Tues/Friday?

So while this is technically Tuesday, its also Friday... because tomorrow is a holiday! I'm trying to get excited about this mid-week day off, but somehow its hard. By no means am I upset that I get an extra day off, it just seems, well off. I get to sleep in, but get up early the next day. I get fireworks and Miss Texas prelims, but no long weekend? Oh well, I shall celebrate anyway! Celebrate America, freedom, land of Free, home of the Brave! Apple pie and right to vote! So, star-spangle me up and call me Martha Washington or Betsy Ross.

Here are a few of the things I will be enjoying this 4th of July! P.S. If you are in the DFW area, head out to the Allen Event Center and watch 40 ladies compete for the title of Miss Texas!

4th of july by lynn-alexander on polyvore.com

Monday Musings

So, does anyone else feel like this is a waste of a short week? I mean a holiday mid-week just does nothing for my excitement. No 3-day weekend, no real party due to the 6am wake up call the next day... Oh well, guess that perpetual calendar thing has its drawbacks.

So, what are your plans for the July 4th holiday? I will be in Allen, TX cheering on my titleholders (Anna Combrink Miss McKinney) as they compete in the first night of prelims for the Miss Texas Pageant. Three days of prelims followed by finals on Saturday. And the best part, the pageant returns to television this year! Though its limited and not live in the DFW market, its a huge step forward for the organization. I hope everyone will either tune in, or head out to the Allen Event Center and watch 39 of the brightest, most talented women in Texas compete for a chance to head to Miss America!

As a former contestant, I know the benefits of this wonderful organization. The Miss America Organization is the largest provider of scholarships to women. I helped pay for law school during my competition days. I also made some of the best friends of my life competing. My sister Taylor and my BFF Faith! I truly believe in the power of this organization. It prepares young women to enter the workforce able to take on any challenge. It promotes the Children's Miracle Network as well. I may be a hasbeen now, but I will always cherish the opportunities I had as a titleholder.

Ok, enough now.... check out the pageant if you are in the DFW area, or check it out on TV! Happy Monday everyone, and happy holiday week.

Miss McKinney

Miss Garland's Outstanding Teen

Tales of a Pageant Girl

So, by popular demand here is a look into my life as pageant girl. These pictures are from my time as a Miss Texas Titleholder circa 2007 (oh to be 24/25 again!)

Me and the current Miss Texas, when she was Teen Texas

My Faith! Now one of my best friends, who sang in my wedding

With Pat Green

With Coach Gary Patterson from TCU!

Hubs and I long before he was hubs!

Mom, wearing her wig, this was duirng the height of her chemo

This is when I  met my sister!



Marvelous Monday

Happy Monday All! I know I was a bit MIA last week, but I was on a whirlwind adventure.... ok so maybe not an adventure,  but I was out of the office and out of town.

I spent Thursday and Friday in Dallas at the SMU Air Law Symposium. For this of you not in the legal world, or academia this is the preeminent Aviation Law Event. Imagine me, however, baby lawyer walking into a room full of men in suits.... Yes like 300 of them and about 50 women. To says its a make-dominated field is an understatement. I spent two days learning lots about the aviation law field, not when I saw learned, it was not necessarily all law related. I truly enjoyed getting to meet people in this unique area of law and learning lots.

Then Friday after, hubs and I sped out of the Metroplex for the Hill Country of Austin. My lil sister was getting hitched to her prince charming. Her story with her new hubs is truly a fairytale and it was wonderful to share in her day. The wedding took place at a small resort overlooking Lake Travis. She had an outdoor, 11am ceremony which was gorgeous! We laughed, cried, and were truly blessed to share in this love story. I also got to see one of my fav law kids!

Me, the bride, and our good friend. We are two JDs and a soon to be JD!

Hubs and I took this opportunity for a lil vacay. We stayed at the gorgeous Barton Creek Resort and Spa! This place is gorgeous. Tucked in the hill country, beautiful scenery, great pool, and took in a game of mini golf. We used this as a time to relax and enjoy each other.

We then zipped home early Sunday because hubs had a baseball  game for his company team and I had new pageant girls to meet! I am serving as a resource director for some Miss Texas contestants this year and we have lots to do before Spring Meeting in two weeks!

I have the pleasure of preparing Miss McKinney and Miss Garland's Outstanding Teen. If you would like to sponsor one of these ladies let me know!! These ladies won their respective titles through the sweeper pageant, which means it does not come with a great prize package per se. If you would like to donate your time, talent, or $$ they would appreciate it. We need hair, wardrobe, tanning, and each contestant has to sale ad pages for the program book. It's a lot to accomplish, but the experience is worth its weight in gold.

I met some of my best friends by competing in the Miss Texas Organization (as in my sister, the bride from this weekend...) Happy Monday all!