Monday, December 31, 2012

Cheers to a New Year!

     
       By 11:30 this morning, I strode out of Prairie Life Fitness in Omaha after finishing an appearance at a New Years Eve Bash. As I was walking out, one of the little girls I had spent the morning with stopped me. She calmly stated "we saw you coming in this morning and I said "this is a gym, lady! Not a mall!"
      Granted - I was a little overdressed for a morning at the gym, but not for ringing in the New Year (a little early) with a great group of kids!
      I was extremely blessed to begin the festivities at 9 o'clock this morning at Prairie Life Fitness.

      We began the morning by coloring New Years pictures and reading a story about New Years Resolutions. It was a lot of fun talking to the kids about New Years Resolutions - I even got to share mine and help them come up with their own resolutions! Many of those kids wanted to focus on being more helpful and eating more healthy food. I was extremely proud of them and I enjoyed seeing them start their work by helping each other and cleaning up all morning!
Helping Elaine with her banner :)

Helping some of the boys finish up

Adding Sparkle!

      Next we created 'Happy New Years' banners. It was a craft close to my heart because I got to work with the kids and it involved sparkles!
Cheers to a New Year!

      After playing a few games, we got ready for our New Years Eve countdown (at a reasonable time). The kids made edible New Years Hats out of ice cream cones, toasted a new year with sparkling juice, and then prepared for a countdown and balloon drop to celebrate the new year!

Ready to drop!

Our attempt at a self-portrait as more and more kids piled in :)

Addison

A new year calls for being a little silly :)

Happy New Year!

A (slightly) better self portrait :)

      The main thing I learned today is that you should never give 14 children noise makers unless you are totally prepared for the chaos that will ensue! But seriously, I am extremely fortunate that I got to begin my festivities ringing in the new year at a wonderful event with wonderful children! I can only hope they had as much fun as I did!
      I hope that 2013 is a year as wonderful as our morning New Years Celebration!
     

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

There She Is...

What a wonderful Miss Nebraska!
   
   Months after titling together Mariah Cook (our current Miss Nebraska) and I discovered that not only were we sister queens, but we also share a birthday! So when she announced her send-off/birthday party to be held on our birthday, I knew I couldn't miss being there to wish her the best of luck at Miss America!

The Beautiful Kayla Batt!
 

      Saturday morning I picked up our recent Miss Nebraska, Kayla Batt, in Lincoln and we trekked out to North Platte together. Despite spending 6 hours together in a car that day, I don't think there was a moment of silence and it felt like we made it to North Platte in record time!

I love this picture!
 
      When we arrived, I had the pleasure of grabbing some birthday cake and sharing a table with Mariah's Miss Nebraska family and her Miss Nebraska little sister, Emily. I felt blessed to join Emily because she has been an inspiration since the state pageant last June. She was diagnosed with leukemia shortly before the pageant. Despite the hardships and endless hours of treatment, Emily always has a smile and a positive attitude when I see her! I felt so blessed to catch up with her on Saturday!

      Emily also got to be a part of the festivities! As Mariah modeled most of her attire for Miss America and performed her talent beautifully, Emily was able to show off some of Mariah's wardrobe and accessories!

I even won a duck key chain in honor of Mariah!

      A birthday party wouldn't be complete without games and entertainment! In addition to the wonderful fashion show and talent performance, there were fabulous performances by our reining Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen and our most recent Miss Nebraska, Kayla Batt! We even had games during the celebration and I won an adorable duck keychain in honor of Miss Nebraska herself!
The always beautiful Miss Nebraska, Mariah Cook, and our current Miss Chadron, Meghan Thalken
 

      In addition to these wonderful festivities, I always feel blessed when I travel west because I love seeing my fellow sister queens and all of the wonderful individuals who work on the Miss Nebraska board! I am truly honored to have such wonderful and inspiring individuals in my life!

 
 

      After the send-off Saturday, I want to wish our Miss Nebraska - Mariah Cook - the best of luck as she competes at Miss America in January! I know she will represent our state in a wonderful way and I can't wait to hear about the impact she has while she is there! To help make that experience even better, we can all go to the Miss America website, watch Mariah's video, and vote for her as the peoples choice finalist in the top 15!
http://www.missamerica.org/videocontest/

Friday, November 16, 2012

Smiling with Cheryl

          This semester I have really enjoyed my "Interactions with Parents of Children with Special Needs" class. Throughout the semester we have completed fun activities and had many guest speakers. Not only have I learned a lot in class, but I have been greatly inspired by many of the individuals who have visited.
          Our most recent visitor was perhaps the most inspirational. Cheryl Poff is both deaf and blind and she has minimal abilities to move her fingers. Many people may become helpless in similar situations, but Cheryl maintained the best outlook possible!
          To begin with, Cheryl explained her eyesight to us. She had us put our pointer finger up in front of the center of our left eye and make a circle with our fingers to put in front of our right eye. This is how Cheryl sees the world. She pulled her fingers away from her face and explained that this is how she sees everyone - as a perfect 10! Try it and see for yourself!
          Cheryl also told us about many other accommodations she has made simply to get by day-to-day. She labels many of her things with foam letters, folds each denomination of money in a different way so she can find them easily, and even takes the bus, among other things. The simple things we take for granted are things that Cheryl has to think about and use exceptional problem solving skills to take care of every day.
          Cheryl made one comment, however, that really hit home with me. So often it can be difficult to keep a smile on your face when you are nervous or stressed. Yet Cheryl, who had a disease which generally causes people to lose their ability to smile, claimed that she loved to smile because she had worked so hard to make the muscles in her face work to do so.
          If nothing else this year, I will remember that I am working for and with people like Cheryl in my platform work, and for people who have not quite reached the same level of comfort with themselves. Throughout the year, I will be encouraged to smile - because some people can't, and some people have worked exceptionally hard so they can.
        So I challenge many of you - Smile with Cheryl every day; I know I will!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Reason for the Reign

     Many times people think of pageant girls simply as beauty queens - beautiful women with not much more to give. In nearly every interview I am asked how I will show the world that pageant girls have so much more to offer. All people have to do is look at a day in the life of one of us.

     This last Monday I began my day with classes at the University of Nebraska - Omaha where I am a senior elementary education major. After turning in a lesson plan and some objectives and completing some Halloween projects with pre-school children, I sat down to study for an upcoming exam in classroom management.

     A little before one, I packed up my school things and headed over to the Children's Hospital where I met with Kaylee Carlberg ( Miss Gering) and Mariah Cook (Miss Nebraska).
    We were fortunate enough to participate in craft time with the children where we got to help them color pictures and decorate pumpkins and picture frames! It was such an incredibly amazing and rewarding opportunity. The children seemed genuinely excited to have a bright spot in their day in which they were able to do crafts and hang out with three "queens." While several of the kids were shy at first, many opened up and enjoyed chatting with us about their friends, families, school, and the upcoming holiday! Knowing that we could be a bright spot in what may have been an otherwise sad and scary day is beyond fulfilling and wonderful.
 
One of the patients we met who was extremely kind and outgoing! It was a joy to talk to her :)
 I wasn't able to talk to Ella much but she followed us around all afternoon smiling and trying to play with the stuff we had out - what a cutie!
Sam was an adorable little boy who was exceptionally excited about Halloween and the monster stickers we had for decorating!
Carly is truly an inspiration. She sat with us working on our projects and chatting away for awhile. Like any normal 10 year old girl, Carly talked with us about her friends and her boyfriend. She told us how her boyfriend gives her flowers and kisses on her cheek and takes her on many dates. Carly told us all of this with the biggest smile on her face and showed obvious pride in those little details. At one point the comment was even made that Carly was a lucky girl; she simply nodded and smiled in response. You would never guess that Carly has spent her last four birthdays in the hospital and has no use of her arms.
Carly is my reminder to face life with a positive attitude and to put good into the world. If she can be that brave and positive, there is no reason for me not to.
This is what the pageant experience is all about. Not only do we have the wonderful opportunity to go out in our communities and change the lives of those around us, but we also grow close and form friendships that truly feel like they will last a lifetime. I would be there in a heartbeat if these girls needed me and I know they would be there for me too.
The next time you see a pageant girl...look for this crown. The four points of the crown symbolize four S's - Style, Scholarship, Service, and Success. A day full of school, community service, working with kids, and spending time with such fabulous young ladies certainly sounds like a day of style, scholarship, service, and success to me. 



Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Bowling and Beauty Queens

     I only recently crowned my successor, Charissa Hauge as Miss Heartland and I was excited when she organized a Queen Team for a Children's Miracle Network Bowl-a-thon! Charissa, Kaylee Carlberg (Miss Gering), Mariah Cook (our lovely Miss Nebraska), and myself arranged to meet at Maplewood Lanes in Omaha to bowl and support a good cause.

    The games started off a little rocky but with a late strike, Kaylee took the lead, leaving Mariah and Charissa to tie for second in the first game. The second game became incredibly serious when the organizers started a bet between the Queen team and a group of bowlers from SAC Federal Credit Union. Unfortunately these boys threw curve-balls resulting in strikes and spares nearly every time - we stood no chance!
 Our scores in the 9th frame...
The other teams (nearly equal) scores in the 4th frame...

    With a little friendly competition amongst our own team, I managed to pull ahead and win the second game! In all seriousness though, hanging out with the girls was amazing as we were able to share countless pageant stories, deep thoughts, and even some jokes throughout the day as we bowled!
It really is a sisterhood. I love these girls!
    
    The Miss Omaha pageant was also Saturday night and I was excited to take one of my baton students with me so she could see what the pageant was all about. We arrived about a half hour early and Miss Nebraska (Mariah) immediately flagged me down asking me to run her fundraiser for her for the night. I got to work selling ducks and mingling as people came in :)

    Before long it was pageant time and I was beyond excited. My niece had signed up to be a little sister in the pageant and I was anxious to see her perform! I also knew there were several phenomenal young women competing and that it would be a good show! While I had not expected the teen competition would be so tough, both the Miss and Teen contestants did exceptionally well with onstage questions, physical fitness, and talent and they looked stunning in evening wear.

     It was a close competition but I was so proud to see my old friend Jessica White and one of my amazing twirling sisters Aleah Peters take home the titles of Miss Omaha and Miss Douglas County! I was also extremely proud of my twirling sister Rachel Foehlinger who looked more beautiful than ever and who placed first runner up as well as my fellow sister queens Jessica Littlejohn (3rd runner up), Kalyssa Hoefer, Nicki Windham, and Chrissy Townsend (second runner up)!
Excited to share a year in the Miss Nebraska system with this beautiful lady!
I am so happy knowing Jess with be at state this year!
 
        I was exceptionally thrilled to see my niece as she rocked the stage during the little sister dance and looked beautiful during evening wear! I could not have been more proud of her!
The one on the left is one of our younger Stepperettes and the one on the right is my lovely niece! I was so excited the girls could attend - it was great seeing them shine on stage!


Sunday, October 14, 2012

Dog Days of....Autumn?

      About two years ago my family adopted Owen, a golden retriever - labrador mix from the Fremont Humane Society. Before we got Owen, we had a daschund that we adopted from a rescue shelter. Needless to say, when a young woman invited me to a fundraiser for an animal shelter while I was in Hastings, I was honored!

     On Saturday October fifth I left my house at 8A.M. for the two-and-a-half hour drive to the Heartland Pet Connection fundraiser in Hastings. I arrived at Hastings Motorsport Park at about 10:30 and immediately began helping with registration for the dog walk and 5/10k runs. While temperatures had been hovering at around 70 or 80 degrees in Nebraska recently, the forecasted high for the day was only in the 50's! Despite the cold weather, many people showed up and brought their dogs along for the event!
One of the families and I before the walk =D
Finishing the dog walk :)
     After a little bit of time walking around and mingling, it was time to judge a pie contest! This was my first time judging a food contest and I was elated! While the contest was small, the pies were delicious! The winning pie was a banana caramel pie that was simply heavenly!




   Next I was able to take a ride in a beautiful red corvette! We went around the race track in Hastings and got up to around 100 miles an hour! It was extremely fun and exciting and I even got behind the wheel!

My ride for the day! :)
    Later it was on to judging a dog contest. There were events for cutest dog costume, best bark, best tail wag, and even best kiss! While most of the dogs just kissed their owners, one of the little ones jumped up on the table and started licking my cheek - it felt a little like something you would see in a movie and it worked - the cute dog won!
    A lover of all animals, I couldn't resist getting a picture with the pony's they had for pony rides. When I asked to take a picture with the pony, they offered to take a picture of me on the pony. Then, when I got on the pony, they asked if I wanted to take a ride on the pony. As your 2012-2013 Miss Kool-Aid Days I proudly rode that pony around the ring for all to see and boy did I feel like a little kid again!
I think this photo just screams "Miss Nebraska!"
     While I had a wonderful time at the event, I was not  quite prepared for the cold that I would have to endure! I spent at least 5 hours out in the cold at the event. When it wrapped up I did not get to go home though. Saturday was also the night of the Lincoln Linx Marching Band Competition and I was expected to perform with the UNO marching band.
     I wrapped myself up, hopped in my little yellow PT Cruiser, and drove off with the heat on high and my heated seats turned on! On the drive from Hastings to Lincoln I stopped at two rest stops where I redid my hair and makeup and changed into my twirling apparel for the evening. Needless to say, I got some rather strange looks walking around rest stops in twirling makeup and a costume with a tutu sticking out!
 Before the performance prep
 After stopping to do my hair and makeup
Finally ready for the performance...incognito though :)
    I made it to Lincoln with a few minutes to spare before the band arrived. With the nighttime cold really setting in, it was almost too cold to warm up! The twirlers stood around stretching and attempting to warm up as much as we dared while the band played through the show. Then it was time to hit the field! A little too quickly it was time to lose the warm-ups and prepare to perform in our twirling leotard and tutus!
Lovely UNO Feature Twirlers :)
   By the time we finally thawed out, I think the performance went really well! It was getting a little late by the time we headed home though and I was sad to miss the wedding of my teammate and coach, Jennifer Curtis and the bachelorette party of one of my good friends!

    Overall the day was a success and I was extremely honored to take part in the fundraiser and band performance! I am so thankful that God has provided me with all of these amazing opportunities!