Mrs Missouri America

Well here it is! 2012 already and we are all starting with a foot forward ready to charge ahead!  What will you do for yourself in the new year?  I always find it so easy to think of resolutions, but then it can be such a challenge keeping them!  I have found, that if you tie a goal in with the result, say “I want to lose 10 pounds,” then you might say “I will start jogging every day”. For me it was easy!  I wanted to get in the best shape of my life!  However I know me, if I wanted to do it….there just had to be a reason for it!  So I tied that goal into competing for this title.  And, since it didn’t happen the first couple of tries, I had to maintain my drive and willingness to be in the gym, eat right, and live a healthy lifestyle. 

Eventually you create a habit, then you can’t be without it! 

My New Year has not started off great….I went to the hospital on NYE and watched the ball drop from the Emergency Room…then I was admitted for a few days.  All of the nurses were fun and told me “hey, at least you got a head start on your weight loss goals for the new year”!  Well I could’ve picked a much better way, ha ha!  Please, if we meet, don’t ask if I would like Jello or Chicken Broth!  Not my favorite foods at all now!  I have been knocked down at the height of my drive, New Year’s Resolutions.  But guess what! Nationals are in 3 1/2 months and I am ready to work my tail off!

So here is what I suggest….make your list of resoultions, my chart your path to get there.  Let there be a reward at the end.  Maybe you drop $1 in a jar for every mile you run, and then you use that money for a pair of fabulous shoes!  Set yourself up for SUCCESS!  You can do it!  If you need a buddy, send me a message on FaceBook!  I absolutely love encouraging others because it motivates me more!

Everyone deserves the feeling of accomplishment, but you are the only one that can ultimately make yourself happy!  May each of you find YOUR successes in this new year!  I am so excited to see what it holds for me!

Cheers,

Tina 

Mrs. Missouri America 2012

December 8, 2011

Zona Rosa is a beautiful outdoor shopping experience in Kansas City.  3 of the boutiques in the district organized a special event and Fashion Show as a fundraiser for Harvesters, a local food bank.  I was asked to Host the event after I asked if I could help in any way. 

 We had a show with amazing clothing by Apricot Lane, Watercolors High Fashion, and La De Da.  It was held at a delicious restaraunt called Buddah by Kenji Fusion.  The ladies were so wonderful and welcoming!  I had a lot of fun hosting and shopping after.  I loved the dress that Apricot Lane put me in….so it came home with me!

I love clothes, fashion shows, but most of all…we filled a big barrel with food that will help feed families that are in need!

Cheers,

Tina

Mrs. Missouri America 2012

December 3, 2012

So with the parades here in Missouri comes a great deal of crazy weather.  We were expecting rain and snow and so I was not quite sure how this day would end up!  Our first stop this saturday morning was WK Chevrolet Dealership in Sedalia.  Dave, Mr. Missouri was my driver this day and the poor guy had to drive a brand new 2011 convertible Chevy Camaro! Ha Ha!

It was actually a pretty morning with abundant sunshine!  It was still a bit cold so after, we made a much needed pit stop into the Starbucks for a warm cup of Chai tea for me!

Dave and I set off to our state capitol, Jefferson City.  This parade is very unique since you get to light up your cars and floats.  They start the parade as soon as the sun sets and you travel right in front of the capitol throught the beautifully lit downtown.  We had another great volunteer who was to escort us in this parade in a classic mustang convertible.  Unfortunately an hour before the parade was to begin, the rain started pouring down.  I will tell you how fun it was to improvise!  We got our Red, White, and Blue  lights out and decorated the top of my car.  I popped out of the sunroof with my lit up umbrella and we put my Mrs. MO magnets on the side of the car!  It was cold and rainy, but all of the thousands of people there, standing along the rain soaked streets just to see this gorgeous parade….made it so worth it!  And what a story!

Cheers,

Tina

Mrs. Missouri America 2012

November 24, 2011

First of all let me explain….being a part of the pageant just as a contestant is so rewarding!  Mrs. Washington 2010 and I became super close friends before we met…thank you FaceBook!  We just hit it off, to the point that our husbands just roll their eyes as we have the same name, our dogs have the same name, and I kid you not… I went to St. Louis to meet them at a mall one weekend and Tina and I were dressed almost exactly the same!  We live on opposite sides of the state but we MUST have been separated at birth! 

So naturally, when I was told that I would be participating in the St. Louis Thanksgiving Day Parade, I called her and asked if she could handle a party of 5 extra mouths for Turkey Dinner!  Of course she welcomed us into her home and adopted us into the family for dinner.  THIS is why pageant are so fun…you get so much more out of them that lasts a life time, no matter who the winner is!

So my kids, happy to go see our dear friends, but also excited about going to this televised parade.  It was quite cold that day, but my friends at Sassy Chic Boutique had again set me up to look like a million bucks!  They dressed me in this amazing, flowing green gown…I didn’t even want to put the small jacket on I had because it was too beautiful to be covered up! 

Once I sat down on the car, I stuffed 3 fleece blankets under the dress on my lap to keep me warm! Ha!  It worked!  I had another great volunteer to drive me (friend of my friends Brian and Tina Ruether), Mike Guittar.  Thanks so much again Mike for your generosity on Thanksgiving!

I did make it on the televised program and I am researching how one might get a copy of it! 

Cheers,

Tina

Mrs. Missouri America 2012

November 18th and 19th, 2011

As the next pageant comes, we will be adding a National Princess America Pageant to our line up.  So on November 18th in Chillicothe, we crowned this years Missouri Princesses as our new National title holders and their respective runners up, the new Missouri Princess titleholders.  It was a beautiful ceremony and celebration, complete with Santa!  And so, it also was my day to celebrate my 36th Birthday.  Santa led the crowd in a Happy Birthday song and gave me a gift of pink ribbon goodies to hand out at appearances. 

 As the crowd started to leave, Mr. Missouri packed myself and the kids up and headed out to dinner.  Well, Teresa and him had a nice surprise party for me planned so I could celebrate with all of the 2013 Contestants that could attend.  It was a wonderful surprise with the BEST cake I think I have ever had!  YUM!

On the 19th we woke up and prepared for the Chillicothe Holiday Parade.  This is a HUGE parade in a small town which I think is AMAZING!  Teresa does a fabulous job as always and has a big Float for Mrs. Missouri and her princesses.  The truck driving the float has the contestants sitting in the back so they know what it will be like to participate when one of them are crowned!

My fabulous red gown was provided by Sassy Chic Boutique!  Thank you ladies!  After the parade we were off to Cameron for their Christmas Parade.  We could not have asked for a more beautiful day full of sunshine (which definitely helped it to be a little warmer).  I have a friend that asked her Dad to drive me in the parade.  I thought it was awfully kind of him to color coordinate his Mustang with my dress! Ha ha!  Thank you Don and Rhonda Wilt!

It was a jam packed fun weekend!  I am so looking forward to the holiday parade season! 

Cheers,

Tina

Mrs. Missouri America 2012

October 21, 2011

I have to give a BIG shout out to Mrs. St. Ann, 2012 Madison Adams.  She was so kind in alerting me about the special hockey game in St. Louis.  She just so happens to be a big fan of the Blues and has season tickets.  She knew about my platform for Susan G Komen and when this event posted she invited me to go to the game with her.  I contacted the Blues and the St. Louis Komen affiliate to see what I could do to help them.  I helped them sell their special PINK merchandise to raise money for their foundation, and of course did not walk away without grabbing some things for myself as well!  The game was a blast and the company (Madison) was so much fun too!  It was a great night!

Cheers,

Tina

Mrs. Missouri America 2012

October 19, 2011

One of the best parts of being a Paramedic for me, is the ability to touch a person’s life.  They have invited you in to their life for a moment, albeit not always the best moment, but a moment that changes their life.  Sometimes it ends up not being a large alteration for their health, but other times it’s devastating.  One of the HCA Midwest hospitals I work for, invited me to a Stroke Support Group.  This small and intimate group consists of Stroke victims and their spouses or caregivers.  They are there to catch up on life, how they are doing, recipe exchange, what ever comes to mind.  They are a new family, one of which can relate to each other…for they have all suffered a stroke.  I was asked by the Stroke Coordinator of Research Medical Center in Kansas City, to come be a guest speaker.  After meeting the group, who were all sitting in a circle, I myself sat down.  Something inside me did not feel I should be the center of attention.  I wanted to blend in with them.  THEY were the ones in MY spotlight…amazing individuals caring for their loved ones through often debilitating events.  And the ones that had survived the stroke and pushed through the rehabilitation and emotional strain of their health scare….how could I possibly be the guest?  To me, I was the one looking at celebrities!  We sat and told stories and then I spoke on EMS…how to be ready for EMS from simple things like having a medication list with your health history and vital info like name, birthday, etc.  Taping it to the fridge or in the freezer.  We are trained to look there.  One gentleman said…this would be good information if I had it BEFORE my stroke!  Ha Ha!  So true…but now he will have it there if he ever needs it again.  We talked about getting Stroke symptom awareness out to the public and how incredibly important it is.  I didn’t want to leave them when it was over. I wanted to hug the care givers and let them know that they deserve a crown for their support….again…another amazing feel good event that fills my heart and soul with so much!  I am so lucky and thankful for this Mrs. Missouri America title and opportunity!  Not that many of them would have minded, but I did not take pictures to respect their privacy, but their images are burned into my memory!

Cheers,

Tina

Mrs. Missouri  America  2012

October 16, 2011

I was the guest at the ES First Church picnic in Excelsior Springs, MO. They had a spectacular event for their members with horses, blow up slides, games, f ace painting, and a chili cook off! I was able to speak to the members of the church and even found some connections with on a work and personal level.  As always, it is so much fun to do community events!  The kids are the BEST! 

Cheers,

Tina

Mrs. Missouri America 2012

10/14/2011

I was the guest at the Pretty In Pink, Ladies Night Out event.  Hosted by Research Belton Hospital at the Belton Freshman Center in Belton, MO.  It was beautifully filled with pink balloons, pink inspired vendor booths and food!  I sat with Sydney Friar, Miss Missouri America.  We signed autographs and were able to speak with so many wonderful ladies!

We both were also guest speakers.  I spoke on my platform of Breast Cancer Awareness, early detection, and then about my experience in Chicago this year at the 3 Day for a Cure.  I could talk to people all day about this!  Saving one life at a time!

Cheers,

Tina

Mrs. Missouri America 2012