Visit to Connecticut Children's Medical Center

Yesterday was a very humbling day. I had the privilege to meet some amazing children at the Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut. These kids have all been through so much in their short lives, but their zest for life shown through in each of them. A special thank you to Eric Berthel, Internal Communications Manager, and all of the other staff members at CCMC for making me feel so welcome.

Post Pageant Activities and Heading Home...

Kimberly Geremia, Jessica Bruenn and her husband and I went out to T.G.I. Friday's for dinner after the pageant, and then across the casino floor to the karaoke bar for Kim's rendition of Lady Marmalade! Whew... was I ever tired by the time it was all over! I've slept for two days! Thanks to all the wonderful people I met in Las Vegas for making this a memory to last a lifetime!!

And the Winner is South Carolina - Tammy Johns-Brown

Tammy is a lovely lady. Congratulations to her and the other ladies!

Finals Highlights

All of the ladies were beautiful! 4th RU-Missouri; 3rd RU;-Florida; 2nd RU-Texas; 1st RU-Wyoming; winner-South Carolina! All beautiful ladies!! Here are some photos from the night.

Last Rehearsals Before The Final Show

Preliminary Show - Wednesday

Interviews - Waiting for Our Turn

Rehearsal!!!

Swimsuit Photo Shoot

Caesar's Resorts Forum Shops Excursion

Back On Line Again!

Hi Everyone! Sorry I haven't blogged, but the internet service was down at the hotel. Now it's up, so I'll do my best to catch you up. Monday evening we went out as a group to Caesar's Resorts Forum Shops for a little shopping, site-seeing and photo opportunities. Tuesday morning was the swimsuit photo shoot at the pool. Then it was off to rehearsals for most of the rest of the afternoon. Tuesday night we had interviews. Mine wasn't until 10:15 at night, but it went well. This morning, we were up and running for rehearsals again. Tonight was the preliminary competition. We had a great stage show, and then it was on to swimsuit and evening gown competitions. So many beautiful ladies! It will be very hard for the judges to choose the Top 12. Tomorrow will be a repeat of today - rehearsals, then on to the Final Show. I'll post tomorrow night after the Final Show with the results (if I'm not too tired!!)

Our Night Out At The Palms

Welcome Dinner

Registration

At The Venetian and with Whoopie!

We've Arrived!!!

Wow!! Already we've had a wonderful time, and it's only Sunday! Our journey started off yesterday morning when Jessica Bruenn (Mrs. CT) and I arrived for our flight. The pilots invited us into the cockpit for photos and all the passengers were asking about the pageant. It was a great flight, and the pilot was able to shave off 25 minutes off of our five hour flight. We met up with Mrs. KS and Mrs. SD for dinner, and then out on the town we went! We went to Caesar's for photos; The Venetian for a fun gondola ride, and then on to The Palms where we realized we were a bit under-dressed and decided we'll go back tonight. This morning we met more ladies for breakfast, picked up our contestants' gifts at the Business Desk and then back to the room to prepare for Registration where we met many of the ladies. There are so many beautiful, friendly women here! I'm looking forward to getting to know them more. After this, we will be heading off to our Welcome Dinner, and then a group of us are going to attempt to "fit in" at The Palms! Tomorrow morning we will be having our Orientation, rehearsals, and then it's off to our "secret" excursion. We'll know more about that later and I'll try to update again as quickly as possible! P.S. Rick and Kim, the candies look great!! Thanks.

Off to Vegas!!

Well, it's been quite a journey, but I leave for Las Vegas Saturday morning. I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way. To my family, who has always been so supportive and keeping me grounded, I am forever grateful. I love you all! To my friends, without your encouragement and support, I don't think I'd be where I am now. To my pageant sisters, no one could ever ask for better comrades! Fitness Advantage; Center Stage Dance; Colors, Cuts & Curls; Ragtime and Diane - thank you for all of your contributions - you make me feel beautiful! :-) And a special thank you to PiecesofVermont.com who sponsored my contestants gifts. Rick & Kim, I hope someday to meet each of you to thank you personally for your generosity. I will do my best to update my blog daily, so check back and see what really goes on at a national pageant! xoxo

Connecticut Belliza Latina Send-Off Event

On Friday, June 26th, I served as a mock judge for the titleholders of the Connecticut Belliza Latina Pageant. This event was to prepare the ladies for their national competition, wish them luck in their pageant and to also introduce the local delegates for the 2010 pageant. Michael Gore and Marizol Vega, the Directors of this pageant, were wonderful. Connecticut has beautiful queens competing next week! Good luck ladies.

Mrs. Connecticut America Pageant 2009

On June 7, 2009, I attended the Mrs. CT America 2009 Pageant. It was a great opportunity to catch up with fellow visiting friends and queens. Among those who attended were Jessica Bruenn, Mrs. CT US 2009, Lynnette Piombo, Mrs. CT US 2008 and Michele Sharpe, Mrs. NH 2008. Congratulations to Melanie Varian, the newly crowned Mrs. CT America 2009! All of the ladies who competed were beautiful.

Mrs. Connecticut United States 2009

On May 2nd, I competed in the Mrs. Connecticut United States Pageant. It was a wonderful experience that I will forever treasure! I met many wonderful ladies: my roomie, Kelly Howe and her daugther, Morgan Curley, Jules Hindman, Amy Settele and Jessica Bruenn, to name just a few. We gathered on Friday night for a cocktail reception and the chance to get to know each other a bit. On Saturday morning, we started off with orientation and breakfast, then on to interviews and rehearsals. Lunch was yummy, and then we were off to get ready for the pageant! With nearly 30 ladies and five states to manage, Erica Baker and Kathleen Campbell did a fantastic job! In the end, I won the title of First Runner-up and received the Spirit of Pageantry Award. Jessica Bruenn won the opportunity to represent Connecticut at Nationals.

I have been given the opportunity to represent the beautiful state of Vermont as an at-large contestant at the national pageant in Las Vegas the week of July 19th. Representing Vermont holds a special place in my heart because my mother was born and raised there, and most of her family still lives in and around the Jonesville/Burlington area. This is a great privilege, and I will do my best to make both my Connecticut and Vermont families proud of me! Thank you for your unwaivering support.