A Day In The Life....

Today was a special day. While cleaning my files and home I received many calls. Three were about proffessional bookings ALL in the same time frame, ALL I could not accept.... took some time off and I am spending it with family. What my good sense has told me though the many years as a free lance stylist is that jobs, bookings, and clients with needs come and go. While it is nice to be needed by clients and work ~ it is better to be needed by family. That is what is happening in the next three weeks.

Today I also talked with several women about the year ahead and answered questions about the AMERICAN IMAGE NATIONAL PAGEANT. This pageant is for women and young women who actually want to do something with a TITLE. God Bless them all for trying. I am so impressed with the amount of community service that these ladies quietly do on their own, without a pageant title. However, I also know what doors can be opened WITH ONE! I have been there and the opportunities abound!

So, before I get back to the house cleaning and wash I wanted to stop by and blog out these thoughts: Go For It! The American Image National Pageant is in it's 3rd year of planning and I only see it getting bigger and better.

Our director has monthly conference calls with her queens so that we can all talk about what we have been doing and put our heads together in planning the September 2010 pageant. It will be held on a weekend so that minimal time is spent away from work and family.

I have posted (maybe a little premature) a possible replacement variation for the national crown. While the current one is SO PRETTY, the spires do not hold up to travel... so this may be our NEW NATIONAL CROWN! Isn't it spectacular?! Just a few little tid bits to add to the excitement!

Have a great day and God Bless!

Doing my thing.... sorry this time I left the crown case on the kitchen table at 3am running out the door to catch a plane.

With my winners and runner ups and girl friends.

With My Darleen! Former Mrs. Galaxy!

AT BOA Sheila was 2nd RU in 40's & Judy 4th RU in 50's & Debra WON 50's!

The lovely Suoixzan Moore and her girls she was 1st runner up in 30's!!!

So proud of my clients and friends. They really worked hard! Their hard work was rewarded.

This is what I do for a living.... well, this is part of it. I do Hair and Make Up for commercial productions, pageants, and music videos, catalogs, etc. I was so busy packing and repacking for this latest trip I left my crown case right on the counter as I left for the airport at 3 am! I was so tired and a bit sick for this trip.

So I decided to post a few of my latest winners and runner ups in pageantry.

I have met some awesome women who would be absolutely perfect for this system. I wish they would just give it a try! You have everything to gain and little to loose. I don't push though. I want this choice to be one that my friends and those I meet along the way to make freely on their own.

However, "Don't you just meet some ladies and you say to yourself, Gosh, they would be perfect in________!"

You have NO IDEA how many of you I want to scream this at! This land of ours is FULL of really smart, caring women! Small and large, big and inclusive... there causes all matter... it all influences for the good.

American Image?.... hummmmm liking the sound of that title.............. Hum, Ms. American Image, yup it's a good one.

Mrs. United States Pageant with clients and friends. Crown was in for repair. One too many plane trips ended up breaking two broken spires.

I had a great time during my journey to the Mrs. United States pageant. I work there every year. It's a once a year trip I look forward to. had the opportunity to visit with clients and friends and share the news of this new pageant and take a few fabulous photos with my girls!

American Image appearences... my journey begins...

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My American Image journey begins.....

And More photos of the competiton!!

More photos of the excitement!

Wanted to add more photos to the blog for those ladies interested in the behind the senses view.

My American Image Journey!

Just wanted to say thanks to all who take the time to visit! I am a 51 year old Mother and Grandmother who is enjoying one final pageant reign as the Ambassadorial Queen of the American Image national pageant. I was given the Honor of representing this new and exciting pageant by the American Image judges and staff members.

It is a great way to end a pageant competition journey of wonderful experiences I have been given through out a 20 year history of competing.

This title was a surprise and an even greater honor when the director explained that from this year on it will be the TITLE that all should hope for and aspire to in this competition. It is the high point winner of the pageant. One special queen will be crowned the AMBASSADORIAL QUEEN - High Piont Winner ! The title that all delegates entered into the competition will have an additional chance to win. With the Ambassadorial title comes additional prizes too! Yay! Wow, didn't know that when I was crowned... giggle! Thank You to the judges and staff for helping me understand the gravity of this last, win. The final Who-Rah for me!

I have created this blog to show some of the fun and fascinating experiences I am having during my reign. I also created it to help give a pictorial view of the 2009 competition. Enjoy the read and the photos of the competition and the journey.

I recommend this pageant to all who are thinking of competing. Weather it be your first time or your middle of the road pageant or your last one... it is sure to please.

I have talked with many about this opportunity. I have answered questions about what the system is looking for and I will address that now.

From several, deep conversations that only a queen who is wise to the business of pageantry and is frankly, honest to fault, these are the answers I have been given by the founder and directors of the American Image pageant. I am posting them here for all to read. Is this PAGEANT FOR YOU?

FROM THE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER:

1. We are looking for hard working queens. Not ladies who will win the tittle and place the crown an a shelf for a year until it is time to crown her successor. Got it... loud and clear.

2. We are looking for delegates who are who they say they are.

3. We are looking for delegates that BELIEVE IN SOMETHING! The delegates that improve the world around them, bit by bit. Women with a message, that are looking for a vehicle to promote their causes.

4. We are NOT the typical BEAUTY pageant. Our winners will come from all walks of life, with all different types of backgrounds, body shapes, cuases, personal histories. You do not have to be a twig to win this one! (I am not) those days of being super thin for me are over...giggle! You do not have to have a PHd either!

Okay, that is four points of great interest.

I will also add to these points:

1. I think this will be a fun experience for all who enter. Weather you are using this pageant to hone skills for a larger "winner take all pageant" or weather you make this title your ultimate goal. This may be the pageant for you. No pressure, just an honest view from someone who has been to hundreds of competitions. Sat on many judges panels, served as a travel companion, coach, mentor, Make Up and Hair person, director and competitor.

2. It's affordable too. Just the right Price for the value, I'd even say a little under priced for the experience and goodies we got!

3. The atmosphere was FRIENDLY. I was afraid that the younger ladies would not mix well with the older girls... I was wrong, it was one joke after the next and the generation gap dissolved.... I will cherish my friendships with some of the teens and Miss delegates! Everyone got along so well. Very conducive for making friends, learning and sharing!

4. Loved the outings. As a veteran of pageantry I have been to so many of these. If it were left to me I would have stayed at hotel if given the choice an got my "old lady" down time... my feet always scream at me when I wear heels! But, I went... and happily I report to all they were a GRAND experience. The outings were not too long and were so much fun. A perfect mix of fun and mixing with each other to get to know everyone better.

Okay that's my take.... as the year progresses, I'll write more. But, this is meant as a pictorial Blog... one last journey! Enjoy.