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