Still trying to stay busy...

When I first started working the 3am to noon shift for the morning show, my first inclination was to nap all the time when I got off of work. However, I started feeling like a troll maintaining the work, sleep, work, sleep pattern. Never seeing the sun isn't fun so no more of that business. Volunteering has helped to fill in the afternoon hours and after having an action packed year last year, I am ok will a little time juggling. On Mondays I volunteer at the Boys and Girls after school program where I am a Girl Scout Leader for an awesome group of middle school ladies. From service projects to field trips, you name it and we do it! The Boys and Girls Club held its annual "Trivia Night" at Duncan Aviation in Lincoln on November 5th and so I was thrilled that I was asked to parlay my volunteer work at Park Middle School in to hosting Trivia Night. Former Husker, Aaron Davis and I had a great time reeling off movie trivia at the fundraiser.

In October I was honored to get to emcee the Miss Omaha/Miss Douglas Co. Pageant. This is an incredible pageant and I'm particularly bias towards it because I was a titleholder here for 2 years and Marianne is like family to me. It was great to catch up with and root for all of my gal pals. It was also wonderful to chat with Miss NE 2010 Teresa Scanlan. We usually chat on the phone since she is busy zooming all over the state so it was great to see her in person! Teresa is doing an A-MAZING job, I'm so proud of her and am loving watching her year as it unfolds. Watch out Vegas, Nebraska is coming!

I was one of the celebrity judges for "Lincoln's Got Talent" to benefit the Lincoln Community Playhouse. Here with Steffany, the incredible young twirler/dancer! She took first place in the teen division.

NEV comes to NEB

Aside from providing a platform in which to promote "World Peace" (joking) the most incredible aspect that the Miss America Organization has to offer is the caliber of women involved and the friends you make while involved. Honest Abe, the women I competed with locally and nationally are some of my dearest friends. At the top of that list is Christina Keegan, or as some of you know her, Miss Nevada 2009. She's just Nev to me! Love the girl. In addition to being my buddy, she's also good friends with my fiance. In fact, Christina had a hand in helping Charlie pick out my engagement ring. Sneaky, sneaky.

So I was thrilled to get a phone call that she was going to make a pit stop in Nebraska to visit me on her trek to New York. It was a quick trip but it was awesome to get to catch up and to plan our reunion with all of our other favorites at Miss America in January!

A reason to Celebrate

Happy Birthday Fiance/I'm so happy he doesn't live 6 hours away from me anymore! Charlie now lives in Lincoln and is part of the sports team at KOLN 1011 News. Competition I know :)

Also, one of best gal pals celebrated her bachelorette party in the Windy City! I had a blast and a half tearing up Chicago with all of my favorite girls. Only a few short weeks until Miss Amy will be Mrs. Arganbright!

So Long Summer

FALL is here!

Cases in Point:

The return of Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte' aka bliss in a cup. Also, my candy dish is chalk full of candy corn and peanuts.



Husker Football. Need I say more?

"To Be" vs "To Do"

"To Be" List
I came across this as a posting that someone shared on Facebook and I loved it and thought I should share it.

TO BE LIST

I am a self-proclaimed compulsive "To Do" list maker. I make multiple lists a day...during commercial breaks, while I'm watching tv, laying in bed, eating dinner etc. etc. Sometimes I make lists and add things I've already done just to have the thrill of checking it off! Extreme I know. The lists are sometimes written on paper, sometimes in my planner, sometimes on scripts but often times, mental checklists in my head. Lists of errands to run, goals to attain, grocery lists, people to call, things to send. As I mentioned, it is a bit of quirk. Don't judge, you know you do it too :)
To get away from this, I'm going to try to swap out my choice of lists. Easing up of the "To Do-ing" and focus more on the "To Be-ing".

Next Chapter

Life in the Aftermath
It's been awhile since I last blogged. Almost 3 months in fact! Some of my friends had urged me to write, not as a "former" but more just for some commentary. Maybe someone will read this or maybe it will end up in the abyss that is the interwebs, either way, here it is.

This blog started off as a documentation in my journey and travels as Miss Nebraska 2009. Well that crazy/wonderful train is over and now its time to ease into some new adventures (or in my case, dive head first!) Closing the chapter of Miss Nebraska my phone is no longer buzzing like a doorbell on Halloween, I don't have to haul a moving closet and tiara in my car with bobbypins and sharpies on hand at all time. A lot of people have asked me if I miss it? In some ways yes, but mostly...no. I don't mean it in a callous way, more in a fulfilled/I did what I needed to do sort of way. It is really nice to just breathe. be. I've never been very good at that, but I guess this is the best time to figure it out. So even though the venture was incredible life goes on. Hallelujah. I know we always find ourselves in transitions and while typically they are uncomfortable this is far from it. Its glorious. I'm enjoying being on the other end of things and serving as a volunteer to the wonderful MAO program as opposed to being the "Miss". So here is to taking off the tiara... and moving on...

When it comes to transitioning into the workforce full time again, working at the tv station is fabulous. I'm stilling trying to find the perfect balance of caffeine and sleep to manage the 2:50 a.m. wakeup call but anchoring the morning and midday with Luke has been a blast thus far.
Oddly enough I've still had about two different speaking engagements or volunteer opportunities a week. This summer I was busy helping out with the Gold and Silver Awards ceremonies for Girl Scouts and gearing up to be a Studio 2-B Youth facilitator at Park Middle School this fall. I helped out with fundraising for the new recreation center in Ogallala and have been attending weekly Kiwanis meetings. I was thrilled to helped out with the Dancing with Stars Benefit for the Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company and the Nebraska Broadcasters Association gala.

Its been awesome to be able to spend some real time with friends and family too. I've got to road trip with some of my besties to weddings this summer and gear up fora dear friends wedding this fall with multiple showers.

Speaking of weddings.....

The biggest announcement...I'm ENGAGED!! Yep, I'm getting hitched. Not sure when or where but I can tell you to who, and he's wonderful. Perfect for me in fact. Charlie proposed on July 29th at a park in Lincolns Haymarket and every day before and since then has been awesome. We are a work in progress when it comes to the logistics of the big day but I think we have the important part right! For now we are just trying to enjoy the engagement and the planning! Thanks to everyone for all of the love and congratulations.

So there you have it, thats what is going on in a very condensed nutshell. I'm leading a "normal life" whatever that really means. haha who am I kidding?

MISS NEBRASKA 2010

TERESA SCANLAN!!!!!!!!!!

I'm beyond thrilled and excited for our new Miss Nebraska. She will be a fabulous representative to the state and I can't wait to follow her journey. She will be incredible! Another congratulations to the finalists:
Top seven Jessica States and Amber Lieder
4th Runner up Jenn Curtis
3rd Runner up Nicky Haverland
2nd Runner up Kayla Batt
1st Runner up Devin Howell

Click HERE for video for the brunch
Click HERE for video for the crowning

Prelim #2

Congrats JaCee on an incredible year, I am so proud of all of your accomplishments little lady!

Congrats to Devin Howell on her preliminary swimsuit win and Teresa Scanlan for preliminary talent winner!

Backstage antics

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW MISS NEBRASKA OUTSTANDING TEEN STACY CRAIGHEAD! An incredible year awaits you, I can't wait to see who your new "Big Sis" will be!