Mrs. Colorado Host Hotel
Mrs. World
It's official the Mrs. America delegates will arrive in Tucson, AZ on August 20 to begin this incredible experience at the amazing Loews Ventana Canyon Resort! The schedule is as follows: August 25 interview competition, August 26 preliminary show and Crowning of Mrs. America on August 28.
From Arizona, Mrs. America will go on to compete in Guangzhon, China. Who will be the lucky lady to represent America at the Mrs. World Pageant in China?
From Arizona, Mrs. America will go on to compete in Guangzhon, China. Who will be the lucky lady to represent America at the Mrs. World Pageant in China?
I Never Knew Tofu Could Be So Tasty
A best friend of mine sent me a TofuXpress, a gourmet food
press designed especially for tofu.
According to my girlfriend, this is a tofu “game changer” baby. I decided to try it out this weekend and just
have to share the recipe.
Ingredients
1 block of firm tofu, after it is drained, sliced in strips
or patties (1 inch thick) note: Costco sells tofu and it is very inexpensive
1 jar of Marinara sauce, your preference of brand
I clove garlic
Italian Spices to taste
2 cups of fresh mushrooms sliced
1 tsp. Onion powder
A dash of sea salt
A dash of fresh ground pepper
Extra Virgin Olive Oil used for sautéing and frying tofu
Directions
You start by pressing the block of firm tofu in the
TofuXpress. I recommend pressing it over
night because it really squeezes out all of the water creating a very dense
tofu patty. Set tofu aside for later.
Press garlic clove in a garlic press. Sauté the garlic in
olive oil. Add sliced mushrooms and sauté until tender. Add the marinara sauce. Add extra garlic and
spices to taste. I love to add fresh basil, oregano, and one bay leaf. Let simmer.
Dip sliced tofu in egg whites and then immediately in
Italian bread crumbs.
Lightly oil a pan with olive oil and fry the breaded tofu
until crispy.
Put tofu on a plate and top with your mushroom marinara
sauce. Add a dash of freshly grated
parmesan cheese and enjoy!
This dish is also very good baked, similarly to lasagna. I serve this to my boys (11 and 6 years old)
and they LOVE it! My kids also will eat
the fried tofu all by itself! My
youngest son said, “its so yummy, it reminds me of a grilled cheese
sandwich!” Who would have known that
tofu could be so darn tasty?
Original Gourmet Lollipops
Thank you to the Original Gourmet Company for sponsoring the Mrs. Colorado Pageant State Finalists with lollipops!
Thank you to Kim Bass for your generous sponsorship.
I sure my son does not eat them all before the pageant!
Tickets, Tickets, Tickets, and Cancun
Tickets for the 2013 Mrs. Colorado Pageant go on sale March 1, 2013. The Mrs. Colorado Pageant will be held at the prestigious Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
The Ellie Caulkins Opera House, colloquially known as “the Ellie,” is the premier venue inside of the historic Quigg Newton Denver Municipal Auditorium. The Ellie, a world-class acoustical hall designed in the lyric style, encompasses four levels. This magnificent space is humidified and provides state-of-the-art technical support as well as acoustical excellence and clean sight lines. The Ellie is one of only three opera houses in the United States, one of nine world-wide, with seatback titling at every seat in the house. The Ellie designed to attract top artists to the Mile High City and to make their performances unforgettable including the 2013 Mrs. Colorado Pageant. You can be part of Mrs. Colorado history and attend both the preliminary and final event. Tickets go on sale through state finalists on March 1, 2013 and March 3, 2013 via the website.
One state finalist will earn a trip Cancun for five days and four nights. Support your state finalist to purchase your tickets and help them earn a trip to Cancun.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/Mrs.Colorado?bookmark_t=page
Thank you to Peter Guccione with http://firestarter.rovia.com/ for the sponsored adventure!
The Ellie Caulkins Opera House, colloquially known as “the Ellie,” is the premier venue inside of the historic Quigg Newton Denver Municipal Auditorium. The Ellie, a world-class acoustical hall designed in the lyric style, encompasses four levels. This magnificent space is humidified and provides state-of-the-art technical support as well as acoustical excellence and clean sight lines. The Ellie is one of only three opera houses in the United States, one of nine world-wide, with seatback titling at every seat in the house. The Ellie designed to attract top artists to the Mile High City and to make their performances unforgettable including the 2013 Mrs. Colorado Pageant. You can be part of Mrs. Colorado history and attend both the preliminary and final event. Tickets go on sale through state finalists on March 1, 2013 and March 3, 2013 via the website.
One state finalist will earn a trip Cancun for five days and four nights. Support your state finalist to purchase your tickets and help them earn a trip to Cancun.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/Mrs.Colorado?bookmark_t=page
Thank you to Peter Guccione with http://firestarter.rovia.com/ for the sponsored adventure!
Gift of Life
In and out in 20
minutes – guaranteed!
The Mobile Mammography Van will be at Royal Image Boutique in partnership with the Mrs. Colorado Pageant.
Beauty from the Inside
Out
February
23, 2013
9:00 AM –
4 PM
- All exams interpreted by a full-time,
fellowship trained Breast Radiologist
- Ask
the Expert telephone line available: 303-318-3415 or 303-318-3410
-
Accept all insurance coverage with the exception of Kaiser Permanente.
-
We will bill your insurance but if you don’t have insurance, we don’t
turn anyone away
- Please call in advance for your pre-screening
at 303-318-3419
The Saint
Joseph Breast Care Center Breast Care
Center
Happy New Year
Creating a Rock Solid Plan for 2013
According to a recent article in the magazine Experience Life, Creating a Rock Solid Fitness Plan can really be broken down into a science. Although this blog entry is related to setting a fitness/health plan, you could really use this approach for setting any goal. Personally, I am totally motivated by goals and love health so I just can’t help but to share what I have learned from this very informative article.
Step One: Start
by creating a big picture approach that aligns with your lifestyle, passions,
and goals. You can do this by creating a mission statement that clearly
articulates exactly what you want to accomplish in the short (0-3 months) and
long term (3 months to a year). The goal here is to take something vague and
make it concrete. Your mission statement will serve as the road map for your
success. It’s what the article refers to
as “your true north toward which every workout, meal, food choice, and recovery
session should ultimately lead.”
In the business world, many executives use SMART (specific,
measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely) goals as a way to have a clear
agenda that maximizes their return on investment. Your goal should also “light
your board,” in other words, create energy or buzz for you every time to read
it. Your goal has to be full of passion or it won’t work.
Step Two: Take
inventory of where you are now. Write
down what you have right now and what you are missing. For example, when I
would prepare to be in pageants and a big part of that is creating fitness
goals, I would take my measurements long with a before photo and post it in my
closet. I have a large closet and get
dressed in it every morning and undress every evening so it is a great location
to serve as a daily reminder. I have
also, at times, posted it on my refrigerator and in my car. You choose your best location. Other things
to take inventory on are: things that have worked for you in the past, any
injuries or obstacles, and available resources. At this stage, I highly
recommend that you go public with your goal.
I post it around my house, tell friends and family, and even post it in
my cubical at work.
Step Three:
Create an action plan. Please do not try the “get fit quick” plan; this will
not work long term. For me, creating a weekly and monthly plan works best. I start by looking at week one and outlining
what I will do physically each day as well as creating a menu. More specific details
about my plan can be found in the previous blog entry entitled Girl, You Got This.
Step Four: Record
your progress. Just like in the business
world, nothing holds weight without data. Log your exercise activities, meals
consumed, calories burned, etc. By
keeping track of your progress you can acknowledge your challenges as well as
celebrate your achievements.
Step Five: Manage
your time. I’m not sure about you but
one of my top reasons for not exercising is lack of time. One recommendation is
to break your day up into fifteen minute increments. Depending on the contents of your mission statement,
you may not need huge amounts of time to make progress. As a mother and full
time professional, finding time can be a sincere challenge. If you too battle hectic schedules, you may
need to get creative. I have weekly
staff meetings with various direct reports.
One strategy that has worked for me is to turn those meetings into “walking”
meetings. If the weather permits, we
walk and talk our way around downtown for the duration of our meeting. If weather is bad and your building has a
gym, take your meeting to the treadmills.
Another suggestion is just to do laps around the building. There is a lot of research that proves that
physical movement promotes and stimulates better thinking.
Step Six-
Reassess and recommit to your goals on a quarterly basis. Whether you meet, exceed, or fall a little
short of meeting your goals, it is always important to reassess your goals, the
strategy to achieve them, and recommit.
I have found that after I accomplish a goal, I tend to fall
off the wagon. For me, it’s okay to give
myself a little break but it’s just as important to create the next goal to
stay motivated. Competing in Mrs.
Colorado for several years really kept me on track as it related to fitness and
other related self-improvement goals. My
next goal is to train and compete in the Run like a Diva Half Marathon next September on the east coast. My sister is
turning 40 this summer and we have our calendars marked to train, meet, race our
hearts out (in cute Lulu Lemon outfits of course) and yes, “Run like Divas!”
To learn more about the Run like a Diva race series, visit http://www.runlikeadiva.com/ When you finish the race, you even get a tiara and feather boa!
Merry Christmas
The phrase Merry Christmas or Happy Christmas
has a magical outcome. Christmas wishes and messages endow us an
eternal joy, everlasting happiness and never ending cheerfulness. A warm, bright
and beautiful Christmas wish to your friends, family, loved and dear ones can
make the Christmas occasion special. Our wish for your Christmas day is a prayer, which extends love,
peace and harmony.
The best Christmas wish and message comes from the heart. From our heart to yours, Merry Christmas wishes with the blessings that you touch your dreams and attain your aspirations. We wish you a merry and blessed Christmas.
Christmas is the Time of Year I Cherish Most
Christmas is the time of
year I cherish. As I sit here by my
fireplace and look at the beautiful Christmas tree my family and I decorated, I
feel so blessed to have this amazing life. The holiday season is a time for
appreciation, gratitude, giving, and celebrating life.
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| Our Tree |
My family has a tradition
of giving ornaments as gifts. My mother
gave me an ornament every year and I now give my boys a special ornament each
year. My plan is that they will
eventually have a box of ornaments that carry special memories of their
childhood, just like I have. I give this
gift (an ornament) on the night before Christmas. I have each of my little boys
sit down with their hands out and eyes closed.
I gently place the specially wrapped box in their hands and watch them
open their gift. I then explain why the
ornament is significant and why I want them to have it. Even though this gift is the most
insignificant gift they receive each year as far as monetary value, my heart
explodes with love when I watch their little faces light up as they unwrap
their newest addition to their collection.
It is at this moment every year that I remember that it is the simple
gifts in life that are the most precious.
One of the things I
started doing a few years ago is labeling my Christmas ornaments. I create a
small label that I can hide on the inside or bottom of the ornament. I label who gave it to me and the year. One of my favorite pass times during the
holiday season is to pour a glass of wine and look at all my beautiful
ornaments while reminiscing about all the wonderful memories I have been
blessed to have.
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| This is an ornament that my Aunt made for my husband and I. We were pregnant with our first child Hunter in this photo. The ornament in the background is a photo of my sister and I as little girls. My mom gave me this ornament in 1983. These are the types of ornaments that makes me smile. |
Gorgeous Skin for the Holidays and New Year
The holidays are here, and that
means your schedule is filling up fast, with parties, dinners, and other
seasonal get-togethers. During my year as Mrs. Colorado, I have been so
fortunate to be under the care of Dr. Terkonda and his amazing assistant, Heather Eckert at the Longmont Clinic. I know these types of professional services
can typically be pricey but if you do have the time and pocket book, it is well
worth it. I highly recommend any of their
services, they are fabulous!
I am the first person to admit that “treats” like professional skincare services are fabulous but have to be when the timing is right financially. If it’s not the right timing for you, this may be a good thing to put on your wish list for some time after the holiday season. Start saving now and think of it as a new beginning (and treat) to start off the New Year.
I am the first person to admit that “treats” like professional skincare services are fabulous but have to be when the timing is right financially. If it’s not the right timing for you, this may be a good thing to put on your wish list for some time after the holiday season. Start saving now and think of it as a new beginning (and treat) to start off the New Year.
In the meantime, here are some
great tips I found online to make sure your skin maintains a healthy, gorgeous glow
while you keep up with your hectic schedule.
| Exercise Nothing says "healthy glow" like the rosy cheeks you have after a jog, trip to the gym, or bike ride. And exercise has other benefits during the holidays, too. It's a terrific stress reliever and mood elevator, and improves your cardiovascular health. That's all good news this time of year. |
| Cleanse
gently Cold air outdoors and over-heated homes and offices can leave winter skin dry and itchy, so it's extra important to treat it with TLC. Gentle cleansers like Cetaphil It won't strip your skin of its natural protective oils or emollients, and it maintains your skin's natural pH balance. |
Moisturize
Winter skin is thirsty skin, and that means you'll need to moisturize. And don't be surprised if you have to reapply your moisturizer several times a day. Make sure you look for a cream with SPF for moderate protection against damaging UVA and UVB rays that are responsible for premature lines and wrinkles, even in winter. |
Drink Lots
of Water
I am not really a “water drinker” but boy does it
make a difference in my skin and also the way I feel. If you’re not naturally a water lover, try
adding fresh lemons, limes, and even herbs.
A favorite on mine is adding one fresh lemon wedge and sliced
cucumbers to a large glass of water.
Delicious!
|
Bundle up
Keeping your skin covered, with gloves, a hat, and a scarf, when you go outdoors can help protect it from the harsh winter weather.
Keeping your skin covered, with gloves, a hat, and a scarf, when you go outdoors can help protect it from the harsh winter weather.
Musclemania Figure Championships
Judging
My First Fitness Contest
Something
that is on my personal “bucket list” is training for and competing in a fitness
contest. It was no surprise hat when my
dear friend Tiffany Yee, owner of Body Statement Gym asked me if I’d be
interested in being a judge for a fitness show that I was literally jumping in
the air because I was so excited!
I was so honored and excited to be a judge at the Musclemania
Figure Championships this past month. Watching
those men and women walk on that stage brought tears to my eyes because I knew
the amount of heart, soul, dedication, and determination it took to get
there. Many of the female contestants
were in their 40’s and had several children.
I was so proud of each and every one of them for making health and
fitness a priority. What a great role
modeling they were being for their children.
The next competition will be in April 2013. Hmmmm…. Does this Mrs. Colorado have what it
takes to get competition ready? I wonder if I’ll be crossing off another item
from the ole bucket list.
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| Meet the Judges |
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| I love working out with my children and of course, little Ms. Tiffany! |
Dancing with the Stars at Denver Language School
Dancing with the
Stars
I have watched the show Dancing
with the Stars for years now and was so thrilled when I was asked to be a judge
for a Dancing with the Stars gala for Denver Language School (DLS) on November
17th at the Four Seasons Hotel. This was a fundraiser for DLS
a Chinese and Spanish immersion program.
They even created a website
for the event where viewers could "meet" the dancers and “judges!” The bios were pretty impressive and a bit
comical. As a judge, I certainly had my
work cut out for me to decide the winner for the Critic’s Choice award. You can visit the website at www.DancingDLS.org.A few chosen faculty members, teachers and parents were asked to be the "stars" of the event. A professional dance company volunteered their time to be the "professional dancers." The best part was that my queen sister Christina and her husband John Sasha were competitors!
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| My Queen Sister Christina Sasha and Her Beautiful Family |
A little different than Dancing with the Stars on TV, we didn’t have you throw up 1 - 10 scores, instead my job was to give a 20 - 30 second comments after each performance. There was a score sheet for each dancer that I captured notes as I watched the performance.
The categories were:
1. Originality
2. Creativity
3. Crowd Appeal
4. Difficulty
5. In Sync/Partnership/Connection
The pressure was on as we had to decide the 3rd place, runner up and winner – all were presented a trophy.
Preparing for this event was so fun. I spent hours watching "Dancing with the Stars" (on line) to get a feel for the kinds of things I might say....things like "You danced with your heart..., great movement/footwork..., you have natural grace, that was deliciously dreamy, so artistic in detail, what an interpretation..." This event was so fun!! I also have to add that our little Mrs. Sasha won first place in several categories! Really, I wasn’t surprised, because I knew my sister was competitive and completely fabulous.
The Brass Ring Event- The Wild Life Experience
I was lucky enough to be invited to join a wonderful event that occurred at the Wild Life Experience in early November, The Brass Ring event. This magical evening was to honor the founders of the Wild Life Experience, a couple who have given so much to this nonprofit.
I was so impressed with the organization that must have
occurred to pull off such an extravagant event. From the moment we stepped foot
on the property, hospitality surrounded us. We were greeted with a Champaign
and beautifully crafted appetizers severed on silver platters. The wild life
surrounded us with life sized giraffe’s and lions, acrobatic dancers, jugglers,
and more. The sound of African drums filled
the air and fire pits were everywhere. I
felt so lucky to be part of an event that was not only magical but for such a
good cause.
If you have never visited the Wild Life Experience in
Parker, I highly recommend it. It’s geared for families of all ages and is sure
to leave you wanting more.
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| One of the nice things about attending events as Mrs. Colorado is that you can always bring a guest. My dear mom Sandy attended this fun event with me. |
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| I was lucky enough to model this beautiful men's watch during the silent auction portion of the evening. |
5280 & Womens Edition
Grab your copy of the the recent editions of 5280 and Womens Edition to see Courtney Graham, Mrs. Colorado 2012 in Dr. Raj TerKonda's Advertisment.
Bhumi Brush
Thank you to Bhumi Brushes for providing a beautiful set of brushes to Mrs. Colorado 2012, Courtney Graham.
Visit their website at http://bhumimakeupbrushes.com/
Thank you Kari Kisch.
Mrs. America Vicki Sarber
What a stunning picture of your Mrs. America, Vicki Sarber.
This would be a great time to meet her:
I’m Vicki Sarber and my husband Greg and I are lifelong Alaskans. We have been blissfully married for 12 years and choose to live and raise our three vibrant children in the small fishing community of Homer Alaska…Halibut Capital of the World! On any given day expect to see us at the beach, fishing, clamming, bird watching, skiing, snow machining or volunteering alongside our fellow neighbors for whatever project is in need.
I am an A.S.I.D. interior designer by profession and am certified in the decorative artistry of faux painting and floral design. I also have the pleasure of doing voice and TV spots for our local networks. That being said, I have happily taken leave from the design world to enjoy what matters most….my family. Life goes by so quickly, I don’t want to miss a minute with Jackson, 9; Vianne, 8 and Pinky who is very 2! That’s why it’s an easy decision to be a devoted wife, stay at home mom and home school teacher.
Greg and I believe firmly that being a parent is the hardest and most important thing we will ever do in life. Our children are gifts to the world! Too many of them are not reaching their potential by not having a safe, loving and stable family. It is our duty to protect and advocate for all children, they are our most valuable resource and our best chance for a great tomorrow! Listen to the dreams of our children, lift them up on eagles wings and watch them soar…..let us always put family first!
Royal Image Boutique and Denver Tux
It's that time of year - parties, food, friends and family. When you need to find the perfect dress please visit one of the Mrs. Colorado Sponsors - The Royal Image Boutique. The stunning boutique can satitisfy all your holiday party needs from dresses, shoes and ear rings. Stop in! www.royalimageboutique.com
Family Traditions
Family Traditions
One of my favorite childhood memories is around carving
pumpkins. My sister and I would jump in
the car and go with my parents to pick out the best pumpkins in the world. We
would look for things like originality, color, shape, and quality of stem. We
weren’t necessarily looking for the most perfect pumpkin; it was more around
picking a pumpkin that spoke to us.
As a mom, I have carried that tradition to my family.
Picking out and carving pumpkins was delightful this year. I loved sitting back
and watching the madness of seeds flying around, markers all over the place, and
laughter as things don’t quite go as planned. Best of all, I love watching the smiles on my children's faces, knowing that they too are creating traditions.
I have gotten in the habit of journaling my favorite
memories so that they will hopefully carry on for generations to follow. What
are some of your most beloved family traditions?
Interview Suit Ideas
One of the easiest parts of the competition is interview. Why do I say that statement? Because it is all about you. No one knows you better than yourself and that is the goal of the personal interview, to share yourself with the judges. The interview competition starts with looking like the Mrs. Colorado 2013.
A great form fitting sheath dress, add amazing shoes and maybe a statement piece of jewelry. Done! Here is what you ask yourself once you have the suit on your body, 'Do I feel like Mrs. Colorado 2013?' Based on your answer, you are either done or not. Happy hunting! Also follow Mrs. Colorado Pinterest Boards for more ideas. www.mrscolorado.com