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*