Orientation Dinner. Day 1

My roommate is Susie Monahan from Nevada. She is AMAZING! We spoke before we arrived in Arizona and so I knew I would really like her. Then I was walking through the lobby when I spotted her outside getting her luggage in order. She has this way of just catching your eye. She is even more beautiful than in pictures, really funny, genuine and extremely smart. My first thought was how cool it would be if I roomed with our next Mrs. America!
Tonight was our fist official function. We all met for the orientation dinner. We were able to meet each other and get a rundown of what to expect during the following week.

We Have Arrived!

I got in to Arizona and was able to take a quick look around. Then I hit the gym so I could beat myself up for a bit before indulging in a wonderful massage as a reward! I met Mrs. Arkansas, Michelle Flake, there. She is in incredible shape and incredibly nice. Here are some shots from the resort. Lovely, aye?

Gotta Fly!

And so it is time to head to Tucson! I only hope I have packed everything I needed. Let's see, gown and interview dress are in hand. Gifts are already out there and I hope my brain will arrive with me today. I'm heading out a day ahead of time to get unpacked and reorganized. I can't believe the week and a half at Mrs. America is already here!
*Notice the suitcases are marked as HEAVY loads! So heavy, the handle on the new suitcase I was given as Mrs. Illinois gave way.

Making a List, Checking It Twice...

...or maybe three times. There is just so much to send off to Tuscon. It will be Christmas in September! In the last few weeks, we have been able to assemble gifts for the 50 other state delegates and get together gifts for a few of the dignitaries we will all meet during Mrs. America. I always thought I was a light packer, but times have changed. Here are five of the boxes on their way out to Arizona so they can greet me there next week.

Day 3

Today we walked along Lake Michigan. I was introduced to Stewart from Highland Park. Jill said he was one of the people who made the biggest impact on her. Ten years ago she first met Stewart during the 3-Day Walk. He was walking with his wife, who he pushed for 60-miles in a wheelchair. She lost her fight with breast cancer shortly after, but he continues each year to walk for her and others who are yet to face down cancer.
I was told that much like triathlons, the walks get in your blood. And Now, I can understand why. The people you walk with and the people you are walking for...are worth every step. Let me tell you, there were some serious blister sisters! And in spite of rain and wind, we made it to Soldier Field early Sunday afternoon to be greeted again by the supporters we had seen at the pit stops and rest areas. Suddenly, those blisters and swollen feet? Were gone;) Here is to 2011and a cure! Thank you to my husband for manning the fort while I was MIA.
1)Jill, Maureen and me along the marina
2)Jill with Mr. August
3)Gotta love police in pink AND the Blues Brothers!
4 & 5) On the way in to Soldier Field

More from the 3-Day walk

The volunteers along the route were energetic and down right funny. The children along the route would hand out candy like it was Halloween and spray us with water and the families cheering kept us all moving forward a step at a time!

Time to Hit the Road!

So this Feburary I marked my calendar for Augustad the Komen 3-Day walk for the Cure. 3 days=60 miles. So began the adventure! Little did I know then, just what I would learn along the journey. It began with many long training walks as I was told walking a long distance was very different on the feet than running. So, I found weekends were the time to take on 3 and 4 hour walks. It has been a great way to tour neighborhoods.
Then the time arrived and the training was over. I was armed with the advised Body Glide inside the socks and between the toes. I had the outfits which has been road tested ahead of time. And so began the opening ceremony which was so inspirational and a great way to keep us thinking of WHY we all need to find a cure for breast cancer.
My walkmates were Maureen and Jill. Maureen's husband is one my my hubby's dear friends. We joke they spend more time golfing with each other (or talking about it) than with us during the summer months. Both Maureen and Jill have done these walks for a decade. Maureen was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 and has beaten it! She and Jill were like grand marshalls there as they know everyone involved from the years of experience and so I was told many wonderful stories of others we met up with along the way.
One of those people was of Barabra Jo. Barbara is from California and has done over 100 walks, raising more than a million dollars! Her husband has always been a huge advocate for Komen and has always been the one to make the travel arrangements and post encouraging signs to greet her on the miles of walking. He passed from cancer this spring and so this was her first walk back without him. Her children came to Chicago and made sure they made those arrangements and posted those signs for her in his honor.

1)The gear
2)Opening Ceremony
3)Ready to go!
4)Volunteers at mile 17-dancing all day long.
3)Maureen greeting Barbara Jo.

Heaven on Earth!

One of the biggest supporters and sponsors of Mrs. Illinois is Alyce Designs which just happens to be headquartered a few towns from where I live! Never in my life have I seen sooo many dresses under one roof! Acres of gowns and cocktails...as far as the eye could see;)I wanted to just move on in there. Natalie is the granddaughter of Alyce and she is like a fairy Godfriend. I was invited to try on anything and everything there including samples that are yet to be seen by the public. It was in fact a lovely dream and I cannot thank the Aceto's and Alyce Designs for making it happen. Thanks to them, I now have a fun and colorful wardrobe for Mrs. America and for the many upcoming appearances. And Natalie was so gracious, Julie's baby, Bebe, even found some of her own evening attire for Tuscon! A furry friend designer line could be a great pet project, no?

Lake Forest Days

Today was parade day and luckily, the thunderstorms passed through in time for the start. Last year Johnny came with me, but this year Ali was old enough to come as well. We were part of the CASA crew from Lake County. So many people have yet to learn about the ways we can all help better protect abused and neglected children and so we aim to make everyone aware of CASA and how they too can become a court appointed child advocate or a friend of CASA. So,our wagon float was filled with candy while my children decided to walk the parade route instead. They were like mini Mayors with all the waving and hand shaking and my son was a huge hit with the other kids as he would hand over buckets of candy to each person along the way. Meanwhile, Ali was busy dancin' down the street as she still loves to dance to anything with a beat even if it's a song inside her head. We finished the parade with empty wagons and a trip on the tilt-o-whirl.

Using.

So this was my first big appearance. On Saturday, John (Mr. Illinois) and I were invited by Joey Mujumdar to be at an event at the Park West. I was asked to introduce a sneak peak of the indie movie, "Using," along with the heads of the film's production companies. The night raised funds for the Salvation Army and Teen Challenge.

Terry O'Quinn from lost made it in for the night. Best wishes to Phantom Features and Bread Company Productions for focus on funding films with themes of social consciousness. Awareness is everything! Thank you to my honey for being my runner for the night and a hot escort to boot! Joey, you are such a great spirit and one of Chicago's most generous people!

1) Mr. Illinois and me
2) Terry O'Quinn
3). The unexpected intro's are taken care of, woo!