The Death of Being Exceptional from a former Miss America Contestant

The Death of Being Exceptional from a former Miss America Contestant

June 6, 2018 | 22 Comments

“I was not born an exceptional person but I made a decision to become exceptional because of the high standards of the Miss America Program.” Day by day and inch by inch, iconic institutions are “watering down” their standards to the point of the danger of complacency. The Miss America Pageant is the latest target. I read the talking points on the Miss America press release and I spoke to a board member who serves on the Miss America board along with communicating with former Miss Americas and contestants. I understand this is a hybrid mess of issues that includes the Continue Reading

Why Aunt Binny Had a Dead Chicken on her Ceiling

February 22, 2018 | No Comments

Click on the picture and laugh as I tell funny stories on my YouTube Channel. Click on the picture and listen to a short video of my new project! I am speaking for and collecting flip-flops to give to a local shelter for women. Looking forward to speaking for the International Institute of Municipal Clerks on Thursday. Standing in line at BI-LO, I heard the words I never thought I would never hear, “So, what are you cooking?” I swiveled around head first with a slight delay turning my body—an old pageant trick. Sure nuff, to my surprise, she was talking Continue Reading

My Gullah Speech is Funny and Filled with Wisdom

January 26, 2018 | No Comments

  “My new presentation is a celebration of the Gullah culture, its strong community and amazing comedy…” You will love the priceless lessons I learned packed with common sense, nuggets of wisdom and timeless humor… “Gullah style.”     I love to share my Gullah speech filled with stories told by Gumpa, my grandfather who was fluent in Gullah. Other stories I love to tell are about Tootsie, my second momma; she was one of my WOW-Women of Wisdom. You can read more about lowcountry wisdom in my new book, “Rhinestones on My Flip-Flops.” I have such fun telling lowcountry Continue Reading

Would a Beauty Queen Dare Milk a Cow in a Beauty Pageant?

January 18, 2018 | No Comments

Booking Signing at Barnes and Noble in Augusta, GA January 27, Augusta Mall at 2 PM. I heard this story and it quickly became one of my favorites to share from the platform. First of all, it is about a bold, beauty queen wanna-be. If you click on the video, it’s only 4.5 minutes, and you will hear funny moments plus great advice for the coming new year. Here is my take of the story- –Challenge yourself! Talking to yourself negatively or listening to those who define you in a negative way, can be crippling. Give it a go and enjoy the possibilities! –Become really good at Continue Reading

Stop Being So Trashy; Read She Let GO!

January 6, 2018 | Comments Off on Stop Being So Trashy; Read She Let GO!

Can You Let Go? My knees buckled when I read this poem by Reverend Safire Rose entitled, She Let Go. This message is so simple but we make “letting go” so complex. Seriously, take time to read this poem and share it with others. She let go. Without a thought or a word, she let go. She let go of the fear. She let go of the judgments. She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head. She let go of the committee of indecision within her. She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons. Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she Continue Reading

Laughing at Myself Through Christmas Stress

December 15, 2017 | No Comments

Click on the picture and download free chapters! Have you ever had a crazy day of busyness? The song, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, played over and over in my head. Can I add these new lyrics… for Christmas stress? I was practically in a panic as I rushed to get dressed to start a long day of “to-dos.” My Christmas list was long and my time to shop was short. How strange—you don’t see men stressing out shopping… until Christmas Eve. And after standing in seemingly endless checkout lines, and walking my legs off searching for Continue Reading

Christmas Parades – What A Ride

December 8, 2017 | No Comments

Gracious, I had a blast riding in Christmas Parades! I became a skilled candy-thrower and I had perfected my beauty queen wave. But I learned more than just how to wave in parades. I believe these “rhinestoned lessons” taught me how to laugh at myself along with developing a healthy attitude while riding in a kazillion Christmas parades. Here are a few really funny, timeless lessons I learned. Don’t take yourself too seriously. I was asked to be the Grand Marshall in a small town parade. Well, I thought I was the most important part of the parade until the Continue Reading

Tune In to My Latest Interview + More!

November 10, 2017 | No Comments

Y’all tune into to SiriusXM 141 at noon EST today (Wednesday) for my book interview with Willie Jolley! This weekend, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Todd Starnes Fall Get-a-way Week end. It was held at the Cove, Billy Graham’s Conference Center in the beautiful mountains of Ashville, NC. The drive to the Cove alone was a kaleidoscope of breathtaking fall colors. The weekend was filled with comedy, musicians and talented speakers.Comedian, Dennis Swanberg was a stitch, Lauren Green and Shannon Bream of FOX News touches our hearts and minds. It was a great group and an event to mark on your calendar for 2018.   Many of Continue Reading

The Ta-Ta Song

October 25, 2017 | No Comments

No doubt, mammograms and taking care of our ta-tas can give us moments that flip us out. Last year when I was having my annual screening, I was told there was “something” there and a diagnostic was needed. I was not afraid until after several more films were examined, a sonogram was suggested. Yep, I about flipped out! Thank the Lord, all was well after several hours of rechecks.   My sister had the same experience but she was not as fortunate. She made a decision to stop having mammograms and years later, breast cancer was discovered leading to a double mastectomy. Continue Reading

Rhinestones on My Flip-Flops Excerpt

September 29, 2017 | No Comments

Rhinestones on My Flip-Flops Excerpt Chapter One and Chapter Two Thank you all for your help and support!  This has been an amazing journey! Click on the “book” below and enjoy the first two chapters of “Rhinestones on My Flip-Flops!     For those who are reading the book and are enjoying the message I would more than appreciate a review at any of the retail sites you can find it on! Bless you!! Just click HERE  or on the book image!   Reviews! I enjoyed Herlong’s sense of humor and laughed out loud a few times while reading Rhinestones on my Continue Reading