Please come and support me during a wonderful evening out with your spouse.

You can purchase tickets through the Mrs. Utah website at www.mrsutahus.com. I would love to be surrounded by friends and family that night. Let me know if you would like to attend or if you would like more information.

What I look like in my dreams!

This is how I look in my dreams!

We'll see what that tummy looks like after 3 kids.

I've got to give the girl credit though, she's got it going on.

Just in case you were wondering.

So many of you might be wondering how the whole pageant prep is coming along. I don't really mention it to people unless they ask. All I can say is, it's coming. I've got a dress, which I'm in love with, that I picked up at a boutique in Atlanta. The good news is that I'm still just as in love with it today as I was the first day I brought it home. You see it's the second one I purchased. I didn't have those same warm fuzzies about the first one. It needs some serious alterations to fit this short body, but I'm sure that can be arranged. Shoes? I've got one pair. I call them the hooker shoes. They must have at least a 5 inch heel on them. My platform is definitely improving and focusing. I'm getting a better vision of what I want to accomplish with it. Swimsuit. Still not looking forward to that one. Now they've thrown me for a loop. You see they say you can choose black or white for your swimsuit. I think this is a psychological decision. Do they want to see who the brave ones are that will wear white? I mean I'm brave, but I think the black will hide my good ole c'section incision line. I hate that thing with a passion. I've haven't made up my mind on this one. I still need a good interview outfit, earrings, nude shoes, and a cocktail dress for the Gala. Oh, the sponsorships are still my biggest hurdle. I'm hoping to jump over it soon. Everything is coming along and I'm getting excited about it.

I may have gained weight, but boy was it good!

O.k. Here's a little word of advice for my fellow pageant pals. Don't go to the South during pageant season if you are at all scared of gaining weight. My family fed me like a horse. The problem was...I let them and it was so good! Now I know why folks are heavy down there. There is just too much good food. Let me just recap a little of my menu. Cracker Barrel fried shrimp, green beans, mashed potatoes, hashbrown casserole, biscuits, cornbread. Buttered biscuits and jam with bacon for breakfast. Jim and Nick's barbeque sandwich, cheddar cornbread muffins, baked beans for lunch. Let's see what else, hmmmm. Oh yeah, country fried steak with mashed potatoes, green beans and onion rings. I'm tellin ya folks. I think I gained five pounds in five days. I figured it's all right, because I won't be able to eat like that for a year or so and I'll get back into my exercise routine (crossing my fingers) soon. When I look in the mirror I just don't feel the same. I guess it's a good thing I live all the way out west to get me away from the table. Hopefully I haven't scared you and don't scoff at lack of self control, because I know you secretly wish it was you!

Put your shoulder to the wheel.

Well, I think I'm going to keep going. I really do want this experience. Will I win?...probably not. But I'm o.k. with that. If that's what I was doing it for than it wouldn't be worth the investment, but I think the journey has taken me so far, and is shaping my life already, that I want to see what else I can gain from it. Maybe my little job will have to pay for it, or who knows, maybe I will find the sponsorships. I think it's good to be realistic about the time and energy I can put into this. Can I change the world right now. No, but I can make a small difference perhaps. Hopefully the judges will realize that and not expect too much. If they do, then I'm not the girl to win. I'll give it my all, but if it is not enough, then that's o.k. I'll hopefully get what I need to out of the experience and go home a happier woman.

Ahhhh, I don't know what to do!

So about a week or so ago, I decided to let the pageant thing go. It sounds really fun, but it is becoming such a stress. Finding the time and support to work on the platform has been impossible. Finding the money...are you kidding me. I feel like how can I ask businesses to donate money when economic times are so bad. It feels like pulling teeth. If I was rich and could cover the cost myself ,then sure, I'm all about doing it, but that's just not the case. I was, and am, really excited about getting to know these girls. I'm prepared to let it go, but in the back of my mind, there is a part of me that still wants to see it through. So many people know I am doing this and I don't want to be a quiter. I just don't know what to do???? Plus, I've already invested a lot in a gown. I'm really struggling, can you tell.

Dream on...

So I woke up this morning after having this crazy dream about the pageant. It was so ridiculous that I had to jump up and write it down before I forgot it. It was pageant day and all the ladies showed up with their outfits in hand. As we are signing in, I notice they are just starting to learn the choreography in some amphitheater. I'm starting to panic because I think I'm missing it and I knew we only had a small window of time before the pageant started. As I run down there I notice who's teaching the choreography. It's that good looking kid from High School Musical, Zack Heffron. Apparently he's trying to teach a cha cha and no one was getting it. I enthusiastically informed him that I knew how and he takes my hand and brings me to the front and proceeds to dance with me. (Of course in your dreams you are way better than you naturally are, so we looked and felt great dancing together) Then he puts on some Rhumba music, the dance of love, and forgets about teaching everyone else and continues to dance with me all romantic like. (Apparently he and I both forgot it was a MRS. pageant. I am so laughing my head off at the thought of this right now as I'm writing.) I asked if we were doing a Rhumba in the pageant and he says he and I were. I thought that's not going to fly real well with the other ladies.
Of course all good things must come to an end, right. I often have dreams about when I used to dance and they always create panic because I'm not ready. Either I don't have a costume, shoes, or I don't know the routine. Something. Well this dream is no exception. I showed up thinking there was going to be someone to do our hair and makeup. My hair was in a pony tail and the next thing I know the pageant is starting. I'm sitting off stage and I see the first contestant coming on. I become frantic trying to call my mother to bring my makeup bag in a hurry, but my phone runs out of batteries. Everyone looked gorgeous of course and I was ready to bawl my eyes out. I hadn't prepared so hard for so long to go on stage looking like a total mess. I guess all of the anxiety is what woke me up.
I'm pretty sure the hot dance choreographer is not going to happen and lets pray the makeup and hair fiasco doesn't happen come April. Oh, the things the mind will create.