FEBRUARY 25TH, 2007
BABY SHOWER FOR KIM DORN (MRS. MINNESOTA AMERICA 2005)

It figures that we would get our biggest snowstorm of the year on the day that Sarah Moses (owner of The Pageant Shop) and I threw a baby shower for our good friend Kim Dorn. Kim was my predecessor as Mrs. MN America 2005 and is due April 20th (and no, they are not finding out the sex of the baby). I hosted the shower at our home and Sarah was a terrific help. Kim looked adorable and is one of the cutest pregnant ladies I have ever seen! I was amazed that ANYONE was able to make it considering how much snow we got! A good time was had by all and I can't wait to meet Baby Dorn!

PHOTOS:
1) L to R: Mom-to-be Kim Dorn (Mrs. MN America 2005), Sarah Moses (owner of The Pageant Shop), Kim's sister Tami Krause (Head coach of the MN Vikings Cheerleaders and also Mrs. MN America 2003), and me
2) L to R: Another mom-to-be Dana Klohs (former Mrs. MN America contestant who is due in April), Josan Crawford (MN Vikings cheerleader), Kim, and Andrea sabin (former Mrs. MN America contestant)

FEBRUARY 16, 2007
JACOB WETTERLING FOUNDATION REP FOR HERBERGER'S COMMUNITY DAY

Today I represented the Jacob Wetterling Foundation selling $5 coupon books for Herberger's Community Day (100% of the proceeds from my sales go directly to JWF). This is a great program sponsored through Herbergers department store that benefits many local charitable organizations. On Saturday, March 3, you can redeem your coupons in the store (a $10 coupon came with each booklet, so you were getting your money back just by buying one, plus an additional $5 credit...you can still purchase the coupon books through Saturday in the store). After my "shift," I ran downstairs to Rhinestones & Ruffles (a Mrs. MN pageant sponsor) to say hi and catch up with owner Lori Barsness. Hope to see you on March 3rd!

PHOTOS:
1) Selling coupon books in Herberger's.
2) With Rhinestones & Ruffles owner Lori Barsness.

FEBRUARY 14, 2007
VALENTINE'S DAY VISIT TO MINNEAPOLIS VETERAN'S HOSPITAL

Today was "National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Day," where I was one of the visiting "royalty" who handed out Valentines to some of the veterans staying at the Minneapolis Veterans Hospital. A wonderful reception was held prior to our visit, and it was fun to catch up with other titleholders and dignitaries from the metro area. This was my third year participating in this program and as usual, it was a humbling experience that made me appreciate all that our Veterans have gone through to insure our freedom and safety. See you next year!

PHOTOS:
1) L to R: With Donnell Rank (Mrs. Minneapolis Int'l 2007) and Angeline Gard (Mrs. Edina Int'l 2007), who are both competing for the title of Mrs. MN Int'l 2007 in March.
2) Donnell Rank (Mrs. Mpls Int'l 2007) and I having fun with the balloons.
3) Meeting the Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes and Princess of the Lakes.
4) With the Aquatennial Commodore (far L), some of the Veterans, and Steven Kleinglass (Mpls VA Medical Center Director - 2nd from right) after handing out Valentine cards.

FEBRUARY 10, 2007
MINNESOTA WILD "LET'S PLAY HOCKEY" CELEBRITY ANNOUNCER (ST. PAUL, MN)


Tonight was my #1-favorite-of-all-time-fun-appearance because tonight I was the featured celebrity "Let's Play Hockey!" announcer at the MN Wild professional hockey game against the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Carolina Hurricanes. Just before the drop of the puck on game night, a local "celebrity" says "OK Minnesota hockey fans, it's time to drop the puck so everybody say it with me...LET'S PLAY HOCKEY!". Well, tonight I got to be that "celebrity"! FUN!

Wanna see how I did? You can see my actual "performance" by clicking HERE (then click "LPH 0210" to get the video to play).

My husband Matt came along and this was definitely his favorite appearance as well! We met good friend Sarah Moses (owner of The Pageant Shop) and her husband Curt for a quick bite at the St. Paul Hotel, then headed over to the Xcel Center where we were met by John Maher of the Wild. John presented me with a personalized Wild jersey that says "Mrs. MN 06" on it--how cool is THAT?!? We were then escorted up to the Press Box where we ran into local TV traffic & entertainment reporter Rusty Gatenby. We hung out for a bit until it was time for me to do my thing, and then John (a wonderful host by the way) took us down to the Owner's Suite to watch the game. We were truly treated like royalty (pardon the pun) and it was a memory we will cherish forever. One more fun thing that happened was that I ran into a girl I had competed with back in 1990 at the Miss U.S. Teen pageant in Atlanta, GA! She was Miss Minnesota U.S. Teen and I was Miss Wisconsin U.S. Teen...just goes to show that it really IS a small world! It was a great night and the best thing was that the Wild won by a score of 5 to 4! Go WILD!









PHOTOS:
1) L to R: Me, Curt Moses, Sarah Moses, and my husband Matt at the St. Paul Hotel before the game.
2) Up in the Fox Sports balcony saying "Let's Play Hockey!"
3) L to R: John Maher (MN Wild), me, my husband Matt
4) Up on the Jumbotron screen at center ice
5) Matt and I enjoying our time in the Owner's Suite
6) Sarah Moses and I checking out my "Mrs. MN" jersey

FEBRUARY 10, 2007
KIDS DAY MINNESOTA (GOLDEN VALLEY, MN)

My friend Becky Ringen - Miss Minnesota International 2006 coordinated a terrific event called Kids Day Minnesota, which is a day for kids to be celebrated and to have fun while in a positive and healthy environment. Some of the various activities included a reading room where Minnesota celebrities were guest readers, crafts, games, an open gym, live music, and many photo opportunities. I was one of the featured speakers and gave a presentation on Child Safety Education & Abduction Prevention (I am the most senior ranking member of the Jacob Wetterling Foundation Speaker's Bureau). A great time was had by all...congratulations to Becky for doing such a great job for this worthwhile cause!







PHOTOS:
1) With my 1st runner-up Lindsey Kurhajetz, who was an event volunteer
2) Signing autographs on an attendee's t-shirt
3) With Becky Ringen, Miss MN Int'l 2006 and Kids Day coordinator
4) TC Bear (the MN Twins mascot) and I give Kids Day a "thumbs up"!
5) With two members of the U of MN Gophers football team

FEBRUARY 4, 2007
JWF CHILD SAFETY PRESENTATION AT HOLY NAME OF JESUS CHURCH (WAYZATA, MN)

This COLD Sunday morning (it was -14 degrees this morning with a windchill of -31!) I was a featured child safety speaker at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Wayzata, MN. I was really impressed at the turnout considering how ridiculously cold it was outside! Nancy Sabin (Exec. Director of the Jacob Wetterling Foundation) and I gave child safety and internet safety presentations to kids in grades K-5. The information was very well received and I want to thank Kathy Gullo (wife of my fellow JWF Board Member Gary Gullo) for organizing this terrific event!




PHOTOS:
1) With Nancy Sabin (JWF Exec. Director) & Kathy Gullo of HNOJ Church
2) Speaking during one of my three presentations

JANUARY 27-30TH, 2007
MISS AMERICA PAGEANT, LAS VEGAS, NV

I headed out to the Miss America pageant held at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. I had the Mpls Women's Expo in the morning, then hopped on a flight Saturday afternoon which arrived just in time for Sarah Moses and I to grab a bite with former Miss MN State Director Kim Knuttila and her sister Kathryn (the current Miss Heart of the Lakes). We then headed to the Aladdin Theater to watch the last night of Preliminary Competition. It's always fun to see the girls compete in the talent competition, and as luck had it, we got to see Miss MN Nicole Swanson perform her talent (she plays the viola). WOW, that girl can play! We were pulling for her to win the talent award that night, but it went to Miss CA instead (an opera singer). I competed in the Miss Wisconsin MAO program back in college (I'm a '94 grad of the Univ. of WI-Madison...GO BUCKY!), and placed as 3rd RU in the 1994 Miss WI pageant, so I will always have a soft spot in my heart for this system. People (especially the ones who criticize pageants) are always surprised to learn that the Miss America Organization is the largest provider of scholarships for women in the WORLD! How cool is THAT!?!

After Prelims, we (myself, Sarah, Cheri Kennedy, and Sarah's fun sister Bridget Jaeger) headed to dinner at Tao located in the Venetian. We didn't eat until 11:30 Las Vegas time (which was 1:30 our time!), so of course we were starving! Great food in a fun atmosphere but WAAAAY too late! The next morning, Sarah & Cheri worked with some of their clients while Bridget and I went SHOPPING (my favorite pasttime, ha ha), and hit the Miss America Tradeshow. It was good to see friendly faces...I got to chat with Fred Abel of Pageantry Magazine and the always incredible Dale Smith Thomas of Winners By Choice. Later, I ran into the lovely Diane Tucker (Mrs. America 2007), who I competed with in Tucson, AZ (by the way, she looked prettier than ever!). She is doing a great job and I predict she will be the next Mrs. World! GO DIANE! That evening, we met up with good friends Robin Fleming (Mrs. FL Int'l 2007) and Melissa Hagan (Miss/Teen FL Int'l State Director and National Mrs. FL 2006) for dinner at N9NE Steakhouse at the Palms Hotel. That is the thing I love about pageantry--reuniting with friends from all over the country!

On Monday, we had a great lunch at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant in the Venetian, and then shopped for a bit (surprise, surprise) before heading back to our hotel to get ready (we had to be in our seats at 4:30 for the live television broadcast). Victoria Broz (Mrs. Nevada) came to our room to get ready, so it was great to see her as well! She was voted Mrs. Congeniality at Mrs. America and I am glad to say that I was one of the people who voted for her! The pageant was great and moved along quickly, but we were disappointed not to hear Miss MN's name called into the Top 10. I thought they picked a great Top 5 but have to admit that when it came down to Miss TX and Miss OK, I was pulling for Texas...I thought she had the beauty of a Miss Universe and thought her talent was in an entirely different league. But that is pageantry for you! You just never know what can happen...

After the pageant, we took a limo to a really fun and cool restaurant called Social House (located in Treasure Island) for dinner. Some of our "MN posse" had to head for the airport immediately following dinner as they were booked on the red-eye flight. As usual, lots of laughs were had and it was a fantastic trip! I can't wait for next year!















PHOTOS:
1) Sarah Moses (owner of The Pageant Shop) and I pose in front of the Miss America stage.
2) Gathering at Saturday night's Miss America prelim pageant are L to R: Cheri Kennedy, Kim Knuttila (former Miss MN MAO state director), Kathryn Knuttila (Miss Heart of the Lakes), Sarah Moses (The Pageant Shop), me, Jennifer Hudspeth (Miss Mankato)
3) Chatting with Fred Abel of Pageantry Magazine
4) Running into Mrs. America 2007 Diane Tucker while doing what else--SHOPPING!
5) Out for a fabulous dinner at N9NE Steakhouse are L to R: Melissa Hagan (Miss/Teen FL Int'l State Director & Nat'l Mrs. FL 2006), Cheri Kennedy, Robin Fleming (Mrs. FL Int'l 2007), Bridget Jaeger, Sarah Moses (Owner-The Pageant Shop), me!
6) With Tiffany Ogle, Miss MN (MAO) 2004 just before Miss America.
7) Enjoying a rooftop view at the Palms Hotel!
8) Sarah Moses and I run into Andrea Preuss, Mrs. America 2006. Andrea was the outgoing queen when I competed at Mrs. America--she also was Mrs. United States 2003 and is the only woman to have actually WON both titles! WOW!)
9) Victoria Broz (Mrs. NV 2006), Diane Tucker (Mrs. America 2007/Mrs. Arizona 2006), and I catch up after the pageant.
10) Comparing notes after the pageant are L to R: Melissa Hagan, Sarah Moses, Robin Fleming, myself, and Cheri Kennedy.
11) In the limo on the way to Social House restaurant L to R: Cheri Kennedy, me, Marcia Anderson
12) An after dinner snapshot L to R: Megan (a.k.a. "Haircut", our nickname for her) Herickhoff (Miss Teen Stearns County Int'l 2007), Marcia Anderson, Brie Anderson (Miss Ramsey County Int'l 2007), Cheri Kennedy, Sarah Moses, me

JANUARY 26 & 27, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS WOMEN'S EXPO

I attended the 15th annual Minneapolis Women's Expo held at the Convention Center. This is a 3-day event that features exhibits, seminars, celebrities, shopping (my personal favorite!), health info, food sampling, and lots of fun! I had a great time greeting attendees, meeting possible future contestants, and of course SHOPPING (I got the cutest black-and-white patent leather purse with a crown on it from Mainstream Fashion--SCORE!). My state directors Faith & Carl Schway had a booth and we were joined by Miss MN USA 2007 Alla Ilushka, Miss MN Teen USA 2007 Vanessa VonBehren (both Faith's clients), and my fellow pageant "sister" Mrs. WI America 2006 Shannon Martin. It was great to catch up with all of them, and if you haven't been to the Expo, I highly encourage you to go next year! See you there!









PHOTOS:
1) With auctioneer Karen Sorbo (former Mrs. MN America contestant and Mrs. MN Int'l 1991) and Alla Ilushka (Miss MN USA 2007)
2) Getting our first peek at Baby Pierce Byrne! L to R: Me, Kelly Jahner-Byrne (former Mrs. MN America contestant and Mrs. MN Int'l 2001), and Angela Haseman (Mrs. MN Int'l 2006)
3) The Mrs. MN America/Premiere Modeling School gang on Friday: Faith Schway (Director & Mrs. MN America 1985), Alla Ilushka (Miss MN USA 2007), me, Vanessa VonBehren (Miss MN Teen USA 2007), and Co-Director Carl Schway.
4) Catching up with pageant "sister" Shannon Martin (Mrs. WI America 2006)
5) With the 2006 International system queens, L to R: Angela Haseman (Mrs. MN Int'l), Megan Ehlert (Miss Teen MN Int'l), Becky Ringen (Miss MN Int'l), and me
6) With good friend and photographer Paula Preston
7) The Saturday gang at the Expo

JANUARY 20, 2007
JDRF (JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION) WALK TO CURE DIABETES

The 15th annual JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes was held today at the Mall of America where over 18,000 walkers braved
the early morning hour to show their support. I walked on team "Cody's Courage," in support of 5-year-old Cody Theis, who was diagnosed w/ Type 1 diabetes at the age of 18 months old. Cody is the son of Tami & Kevin Theis (Tami was a fellow competitor as Mrs. Shakopee this past summer at the Mrs. MN America pageant). When I first met Tami, the first thing we talked about was her son's diabetes, and I was so impressed with her (incidentally, Tami was the Interview winner at Mrs. MN, which was no surprise to me considering how well-spoken she is...and this was her very first pageant!). It was also great to catch up with another fellow contestant, Shonna Ochu, who is just a doll! In addition to Cody, the Theis's have two daughters, 7-yr-old Amber (Miss MN in the National American Miss pageant), and nearly 3-yr-old Grace (who has Down Syndrome and this past July was diagnosed with AML leukemia). Amber recently created a wonderful foundation called One Sister's Love to honor her siblings, and I highly encourage you to visit her website click on the "One Sister's Love" link to show your support by purchasing a rhinestone pin (the proceeds go directly to JDRF and the Children's Oncology Group).










PHOTOS:
1) Tami, myself, and Shonna Ochu (both fellow contestants from the 2006 Mrs. MN America pageant)
2) "Cody's Courage" team photo
3) With T.C. Bear, the MN Twins baseball team mascot
4) With Tami and Amber Theis

JANUARY 14, 2007
PREMIERE SCHOOL OF MODELING & SELF-IMPROVEMENT OPEN HOUSE

Today was an open house at Premiere School of Modeling & Self-Improvement in St. Louis Park, which is owned and operated b my State Director Faith Schway. We answered pageant questions and talked about the Teen and Miss MN Int'l pageants and a good time was had by all. Check it out on the web at http://www.premiere-modeling.com or call (952) 920-0681!

PHOTOS
1) Mrs. Minnesota America state director and good friend Faith Schway & I at Premiere.
2) L to R: Megan Ehlert (Miss Teen MN Int'l 2006), me, and Becky Ringen (Miss MN Int'l 2006).

JANUARY 11, 2007
MEET & GREET FOR MINNESOTA INTERNATIONAL PAGEANTS

Tonight I attended a "Meet & Greet" get-together for the MN International Pageants held at my good friend Paula Preston's photography studio in northeast Minneapolis ( http://www.paulapreston.com ). Due to Paula's talents, I was honored with the Mrs. Photogenic title this past summer at Mrs. MN...thanks, Paula! This event was also sponsored by The Pageant Shop by Michael's ( http://www.thepageantshop.net ) and pageant coach Cheri Kennedy ( http://www.cherikennedy.com). I actually attended this event not as Mrs. Minnesota America, but as a "former" Mrs. Minnesota International (a title I had the good fortune to win in 2003). It was great to see old friends and faces, and I was able to answer some questions from the current contestants as well. When I competed in the International system, there was only the MRS. division, however, now the system has grown to include MISS and TEEN divisions as well, which is really neat to see. In Minnesota, we are lucky to have AMAZING directors in BOTH the International and America systems, and what is especially great is how they support one another (in fact, my former Mrs. MN Int'l state director Allison Stavrakis even flew out to Tucson, AZ to cheer me on at Mrs. America--how cool is THAT!?!).

PHOTOS:
1) Catching up with pageant sponsors Sarah Moses (Owner of The Pageant Shop by Michael's) and photographer Paula Preston.
2) Two "formers" with the current Mrs. MN Int'l: L to R Nancy Paradeise (Mrs. MN Int'l 2004), Angela Haseman (Mrs. MN Int'l 2006), and me (Mrs. MN Int'l 2003)
3) The "Class of 2003" (we have remained close friends!)...L to R: Nancy Paradeise, Donnell Rank, Leisha Gust, me