Friday, May 7, 2010

http://www.missmanchester.org/

The next Miss Manchester will take place on August 29th!  Go to the site for info on how to sign up!
http://www.missmanchester.org/

Talent Son of a Preacher Man


Costume made by AJ!  I loved my costume.  I told AJ I wanted something sexy and red for my talent costume.  That same day he sent me a sketch of this very costume.  When it was made after my final fitting I put the costume on and began to cry.  I LOVED IT!  I've never worked with a designer who is so amazing.  He is so much fun and puts his all into his designs.  I was a bit nervous about it at first but the final product is always breath taking.  I felt like a professional singer on Friday night and totally rocked it.  I love singing and that performance was something I had been waiting to do at Miss NH for years!  I'm glad I finally got the opportunity to entertain at Miss NH!  I loved every second on that stage after all I only got 2 minutes :)

After the show

Come to the Fashion Show!

Thank you to my Sponsors

Over the past 5 years I have been supported by so many businesses and I am really proud of the connections I have made.  For me it is easy to get sponsors because I am enthusiastic about my platform and what I do as Miss xyz.  I always print off my platform and resume for sponsors to look over and then send them the link to my blog so they can see what kind of volunteering I do not only in NH but other states as well.  I wanted to take the time to thank everyone.

Bid 2 Win Software: wardrobe/ everything sponsor

Training Effects/ Josh St. Ours: free Personal Training 2X/ week  http://www.trainingeffectsnh.com/about/joshstours.html

Jessica Todd from 6 degrees salon in Portsmouth and Loreal Professional: free hair cuts and styling
http://www.6degreessalon.com/bios

Kim Keyes Photography by Kimberly: sponsor of head shots
http://www.photographybykimberly.net/

Dr. Domingo: Teeth cleaning and whitening
http://www.wellness.com/dir/2257549/dentist/nh/manchester/domingo-ernani-s-dmd

Scott Richardson: song arrangement 2009 "I was here"
http://www.scottyrich.com/

Anew Center for Medical Aesthetics (Dr. Howard Suls):  Laser Hair Removal
http://www.anewcenterofbedford.com/ourstaff.html

Off Broadway: 4 pairs of shoes/year for competition and appearances
http://www.offbroadwayshoes.com/

Debbie Spencer 2005-2008: free hair cuts

Morrocan Oil: free hair products
http://www.moroccanoil.com/

American Eagle Mall of New Hampshire: discount on jean shorts for swim suit number

Macys Mall of NewHampshire: swim suit sponsor (my total cost $7.00) what a DEAL! thanks to Paul, Pauline, and Lisa!

Pacific Beach Tanning: free tanning for 4 years
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?client=safari&rls=en&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=pacific+beach+tanning+durham+nh&fb=1&gl=us&hq=pacific+beach+tanning&hnear=durham+nh&cid=17531489080023777591

Integrity: Tom Jill and Rocco

Exeter Day Spa: Spa day and over $300 of services before Miss NH 4 years

Sandy Martin, Anthony's Bakery, Sweet Dreams, Shaws, Sams Club: bake sale donations

My Parents


Thank you to my mom and dad for not only supporting me but going on this 5 year journey of Miss NH!  Not only is it stressful for the contestant but it's stressful for the parents.  When my name wasn't called for the top 10 this year I wanted to just go over and see them.  I held it together while I was on stage mainly because I was in shock and disbelief.  I could see my parents faces too they were pretty close to the front.  They said they held hands through it.  My parents didn't chose this pageant life I did and I thank them for following me and always supporting me.  It's rough and not easy.  My mom always helped with my bake sales and my dad always helped me get ready for interview. 

My dad loves politics and anything to do with debating!  He likes to be right too.  He was fun source to talk to about anything in the news, he always knew the answer.  He's very knowledgeable about everything really.  Current events, wars, history, local news, global news.  I was challenged a lot when we talked.  He always helps with technical things like pictures and printing things off the computer.  He helps make signs for my bake sales and whatever I need to go into class rooms and autograph cards.  So I'm not going to lie pageant life was BRUTAL my first year.  I suck at directions and luckily I had my dad to help.  I had a car with multiple problems and GPS's weren't even invented yet I don't think (that's how ancient I am).  I spent a lot of car rides in tears because I was lost on the way to an appearance but my dad always walked me through it over the cell phone with his map skills.  He always helps with car issues too.  Changing head lights, filling my tires, making sure I have a car jumper battery, safety kit, and mace just in case.  Ohh dad!  So 5 years later I have a GPS and still get lost and I still have him to call so life is good. 

My mom always knows the right thing to do and it continues to amaze me. If I am running late she'll make me breakfast to go.  If I need help with something she just knows and can tell what I need and just does it with out me even asking.  If I need help bringing stuff down to my car she will help and ask my dad to help too.  She accepts my million phone calls while she's at work.  Does research on things I need help with when preparing for interview.  She's just thoughtful and always knows what I'm doing.  She wishes me luck and asks how things went.   

My parents have been great through this whole journey but I think we are all happy it's over.  We had fun while it lasted but we are all ready to move on.  Having to hold it together after your kid isn't called for the top 10 is probably one of the worst feelings in the world.  This was the first year where they didn't have any suggestions, any helpful criticism because everything was perfect so not being in the top 10 was just crazy.  This was the first year I wasn't stressed out for ANYTHING.  It was go time I had fun and rocked every phase of competition with grace and sexiness.  It would be one thing if I couldn't sing, or if I was out of shape, if I fell, if I didn't practice, if I wasn't ready, if I was hideous, if I wore an ugly gown, but none of that is true.  The judges were nuts end of story.  NUTS I tell you....NUTS phew I feel much better :)

Marathon!

My sister ran in the Boston Marathon for the first time and finished at 4 hours and 37 minutes.  She didn't even look tired while she was running.  My dad and mom maped out the course and we went to about 5 different stops to watch her run.  I think we were about as exhausted as she was with all the driving, in the car, out of the car, find a spot!  It was crazy.  Jess finished great and looked like she had fun.  I think she was in a little bit of pain but not too bad.  We finished the night off at Boston Beerworks for a delicious blueberry beer and great food!  It was a fun day.  Congrats Jess for finishing :)

Thursday, May 6, 2010

The Results are in! I FINALLY DID IT!

I won the two awards I have ALWAYS dreamed of winning and it was perfect.  This was my 5th year competing for Miss New Hampshire and every year it has been my goal not only to win Miss NH but to walk away with the community service awards.
Well this year I did not win Miss NH but  I won the Miss America Community Service Award AND the Miss New Hampshire Meg Geraghty Memorial Community Service Award.  I walked away with $4,000 in scholarships which is phenomenal!  These two awards meant the world to me and to me represent more than the title of Miss New Hampshire ever could.

The Meg Geraghty Memorial Community Service Award is awarded to the contestant whose community service resume reflects a broad and diverse set of volunteer efforts.  This contestant will have worked extensively throughout her community on a variety of community service projects on a volunteer basis.  Meg Served for many years as the ED of the Miss NH Program, during the Union Leader's 54 year sponsorship of the program.  Mrs. Geraghty was the "Family Page" editor in the newspaper until she retired in the late 1980's.  She passed away in June of 2007.  The award comes with a $1,000 Scholarship.

I spent hours putting my book together!  I had to write about every volunteer effort I did and submit 12 pages of supporting documents like letters and pictures.  I am honored to receive both of these awards as it represents my commitment to my platform and service.  I love what I do!  I am so happy I was able to serve as Miss Manchester and guess what I still have appearances!  It's not over yet.

To Debbie

I wanted to take some time to thank my director Debbie St. Hilaire!  I don't even know where to begin.  From the day that I won Miss Manchester Debbie has been so supportive and so exciting to work with.  She is fun and really represents what this program is all about.  I talked with her and texted just about every day since January 2nd.  She has been beyond helpful!  We spent days on my paperwork at her house and shared great conversations and lots of food!  She even introduced Greek Yogurt to me (so good).  She literally poured her heart into me because she wanted me to do well.   She spent hours of her own time searching for the perfect gown, the perfect hair styles, the perfect swim suit and much more.  I was amazed by how much she wanted me to do well!  We had a commitment to each other and that was to do our best, have no regrets, and be FEARLESS.

When it came time to chose my talent it was such a hard decision.  I think we spent over 10 hours on youtube alone looking for a song.  You should have seen her list of potential songs for me......the woman was so into it!!!!  I finally came to the conclusion.  I was sitting in the parking lot after an appearance at Girls Inc and my voice teacher said on the phone to me:  If you do the same thing you did last year you will get the same result, do something different, don't play it safe!  Then he said If you always do what you've always done you'll always be what you've always been.  TRUE so I decided to be fearless and take a chance with Son of a Preacher Man....I had so much fun with the song.

The song was a Bill Wolfe arrangement and Bill Wolfe makes Miss America's!  I had such a fun time working with the song and learning it.  I felt so strong vocally and fearless emotionally.   I sang my little heart out for 2 minutes at Miss NH, worked the stage, worked the crowd and was happy with my performance.  DEBBIE: we picked an amazing song!

So she also spent hours with me at the mall looking for a swimsuit....I can't tell you how much she means to me.  She really went over the commitment of a director and made me a part of her life.  We literally talked every day.  She saw me happy and she saw me sad she saw me from all sides and know's just exactly who I am!

Congratulations to Debbie for being an amazing director and friend and helping me do my best.  The judges didn't like me that day but I was hot and on a different day with different judges I could have been the girl with the sparkly crown in the end.



I also want to thank Debbie's sister Lea Glickman for all her help as well!  She came along to many appointments and helped with many things to help get me ready for Miss NH so thank you to Lea too!