NBC Good Morning Chicago

Miss & Teen International Pageant

It's amazing how long and hard you work toward a goal and when that time finally comes it literally goes into warp speed. Tonight was the final pageant for the Miss & Teen contestants and I now have two new sister queens to share my year. The new Miss Teen International 2007 is Alexandra DeSantis (Teen Ohio) and the new Miss International 2007 is Whitney Kudela (Miss Georgia). Again, I don't have any shots from the pageant itself, just shots afterwards. I had the privilege of introducing the prelim winners and the courts of honor at the coronation ball this evening and am truly enjoying getting to know the staff and directors of other state pageants as well as the families and other contestants. I'm looking forward to a wonderful year!

Miss Intl Prelims

Tonight was my "official first appearance" as Mrs. International. I had the privilege of sitting in the "box" with Mel & Mary, my new directors. I must say it was nice to be sitting on this side of the stage without any pressure to perform. Mary, our Miss California did a great job tonight...I personally think she has the best walk of all the gals and truly worked the stage tonight. She made us very proud. Unfortunately, I can't take pictures during the actual pageant so here are some shots from afterwards with my sister queens.

And the winner is....

I think I'm still in a bit of shock to think that I was blessed to be honored with the position of Mrs. International 2007. The group of women that I became acquainted with this week were extraordinary and I am humbled to be their representative. The night started out with the announcement of the top 10 after our opening number. I was called third. Right after the announcements we changed into our onstage interview outfits to answer a question regarding our platform. I was asked about Heart Gallery and how I would implement it on a national level. We moved right into fitness, wearing a green two piece aerobic wear outfit. The final element, my favorite, was evening gown. The part I likeed best was being escorted by my husband Greg. There's just something so calming about seeing him meeting me in the middle of that stage and helping me up the stairs that puts me in the right frame of mind. Just as quickly as the evening started it was practically over and they began announcing the runners up...beginning with fourth, Melissa Zwilling, Mrs. Gulf States, third - Jessica Smith, Mrs. Colorado, second - Terrianne Small, Mrs. Maryland, first - Kecia Pringle, Mrs. Ohio. Six of us remained on stage and moved closer to the center waiting for that last name to be called...and when I heard my name I was truly shocked...you hope to win, but you know it's a long shot, there are so many qualified women. I am excited to get started on furthering my work with Heart Gallery on a national level and to see what God has in store for this amazing opportunity I've been granted. Thank you to all who have supported me with your prayers and encouragement it has meant the world to me.

Final night rehearsals...

The week has flown by and already we are on the last day with just a few hours to go before the pageant.

Prelims

Rehearsal Time...

They've begun...rehearsals...actually it's going to be a really cute number danced to a Blue's Brother's tune...and our opening number outfits are hot! These are just some pics of us during a break from rehearsals of which lasted @ 5 hours...and you all think this is easy :-)

St. Vincent De Paul Children's Center

Today we visited the St. Vincent De Paul Children's Center and had the opportunity to meet some of the children that attend the center. Some groups went to the older classes to read stories and play games, my group spent time with the little guys...1-2 yr olds. After we spent time touring the facility we presented school supplies that each contestant brought to the children consisting of backpacks filled with school supplies and other class room needs. What an amazing facility and a blessing to the people of Chicago.

Mrs. Intl Cocktail Party

This evening we enjoyed a delicious buffet in the Monaco room at our hotel. It overlooks the city of Skokie. I'm having so much fun seeing what everyone is wearing, the wardrobes out here are amazing!...we joked that if we could just have one big gigantic closet of everyone's clothes that we could all go into and borrow we'd be set for life. It was a relaxing evening to get to know the other women, meet staff, and enjoy ourselves before the real "work" (aka rehearsals & competition) set in.

Gurnee Mills Autograph signing

Today we all boarded a bus and headed out to Gurnee Mills, a gigantic mall, to sign autographs and shop! We were divided into groups of three, each group having their time to sign autographs while the other groups shopped. I was in group A so we started first and had the rest of the morning to walk around and enjoy ourselves before lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. I had fun getting to know Mrs. Australia, Poonam and Mrs. Nevada, Judy, as they were my shopping buddies for the day :-)

Mrs. Intl @ Rainforest Cafe

At Gurnee Mills we had lunch and a group photo at the Rainforest Cafe...here are pics of the contestants having fun...


Mrs International Rainforest Cafe

Welcome to Mrs. International 2007

After a hair raising taxi ride from Midway airport, I've finally arrived in one piece to my hotel and ready to begin the exciting journey of competing for Mrs. International 2007. The pageant officially started off with an orientation Mon. evening where we met fellow contestants and were prepped on what to expect for the week ahead. I met my roommate, Heather Rabending, Mrs. Alabama and was relieved to know she was/is a truly sweet young woman. We had fun that evening sharing stories and our wardrobe ideas for the week :-) Greg and the rest of the family will be flying in on Thurs. just in time for prelims and finals but for now the week will be filled with fun events like an autograph signing at the Gurnee mall and a visit to St. Vincent de Paul Children's center. Stay tuned for more pics....

Launching Heart Gallery of America!

I write this with such excitement as I just received an email from the founder of Heart Gallery herself, Diane Granito. The Los Angeles Heart Gallery has been working with Diane to have a Natl Heart Gallery that could be the main umbrella over all 80+ other heart galleries out there nationally. The movement spread so quickly after the first heart gallery received natl media attention that local galleries got up and running before a Natl one was established. I'm so honored that our own local Heart Gallery will be at the heart and soul of launching "Heart Gallery of America". We are in the planning stages of fundraising not just for our own gallery but the Natl one as well and should expect Nov. (Natl Adoption Awareness Month) to be the anticipated date of the gallery. What exciting news!! To top it all off, Victoria Rowell (an actress on the Young & the Restless, also a former Cosby child star is on board...she was in foster care for the first 18 years of her life so she has an amazing story). I look forward to updating you all on more info to come!
Below is the email I received....

Hi Matthew and LA's Heart Gallery,

This is an e-troduction regarding possible future collaboration with the Heart Gallery of Los Angeles and Matthew Straeb, myself and other Heart Gallery of America board members and supporters, re the initial fundraiser for Heart Gallery of America and how we could possibly tie this in with and benefit the Los Angeles area's next opening. Matthew will be in Los Angeles in the near future and would love to meet with you all about this.....it would be great to set up a conference call to discuss this. We have a commitment from Young and Restless star Victoria Rowell to work with us on this. It is in the very early stages, obviously!

Matthew, here is the contact information for the LA movers and shakers. Hope to hear from all of you soon.....and thank you!

California - Los Angeles

www.heartgalleryla.org

Jim Nicolay, President
(jnicolay@msn.com)

Arri Weeks, VP/Portrait Coordinator
(arriweeks@gmail.com)

Jena Ritchie, Treasurer/Internet Coordinator (jena@annabellaimagery.com)

Rebekah Negrete, Secretary
(kelneg@sbcglobal.net)

Sari Grant, DCFS Program Administrator, Director (gransa@dcfs.co.la.ca.us)

3017 Mineral Wells Drive

Simi Valley, CA 93063

805-583-9482


Diane Granito
Heart Gallery(tm) Founder
Statewide Special Events Co-ordinator
New Mexico Children, Youth & Families Department
Protective Services Division
PO Drawer 5160
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502
Phone 505-476-1045

Fourth of July 2007

Happy Independence Day America!!! I spent mine with my family. We all went over to my brother's house in Huntington Beach and enjoyed some serious BBQ along with a great display of illegal fireworks going off all around us. The real entertainment was watching the helicopters chasing after...shining their lights down onto several houses trying to find the perpetrators. What ever happened to the good ol' days of being able to shoot of fireworks in front of your house with the family. It's too bad a few irresponsible people ruin the fun for the majority. Enough of my soapbox...needless to say we enjoyed being together, eating way too much and wrapping up the evening watching a movie. Poor Greg had to work that night so he and I celebrated on the 5th with our own BBQ so he could have his burger and feel like he didn't miss out completely :-) Here's to all the soldiers past and present ensuring our freedoms and the safety of this great nation. Thank you for all your service and your sacrifice!