Day 6: Interviews

My makeup artist Jamie & Hair District's Gairee
made me look fabulous for the interview --no, I wore a suit!!
Faith Schway, my director and Gairee.

Below: President David Marmel, Diane Tucker, Mrs. America 2006 and National Anthem Project Director

This is the day I've been waiting for...the day to hear my voice--what my passion is: my family and mentoring and why...Mrs. America needs a promoter for the pageant and a representative over 40 to engage with wives of all ages---beauty truly is not a number!! Diane Tucker was one of our judges and is a raving beauty! The first Mrs. America and the oldest at 47 years old was also a judge, Ruth Johnson, Broadway producer, Ira Bernstein, Greg Bernette, the lead singer from the "Young Americans" and Barbara Geer, a Music Consultant and Member of the National Anthem Project Committee. What a wonderful panel of judges! I had so much fun talking to them, that 4 minutes was not enough!!

Day 5: Rehearsals and Gift Exchange

Today We had a seminar about the National Anthem project and received a challenge...whoever collects the most signatures and pennies toward the music education of children in our schools to bring to Capital Hill, receives an all-expense paid trip to Vietnam for the Mrs. World pageant. Growing up, music was always my escape and where I felt most happy--Music and art were the only classes I remember enjoying at school, so I believe wholeheartedly in music education and look forward to promoting the National Anthem in Minnesota!

Then, we rehearsed for the preliminary costume contest configuration and swimsuit/evening gown walks and then exchanged our state gifts! Shop NBC's vendors donated a Croton watch set, a Prai radiant repair caviar, Isomers lip shaper, Galerie De Bijoux heart pendant, Senna lipgloss and Elizabeth Grant Cellular Radiance day moisturizer! Needless to say, the women were thrilled!! Thank you to Shop NBC!!! Department 56 also donated an adorable ornament of a caribou roasting marshmallow's over a fire with a scarf on! Some memorable gifts include a horseshoe from the Kentucky Derby engraved with "Good Luck" and "Mrs MN 2008" on it; Mrs Ohio gave an embroidered bag with a crown and "Mrs. Minnesota 2008" on it; Mrs. Colorado gave a rhinestone crown ring and I received cookbooks from Mississippi and a few other states...it looks like I'll need to learn how to cook!!

Day 4: Day in Tucson & Italian Restaurant Dinner

Today we woke up at 5am to shoot our group swimsuit photo with hats on---they were so cute! Everyone looked amazing in the red one pieces by Carol Wior---then we had rehearsal with our evening gown pattern. Afterwards we headed out to the mall in Tucson for our daytrip and then ended up at an adorable Italian restaurant where we danced the electric slide and met Diane Tucker---perhaps she'll be one of our judges? She was radiant and the epitome of Queendom! I ate pasta for the first time in months and feel fat!!! Only protein for me these next few days! Tomorrow we will exchange our gifts with the other states and I can't wait to see their expression when they open mine!! ;)

Day 3: President's Dinner

Today was a day filled with Swimsuit blocking rehearsal, some final touches on the opening number dance and a dinner with the President of the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort--All the candidates gave something from their state and I gave a Twins Baseball signed by the coach. Funniest presentation award goes to Rhonda from Missouri who I predict will get the Miss Congeniality Award. Her southern accent alone makes us all giggle cause it's so cute and down home! The dresses everyone wore were fantastic! and the sports memorabilia kept coming all night! President Brian Johnson will have to set up a separate room just for all of the gifts--he mentioned that this Friday night will be very eventful while golfing with his collection of wine and whiskey bottles. Today Faith and Carl came in with news that their teen just won a national pageant! Hopefully this year at Mrs. America will be another success story!

Day 2 Tucson Arizona

HI Guys! Well, we had dance rehearsal today for the opening number and I just wish that my brain could remember dance steps!!! Dancing is not my forte!! It's not as hot as I expected it to be, so if you're coming, bring a sweater and some longer sleeves! Tonight is the dinner with the President of Mrs. America, David Marmel, in his suite which should be fun!! Some of the girls I"m enjoying hanging out with are: Mrs. Florida, Mrs. Illinois and Mrs. Utah is just such an incredible dancer!! Wow! She stayed longer to help us get the dance down---More to come...if I can stay awake for it! I'm used to going to bed at 9pm and getting up at 3am and here it's 2 hours behind so I have to stay up laaaaaaate!!

Mrs. America Pageant Day 1

Well, I arrived to Tucson tired, but quickly pepped up after meeting girls from CT, NY and CA ---where I've called home in the past...and my roommate the very cool, Shauna! After lunch, I headed out for a tour of the grounds which are spectacular with a waterfall and lots of greenery believe it or not! At dinner, all of the contestants were decked out and looking gorgeous and we met David Marmel, President and Founder of Mrs. America. Mr. Marmel explained that he did not want to have the Mrs. America Pageant as a reality show this year on the WE channel--to keep the dignity and integrity of the pageant and its contestants. And who knows, if someone falls, at least millions of people won't see it!!!

Tomorrow we have the first rehearsal with Frit and Frat---they are brothers and our choreographers and absolutely adorable!! Stay tuned for more!!

Heading to Mrs. America Monday August 25th!

Today I feel I have too much to do and not enough hours in a day preparing and packing for Mrs. America! Had a mock interview yesterday and now I'm working on the finishing touches of a new costume representing the fictional Snow Queen of the St. Paul Winter Festival Folklore ---any positive affirmations are welcome!! I'll be blogging while I'm gone so come back in and check it out! Thank you all for your support and blessings!!

With Love, Wendi

Holly's Send off Party for Mrs. America August 2008

Holly, my pageant coach, Sarah Moses and Donnell Rank created the most amazing party to celebrate my trip to Tucson, Arizona for the Mrs. America pageant!! The cake Holly had made was a duplicate of a photo taken by Paula Preston--pink dress and all! I only wish I ate some of it--but after eating 8 of Bessie's chocolate cookies and chips, I thought I'd better not with Nationals only a few weeks away!

Carl and Faith were there and gave me a beautiful crystal necklace with my initial on it and Holly framed my crowning shot and gave me a Juicy couture wishbone necklace that I adore!!! Several sponsors came and Dr. Crutchfield sent a beautiful bouquet of flowers!! He's so sweet! My best friend Brian gave me a crystal fortune cookie with a tiny plaque that was inscribed with "You've already won" on it. Talk about putting something in the Universe!!

I was thrilled that Denise Wood and her husband came! They are just a hoot!

August 19th 4:30pm Radio Interview with Lori & Julie at 107.1 FM

Lori & Julie were so much fun to interview with today! Easy to talk to and the kind of gals you would just like to hang out with all weekend long and tell the story of your life to! I talked about Kinship and my goal of finding 100 new adult mentors to enrich the life of a disadvantaged child---Please email me if you're interested in making a real difference in someone's life!