Hello from Mrs. Colorado!

What a month it's been! As my beautiful friend Sylvia said, we killed it at Nationals! What an amazing time we had! the three of us didn’t see a ton of one another because we were participating in 3 different pageants but when we did get together there were lots of smiles. Sylvia certainly grounded me when I saw her. Her calming presence immediately made me smile. I loved hanging with my “sisters” at group dinners and since I am a coffee snob and travel with a bit of a coffee arsenal, I loved when the ladies would stop by in the morning for their “joe” to say hello! My Roommate Mrs. Wyoming, Amanda Palmer was awesome! We roomed so well together and I could not have been more thankful. I never went to a traditional college so I never got the dorm room experience, nor have I ever had a roommate so yes, I was a bit nervous. Boy did I get the amazing dorm AND suite-mate experience when we realized on day 2 that Katie Cooper (Mrs. New Mexico) and Amanda Drake (Mrs. Montana) were in the adjoining room! That door didn’t close once we opened it and I made the best connections that week. Amazing that the thing I was most nervous about turned into the thing I will cherish most throughout life as amazing memories! as I always say, life begins at the end of your comfort zone!

Life back home this month…you know when you let anything go for two weeks it hits you in the face with a vengeance when you circle back to it? Well taking 2 weeks off work for nationals has hit me in the face the last few weeks! My clients were ready to get their hair done! I have been so crazy busy working, momming and housekeeping! It was all about me at Nationals and I came back to real life full force… I have asked my family multiple times if they know who I am…I’m royalty. Not a peasant! LOL….I don't think they see it that way!

Some of you heard my father in law passed away the day I returned from nationals. He had been battling cancer and I am so thankful Jason was there with me to escort me onstage despite his family sorrow. His heart was with his dad but his family was gracious and I think they needed a diversion from care and sadness to cheer me on. From a family standpoint, their ability to step out of their reality for a couple of hours to laugh and let go was much needed while they cheered me on via livestream. Speaking of livestream….I had so many amazing supporters from back here in CO. THANK YOU all for your awesome messages and words of encouragement! I checked them during wardrobe changes and they sure kept me motivated!!

Because we returned to sadness my sweet husband felt awful we didn't get to celebrate my accomplishments when we got back home so he threw me a sweet surprise dinner last week at Dukes in Castle Pines. So many of my favorite people were able to make it and I loved seeing them all! Thank you Jason! I love you!

COVID vaccine- I got my first vaccine and it laid me out! HOLY MOLY! I was in bed for multiple hours and I felt yucky! I hope the second one is better. fingers crossed!! I’m glad to be halfway through and am hoping our kids will be back to school next year and life will get back to normal soon! Chat next month friends! I hope you are all well and thanks so much for all of your sweet words on my road to Mrs. America!

Nicole - Mrs. Colorado 2020