One Month From Today

"Happy Birthday to You...Happy Birthday to You"

16 years ago, one month from today, I was celebrating my 8th Birthday. Twelve little girls were crammed into my basement at 604 east M street in Ogallala, NE for a pink themed slumber party. We opened presents, ate cake and played the traditional birthday game we played for four years in a row...Miss America. Little girls parading around in nightgowns and my mom's old brides maid outfits, fake flowers and plastic crowns. Interesting sidenote; I was always Miss Texas and I always got to be crowned Miss America ( Birthday girl perk I suppose!)
During one of my daily chats with mom, we discussed how crazy it is that in one month from today, January 28th, I will be gracing the stage in Las Vegas to compete for the job of Miss America!
Little 8 year old Brittany would have been doing back flips to hear that news, 23 year old Brittany certainly is!

Snownami 2009

And the Grinch with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons, it came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. 

And he puzzled and puzzled until his puzzler' was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. 

What if Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.

Everyone, I would like to take this time to introduce you to Pedro. Pedro the 6 foot snowman, handsome isn't he? Pedro is a byproduct of Snownami 2009. Yes, you heard it correct. SNOWNAMI 2009 aka a blustery, wintery, powder laden snow filled blizzard that pelted Nebraska and made traveling on the holidays quite tricky. I know everyone is dreaming of a white Christmas but this was a little bit much! However, when you find yourself  figuratively and literally caught in a snow storm you can become quite philosophical.

I've learned....The wonder and magic of the season never really goes away. Even if its looking forward to the people as opposed to Jolly old Saint Nick. 

The secret to a massive snowman (see Pedro) is to pack and roll the snow simultaneously. Too much force and it all falls apart. I know, deep right? 

Traditions were meant to be shared. Thank you to the Hannema family for making me feel so at home!

If you are traveling with colossal sized pink bags that might be stuffed to the brim and over the weight limit know that a Mac Book Pro weighs 5lbs and a hair dryer and straightener is 2 lbs. Just in case you need to take them out and shove them in a carry on. 

Most importantly, the season isn't about the packages, the bling, a crown, a stocking, the size of the tree or any accolades. For me, this year was about the promise the holiday brings, the people I share it with and goals bigger than any snownami. I am completely in love with my time and place. 

Wherever your egg nog is being served this year, I wish you a Merry Christmas and hope you enjoy the spirit and magic of the holiday season.

**Brittany**

NYC

Jeffers = McCallisters

Greetings!!! Its the most wonderful time of the year and I've been busy busy busy! My recent travels could seriously be made into a short film and we aren't talking about Lifetime movie here, think more along the lines of Holiday slapstick. I think I'll reference Home Alone 2! Although I didn't get lost in in NYC like Kevin McCallister, my parents and I certainly got in to our own share of shenanigans! We shopped, we laughed, we ran, we lost things, we wound up at a police precinct and got frisked in security (more on that later). Suffice it to say my recent jaunt to the Big Apple was a jolly good time. I added some quotes from the movie to narrate the excursion :)

Mrs. Stone, Desk Clerk: Can I help you?
Kevin McCallister: A reservation for McCallister?
Mrs. Stone, Desk Clerk: A reservation for yourself?
Kevin McCallister: Ma'am, my feet are hardly touching the ground. I'm barely able to look over the counter. How can I make a reservation for a hotel room? Think about it. A kid coming into a hotel, making a reservation? I don't think so.

I didn't make the reservation alone. In fact, my parents are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary and so they decided to celebrate/travel with their first born to the big city. I've said it a million and one times but I am SO lucky to have their unconditional support. My parents knock themselves out to help me accomplish my goals and even if I showed up on the Miss America stage and fell flat on my face they would still be whooping and hollering and love me to pieces.

Times Square always has a plethora of sites to look at but during the holidays it was truly magical! From the light shows, Macy's Santa, holiday window displays and ice skaters in Rockerfeller Center the city was absolutely buzzing with festivity!

Kevin McCallister: I went shopping yesterday while you were gone.
Jeff McCallister: You? Shopping?
Kevin McCallister: I got you milk, eggs, and fabric softener

Basically, we bought everything but fabric softener! KIDDING, kind of. Actually I was on a mission to land an interview outfit and after looking at what felt like every store, I found it. Of course I found the ensemble at the very last place I looked but it was well worth the wait. The outfit is essentially irrelevant because it is an interview and the judges want to get to know me and what I'm all about and won't be judging my fashion sense. However, dressing to impress is always helpful in a professional setting. I love the the outfit, its very "me" and I feel fab in it! But like I said we shopped and shopped. Not just for Miss America garb in fact, we found a lot of Christmas gifts for family members. My poor father, he is already the best man in the whole entire world but he officially the most patient as well!

Kevin McCallister: Buzz! Your girlfriend! Woof! ( My favorite line of the whole movie)

After a 3 hour sweat session with Shea Sullivan to clean up my dance I was certainly looking a little rough. I was a sweaty girl but my feet were the worst of it. Many people know dancers feet aren't particularly pretty, but mine are heinous. Flat foot, blisters....sorry. Too much information! My tootsies might not be lovely but the dance is looking fierce. I can't wait to perform it! Note to self; get pedicure.

Megan McCallister

: You're not at all worried that something might happen to Kevin?
Buzz McCallister: No, for three reasons: A, I'm not that lucky. Two, we use smoke detectors and D, we live on the most boring street in the whole United States of America, where nothing even remotely dangerous will ever happen. Period.

We had to go all the way to New York for a little drama. Mother lost her wallet. Fortunately nothing of huge significance was lost except for her ID BUT we had to board the plane home 3 hours after discovering it was lost. Drama. Needless to say we didn't anticipate visiting the NYC Police Precinct in Times Square to get an official stolen ID document. Neither did we plan to be delayed at security, frisked and then make a grand entrance on to the plane McCallister style. Think, Run Run Rudolph! I could write an entire blog about this little mishap and although it wasn't funny at the time I laugh hysterically every time I tell the story! Fortunately, We made it home safe and sound.

Back in beautiful Nebraska I am just so thankful, calm and most of all excited for all that is to come! I'll keep the updates coming. Happy happy holidays!

*Brittany*

Children's Miracle Network Fundraiser

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.- Norman Vincent Peal     

JOY TO THE WORLD....no seriously, I'm doing an "Elf Yourself" style jig! The Christmas Tree Fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network in North Platte raised an impressive $4,500! $4,500 smackaroos!!!! 

A huge thank you to the Quality Inn & Suites for hosting the event and to all of the businesses for so graciously decorating and donating trees for the event.

I was so thrilled with the outpouring of support and with 15 trees on display, my "festive" cup was definitely bubbling over! I was so impressed with the degree of creativity on the decorations from Huskers, to peacocks, to top hats there was a plethora of choices. My favorite? A zebra print motif complete with bling, feathers and crystals! Obnoxious but oh so lovely. 

Thank you again to everyone who helped to make the event a big success!

*Brittany