Carter Studio Photoshoot

Over the weekend, Heather and Jonathan Carter informed me that my proofs were ready. I have never been happier with photos, hair, and makeup! I think they did an awesome job. Here are a few!

<3 Kristen

Lasik eye surgery update!

I got my surgery and it was the best thing I have ever done in my life. My recovery is going really well. The first day was a disaster. My eyes were burning and I couldnt even open them, but the doctor told me that was going to happen. I wanted to cry but I was so scared to because it literally felt like my eye balls would fall out, lol. It's hard to take showers and I have to wear sunglasses all day, but I started to feel MUCH better the nextj day. I will not fully recover for another week and a half, but I could not be happier about doing it.

<3 Kristen

Lasik Eye Surgery

This Wednesday I am getting Lasik surgery on my eyes. I am so nervous. One of my biggest fears is going blind. I do, although, have the privilege to go to one of the best doctos.. in fact he was the first person in North America to perform this surgery on near-sited people (which is what I am), so that relieves a lot of my stress. In the meantime, I am praying for a successful surgery and recovery. Please pray for me as well. I'm sure many of you have gone through surgery as well and know the feeling, but I haven't and I can use your prayers. Thank you!

<3 Kristen

So Much To Do In Pittsburgh

Don Baker, me, and my fabbbbbulous director!


Me, Miss Ohio, and Miss Michigan

Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia girls

My photo shoot with Carter Studios. The best photographers I have EVER worked with!

Me and Chelsea Cooley (Miss USA 2005)


Pittsburgh was so much fun. We met with Chelsea Cooley, Miss USA 2005, Don Baker, a communications guru, AT Dunn, a fitness guru, and our directors to prepare even more for our pageants. They had such important keys to success at our national pageants. These people are the best of the best at what they do, and we have our directors to thank for the time they gave us with them. It was such a fun, relaxing, bonding experience. We had a mock interview session with mock judges, and later had a dinner with the judges. During the weekend, I took photos by Carter Studios. They did everything from the photos to my makeup. I was more than pleased. At the end of this weekend I was so relieved to be at a hotel that was connected to the airport; it allowed me to leave 20 minutes before my flight took off. Unfortunately, I lost my phone and my luggage on the way home (I ended up getting them back two days later!)

<3 Kristen

Fox 2 News

Video Clip from Fox 2

Working Out.

Posing with the Fox 2 news anchor, Kerrie Trompics, and a future contestant in the Miss Michigan Pageant

I had my 5 minutes of fame on Fox 2. I got my makeup done by Barbara Deyo at Touch Salon (I know what your thinking, who wears makeup to the gym.. it was being filmed!). She did a great job. Kerrie Trompics, who usually trains pageant girls, was the trainer in the video clip. She is tough but the things I love about her 1. She talks the whole time making time go by fast 2) She is very hands on 3) You really feel the burn, I mean REALLY! and 4) She really knows what she is talking about. Everything was filmed at Snap Fitness in Birmingham which has a very modern and downtown/city feel. This event was definitely different from the norm and I loved it. I think the video clip explains the rest. Enjoy!

<3 Kristen

Give Kids a Smile, U of D Mercy

My "kid" for the day and me, in my sisters scrubs. Feb. 7, 2009

Give Kids a Smile was a spur of the moment thing that I did. Although I didn't go into it as Miss Michigan Teen USA, I still want to share about it. Give Kids a Smile is an event that takes place all around the country, where dental providers perform dental work at no cost for underprivileged children. In Detroit, it took place at my sisters school, the University of Detroit Mercy Dental School. I went with her that morning and I had a 5 year old little girl who was bouncing off the walls, she was so excited. My job was to stay with her the entire day as she was moving from station to station getting worked on. I had so much fun, with my sister helping out. I plan to go back to the school because I am hearing that there is another event to take place, possibly called Give Adults a Smile. Same concept, but with adults.

<3 Kristen

Pageant Bootcamp!! Jan 2-Jan 4

Sorry, I know it has been a while since I've updated my blog. Keeping up with school and the pageant consumes my life. Now that I am on spring break for school, I am going to fill the huge void. :D

The Ohio girls and the Michigan girls at the airport waiting to go home!

Nashville! Oh boy! I was very tired that weekend, yet felt, still, very fortunate to have had the opportunity to go to Nashville for training. I titled this entry pageant bootcamp because it was literally bootcamp. For the entire weekend I probably got a total of 10 hours of sleep. Over the course of the weekend we had extensive training with walking guru Kent Parham. I really learned the dynamics of walking and presenting on stage.. and it is not as easy as it looks.. I PROMISE! We also participated in a fashion show at a bridal expo. It was very strange to put on a wedding dress. That weekend I became very close with title holders from Ohio, Georgia, and Tennessee (all beautiful). Overall, the experience was memorable and very effective.

<3 Kristen