims!  To see the Elks Lodge filled with donations was heartwarming.  Coloradans stepped up to help those displaced by the fire.

Most recently, I was able to gather my sister queens and local titleholders to volunteer at the A Precious Child Marshall Fire Relief Center that is being run out of a vacant department store at the Flatirons Mall.  Three of us were responsible for running donations from the arrival center to the sorting and organization center and then assisting with sorting and organizing donated clothes.  We were quite the spectacle – pageant queens learning how to maneuver pallet jacks!  But in all seriousness, being able to see the bottom floor of this department store filled with items for Marshall Fire victims was unbelievable.  A Precious Child set up donations in different departments and had items on display as if it were a true department store.  Seeing the care the organization put into in making sure they had both quality and quantity donations, but also that the relief center was set up in a way that helped the fire victims maintain dignity was extraordinary.   We hope to be able to arrange a Mrs. Colorado Program volunteer day at the A Precious Child Marshall Fire Relief Center giving an opportunity for local titleholders throughout the state to help make a difference to those impacted by the Marshall Fire.

I encourage everyone rather than waiting for someone else to fill a need, take the initiative and do what you can to help fill the need.  As my dad taught me - you never know when you may be the one in need, so do what you can while you can!

Autograph Cards from 2020 Queens

Emily Stark ·

Every year the queen has Autograph Cards made for their community appearances. Below are slices of the 2020 queens autograph cards.

2020 Mrs. Colorado Nicole Covney

2020 Mrs. Colorado American Sylvia Waller

2020 Miss for Colorado America Juliet Abdel

Mountaineer Story on Mrs. Colorado 2021

Emily Stark ·

Are you following our Mrs. Colorado 2021 - Danette Haag? She spoke at Fort Carson a bit back and the local paper wrote an article on her.

Here is a small piece of the article:

 “Flawless is really about beauty being so much more than just skin deep … today I want to show you what that really means and what that feels like to see your own true beauty,” said Danette Haag, inspirational speaker and Mrs. Colorado 2021, during a visit to Fort Carson Aug. 31, 2021.

Fort Carson spouses, Soldiers and Colorado pageant title holders gathered at the Chaplain Family Life Center to listen to Haag’s inspiring story about faith and resilience after a fire burned about 70% of her skin when she was 10 years old.

Cathy Howell, physical security specialist, Directorate of Emergency Services, and Mrs. Fort Carson, invited Haag to speak on post.

“I was inspired by her story, and as military spouses we go through a lot,” Howell said. “I asked her to come to Fort Carson because as military spouses we tend to put everybody else first. I thought her words would encourage some of our military spouses and Soldiers here on Fort Carson.”

To read the rest of the article, click here.

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Toy Drive - We need NEW toys - Drop off September 1- October 27

Emily Stark ·

We will be filling the Santa’s Workshop located on Fort Carson Army Base. Please bring a new toy for any child between the ages of 1 and 16 years old. We would love for you to individually host a toy collection to help gather as many toys as possible between September 1 and October 27. We will take all the toys to Fort Carson Army Base in Colorado Springs on October 28 and fill up Santa’s Workshop.

We need your help and support. We need toys.

If you need to drop the toys off, call Emily to drop off. 303-593-1199

Thank you Sono Bello for featuring our Miss Colorado for America 2021!

Emily Stark ·

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Thank you for Sponsoring Emily in her journey to Miss for America Strong - From the Sono Bella website -

Meet Emily: Mother, Model, Entrepreneur, and Women’s Health Advocate.

Sono Bello is proud to announce that we will be sponsoring Emily Sanders, a patient of ours, as a contestant in the 2021 Miss America Strong competition in Las Vegas this coming November.

This past year and throughout her life, Emily’s physical and personal transformation has been inspirational, and we are honored to help share her story with the world.

Emily is a women’s health and safety advocate. She works closely with The Blue Bench, a non-profit that focuses on rape prevention and providing much-needed support to the survivors of sexual assault.

Please hop over to the Sono Bella Blog to read the remainder of the Blog Post! Thank you Sono Bella!

https://www.sonobello.com/about-us/blog/meet-emily-mother-model-entrepreneur-and-womens-health-advocate/

Mrs. Colorado 2021 Biography on Blog

Emily Stark ·

Then I had a vision of me and 30 other women on stage, all dressed in gorgeous gowns. When I looked around, I didn’t see me as the ‘scarred lady’ in the middle.  When I looked around, I saw their life scars too.  I saw their insecurities. I saw their life battles. I saw their pain. I saw their triumphs. I saw their scars too and I felt included.  I was just like them! So, I bravely followed that God push and competed.

2021 was my 3rd year competing for the title and each time has been filled with personal growth and connection with incredible women.  Learning so much about myself, and that broken little girl healed a bit more each time I did the pageant prep and experienced the magic of pageant week. Putting the pieces of that shattered childhood dream firmly together as I gradually improved my skills in this sport of pageantry.

At 50 years old, this once very broken little girl, won the title of Mrs. Colorado 2021! I am deeply blessed and honored to be the title winner.  Carrying this prestigious title and wearing this incredible crown validates all that I share in my message as an inspirational speaker.  Our true beauty really does radiate past any scar of life, if we let it.  Inspiring others to not let any insecurity, doubt, fear or pain of life stop us from doing great things.  And sending the powerful message that when you deeply love and believe in yourself then anything can happen.  God truly does bring Beauty from ALL Ashes of life. 

“Be bold in faith, lead with love and never be afraid to shine your True Beauty.”

 Danette Haag

 Mrs. Colorado 2021