I keep forgetting I have a blog! Woops...

So, here's a bunch of random "stuff" that has gone on in my life recently...

I'm SSSSOOOO excited! My first year of college is officially over! I took my last two finals today--speech and humaninites. I'm pretty sure I BOMBED the humanities...I just can't seem to get interested in art/music/history...oh well, though! As long as I pass the class, right?!

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind...last weekend, my family and I went to Logan, WV to participate in a southern gospel singing contest that raised money for Dignity Hospice. Of the 30 groups and soloists, my family ("The Concords") received third place! We were thrilled! What made it even cooler was that afterwards, we got many bookings and the rep from the recording studio said he "needed to talk" with us. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we get a singing contract! The recording company is a very nice and highly revered sudio out of Nashville, TN! My family has never made an album before, so we're all pretty stoked about it! Before I was born, my parents did travel and sing, though. They were a trio called "The Concords." They made records back-in-the-day, yet there's never been one with my parents AND mine and my sisters' pic on the front! So, the group of 3 went to a group of 5...

As most of us know, the spring forum was 2 weeks ago in Mansfield. Ashley said that the outstanding teen pageant will be a tough competition; the winner will be a deserving one! I can't wait to see who wins...unfortunately, I won't be at Miss Ohio =(...But, I'm sure the winner will be very deserving of that title, also! I can't wait to see who wins...

Unfortunately, I've been sick for about three days now, so I hope I get better fast! I hate being sick on weekends. I get to see my wonderful boyfriend on the weekends! He lives in Columbus b/c he goes to school @ DeVry University. He's going to be an electronic engineer. I'm so proud of him! He's the greatest guy! I always miss him, but my mom says that distance makes the heart grow fonder & stronger...which is totally true! It makes it very rough at times, but it makes the time together more special and exciting!

Well, now that you've read this random blog, I hope you all are doing great...getting ready for classes to end, getting ready for Miss Ohio, proms, finals, shopping...whatever you may have planned! For me, I'm going to try to find myself a part-time job for the summer so I can get $$$ for the dumb rising gas prices...and I want to save some for security! lol....Be back later...

CONGRATS!

I just have to say CONGRATS to the 6 new Sweeps winners! They are: Amy Allen, Kristy Moneysmith, Krystal Formosa, Katherine Wolford, Victoria Miller, & Courtney Kania! You all did great! Good luck at Miss Ohio! Wish you ALL could win!

Miss Georgia reigns two years...WOW!

I was looking at the pics of the Miss USA contestants and noticed a familiar face...Miss Georgia America 2006, Amanda Kosak, went on to Miss America last year and was honored as second runner-up to Miss America 2007, Lauren Nelson. On April 11, she will represent Georgia again. But this time, she will be on the Miss USA stage as Miss Georgia USA! I have to say this is quite an accomplishment! Good luck, although I don't think she needs much! =)

Miss Central Ohio pics...

Here's a few pics from Miss Central Ohio...you won't see any of these outfits again at Sweeps! I've got new *shinier* , prettier outfits! I'm so excited! =)

So I keep movin' forward...

So...Miss Central Ohio was a blast and I feel so blessed to have been part of it! The ED's are the some of the kindest and most giving people I've ever met! They helped with so much and had lots of extra help if anyone needed it! Of course, many of us did--including myself. Unfortuantely, a row of beads popped off of my formal gown the night before I left for Newark, so I had an alternate gown for formal. Once I got there, my talent gown's eye/hook was so hard to get hooked because one part of it was just a thread so the ladies had to sew more on my dress so it would not come unhooked on stage (which would have been a horrible Janet Jackson moment! Yikes!) and lastly, before bathing suit, I noticed a "run" in the butt-area of my swim suit...I still wore it, since it was hard to see. I even had a scratchy throat...and my Mom had to buy me cough drops (which I left on accident!), but I still pulled off my song well, despite the raspy sound I had. I thought I answered my FIRST onstage Q ok, but my second was horrible because I stuttered! I don't know what was up with that! haha...After the pageant, I was informed by my fans that I was asked what my favorite baseball stadium was that I sung at...well, I have NEVER sung at a baseball games in my life--don't know where they came up with that, but oh well! I got a laugh out of it! I know, I know, it sounds like I'm a complainer and I make excuses, but I'm totally not! All of these things really did happen...but none of these things bother me...Know why? I still had fun. Sure, I was EXHAUSTED! And I ride home was long, but it was great because I got to spend it with my best bud ever...someone I hadn't really seen or spoken to for months due to the many miles between us...I was so happy! IT MADE MY WEEKEND!

I can't wait until this Saturday and Sunday! I am competing in SWEEPS! Of course, I'm hoping for a big "W" on Saturday...hehe...that would be so cool! If I do not happen to win, I will be making a long and dreaded drive to Medina (because it is SOSOSOSO far from home) to compete in SWEEPS there on Sunday. I know whoever wins on both days will make fantastic reps for the Miss Ohio pageant in June!
I think I'm ready for Sweeps...I have a *NEW* b-e-a-utiful formal gown, a new swim suit with NO "runs," and my original formal gown is fixed and is now my talent gown...in which I will sing Whitney Houston's "One Moment In Time." I'm excited and can't wait to see the girls again! They're all so nice and helpful to us "newbies." Good luck to everyone! Hope to see you this weekend! Wish me luck! B-)

Miss Central Ohio is approaching!

As most of us know, Miss Central Ohio is approaching quickly! It is my first local this season, and only my second ever! I have little butterflies in my belly thinking about it, but I just keep thinking "Just have fun, just have fun." It helps calm my nerves when I tell myself that! I wish I knew who will be competing on Saturday. I only know of one, maybe two, girls other than myself that will be there.

My platform is "Think Pink: The importance of breast self-examinations in young women." It is inspired by my own struggle with a lump that I found in my left breast when I was 17 years old. Fortunately, I discovered it as benign, but I still believe that educating women at a young age can help to solve problems and questions that deal with breast cancer and breast lumps, as well as preventing the scare. Not all lumps are cancerous. In fact, 80% of them are benign.

It will be fun...good luck to all!
Oh, and remember..."Just have fun, just have fun!" HAHA!

New Title to be given in Gallia Co....

The Miss Portsmouth and Miss Scioto Valley Scholarship Program is pleased to announce an addition to our current program. Miss Southern Ohio Outstanding Teen and Wee Miss Southern Ohio, Tiny Miss Southern Ohio, Little Miss Southern Ohio and Junior Miss Southern Ohio. The Miss Southern Ohio Outstanding Teen Program is the little sister program to Miss Portsmouth and Miss Scioto Valley and an addition to Miss Portsmouth Outstanding Teen and Miss Scioto Valley Outstanding Teen.
The Miss Southern Ohio Outstanding Teen Program will be:
Saturday April 12, 2008
Where: At South Gallia High School
Time: The Program will start at 7:00PM
Cost: Tickets$7.00 at the door
South Gallia High School was chosen to allow more young women in Southern Ohio to compete and it is the home school of our current Miss Ohio Outstanding Teen, Ashley Miller.
WHO: This program is open to young women in Ohio ages 13 thru 17.
The winner of the Miss Southern Ohio Outstanding Teen title will go on to compete in June for the title of Miss Ohio Outstanding Teen 2008. The entry fee for Miss Southern Ohio Outstanding Teen will be $150.00 and the Junior Programs will be $50.00. The junior programs are for ages 0-12 and forms can be obtained by going to http://www.missportsmouth.org/ or by contacting Executive Director, Greg Davis at gdavis@missportsmouth.org or (740) 981-2948.
Deadline for applications and checks will be Saturday April 5, 2008.

A Heart Felt Thank You

Check out MOOT Ashley Miller's thank you to the great state of OHIO!!!
http://missohteen.org/thankyou.htm
Once again, thanks to Roger Sessor for making the website look great!

Outstanding Teen gets a Website... finally! woo-hoo!

It's been so hard for anyone to get ahold of Ashley for appearances... but finally the Ohio Outstanding Teen organization has a website! It is still under construction, but everyone needs to take a peek! Visit at http://www.missohteen.org/. Much thanks to Roger Sessor!

Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen Ashley Miller

"Brittany's" of Gallipolis, Ohio just held it's18th annual Prom Style Review at the Ariel Ann-Dater Performing Arts Center. The runway was graced my Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen, Ashley Miller, who gave an overview of the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Program, as well as a statement about her platform "Teenage Abstinence: To Make a Difference, Be the Difference." She spoke about how participating in this program helps young woman to start raising scholarship money for college and helps them to grow as a lady in today's world.

Ashley is a 17 year old junior at South Gallia High School where she has participated in Varsity cheerleading for 3 years, BETA club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Bible Club, PRIDE, BPA, and Drama Club.

Ashley will soon be traveling with her family to Williamsbug, VA to cheer on her twin at the ECA National cheerleading championships, where her cheerleading team hopes to win 1st place for the third year in a row. She will also be representing her high school at the state competition for BPA (Business Professionals of America) in the "Interview Skills" portion of the competition.