MTC Rehearsal 9/25

Director Diane, Kara & I being a little goofy during rehearsal!!

Today I helped out with the Miss Thurston County Scholarship Pageant Rehearsal. We did a wardrobe check to help make sure everything was working properly for our girls. We have 9 amazing young women who are competing.

After all the wardrobe changing the girls were taught most of their opening number by an amazing dancer herself Wendy! The routine is awesome!! It's not simple and the girls really picked it up well. They looked fabulous and I can't wait to see them perform in only 4 weeks!

Mrs. Washington Pageant Reherasal 9/24

Me with David & Pam Curnel the pageant Directors

Mrs. Washington 2012 contestants me, Carla Richards Mrs. Washington 2010

& Pam Curnel State Director

My favorite part of preparing for the pageant is hanging with the girls and getting to dance!! I am usually in trouble for goofing off to much and talking but I behaved myself pretty well today trying to be a good example for the others!! Our opening number is choreographed by Pam our state director she has so many years of experience as a dancer and choreographer and does a great job helping us to look great!

The dance is fun and even I get a small part in it! I will miss this part of the pageant after I hand over the crown to my new Queen Sister. But I now have my Zumba license so I can keep dancing away and helping others to get in shape too!

I got to meet several new contestants and re-connect with ones I have met before. This is a great group of women all so diverse it's going to be a great competition!!

MBA Chili Cook Off 9/20

I had a Rootin Tootin good time at the Master Builders Association first Chili Cook Off! Wait maybe not a tootin time LOL!! I actually didn't even eat any chili, I must confess I am not a chili fan and I am a wimp when it comes to anything spicy!!

I was invited to support the Membership committees booth by a high school friend of mine Marie.

I was the "ringer" I hung out at the booth lured people in with my smile and my bling to encourage them to vote for our booth as the best chili, most creative and most team spirit! These were the 3 categories that were up for a prize and we were going for the all!!

Sadly we found out we could only win one, we won the most votes for Most Creative!!

It was really fun and these cowboys were a rowdy bunch!

Miss Thurston County Cupcake Pageant 9/11

Me, Diane Partridge Executive Director of the Miss Thurston County Scholarship Program, Dionne Tartar Mrs. Thurston County

Miss Thurston County Contestants and their little Miss

Mallory & her little Miss decorating their cupcakes

Lot's of creativity and fun going on!

An amazing display of cupcake creativity!

Today our Miss Thurston County contestants were matched up with a little Miss. These girls will get to be on stage at the pageant on Oct 22. The little Miss drew names to be matched with their Miss and were then presented with a rose and a necklace from their Miss.

Next the teams got to work decorating a set of cupcakes After they were all decorated each Miss and their little Miss came onto the runway to display their fabulous creations. We asked an onstage question of each team. It was all in fun and everyone had a great time. Each little miss was awarded a certificate and feathery crown pen to take home.

The little Miss program is a great way for our Miss contestants to mentor a young girl.

Puallyup Fair 9/10

Mrs. Seattle Tamara DePorter and I before handing out programs at the gate.

Mrs. Pierece County, Mrs. Seattle, Mrs. Washington 2011, Mrs. Lacey

Our new Cowboy friends!

Mrs. Lacey and I pausing to smile while handing out programs!

We worked hard and had to refuel!

Just a "little" elephant ear! At least we shared it!!

It was a HOT day at the fair! I was joined by Mrs. Seattle, Mrs. Pierce County and Mrs. Lacey to be gate greeters and hand out fair programs. This was the second day of the fair and it was busy! It was fun to be a part of our state fair. We met so many people, took some photos and just had a great time.

One lady was so sweet and thanked me for taking the time to come out in my "Queen" attire and take the time to represent our state at the fair. Another lady was so funny she said I was so little in person! I am a more petite Queen standing only 5'3" tall! Luckily my height was not a factor in qualifying for the job!!

After all our hard work we had a snack at the fair, my favorite Elephant Ears! Tamara and I shared the enormous treat and it was delicious! That was my 3rd Elephant Ear at my 3rd fair for the year!!

ZUMBA!!

At the end of the day with instructor Joy Smith

Yay, we got our License to teach ZUMBA fitness!! Here with Joy & my new friend Christie.

I had so much fun at Mrs. America doing our dance routines every day that I had to continue the fun!! ZUMBA was the perfect solution for me. ZUMBA is like a dance party but it is also a great workout. As an instructor I get to share my love of fitness and dance while inspiring others to live a healthy lifestyle.

Joy Smith was an amazing instructor, that girls got moves!! I went to the all day training in Lakewood all by myself, but knowing I would make friends. Everyone was so friendly and excited to be there. I started of dancing by Christie and we quickly go to know each other. Christie lost 30lbs doing ZUMBA and is a self proclaimed addict! We had so much in common it was fun to get to know each other.

Now I've got lot's of practice to get my routines down and start teaching some classes!!!

National American Miss Pageant Sept. 3rd & 4th

Judges- Carla Richards Mrs. Washington 2010, Lisa Bluhm Mrs. Washington 2011, Danette Swain & Husband, Susan, Brian Koehler

Mrs. Washington with NAM Directors Brian & Megan Cournoyer (you may recognize Megan from inside edition she is a reporter on the show!)

Carla Richards Mrs. Washington 2010 & Me!

Carla Richards Mrs. Washington 2010 & I after interviews with Jessica Riggs Mrs. Snohomish County 2012 after she judged the finals for the younger division.
Carla Richards Mrs. Washington 2010, Carolynn Ladd America's Beauties 40's, Miss Washington USA & Me!

Judges with our new Miss Washington Jr. Teen National American Miss

Judges with our new Miss Washington Teen National American Miss

What a fun Labor Day weekend I had! I was a judge for the National American Miss pageant along with my dear friend Carla Richards Mrs. Washington 2010. We spent the weekend at the Hilton in Sea Tac that was overflowing with girls from all over our state. This was my first time judging at this pageant and I was so very impressed not only with the organization but the competitors as well.

We interviewed 92 girls in the Jr. Teen division and 48 girls in the Teen division. We had 50 seconds with each girl. These girls were polished and confident!! We judged them on their skills, confidence and the way the presented themselves. There was no judging on beauty at all! This is a natural pageant that builds girls skills and confidence to help them in school, a career and their life!

Later that evening the girls came on stage and did their personal introduction. They each stepped up to the microphone said their name, age and what their future aspirations were. Again these girls were amazing! Such confidence and poise!!

The next day we judged the final programs where each girl came on stage in a gown escorted by their father, family member or a friend. This is one of my favorite parts seeing the girls carry themselves with grace. The gowns were so beautiful their were several I would wear myself! Many awards were handed out for optional categories. Then they announced the finalists, the top 5 and then the overall Queen. As Megan one of the directors said these girls are all winners and just one girl is chosen to represent all the winners! I thought that summed it up well.