Better Late Than Never
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If we are friends on Facebook, you know we've been busy. If we're not...I'll attempt to quickly fill you in.
I still currently only have one vocal student, see post below. She was accepted into her high school talent show...I'd say with my help! Please don't hesitate to contact me today if you're interested in lessons! I can only take two students with the 'busy-ness' of our family. So I am looking for that second client...is it YOU?!
Over the passing two months, we've celebrated holidays, birthdays and the new year! We took baby girl out hunting for our own Christmas tree.
Hubs & I clean up nice. We enjoyed an evening out for his company Christmas dinner party. He was rewarded with his five-years of service award. Really it's been six, but because he started seven days into the new year; this is what they're going by. Who's counting right?! ;)
Baby girl got to see Santa again! She still doesn't like him. But she's adorable! Thanks to Tasha Braniff Photography for these awesome shots of her second Christmas! Tasha, you're the BEST for doing this each year. We truly love it!
She keeps us SO busy. She's beginning to talk in sentences. She's a 'Chatty Cathy' that's for sure. But we love it! She's growing up so fast.
I was able to take some family photos, thanks to Crystal Jo Foto. Click HERE to view my album with a sneak peek of some of the shots I got.
I'm so excited to catch up with some of my Miss Ohio sisters tonight! Some of us are gathering at a local spot in Columbus this evening, to simply chat. It will be so nice. Nice & relaxing to just fill one-another in on what's going on in our lives. Such an awesome sisterhood to be a part of. I'll be sure to share some photos.
Thanks for checking in! If I get some inspiring thing to blog about, I will!
Blessings 'til then.
Vocal Coach
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Maggie Sottero Wedding Gown
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Don't worry, it's not my wedding gown. In fact, it IS a wedding dress but I wore it as a talent gown for Miss Ohio AND Miss America!
It took me a long time to decide whether or not I wanted to part with this, but I have SO many dresses. The more important one is nestled in a box, wrapped in plastic for my daughter & I to glance at in 18 years! Haha.
Here are two photos I was able to find of my dress:
Asking 27.5% of the cost
$225, OBO
- Size 4/6 with some alterations
- Very well cared for
- Like NEW, worn approx. 3-4 times
It is also listed HERE.
Please let me know if you or someone you know is interested! It's really a gorgeous gown!
Adventures in Atlantic City
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We left on a Friday, two weeks ago! We stopped in Pennsylvania on the way over, which was a nice break in the 8 to 9 hour drive. We arrived to Atlantic City Saturday early afternoon, missing the Miss America trade-show by an hour. Arrgg. We grabbed our badges for the Miss America coronation then headed straight to the beach!
Unfortunately, I was comparing AC to Las Vegas, which I shouldn't have done. However, having the sand at your fingertips (or toes) is so nice. After soaking up some rays and trying to catch a shot of us dipping our toes in the ocean, we went back to the room to relax and get ready for the Show Us Your Shoe Parade!
After the parade I met SIX of my Miss America sisters at EVO at Trump Plaza. While catching up with my amazing, beautiful, accomplished sisters; I ran into one of the directors for the Miss New York organization; Linda! Who'd-a-thunk the MNYSP would have another Miss America the following night!
We hung out at Trump then went to Bally's then back to our hotel for the night. In Vegas, you wouldn't be able to "move around" this much. You wouldn't want to really. Everything you would need or want is usually within one hotel/casino.
I woke the next day to have an amazing brunch/lunch with my Miss Ohio sister ('85), Suellen. Suellen hasn't lived in Ohio for a very long time, so most of you may have not had an opportunity to meet her. Oh my word, I love her. I felt like we were long lost friends right from the get-go. She was a double prelim winner and was in the Top 10, her year at Miss America!
I took some "me time" and shopped at the Pier Shops...and got a pumpkin spice latte from #Starbucks! Met up with my partner in crime before getting ready for finals.
Side note: I was so excited about my hair on finals night. I had these waves going, kind of a classy look. Then we stepped outside and it went to you know where. :-(
I was also so excited to find out if Heather Wells, Miss Ohio, would make it into the Top 15. Oh the anticipation of sitting in that HUGE theater just wondering and waiting. We sat right behind a group that was there for Miss Connecticut...she made it all the way thru the talent round!
Heather is a wonderful young woman. Very talented, beautiful, kind, funny, gifted... there were some head-scratchers in the Top 15, to me at least. It's been six years since I competed, I think I can be candid here... Wisconsin, Kentucky and Missouri were a few of the questionable ones for me.
I liked Florida, but I wonder if the judges placed her in the Top 5 because they felt "sad" for her. If you didn't watch or know, Florida injured herself earlier in the week and so she wore a leg brace for finals competition. #pityparty?
While I'm sure each of these young women have their own unique positive traits and qualities...this is just me "venting" here. And I am excited for the new Miss America, Nina Davuluri!
But, these girls over Heather? You just never know! I thought for sure I was going to be in the Top 15 my year! And for my successor and her successor and so on...get the picture. The 50+ young women who compete at Miss America, are the best of the best. Every year, states send intelligent and driven young women to the Miss America stage.
For any contestants competing for a local title or even getting ready to compete at Miss Ohio, your title is won in the interview room. This is even more true at Miss America.
Heather knew what she was preparing for, what she was getting herself into. Miss America is so hard to "explain" and it's such a different experience for each young woman.
Back to the logistics of it...I was not happy with my seat either. So the first 15 minutes of the final show, ask Becky, I was Grumpy McGrumperstein. Not pleased with where we sat or with OH not placing. Boardwalk Hall is enormous. It's like a football stadium. So if you plan to go in the future, sit in the 100 section and the lower your section the better. For instance, we were in 106 and the rest of the OH gang was in 102 (I think). Their seats were really good...so keep that in mind.
I am beyond thankful that I was able to attend the 2014 Miss America pageant. It was an experience. And to be able to go to cheer on a friend, made it even better. I will probably not go again until my daughter is older, so I can take her, too.
I feel like I could say so much more, but I'll stop rambling.
Here are a couple of photos:
Click the link in the previous post to view an album I shared on Facebook!
Blessings.
Photos from Miss America 2014
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HERE
I'll write more about my time in Atlantic City later today or tomorrow!
And More Updates
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My little family traveled to Florida in early July. My hubs celebrated his birthday there...and our baby girl got sick. So it was an eventful trip...one where we ended up at urgent care because little Cookie felt so bad. Here are some fun family vaca pics:
This was one of the nights she didn't feel good...with her cousins, Cody & Camden. Yes, the three C's. No, we did not plan that!
Two days after we got back from Florida, I had the wonderful opportunity of reading to a group of students at Lincoln Park in Columbus for their summer Freedom Schools Read Aloud program! I had a great time and can't wait to go back!
We've been keeping ourselves busy with the new house. Starting small. Things like tile work and painting. Finishing up projects that the previous owners left. We don't mind that nothing was done; it allows us to pick what we want for those finishing touches.
Aside from the day-to-day grind of work, we're trying to enjoy our summer. Lots of visiting with friends and family, now that we have the space...and a pool...and a fire pit. ;) I feel truly blessed. I know Miss Ohio held her send-off celebration to Miss America last weekend. Very exciting! I can't believe she leaves for Atlantic City in less than a week!
I am thrilled to go to AC to cheer her on with our Miss Ohio sister, Becky! I'm also looking forward to meeting up with the Miss America class of '07-'08! We have plans in the works. Of course you know, photos galore upon our return!
Stay tuned...and be blessed.
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