My First Blog!!!

HELLO EVERYONE! So I'll admit...I am a little bit of a copy cat...Mallory! :) ha ha but its ok because she knows I want to be just like her (including our natural red/ auburn hair) ha ha. I love her and she loves me back :) So much has happen since I was crowned Miss Kentucky's Outstanding Teen. I have already grown so much as a person it's mind boggling!! There is no other feeling in the world than to have your name called out as someone you have always dreamt of becoming.

June was a busy month! I woke up the next morning from the pageant with my sash and crown laying beside me. Amazed by its beauty, I laid wondering if the night before was a dream!?! That week kicked off with interview after interview, meeting after meeting with John and Shane, meeting the best of best Mickey, and my favorite person/ photographer Mrs. Joetta! It also meant dance practice after dance practice too! My first appearance was attending the Older Person's Activity Center in London. We donated gifts with the help of the Pay It Forward Organization and served dinner to the residents as well. Then it was off the the Little Miss Kentucky Pageant in which I enjoyed so much! All the girl's were too cute. I don't know how the judges made their decisions but they sure picked some amazing little girls! Delaney is too sweet and MaKenna is a fire cracker!! So of course we are all too perfect for each other. Later on that week it was off to Pikeville, KY where I delivered flood items. It was so tragic what had happen to all the homes and businesses. We just don't know how lucky we have it to not have a nature hazard. I then did a segment on WYMT explaining the great need for others support and prayers. It was also a great opportunity to plug in my personal platform "Pay It Forward" as well. That next day I handed out Pay It Forward awards for a photo contest I had to raise money toward our foundation. The money went toward buying back-to-school supplies for 1 needy family in each elementary school in the Laurel County School District. Lastly and FINALLY...the MAOT paperwork was DONE and turned in!!! HALLELUJAH!!! Along with some great inside jokes between Mom,Shane,John and I that no one will ever understand including the "physiatrist" situation in John's store. ha ha

July was the funnest month for me! We had the MAOT contestant lottery drawing that went well, attended a Legends game with the Miss KY Contestants,Board of Directors, and Miss KY 08' Emily Cox, and also emceeing the Laurel Co. Fair Pageant. A few days later Miss KY week began! I had a wonderful time rooming with Emily and talking with her about her year of reign and the Miss America pageant. We were also very excited when we found out that we both had size 5 feet! We had never been able to share shoes with other girls before...it was just a great experience overall ha ha :). During this week we were able to have dinner at Melanie Simpson's house, shop at Miss Priss, rehearsal (yay!!) and eat a lot of food in which I always enjoy! I was oh so happy when Mallory won the title of Miss KY 09' . It was something we had been planning and discussing for a long time! I think George was really happy too :) When I got home I was surprised that John had designed the BEST send-off party cards known to man-kind! He's the best :) After sending them out, it was party time! The rewards were just amazing when I looked into the crowd and saw all the support from my family and friends...I am truly blessed. I couldn't believe MAOT was here!

August- After all the packing,dancing,working-out, and laughing at John ad Shane fighting about how I should wear my hair (side pony tail or half up,half down)...Mom,John and Shane made me get a B-12 shot to boost up my energy!(gosh, they are going to be mad at me for telling) It worked! I was off to Orlando! I can't begin to tell you what an amazing experience I had at MAOT. I met some of the most amazing girls ever and I feel as if I have a sister in every state! They kept us busy that's sure. We kicked off the week with meeting the one and only Tony Bowls, photo shoots, promotion appearances, and getting to dress up my little sisters as my national princesses! I was so glad they got to come along with me and share the experience with me behind the scenes. I once heard all the other contestants laughing back stage during rehearsal and later found out that they were all laughing at my little sister Bella smelling them all to find out if they were a Democrat or Republican. Wow, she sure does have a special gift ha ha! Ericka Dunlap, Miss America 04' sure got a kick out of it...LOVE HER! I then ended the competition coming out in my evening gown final night with my side pony tail just for Shane. I mean hey...what was there to lose?? ;) It made me laugh when I looked out in the audience and saw the look in the KY crowds faces as they were dying laughing! Then it was back to London...my senior year was about to begin!

September- I finally got a booking manger/second mom/bff...SUSAN WEAVER! She has been so supportive throughout the years and I will be forever grateful to have her in my life :) She set me up for my first appearance after nationals...London Downtown's Chili Cook off!! AHHHH I was so excited..I do that when there is food involved! I then rode in the World Chicken Festival parade as Miss KY's Outstanding Teen!

October- I attended my first school appearance...Frederick Law Olmstead Academy -South! I had a wonderful time and I know my mom did in particular...as I looked over when I was signing autographs I notice that so was she! Everyone kept asking her if she was a Miss America. She said no, but they all wanted a picture and autograph of her anyway!! HA HA as we left she told me that she was going to start coming with me more often ;) While I was there I was promoting my personal platform Pay It Forward, self-esteem, career choices, and beginning my role as the Official Ambassador for the Girls Know How book series in which was promoted at MAOT. Girls Know How is a fictional series of fun, entertaining chapter books that encourage readers ages 8 to 12 to explore and pursue the career of their dreams. All the children touched my heart in some way. I feel like God had me at the school for a certain purpose and that purpose was to spend time with one little girl in particular who I was told had terminal cancer . I was so thankful that I could be there with her to put a smile on her face just as she did mine. Next I attended Crusin' for a Cure at Laurel Lake. This event helped raise money for breast cancer awareness and research. My second dad/bff, Terry was the auctioneer for the event and always pumps the crowd up! Until Coach Calipari showed up and stole his attention ;) I was so excited that he could be there to help support the event! Not to mention he really pumped me up for Basketball Season!! OOH C-A-T-S...CATS! CATS! CATS!