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My, my, my!!! What a week it has been! It's Friday, the last night of prelim competition for Miss Ohio & the day before Miss Ohio 2010 will be crowned! Who will it be?! I am as anxious as ever, more so than last year.

Last year it was surreal to sit in the audience, but this year I've gotten to know the contestants a little and have had the honor to be a small part of the show! These young women are truly outstanding and all their hard work is paying off this week!

A congrats goes to Becky Minger who won a swimsuit prelim Wednesday night, Nanciann Strosnider who took home a talent prelim award Wednesday night AND a swimsuit prelim last night, as well as my Miss Maple City sister who was awarded a talent prelim last night, Marisa Bucheit! My little host sister, Ashley Warholic, will compete in talent tonight & I would love to travel back up to Mansfield to watch her!












I'm 50/50 right now as I am SO tired! I can't believe I would "go" 24/7 back when I was Miss Ohio. I still wonder how I did it & how all these ladies are doing it now. I came back to Columbus yesterday because I had to work a few hours...

...It was actually the LAST day at my part time job with Fisher Grad Programs! Because, drum roll please...I got a job!!! Wednesday was a blessed day for me. I awoke in Mansfield in my second home, The Warholics, found out my sister-in-law {finally} got engaged AND I got a job offer from THE Ohio State University! Which I accepted! Wohoo!!!

Not only will I be a graduate of OSU very soon, but I will also be a staff member with Fisher College of Business! Maybe I'll even go back to school and get my Master's! But I'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

So what to do?! Go to Mansfield or relax at home one more night? I'm organizing a cocktail hour for Former Miss Ohio's tomorrow and co-hosting with some Miss Ohio Sister's. Whew! Abby Bollenbacher is back in Mansfield and it would be GREAT to catch up with her! Decisions, decisions!

Make sure to continue watching the shows online: www.missohio.org. Also keep checking the MOSP Facebook page for updates: www.facebook.com/missohio.

I start summer classes on Monday but hope to blog again soon! Break a leg Miss Ohio contestants! ~Blessings to you & yours~
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Way to go baby sister! Looks like someone is following in my footsteps! I found out Faye was in the "pageant" two days before she was to compete. I took my last final that afternoon, had enough time to run home & grab a bite to eat then drive 20 minutes to Commercial Point & snap a few shots of her becoming the 2010 Junior Miss Commercial Point!The competition consisted of an audience introduction, Q & A, then a private 5 minute "interview" with judges. She was up against 8 other girls, ages 12 to 14! I think she had a good time & that outcome helped a bit. There was also a "Princess" program in conjunction with the Jr. Miss. Tonight they will hold the Miss competition and Faye gets to be in the Homecoming parade tomorrow!













I wish there had been a little more to the pageant, like talent. However, it was free to the contestants & a great experience for those who participate and/or win. Faye is even interested in the Miss Ohio Outstanding Teen program next year. I'm SO excited!Other than going to cheer on my baby sister I've been up to a lot, hence my blogging absence. I have my fifth wedding to shoot tomorrow. I've done multiple portrait & family sessions, even been asked to work on a catalog project this summer. One of my best friends (Kasey Wilson-Johansen) got hitched last weekend. My brother-in-law from Cali just left for Montreal yesterday. I am finished with finals! And Miss Ohio Week 2010 has begun!

I'm off to a rehearsal in Mansfield on Sunday & the madness will ensue on Wednesday! I'm excited for the coming days but will have little time to blog. Make sure to keep an eye on Abby Bollenbacher's blog for all things Miss Ohio related!
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I want to add this quickly so it's going to be a short blog! I will write more tomorrow.

Congratulations baby sister...2010 Junior Miss Commercial Point!!! I'm so proud of her!
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Whew! I needed a break...I've been studying for my last strategic media planning exam.

Well...the yard is finished! We've worked hard & tirelessly on our front yard & side yard over the past two weeks or so. It has felt like a much longer process due to imagining, drawing, saving (dough), window shopping, ripping, shoveling, & so on & so on...resulting in finishing! Here are before & after photos!

The beds have a nice coat of mulch, unlike the photo above where the ugly dirt is exposed. We also mixed in a few brushed nickel solar garden lights...they're pretty cool. The pictures aren't really doing our yard justice, but it gives you an idea. I can't believe I'm excited about this stuff! It's one of the joys of being a homeowner, I guess. I think it's great that we do get giddy about the little things! Next up...kitchen renovation! I hope.

I shot my first wedding last weekend & I'm booked for weddings Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Another busy, busy weekend is ahead! I will share pictures as soon as I'm allowed. Crystal Jo typically doesn't want photos "debuted" until she sends the couple their gallery information, which is usually between 2 to 4 weeks.

I have one week of regular classes left before finals, I'll be done with my internship in about a week & a half, my brother-in-law & his wife are coming in town from California next week & one of my best friends is getting married next weekend!!! Have a blessed week everyone!

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Wow! Another busy, eventful, memorable weekend! I had the privilege of singing at the Survivor Ceremony during the Columbus Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure! What an honor and what an experience. I met my former "co-worker" and breast cancer survivor of four years, on Saturday where she told me to take a seat right next to Chris Spielman. Mr. Spielman is as amazing and kindhearted as his wife, Stefanie Spielman. He spoke moments before I was to take the stage and it was very difficult to hold back my tears, his words were so touching. Check out this eNewsletter about the event. {Race eNewsletter} There were more than 50,000 in attendance that day and over 20,000 during the ceremony!


The first picture is of Chris Speilman & the second is of me, sorry they're so far away. Blame it on Steve. :-) The video above is of Hamilton Township High School doing their "flash mob" at the Survivor Ceremony! The clip is really short but it was fun...we danced to I Got A Feelin'! I'm right behind the lady who is getting down, dressed all in pink and a visor. Check out the Columbus Dispatch website for some great pictures of the event. If I find more good photos, I'll post them.

Aside from that big event of the weekend, we ripped out our entire garden (or jungle) on the side and front of our house! I am so sore right now! We tried to keep up with everything last year but the little old lady who lived in this house before us really liked flowers, all different kinds of ornamental grass and rose bushes! It was just a LOT to maintain so we've created a blank canvas for ourselves and it's going to look GOOD! We already purchased the stone edgers from North Shore Stone in Columbus. We have the stones placed on the side of the house but I don't have a photo of it yet. I think at this point it will be best if I show you some pics when it's done and looks a little prettier!

I've got a BUSY week and weekend. I apologize in advance if you don't hear from me. I'm participating and singing in the memorial service for Larry Wallington, former Ohio State employee who was shot and killed a couple of months ago. I'm attending the BBB Torch Awards Ceremony in Columbus. I have a job interview and my first wedding shoot this weekend. Wish me luck. Many blessings to you all!
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If you're looking for a good laugh today, check out this video:
Ellen Scare Montage


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I had another long weekend. A good weekend, but a long one. Steve & I celebrated our One Year Anniversary at Put-in-Bay & Kelley's Island up on Lake Erie! It was an eventful & memorable weekend. We drove up on Friday, tried to miss rush hour traffic but we had to drop Carmen off at my mom's. Rush hour traffic it was. As we sat on 23 North, our stomachs started to growl so we opted for Panera. Yum. As we are cleaning up our table my phone rings & it's the resort we're staying at for the weekend. The lady on the line asks if we are aware that the last ferry leaves at 8PM. I say "yes" because I did know but it was an oversight on my part, just figuring that we would make it. Mind you, it's 7PM when she calls and Marblehead is an hour & a half away from the Panera we're currently at. Yipee! Needless to say, we missed the ferry! Ahh memories. We stayed in Catawba for the night & enjoyed some interesting night life at MonAmi. We spent the day at Put-in-Bay on a golf cart (Fun!) & made sure to head out early, as not to miss another ferry! Once we got to Kelley's Island we checked in & took a leisurely tour of the island from inside our car. It started to rain but that didn't stop us from checking out the glacial grooves. We were not expecting what we saw! The glacial grooves were a really neat sight to see! Click HERE if you'd like to see some photos from our trip.

This weekend myself and the "founder" of Camp Sharp for Girls, my good friend Stephanie, & I are continuing our training on the ropes courses so we can be certified & help the girls out in July! Steph was certified on the initiatives courses the other weekend, while I was at the 2010 Miss Ohio contestant forum. It's going to be another LONG weekend but one that we will hopefully see huge benefits from this summer, when we see great big smiles on all the girls faces!

I continue to practice my mad photographer skills. Another lesson is planned for tomorrow. My brother-in-law got engaged over the weekend!!! He & my future sister-in-law are up for the challenge of being my models once again! Miss Ohio rehearsals start next weekend, for me at least. The weekend after that calls for some singing at the final ceremony for the Columbus Race for the Cure! I've got a mid-quarter report for my internship due next week as well as two (maybe three) other assignments. Graduation is in 82 days!!

~Love & Blessings~