Mrs. Nebraska United States Pageant- March 21, 2010

Top 12 at Mrs. United States 2009

Mrs. South Carolina- Winner

Mrs. Nebraska top 12

I just found out that there will be a Mrs. Nebraska United States Pageant next year. This is the preliminary pageant to the Mrs. United States Pageant held in Las Vegas in July 2010. I had a fantastic time at the National pageant this past July.

The state pageant will be held in Lincoln at the Rocco Theatre (which is amazing) on March 20-21, 2010.

If you are familiar with the Vanbros group they run the Miss Nebraska USA pageant in Norfolk and also own 5 other Miss States in the USA system and now 7 Mrs. States! So you know the production will be TOP notch!

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me about the pageant. Or you can visit the official website for more details!

http://www.vanbros.com/unitedstates/nebraska.html

Mystery Reader

Emma had to put on the shiny crown...but look at the smile!!!

Libby from Emma's Kindergarten Class in her beautiful crown

Mrs. Christensen's Kindergarten Class

Reading the Princess Pig

September 14, 2009 - It really is the simple things in life that make me stop and think how lucky I am to have the life that I do. Today I didn't do anything earth shattering, or save a life, or really anything that most would take a second look at. But what I noticed in the eyes of my child and others is that "showing up" in life is most important.

Today I was the mystery reader at Ezra Elementary which is where Emma goes to kindergarten. When I walked into the surprised class you would have thought Emma just saw Hannah Montana or Santa Claus. But no - it was just me. She didn't care that I had my Mrs. Nebraska crown and banner on, she just cared that I came to class today to read her and her classmates.

I came equipped to class with crowns donated by Burger King for all the kids and two books all about being a princess or king - thanks to my special friends who came up with that brilliant idea. I read "The Princess Pig" and "When I Have my Crown" to the class. Both are perfect books to show that we can do anything in life and, most importantly, that we are loved for who we are rather than the crown on our head.

Nebraska Football Starts

We had great seats thanks to my hubby Colin...
50 yard line and about 20 rows up!

With Cindy Mowery and Julie Radil before the game

Sept. 5, 2009- Tonight was the first home game of the season for the Nebraska Huskers football team. We always make it a point to get out to some games during the season. Colin and I had a great time with some of our friends tailgating before the game. If you haven't been to a Husker game you should consider attending because the atmosphere and excitement in the air is truly unique. There is a reason they say, "There is No Place Like Nebraska" and this is obvious at a football game. You don't even have to be a fan to enjoy yourself!

From Vegas to the Bahamas!

Michele with Susan Hollins (Sarah's Mother) before finals night.

Susan and Ron Hollins before finals

The Nebraska cheering section
(L-R) Ron, Michael, Susan, Andrew, Nick, Jeff Allgood, and Michele

Michele with Micheal Hollins - and yes that is his real hair. You only get one guess on who did better in the beer drinking contest?

As you can tell, I am practically choking on my BUD HEAVY - but everyone else seems to be doing just fine.

Michele with "Action" who was our tour guide. This was a quick stop at Senor Frogs for some Nachos. Check out Action's T-Shirt - he made me one just like it! I am soooo lucky :)

Action called me "sugar lips" and "princess" all day - too funny. In this pic, he was trying to pose like a beauty queen...

August 2, 2009 - I am finally home from my whirlwind of travel. After spending over a week in Las Vegas for the the Mrs. US Pageant, I had a couple of days to regroup in Omaha. Then it was off to the Bahamas for the Miss Teen USA pageant. I feel like I have been gone for the past month, but I can say I had a fantastic time at both events. In addition to that, Colin took the kids along with him on a work/vacation trip to Calgary for about 10 days in early July so I really feel like I have been without all of them for close to a month. I am looking forward to getting back to a regular routine.

The reason for the trip to the Bahamas was to be with Sarah Hollins, Miss Teen Nebraska USA, who was competing for the title of Miss Teen USA. I had so much fun staying with her family and lounging on the beach. And the most fun was cheering Sarah on.

Unfortunately, I do not have pictures of Sarah yet since she was swamped with rehearsals and pre-pageant activities. I am hoping to get some pictures of her posted that she took with her own camera during her preparations.

As you can see from the pictures that I did take, I participated in many activities throughout the week - and most of them were a little out of my element. Isn't trying new things what you do on vacation? The beer drinking contest was especially interesting given the fact that I don't even drink beer - never mind chugging it! I kind of got roped into that one! Needless to say, I was dead last in that contest. In fact, I didn't even finish a quarter of my drink, but it was worth some good laughs!

One of the other days, we had a private boat tour with a guide that goes by the name "Action". He took us anywhere we wanted to go. Action Jackson was a character to say the least and is known throughout the island. He even had the word "ACTION" shaved into the back of his head. Apparently, he is known as the Limbo King throughout the island and he eventually demonstrated his skill by wiggling underneath a flaming bar that was set at 1 foot off the ground - it was incredible. Our first stop on Action's tour was Rose Island. We were the only people on the island and the sand was pink - yes pink. I spent most of the day laying on the beach eating coconuts and watching the group snorkel. Snorkeling is not my cup of tea because of a fish phobia - I know very silly. Then it was off to Senor frogs to refuel. We finished the day off at another deserted island that was covered with HUGE sea shells. I could have brought back thousands of them for the kids, but I figured I could only fit 2 in the suit cases. Why would I have two 50 pound bags to visit the beach? One would think that you only need a swimsuit and flip flops?

Finals in Vegas

Custom Sherri Hill gown from the Winning Crown Boutique

With Cindy Mowery - she is one of my great friends and golf league partner

With Nici - best friends since 5th grade. Nici did my hair and did an awesome job!

With my husband Colin

With my parents Chuck and Pat

With Jodi who came all the way from New Jersey

Cindy, me, Jodi, and Nici after finals

After the competition, Colin checked us into the Paris Hotel for a couple of nights.

This was the first view from the room looking down at the "Arc de Triomphe" and then down the Vegas strip. If the condos under construction across the street look like they are leaning, it is because they are. The plan for them is to be built at a 7 degree angle to the strip below - what a view that would be.

The other view - looking at the "Eiffel Tower" and then across Las Vegas Boulevard with the fountains of the Bellagio and Caesars in the background.

Me and Cindy at Tryst - the nightclub at the Wynn Hotel. This is quite the place to see if you ever get the opportunity to go while in Las Vegas. It has a beautiful walkway/patio just off the dancefloor where the backdrop is a waterfall that is about 100' high.

Giant Slots = Giant Payout? Nope - unfortunately my luck was no different than it was on the regular slots

Before the final production number in our red dresses

Nici Bravo (my best friend and stylist) put me together and did a fantastic job!

July 23, 2009 - Tonight was the finals for the Mrs. US pageant. After spending a week with this group, I have to say what an elite group of women this was - and all of them had amazing stories. On top of that, they all looked fantastic and had outstanding bodies! I am honored to have been associated with each of these competitors and and very fortunate to have been named to the Top 12. I would like to congratulate all of the ladies on a fantastic week - it was wonderful getting to know all of you. I would also like to acknowledge the others in the Top 12 (CA, FL, HI, MO, NC, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WY) and congratulate the finalists too (4th RU-Missouri, 3rd RU-Florida, 2nd RU-Texas, 1st RU-Wyoming). And of course, all my best to the winner from South Carolina - Mrs. Tammy Johns-Brown.

I would also like to say how very blessed I have been to have had the support and encouragement from my family, friends, and sponsors. I appreciate how this group has believed in me every step of the way.

I hope you have enjoyed all the pictures from the event. It was so much fun being a part of this event and it was certainly an experience I will never forget. Most importantly, I know I have made some new good friends.

Interview!

Just before interview

Nici is getting me ready for interview

July 21, 2009 - Tonight was interview with a panel of 5 judges. The entire interview was very quick - only 3 minutes. In order to maximize my time with the group of judges, I really had to be quick and concise with what I wanted to say. Nevertheless, I think it went really well. And I can say that at the very least I had a great time and it surprisingly did not feel overly stressful!

Swimsuit Shoot & Tour of Vegas

White suits...

My Neighbor state

Red, White and Blue

Some of my favorite gals

More white...

Not sure why I am holding his hand... :)

On the bus...

July 21, 2009 - Last night was a really fun night because we were able to get out of our hotel and hit the town a little bit. We drove down the strip and landed at Caesar's Palace for some shopping. Nikki (my roommate) and I went to Spago and had an awesome dinner!

Today we had the traditional swimsuit photo shoot. We were down at the pool bright and early for some individual pictures as well as the group shot.