MDA Three Cheers Event

 Last week I attended the Muscular Dystrophy Three Cheers Wine Tasting Event.  MDA is one of my favorite organizations and I always look forward to seeing my buddy Emma and her amazing family.  They always do fabulous events throughout the city and held at the beautiful McCormick and Smiths Castle Room this event was nothing less.   Vineyards from all throughout New England brought samples of their local wine and the room was set up with a great silent auction and entertainment.  I'm so honored to have become such a part of the MDA Organization this year and am so happy because I just found out that after I give up my crown the Russells have asked me to continue to be Emma's MDA buddy!  As I was getting pictures for this post I was looking through my albums and found a picture of Aaron, Emma and I from my very first MDA appearance as Miss Mass.  I can't even believe how much Emma has grown in the past year!   She is growing into such a beautiful young girl and I feel so lucky to be her friend :)

Journey Forward

I recently participated in the Journey Forward Celebrity Bowling event.  Aaron and I went out to Kings at Legacy Place for a great night of bowling, fashion and fun!  Journey Forward is an amazing non-profit organization dedicated to bettering the lives of those who have suffered a Spinal Cord injury through an intense exercise and rehab program.  Dan Cummings, the founder of Journey Forward, is one of the nicest most inspirational guys you'll meet and motivated by his own story of spinal cord injury and comeback  he started this organization to help others who face such life altering challenging experiences.  Some great people came out for the event including local athletes, Christopher Knight of the Brady Brunch and I was especially excited to meet my dad's former hockey teammate and class act guy Ray Bourque.  It was a great night with wonderful people!  To learn more about Journey Forward go to http://www.journey-forward.org/

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Boston Fashion Week 2010

So its 5am and another crazy but amazing day has already started for me!  Since Miss USA I have started working with an agency in NYC and I'm off to a final casting for a job I've been working hard to get for the past few weeks!  I'm off to a very quick trip to the big city and then am flying back right after the casting for the meet and greet tonight with all of the Miss Massachusetts USA 2011 contestants!  I figured I'd use this train ride to catch you up on what I've been up to the past few weeks as my year begins to come to an end.  So let's start the catch up with Boston Fashion Week 2010 :)

 I started off Fashion Week 2010 with one of the biggest shows of the year, the Emerging Trends event at the gorgeous Park Plaza.  Reaz Hoque and the Synergy team put on a first class event, worthy of NYC Fashion week status.  There were over 20 designers from all over the world, over 50 models and a fabulous team of hair and makeup artists backstage from Indra Salon in Andover and the Makeup Artists, lead be the amazing Andrea Ducharme.  I had the honor of hosting the show and it was a blast!  Hosting is truly what I love to do and what I went to school for so I love when I get the chance to do what I love!  Reaz and I are currently working hard on a great New Years Eve project in Boston, so stay tuned!

  Sunday night the festivities continued as I headed over to the gorgeous Bond at the Langham hotel for my friend's Monica and Natalie Pietrzac's fashion show at Bond.  The Siostra Productions Co-founders always know how to put on a great show and bring out Boston's best!  I was so excited because I got asked to do some reporting on the big event for NESN's Dirty Water TV.  I loved having the chance to interview some of my friends and report on such a stylish event!

  

The week continued as I did a modeling job for Neimans, a few Bridal show fittings and got ready for some other big events and jobs. I wrapped up the week doing a special Fashion Week wrap-up 30 minute segment for NESN at the gorgeous waterfront.  It was a crazy week but I loved every minute of it!  Thanks to Reaz and Julie Fairwether for including me in some great events!  Good job Boston!!

Favorite Time of Year xo

  So now that it's October it is officially my favorite time of year!!!  I wokeup this morning to crisp air coming in from my window and the smell of fall as I made my pumpkin coffee while watching my morning shows :)  There's something about this time of year that just makes me smile, the scarves, boots, cozy starbucks drinks, pumpkin patches, holiday get togethers, it just all brings back wonderful memories for me.  Holidays have always been so big in my family and my mom always made this time of year so fun and special in our household but besides that I think I officially associate this time of year with "pageant season" and I have such fun memories from the past few years.
  I have seen many of the beautiful girls lately competing in this year's pageant, whether it be at the gym, in the city or at different events and jobs it's always so fun running into the girls and sharing that common experience with them of, "trust me I know what you're going through."  With a little under two month until the big weekend this is what all us girls know as crunch time.  Even though the last few years I have spent these months dieting, going to the gym bright and early every morning, staying up late for fittings and packing, organizing interview binders, shopping for last minute things, choosing program book pictures and getting ready for orientation they have been some of them most enjoyable months of my life.
  This morning I thought back to my first appearance as a teen titleholder back as Miss Illinois Teen USA 2002 (my dad played for the Chicago Blackhawks for 16 years so I lived in Chicago when I was younger) and I couldn't help but smile.  It seems like soooooo long ago yet at the same time just yesterday. I remember my mom drove me bright and early to a Chicago Mall for a First Book event at a Build A Bear store.  I was only 17 years old and I was wearing this bright peach matching skirt and jacket, I remember thinking it was sooo cute at the time haha :)  I read a children's book to about 20 young girls and boys and then handed out books to each child.  I've always loved children and remember how much it meant to me to work with these young kids.  It was my first experience with a pageant and I really had no idea what I was doing, but all I remember is how much fun my mom and I had together that year :)
  After that year, I went onto college and lived the normal life of a college kid; working hard in school, joining a sorority, getting internships to help me learn what it was I wanted to do with my life.  I never thought I would do a pageant again because having only done one I really didn't ever consider myself a "pageant girl."  It was my junior year in college I started getting the itch again.  I wanted something to inspire me, push me, challenge me and I wanted to be apart of that excitement again of going towards a dream that inside I know I have had since I was a little girl.
  After 5 years of training, growing and realizing competing at Miss USA was something I wanted more than anything my dream finally came true last November and it's been the most amazing wirlwhind every since.  I can't believe how quickly this year has gone, even though I have done everything I wanted to do and more, hundreds of events and appearances and have made so many good memories and lifelong friends, time really does fly to fast when you're having fun.
  So once again it's that time of year and I can't help but think about everything the upcoming contestants are going through and how hard they are working right now.  I just wanted to write this post for you girls to encourage you to enjoy every single day on this crazy journey!  Miss Mass USA and Teen USA is just one weekend and I promise it will be one of the most fun weekends of your life but I want to remind you that those months leading up have what have given me some of the happiest moments I have had on my Miss USA journey.  Take a second to enjoy some great music during those morning workouts, thank your moms for accompanying you to all those tedious fittings, laugh at yourself when you're in a huge heap of clothes trying to figure out what to pack, make a new friend at orientation and just soak in every moment!  Take a second today to thank the person who has been there the most for you along this journey, for me that's my mom :)  So today's post is for her.  I love you mom and wouldn't be where I am today without you! xo

Alzheimers Memory Walk 2010

I get a little teary eyed as I write this blog post because I am truly sooooo incredibly grateful for the girls that came out bright and early on a Sunday morning to do this walk with me.  A group of 2011 Miss & Teen Contestants along with my sister, Katie and myself headed out to Worcester for the Alzherimers Memory Walk.  We did the walk in honor of my beautiful Nonnie who was one of my best friends and the best grandma a girl could ask for.  It was such a wonderful day getting to know some of the girls and walking for a great cause!

  People ask me all the time if the stories about pageant girls are true; are they really mean, competitive, snobby?  I always try to tell them that I have met some of the kindest most amazing girls during my years with the Miss USA system and the girls that came out to walk with me are a true example of how wonderful these girls are.  Thanks everyone who joined me it really meant a lot! xo

Boston Fashion Week 2010

 For someone who loves Boston and loves Fashion this is one of the best weekends of the year ... Boston Fashion Week 2010!  I am so excited for this jam packed weekend and honored to be apart of many of the exciting events this year.

  On Saturday night I'll be hosting the biggest show for this year's Fashion Week, Emerging Trends 2010.  This show is comprised of 22 designers from all over the world, 45 models and will be held at the gorgeous Castle at the Boston Park Plaza.  Sunday night I'll be reporting for NESN and covering my dear friend Monica Pietrzac and Miss Connecticut USA 2009's big show as her company Siostra Productions puts on a night of fashion, glamour and great entertainment!  Come out to both and see what Boston Fashion is all about!

  I'll be sure to post lots of pics and fun scoop from behind the scenes of two of Fashion Week's Best Shows. Hope to see you all there! xo

USO Wounded Warriors Event

 

 I recently attended the 2010 USO Golf Tournament in Greenwhich, CT with one of my closest Miss USA friends, Miss Maine.  The event was held at the gorgeous Stanwhich Country Club and was a fabulous day with some truly inspirational people.  The day was to honor a group of wounded warriors who have risked their lives to fight for our country and as they are now home and working really hard recovering and rehabbing their injuries the USO wanted to plan a nice day for them to get out and have a nice enjoyable day all in honor of their strength and hard work.

  Katie and I had the honor to golf, mingle and eat dinner with some of the warriors and they couldn't have been more kind and fun to be with!   We also got to listen to amazing entertainment by the Liberty Bills, a group of talented performers from New York that go around singing and dancing at all of the USO events and representing the USO.  It was a wonderful day and I look forward to working with the USO more in the future!

The Ultimate Magazine - September Issue

   September has been one of my busiest months yet at Miss Mass and I've loved every minute!!  One of the best things about this year is having the opportunity to work with some of the most talented people in Boston and meeting so many amazing people!  I was so honored when Erik Garcia, photographer and founder of The Ultimate Magazine, asked me to do an interview and shoot for the September Issue.  Erik is such a nice guy with a superb vision and passion for his work and I was honored to work with him!

  Here are a few shots from our fun day of shooting at the dunes in Provincetown, MA!  Thank you Erik for such a memorable day!!! xoxoxo

Hi Everyone!  It's been a few weeks since I've last blogged, but I've been busy as ever and with only 3 months until a new Miss Mass is crowned I have been trying to soak up every moment.  It's truly been one of the most amazing years of my life and one of the reasons is because I've been able to share it with my teen and dear friend Brooke.

  A few weeks ago I traveled to the Bahamas to go cheer her on at Miss Teen USA and to reunite with some of my favorite girls from the Miss USA class of 2010.  I had never been to the Bahamas before so I was so excited to have a reason to go to the gorgeous Atlantis resort on Paradise Island.

  I met up and roomed with my friends Miss Pennsylvania, Miss Delaware and Miss Montana for the weekend.  We had a great time laying by the pool, catching up and supporting our beautiful teens at prelims and finals night.  I was so excited because Rima even got a little time off while we were there so we got to spend some time with her.   Being Massachusetts and Michigan, Rima and I were next to each other for almost all of the events at Miss USA because everything including competition, finals and even our interview is done in alphabetical order.  I feel so lucky to have gotten to know Rima throughout our 3 weeks at Miss USA and can 100% say she is one of the most down to earth, genuine and hard working girls I have ever met.  I am so happy she is our Miss USA and love that someone so sweet and real represents our Miss USA class of 2010.  I had the best weekend ever catching up with my Miss USA friends and couldn't have been more proud of Brooke!!

2011 Celtics Dance Auditions

   I had such a great time being a celebrity judge for the 2010-2011 Celtics Dance Team Auditions a few weeks ago.  The event was held at the House of Blues and was a fabulous event!  I had never been to the tryouts before so I wasn't quite sure what to expect but I was blown away!  All of the dancers were sooo incredibly talented and beautiful.  I was so impressed!  It was especially fun to be a judge because the competition was kind of like a pageant with an opening number, swimsuit competition and a solo routine, with the finalists being announced at the end of the evening.  

  I have a huge appreciation for dance and anything entertainment related and definitely felt I could relate to these girls because I know how it feels to be on stage, be judged and hope to hear your name at the end of the night.  But anyone who knows me well knows as much as I love to dance it isn't my strongest area :)  So in order to get a little help I brought along my dear friend Lindsey who is a former professional dancer with the Eagles.  We made a fun night of it and went to dinner before where Linds told me what I should be looking for from a dancer's perspective.  I tried to combine my knowledge of performing and pageants with what Lindsey taught me and be the best judge I could be.  But it was pretty hard because if I could have I would have put every girl on the team :)  I now know how hard it is to be judging and definitely realize what a big job the Miss Mass 2011 judges will have!  Linds and I had such a fun night and look forward to watching the new Celtics dancers strut their stuff this season!

Pageant Planet

Thank you so much to my friend Steven Roddy for this great article!  Pageant Planet is an amazing place to find pageant tips, stay up to date on what's going on in the pageant world and get help with your pageant goals.  Thank you Steven for being such a great friend and providing us with a wonderful pageant tool!    http://www.thepageantplanet.com

                                                    

Dress For Success & Saks Fifth Avenue

Please join me next Thursday as I host a fabulous fashion show to benefit Dress for Success of Boston! It will be a fun night for an amazing cause!

VolleyPalooza

  
 Volleyball is one of my absolutely favorite hobbies!  I played all throughout high school and played in the Junior Olympics three times in Salt Lake City, Louisville and New Orleans!  Playing sports growing up taught me so much about teamwork, dedication, staying healthy and beyond that allowed me to travel the country competing and make tons of amazing friends.  It was after my volleyball career was over that I got into pageants because I just really missed having something to work for, challenging myself and I just missed the competition.  I actually got the opportunity to play a little bit at Miss USA with Miss Oklahoma and Miss Texas, who are volleyball players as well.  They filmed a segment showcasing all our talents and the three of us got to show our volleyball skills :)

   Since I don't get that many opportunities to play anymore I was really excited to participate in Scene Magazine's Volleypalooza Beach tourney!!  We set up a Miss Mass team and had a blast!  I'm not gonna tell  you the final score, let's just say we lost pretty bad haha :)  But we had a great time and it was so good to play again.  It was such a fun day with my pageant family!

American Girl Day :)

  My favorites times as Miss Mass are when I get to do events with children :)  This weekend I had such a fun Friday night with 10 of the most adorable little girls!  A few months ago St. Jude's hospital hosted a charity event and auctioned off a day at American Girl with Miss Mass so this weekend I got to spend the day at my new friend Izzy's 10th Birthday Party :)  The girls and their mom's were sooo sweet and I didn't want to leave!  I am convinced that we have 10 future Miss Mass contestant's on our hands :) They were so sweet asking me tons of questions about the pageants and how I achieved my goal.  I loved spending the night with them and invited Izzy to come to my pageant in November.  It was a wonderful evening and being around the girls and being able to motivate them to go for their dreams reminded me why I love my job so much!  Happy 10th Birthday Izzy! xo

StyleBoston Adventure

  Since Miss USA is over I am busier than ever back at work with StyleBoston!  We have been working so hard to find the best adventures, events, new restaraunts, openings and uniques things for our viewers to enjoy this summer in New England!  We've been shooting non-stop and have some amazing segments coming up this month!  One of my shoots last week was unique because I was able to have one of my closest friends and Miss Vermont USA, Nydelis, join me as a co-host!

  Nydelis and I along with the entire StyleBoston team spent an entire day shooting on the gorgeous Boston Harbor!  Flagship Adventures, an amazing company, that does boat tours, whale watching tours and island adventures hosted us for the day and showed us a different side of Beantown.  We spent the day on their gorgeous boats, cruising from island to island and learning all about the historic islands and harbors.  As the gorgeous New England weather heats up I recommend Flagship Adventures to anyone looking for a day of fun, sun and a unique summer experience!  Tune into NECN next Wednesday at 7:30p.m. to see Nydelis and I as we head out on the water! :)