Many Days Later...

Well, a full two months after my first post, and here I am! 

Fashion Fusion - Steven Palowsky Photography

Sometimes people assume that being in Miss Louisiana is all about one thing - the CROWN. However, for most of us, that is not the main reason for participating. There are so many other rewarding reasons to compete than just going to Miss America. It is a steady reminder of how blessed all of us are. Over the past two blogless months I have done some very rewarding community service projects, one of which was the Cerebral Palsy telethon in Monroe with Miss Monroe, Christiana Hayward, Miss ULM, Jessica Gilbert, Miss Louisiana Port City, Tiffany Sandifer, and Miss Ouachita Parish's Outstanding Teen, Katie Lee. Plus, the ONE & ONLY...Tonya Kidd! Let me begin by saying that I had a bet going with Wayne Gentry that I could raise $1,000. He said I couldn't, but I proved him wrong by raising $1,080! I'm not sure what was more satisfying, though, the fact that I did, indeed, raise the money or getting to hear Wayne sing Thank Heaven for Little Girls! :) Either way, I got to raise money for children who will never know what it is like to run around on the playground at school with the other kids. That in itself is heartbreaking. I also had the opportunity to model in Fashion Fusion with Miss Louisiana, Hope Anderson, Miss Acadiana, Julianne Tippen, and Miss Fleur de Lis, Scarlett Britt. I wore an outfit sponsored by Herringstones along with Julianne! All of the proceeds went to the Northeast Children's Coalition! Both of these events were so much fun, and I look forward to doing both of them again next year!

Now, besides volunteering, another eventful weekend took place in March. It was....STATE MEETING! Everyone knows that state meeting is a bittersweet feeling. One half of you loves knowing that you get to turn in all of the ads, paperwork, etc. However, the other half of you knows that before you can get that warm, fuzzy, no more paperwork feeling, you must first do the paperwork! So, once all of that "fun" stuff is done, you get to enjoy a weekend catching up with all of your...family.



I must say, though, that one of my favorite parts about state meeting is the food. I don't know which was better between the baked potato soup, the chicken, the roast beef sandwich, the red potatoes, or the cheese cake. Either way, Chef Joe always knows exactly what I like. Just one more reason to love the University of Louisiana at Monroe!



 
As many of you may know, I am a political guru. My idea of a relaxing night is turning the TV onto the national news channel and listening to the multiple problems of the world that not one person can seem to figure out how to fix. However, my favorite aspect of FOX news is...the election. So, since I got to meet 2 presidential candidates in less than three days, I was on cloud 9! First, I met Newt Gingrich. I was disappointed at how I was literally pushed away after taking a picture with him. He seemed plastic and as if his smile was permanently tattooed without the ability to say anything other than, "Thanks for coming." I was disappointed to say the least. However, Friday rolled around, and I got to meet the man that actually won Louisiana, Rick Santorum. I spoke with him for a minute, and he was in no hurry to get to the next person. I was relieved. Right after meeting Rick Santorum, I was also interviewed by KNOE about how I felt about Rick Santorum coming to West Monroe. That, too, was a pretty amazing feeling.

Just because March was eventful does not mean that April, May, and June will not be. I am rounding up the troops for my CMN fundraiser, Coins for Kids, where children from all across Ouachita Parish will be contributing to Children's Miracle Network. I will also be singing the National Anthem at Relay for Life, working at the CMN - Lake Charles telethon, and speaking at local elementary schools. I can't wait!!