Hopkins Raspberry Festival Sunday July 18th

The biggest event in the summer in Hopkins! We rode in front of Alyssa Treggeseth and behind Pre-Teen Co-Ed Winner Shelby! It's a small pageant world! My daughter really loves riding and waving to everyone and we especially loved to see the Clown Club of St. Paul!

July 18th: Reunion with fellow University of Vermont Alumni

I thought it was about time to get the UVMers together in Minnesota! For some reason we keep coming back to the cold! 28 UVMers met at Solera for some delicious tapas and Happy Hour drinks! It was so fun to meet graduates from the 20's all the way up to current students! We had a great time getting to know eachother and decided this needs to be a semi-annual event--Maybe bowling next time?

I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to appear on Andrea Preuss& Kristen Lamb's Radio show on Planetary Streams and www.myexpertsolutions.com. I will be interviewed about my mentoring work and about the upcoming Mrs. America pageant during their Hour of Giving and How to cope with Fear show.

July 14th: Visit Mary Kay meeting with Jane O'Hern

Tonight I had a Mary Kay Makeover with our beautiful and gracious Jane O-Hern! fI've always wondered what Mary Kay was about...so many great products! My favs are the Satin Hands, the eye makeup remover and lip colors and glosses! Thank you Jane for including me with your lovely group of motivated women!

July 11 & 12th: Judge for American Co-Ed Pageant

This weekend I judged the American Co-Ed pageant which was so different than the America system. They had little girls from 3- years old to Co-Ed, 21- years old and contestants were judged on their All-American quality, personality and on-stage poise. During the weekend, MTV was there shooting a contestant who had been "Made" into a beauty queen by Tiffany Ogle, former Miss Minnesota USA title holder and Shop NBC Runway Gold host.

She did a great job! Shelby, in the Teen division, was down-to-earth and very intelligent and well spoken. She won interview hands down!

Interview on KARE 11 Minnesota Showcase July 7th @10am

Corbin Seitz interviewed me about my work volunteering as a mentor and an ambassador with Kinship of Greater Minneapolis. My passion and heart for Mentoring came through and many volunteers have already stepped forward to become mentors!!

Everyone was a pleasure at KARE 11 and Corbin even asked to try on my crown!!

Go to http://showcaseminnesota.com/show/client_article.aspx?storyid=516784 to view this show.

My Mentee learning to swim at Foss Swim School in Chanhassen!

Tyiteana is 7- years old and my mentee for the past year through Kinship of Greater Minneapolis. Last summer when I would take her to Lifetime Fitness, she was wearing a life preserver because she couldn't swim. I looked around and saw 4 year olds who could swim without fear! She was the oldest child in the pool with a life vest--afraid to get her face and head wet.

Surprised and determined to change that, I contacted Foss Swim School in Chanhassen to ask for a donation of swim lessons. I felt my title as Mrs. Eden Prairie America at the time, helped gain the attention of owner, John Foss, a mentor to children for over a decade. He heard the passion in my voice and offered a few free private lessons, which with persistence, turned into a summer- long session and then into his personal guarantee that he will teach her until she can swim!!

After only 2 lessons, Tyiteana has made great strides, putting her head under water and learning to kick! I am so proud of her!

Fourth of July: Delano Parade

It turns out that everybody does love a parade! 20,000 people turned out to enjoy the 4th of July festivities with over 100 floats/entrants featuring music, Dairy Queens (no, not the ice cream) and lots of candy thrown to the youngest of onlookers from their hometown curb.

My husband, Corrado and our daughter, Chloe, 3,and I found ourselves a bit overwhelmed with the depth of the crowd on either side of the road. My husband would remind me to pay attention to the other side of the street as well, but in case I would focus too long on one side, a simple "Hey Wendi!" would remind me to turn my head and say "hello" to a new group of supportive and friendly faces.

The most enthused group definitely seemed to be our married women of Minnesota---craning their necks to see the new Mrs. Minnesota America and gave a warm nod of approval as my daughter reached to pull the crown from my head. This parade reminded me of the importance of being Mrs. Minnesota and representing a proud and resourceful group of women who somehow manage to juggle a household, family and themselves on a day-to-day basis.

A parade is a slice of apple pie, of Americana, but also a time to band together in support of America and from which it stands...