A week in review

Last Tuesday, I was at Ruby's Pantry in Brainerd with Molly West who is Miss Minnesota High School and competed with me in the Outstanding Teen program a couple of times. We helped package and hand out food to our community. Like always, this is a fun event that I look forward to every month!

Friday was the Miss Nisswa and Little Miss Nisswa pageants. This pageant holds a special place in my heart as I have grown up in Nisswa since I was four and was a participant in the Little Miss Nisswa pageant when I was in second grade (A name was drawn out of a hat, there was no competition!). I always looked up to Miss Nisswa and wanted to be her someday. Although I will never be able to compete for Miss Nisswa, I was able to help the ladies that did for a couple months leading up to the big night. Miss Nisswa is for ladies who are a senior in high school and live in the Nisswa area or went to Nisswa Elementary. I grew up with most of the ladies that competed Friday night and some are in my graduating class. I'm very proud of the nine contestants that competed because it's not as easy as it looks. They all did beautifully and I hope to see them competing for another title in a couple months (*cough cough* Miss Brainerd!). Congrats the 2nd Princess, Elise and the 1st Princess, Nicole. Also congrats to the new Miss Nisswa, Carissa Voels and the new Little Miss Nisswa, Maddie! All four of them are going to have an awesome year and I'm looking forward to following them during their reigns.

Saturday morning was the Nisswa Jubilee Celebration in downtown! Maren (Miss Baxter), Lizzy (Miss Central Lakes' OT), Serena (Miss Brainerd Lakes' OT), and myself judged the snow sculptures on Main Street. These snow sculptures always amaze me because there is so much detail and they are made entirely on snow and painted on top for color! I was honored to be able to judge them this year. After judging was the parade. Many thanks to Wayne and Roxanne Erickson for letting us use your convertible... The only thing missing was Miss Brainerd Lakes, Heather Erickson! :)

After the parade, I headed down to St. Paul with my mom and local director, Cyndi for the Miss City of Lakes and Miss West Metro pageant. It was an exciting day because my former sister queen, Savannah (Miss Baxter's Outstanding Teen 2012) was competing... her first "Miss" pageant! Also that night two Outstanding Teen's were crowned. Congrats to Catie, Miss City of Lakes' Outstanding Teen and to Mia, Miss West Metro's Outstanding Teen! The new Miss City of Lakes just so happens to be Savannah Cole and the new Miss West Metro is Ali Vail! Congrats ladies! :) It was also really great to connect with Siri because that was the first time I had seen her since Miss America in Vegas. I'm still so proud of her and I'm so lucky to call her my sister queen :)

 

Local Outstanding Teen's

 

All of these titleholders are from the Brainerd/Baxter/Nisswa area! Plus there are still a few more!

This Saturday is Teen Contestant Orientation. Fifteen young ladies will compete for the title of Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2013! I can't believe my year is coming to a close but as I look back on my year, I regret nothing. I had some amazing experiences and it's only fair that another girl gets to experience a year like mine.

Yours truly,
Bailey
MMOT 2012

The past month.

So many exciting things have happened since my last blog! But first, I wanted to start off this blog by saying thank you. I'm entering the final month of my reign as Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen and feeling incredibly blessed with the year. Thank you to each and every one of you who have been apart of my year! This year was so great because of the people I was able to spend it with.

After arriving back from Vegas for Miss America, I spoke to the Baxter Lion's Club about the Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen program and my platform about Alzheimer's disease. I also asked for scholarship money for the next Outstanding Teen.

A couple weeks ago I visited my former elementary school, Nisswa Elementary School, for their annual Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser. I remember doing this when I was younger so it was great to be apart of it this year. Basically, the students were asked to raise money for heart disease and in turn got to jump rope during their gym class. It was so much fun! Lizzy, Miss Central Lakes' Outstanding Teen and Serena, Miss Brainerd Lakes' Outstanding Teen were there with me which is always fun. I even got to visit some old teachers of mine, some of which I hadn't seen in a few years!

That same week was the Jaycee's Ice Fishing Extravganza on Gull Lake! Maren (Miss Baxter, Serena (Miss Brainerd Lakes' OT), Lizzy (Miss Central Lakes' OT), and myself were in the Weigh In Tent for this event. This is the biggest ice fishing contests in the state so it was really fun to be there and see how dedicated these people are. Although, who wouldn't be when the first place prize was a brand new truck?! There were 50 MPH wind gusts that day so it was extremely cold. We only made it a couple hours because of how cold it was but it was still a fun day.

Serena (Miss Brainerd Lakes' OT) and I also had the opportunity to draw three winners for a trip to Maui. This was through a local radio broadcasting company in Brainerd, BL Broadcasting. Although it was a very early morning, I was happy to draw the winners. Wish I would've drawn my own name! That Maui trip sounds pretty good right about now! :)

Last Tuesday was National Pancake Day at IHOP benefiting the Children's Miracle Network. All day they were offering a free short stack of pancakes and asking for a five dollar donation to the Children's Miracle Network. I was at the Waite Park IHOP with Miss Heart of the Lakes, Lauren Johnson. I am so happy that the Miss America Organization has chosen the Children's Miracle Network as it's national platform because it is such an awesome organization that helps so many children.

The business didn't stop there as Friday night I headed down to Waseca for the Sleigh and Cutter dinner and dance! This was one of the most fun appearances I have attended because I was able to meet some really great people! Plus I love town celebrations because there is always such a strong bond between the people. I joined Anna (Miss Waseca County Sleigh and Cutter's Outstanding Teen), Drew (Miss Waseca County Sleigh and Cutter) and Tiffany (Miss South Cenral) for a night of good food and dancing. It was so great to see these ladies and the Waseca/South Central directors again! But I would have to say the highlight of the night was meeting eight year old, Eustice. Eustice asked me to dance with him, and not being much of a dancer I hesitantly agreed to dance with him. That one song turned into many! He was such a gentleman too as he would fill my water for me. And he didn't forget to show me his belt buckle :) It was so much fun!

The next morning was the Sleigh and Cutter parade. Anna, Drew, Tiffany, and I helped with parade registration and who of all people did I see? Eustice! He was antsy to show me his horses and even asked me if I was coming back this summer.

I was able to right in a horse and buggy for the parade, something I have never done for a parade! It was a little cold and windy but I managed to make it through. Plus my driver was really nice, which made the parade that much more fun! Thank you to the Waseca/South Central directors for having me. It was SO much fun! :) You ladies are great.

Until next time,
Bailey
MMOT 2012