I'm back from the national pageant !!!!!

Whew what a crazy last two weeks it has been :) I left on July 19th (Saturday) and just got home late July 29th (Tuesday). On Saturday night my roommate Mrs. Florida, Angela Harwell arrived and from the start I loved her...she is a riot and a beautiful woman! I truly admire what she does for those children at Boggey Creek Camp...she is a dynamo :) The orientation was held on Sunday July 20th and I was nervous to meet all the ladies...kind of like that first day at school feeling...ugh..... First I want to say that I started doing pageants after I got married (weird huh) but anyway I've been to nationals before and have met some awesome ladies and some not so great ladies :( But I swear this group as a whole was a wonderful group! I mean everyone was helping each other out and it was really nice to see....I witnessed no drama and it was awesome!!!!! So a huge shout out to the ladies of 2008 you are the best !!!! Okay I will admit that if I hear the song "its party time" and "Okay one more time!" I will scream bloody murder...those that were there know what I mean :) Also I think it is abnormal for a woman to wear 4 inch heels all week and navigate 8 tiny stairs in a long evening gown and swim suit....though when I made it without falling I wanted to give the "superstar pose." I am proud of what I did out there and I am more proud to represent the state of New Hampshire and to continue my work for the Big Brother and Big Sister of Nashua...by the way Joy you rock! Congrats to the final 12, Angela, Lisa, Rachel, Melisa, Adrianne, Jill, Evelyn, Nicole, Cindy, Christina, Melissa and of course Mrs. United States 2008 Dr. Gariane Phillips Gunter, Mrs. South Carolina ! Beautiful, talented, and educated women!!! No argument from me on the final group or the winner, congrats! Okay cliche time "everyone's a winner" but honestly it is true it takes guts to do this type of event and the platforms that these women champion make them even more admirable in my eyes. So I thank all of you for sharing this experience with me! Special thanks to my husband John for supporting me even if he thinks something is dumb, my Nana who I thank God for everyday, Maria and Jack who don't understand pageants but love me anyway, Joy who believes in me, Bill who is my friend always, Angela who is the bomb, Erica Baker who I love and is special to me, Lois who I can't function without and loves to hang my picture up in the school office, Erika who is the best coach ever and all the children that need hope, inspiration and love you make me want to be a better person and make a difference!
Love,
Michele

Angela Harwell my roomie Mrs. Florida...she's gorgeous!




Beautiful ladies from New England !!!!!!!!!!


Okay shorter hair not common at a pageant 5 ladies with blond bob hair do's amazing !!!
Rocking the bobs are Me (the old fart), Brooke, Emily, Rachel, and Erin !!!!

Yes we dress for the mall all the time like this.....sure...
Fancy girls Rachel, Me, Rosemary, Erica, Joelle and Nicole!
Okay Angela and Christina what are you doing to the Buddha?


Christina and Evelyn after interviews...then Christina and I standing with the future Mrs. United States 2008 Gariane !!!!



Hello these women are smoking....Rachel, Lisa, Jennifer, Tiffany, and Tonya

Erica chillin at the photo shoot



I bet we are up to no good!



Erica and I on finals night !


Top 12 beautiful ladies :)


The Winner South Carolina and the wonderful 2007 queen Stephanie Hunt!

Our Vacation in Vegas!

After the pageant John and I checked out of the Orleans and into the Luxor Hotel :) We had a great time touring sin city and losing all our life savings at the casino's ! I found I'm addicted to the Wizard of Oz slot and the Monopoly slot...so since we are brokewe will either live under a bridge or can we camp out in your back yard?

Sorry we had to rent the cabana come on the Red Sox's were on !

Thank You to Big Brother and Big Sister Nashua Organization for the Beautiful Flowers!

Well, I came home from school today to find a wonderful and unexpected gift waiting on my side door step! It was a beautiful bouquet of flowers from the Big Brother and Big Sister Nashua New Hampshire Organization! It had a card wishing me the best of luck at the Mrs. United States Pageant next week ! I was so surprised and touched that they did that for me. I am truly lucky to work with such a great group of people! It is my privilege to represent such a wonderful organization everyday and at the national pageant. I want to thank you all at the BBBS for all that you do and have done for the children of Nashua, Amherst, Brookline, Derry, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, Londonderry, Merrimack, Milford, Mount Vernon, and Wilton. Thank You for your kindness, friendship, support and good wishes. "It means so much to me!"
A special thanks to Joy for welcoming me into the Nashua BBBS family!
THANK YOU!
Love,
Michele

Nashua's Fairy Tale Festival

On Saturday the wonderful ladies at BBBS were at the Nashua Fairy Tale Festival at Greenley Park from Noon till 3:00pm. This is a national award winning, free literacy event! The children got to explore their creative side through hands on art activities, performances and by reading. All the children that attended received a free book! The children are encouraged to dress as their favorite fairy tale characters...which was so cute! (I'm working on getting the pictures up...a little technically difficulties) The four ladies of BBBS led by their fearless leader Joy were decked out in their grey BBBS shirts(which by the way glow in the dark) they had on pretty halo's and face glitter! This is the first time BBBS attended the event and the ladies had a great time handing out the books to the children! The park is beautiful (so clean) and the weather was great....a magical time was had by all!!!!

Happy 4th Of July!

Wow its a little rainy/overcast but that is okay..as you can see I am all dressed up for the Nashua Fireworks !!!! Yes, this is my costume! When you work as an elementary principal you own many fun costumes :) Well I sure do, I currently own about 12 costumes...its the fun part of my job! This is a day of celebration for our great nation, thank you to all that have served our country and God bless those that are currently
overseas....Bring them home safely!
Have a Happy and Fun Fourth of July Everyone!!!!