Walk to End Alzheimer's Kick-off

Last Thursday (I know I'm really late) I attended the first annual Brainerd Walk to End Alzheimer's kickoff event. My mom and I are the co-chairs for this years Walk, and after attending the national Walk to End Alzheimer's conference in Atlanta, Georgia, we thought it was a great idea to have a kickoff. Basically, this event was just to rally everyone and get them excited for the Walk. Stephanie Dix from the MN-ND Alzheimer's Association came and spoke about the best ways to fundraise and recruit people for your team. Famous Daves provided us food for the event and Becky Kubesh provided us wonderful cookies. Thanks to both of them!! :)

Although it was not a big of a success as we had hoped for, it was still a great kickoff. My cousin, Sara, came up and stayed with us and help us set up and take down.

Now that the kickoff is over, the Walk is my main focus now. I'm getting so excited for it this year! We always hope for bigger and better. Praying it will all go well!

I hope everyone is having an amazing summer and enjoying this nice weather that we are finally getting!
Bailey

Alzheimer's Twins game!

On Friday, I headed down to the cities with my Mom to attend a Twins game with Corrina (Miss Scout County's Outstanding Teen) and Chris Swiggum at Target Field. It had been raining all morning, and I prayed and prayed and prayed that it would clear up by the game. As part of buying our tickets to the baseball game, the Twins organization donated a portion of profits to the Alzheimer's Association. With that, all of the people who bought their tickets through the Alzheimer's Association got to sit together and walk the field.

My mom, Dad, and I all attended a game like this last year, and getting to walk the field was one of the coolest things I have ever done! Naturally, I was really looking forward to getting to walk the field again this year and watch the players warm up. According to Mother Nature, she did not want us to walk the field that day because when we arrived at Target Field, it was still raining and Twins officials had to cancel the walk on the field in order to keep the field looking as pristine as possible. I was really bummed! But as soon as the game started, the clouds parted and the rain stopped. Thank you GOD!

It turned out to be a very fun game and my sister queen, Bethany, was there too along with Miss North Metro 2009, Tiffany! The only 3 "North Metro" titleholders in the state of Minnesota were at the same Twins game. Pretty crazy if you ask me!

The Twins were playing the the Kansas City Royals, and in the Top of the 9th inning they were winning. Wanting to beat the crowd, we left, thinking that the 1-0 lead they had was enough to hold them over through one more inning. Right as we were getting into our car, the crowd roared and I quickly checked my phone only to find out that the game went into the 10th inning and Kansas City ended up winning. Is that what I get for leaving the game early?

The next day, we got up early to do a little shopping. Mall of America is always the best place to go! Corrina came with us, and we found alot of stuff for the Miss North Metro Outstanding Teen pageant that she will be competing in and I will be giving up my title.

Visit http://www.missnorthmetro.com/ if you are interested in competing!
With love,
Bailey

 Many of you know that I am a huge baseball fan, and an even bigger fan of Joe Mauer! Look how close I was to my future husband... ALMOST touching :)

Miss Northwest 2011

Forgive me for not posting this blog sooner! Life has been insanely busy.

On Friday, I traveled up to Detroit Lakes with Lauren and Shelli Johnson for the Miss Northwest pageant. Miss Northwest is a local, preliminary pageant to Miss Minnesota, and is always one of my favorite locals! It's always a great show. This pageant was extra fun to watch because two of my great friends were in it. Paige Meyer, who I competed with in Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2010, and Jackie Thurlow, who just competed in the Miss Brainerd Lakes/Baxter pageant. They both performed beautifully, and congrats to Paige on being named 1st runner up! I was so proud to call her my friend :)

Not only was it great watching the pageant, but also catching up with everyone. The last time I had seen everyone was at the Miss Brainerd/Baxter pageant, so of course there was lots of picture taking! :)

With 90 days until I give up my title, I've been looking for girls who would like to compete in the Miss North Metro Outstanding Teen 2011 pageant! Please visit http://www.missnorthmetro.com/ or contact director Christiana Bruhn at missnorthmetro@yahoo.com

Thanks all!
Bailey

 Lauren and I

 Jackie and I

 All of the Outstanding Teen's at the pageant. Emily, Ellie, myself, and Brianna!

 Paige and I



Parades, parades, and more parades!

I hope everyone is having/had a great 4th of July!

I was both nervous and excited for this weekend. It was my first time ever being in a parade as a titleholder... and it was so much fun!!

I live right in Nisswa, so being in the Freedom Days parade in Nisswa yesterday was without question. It started at 7pm, so the weather wasn't too hot and a little breezy. Perfect for riding in a hot car during a parade :) Melanie, Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen Princess, came up to ride with me, and we had a great time catching up. The Nisswa parade was short, but perfect for my very first parade :)

 All of the queens at the Nisswa parade

 I let her try on my crown :)

Props to Kent for supplying us with a 1970 convertable to ride in!

The next day, Melanie and I had two parades we were scheduled to be in. One in Pequot Lakes and one in Brainerd. The one in Pequot Lakes started at noon today, and was a fairly long parade for such a small town! Not only was it long, but also VERY hot! There was a huge crowd, and all-in-all it was a fun parade! Many thanks to Kent for supplying a 1970 convertable for both the Nisswa and Pequot parades :)

Pequot parade!

Then Melanie, her mom Becky, my Mom and I wen't out for a quick lunch at the new Pizza Ranch in Brainerd, and before I knew it, it was time to line up for the Brainerd parade. Brainerd's parade started at 4pm, and was the longest of the three parades I was in, both in floats and length. I didn't realize how many people show up for this parade. Although it was still incredibly hot and I was a little sunburnt, I enjoyed being on top of that convertable waving :)

Brainerd parade

Last parade of the day!

Hope everyone has a great week!

Bailey