Whew, it's been a looooong time since I've written here...but for good reason. On June 6, I was crowned Miss Missouri 2009!

I've been staying busy right from the start with preparations for Miss America and events all across the state. If you'd like to keep up with my adventures, follow my new blog at:

www.missmissouri.org/tarablog

Hope you enjoy :)

Love, Tara

More Prayers...

Please keep in your prayers two students from my high school, Duchesne High School in St. Charles, Missouri.

CJ Aubuchon and Ryan Belcke passed away this week, and prayers for their family, friends, and classmates are much needed at this time.

There She Is...

Thursday, May 14

For my fellow Facebook friends, you may have heard me react to this day as "a kid in a candy store." I'm not going to lie, I totally was :) Today, Miss America Katie Stam came to visit Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis, where I work!

Anyone who knows me at Le Bonheur knows I'm a pageant nut, so when there was a possiblity that Miss America might come for the day, I was notified immediately. I got to help facilitate her visit, which meant tons of one-on-one talking with her about her year, picking her brain for advice, and of course spending time with the patients. We made crowns and sceptors with one group of kids, and then visited many different patients who were too sick to come to the craft project.

I owe a big thank you to all my girls in Marketing for inviting me to take part (and even take the lead!), to the Child Life Department for helping organize the events, and of course to Miss America and her tour manager for coming up to see what our hospital is all about and support the Children's Miracle Network.

So many critics of pageants say that the Miss America Organization isn't relevant anymore and that she's an icon of the past. I wish those critics could have witnessed Katie's visit this week. Every single patient she met knew exactly who they were meeting, and many of the girls even shared that they want to be just like her when they grow up. Katie is making such a name in mainstream media for the organization this year, and was as much of an inspiration for the kids as she was for me. Meeting Katie definitely gave me that extra push I needed just before I leave for Miss Missouri! Hopefully we meet again...in Vegas!! (She said it, not me!)

Meet Me in St. Louis

May 9

We switched it up a little bit and the Lake board came to St. Louis to work this weekend! I started my morning with the toughest mock interview I've ever had in my life, but what a great prep for Miss Missouri! I owe a big thanks to my parents for organizing the interview, and to Tim, Edie, Danielle, and Tommy for sitting on the panel, and for their time, questions, and feedback.

After the mock, we were treated to lunch by Tim at Old Hickory Country Club. Fun fact: my sister and I both used to work at Old Hick, where we were mistaken for twins on a daily basis. We shared the stories from when we worked there, like the time when our golf cart broke down in the middle of the back nine for two hours on my first day. Ahh, the memories.

Traditionally, we eat and then watch me try to dance, so this Saturday was no different. We headed up to Techniques Dance Studio where I modeled my new competition swimsuit, practiced my modeling, and performed my talent for everyone.

Thanks to everyone who took part in the day - Wendy, Charlie, Mom, Dad, Jenna, and most importantly, Missy!! I don't know what I would do without all of your help and support!

At Last...

Well, it's officially summer in my book, because I had finals last week and finished up my first year of grad school. And what better way to kick off the summer than at the Lake!!

Saturday, May 2

I started my weekend at Trendz Hair Salon in Eugene, where Tracie took great care of me and we had a chance to catch up. Thanks again to Tracie and Trendz for their sponsorship and for always making sure I look great!

I headed over to the radio station for a morning mock interview and serious Q&A session to polish my interview for Miss Missouri in just a few weeks. I have to give a big thanks to Wendy for organizing the mock, and for Ashley, Tammy, Mary, and Aaron for their time and feedback. The group enjoyed lunch at On the Rise before heading to La Roca Dance Studio to work on my talent routine. I've been so busy with work and school that I was worried things wouldn't come together in time, but they finally are! Good thing, since Miss Missouri 2009 will be crowned a month from tomorrow!

The 21st Annual Magic Dragon Street Show was calling my name, so I headed to the Strip to check out some classic cars and help the Day Break Rotary sell raffle tickets for their second annual car giveaway. I'll be honest, I don't know a thing about muscle cars, but I love looking at them and talking to their proud owners, so you can imagine how much fun I had at the street meet. Plus, it was great to meet some more Rotarians as well as people in town for the car show!

Saturday night, I was invited to the First Annual Forget Me Not Ball, benefitting the Alzheimer's Association. The ball was held at the gorgeous Tan-Tar-A Resort, and organized by Peter and Amy Hernandez of La Roca Dance Studio. I had the opportunity to meet with individuals from across the state and beyond who were involved in the Alzheimer's Association and hear their heartwrenching stories of the devastating effects of this incurable disease. I also helped with a fundraiser, selling roses and a chance to win one of dozens of prizes, all donated by sponsors of the Lake area. They even let me model the grand prize - a custom designed necklace bearing the official symbol of the Alzheimer's Association - donated by the Blue Heron.

After a delicious dinner and dessert, I joined the emcee for the evening to speak about the Miss Lake of the Ozarks Scholarship Program and the Miss America Organization, before helping draw the winning tickets for the prize giveaways. The crowd was treated to a night full of performances by the La Roca students and professional ballroom dancers, including Peter and Amy! I had so much fun and was honored to be a part of such a worthy cause.

Being involved in the healthcare field, and spending most of my college career volunteering at nursing homes and lobbying for patients' rights, Alzheimer's Disease is near and dear to my heart. The effects are devastating, perhaps even more so for the family of the affected. Anything and everything I can do to lobby for research funding and promote awareness to find a cure, I will be a part of. Thank you to Peter and Amy for inviting me to be a part of the evening and participate in this cause.

Sunday, May 3

To finish out the weekend, I returned to the car show for awards and prizes. I drew the winning ticket of Day Break Rotary's car giveaway, a 2009 Dodge Challenger. Although the winner wasn't there when her name was drawn, I am so excited that the car will be staying local, right here in Lake Ozark. I also drew the winning ticket for the 50/50 drawing, and handed out dozens of awards for the best cars of the weekend. Over 850 cars were part of the street meet, drawing crowds in the thousands, and I had so much fun getting to meet so many new people. Special thanks to the Chamber of Commerce committee for hosting the meet and for inviting me as a special guest for the weekend!

Monday, May 4

I'm back in Memphis now, and today is the official first day of my summer internship. I've been working as a graduate assistant in Administration at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center for the past year, and I'm staying there for my internship as well. I'll be working full time for the summer for the VP of Ambulatory Care and the VP of Strategy & Planning. I'm looking forward to leading some great projects this summer, and can't wait to dive into the work. The only downfall? I'm way too close to the cafeteria. And they've got the best mac 'n cheese this side of the Mississippi, if you know what I'm getting at...!

Prayers Needed

Waynesville High School is a place near and dear to my heart - I have spent many hours there and have gotten to know many of the teachers and students well. Yesterday, I heard about the death of one of those students - Patrick Clegg, 16. Patrick was on the Tiger baseball team at WHS and was struck by a wild pitch in a game against Lebanon last week, and later died from complications.

I'm including a link to Patrick's story below. Please take the time to read it and keep Patrick and his family, friends, and school in your prayers.

http://www.ky3.com/news/local/43585587.html

Another Weekend at the Lake...

I started the day getting my smile beautified by Dr. Ron Massie at Premier Dental Group. He's a sponsor and an avid supporter of the pageant, so it was great getting to spend the day with his team! Thanks for everything!

Man, these Lake appearances are getting to be pretty rough...! Last Friday, I went to a boat show at Toad Cove, and I had a blast! I got to hang out at the 101.9 The Wave booth with Wendy and the Wave crew and meet tons of new people at the VIP party. Check out a picture of us at the party:

http://www.lakeozarknow.com/photo-3542/#photo

A special thank you to 101.9 The Wave for having me attend the show!

Right after the boat show, we headed over to Camdenton High School for the Miss Dogwood Pageant. Well, we actually headed to the elementary school, and then to the junior high school, but third time was a charm. After a wild goose chase, we found where we needed to be, just in time for the pageant! I emceed the pageant with John Caran from The Wave, and we were so excited to announce Bailee Slack as Miss Dogwood 2009. Congratulations to all the contestants! It was also great to see Charlie Runnels and Taylor Mills there!

On Saturday, I spent the morning doing round tables and practicing my talent at La Roca Dance Studio. My mom and I enjoyed lunch at Vista Grande with the board. Before leaving to head back to Memphis on Sunday, I attended the First Annual Taste of the Lake. I got to sample food from some of the best restaurants at the Lake, meet more of the residents and business people of the Lake, and hang out with the Big Surf crew. The Miss Missouri contestants will be filming a promo commercial at Big Surf during pageant week, so it was great to meet some of the people we'll be working with there.


Thanks to everyone who helped make this weekend a great one! Can't wait to come back next weekend!

Orientation

Well, better late than never, I suppose! Orientation was on March 28 in Mexico, MO, at the Country Club. This was my first chance meeting all the new contestants, and I think we've got a great bunch this year! I'm really excited to see everyone again when we move into the dorms in just one month.

Pictured with me here is Lauren Nelson, Miss America 2007 (and one of my favorites, ever!). She was the guest speaker at our orientation and she is even more amazing in person than she is on television :o) After hearing her speak and listening to her sing, it's no surprise that she won the crown. She is an incredible young woman, and getting to meet her and hear her story was so motivating for me as I prepare for Miss Missouri.

Thanks to the Lake board for making the trip to Mexico for Orientation and to the Miss Missouri board for putting on another great session. And in case anyone was wondering (admit it, you know you were!) I will be competing as Alpha 12. Evening gown and onstage question Wednesday, Talent Thursday, Swimsuit Friday, and of course, finals Saturday, June 6. Hope to see you there!!

Home Sweet Home

Sunday, March 15

Well, I’m back in Memphis now, still recovering from my craziest Spring Break yet! Although I didn’t get to spend the week at the beach with friends, I couldn’t think of any other way I would have rather spent it. I got to meet more people and see more new things than I normally would in a whole year! Sunday morning was packed with talent rehearsal and finishing up paperwork, but everything has been submitted and now I can kick back and relax…but just for a minute! I still have so much work ahead of me as I prepare for Miss Missouri in June. But I’m so thankful to have such a great family, friends, and Board behind me the whole way. Thank you to everyone who made my Spring Break as amazing as it was – I couldn’t have done it without you! Love you all!

St. Patrick's Day Parade!!

Saturday, March 14

Today was the St. Patrick’s Day Parade at the Lake! I was escorted by Miss Lake of the Ozarks 2008, Charlie Runnels, and John Caran of 101.9 The Wave in the parade, and we had a blast! I was amazed at how many people lined the streets, and everyone was decked to the hilt in St. Patty’s gear! It was so much fun to see the students I had spoken to at the Upper Elementary and Middle Schools earlier in the week, and even more humbling to hear how many parade-goers had attended the pageant and were offering their congratulations. I’m even more excited that I have the opportunity to work with not just the Lake board, but also the people and businesses, throughout the year. The Lake has been a long-standing family favorite vacation spot for as long as I can remember, and I can’t think of any other area I’d rather represent at Miss Missouri. Thanks to everyone for making my week a great one! I can’t wait to come back and do it all over again in a few weeks!

Day Two at the Lake

Friday, March 13

Today was another busy day, starting with the opportunity to speak to the Rotary members at 8:00 am. I had the chance to meet so many business men and women from the Lake area, and to thank them for their overwhelming support for the Miss Lake of the Ozarks pageant.

Wendy and I enjoyed lunch at Arris’ Pizza Café, and headed to Osage Middle School, where I spoke to the seventh and eighth graders about peer pressure, body image, and learning to eat right to avoid developing an eating disorder. We had very interactive 70-minute sessions with Mr. Struemph’s health classes, and the students had so many great questions. Thanks again to Ashley Kile for handling arrangements, and to Mr. Struemph for the opportunity to speak to his students.

Day One at the Lake

Thursday, March 12

Today was the beginning of a whirlwind weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks! I started my morning getting pampered by Tracie at Trendz Hair Studio in Eugene, Missouri. We had fun getting to know each other, and she had me looking my best for my big weekend in record speed! I then traveled with my mom and sister to the Lake, where we met the board for lunch at Baxter’s, a brand new restaurant overlooking 7 miles of the Lake. It was gorgeous, with excellent food to boot!

After lunch, my mom, sister, and director Wendy accompanied me to Osage Upper Elementary School, where I had the chance to speak to the fifth grade classes about the importance of eating right and making healthy decisions. We had a ton of fun playing games and learning about the Food Guide Pyramid, and the kids really surprised me with the types of healthy decisions they’re already making every day. I’d like to thank Ashley Kile, also on the Board, for her instrumental role in getting all my school visits for the week set up!

Once we finished up at the school, Wendy and I met back up with the 101.9 The Wave crew at Baxter’s for a Martinis and Jazz event sponsored by the station. It was great getting to meet the owner of Baxter’s, Corey Roberts, and his staff. Thanks for the hospitality, and I’m looking forward to coming back soon!

We finished up the evening with a home-cooked meal by Ashley and Jeff, and had the chance to catch up, talk Miss Missouri, and start working on my interview. I’m so excited to spend the year with the Lake board, because they are working hard to keep me working hard!

Platform Presentation at Waynesville High School

Wednesday, March 11

I spent today speaking to the high schoolers at Waynesville High School about my personal platform, eating disorders. I had the chance to share my personal story and educate them about the different types of eating disorders, as well as how to develop a positive self-image through healthy eating and right decisions. I’d like to thank Mr. McCullough and Mr. Harris, the freshman health teachers, for arranging my visit! This was my second year speaking at WHS, and I hope to come back again next year to share my message as well.

Say Cheese!

Tuesday, March 10

I got to spend today with two of my favorite people – Lance and Tamara Tilford of Limelight Studio in St. Charles! Tamara beautified me and got me camera-ready, and Lance shot my official Miss Missouri headshot (for the second consecutive year). The team did an amazing job as usual, and you’ll just have to wait and see which picture we chose as the winner! We had a ton of fun, and I’m looking forward to working with them again soon!

Lil' Sis

Saturday, March 7

Today, I got to hang out with my Miss Missouri Little Sister, Annie, all day! I started the morning by doing Annie’s hair and helping her pick out some outfits for our photo shoot later that day. A big thanks to Doyle Whitten for taking our pictures! After all that modeling, Annie and I worked up quite an appetite. So we had lunch at Olive Garden, where we had the chance to catch up on how her school, Girl Scouts, and extra curricular activities were going. I have known Annie since the day she was born, so she’s like another little sister to me. I am so proud to have had the chance to watch her grow up into the beautiful young lady she’s becoming. I can’t wait to have her join me on the Miss Missouri stage again this June!

Miss Lake of the Ozarks

Preparations for Miss Missouri 2009 are now well underway since being crowned Miss Lake of the Ozarks on January 31. I must thank the Lake Board for a great pageant and to all the sponsors for their contributions - I will be in town shortly to thank you all in person! Congrats to all the contestants - especially first runner-up Amanda Williams and second runner-up Nicole Meloni.

I have to give a special thank you to Sydnee Stottlemyre, Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen, for making the trip from Chesterfield to watch the Miss Lake of the Ozarks pageant. Sydnee was my teen sister queen last year, and despite a hectic high school basketball schedule and car trouble, she and her parents still managed to make it in time for the pageant just to cheer me on. You guys are my second family - it meant so much to me that you were there!

Looking ahead, I'll be spending my spring break traveling around the state of Missouri promoting my platform, fundraising for Children's Miracle Network, and getting ready for Miss MO. I will be sure to update as I go - I've got tons of appearances and events planned for the week!

Here's my itenerary so far:

March 6 - Dinner with Annie (Miss MO Little Sister)

March 7 - Talent Rehearsal, Round Table

March 9 - Photo Shoot

March 11 - Eating Disorders Presentation at Waynesville High School

March 12 - Hair Appt. with Lake Sponsor

March 13 - Speak at Rotary, Radio Interviews, Speak to Health Classes at Lake

March 14 - Mock Interview

...and hopefully more to come. I'll post updates as they come!

"Be the change you want to see in the world."

--Mahatma Gandhi