SEPTEMBER 1, 2006

SUSAN G. KOMEN FOUNDATION SEMINAR, SCAVENGER HUNT, REHEARSALS, & PRESIDENT'S DINNER W/ DAVID MARMEL

Today started out EARLY (we had to be ready in full hair & makeup at 6:15 am!) with a poolside swimsuit photo shoot in our Niki Wior swimsuits & San Diego Hat Company hats. We also took two photos wearing sponsor t-shirts. After breakfast, we had a seminar with Susan Carter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. She shared a powerful message of hope and encouraged us to be ambassadors for the Foundation. After the seminar, we headed outside for a scavenger hunt which was based on time and how many tasks we completed (we had to take digital photos to prove we had completed the tasks). We were put in teams of three (I was paried w/ my roommate Mrs. GA and my "sister" queen Mrs. Iowa. Some of the tasks were things like "have one of your teammates go into the pool neck-deep", or "find the area in the hotel with the most panoramic view and take a photo." We had a good time and worked up a sweat, that's for sure! After the hunt, we had a few hours of free time so our director Carl Schway played chauffeur and drove us to the tanning salon, and then I waited while Mrs. GA & IA had their nails done (I used the time to get caught up on phone calls). The afternoon meant rehearsal again, this time with our state costumes so the choreographers could make sure everything looked good on stage. Hands down my favorite costume was Mrs. Alaska's. She is an igloo and while I don't want to give away too much, it is one of the most clever and funny costumes I've ever seen. I predict that she'll win the costume competition, although there are some other really fantastic ones as well. Dinner was held in the Presidential Suite and was hosted by the president of Mrs. America, Inc., Mr. David Marmel. He presented each of us with a Vera Bradley bag that had our state title embriodered on it, and we got our first look at the program books as well. I loved looking at everyone's wedding photos...the headshots are beautiful, but I feel like the wedding photos really capture each contestant's spirit & personality! We had rehearsal again after dinner and then OFF TO BED! Interviews are tomorrow and I need my rest!

PHOTOS:
1) Poolside w/ Mrs. IA & WI in our Niki Wior swimsuits and San Diego Hat company hats
2) At the Susan G. Komen seminar with Mrs. VA & WA
3) The reigning Mrs. America Andrea Preuss & I. Andrea shared an emotional & touching story about her mother-in-law's battle with breast cancer.
4) Our scavenger hunt team, "Finders Keepers" (Mrs. IA, me, Mrs. GA)
5) The fabulous four: Mrs. WI, GA, IA, MN (we all have the same state directors)
6) With Mr. David Marmel (President of Mrs. America, Inc.)
7) With the delightful Mrs. Utah at the President's Dinner
8) Mrs. IL and I in our pantsuits at the President's Dinner
9) A photo with Mrs. America
10) With Mrs. CA, NV, and SC at the President's Dinner
11) Posing in my University of Arizona t-shirt w/ Mrs. Arizona (her alma mater...I just thought the t-shirt was cute but I'm going to see if they have a University of Wiscosin one so I can give props to MY alma mater!)