The 2009 Oregon International pageant was held March 27 and 28, 2009 in beautiful Lake Oswego. Lesley Nardini and her wonderful staff made sure that we all were treated like royalty and had a great time.
We started out with a lovely tour of downtown Lake Oswego ~ I had not had the chance to really visit Lake Oswego before and it truly was a lovely treat!! We were driven in style in a stretch Hummer limo and had great girl talk along the way. THIRST ~ a WONDERFUL restaurant was our host for lunch and the food was oh-so yummy!! I don't cook (sorry Bud!), but the meal that they prepared for us made me want to ask for the recipe!! After lunch we did what all beauty queens do best ~ SHOP!! We visited two great shops ~ "MERINGUE" and "LUCKY ME", who are also sponsors of the pageant. All of the contestants had a ball looking at all of the cute glitzy things and I found the most beautiful Juicy Couture hoop earrings that I "just HAD to have"!! What a wonderful afternoon fit for queens!!
After our afternoon of lunch and shopping we went back to our hotel and changed into our new red "Oregon International Pageant" t'shirts, a gift from Mrs. Oregon Int'l 2008, Debra Gilmour, and black pants. We had a fun rehearsal and then walked next door for a great dinner hosted by another pageant sponsor, APPLEBEE'S!! I had the grilled Tilapia and it was SO good!! Another great opportunity to bond and get in that much needed girl time ~ who doesn't like talking about shoes???? If the day wasn't already packed full of fun and treats the best was yet to come ~ a Pajama Party/rehearsal! There was also a gift exchange and I came home with the cutest black crown t'shirt compliments of the VERY talented Mrs. Beaverton, Kate Krisiansen. What a wonderful way to end the day!
We woke up the next morning to a yummy breakfast provided by the hotel and off to hair and makeup with makeup extraordinaire, M'chel Bauxal. She is amazing and such a lovely woman! Then interview ~ the panel of judges were phenominal and really kept us on our toes. They had a very tough job that day with so many accomplished women.
After interview we had some down time to grab a snack in Lesley's suite and get in a little more of that fun girl talk ~ we do like to talk!! We then packed up everthing we needed for that evening and hopped into our pumpkin coach (aka stretch hummer limo!!) and headed to Lake Oswego High School. We had a quick rehearsal with our hubby's - Bud is so CUTE!!! All of the husbands looked adorable, actually - it is the look of love in their eyes when they see their wives and how proud they are of us all!
PAGEANT TIME - EEEEK!! This is the moment that most of us had been working towards and waiting for almost a year to arrive. That first step on stage is a doozy, but after that it is rush, rush, rush and OH SO MUCH FUN!! The next two hours were gone in a flash and before we knew it we were standing onstage with our gorgeous hubby's in tuxes anxiously waiting to hear who's name would be called as the new Teen, Miss and Mrs. Oregon Int'l 2009. The special awards were called first and Misty McCord, Mrs. Medford was honored with the Dee Dee Brant Founder's Award; Kate Kristiansen, Mrs. Beaverton received People's Choice; Sandra Herder, Mrs. Portland ~ Most Ticket Sales; Bronwyn Gibson, Teen Willamette Valley ~ Photogenic; Deanna Bebeau, Mrs. Jackson Co. (THAT'S ME!!) and Sandra Herder tied for Mrs. Congeniality; and Sandra Herder and Olga Kim, Mrs. Tigard tied for the Physical Fitness Award.....drum roll please ~ Bronwyn Gibson, 1st RU and the new MISS TEEN OREGON INT'L 2009 ~ SHELJIA PATEL!!! MISS OREGON INT'L 2009 ~ JESSICA CARLSON!!! Olga Kim, 2nd RU; Deanna Bebeau (THAT'S ME ~ YEAH!!), 1st RU; and the new MRS. OREGON INT'L 2009 ~ SANDRA HERDER!!!
What a GREAT group of ladies and a wonderful pageant. I know that each one of our new queens are going to make our beautiful state proud! I am so honored to have been part of this pageant and I know that I have made many new friends and strengthened bonds with many of my dearest friends. Thank you to Lesley, Tamara, Kym W. for all that you did for us! A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO BI-MART ~ without your support we wouldn't be where we are today - THANK YOU!! ...and to Ruthie, thank you, for giving me that great "mama" hug just when I needed it most!
I love pageants!!
