I spent Halloween weekend in Greeley, Colorado at the 2010 Miss Colorado USA and 2010 Miss Teen Colorado USA Pageant. I had the opportunity to greet the guests as they came in to watch the show.

Congratulations to Miss Colorado USA 2010, Jessica Hartman.

With Rick Cruz, the proud father of Colorado's own Miss Teen USA 2008, Hilary Cruz. I met Rick last year at the Miss Wyoming USA/Miss Teen Wyoming USA Pageant where we were both judges.

Me and Christina Sacha of Creating the Perfect You. Christina coached the newly crowned Miss Colorado USA, Jessica Hartman.

With my Mrs. America physical trainer, Kent Paul of K-Paul Fit. He put me on a great weight and nutrition program that put me in the best shape of my life! Visit his website at www.kpaulfit.com.

Congratulations to Courtney Carter, Miss Teen Colorado USA 2010.

Hooah Radio Interview

On a very chilly October 25th, I did a phone-in interview with Dom on Hooah Radio in celebration of their 4th Birthday. I had the opportunity to give a shout out to our very brave and amazing troops overseas fighting for our freedom.

Hooah Radio is a free, Internet-based radio station intended to provide entertainment to the men and women overseas, and to connect them to their families and friends. This is a wonderful concept that I'm proud to support. For more information, to make a donation, or to listen to Hooah Radio, visit their website at www.hooahradio.com.

Kauai, Hawaii

In October my husband, in-laws and myself took a much needed vacation to Kauai, Hawaii. We did lots of laying on the beach, shopping, and enjoying the warm island sun before coming home to a chilly Colorado fall.

I had fun writing in the sand, so of course I had to do a tribute to Mrs. Colorado!

Mr. and Mrs. Colorado enjoying the sun!

Shipwreck Beach.....this is my "Happy Place".

Enjoying the water!

Our final day, getting ready to throw my lei back into the ocean. The myth is that you must give your lei back to the ocean to assure a return to the islands. Being the superstitious person that I am, I always have to do this!

Ladies Night Out - Parker

On October 1st I attended the "Ladies Night Out" event in Parker. It was a wonderful evening that I was glad to be a part of. I was asked to emcee the fashion show for Christopher & Banks, where some of the women competing for Mrs. Colorado 2010 were models. There were various booths set up with vendors geared towards women's interests. There was lots of jewelry, clothes, accessories, and much more!

With Raeanne Duca (left) and Emily Stark (right). Raeanne is the owner of the Royal Image Boutique, and set up some of her great clothing and accessories. Emily, the Director of the Mrs. Colorado Pageant, had fliers to hand out to potential candidates.

It was absolutely adorable how excited these girls were to take their picture with me! And the cutest part of all is how the little girl on the far left is posing with my autograph picture. These are some of the greatest moments of being Mrs. Colorado.

And the girls always seem to love when I let them wear my crown. I must admit though, I still get excited when I wear my crown, too!

Mrs. Colorado Program Book Cover Photo Shoot

One of the most exciting elements of winning the Mrs. Colorado title is that in 2010, my picture will be featured on the cover of the official program book. It is a tradition each year that the cover of the program book is kept a secret.....even from the Queen! The photo shoot took place on October 1st with official pageant photographer Megan Anderson of Graphique Fine Art Photography. Some very fun and unique photos were taken, and I can't wait to see how they turn out!

My make up for the shoot was done by Make-Up by Kari/Kari Kisch. And on the set to provide her expertise was Christina Sacha of Creating the Perfect You, and the "visionary" of the cover, Pageant Director, Emily Stark.

Harvest Fest at the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey

The 8th Annual Harvest Fest was held on September 26th and 27th on the grounds of the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey. The weather was amazing, and the turnout was great! During this event, vendors set up with food and crafts, while the winery offers tastings of their award-winning wine. In addition, visitors can participate in the grape crush for one of the winery’s most popular wines, the “Wild Canon Harvest.” This wine features grapes from all over Canon City and surrounding areas, and is absolutely delicious! While people are mingling during the festival, musical entertainment is provided as well. This year my dad’s band, Deja Bluz, serenaded the crowd.
Making appearances as Mrs. Colorado in my community are always very special to me, and I was honored to sign autographs and help promote the Harvest Fest. The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey has supported me as a sponsor during my year as Mrs. Colorado, and I was glad to give something back to them.
Check them out at www.abbeywinery.com.

With the owner of the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, Larry Otto.

This is Tom Lockhart, the featured artist who created the posters for this year’s event. In addition, his artwork will be on the upcoming Riesling and the Syrah. The painting we are standing in front of is the original piece, which is available to buy. To find out more about Tom and his art, check out his website at http://www.lockhartfineart.com/.

To the right of me is Mimi, who is the owner of “Mimi’s Gems.” And pictured on my left is my good friend and the jewelry designer for Mimi’s Gems, Suzanne. She has created all of my stunning and unique pageant jewelry the last two years. Check out their website at http://www.mimisgems.com/.

My parents (pictured to my right) and some of their best friends.

Mr. Colorado decided to make an appearance, too!

What a bunch of cuties!

Bare Escentuals “Preview Night”

September 15th was the Cherry Creek Mall Bare Escentuals “Preview Night” for the new holiday collection. They invited their VIP clients to come in and purchase the holiday collection for one night only, until its official release on October 2nd. I was happy to help them out for this great event.

In front of me is the beautiful holiday collection. They have a lot of great kits to offer, with some very festive colors.

Jeffery used all the colors from “The Surprise Collection” on me.

These two were on a scavenger hunt for the company they work for. I was glad I could be of assistance by letting them cross “borrowed jewelry” off of their list. They pretended to borrow my crown and one of my earrings.

This is one of the friendliest and most helpful make up crews around!

Northglenn United Methodist Church Early Childhood Center Auction

On Saturday, September 19th, I attended an auction for the Northglenn United Methodist Church Early Childhood Center to help them raise money for new playground equipment. The event was a great success, and many businesses and individuals showed their generosity by donating goods and services to the auction.

My "Mrs. America" Experience

“To believe in yourself and to follow your dreams, to have goals in life and a drive to succeed, and to surround yourself with the things and the people that make you happy -this is success!"

-Sasha Azevedo

As I sit here at home after my time at the Mrs. America Pageant, I reflect on my journey and feel a sense of accomplishment and pride. I’ve always been a believer in that if you try hard, you will achieve greatness. I had the time of my life while in Tucson and I made some great friends, with one in particular who will be a dear friend forever…..my roommate, Mrs. Nebraska. My experience culminated in my placing as a semi-finalist in the top 11. There were 51 amazing women who vied for the title of Mrs. America, and to stand amongst the top 11 of them was a moment that I will remember forever. Although I didn't come home as Mrs. America, I still get to hold the title of Mrs. Colorado…..which is a HUGE honor! Home truly is where the heart is! I am so thankful to those who have genuinely helped and supported me. You were the wind beneath my wings, and I share in this great victory with you.

I started off being really good about keeping up with updating my blog while in Tucson. However, as I was warned, they kept us VERY busy and my “spare time” was best spent catching some much needed shut eye. So, this blog posting will be the last part of my Mrs. America experience in a nutshell.

SHOPPING AT LA ENCANTADA – September 3RD

They surprised us with an afternoon of shopping at the La Encantada mall. I don’t think that poor mall knew what hit them after 51 pageant women left!

Here is a group of former Miss Universe Organization competitors. Whether we won our state title, or just participated as a state competitor, this group represents the “married version” of our MUO days.

Me and my roommate inside the St. John store. They were kind enough to provide champagne, strawberries and cream puffs for us all.

COCKTAIL PARTY HONORING THE PRESIDENT/CEO OF THE METROPOLITAN TUCSON CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU IN DAVID MARMEL’S SUITE – September 3RD

With Jonathan Walker, the President/CEO of the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau

With Diane Tucker, Mrs. World 2007

TAKING PICTURES ON THE GOLF COURSE – September 4TH

The picturesque Loews Ventana Canyon resort, taken from the golf course.

SEPTEMBER 4th REHEARSALS

Learning choreography from Frit Fuller

DINNER WITH THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE LOEWS VENTANA CANYON RESORT – September 4th

Pictured with Brian Johnson, the Managing Director of the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort

A group of us with Batsheva (standing on my right), who is the candidate coordinator

With Maureen MacDonald, Mrs. America 2009

With David Marmel, the President of the Mrs. America Organization

THE TRADITIONAL “SWIMSUIT PHOTO SHOOT” BY THE LOEWS VENTANA CANYON SWIMMING POOL – September 5th

I woke up bright and early at 4:30 am for the traditional “Mrs. America pool photo shoot” on September 5th. As nice as it would have been to go back to bed after this early morning, we had a quick breakfast and then off to rehearsals for the day.

SEPTEMBER 5TH REHEARSALS AND THE TRADITIONAL "CANDIDATE GIFT EXCHANGE"

It seems like any down time during rehearsals was filled with taking candid photos

The annual candidate gift exchange was a very fun evening. Each candidate is asked to bring a small gift of friendship for the other 50 delegates. I was so thankful to have my friend Debi Moore, the owner of Fandies Candy Company, donate truffles with crowns on top for my gifts. We placed our gifts to each candidate on their chair, and needless to say, the piles got VERY high! The same night as the gift exchange, we were also asked to bring our state costume so as you can see, for some reason, I was wearing my headpiece. Let me just say, it was a LONG day!

INTERVIEW – September 6th

Here I am getting primped and primed for the interview.

JAZZ CONCERT – September 6th

We were invited to attend a jazz concert as special guests at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. The music was great!

SEPTEMBER 7TH REHEARSAL

PRELIMINARIES – September 7th

Evening Gowns

Here I am in my state costume. I was a very “sentimental snowflake”, because this headpiece belonged to Tricia Dampier, who held the title of Mrs. Colorado 20 years ago this year. I was the first Colorado titleholder since her to wear it.

FINALS – September 8th

With Pageant host, and TV Icon, Florence Henderson. It was so cool standing next to “Carol Brady”!

One last picture with my awesome roommate, Mrs. Nebraska/Jennifer Hart. I was SO fortunate to have had a roommate that I will be friends with for the rest of my life!

Christina is one of my very best friends, and I’m so thankful that she guided me along this Mrs. America process. With her own image consulting business, “Creating the Perfect You,” she is truly a visionary at making women into the best they can possibly be.

Three generations of Colorado/Nebraska roommates


I will have more pictures to show from prelims and finals at a later date. Hope you've enjoyed watching my journey as much as I enjoyed taking it. Thanks again for your support!

Mrs. America - September 2

My roommate, Mrs. Nebraska, and myself after planting our tree for Habitat for Humanity. It was rewarding to end the day knowing we helped with this great cause.

I can’t believe it’s the end of day two at Mrs. America already! We’re having a great time here in Tucson! Today began with rehearsals, then we all headed over to work with the very noble organization, Habitat for Humanity, to plant trees in a local park. Afterwards we headed to the “El Charro”, where we dined on delicious Mexican food.

1st DAY OF REHEARSALS

My group of 10, except we’re missing Mrs. Alaska in this pic.

Occupying our time by taking pics at rehearsals while waiting our turn to dance.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Digging a hole to plant our tree in.

Here is everyone who had hats on during our hot, hot, hot afternoon.

DINNER AT "EL CHARRO"

The whole group of us before dinner.

With Diane Tucker, Mrs. World 2007

With Frit and Frat, the official Mrs. America choreographers

With Mrs. Louisiana, who actually had family who lived in my small hometown of Canon City, Colorado! Small world!

ROOMIES!

With the candidate coordinator, Batsheva.

Orientation

And so it begins! Tonight was the first official event to kick off the Mrs. America Pageant week.....orientation. We had a great dinner, followed by the pageant staff speaking about our exciting week ahead.

August 31st Dinner

I decided to leave a day early (on August 31) to Tucson, so that I could unpack my many bags and boxes and unwind before the Mrs. America festivities began on September 1. It was a great day of rest and relaxation, that culminated in a handful of other women who arrived early eating a great dinner together at the Flying V restaurant. I couldn't think of a better way to spend my first evening!

The group of us after dinner

Me and my roommate, Jennifer Hart/Mrs. Nebraska. We are having the GREATEST time together!

Mrs. America......HERE I COME!

It seems as though it was just yesterday that I was crowned Mrs. Colorado, and now the time has come for me to represent my state at the Mrs. America Pageant. I anxiously packed my bags for nearly a week, waiting for the day I’d leave. Now I’m here at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, preparing to work hard at making my dream of becoming Mrs. America into a reality.

"Don't forget to pack your courage for your journey to greatness."

-David Weinbaum

Thanks to my sponsors and supporters!

They say “It takes a village to raise a child.” Well, it also holds true that “It takes a great team to build a beauty queen”.

As I’ve been preparing for this once in a lifetime opportunity to compete in the Mrs. America Pageant, I have been so fortunate to have the support from multiple businesses and individuals. To the following proud sponsors and supporters of the Mrs. Colorado Pageant, who have generously provided their services and time:Christina Sacha/Creating the Perfect You for image consulting and coaching, Tricia Dampier for interview coaching, Raeanne Duca of the Royal Image Boutique for my great wardrobe, Megan Anderson for being the mastermind behind my head shot and ad page for Mrs. America, Dr. Lori Kemmet for making my smile perfect through cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Raj TerKonda and Heather Eckert for making sure my skin is flawless and providing me with great skin care and make up products, Kent Paul of KPaul Fit for making my body “pageant perfect,” Alichia Ryan for refreshing my face, “At the Beach” for giving me a healthy tan through the VersaSpa tanning system, and Debbie Barnhill for the introducing me to the amazing Galvanic Spa.

Also to the local businesses from my hometown of Canon City and surrounding areas who have offered their financial support and services towards my journey to the crown:Ginger Ovinek of Capture the Moment Photography for the my “lifestyle” photo shoots, Fandies Candy Company for donating the gifts given to each of the 50 candidates at the Mrs. America Pageant, The Abbey Winery for donating two elaborate gift baskets for my “dignitary gifts”, Elite Family Fitness for the gym membership. And to Kwik Stop, the Fremont County Humane Society, Tom Halus, Starpoint, Mandi and Casey Zimmerman, and Moore’s Quality Earthmoving for their generous donations.

Many thanks to my parents (Glenn and Kristy McCarter) and my in-laws (Bill and Penny Yarberry) for offering unending support in every way I needed it. Much appreciation to my TRUE friends who have shared in my joy of being Mrs. Colorado, and encouraged me in my dream of becoming Mrs. America. To my “Queen Sisters”, I have learned so much from you all and have treasured your advice and expertise. And last, but certainly not least, thanks to my amazing “Mr. Colorado,” my husband Scott. Without Scott, none of this would be possible. This preparation process has been a very time consuming and tedious one, and he’s been incredibly understanding and offered a helping hand whenever I needed it.

“When we are dreaming alone it is only a dream. When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality.”
-Dom Helder Camara

Colorado State Fair Parade

On August 29th, I rode in the annual Colorado State Fair Parade. My husband’s grandfather used to organize the parade itself and was heavily involved in planning aspects of the fair, so it was only fitting that I ride in this parade that was such a huge part of his life. His grandfather now resides in a nursing home, but they were actually able to bring him, and a few other residents, out to watch the parade.

I had the most handsome driver in the world…..my husband!

“Elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist”, the beauty queen’s rules of parade waving!

Here we are with Scott’s grandfather, a great man!

Mrs. Colorado Send Off Party

"Sisterhood is the essence of all the wisdom of the ages, distilled into a single word. You cannot see sisterhood, neither can you hear it nor taste it. But you can feel it a hundred times a day. It is a pat on the back, a smile of encouragement. It's someone to share with, to celebrate your achievements."

~ Anonymous

My mentor, dear friend, and former Mrs. Colorado Director, Tricia Dampier, threw the most amazing send off party to Mrs. America for me on August 28th! I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to celebrate my final days before leaving for Tucson than to spend it with this group of my true friends…..my Queen Sisters. One of the greatest “perks” of being Mrs. Colorado is to become a part of this sisterhood of former queens. We spent the evening at a great restaurant, 240 Union, while the ladies shared stories about me and gave great tips and advice for my duration at Mrs. America. The girls all spoiled me with lots of crown goodies, which I will treasure always!

Tricia gave me this beautiful 50th Anniversary Barbie Doll. Inside the box it says “Generations of Dreams,” and there is a Barbie wearing a CROWN right on the front of the dress…..talk about perfect! I’ve loved Barbie dolls my whole life, and have always enjoyed collecting them. So it was perfect when I was nicknamed “Queen Barbie” by the sisters.

My wonderful friend and mentor, Debi Moore (Mrs. Colorado 1994)

It has been SO special being Emily’s “first queen”. She is a great director, and I look forward to many more memories with her this year! (Emily-Mrs. Colorado 2002)

Me and my pageant “BFF,” Christina. (Mrs. Colorado 2008)

L to R: Marney Duckworth (Mrs. Colorado 2006/Mrs. America 2007), Paula Arand (Mrs. Colorado 1995), me, and Raeanne Duca (Mrs. Colorado 2000)

L to R: Traci Holman (Mrs. Colorado 2001), me, and Debbie Barnhill (Mrs. Colorado 1993)

Sheri Engstrom (Mrs. Colorado 2004)

L to R: Amy Nugent (Mrs. Colorado 1996), me, and Elizabeth Cartmill (Mrs. Colorado 2003)

L to R: Jennifer Lamont (Mrs. Colorado 2005), me, and Sharon Nuanes (Mrs. Colorado 1981)

Christina bought me this awesome robe! It’s pink, has crowns and rhinestones all over it, AND has my name and title embroidered on it…..PERFECT! This will be worn frequently while getting ready at Mrs. America!

A super cute crown tank from Sheri Engstrom….more pink and rhinestones!

Crown wine charms and crown swizzle sticks from Elizabeth Cartmill….how fun!

This table was set up with pink cupcakes (pink is my favorite color in case that hasn’t become totally obvious), Barbie dolls, and fun “Queen” cocktail napkins. I absolutely LOVED my Barbie themed party!

Russell (Tricia’s hubby) even came to my send off party! What a good guy!

"Animal Welfare and Protection Society" Commercial

With animals being my personal platform during my reign as Mrs. Colorado, I was thrilled when I was asked to be in a commercial for the “Animal Welfare and Protection Society.” This is a no kill shelter for lost and abandoned pets in Pueblo. I am a HUGE advocate of shelters such as this, because they give all animals a chance. The commercial was to advertise the new facility that they are building, which will be an environmentally safe design that will bring aid to the animals of today as well as in the future. They are a non-profit organization, and are entirely funded by donations and the generosity of volunteers. For more information on this incredible facility, please visit www.puebloawps.org.

Here I am getting ready to shoot the commercial.

These are the creative minds behind the camera.

Naturally my sweet dog, Neiko, appeared in the commercial with me. He is sure to be a celebrity after this! My husband, Scott, was disappointed that he didn't get any camera time though.

This little puppy took a real liking to Neiko, but he was not too excited about her. He prefers to believe that he’s the only dog in existence.

It’s always fun when I have “fans” come visit me at appearances. These kiddos belong to one of the guys who was filming the commercial.

Fox Box - August 21, 2009

On August 21, I had the opportunity to appear on Fox 31's "Fox Box". Fox Box is a segment of "Good Day Colorado" that invites special guests to discuss events currently making the news. The host of the show, Shaul Turner, along with Terrence Roberts (CEO, Prodigal Son Initiative), Ian Bagg (Actor/Comedian) and I all chatted about hot topics such as the debate on healthcare, whether or not our society is accepting of same sex relationships in politics, Michelle Obama's casual attire on family outtings, and the lady who believed to be pregnant with 12 babies. It was a great panel, with each of us bringing up strong points about the issues. I hope to be a return guest on Fox Box in the future, it was a lot of fun!

Children's Hospital Special Visit

One of the greatest things about being Mrs. Colorado is when a person requests your presence, knowing that it might brighten someones day. My mother and father-in-law have good friends who have a granddaughter, named Hailey, who was attacked by a dog when she was a young child, and was paralyzed from the waist down. Although Hailey leads a very normal life, she still requires surgeries every so often to keep everything in check. She was scheduled for one of her surgeries in August, and it was requested by her grandparents that I make a "special visit" to see her.

I had a wonderful time with Hailey, as we chatted about her involvement in 4-H where she participates riffle shooting and "Decorate Your Duds" (in which she received Grand Champion this year). She will go to the State Fair and compete in both categories in a few weeks, and looks forward to going elk hunting with her family this winter.

Make-A-Wish Foundation "Wine and Wishes"

On August 7th, I attended the “Wine and Wishes” event for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The objective of this event was to raise enough money to help send five “Wish Kids”, along with their families, to Hawaii. The theme for the night was a “Hawaiian Luau,” with delicious Hawaiian cuisine, hula dancers, and a silent auction with a multitude of great items to bid on. During the evening, I assisted at a raffle table where a $500 Tiffany’s gift certificate was awarded to the winner. While I made valiant efforts to win that gift certificate, it didn’t happen. None-the-less, it was a very successful evening with many people out to celebrate this noble cause.

For more information on the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to get involved, or to make a donation, visit their website at http://www.wishcolorado.org/.

My handsome husband, Scott, was my date for the evening. I’m so fortunate to have a husband who is so supportive. With most of my appearances being at least two hours away from home, he has graciously taken off work multiple times to be by my side as “Mr. Colorado.”

Karlyn Tilley of CBS4 was the emcee for the evening, and she did a fabulous job!

This was one of the “Wish Kids”, she was absolutely adorable! She entertained the crowds while cutting a rug on the dance floor, and even sang a song as a “bribe” to coerce more bidders during the silent auction. Looks like her “wish” of meeting her favorite musician, Demi Lovato, has inspired a star in the making.

Another “Wish Kid”, who was absolutely hilarious! He performed a bit of a comedy routine for the crowds, telling funny stories about his recent trip to Hawaii provided to him and his family by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

And this was the third “Wish Kid” of the night, who had just had his “wish” come true the week prior to the event. As an aspiring chef, he wanted to meet with the top chefs of Denver to learn their secrets. Watch out Denver…..this kid is going to take the cooking world by storm someday!

The most desired item of all the silent auctions was this authentic Fender guitar, autographed by Denver's own “The Fray”. This was the lucky guy who won the bid, and as you can see he was grinning from ear to ear.