Miss Chadron/Miss Northwest Local Pageant

19th Annual Miss Chadron/Miss Northwest Local Pageant

Congratulations to the new Miss Chadron, Mariah Cook and Miss Northwest, Caitlin Parker! These two young women are both students at Chadron State College and will be fabulous local titleholders and representatives at the Miss Nebraska 2010 Pageant in June! A huge thank you to all of the volunteers who helped to organize the pageant. The production went off without a hitch and all of the 8 contestants did a PHENOMENAL job, I hope to see each and every one of them up on the Miss Nebraska stage this June.

Posing with former Miss Chadron/Miss Northwest Titleholders

The wonderful and organized Directors of the Pageant, Brend Bump & Linda Teahon With volunteer and friend, Jon Marques.

Emceeing with Dr. Hanson
With Former Miss Chadron, Lacy Fry. I'll be rooting for her next summer when she competes for Miss Wyoming!

Mascots and Precipitation

2 New Self-Discoveries

A. I'm infatuated with Mascots

B. I can pack for any and all weather in one suitcase. No Seriously! Snow, sleet, rain, heat....
In the past few weeks I've encountered every kind of mascot and every kind of weather! As you can see I have a soft spot for the Herbie Husker mascot, but also struck a pose with Stormy, Spike and even clowns!
In addition to hanging out with mascots I promise I have been busy with appearances and dodging the tempestuous weather. Promise! To call Nebraska weather schizophrenic is an understatement. In the span of a week, I reported in 60 degree weather in Lincoln and then on the way to North Platte I drove 45 miles per hour on the interstate as the first snow of the season came down. 16 inches of wintery goodness to be exact!
It has been a hectic but incredibly fun past 2 weeks. As always, I had a wonderful time making appearances for some of the Miss Nebraska sponsors. Viearo Wireless is a large supporter of the Miss Nebraska program in addition to sponsoring the Tri-City Storm Hockey Team in Kearney, thus I got to hang out at the rink signing autographs, greeting fans and posing with Stormy. The next day the fabulous sponsor Mr. Bob Spady invited me to attend to the Kids Fun Festival in North Platte.
Some other highlights included being a keynote speaker on Self-Esteem and presenting my Uniquely ME program at the Nebraska State Student Council Convention in Ogallala. I was so impressed with the 1,000 high school students who attended because of their enthusiasm for service. Speaking of enthusiasm, I literally got goosebumps listening to other keynote speaker, Johnathon Sprinkles talk about the importance of individuality. A-MAZING.
In between appearances I managed to fit in some reporting time at Channel 8.
I'm always incredibly humbled and touched when I get to cover any story involving our service men and women. I was honored to get to report on a send off for a Nebraska Army National Guard unit. The unit was deploying to Afghanistan as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I got to speak with the soldiers as well as their friends and family. I was and am, so very thankful for their service to our country.
I even got to mesh my job as reporter/Miss Nebraska and cover the "Ochos" aka the lady reporter at Channel 8, as they walked in the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer"walk in Lincoln. It was truly touching to listen to survivors share their story of hope and awareness.
Rounding out the past 2 weeks I ventured to Denver for interview preparation and more shopping! There's plenty more on the calendar, and the Miss Nebraska ride is winterized and ready to barrel through whatever crazy weather comes my way...rain, snow, sleet, tornadoes :)
Much love,
Brittany

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#13 in NYC

some people are settling down, some people are settling, and some people refuse to settle for anything less then BuTTeRfLiEs....
In the spirit of my trek to New York I HAD to throw in a good "Sex & the City Quote!" The trip was a whirl wind but absolutely, positively, undeniably one of the best trips ever. period.  

I checked a lot of items off of my Miss America preparation list which was the main purpose of the venture. I shopped, shopped, shopped and walked, walked, walked (yes Marianne, I gave in and actually wore flats for a change!). In addition to bolstering the wardrobe for Vegas, we worked on preparations for my talent and got to do some touristy site seeing. Mamma Mia on Broadway rocked my socks off by the way!

I also picked my competition order for Miss America aka "The draft." I sat on my hotel bed prepared and ready to wait for 4 hours before my state was drawn and then ...SHA BAM...Nebraska popped up on the screen! I had 4 minutes to decide my placement but really, it was a quick and painless decision, no strategizing. I went with my instinct and I am lucky number 13 in the MU group. This means I have interview Monday morning, onstage question on Tuesday, Swimsuit/Evening Gown on Wednesday and perform my dance on Thursday night. Yah!! It's so real now, in four months I will be competing on the Miss America Stage. There are no words. Dream come true, dancing around the room! 

Another major highlight of the trip was meeting with Gretchen Carlson, FOX news anchor and former Miss America, for coffee!!! I was seriously on cloud 9, Gretchen was so incredibly open and real and funny. All in all, I couldn't have asked for slash, imagined a more amazing trip.

My body is now very confused on what time zone I am on but I'm back to zooming around Nebraska :) 

xoxo,

Brittany

Pops & I

Gretchen Carlson Picking my Slot!
In trouble!!!

Celebrating after picking my Miss America slot!

There's Only One Place That Calls You One of Their Own

"Way Out in Ogallala Where You Can Whoop and Holler Ain't Nobodies Business But Our Own"

Okay, Okay you have to forgive me. I was having a flashback moment to my Front Street Showgirl Days and had to bust out in song! Now that I have my musical tribute out of my system I will go on with the blog.

 I hail from a small town that most of you have never heard of much less pronounce. Ogallala. I might have big city dreams but I'm a small town girl at heart and I am SO incredibly lucky to have grown up in a community that is so devoted to values, family, education, faith, hard work and genuine heart. That being said, I was so thrilled to be asked to come be apart of the 25th Annual Ogallala Indian Summer Rendezvous. For those who haven't had the pleasure to attend the Rendezvous it is a blast and half! Seriously!

I got to ride in the Homecoming parade as well as emcee the High School Pep Rally, sign pictures and take pictures with the people/friends/family/neighbors/teachers that I love the most. 

I also got to emcee the "Little Miss Rendezvous/Mr. Mountain Man" Contest. These little kids were a kick in the pants, so much sass and moxy, I loved it! Highlights? I had a little boy named Harry who growled at me not once, but five times. I found a choreographer for my talent at Miss America, she's six and has some mean dance moves. The majority of children in Ogallala want to grow up to be "rockstars" and believe they should win because "they like it."

So much fun! 

Proud OG Alum,

Brittany

You've Been Blogged

Life is partly what we make it, and partly what is made by the friends we choose....

In the midst of this whirl wind year I've never been more appreciative of thankful for all of the people I'm lucky enough to have in my "bubble". Sometimes you just need your girlfriends and I truly have some of the best ones if I do say so myself! So thank you ladies for the phone dates, bbm chats, holding the glittery sign for five years and midnight heart to hearts!

AOE LYLAS You've been blogged

I Believe In Me Bracelets

"Know who you are and adorn yourself accordingly"

A favorite quote of mine from the classy and fabulous former first lady, Jackie Kennedy. Now fashion and philathropy have collided= Fabulosity!!!

Showcase your style and self-esteem with my "I Believe in ME" bracelets that benefit Children's Miracle Network. $4 each or 3 for $10 Check out the Miss NE website to learn more! Or contact Kathy to find out about ordering.

Not the Tinman

Rest and You Rust
One thing is for sure, there is no resting and no rusting going on here!! Coffee? Yes please...September was the worst month to try to curb my caffeine addiction, I promised my trainer I'll aim to be better in October. (yeah right!) By my calculations or lets be real, Mapquests', I logged 1,000 miles in 72 hours!!! I'm definately not turning into the Tinman but I am having a blast and a half! I've been zooming all around the state.
Highlights include parades and appearances at the NE State Fair, Judging and participating in Homecoming events at my alma mater the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the annual Miss Nebraska Children's Miracle Network Golf Tournament Fundraiser, Miss Nebraska Sponsor Viaero Wireless appearances and jaunts to the Capitol. I've been a busy lady!
After I finish updating, I'm off to finish packing (oodles and oodles of pink bags of course!) for my trip/adventure to NEW YORK!!!! I'll be there for 5 days working on preparations for Miss America, I'll be sure to post them as soon as I return to HuskerLand!
Happy Fall,
Brittany

Fashion Show with Tri-City Storm Hockey Team

Judging UNL Homecoming skits...Alpha Phi won :)

Children's Miracle Network Golf Tournament

Nebraska State Fair

Lt. Govenor Ricky Sheehy State Fair Parade