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)