Hello Vermont!
The Go Green Movement has always been of importance in our state, and this past August while I was in Orlando, I had the opportunity to share different ways that I go green on the "Green With Tamara" show. All of the Miss America contestants shared how they go green, and now America gets to vote for their favorite contestants. I would greatly appreciate your vote! The Green Mountain State has really been a pioneer in the Go Green Movement in the US, so I definitely think our state deserves to win this contest!
Vote at the link below:
http://www.greentwithtamara.com/pg_contest.php
Thanks everyone! Have a happy Monday!
~Laura
Monday, October 19, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Vermont is filled with sweetness!
Part 2 of my catch-up blog!
On October 2nd, I drove the 4-hour commute to Vermont from Assumption College, with only minutes to get ready before my appearance for the night. Throwing some hot-rollers in my hair, (thanks to my step-dad who plugged them in for me so they were hot when I walked into my house) I scrambled to get ready for the 5hour event. With only 5 minutes to get ready for 5 hours, I think I did ok. But hey, time is money, and as I volunteered my time at the Casino Night benefiting the Epilepsy Association, I witnessed a great deal of money being raised for this wonderful organization! From 7pm until Midnight, My step-dad Mike and I volunteered at the Elks Club where the Casino Night took place. Mike and I were asked to be Black Jack dealers, but because I've never been a gambler, I figured that I would be of much better use spinning the big wheel, rather than trying to learn how to be a Black Jack dealer in a short amount of time. Mike has a great deal experience with Black Jack (I hope he wins big while in Vegas for Miss America) and he alone was able to raise over $500. There were about 12 Black Jack dealers, along with a Roulette Table and Texas Hold'em tables, so although I don't know what the final tally was for the evening, I'm certain that the Epilepsy Association made a great deal of money for their cause! It was such a fun evening, and the time really flew by! I really enjoyed my task, it reminded me of the Price Is Right--one of my favorite shows!--and each time I spun the big wheel, I pretended I was playing in the Showcase Showdown! Lame? Ok...I'll give you that, but I had a blast! The people were so fun to mingle with, and there was a great turn out! Since the closest casino is in Montreal, a lot of people attended the Casino Night, and I think because this event raised money for charity, it gave us Vermonters all the more reasons to come out and gamble! Win or Lose it was a win/win situation. A few members of the Middlebury College Rugby Team came out to volunteer and before they left we took a picture together! What nice guys! Overall, the entire event was a great success! Before I left, the Epilepsy Association asked if I could participate in their next big event in April. The Penguin Plunge! I agreed. I will be jumping into Lake Champlain in April where there is still always snow on the ground! I'm excited, and I already get goosebumps at the thought of my feet jumping into that ice cold water.
On October 5th, I participated in the Miss America Lottery. I had to go back to Assumption College, so I was in Massachusetts while I was picking my lottery number, but I had a slew of supporters watching the lottery and helping me figure out which competition group I should be in. I was on the phone with either my mom or Nonni almost every 4 minutes. Each time a new contestant's name popped on the screen I'd get a phone call telling me "I'm sure you'll be next. I'm sure you'll be next." Well, I received at least 35 of those phone calls haha! Miss Vermont popped onto the computer screen towards the end of the lottery, and I'm really excited to say that I am VERY happy with my placement! Harry Benoit, a huge supporter of the MVSO, and I kept e-mailing throughout the process, and I'm glad that he too is happy with my group. I am in the MU group, and we joke that this group is very appropriate for our state, since MU sounds like MOO! Gregory Ellenburg gave much support during lottery with his phone calls and texts, along with many of my friends and family who were watching the lottery from their homes. My Uncle Pat and Aunt Jen did the lottery dance in Seattle, Washington. My Aunt Lisa in Cincinnati, OH was cheering for me, along with my family members in Atlanta, GA. Vermont had so much support during this process and I'm so happy with the outcome! Thank you all for your positive vibes! A special thank you to my boyfriend Mike who drove to Assumption College to sit and watch the lottery for 2 hours and then took me out for a celebratory dinner! Miss Vermont is contestant number 4 in the MU group! I feel very good about this placement...I keep seeing the number 4 everywhere! Seems like a good sign to me!
So, I believe I have caught you up from what has happened over the last couple of weeks. Other exciting news, my talent song has been approved! I just need to get the song re-recorded and we are in the process of figuring that all out. I will be dancing to "I want to go to Hollywood" from the musical, The Grand Hotel. 
With Jasmine--a kindergartener from Chamberlin
After the Harvest Festival, my mom and I had about an hour to spare before visiting with my Interim Director (hopefully soon to be my official Executive Director!), Sue Lackey. We went to Mimmo's in Essex, VT for some delicious pizza! It was at Mimmo's that I decided I would start collecting these super cute sugar packets. I have set a maximum limit of 3 sugar packets from each restaurant that carries them...I don't want seem like a crazy, sugar-stealing lady, so three seems like a good amount without crossing the line. Right? Well--why do I want to collect these I LOVERMONT sugar packets? Easy--because Vermont is filled with sweetness and I want to spread that sweetness around! Maybe this is weird, but I think it's cool--every time I travel somewhere out of Vermont, I want to randomly leave a ILOVERMONT sugar packet. I will be traveling to more states this year than I have in my entire life, so why not leave a little piece of our sweet state everywhere I go? haha! So be on the look-out when you travel away from Vermont--you may come across one of my sugar packets.
On October 2nd, I drove the 4-hour commute to Vermont from Assumption College, with only minutes to get ready before my appearance for the night. Throwing some hot-rollers in my hair, (thanks to my step-dad who plugged them in for me so they were hot when I walked into my house) I scrambled to get ready for the 5hour event. With only 5 minutes to get ready for 5 hours, I think I did ok. But hey, time is money, and as I volunteered my time at the Casino Night benefiting the Epilepsy Association, I witnessed a great deal of money being raised for this wonderful organization! From 7pm until Midnight, My step-dad Mike and I volunteered at the Elks Club where the Casino Night took place. Mike and I were asked to be Black Jack dealers, but because I've never been a gambler, I figured that I would be of much better use spinning the big wheel, rather than trying to learn how to be a Black Jack dealer in a short amount of time. Mike has a great deal experience with Black Jack (I hope he wins big while in Vegas for Miss America) and he alone was able to raise over $500. There were about 12 Black Jack dealers, along with a Roulette Table and Texas Hold'em tables, so although I don't know what the final tally was for the evening, I'm certain that the Epilepsy Association made a great deal of money for their cause! It was such a fun evening, and the time really flew by! I really enjoyed my task, it reminded me of the Price Is Right--one of my favorite shows!--and each time I spun the big wheel, I pretended I was playing in the Showcase Showdown! Lame? Ok...I'll give you that, but I had a blast! The people were so fun to mingle with, and there was a great turn out! Since the closest casino is in Montreal, a lot of people attended the Casino Night, and I think because this event raised money for charity, it gave us Vermonters all the more reasons to come out and gamble! Win or Lose it was a win/win situation. A few members of the Middlebury College Rugby Team came out to volunteer and before they left we took a picture together! What nice guys! Overall, the entire event was a great success! Before I left, the Epilepsy Association asked if I could participate in their next big event in April. The Penguin Plunge! I agreed. I will be jumping into Lake Champlain in April where there is still always snow on the ground! I'm excited, and I already get goosebumps at the thought of my feet jumping into that ice cold water.
On October 5th, I participated in the Miss America Lottery. I had to go back to Assumption College, so I was in Massachusetts while I was picking my lottery number, but I had a slew of supporters watching the lottery and helping me figure out which competition group I should be in. I was on the phone with either my mom or Nonni almost every 4 minutes. Each time a new contestant's name popped on the screen I'd get a phone call telling me "I'm sure you'll be next. I'm sure you'll be next." Well, I received at least 35 of those phone calls haha! Miss Vermont popped onto the computer screen towards the end of the lottery, and I'm really excited to say that I am VERY happy with my placement! Harry Benoit, a huge supporter of the MVSO, and I kept e-mailing throughout the process, and I'm glad that he too is happy with my group. I am in the MU group, and we joke that this group is very appropriate for our state, since MU sounds like MOO! Gregory Ellenburg gave much support during lottery with his phone calls and texts, along with many of my friends and family who were watching the lottery from their homes. My Uncle Pat and Aunt Jen did the lottery dance in Seattle, Washington. My Aunt Lisa in Cincinnati, OH was cheering for me, along with my family members in Atlanta, GA. Vermont had so much support during this process and I'm so happy with the outcome! Thank you all for your positive vibes! A special thank you to my boyfriend Mike who drove to Assumption College to sit and watch the lottery for 2 hours and then took me out for a celebratory dinner! Miss Vermont is contestant number 4 in the MU group! I feel very good about this placement...I keep seeing the number 4 everywhere! Seems like a good sign to me!
What does this mean? This is my competition order:
Monday AM--Interview
Tuesday--On-stage Question
Wednesday--Swimsuit and Evening Gown
Thursday--Talent
So, I believe I have caught you up from what has happened over the last couple of weeks. Other exciting news, my talent song has been approved! I just need to get the song re-recorded and we are in the process of figuring that all out. I will be dancing to "I want to go to Hollywood" from the musical, The Grand Hotel.
My Miss America Wardrobe is well-underway! I am in LOVE with my evening gown (or at least the sketches!) I will be flying down to South Carolina with my mom and Nonni in the beginning of November to try on my Evening Gown and Talent Costume on and I cannot wait. I am soo blessed to be working with Gregory Ellenburg. His work is breathtaking and he has done a fabulous job at capturing my personality into each piece of my wardrobe! I don't want to give too much information away because I want you all to be surprised!
I am currently typing my blog in my living room as I watch Miss America 2004, Ericka Dunlap, compete on The Amazing Race! The heat from the wood stove is gently kissing my cheek as my feet are freezing underneath a blanket...I know fall has officially fallen. I love Vermont in the fall! The scenery is simply beautiful as all the leaves change color. We have a beautiful view of the mountains from the backyard of our house in Vergennes, and the crispness of the air outside is so refreshing! Ahh I'm so proud to call Vermont my home!
Yesterday, Saturday the 10th (Happy 11th Anniversary Dad and Katie)--I had an appearance at my old stomping grounds--Chamberlin School! When I first moved to Vermont in the 1st grade, this is the school I attended for 5 years. So many wonderful memories and it's always fun to have a reunion with all of my teachers from back in the day! I had the privilege of participating in their Harvest Festival. I remember attending this festival when I was a student at Chamberlin, so it was so great to return as Miss Vermont. I look forward to doing several appearances at Chamberlin School throughout the year. I cannot speak highly enough about this school. I think the first few words of the school song say enough: "Chamberlin School, Chamberlin School--We think you're cool! Chamberlin School, Chamberlin School--we all love you!" Aww memories!
With Jasmine--a kindergartener from Chamberlin
After the Harvest Festival, my mom and I had about an hour to spare before visiting with my Interim Director (hopefully soon to be my official Executive Director!), Sue Lackey. We went to Mimmo's in Essex, VT for some delicious pizza! It was at Mimmo's that I decided I would start collecting these super cute sugar packets. I have set a maximum limit of 3 sugar packets from each restaurant that carries them...I don't want seem like a crazy, sugar-stealing lady, so three seems like a good amount without crossing the line. Right? Well--why do I want to collect these I LOVERMONT sugar packets? Easy--because Vermont is filled with sweetness and I want to spread that sweetness around! Maybe this is weird, but I think it's cool--every time I travel somewhere out of Vermont, I want to randomly leave a ILOVERMONT sugar packet. I will be traveling to more states this year than I have in my entire life, so why not leave a little piece of our sweet state everywhere I go? haha! So be on the look-out when you travel away from Vermont--you may come across one of my sugar packets.
Meeting with Sue was great! We are on the same page for my vision of my reign and I'm so glad to have her support and guidance. She has great vision for this organization, and together, I hope we can build it up to be stronger than ever! With everything I do, I try to leave something better than when I began--and with this transitional year in terms of the leadership of our program, I believe that I can help build relationships and connections that strengthen this program for years to come. I am already 100% dedicated to this organization for the rest of my life. Miss America does amazing things for the amazing girls who participate in it. It keeps me real. I am so proud to be a Miss America girl!
It's easy for me to get off topic. Thanks for hanging in there. I visited the Red Clover after meeting with Sue and got a super-cute haircut from Mary! I loved the way my hair looked when I left the salon, however, I have yet to find a way to repeat how my hair looked yesterday. I'm trying though! Maybe tomorrow I will master the look! We'll see...
Well, I've been running around Burlington today with my mom and Nonni. We had a great shopping excursion and finished the afternoon with some interview practice. Speaking of interview, I have found out who one of my judges will be at Miss America! Rush Limbaugh, will be one of the seven judges who have the important task of choosing Miss America 2010. I am looking forward to finding out who else will be on the judging panel! I feel like January will be here before I know it.
But until then, I'm enjoying every moment and each step of the way.
Your Miss Vermont,
~Laura
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Where did the weeks go?
Oh my goodness, Vermont! I cannot believe that two weeks have gone by since I've last blogged. I have so much to catch you all up on and right now, the only words that come to mind are "I'm sorry!" I'm sorry for the delay in my communication, so to make up for it, I'm going to make this blog a 2-part series and overflow it with photos! This will be part one, look for part two soon! A picture is worth a thousand words, right?
Please enjoy the photos from two of my appearances that occurred on September 26th, 2009
STOWE OKTOBERFEST! Location: Stowe, Vermont
Cheers with Root Beers!
Sarah and I tried to get the crowd moving!
Sarah and I tried to get the crowd moving!
This little lady was so sweet! She came right up to me with a big smile and asked "Where did you buy your crown?"
My older brother Steven came to support us!
The Stowe Rotary has been a generous sponsor for the Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization for years. Sarah Cramton and I were thrilled to be invited to take part in their annual Oktoberfest event where we got to ride in the parade, take part in the tapping of the keg (we only drank birch beer (root beer!)--no worries!), dance with children while a live band played on stage, and enjoy the moment with some wonderful Vermonters!
Thank you Stowe for a fun morning!
GREEN MOUNTAIN IRON DOG! Colchester, Vermont
After enjoying a few hours in Stowe, my family drove down to Colchester, Vermont for the Green Mountain Iron Dog Charity Event. This event will definitely be one of the most memorable of my year, not only because it raised money for charity in a unique fashion, but because my dog Tucker was more of the guest of honor than Miss Vermont was! Tucker's first appearance was a blast! We got to mingle with dozens of dogs who all competed in the rigorous Iron Dog competition. Tucker and I were asked to compete, but after taking into consideration that my dog has a hard enough time walking in a straight line, let alone running, we figured we would be much better at cheering on other dogs and their owners as they crossed the finish line! It was great to see so many animal-lovers, and I know Tucker enjoyed meeting new friends. Over 70 dogs competed, and all of the proceeds from the event went towards paying for the medical bills for retired police dogs.
My mom, Tucker and I!
What I love about being Miss Vermont is the fact that I can go from being in a parade in the morning and then switch into workout clothes to do an appearance with my dog in the afternoon! How cool is our state? I love that each day is uniquely different and exciting...and in Vermont, you never know what kind of appearance you'll be asked to attend next!
My mom, Tucker and I!
What I love about being Miss Vermont is the fact that I can go from being in a parade in the morning and then switch into workout clothes to do an appearance with my dog in the afternoon! How cool is our state? I love that each day is uniquely different and exciting...and in Vermont, you never know what kind of appearance you'll be asked to attend next!
Stay tuned for part 2! And most likely part 3, within the next couple of days!
~Laura
Friday, September 25, 2009
Before I get way too behind...
Hi Vermont!
Knowing that tomorrow is going to be a very busy and eventful day, I figured that it's time for me to catch you all up on the fun I have be having since I last blogged.
Last Friday (Septemer 18th), I arrived at the Sheraton Hotel in Framingham, Massachusetts, where I met up with Sue Lackey, to begin a long, informative and fun weekend at the New England States Conference! After settling into our hotel room, we headed downstairs for dinner with some fabulous company! Sarah Cramton and her mother, along with my sweetheart and first-runner up Caroline Bright, joined us for dinner. It was great to catch up with my fellow Vermonters, and later that night, we had some more wonderful residents of our state join us! Sonah Lee, Katie Levasseur, Jeanelle Achee (non-finalist talent award winner) and Brittany Rhodes (MVOT '05) all traveled down the Massachusetts to participate in the weekend festivities.
Saturday started bright and early, with registration beginning at 7:45 am. All of the Miss and Teen titleholders gathered together to go over a brief dinner show rehearsal and then headed right over to another room for an autograph signing. Although this was a New England States Conference, it was wonderful to see so many MAO supporters from other states travel to attend the conference. I made two friends from Ohio who are both local titleholders, I met the EDs of the Miss Philadelphia program, and a former Miss Kentucky who I really made a great connection with! I also had the opportunity to catch up with two of my Miss Vermont judges, and our emcee Dana, who gave two excellent presentations during the weekend. What I love about New England, is that all six states really have a bond. We root and cheer for each other and treat each other like the neighbors we are. When Valerie Clemens said that Miss America 2010 was attending this conference, I believe her. All of my New England Miss America sisters are wonderful representatives and role models. It was so great to spend the weekend with them!
Other highlights of the day was trying on many of Tony Bowls' beautiful gowns! (Meeting him was pretty great too!) Before dinner, all of the state titleholders walked the runway and then worked the crowd in one of his beautiful creations. The fashion show was a success, but the behind-the-scenes preparation for the show was hilarious--at least for me. I learned a very valuable lesson: always pack safety pins! Thank goodness I was able to borrow some double-sided tape, otherwise we may have had a pageant scandal on our hands. The dress I borrowed was not exactly the right size, and fit a little too loose in an area where I am not well endowed (enough said)--luckily, I was able to grab Sue's attention (the frantic flailing of my arms did the trick) and she came to my rescue! Sue has extraordinary skills with tape and she was even able to find some safety pins--which came in handy again later in the night when the Velcro that holds my sash together broke off. When the fashion show began, I was the first to hit the runway, and I felt like a star. I'm hoping that no one had a clue about the chaos that occurred backstage. Something that I'm learning to embrace is the imperfections that make each day filled with perfect memories. It's easy to feel frustrated if something doesn't fit right, or doesn't turn out the way you were envisioning--but you can't let that stop you and you can't let that hold you back. Embrace it. Laugh with it. Learn from it. Grow from it. And share these funny stories with others! (hence, why I'm sharing some silly moments in my blog--these things make me laugh and they keep me real. I'm Laura Hall and sometimes I can be a mess.)
Rick Brinkley, who has worked with the judging aspect of Miss America for years, spoke with the audience and really reinforced some important messages that I hope to keep with me while in Vegas and throughout my year as Miss Vermont. Another speaker who really inspired me was Patricia Miller--co-founder of Vera Bradley--who began her business with a $250 investment. Dream big, and you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. I was so impressed with all of the guest speakers and presenters throughout the conference, but there are two people who really left an impression with me.
Sam Haskell, President of the Board, attended our conference and shared some stories from his book "Promises I made my Mother." Sam was so interesting to listen to, he is a wonderful story-teller, and I am so impressed with all he has accomplished. He is such a great role model and has done wonderful wonderful wonderful things for our organization! Something that I didn't realize was that he is a volunteer. He does not get paid to be the President of the Board, and for the first time in years, our organization is in the black! woohoo! I have a copy of his book and I cannot wait to start reading.
The other guest speaker who is just always a delight to be around is our very own Miss America, Katie Stam. I really enjoy spending time with Katie because the more I get to know her and realize how real and down-to-Earth she is, the more that I am able to see that I am highly capable to be the next Miss America. I think that speaks a lot about Katie, because it is one of my personal goals to help young girls from my state realize that they too are more than capable to be Miss Vermont one day. Katie is everything I want in a Miss America, and I'm proud to call her my friend and role model.
On Sunday, I somehow caught a cold out of nowhere. I felt a bit under the weather, but I tried to stay in the moment and enjoy the opportunities that I was experiencing by being at the conference. I definitely walked away from my conference experience with a stronger sense of motivation and more defined personal goals for myself. I am very goal-oriented and am working very hard to achieve each goal I have set for myself. I can already scratch one thing off my list!
Saturday evening, each titleholder was asked to perform in the dinner show. I found out about this opportunity in August, and when I was asked what I was going to perform, I said I was going to sing. For those of you who don't know me as well, my talent is dancing, and I will be dancing at Miss America. But for the conference, I felt a need to sing, and I'm going to share the story that I shared with the audience on Saturday evening before I performed. (I can't remember exactly what I said, but it went a little something like this:)
"I was crowned Miss Vermont during the very last weekend in June, and after you become a state titleholder, you immediately receive a stack of paperwork that seems unending. As I was going through my paperwork, page by page, line by line, question by question, there was one question that really stuck out to me. The question read--'what is one thing that is out of character for you that you would like to try?'--when I read that question, I immediately knew my answer. To sing in front of a large audience. I have performed on stage for years, yet I have never sang a solo in front of an audience. And so when I was asked to perform for you all tonight, I knew I had to sing. What better time for me to try something new and to break out of my comfort zone than during my year as Miss Vermont where I am continuously learning and growing as a person? My personal platform revolves around youth empowerment, and who am I to tell young girls to follow their dreams, take a risk, and try something new, if I'm not willing to lead by example? And even though I know that my knees will be shaking and I have no idea what will end up coming out of my mouth, at least I can say I tried. So, although I will be dancing on the Miss America stage, for the first time in my life, I will be singing for you all..."
So, I sang for the first time. I scratched that off my list, and I feel comforted knowing that I accomplished what I set out to do. Something that I laugh about is that my vocal performance did not sound the same way that it did in the shower, but at least I tried! My voice cracked, my knees shaked, but I sang. And even though that goal is scratched off my list--I'm not going to give up. I'm going to take some voice lessons, improve my technique and increase my confidence...I can't end my vocal career with the icky sound of a cracked voice can I? Nope. I'm going to improve!
The day after I was crowned Miss Vermont, I was told that your year is what you make of it. Each Miss Vermont has her own year, and I am doing all that I can to make sure this year is one that I am proud of and one that I grow from. I owe it to my state, I owe it to all my supporters, I owe it to all the Miss Vermont volunteers, I owe it to all of my family who have sacrificed so much for my dreams, and I owe it to Laura Hall. I'm giving this year everything I have in me, knowing that holding this title is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it's an opportunity that is going to make a huge impact on my life. I am grateful every single day. Even when I'm tired, or feeling sick. I am so very grateful for the smiles I witness, the stories of inspiration and hope that I hear, and the continuous exposure to everyday miracles. Before I go to bed, I always, regardless of what happened that day, say thank you. So now that I'm getting ready to go to bed, I just have one last thing to say to all of you who take the time to read my blog:
Thank you.
Knowing that tomorrow is going to be a very busy and eventful day, I figured that it's time for me to catch you all up on the fun I have be having since I last blogged.
Last Friday (Septemer 18th), I arrived at the Sheraton Hotel in Framingham, Massachusetts, where I met up with Sue Lackey, to begin a long, informative and fun weekend at the New England States Conference! After settling into our hotel room, we headed downstairs for dinner with some fabulous company! Sarah Cramton and her mother, along with my sweetheart and first-runner up Caroline Bright, joined us for dinner. It was great to catch up with my fellow Vermonters, and later that night, we had some more wonderful residents of our state join us! Sonah Lee, Katie Levasseur, Jeanelle Achee (non-finalist talent award winner) and Brittany Rhodes (MVOT '05) all traveled down the Massachusetts to participate in the weekend festivities.
Saturday started bright and early, with registration beginning at 7:45 am. All of the Miss and Teen titleholders gathered together to go over a brief dinner show rehearsal and then headed right over to another room for an autograph signing. Although this was a New England States Conference, it was wonderful to see so many MAO supporters from other states travel to attend the conference. I made two friends from Ohio who are both local titleholders, I met the EDs of the Miss Philadelphia program, and a former Miss Kentucky who I really made a great connection with! I also had the opportunity to catch up with two of my Miss Vermont judges, and our emcee Dana, who gave two excellent presentations during the weekend. What I love about New England, is that all six states really have a bond. We root and cheer for each other and treat each other like the neighbors we are. When Valerie Clemens said that Miss America 2010 was attending this conference, I believe her. All of my New England Miss America sisters are wonderful representatives and role models. It was so great to spend the weekend with them!
Other highlights of the day was trying on many of Tony Bowls' beautiful gowns! (Meeting him was pretty great too!) Before dinner, all of the state titleholders walked the runway and then worked the crowd in one of his beautiful creations. The fashion show was a success, but the behind-the-scenes preparation for the show was hilarious--at least for me. I learned a very valuable lesson: always pack safety pins! Thank goodness I was able to borrow some double-sided tape, otherwise we may have had a pageant scandal on our hands. The dress I borrowed was not exactly the right size, and fit a little too loose in an area where I am not well endowed (enough said)--luckily, I was able to grab Sue's attention (the frantic flailing of my arms did the trick) and she came to my rescue! Sue has extraordinary skills with tape and she was even able to find some safety pins--which came in handy again later in the night when the Velcro that holds my sash together broke off. When the fashion show began, I was the first to hit the runway, and I felt like a star. I'm hoping that no one had a clue about the chaos that occurred backstage. Something that I'm learning to embrace is the imperfections that make each day filled with perfect memories. It's easy to feel frustrated if something doesn't fit right, or doesn't turn out the way you were envisioning--but you can't let that stop you and you can't let that hold you back. Embrace it. Laugh with it. Learn from it. Grow from it. And share these funny stories with others! (hence, why I'm sharing some silly moments in my blog--these things make me laugh and they keep me real. I'm Laura Hall and sometimes I can be a mess.)
Rick Brinkley, who has worked with the judging aspect of Miss America for years, spoke with the audience and really reinforced some important messages that I hope to keep with me while in Vegas and throughout my year as Miss Vermont. Another speaker who really inspired me was Patricia Miller--co-founder of Vera Bradley--who began her business with a $250 investment. Dream big, and you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. I was so impressed with all of the guest speakers and presenters throughout the conference, but there are two people who really left an impression with me.
Sam Haskell, President of the Board, attended our conference and shared some stories from his book "Promises I made my Mother." Sam was so interesting to listen to, he is a wonderful story-teller, and I am so impressed with all he has accomplished. He is such a great role model and has done wonderful wonderful wonderful things for our organization! Something that I didn't realize was that he is a volunteer. He does not get paid to be the President of the Board, and for the first time in years, our organization is in the black! woohoo! I have a copy of his book and I cannot wait to start reading.
The other guest speaker who is just always a delight to be around is our very own Miss America, Katie Stam. I really enjoy spending time with Katie because the more I get to know her and realize how real and down-to-Earth she is, the more that I am able to see that I am highly capable to be the next Miss America. I think that speaks a lot about Katie, because it is one of my personal goals to help young girls from my state realize that they too are more than capable to be Miss Vermont one day. Katie is everything I want in a Miss America, and I'm proud to call her my friend and role model.
On Sunday, I somehow caught a cold out of nowhere. I felt a bit under the weather, but I tried to stay in the moment and enjoy the opportunities that I was experiencing by being at the conference. I definitely walked away from my conference experience with a stronger sense of motivation and more defined personal goals for myself. I am very goal-oriented and am working very hard to achieve each goal I have set for myself. I can already scratch one thing off my list!
Saturday evening, each titleholder was asked to perform in the dinner show. I found out about this opportunity in August, and when I was asked what I was going to perform, I said I was going to sing. For those of you who don't know me as well, my talent is dancing, and I will be dancing at Miss America. But for the conference, I felt a need to sing, and I'm going to share the story that I shared with the audience on Saturday evening before I performed. (I can't remember exactly what I said, but it went a little something like this:)
"I was crowned Miss Vermont during the very last weekend in June, and after you become a state titleholder, you immediately receive a stack of paperwork that seems unending. As I was going through my paperwork, page by page, line by line, question by question, there was one question that really stuck out to me. The question read--'what is one thing that is out of character for you that you would like to try?'--when I read that question, I immediately knew my answer. To sing in front of a large audience. I have performed on stage for years, yet I have never sang a solo in front of an audience. And so when I was asked to perform for you all tonight, I knew I had to sing. What better time for me to try something new and to break out of my comfort zone than during my year as Miss Vermont where I am continuously learning and growing as a person? My personal platform revolves around youth empowerment, and who am I to tell young girls to follow their dreams, take a risk, and try something new, if I'm not willing to lead by example? And even though I know that my knees will be shaking and I have no idea what will end up coming out of my mouth, at least I can say I tried. So, although I will be dancing on the Miss America stage, for the first time in my life, I will be singing for you all..."
So, I sang for the first time. I scratched that off my list, and I feel comforted knowing that I accomplished what I set out to do. Something that I laugh about is that my vocal performance did not sound the same way that it did in the shower, but at least I tried! My voice cracked, my knees shaked, but I sang. And even though that goal is scratched off my list--I'm not going to give up. I'm going to take some voice lessons, improve my technique and increase my confidence...I can't end my vocal career with the icky sound of a cracked voice can I? Nope. I'm going to improve!
The day after I was crowned Miss Vermont, I was told that your year is what you make of it. Each Miss Vermont has her own year, and I am doing all that I can to make sure this year is one that I am proud of and one that I grow from. I owe it to my state, I owe it to all my supporters, I owe it to all the Miss Vermont volunteers, I owe it to all of my family who have sacrificed so much for my dreams, and I owe it to Laura Hall. I'm giving this year everything I have in me, knowing that holding this title is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it's an opportunity that is going to make a huge impact on my life. I am grateful every single day. Even when I'm tired, or feeling sick. I am so very grateful for the smiles I witness, the stories of inspiration and hope that I hear, and the continuous exposure to everyday miracles. Before I go to bed, I always, regardless of what happened that day, say thank you. So now that I'm getting ready to go to bed, I just have one last thing to say to all of you who take the time to read my blog:
Thank you.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Miss VT in NYC!
What an incredible weekend I just had, Vermont!
I woke up at 3:30am on Saturday morning to make it to the airport in time for my 6am flight to New York City! My mom and step-dad joined me on this journey and I am so thankful for their support and great sense of direction—without them traveling with me, I know that wouldn’t make it far out of the JFK airport. Coming from Vermont, where our biggest city of Burlington
only has, what, 30-something thousand people?—the city is bit overwhelming, but it’s exciting! We traveled all over the city, and it seemed like we took every form of transportation that day except for boat. I had my first subway experience, and it wasn’t all that bad--except for the fact that the line we thought we were traveling on switched halfway through (luckily there are plenty of cabs in the city!) We did so much walking throughout the day that when I ordered a BBQ pulled-pork sandwich with fries at the Hard-Rock Café, I did not feel guilty!
The purpose of the NY trip was to learn the choreography for my talent routine that I will perform at Miss America! I met with my incredible choreographer, Shea, and her assistant Lael, for five hours and had an absolute blast! I love my dance and cannot wait to perform it on stage! (after I work on perfecting it of course!) I head back to NYC in December, and I’m already excited to see the Christmas lights and decorations that the city has to offer.
Our first mission when we arrived in the city was to purchase a pair of dance shoes—but not just any dance shoe…I went to La Duca where I got a pair of shoes from a store that the majority of Broadway stars purchase their shoes from! I am very happy with my purchase, I feel like I could be on Broadway when I wear these shoes, and what is even more impressive is that I did not get a single blister after dancing in them for the first time!
I woke up at 3:30am on Saturday morning to make it to the airport in time for my 6am flight to New York City! My mom and step-dad joined me on this journey and I am so thankful for their support and great sense of direction—without them traveling with me, I know that wouldn’t make it far out of the JFK airport. Coming from Vermont, where our biggest city of Burlington
only has, what, 30-something thousand people?—the city is bit overwhelming, but it’s exciting! We traveled all over the city, and it seemed like we took every form of transportation that day except for boat. I had my first subway experience, and it wasn’t all that bad--except for the fact that the line we thought we were traveling on switched halfway through (luckily there are plenty of cabs in the city!) We did so much walking throughout the day that when I ordered a BBQ pulled-pork sandwich with fries at the Hard-Rock Café, I did not feel guilty!The purpose of the NY trip was to learn the choreography for my talent routine that I will perform at Miss America! I met with my incredible choreographer, Shea, and her assistant Lael, for five hours and had an absolute blast! I love my dance and cannot wait to perform it on stage! (after I work on perfecting it of course!) I head back to NYC in December, and I’m already excited to see the Christmas lights and decorations that the city has to offer.
Our first mission when we arrived in the city was to purchase a pair of dance shoes—but not just any dance shoe…I went to La Duca where I got a pair of shoes from a store that the majority of Broadway stars purchase their shoes from! I am very happy with my purchase, I feel like I could be on Broadway when I wear these shoes, and what is even more impressive is that I did not get a single blister after dancing in them for the first time!
After that mission was accomplished, my parents and I wandered around the city, mostly the Times Square area, and we saw Radio City Music Hall which was in the process of being set up for the MTV VMAs. (It’s weird to think that just 24hours later, the controversy with Taylor Swift and Kayne West occurred. And while I’m talking about the VMAs—I definitely did not get inspired by any of Lady Gaga’s outfit choices, so no worries about my Miss America wardrobe! haha)
While in the city, we got stuck on the side of the street while a parade passed by, twice. Two parades in the same area in one day. I also almost got sideswiped by several couples wearing “Dash for the Diamond” T-shirts—which apparently was a NYC version of the “Amazing Race” where couples were racing to win the diamond engagement ring of their dreams. Gotta love NYC!
I really had a great trip to New York. I love all of the fashion, lights, and tall buildings. But, at the end of the very long and exhausting day, I was really happy to breathe in the crisp fresh Vermont air and sleep in my own bed at home. What a day!
On Sunday, I attended the final day of the “Miles for Wishes” event sponsored by the Make-A-Wish-Foundation. Over the course of 2 days, Vermont participants walked/ran 20 miles in order to raise money for the wonderful charity. I had the privilege of standing at the finish line, where I got to cheer on the runners and present them with a medallion as they crossed the line. I have a hard enough time running 3 miles—I was so proud of everyone who spent their weekend devoted to this charity and conquering some major mileage. The Make-A-Wish-Foundation of Vermont will be celebrating their 500th wish on October 17th. That’s absolutely incredible! I hope to partner with this organization throughout my year. I was truly inspired.
I am currently back at school, writing from my on-campus apartment. On Friday I head down to Framingham, Massachusetts (only a half hour away from my college) to attend the New England MAO Conference. It will be wonderful to reunite with my New England Miss America sisters, and Miss America Katie Stam! I also look forward to seeing several of the wonderful young women who participated in Miss Vermont this year! I recently looked over the itinerary and this weekend is going to be filled with many exciting opportunities and information! Can’t wait!
I had my first spinning class today, and that really wiped me out. Time for bed!
Have a wonderful week, friends!
~Laura
I just had to include this photo of my Grandpa and me! Grandpa--you are such a major role model in my life. Thank you for telling me I look like Miss America!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Productive Friday!
After spending the night battling allergies, tossing and turning, and unable to get a full dose of shut-eye, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I was able to accomplish today while running on only a couple hours of sleep. Today was jam-packed, but after being at college for a couple weeks, I knew I had to make the most of my long weekend here in Vermont. I love being home, and I'm so glad that I will be in Vermont on a regular basis again. My college courses are conveniently set up so that I have classes Tuesday--Thursday, leaving me with a full 4 days in the Green Mountain State each week. It's a four hour commute from college to home, but it's so worth it! I'm so thankful that Assumption College is so supportive of me, and I'm proud to be participating in a program that emphasizes the importance of education. Being a full-time senior in college where I also hold an executive position in the Student Government, while being Miss Vermont has made each and every day so busy, but it's so exciting and meaningful! I'm so thankful for all of the wonderful opportunities and experiences that I'm having this year, and I'm putting my all in everything I do. (So I don't mind losing a few hours of sleep here and there)
But back to today! I woke up around 6:30am, got ready and met up with my Nonni, who generously volunteered to be my traveling companion all day (Thanks Nonni!) We started by meeting up with one of my new sponsors, Michelle O'Brien, who is giving me electrolysis treatments (this may be a little bit of too much detail, but I'm never going to have to shave my armpits again! This makes me jump up and down with excitement!) I went into my appointment not knowing what to expect. While in the waiting room I read an informational brochure which made my stomach start to turn when I found out that these procedures use needles (for some reason I thought lasers were used). But as soon as I met Michelle she made me feel very relaxed and answered all of my questions. When the treatment started, I was amazed to find that there was no discomfort--it was a really easy treatment, especially since Michelle and I just chatted the entire time! She's going to Vegas soon for a conference--so I can't wait to hear about her experience in Miss America's host city.
At 10:45am, I headed to downtown Burlington to meet up with Cynthea at Cynthea's Spa. Cynthea is such a wonderful sponsor! Today she shaped my eyebrows beautifully (which with my eyebrows is no easy task!) and then I had my makeup done right outside on Church Street while shoppers were passing by. I served as a demonstration for Cynthea's promotional event that she had going on today. Anyone who was interested was able to get a free 5-minute makeover. Cynthea was willing to donate her time to help Vermonters know how to get a healthy, natural glow in 5 minutes or less. It was a neat experience and a great event. Cynthea can be found on Facebook and Twitter--you should definitely check out her pages!
After looking fabulous with my makeover, I hit a bit of frustration when my Nonni and I encountered some issues with modern-day technology. To make a long story short, we had to travel to several locations to print up some flyers and tickets for our big fundraiser that's happening in two weeks! brief description below:
Miss Vermont Calcutta: September 26th, at the RVA in Winooski. 6pm cocktail hour, 7pm all-you-can-eat dinner, 8pm the Calcutta begins! Tickets are $100/couple. Tons of prizes will be given away, and every 10th ball pulled will automatically win a prize! Prizes include an overnight hotel stay, restaurant gift certificates, golf bag and greens fees, and much much more! Grand Prize--minimum of $2,000 CASH prize. For every 30 tickets sold, the grand prize increases by $1,000. (SPREAD THE WORD!) Two raffles will occur during the night: 1 ball will be raffled off after 50 balls are pulled out of the game, and 1 ball will be raffled off to be guaranteed to be in the Top 10 remaining balls. Live entertainment, and the best part is that the proceeds of the event will be going to The Children's Miracle Network and the Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization. E-mail me at missvermont09@yahoo.com for ticket information!
In the afternoon I headed over to Eternity Web to meet with the company that sponsors the Miss Vermont wesite. I will be in charge of updating our website for the time-being, and it was great to meet with John to learn how to update the site! I hope to be able to start making changes to the site this week!
Wow, I just looked at the time and I really gotta hit the hay. I have so much more that I'd love to share about today, but I really need to rest up for tomorrow! I will be getting up at 3:45am tomorrow to catch a plane to New York City. My mom , stepdad Mike and I will be spending the day in the Big Apple and will be returning back to Vermont before the clock strikes midnight. I've never taken a plane to a destination and back home in one day before--it's weird to think that I'll be walking on a plane without having to check any luggage! But back tomorrow, why am I going to NYC? I'm going to learn my MISS AMERICA TALENT ROUTINE! I am so excited to finally learn the dance that will be the most important solo performance of my life! I absolutely love my talent song, and I know that the dance will be wonderful, I can already feel it! I have an incredible choreographer, and what better place to learn a Broadway jazz routine than right in Broadway?!
aww, I love the city!
Have a wonderful and safe weekend! The weather channel says that it's going to rain in NY tomorrow, but I'm staying positive and dreaming of sunshine!
Warmly,
~Laura
But back to today! I woke up around 6:30am, got ready and met up with my Nonni, who generously volunteered to be my traveling companion all day (Thanks Nonni!) We started by meeting up with one of my new sponsors, Michelle O'Brien, who is giving me electrolysis treatments (this may be a little bit of too much detail, but I'm never going to have to shave my armpits again! This makes me jump up and down with excitement!) I went into my appointment not knowing what to expect. While in the waiting room I read an informational brochure which made my stomach start to turn when I found out that these procedures use needles (for some reason I thought lasers were used). But as soon as I met Michelle she made me feel very relaxed and answered all of my questions. When the treatment started, I was amazed to find that there was no discomfort--it was a really easy treatment, especially since Michelle and I just chatted the entire time! She's going to Vegas soon for a conference--so I can't wait to hear about her experience in Miss America's host city.
At 10:45am, I headed to downtown Burlington to meet up with Cynthea at Cynthea's Spa. Cynthea is such a wonderful sponsor! Today she shaped my eyebrows beautifully (which with my eyebrows is no easy task!) and then I had my makeup done right outside on Church Street while shoppers were passing by. I served as a demonstration for Cynthea's promotional event that she had going on today. Anyone who was interested was able to get a free 5-minute makeover. Cynthea was willing to donate her time to help Vermonters know how to get a healthy, natural glow in 5 minutes or less. It was a neat experience and a great event. Cynthea can be found on Facebook and Twitter--you should definitely check out her pages!
After looking fabulous with my makeover, I hit a bit of frustration when my Nonni and I encountered some issues with modern-day technology. To make a long story short, we had to travel to several locations to print up some flyers and tickets for our big fundraiser that's happening in two weeks! brief description below:
Miss Vermont Calcutta: September 26th, at the RVA in Winooski. 6pm cocktail hour, 7pm all-you-can-eat dinner, 8pm the Calcutta begins! Tickets are $100/couple. Tons of prizes will be given away, and every 10th ball pulled will automatically win a prize! Prizes include an overnight hotel stay, restaurant gift certificates, golf bag and greens fees, and much much more! Grand Prize--minimum of $2,000 CASH prize. For every 30 tickets sold, the grand prize increases by $1,000. (SPREAD THE WORD!) Two raffles will occur during the night: 1 ball will be raffled off after 50 balls are pulled out of the game, and 1 ball will be raffled off to be guaranteed to be in the Top 10 remaining balls. Live entertainment, and the best part is that the proceeds of the event will be going to The Children's Miracle Network and the Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization. E-mail me at missvermont09@yahoo.com for ticket information!
In the afternoon I headed over to Eternity Web to meet with the company that sponsors the Miss Vermont wesite. I will be in charge of updating our website for the time-being, and it was great to meet with John to learn how to update the site! I hope to be able to start making changes to the site this week!
Wow, I just looked at the time and I really gotta hit the hay. I have so much more that I'd love to share about today, but I really need to rest up for tomorrow! I will be getting up at 3:45am tomorrow to catch a plane to New York City. My mom , stepdad Mike and I will be spending the day in the Big Apple and will be returning back to Vermont before the clock strikes midnight. I've never taken a plane to a destination and back home in one day before--it's weird to think that I'll be walking on a plane without having to check any luggage! But back tomorrow, why am I going to NYC? I'm going to learn my MISS AMERICA TALENT ROUTINE! I am so excited to finally learn the dance that will be the most important solo performance of my life! I absolutely love my talent song, and I know that the dance will be wonderful, I can already feel it! I have an incredible choreographer, and what better place to learn a Broadway jazz routine than right in Broadway?!
aww, I love the city!
Have a wonderful and safe weekend! The weather channel says that it's going to rain in NY tomorrow, but I'm staying positive and dreaming of sunshine!
Warmly,
~Laura
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Photos from the Year!
Hello Vermont!
I have finally figured out how to upload some photos (I know, it took me long enough!)--here are some highlights from my year so far...more to come!
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