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

So many exciting things!

Since it was last year since I have last blogged, there are many things to update all of you on!

On January 6th, I gave up my local title as Miss Brainerd Lakes' Outstanding Teen and crowned two new girls. It was a bitter sweet day but I'm so incredibly proud of the nine girls that competed that night. Each of those girls are so talented! It was an awesome and fun day that ended with two new titleholders... Congrats to the new Miss Brainerd Lakes' Outstanding Teen, Serena, and the new Miss Central Lakes' Outstanding Teen, Lizzy! I know that these ladies will represent the Brainerd community with grace and respect and will do awesome in April competing at Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen. I've so much fun with them already and I can't wait to follow them in their year.

The day after giving up my local title, I flew to Las Vegas for Miss America! This was the first time I had ever been to Vegas and the first time ever being to Miss America so it was quite the experience. Siri, our Miss Minnesota was stunning and her performance was flawless. She didn't walk away as the new Miss America but I'm happy to have her as my sister queen still for the next two and a half months :) We ALL should be so proud of her. Love you, Siri! Thanks for being an awesome sister queen.

This was also a fun week because I got to see my MAOTeen sisters from around the nation! I haven't seen these ladies since August down in Florida when we competed so there where many happy reunions. I'm happy I was able to see my girls again - Kansas, Delaware, and Illinois! Stevie, Morgan, Grace, and myself became good friends while in Orlando competing and it was so great to be reuniting with them once again.

I also had the opportunity to perform on the Miss America stage with my MAOTeen sisters as we performed our fitness wear production number on Wednesdays prelim. Words are not enough to describe the feeling of being on that stage!! All I could think of was the fact that I was standing on the stage that Kirsten Haglund, Katie Stam, Caressa Cameron, Teresa Scanlan, Laura Kaeppeler, and now Mallory Hagan were crowned on. It was so much fun and I soaked every minute of it in.

 

I'm on the left side :)

On Friday of that week, myself and the rest of the MAOTeen titleholders had a little outing. We first visited the famous Las Vegas sign, then headed to White House-Black Market for some shopping, then to St. Rose CMN Hospital, and finally to the Smith Performing Arts Center for a tour. That night I had dinner with Stevie, Miss Kansas' OT, at the Sugar Factory (which I highly recommend!).

Although the week was fun, I've finally had some time to decompress and get back into the swing of life. I flew back to Minnesota last Sunday and had my first day of school Monday so I've been a very busy girl!

Here's to the final few months of my reign,
Bailey
MMOT 2012

Here are candids from Vegas:

An update and a reflect on the the past year.

Last Saturday, I volunteered at Kids Against Hunger in Nisswa with the Miss Brainerd Lakes' Outstanding Teen and Miss Central Lakes' Outstanding Teen contestants. This is a not-for-profit, meal packaging place that sends bags of food to people all over the world who are struggling with hunger. It is composed of white rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, and fortified nutrients. Each bag of food holds six meals. The food that we packaged that day will be sent to Haiti... We packaged over 5,400 meals!! It feels awesome to know that we helped that many people fill their stomachs and get the nutrients they need for the day.

That same day, I traveled in Lakeville for a private send-off for Miss Minnesota, Siri Freeh. It was a fun event, but it was even more fun seeing people I haven't seen in a while. There were many great laughs that night :) Siri leaves in two days for Vegas. Wish her luck as she starts the grueling week of Miss America!

Since this is the last day of 2012, I thought I'd reflect back on how awesome this year was. I think that it's fair to say that this year has been the greatest year of my life. Three major goals of mine were accomplish as well as many other goals.

In 2012, I was crowned Miss Brainerd Lakes' Outstanding Teen, fulfilling a dream of mine to represent a city a grew up in and grew to love. I have just five days until the next Miss Brainerd Lakes' Outstanding Teen is crowned and it is bittersweet. Time really does fly.

Also in 2012, I was crowned Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen. There are absolutely no words to describe how incredible it was to finally have that crown placed on my head. Sometimes I just sit and think about that moment. Everyone should know that if you work your butt off and if you believe you can accomplish anything, then good things will come your way. I thank the Lord everyday that I was given this honor.

In 2012, I competed on the Miss America's Outstanding Teen stage along with 52 other girls. For years, I followed the Minnesota Outstanding Teen that year and her journey to Nationals and yearned for my time on that stage. It was finally awarded to me and I suddenly found myself in the shoes of the Outstanding Teen's before me. It was an awesome thing.

In 2012, I gained friends and I lost friends. I found myself and struggled to get a grip on why people are so mean and vicious. I realized many things, one is that life will work itself out.

My goal for 2013 is to stay true to myself and not try to change and conform to the world around me. I'm going to let go of people who are no longer worth my time and energy. I'm going to cherish every little moment I have a bit more because I'm grateful that I'm here. I am so blessed.

Much love and hopes of a happy new year to all of you,
Bailey
MMOT 2012

Busy Holiday season!

It is very clear that I have not blogged for a while! Here is an update on my life:

On Thursday the 7th, I answered phones at the Radiothon to End Child Abuse at the Westgate Mall in Brainerd. I was only able to stay for a bit but at least got to answer one phone! After twenty-four hours, the Radiothon raised over $60,000, an awesome achievement in an awesome community :)

On Friday the 8th, the Miss Brainerd Lakes and Central Lakes Outstanding Teen pageant had the big Trunk Show Fundraiser with guest speaker Don Baker at the Lodge in Brainerd. This was my local title before I won Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen so this local program holds a special place in my heart. It was so much fun spending time with the contestants, hearing Don Baker speak, and having quality time with my sister queens. The night was a success!

The next day was Christmas Ball at my high school. This is our big Christmas dance and is always held at Cragun's in Brainerd. It's fun to just get dressed up and see everyone else dressed up!

The Sunday after Christmas Ball was dedicated to carefully making our way to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota for my sister queen's send-off party as there was a blizzard. I also performed, and I wouldn't say it was my best performance but let's just say I tried.

Then Heather and I made our monthly appearance at Ruby's Pantry in Brainerd! I just love the people there and the Christian atmosphere.

Siri and I had a fun-filled crazy weekend a couple days ago! On Friday we were at the Southdale Mall ringing the Salvation Army bell for their Celebrity Bell Ringing Event and Saturday we were at the Minnesota Arboretum for their Making Spirits Bright Festival. It was so much being able to enjoy the day frosting cookies and reading books to the kids! Plus the Arboretum is absolutely beautiful this time of year.

They gave us chocolates after ringing the bell :) Siri and I were happy queens!

The below photos are credited to Sarah Morreim Photography

  

Finals week ended (thankfully) and I am not free to enjoy my break (AND MISS AMERICA!!!). I volunteered at the Sertoma Winter Wonderland in Brainerd at the Arboretum. This is an awesome display of lights but on by the Brainerd Sertoma Club! I highly recommend this for anyone wanting a fun thing to do in the winter (and you don't even have to go outside! It's a drive through light show). Yesterday, I rang the bell at Cub in Baxter for the Salvation Army with Northern Lights Princess, Andi, which is always fun! Andi adds a bit more energy to appearances :)

During this holiday season, my hope is that you enjoy time with family but also keep those in mourning in Connecticut in your prayers. Life isn't always fair sometimes but just remember that there is someone in the world that has is worse than you. Cherish the time you have with family and friends.

Much love,
Bailey
Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2012