APRIL 28th, 2007
COCKTAIL PARTY AT THE PAGEANT SHOP BY MICHAEL'S (NEW BRIGHTON, MN)

It's heeerrrre...the Mrs. Minnesota pre-pageant festivities have officially begun! One of my favorite things about this system are the fun pre-pageant events leading up to pageant weekend. I attended all of the events last year and remember feeling so sad when they were all over. This year, we kicked it off with a super fun cocktail party at The Pageant Shop by Michael's, hosted by my dear friend (and store owner) Sarah Moses. Sarah provided a great cocktail dress for me to wear (thanks Sarah!) in my favorite color PINK! It was great to meet many of the contestants as I've been wondering who they are! Let me say that this is going to be a VERY competitive year, as all of the ladies looked fantastic and are very excited for the competition. Melissa Young (Mrs. MN 2004) and Kim Dorn (Mrs. MN 2005) came to show their support, and a highlight was getting to hold Baby Kayla, Kim's 3 1/2 week old baby girl who was an ANGEL. It is hard to remember that our little girl (now 2 1/2) was once that little, too! Kim is busy being a new mom and is obviously doing a wonderful job. Melissa is gorgeous as always and will be on the cover of next month's issue of Oxygen Magazine! How cool is that!?!

Sarah talked a bit about wardrobe, shoes, etc., while Faith and Carl introduced themselves and talked a bit about the pageant. The contestants were able to browse for gowns, interview suits, swimsuits, cocktail dresses, and jewelry. I purchased my entire competition wardrobe for the State and National pageants at The Pageant Shop for both Mrs. America and the other pageant that I won in 2003, and did so because Sarah truly carries the best of the best. I did not know Sarah before shopping at her store, and as a result not only did I walk away with a great wardrobe, but I also met one of my very best friends. See, there ARE perks to shopping! I had the good fortune of winning the Evening Gown Award at both of my state pageants and truly believe I would not have been able to do so without Sarah's help. She really knows her stuff and is totally on top of what's hot NOW, so I highly encourage you to check out her store if you haven't already (by the way, call first because it is by appointment only).

A wonderful time was had by all, and I look forward to seeing the contestants again at our next event on May 1st, a party at The Xtension Generation. See you next week!

PHOTOS:
1) Group shot
2) L to R: State Directors Carl & Faith Schway, Sarah Moses, me
3) L to R: Barbara Kaiser (Mrs. Woodbury), Deb Erpalding (Mrs. Golden Valley), me
4) Sarah Moses poses with some of my fellow contestants from last year who are competing again this year (L to R): Lindsey Kurhajetz (Mrs. Maple Grove), Katina Schroeder (Mrs. Savage), me, and Shonna Ochu (Mrs. Buffalo)
5) Kim Dorn (Mrs. MN 2005), Sarah Moses, me, and Melissa Young (Mrs. MN 2004)
6) L to R: Tina Godes (Mrs. Eagan), Janelle Zunker (Mrs. Rogers), Bessie Giannakakis (Mrs. Edina), me, and Dessi Urban (Mrs. Dakota County)
7) L to R: Linsdey Kurhajetz (Mrs. Maple Grove), me, Bessie Giannakakis (Mrs. Edina)
8) L to R: Shonna Ochu (Mrs. Buffalo), pageant staff member Cheryl Trainor, State Director Faith Schway, and me

APRIL 24, 2007
JUDGE FOR THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS CHEERLEADER TRYOUTS AT THE MALL OF AMERICA (BLOOMINGTON, MN)

OK, I admit it, I'm a Packers fan! Yes, you read correctly, your Mrs. Minnesota cheers for the "enemy" (but I have an excuse...my family moved to Wisconsin from California when I was 5 years old, and I graduated from the U of WI-Madison, so I'm a cheesehead at heart!). But my good friend (and fellow Mrs. Minnesota America 2003) Tami Krause, who happens to be the Head Coach of the squad, was able to look past this and asked me to be one of the judges for the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders final audition. I am always so impressed with Tami...she's a wife and mom (to three adorable little boys) and has done an INCREDIBLE job as the head coach (which is a very time consuming position). Two of my fellow judges were Sarah Moses (owner of The Pageant Shop by Michael's and one of my best friends) and Shannon Devine (Mrs. United States 2006). Sarah and I of course managed to fit in some shopping before the auditions (I got a cute dress from Cache and some great earrings at Aldo)...my shopping habit unfortunately is not going away! It was fun to spend some more time with Shannon--she's a blast! I also got to see Kim Dorn's (Mrs. MN America 2005) new baby girl Kayla, who arrived two weeks early. I wish I would have looked as good as Kim two weeks after having a baby! Anyway, it was a REALLY tough decision narrowing the field of 54 contestants down to 34 who would make the 2007 squad. Tami ran a great show and there was a great audience turnout, and I hope to be asked back next year. Congrats to all of the girls who made the 2007 squad--this Packer fan thinks you ALL were great! :)

PHOTOS:
1) At the judges table (L to R): Sarah Moses, me, Shannon Devine (Mrs. US 2006)
2) The final 54 girls hoping to make the 2007 MN Vikings Cheerleader squad
3) L to R: Ellen Sendlebach (Mrs. MN US 2006), Shannon Devine (Mrs. US 2006), me, and Sarah Moses
4) Getting to meet Kim Dorn's adorable two-week-old baby girl Kayla! Kim was my predecessor as Mrs. Minnesota America 2005. CONGRATS!
5) Shannon Devine (Mrs. US 2006), Tami Krause (head coach of the MVC & Mrs. MN America 2003), and me

APRIL 23, 2007
MEET & GREET WITH SHANNON DEVINE (MRS. UNITED STATES 2006) & THE CROWNING OF SARAH TICHICH AS THE NEW MRS. MINNESOTA UNITED STATES 2007 (BLOOMINGTON, MN)

The reigning Mrs. United States Shannon Devine was a special guest at a Meet & Greet hosted in her honor by Ellen Sendelbach (Mrs. MN United States 2006) and Penny Wells (State Director for Mrs. MN US). This event also served as the crowning ceremony for my friend Sarah Tichich, who was crowned as the new Mrs. Minnesota United States 2007. Sarah and I competed together at Mrs. MN America last summer and she was one of my favorite contestants, so I am super happy for her and think she will make a FANTASTIC queen! Go Sarah!

It was great to meet Shannon as she is SUPER cool and smart with a great sense of humor. It was easy to see why she was chosen as the queen! Shannon was also Mrs. North Carolina America 2003 (I met her directors Wendy & Fred Galle, in Tucson during Mrs. America and enjoyed them so much--they are SUPER fun and run a great pageant). Everyone snacked on appetizers and mingled, and then Shannon spoke on her platform and her year as Mrs. United States. Some of the other attendees were Sarah Moses (owner of The Pageant Shop by Michael's), Donnell Rank (Mrs. MN Int'l 2007), Bessie Giannakakis (Mrs. Edina America 2007), Jessi Mishler (1st RU to Mrs. WI United States 2007), Angeline Gard (2nd RU to Mrs. MN Int'l 2007 and a former competitor in the Mrs. MN America pageant), Tami Krause (Mrs. MN America 2003 & Head Coach of the MN Vikings Cheerleaders), pageant sponsor Jason Young (of YoungQuest Fitness), and photographer Dan Davis to name a few...sorry if I forgot anyone! A good time was had by all and I am so excited for Sarah and her new title! Congratulations Sarah, I know you will represent Minnesota well!

PHOTOS:
1) With Shannon Devine, Mrs. United States 2006
2) Sarah Tichich being crowned Mrs. Minnesota United States 2007
3) MN titleholders with Mrs. US (L to R): Donnell Rank (Mrs. MN Int'l 2007), Sarah Tichich (Mrs. MN US 2007), Shannon Devine (Mrs. US 2006), me
4) L to R: Angeline Gard, Sarah Tichich, Bessie Giannakakis, me
5) Sarah Moses poses with three of her clients (L to R): Sarah Tichich, Sarah Moses, Donnell Rank, me
6) Shannon Devine (Mrs. US 2006 & Mrs. NC America 2003), Tami Krause (Mrs. MN America 2003), and me. Shannon and Tami competed at Mrs. America together!
7) With Bessie Giannakakis (Mrs. Edina America 2007).

APRIL 14, 2007
MISS MINNESOTA (MAO) FASHION GALA (BLOOMINGTON, MN)

What better way is there to welcome in spring than by getting together with good friends and watching a FASHION show? In my opinion, and being the clothes horse that I am, there isn't! HA! The Miss Minnesota Fashion Gala started out with a Silent Auction (I bid on and won a sweet Coach wallet), followed by a sit-down dinner. My friend Tiffany Ogle (Miss MN 2004 and a fellow volunteer with the Jacob Wetterling Foundation) hosted the evening's festivities and was her usual hilarious self. Go Tiff! This year's local contestants had a surprise for us, as they had created "Project Runway" outfits with a twist--they used everyday household items, such as bubble wrap, trash bags, you get the idea. I was very impressed with the creativity, and the "dresses" actually turned out cute! One of the contestants had a dress made out of bubble wrap, and of course got lots of laughs when she would "pop" her bubbles as she modeled. I enjoyed meeting Miss Minnesota Nicole Swanson, as we'd never met prior to this event. It was a great night and I encourage you to go next year if you haven't been before!

PHOTOS:
1) L to R: Nicole Swanson (Miss MN 2006), Dorothy Benham (Miss America 1977 and Miss MN 1976), Natalie Davis (Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2006), and me
2) L to R: With my good friends Sarah Moses (owner of The Pageant Shop by Michael's), Paula Preston (of Paula Preston Photography), and Tiffany Ogle (Miss MN 2004)
3) Three of the 2007 Miss MN contestants model their Project Runway "creations"
4) With Nicole Swanson (Miss MN 2006)...and I thought I was tall (she's 5'11 and I'm 5'10)
5) With friends Cheri Kennedy and Kim Knuttila (former Exec. Director of Miss MN)

APRIL 10, 2007
MODELING FOR HOT MAMA BOUTIQUE (ST. PAUL, MN)

This morning I headed down to one of my VERY favorite stores in the Twin Cities, Hot Mama (with locations in St. Paul, Edina, and Maple Grove). They had asked me to model some tops for their new online store which I believe should be live as of May 1st (go to www.hotmamaonline.com and there will be a link for online shopping). This is a GREAT store with all of the hot denim lines, trendy/hip tops, and they even carry some maternity wear if you're expecting. And who wants to be a "frumpy mama"--the name says it all! I had a blast with the employees and photographer Wendy, and can't wait to do it again!

PHOTO:
Me with Kristina (one of the buyers for Hot Mama)

APRIL 9, 2007
SPECIAL GUEST FOR MARY KAY MEETING (BLOOMINGTON, MN)

I had the privilege of being a special guest and makeup model at a Mary Kay meeting hosted by Jane O'Hern, who represents the year 1983 for Mrs. Minnesota America. Jane is also a generous sponsor of the Mrs. Minnesota America pageant, and I loved picking out my $100 worth of products (part of the fantastic prize package each year). Jane treated me like royalty (pardon the pun) and I had my first ever Satin Hands treatment. Loved it! It was great to meet former Mrs. Minnesota America 1956 Edie Norquist, who also is an Independent Sales Representative for Mary Kay. Thank you Jane for the fun evening and the great prize!

PHOTO:
L to R: Jane O'Hern (representing Mrs. MN 1983), me, and Edie Norquist (Mrs. MN 1956)