Miss Ohio Week

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Miss Ohio prelims started last night! I love that the weeks competition has been shortened to two nights, instead of three. So, contestants competed last night and again tonight. They'll have Friday "off" and finals are held on Saturday!

No need to drag it out, right?! These young women have been preparing for months for this week alone, don't make them wait any longer than they have to. ;-)

Kara Mitchell won the swimsuit award and Alexis Richter won talent (piano). {Pics below from Mansfield News Journal online.}

You can find photos here, on the Mansfield News Journal site. (MNJ)

You can also follow this weeks happenings on the following social media sites:

FacebookMiss Ohio 2013 Facebook page
Twitter

Others who are keeping up with all things Miss Ohio:

Miss Hilliard

Miss America Junkies

Miss America Class Updates



Breakdown

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Miss USA breakdown...

What did you think? We watched on a dinky hospital television, so I didn't think it was that bad. The most grueling part was taking 1 HOUR to announce the Top 20! The only reason they did that was because they were filling a three hour time slot... The show could've been completed in two hours.

I couldn't imagine being a contestant waiting an hour to see if I made it, then the dancing in their swimsuits and the awkward prom photo like gazebo 'thing' on stage... Kind of just all around weird show.

But I'm happy with my list and the outcome! Haha.

Mine:                                                           Actual:
~MN.                                                               ~VA
~ID.                                                                 ~ND
~NY.                                                               ~GA 
~FL.                                                                ~IN
~NV.                                                               ~TN
~CA.                                                               ~FL
~SC.                                                               ~CA
~WI.                                                                ~AL
~UT.                                                               ~NV
~IL.                                                                 ~AZ
~GA.                                                               ~MD
~ND.                                                              ~MN
~MI.                                                               ~OK
~WY.                                                              ~NJ
~LA.                                                               ~LA
~OK.                                                               ~IA
~AL.                                                               ~NE
~VA.                                                               ~WI
~TN.                                                               ~PA
~PA.                                                               ~SC

Five of my six bubbles made it into the Top 20. 
Head scratchers for me were Indiana, Arizona, New Jersey and Nebraska. My faves from the beginning were California, Minnesota, Nevada and toss-up btwn GA and WI. My mom picked Georgia from the beginning. Guess we got close.

I took quick notes on the Top 6 on-stage questions.

Iowa: NY Times report that this generation is narcissistic and self-absorbed. Do you agree? Why or why not?
     ~She talked about "selfies" and social media. A 4 answer at best. She was the Twitter vote winner and had to go first, could tell she was nervous.

North Dakota: Is a college degree relevant today?
     ~Yes, it's extremely important to further your education... And she shared a quick    personal touch about her father, I think. Good solid 8 answer.

FL: (easiest question by far) What qualities set you apart from the other contestants and prepares you to be the next Miss USA? 
     ~Great girls competing, yada yada; she would raise awareness for the disease her  father had if she became Miss USA. A 6.

NV: Sexual assault on college campuses throughout the country are increasing, how do you feel universities you should handle this?
     ~She said we probably don't hear about the assaults much because universities  don't want to get a bad reputation. But young women need to be able to defend  themselves and she mentioned her black belt background, fine answer  7.5.

LA: No soldier left behind...
    ~Tough question, good answer; she doesn't agree with it. Easily an 8.

GA: If you had 30 seconds to talk to political leaders, what would you say to them?
     ~Oh my gosh, such a great question. She could've taken this anywhere. She chose  to mention her faith, and that she would remind our leaders to lead our country by  faith. Eh...5/6.


Miss USA 2014 (NV)

1st runner-up (ND)

2nd r/u (GA)

3rd r/u (LA)

4th r/u (FL)

5th r/u (IA)

Miss USA

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Pageant season!

Miss USA airs tonight & I think Miss Ohio week begins next week.

I don't think I made a Top 15 list last year, but I'm stuck in the hospital again so I've got plenty of time on my hands; unfortunately. I've been back since Wednesday and will be here at least 3 more days. :( My baby is so worth all of this but I won't lie, this is a real struggle. Also... Mv babe will be here in 6-8 weeks, as they've decided to induce me. So please please keep those prayers coming.

Back to pageants... I'm so sad I can't attend M.O. this year. This will be the first time not being there since 2006 when I first competed & going back every year since 2008. I wish all contestants the best of luck. Try to enjoy yourselves that week bc it flies by. Also, as cliché as it sounds, just be yourself... Show your judges the best you. If you do that, you should have no regrets.

OK... I'm excited to take a stab at a Top 15 list for Miss USA tonight! My mom will be here at the hospital when they announce the first group... I told her she has to tell me the winner before she leaves! :)

My list is solely based off pics from Facebook and Miss USA website, and in no particular order.

~Minnesota
~Idaho
~New York
~Florida
~Nevada
~California
~South Carolina
~Wisconsin
~Utah
~Illinois
~Georgia
~North Dakota
~Michigan
~Wyoming
~Louisiana

Bubbles: Tie btwn Oklahoma & Alabama. Virginia, Tennessee, and I can't get on the Rhode Island or Pennsylvania band wagon but I wouldn't be surprised if they make the cut.

Yes, sorry no Ohio :( Beautiful girl, they are all beautiful in their own right. This should be a fun competition and show tonight!
Wonder how many I'll get wrong, or right I guess. Have fun watching!

Focus

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Well...I've hit over 15,000 visitors! That's something to be excited about!

I'm also excited to be home.

About 3.5 weeks ago, I was sent to labor & delivery. I was about 24 weeks along in my pregnancy. Without going into too much detail, I was put on hospital bed rest for 18 days. Those days flew by so quickly but nothing could get me home fast enough.

Myself, my babe and my "complication" are stable.

I was seen by high-risk doctors and kept in the high-risk unit. :-/ Bleh. They also took me through the NICU, should my baby come early.

BUT I'm home now! 27 weeks 4 days along...I'll be 28 weeks this Thursday! And I'm pretty sure I'm in the beginning of my third trimester! Thank you Lord Jesus for letting me and baby make it this long. Each day that baby stays in the womb is a blessing and so good for their health and continued development. That's all I wanted was to hold onto this little soul...this soul that God has blessed me with. A child to raise up to love Him and be a #littlearrow for God's word.

I'm home...on bed rest. I'm not on complete restricted bed rest but there's a lot they don't want me to do. I didn't realize how much I was doing before all of this 'complicated stuff' happened. All the bending, lifting, straining, etc. Don't tell my hubs...but I snuck in a hold with my baby girl last night! ;)

I have countless doctor's appointments in the coming weeks, they monitor me and I have to monitor the babe while I'm home. It's all so worth it. My due date is August 20...we'll see if we make it that far. I'm shooting for at least 10 more weeks, we shall see!

Being home is the biggest blessing. Being able to kiss my girl and my husband good night. Read her bedtime stories. Help get her ready in the a.m. Use my own bathroom! Haha.

So I'm just trying to stay focused on the big picture here and that this situation is only temporary. Everyone's prayers and well wishes are greatly appreciated. I think God definitely heard the prayers bc I think that's what has gotten us through the past few weeks. It hasn't been easy and I don't know if it will get any easier. But that's why I continue to trust in God and know he's a good God. A miracle maker. A healer. That's all I can do right now is surround myself, my family, my loves with His word and goodness.

Thank you all so much for reading! Blessings 'til next time...

This Week

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I was honored to receive a call over the weekend and to be asked to have some of my Miss Ohio items on display for an exhibit with Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society/Southwest Franklin County Historical Society.

The exhibit begins June 1st, with no end date yet. I will share more as I get more info. I'm trying to decide what to put on display. Gown? Crown? Sash? Articles, etc.? It makes me nervous putting the crown on display but I know that's the one thing people love to see. What do you think?

I was also privileged to judge the Laws of Life essay contest a few weeks back. Their award ceremony is this week. I'm happy to attend and was asked to give the invocation.  I will share photos of that (if any are taken) later. It's always a nice event, they have guest speakers, good food and driven teenagers...whom I know will make a difference in this world one day.

Sorry I haven't blogged much lately. Life has been very interesting. Only 3 to 4(ish) months until I'm blessed with my second baby. Don't know the gender! ;) Trying to get things ready at home and just get through this pregnancy...which is nothing like my first pregnancy, with my daughter. Wonder if that means BOY?! Ha.

Maybe I'll do a poll for people to guess in a couple months! My friend, Crystal Jo, did one and it was a lot of fun. I was wrong on hers! Haha.

Have a blessed week.

Dresses

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It's been a while!

And I'm STILL trying to sell my dresses. Making room for Baby 2.0. If I can't sell these and find good homes for these dresses, I'll probably take them to the local Plato's Closet then donate to Fairy Good-Mother's.

Gold gown: Craigslist

Icicle pink: Craigslist

Pale pink: Craigslist

Maggie Sotterro: Craiglist

Lauren Conrad: Craiglist

Multi-color spring dress: Craiglist

Summer dress (casual): Craiglist

Casual jersey magenta: Craiglist

Black Paris (TB) gown: Craiglist

Grey, long sleeve...: Craiglist

Denim, Joli Prom: Craiglist

Shoes: Here & Here

White halter, Landa gown: Craiglist

B/W summer dress (never worn): Craiglist

Facebook album of all: HERE




New Titleholders & Other News

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I had the pleasure to judge the Miss Portsmouth & Miss Shawnee pageant this past Sunday. I was very pleased to learn they were bringing the pageant back this year, and sending two representatives to the Miss Ohio stage. I competed at the Miss Portsmouth pageant when its sister title was Miss Scioto Valley. I won Miss Scioto Valley that year, Nanciann (Strosnider) Moschner won Miss Portsmouth. We both went on to be in the Top 10 at Miss Ohio (summer of 2006 - I think). She may have been in the Top 5 even, but I can't remember.

It was a great weekend. Won't lie, it was nice to travel sans-husband and sans-child. I was able to watch what I wanted to watch the night before competition. Was able to take a long shower. Read some "fashion" magazines without a little one trying to rip out the pages. Catch up on a couple of chapters out of my Kindle. Haha. It was a good weekend with a great outcome.

Gabby Bailey and Elise Budowanec will compete for the title of Miss Ohio 2014 this summer! Here is a photo, from Jon's Photo:


In other news...

My baby girl sure has some to-do list:

That's right! I'm having another baby! If you follow me on Facebook, this is old news to you. If not...surprise! I'm about 3 1/2 months in and due mid-August! Can't wait!

Many blessings.