Lighting up Northville

November 17, 2006 -

The Northville Lights Parade was one of the highlights of my year so far! This unique parade winds through downtown Northville at dusk - each float lighting the street and the MANY cold faces of the spectators. Riding in one of the coolest parade entries I've ever seen was just one thing that made this event so much fun. Our entry included 4 classic convertible VW bugs (3 decked out as reindeer!) and the junior workshop and senior chours girls from Miss Harriet's Dance Studio (my Alma mater)! Although I was not in a reindeer, my VW bug was adorned with custom lit signs that read "Miss Michigan and the Snowflakes!", and three 'snowflakes' and I kept each other warm on the parade route while singing along to Clay Akin's "Sleigh Ride" as the dancers performed around us!

What really made this event so special for me was that it was a true return home. Having grown up at Miss Harriet's Dance Studio, it was an honor to be welcomed back by the faculty, students and parents. After the parade, we went to Genitti's to warm up and celebrate. There I had the chance to speak to everyone and thank them for having me back. I also had the chance to talk to the students about my journey to become Miss Michigan and about how persistence truly does pay. Looking them in the eye and talking about how I got my start right where they are today and that they could get anywhere from here was one of those moments that make me truly grateful for this job.

Thank you to Miss Denise and Dr. Demary for having me back home at the Northville Lights Parade and rolling out the red carpet.

It's a very small world . . .

November 12, 2006

This photograph was taken Sundayat the WalMart Holiday Kick Off event in Troy. I am pictured here with Detroit Sports Legends Lem Barney and Rick Leach. Other celebrity sightings included Kim Adams, Rick Mahorn, Mitch Ryder and Santa Claus himself!

Ironically, this was the second time that week that Mr. Barney and I ran into each other! He was also on hand at the Dishin' Up Wishes event. No one was more happy than my traveling companion, Laura Hempton. She was so excited to meet him at Ford Field that she forgot to get a picture with him. Fortunately he was happy to pose with us just 3 days later:) I also heard rumors that he was also in America's Thanksgiving Day Parade today, although we didn't run in to one another. Either way Mr. Barney thank you for all that you do for our communities!

Dishin' Up Wishes 2007!

November 8, 2006

Gielle (blue dress) was one of the guests of honor at the first ever Dishin' Up Wishes at Ford Field. The Make-A-Wish Foundation granted her wish to have her own harp earlier this year - and it was truly a gift to all of us to hear her play. Gielle and her family spent a magical night at Ford Field! Thank you for joining us and sharing your incredible story!







I know, I know. . . I've never looked taller! Barry Stokes of the Detroit Lions is a huge supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He joined us at Ford Field to pose for pictures, meet the attendees and paint a ceramic piece that will become a gift for a very lucky wish-kid! He is quite the artist when it comes to painting puppy paws . . . I mean Lions claws :)

Busy Busy . . .

So Busy in fact that I havn't had a chance to share with you all what I've been up to in the last few weeks! I've been to Ford Field to Dish Up Wishes, Kalkaska to crown Miss Heart 2007, Troy to thank the hard working folks at Wal Mart, Muskegon to thank the creative and generous people at Krautheim's, Kalamazoo to take part in the Grand Opening of Rave Cineplex, Northville to ride with some 'Reindeer Bugs' in the annual Lights Parade, Sparrow Hospital in Lansing to paint orniments, Middleville for the first Miss West Michigan Pageant, back to Lansing to hang out with Jennifer Berry and take part in our Fall Forum, and just today Detroit for the 80th annual America's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Whew!

Enjoy some of the pictures. . .

I Challenge you . . .

To send me an e-card!

Really, it's that easy!

Bounty Paper Towels, a Procter & Gamble company, is supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation with a program called "Cards That Count". Bounty's contribution to us will depend in large part on how many electronic "Cards That Count" are sent in support of the Foundation.
We're already doing well as one of the top three, only trailing the other charities by a few percentage points. Let's kick off November with a strong start! Bounty is donating $500,000 to three worthy charities, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation® is thrilled to have been selected as one of the beneficiaries. Each organization will receive $100,000, and the remaining $200,000 will be allocated based on the percentage of e-cards sent in support of each charity. You can help!!!

My challenge to you?
- Send 5 Bounty e-cards to your friends and family.
- Send me a Bounty e-card at miss2006@missmichigan.org and include the names and emails of the people you sent a card to.
- In return, I'll personally send my own Bounty e-card to each of the names you submit and of course to you!

Who wouldn't want to get an e-card from Miss Michigan? (come on, it's for a good cause!)

Please visit www.quickerpickerupper.com to send your cards and help the Foundation “wipe up” the competition!


Need a reason to send a card? Try one of these:
* Thanks for the ride home yesterday * I'm sorry you're having a bad hair day * I like your new shirt * Thanks for taking care of my pet * Why didn't you tell me I had something in my teeth? * Have a wonderful week*

Dishin' Up Wishes!

There is still time to purchase tickets for the first ever Dishin' Up Wishes Event at Ford Field!

As if you needed more reason to come - one of the auction items is a pair of patron tickets to the 2007 Miss Michigan Pageant and an exclusive autographed photograph of me! (okay, okay - but the tickets are worth it!)

Hope to see you there!

Havana comes to Washentaw

November 4, 2006 -

It was a night of surprises at the Miss Washtenaw pageant this Saturday - being transported to Havana was only one . . .

The show opened with a touching dedication by the reigning Miss Washtenaw County, Ashlee Baracy, to her mother and her battle with breast cancer. Ashlee gracefully danced in a pink watercolor dress to the song "You Raise Me Up" as photographs flashed behind her. There was not a dry eye in the house, nor a question that we were in the presence of a truly beautiful woman. The night was meant to honor Ashlee and all her accomplishments as Miss Washtenaw, but it was the whole Baracy Family that was recognized for the grace in which they survived one of the most trying tests a family can endure. Ashlee, you have been a wonderful representative for Washtenaw and the American Cancer Society. Congratulations on all your accomplishments. I'll share the stage with you any day!

After such an emotional and inspirational opening - the mood changed to excitement and fun as all the contestants danced through the auditorium and to the stage to transport us to a Havana Night! Turn after turn the audience was surprised with a bongo player, surprise performances by Ahslee and the UofM Dance Team, and a beautiful Havana set. Betty - you outdid yourself! Congratulations on a stellar production!

Lucy Ann Lance from Talk Radio 1600 WAAM, returned as the Emcee. (You can catch her show weekdays from 6 - 9 AM). She was surprised herself when she was presented with the Washtenaw County Woman of Achievement Award for all of her dedication to the Washtenaw area, the Miss Washtenaw Pageant, and the Miss America ideals and values. Congratulations Lucy Ann and thank you for your continued support for this program!

It was an honor to be a part of the 2007 Miss Washtenaw County Pageant, to share a dance with Ashlee, and work with Laura Bloomensat and the volunteers and contestants. Thank you to everyone who made the night such a success!

Congratulations to all the contestants for all your accomplishments; the runners-up - Brittany Fox (4th), Karess Medvecz (3rd), Jenna McCormick(2nd), and Natalie Griffith (1st); and to the new Miss Washtenaw County 2007 Sheila Klein!

A Really "GOOD" Seach Engine

What if you could help make wishes come true just by searching the Internet? Well now you can!

GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results. Just go towww.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter "The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan" as the charity you want to support. Just 500 of us searching four times a day will raise about $7300 in a year without anyone spending a dime!

Be sure to check out GoodSearch on November 11th as we are going to be featured as the Charity of the Day!

Congratulations Little Miss Michigan!

October 28- 29, 2006 -

When I arrived for lunch at the Holiday Inn, Muskegon with the 17 contestants for the first annual Miss America's Little Miss Michigan competition - I was blown away! Not only had they learned 2 production numbers, and all their walks - they seemed to already be best friends! As we dined on cheeseburgers and french fries they had many questions . . . What color was my dress? (gold) What was my talent? (dance en pointe) Was I ever Little Miss Michigan? (No) Do I have a dog? (A new puppy!) Where am I from? (Farmington Hills) Do I ever get nervous? (sometimes) How come I picked all the ham out of my salad? (I don't like ham)

Whew! These girls have some energy!

Then we got down to business and discussed some other important things such as the four points of the crown, how to prepare for interview, and the importance of having fun in everything you do. Finally they were released to their parents to get ready for their interviews - and I ran to Starbucks to get some energy to keep up with them!

The Little Miss program is the newest addition to our Miss Michigan Pageant Family. The competition is open to girls ages 8-12. All 17 contestants competed in Interview, Active Wear, Talent, and Party Dress and performed a fun production number on Saturday evening. Then Sunday afternoon, the top five were announced and competed for the crown. As Saturday night's Emcee, I can tell you from experience that these girls were having a ball! Unfortunately for the audience the real show was backstage where all the contestants were giggling and dancing around to whoever's music just happened to be playing. They even got me into trouble by roping me into chatting backstage while my mic was on!

Congratulations to all of our 17 contestants for making our first Little Miss Pageant such a success! I am proud to welcome our new Little Miss Michigan, Brooklynn Kay Lambert from Monroe, into the Miss Michigan family!

Thank you to Shelley, Juanita and Myia for all your hard work in starting this wonderful new tradition!

Flying High with Alitcor!

October 26th, 2006 -

Team members from Alticor paired up with staff and board members at the Make-A-Wish Foundation for a high-flying wish enhancement!

Alticor is sponsoring 9 year-old Cassidy's wish - a trip to Swim with the Dolphin's in the Caribbean next spring! As an extra special treat, Alticor invited the Grand Rapids area family to take part in a special Helicopter ride - right over their house!

I was invited to join the team to help send her off and welcome her back to solid ground. We enjoyed a wonderful tour of the hanger and some of the private jets and helicopters. The soundtrack of the day was Cassidy's favorite band the Cheetah Girls! After she safely landed, we enjoyed a party fit for a princess - she wore the crown while nibbling on chocolate covered strawberries! (She was kind enough to save me one when she learned they were my favorite).

Thank you Alticor for making so many wishes come true for Grand Rapids children!