Goodbye Indiana :(

The first weekend of the month, I headed to the Roann Covered Bridge Festival. This event was my first scheduled appearance as Miss Pride of Indiana. The moment after I was crowned, I stepped off stage and Boo’s sister asked me to participate in the event (She is on the board of directors of the Indiana State Festivals). Roann was a nice small Indiana town…so small in fact almost no one can get cell phone service there! My boyfriend Steven and our dog Jaxon came along to enjoy the festival. I sang the Star Spangled Banner to kick off the parade and then was escorted on a 4-wheeler in my white dress back to my car for the parade. In fact, I won 2nd Place in the non-commercial out of town division. I didn’t even know I was being judged on my parade performance ;). I was driven by a young college aged girl and I talked to her about doing the locals she is qualified for and who knows she may just be at Miss Indiana next year as a local titleholder! After the parade, I signed autographs on the “Main Drag” of the festival and hung out with Elmo! The next Friday I drove after my clinical to Indianapolis for the WAJI Riley Radio-thon. I was interviewed on the radio about the MAO and CMN partnership and urged people to call in and donate. After my interview, I answered phones and took donations. Of course, Aleigha my little buddy was there with her family and her Pink Power! She was my good luck charm because when she stood in front of my phone it always rang! Aleigha, who in 2006, was diagnosed and treated for two types of cancer, including pleuropulmonary blastoma, which is a tumor under the tissue covering her lungs – an extremely rare and aggressive cancer – and rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the soft tissue so rare it occurs in only 350 children a year nationwide. The tumor in Aleigha’s lung went from being the size of a softball on the day it was discovered at a Fort Wayne hospital, to filling two-thirds of her chest cavity by the time she got to Riley Hospital the next day. Aleigha thought she had the cancer beat but it came back in 2007. Thanks to Riley today, Aleigha is in remission!! Overall we raised $125,000.00 and the Majic Miracle Music CD Volume Two I helped promote during my reign this year raised $9,200 for Riley!! Go to these sites to learn about Volume Three on sale now! http://www.sweetwater.com/about/press-releases/pr.php?id=00188 and http://www.waji.com/pmtions/MajicMiracleMusicCD.htm. I wrapped up my first Level II clinical at Parkview during the end of the month. I had such an amazing time with the staff there and the patients (I made a Cornhole board inspired by one of my young patients as my student project!). I truly believe that working with patients who have suffered Traumatic Brain Injuries is my calling, and look forward to learning about other diagnosis at my next clinical. My last duty before I left for my second Level II clinical in Florida was judging Miss DeKalb County 2008. I was Miss DeKalb in 2002 and it was so exciting to judge my first pageant. Let me tell you it was so difficult because I knew how hard each of these girls had worked and many of them were deserving of holding the title. With 18 girls competing, the day was long but very exciting. We started with interviews, had dinner with the girls, and then header to downtown Auburn to judge the on-stage competition at the fairground main stage. The winner, Ashton Johnson, was a very kind, genuine, and sincere girl who won the moment she walked out of interview. She will be a wonderful Miss DeKalb. Ashton told me when we were taking pictures on stage that she remembers when I was crowned Miss DeKalb when she was a little girl…man did that make me feel old! The whole experience will help me in my future competitions…yes I have decided to give Miss Indiana one more try! I don’t want to have any regrets!!
Two days later I headed off to Florida and my last clinical. I was only allowed to check two bags under 50 pounds and a carry-on for three months. I must admit that this was pretty tough for a pageant girl, but I successfully packed with one bag weighing 50 pounds and the other 49 pounds! In Florida I work at Broward General Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale. I am in charge of providing Occupational Therapy for all of the hospital’s in-patients, some hand therapy, and pediatric patients 3 and younger. So far, it is good and of course, it is wonderful being in sunny Florida! Until next month…

Low Key Month

While I became much busier with my clinical, I was able to arrange my schedule to go to a few appearances in August. I was invited by Megan Thwaites to sing at her send-off party to Miss America’s Outstanding Teen. I chose to sing “Big Time” because we both have performed that song at Miss Indiana and placed 4th runner-up at state. It was so nice to meet up with some of my Miss Indiana family. I even reunited with a little girl who got my first autograph when I won my first pageant, Miss Auburn. Well she wasn’t so little anymore and is almost as tall as me! It was a great send-off. Megan represented us so well at nationals and looked amazing! I was also so proud that my Miss Indiana princess, DeDe, was Indiana’s National Princess. She looked so cute in the pictures on the Miss Indiana website. The next weekend Steven and I drove to Wisconsin to the 3rd annual Pageant Posse Lake Party. We had a great time catching up, tubing, and swimming. These girls are my best friends and I love them all! After a long weekend I went to work at 7am on Monday so that I could leave early to go to Indianapolis for the Ronald McDonald House Golf Outing (go here to see pictures from the event http://www.mediasauceclients.com/RMH/_pj/08A01/index.htm). I was scheduled to participate in this event before Miss Indiana however; it was rained out. I still wanted to participate because I believe in the RMH (My Aunt is the Executive Director by the way) and all of the services they provide for families with children in the hospital. They had an amazing auction including an autographed football from the World Champion Indianapolis Colts and season tickets to their games. I helped with the auction and sold raffle tickets. I had a great time! I was so drained from the long weekend and going in early to work when I drove back to Auburn I slept very, very, very well that night (only to wake up the next day and go back to work :(... ). Hey, you only live once so a little lack of sleep won’t kill me! Until next month…

Back to Real Life

July brought me back to real life as I started my first Level II clinical (12 weeks where I go from novice Occupational Therapist to handling a full caseload of patients…all by myself) at Parkview Hospital’s inpatient rehabilitation unit. in Ft. Wayne Indiana. I am working mostly with people who have sustained injury to their brain, spinal cord, or have suffered a stroke. I love my supervisors and the population I am working with. I have been told that working with these diagnoses can be mentally draining so we will see after this rotation if I still think this is the place for me! Meanwhile while working 40 hours a week at Parkview I still tried as best as I could to “spread the MAO word” as Miss Pride of Indiana. For July 4th Steven and I went on a cruise at Lake Wawasee that Steve won at the Totally Rad 80’s Prom. It was so beautiful and we met some very nice people on the boat and ate AMAZING snickerdoodle cookies…like about 8 each! It was so much fun even thought we got lost in a graveyard on the way home (His Garman was playing a trick on us…creepy). The weekend of the Three River’s Festival in Ft. Wayne was another opportunity to make an appearance with Majic 95.1 WAJI. Terrin Thomas – Miss Mideast Outstanding Teen 2008 and I headed to the Three River’s Parade on a rainy morning. We got there very early but the parking lot I was told to park in was blocked as all the streets surrounding it had been closed. Fortunately, I had “the power of the crown” as Bard Richard (Program Director of WAJI) calls it. I spoke with a police officer and he let me cut down a closed street to park. Once we got to WAJI’s building, we met Aleigha and her family and the WAJI staff. Then we each grabbed a little red wagon and trudged through the rain to the parade route. On the way I spotted some of my great friends, Ashley Casterline (Miss Three River’s 2008), Emily Hart (Miss Ft. Wayne 2008), Megan Thwaites (Miss Indiana’s Outstanding Teen 2008), and the teen contestants for Miss Three River’s Festival’s Outstanding Teen 2009 (Ashley jokes that is the longest title ever!). One of the teen contestants was my Miss 101 Lakes Outstanding Teen and she ended up winning the pageant held the following day! Congratulations!! After some quick photos and hugs, we made our way to our parade spot. We met all of the Riley Kids who were to be in the parade and spent time with them and their families. We also took some pictures and signed some autographs. Terrin and I were in charge of holding the sign in front of the WAJI van and the Red Wagon float. It seemed as though Mother Nature was on our side because as the parade started the rain stopped! One little girl wanted to try on my crown right as the parade started and I told her I would find her at the end of the parade and let her wear it. Well as soon as the parade ended, she found me! It was so cute and she was so excited! I left downtown and headed to my sister’s apartment to get ready for my second appearance of the day. I met Boo in Ft. Wayne and we met Steven at the Peru Circus. Boo was in the circus as a kid and it is a great Indiana tradition. So many Miss Indiana contestants have been in the Peru Circus and a couple have won Miss Circus City including Miss Indiana 2000 Betsy Bobel and 1st runner up to Miss Indiana 2004 her sister Bridget Bobel (a woman I love and admire!). I met the current Miss Circus City and her court and was introduced as a special guest at the show. The show was great and it made me want to walk the tightrope or swing on the trapeze. Thanks for setting up a great night Boo!! The next day I was a special guest and performed at the Miss Steuben County Fair pageant. I was crowned in Steuben county as Miss Pride of Indiana and started my pageant days in the county fair system so it was very special to be at the pageant and meet all of the girls and visiting queens. Later that day I watched Miss Universe and was so sad to see Miss USA fall again! I loved Crystal Stewart and the perseverance she showed to become Miss Texas on her 5th try! She handled herself so well and made the USA proud. The next weekend Michael, Frank, Ashley, Claire, and I met at Katie’s house to head to Miss Kentucky. We met early so we could go to Miss Priss (an amazing dress shop owned by a former Miss KY contestant, Elizabeth, and where I got almost all of my Miss Indiana wardrobe.) Frank dubbed us the “Hoosier Van of Beauty” and we had a great time looking at old Miss Indiana/Miss America program books and photos. We had a wonderful time at Miss Priss. Everything Katie tried on looked amazing on her, how could she pick! I know she will have a great wardrobe for Miss America. Jim and Joy (my interview coaches) also arrived at the shop and they took Michael and me up to a great “costume shop” above Miss Priss. Then we headed to get ready for Miss KY. I was extra excited because one of my “Sweetheart Sisters” from 2005, Emily Cox, was competing. She had won preliminary talent earlier in the week and I had a great feeling about her. The pageant lasted about 1 hour because it formerly was televised and it ended the best it could…with my friend Emily winning Miss Kentucky 2008!! Frank’s friend from the Miss Kentucky board also got us tickets to the after party, which was a country breakfast, with a DJ, and a dance floor. On the way to the party we got stopped by the police for turning into the bike lane (it was dark and we were in unfamiliar territory!). I think the officer just wanted to meet Miss Indiana and just so you know we got a warning (the power of the crown really works). We also met some great people at the party including Miss Tennessee 2008 and Allison Alderson (wife of Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts and a Triple Crown winner in Tennessee). Katie was most excited about meeting Heather French Henry (her favorite Miss America). Heather made my talent gown and was so sweet to even text me during pageant week. It still feels a little surreal to have my favorite Miss America become my friend. Well I grabbed Katie and we headed to meet Heather. Katie was a little star stuck…it was so cute. After the party we headed back to Indiana and quizzed Katie for Miss America and Claire for Sweetheart with interview questions. The next weekend I met up with Ashley again to work at the Brickyard 400. We handed out ice-cold cans of FREE Coke Zero to the race fans. So many pageant girls from Miss Indiana America and Miss Indiana USA worked (Erica Eisenhut, Ashley Catserline, Rachel Bogel, Morgan Able, and other USA girls). It was fun even though I got a little overheated and passed out!!! I must say I have never passed out before and hope that is the one and only time that happens. Don’t worry I was okay after a banana and some water. We also got a break to watch the race and I must say, and not because I was a 500 Festival Princess, but I like IndyCar better…even thought I had fun! Until next month…

The Big Day

We woke up very early for the big day because the annual Miss Indiana Brunch started at 8am. I was surprised in the hotel lobby by Nicole Rash…we both had on the same dress! That happens every year at Miss Indiana because I guess as contestants we all have very similar taste in cocktail dresses or limited options to shop. My boyfriend, Steven, surprised me by coming and I was so excited to see him. The Brunch is always so much fun because all of the contestants talk about their journey to Miss Indiana and thank the people who helped them to achieve their personal bests. My first year at Miss Indiana; I spoke first at the Brunch because we went in the order we interviewed. It’s a running joke that a new contestant always ends up speaking first and this year was no different. I spoke toward the end as we went in alphabetical order by title. Debbie Wily, the Miss Central Indiana director and president of the local directors association, presented us with a gift from the local directors (a wonderful traveling jewelry pouch). I was so surprised at how many girls were crying and telling emotional stories because so many of them have many more years to participate in the MAO. I decided that I was not going to cry and came up with my Top 7 list (I couldn’t think of 10) of “ways you know you have been competing in the Miss Indiana program for too long.” Some of them were “I remember Miss Indiana in Terra Haute” and “My first princess is now old enough to be in the teen program.” Everyone was rolling and I was happy to bring some laughter to the event. My roomie, Stasha, and I also swept the Brunch awards. She won the MAO Community Service Award and I won the Hoosier Leadership Award. After the Brunch it was off to the parade with our princesses. This is DeDe’s favorite part of the pageant and she always brings Mardi Gras beads to throw to the parade watchers. They are a little stressful to get untangled but DeDe was so excited and that is all that matters. The judges also surprised us at the end of the route by displaying “Perfect 10” signs for all of the titleholders as we passed by. Our driver was so sweet and got an education about MAO from DeDe and me. There was some confusion about where I was to sign autographs and the art gallery I was scheduled to be at was closed but a wonderful gentleman from another beautiful gallery came over to tell me I was to be at his shop. My driver even insisted on driving me there when I was happy to walk. It was so much fun to sign autographs and talk to all of the people as they walked by. After the signing (thanks Boo for the great autograph pads!) we ate at Cobblestone Grill and posed for a group picture with Mr. Indiana. Then we went back to the hotel where I took a much-needed nap. I was awoken by a phone call from Bridget Bobel (1st Runner-up to Miss Indiana 2004 and Miss Indiana USA 2006). Her last year of competition was the first year I competed in Miss Indiana. Bridget was so kind to help pump me up and we reminisced about Miss Indiana 2004. After the call it was time to head to the Z-PAC for finals. We all got ready and then circled up for the last time. After opening number, prelim interview winners were announced and the Pink Team prevailed once again! Katie and Claire scored the most points to take home the awards. The Top 10 was called and we prevailed again! Seven of the Top 10 were from the Pink Team…me included!!! The show went amazingly well and I felt I did my personal best and was so proud of my final night talent. Another highlight of the night was my pal Kaleena sneaking backstage at intermission. Then it was time for the awards and once again Pink prevailed winning the reality check competition (we were 1st in the CMN monies raised online, 2nd for the CMN monies raised the week of the pageant, 1st for the fashion show, and our team member Katie won the overall best in runway award). Then it was time for the big moment we had all been waiting for. It was so nerve wracking as the Top 5 was called out of the Top 10. Then it was down to 6…one of them being me and I must say I knew who had won. From the moment I met Katie at Miss Central I knew she could be the next Miss Indiana. She came to win and I was so happy for her and our organization to have such a kind hearted appreciative Miss Indiana. Katie will not only be an amazing Miss Indiana but a wonderful representative for our state at Miss America!. Her reaction was priceless and she told me later that night that she thought standing up there that I had won (which I couldn’t believe…didn’t I tell you she was sweet!) After she was crowned I was talking to her in the hallway and I got so excited that when I screamed that I was going to watch her at Miss America I spilled my water bottle all over her (I had forgotten to put on the cap) I felt horrible but she laughed it off and Morgan helped her dry off her dress next to the big fan backstage. Sorry Katie!! She was so great later that night as she let every local contestant try on her Miss Indiana crown and sash and take pictures. I’m not going to lie I was disappointed that I didn’t reach my overall goal but thought I had performed to the best of my ability and felt that my interview was the best I had ever given. Also I was excited about the success of the Pink Team (All of the Top 5 Teens had Miss Sister queens on the Pink Team, 7 of top 10 are pink, 4 of top 5 are pink, 5 out of 6 Prelim winners are pink, Miss Indiana = PINK, PINK wins Miss Indiana Reality Check!) I also won other awards: Top 10, Hoosier Memorial Leadership Scholarship, and Hillsdale Manor Medical Scholarship. I said going into Miss Indiana 2008 that it would probably be my last year but I will have to think long and hard about what I want to do. I may not be Miss Indiana but I am still Miss Pride of Indiana 2008 and will continue to be the best local titleholder I can be!! Until next month

Teens and Princesses Galore!

Friday was such a relaxed day full of teen queens and cute little princesses. We started at 9 am for rehearsals with our princesses. I must admit when we first heard our “One Day I’ll Be Miss America” song with no princesses I kind of felt a little dorky singing it. When Delaney my princess came it made all the difference and was really cute! After rehearsal we had our Princess Luncheon. I sat with Delaney (who now likes to be called DeDe), her mom Kelly, her grandma Barb, her sister (fellow princess) Kate and Ashley Casterline (Kate’s Queen). Barb told us a very cute story about DeDe and Kate arguing before Miss Indiana about which of their queens would win Miss Indiana (Ashley or me). It got so bad that their mom had to put the girls in separate rooms. I thought that was pretty funny and explained to the girls that Ashley and I are very good friends and were going to have the first unbroken tie in Miss Indiana history ;). We also exchanged gifts and made some awesome bookmarks! DeDe is such a sweet girl and has so much Miss Indiana potential!! After the luncheon we headed to Lion’s Park for the Relay for Life with the Teen contestants and princesses. Some girls participated in the karate show and some did crafts with the girls. Katie Hrynewycz, Katie Stam, and I traveled around the relay path and placed luminaries commemorating survivors and victims of cancer. Katie H’s little princess even helped us out and we had an amazing time. After my feet couldn’t take it any more we passed on our duties to some of the other girls who needed jobs and took a break (who but me would wear 4 inch platform heel to a walk?) I met up with DeDe, Kate, Ashley and Kelly at the playground. We had such a good time on the teeter-totter and jungle gym (again in heels.) After the park we went to the hotel to get ready for dinner at Stonecreek. This was one of my favorite events of the week and the first time the Miss Indiana contestants had participated in this event. What made it so great (besides the food) was that our family and friends could attend. My mom, Boo, Deb, and Tom came and it was so nice to catch up with them. After we were stuffed it was off to see who would be crowned our next Miss Indiana’s Outstanding Teen. We had watched rehearsals earlier in the day and hung out with the girls at Relay for Life so I knew the judges had a tough decision on their hands. The competition was great and although there was no Miss Pride of Indiana Outstanding Teen I felt like I had four Teens; Miss 101 Lakes Outstanding Teen (from the town I was crowned in), Miss Three Rivers Outstanding Teen (from my county), Miss Duneland Outstanding Teen and Miss Mideast Outstanding Teen (from my hometown). They all did an amazing job and made northeast Indiana proud! Megan Thwaites was crowned Miss Indiana Outstanding Teen 2008. The pageant was bittersweet because as we welcomed Megan we said farewell to Morgan (Miss Indiana’s Outstanding Teen 2007 and Top 10 at Miss America’s Outstanding Teen). I have become so close to Morgan and her family this past year. When Morgan’s farewell video played in the ZPAC there was not one dry eye in the house (I know I was balling like a baby). I will miss you so much but I know this is not the last we will see of Morgan (we have a pact for me to be her local director when she decides to compete in the Miss program…she’s only 14 so I have a lot of time to get my local together ;) ) Tomorrow is the big day and I feel really confident in my performance so far. I feel like I have done my personal best and now it’s up to the judges…Until tomorrow!

Preliminaries Conclude

So tonight was the last night of prelims and Tara, Lindsey, Erica, Claire, Ashley, Stasha and I are hanging out in my room. This morning I got to sleep in while the Alpha's went to talent rehearsals. After an early lunch from Subway, we traveled to Secret Ingredient and shopped. They are a new sponsor for Miss Indiana and we had a great time. Next was the best part of the week. We went to Riley Hospital for Children. They split us into our competition groups and the Alpha’s took a tour of the facility while the Beta’s worked in fun stations with the kids as part of the hospital’s Child Life program. Ashley and I made shields with the boys and girls. Other girls made crowns and septors while others played beanbag toss and put tattoos on the kids. Then it was back to the hotel to get ready for prelims. We left on time for the ZPAC today and the show went very well. Today I just had to “work it and be fierce” and it was so much fun! I was sassy in swim and then in evening gown I channeled my inner Tyra Banks. I worked my dress like nobody’s business. This year’s gown is by far my favorite. Pink Team continued to rule, as my friend Ashley Casterline won swimsuit in the Beta group. Also, my Miss NC sister, Nicole Pollard, won talent in the Alpha group. Tomorrow we hang out with our little princesses all day, go to Relay for Life, meet our families and directors for dinner and then go to the Teen pageant. I am very excited to see who our new Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen will be, but I will miss Morgan so much. She has been an amazing teen representative for our state and organization. I know that whatever Morgan chooses to do in life, she will be very successful.

Until tomorrow...

My Toughest Day of Competition is Done!!

Today I competed in interview, talent, and on-stage question. I woke up early and went to the ZPAC to do talent rehearsal. It went well and during my downtime I read up on current events and chilled out. Then it was to the hotel. I took an amazing nap (can you tell I like to sleep) then got ready for interview. I love love love the judging panel. My interview started a bit slow but by the third question we were off! It was so fun and conversational. The asked me a huge array of questions ranging from do you think television affects children, Give me a reason why and why not Brittany Spears would make a good Miss America, which former Miss America designed your talent gown, Do you believe in gay marriage, and do you personally want Barack Obama to choose Hillary as his VP? I had such an amazing time and really clicked with the panel. Then it was more downtime at the hotel. We were ready to leave the hotel at 5:45 but the bus for the Betas was not there yet. The Alpha's bus was so they headed to the ZPAC while we waited.. Well our bus was a half an hour late and many of the girls were going to get ready at the ZPAC. I had gotten almost all ready at the hotel because I hate to be rushed. We joked, while waiting, that the Alpha's had kidnapped our driver so they wouldn't have to compete against us (you know they are scared). We also joked that what the Alpha's didn't know was that we had kidnapped the judges and were holding the pageant in the hotel lobby (we were having a good time with our joke). We finally got the ZPAC and started competition. During the opening number the best...I mean Pink team's fabric didn't get pulled into the pit but Claire Buffie is a rock star and she grabbed it and shoved it under stairs. Then I did talent. I felt so good about my performance. I'm not sure if you have heard but my talent gown was designed and constructed by Heather French Henry, Miss America 2000, and my favorite Miss America. I had a great time meeting her and collaborating with her. I also want to thank Bill Wolfe for all of his help with my talent. He helped me to achieve my personal best while "Defying Gravity"...I'm so cheesy! Next was on-stage question. We did them fishbowl style and they were current event/personal history/state based. While waiting off stage I thought...I bet they will ask about high gas prices. Well I pulled out a question and guess what it was about? "As a college student how do you cope with high gas prices?" I was so excited. I said "Wait are gas prices high?" (you know I'm kinda sarcastic) then I said, "I live close to campus so I walk to school. Because I have done over 30 appearances as Miss Pride of Indiana and I pinch pennies by drinking tap water instead of bottled water and shop for groceries at Aldi so that I can continue to travel and be the best Miss Pride of Indiana I can be!" We did the finale and I wore my gold dress. Many people complemented me on it but what they didn't know what that it was three dresses put together to make one! It is quite a story! I want to publicly thank Elizabeth of Miss Priss in Lexington, KY. I got my off night and competition gowns from her. She is a joy to work with. Being a former pageant competitor, she has a unique understanding of what a contestants needs. Thanks Elizabeth!!

Night one ended with Claire Buffie, Miss Duneland...I mean Central, winning swimsuit and Katie Hrynewycz winning talent her fiddle performance of Orange Blossom Special. Guess what, both of the girls are on the Pink Team....we rock! So I have my hardest competition phases completed and now I just have to walk tomorrow and not fall on my face!

Until tomorrow...

P.S. My pal Lisa Allen is competing in Miss Illinois this week and I wish her luck and send her good vibes!! Remember the plan Lisa!!