More Pageants and a New Evening Gown..YES!!

Jocelyn & I waiting for the show to start :))

     Last weekend I attended the Miss Maryville pageant.  After arriving in Maryville, my mom, sister, and I stopped by to wish Samantha good luck at the pageant that night.  Then, we ate dinner with Jocelyn (Miss Northeast Counties OT), Renee (Jocelyn's mom), and Grandma Weyer. :) (A thank you goes to the Weyer family for letting us stay at their home that night! You guys are awesome!)  Finally, it was time for the pageant!

Katy & I!!

     Congratulations to the new titleholders; Danielle McKiernan (Miss Maryville), Katy Reed (Miss Northwest), Maddie Steele (Miss Northwest Counties OT), and Faith Jordan (Miss Northwest OT)!!

Faith & I!!

     Also, congrats to Samantha Caraway!! She was stunning and awarded 1st runner-up in the teen division!

Bailey, Samantha, & I!!
Good luck at Miss Kansas City this weekend, Bailey!
And good luck to Samantha at Miss Hannibal!

     I love going to local pageants, because it's a great way to catch up with some good pageant friends!  Jocelyn and I enjoyed the show and I loved getting to catch up with Bailey Schmidt (Miss Northwest Counties 2010)! It had been way too long!!

Thank you for making my trip to Sassy Chic a fabulous one, Danielle and Ashley!!

     The next day, I got up and went to Sassy Chic!  This was really exciting for me seeing as I had heard great things about the boutique, but had never been there.  Danielle and Ashley were kind enough to open the boutique privately on Sunday for us.  In the hour and a half time slot, I probably tried on about 15 gowns (a couple more than once).  Decision making is not my forte (especially when it has to do with dresses or shoes!), so it took me a while to make up my mind, but I finally decided to get the gown that I really liked!  After a few alterations, it will be perfect!  Want to know what it looks like?!...Too bad! You'll just have to wait until June :)

With Love,
Morgan

Tigerina's and Miss Northeast Counties 2011!

     Tigerina's is a fundraiser that my dance team puts on every year.  It's a three hour workshop for children in Pre-Kindergarten through fifth grade.  This year our theme was 'Rockin' Through the Fifties!'

We went around the circle with our name, favorite animal, and favorite food.

     First we led the kids in some basic stretches and a fun warm-up.  Then we broke into smaller groups, determined by age.  This year I was with the first graders.  We started off by introducing ourselves and playing a game.  Little Sally Walker is ALWAYS a favorite!  By the end of the day we had played more rounds than one could imagine!! :)

The first graders perform their dance for the crowd!

The whole group finishes off the show with "We Go Together"

Keanne poses for a picture with me :-)

    

     Next, we taught them a short routine to a fun song that corresponded with the theme.  The first graders danced to "Tutti Fruity."  After a short lunch break, we learned a routine to "We Go Together" with all of the Tigerina's.

     That night, the Tigerina's performed the dances with us at the high school basketball game!  The individual grades did their dances and then we did the group dance.  I think the dance team members enjoy Tigerina's just as much as the children do!  And the crowd does too!

     Saturday night was also the Miss Northeast Counties pageant!  Luckily, the pageant was being held just next door, so I was able to head over right after I finished dancing.  I was so happy to make it over just in time to see everyone's talent.  I had a great time cheering and I always love catching up with pageant friends!!

Bailey Schmidt- Miss Northeast Counties OT first runner-up & Madison Chambers- Miss Northeast Counties OT 2010

     Congratulations to Jocelyn Weyer the new Miss Northeast Counties Outstanding Teen!!  I'm so glad we'll get to go to state together this year!  She's great and will be a fabulous titleholder.

     Congratulations to Jenna Osseck as well!!  She is the new Miss Northeast Counties.  She was beautiful on Saturday night and I'm sure she and Jocelyn will have a great year together!!

With Love,

Morgan

Good Luck Miss Missouri!



At our talent review we took a minute to wish Erika good luck.

      Yesterday was Erika Hebron's (Miss Missouri 2010) send-off party for Miss America!  We viewed her gorgeous wardrobe and celebrated with cake and punch.  It was also good to catch up with some pageant friends!

My sister queens and I with Hannah Eastin, Miss River City OT and Shelby Steingraeber, Miss Metro St. Louis OT

     Erika has an awesome wardrobe and is incredibly talented.  I always love watching her dance!  She will do an an amazing job in Las Vegas.  I can't wait to watch her rock the Miss America stage next week!!

Good Luck Erika!! :D

With Love,
Morgan

Thank You!

     Last week, I received my Limelight photos!!  On November 5, I took a trip down to St. Louis for my photoshoot with Lance Tilford.  My mom and I packed, what felt like my entire closet in hopes we would find 3 perfect outfits.  After saying hello, I was sent straight to the make-up corner.  Lance's wife, Tamara, did an amazing job on my make-up!!  Then I changed into outfit number one and took my headshot for Miss Missouri!

     Next I changed into outfit number two.  Lance turned on the lights and then the music.  I felt like a movie star dancing in the spotlight!  Outfit number three, the cocktail dress was my favorite.  I got to put on my flashy shoes and earrings.  I love bling!  It was so much fun & I think the pictures turned out great.  Thanks Lance!!

     After the photoshoot on Friday, Charlee and I visited the GBs Designs open house.  GBs Designs is one of Gateway's new sponsors.  At the open house we were able to meet Dina and Angie and check out some of their awesome creations!  Thanks for your support Dina and Angie!! ;)

With Love,
Morgan

Election Day

     A few weeks ago, my friend, Whitney and I worked at the poll during the recent election.  Our history teacher, Mr. Best, asked us to help out.  We attended a short instructional session the Thursday prior to election day to familiarize ourselves with what we would be doing.  Whitney and I worked from 7 am to 1 pm on Tuesday.  We waited by the doors and greeted all the voters.  We also asked them to get their photo IDs ready and made sure they were in the correct voting precinct.

     The adults that we worked with were so sweet!  One man brought a huge bag of left-over Halloween candy and informed us that his wife told him not to come home until it was gone. =)  Another lady baked cookies that she shared with all of us.

     It was a good experience and although I am not yet old enough to do my 'civic duty' by voting, I like to think that being involved is just as good for right now!

With Love,
Morgan

Halloween 5k Run for Miracles



Charlee and I could've watched this timer click all day!



     On Halloween morning I was joined by my three sister queens, the Gateway board, and 26 runners for the Halloween 5K Run for Miracles.  Rather than running, my sister queens and I provided helpful hands where they were needed.  Some members of the Gateway board helped register the runners and others stationed themselves along the trail and guided the runners down the right path.  Charlee and I recorded the runner's times while Amanda and Jillian congratulated them as they crossed the finish line.  We were also able to hand out some of the awards following the run.  I think it's safe to say that all of us did our fair share of dancing to keep warm!  It was also probably a wonderful source of entertainment for those around us! :)

Hugging is a GREAT way to stay warm!

Amanda showing off her dance moves :)

Michael, Charlee, and I
SO cute!

     Many of the runners wore costumes.  I have to say that my favorite was the little boy, Michael in a cow outfit.  But the lady dressed as a Diva Catwoman definitely came in for a close second!  One woman even dressed her dog as a yellow submarine!

After the run we had the opportunity to chat
with two local teachers dressed as 'Thing 1' & 'Thing 2.'



Announcing Michael the Cow
as the child's costume winner.

      The run was a fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network (CMN).  CMN has been Miss America's national platform for about 5 years.  CMN works to raise money for over 170 children's hospitals in the United States.  I have found that raising money for CMN is always a good time and visiting the children in the hospitals is amazingly rewarding!  On Halloween we raised over $1,000 for the organization!



I ripped the runner's nametags off.
This man's was a bit tricky!



     A special thanks to the event's sponsors, Paul Mitchell Salon, Ghisallo Running, the Miss Gateway St. Louis Scholarship Program, and Road ID along with the CMN representatives present, Phil and Maria.



Paul and Maria, the CMN representatives



With Love,

Morgan

"'Cause This Is Thriller, Thriller Night!"

     Every week I have the privilege of working with a group of children with special needs.  On Thursday evenings we meet and dance!  I began working with the girls in the summer of 2009 and it has been a joy!  We stretch, play games, and learn a short dance routine.  It is so exciting for me to see girls step out of their comfort zones.  In the beginning, some of the girls were shy and didn't want to leave their mother's sides, but now everyone participates!  The best part is seeing the joy on their faces when they master a new step or fall in love with the dance that we've choreographed for them.
     My platform is 'Building Confidence in all Children Through Dance.'  I chose my platform partially because of the fun I've had working with these girls.  They help me love dance more and more every time we're together.  I have seen so many of them grow since the beginning of our time together.  I believe that by having a great time on the dance floor, they boost their confidence a little more every week.

     A couple weeks ago, just before Halloween, we had a special class where we wore our Halloween costumes!  We hunted for candy around the room and learned Michael Jackson's "Thriller" dance.  We even spiced up some of our usual games with Halloween themes.  We played 'Sit, Sit, BOO' rather than Duck, Duck, Goose and pretended to be scary creatures rather than regular animals while playing our animal game.  Unfortunately, due to conflicting schedules we had to have our special Halloween class on Wednesday night, so only a couple of girls were able to attend.  Luckily, Allison, Abby, Haley, Bailey, and I still had a blast!!

With Love,

Morgan