Happy New Year!!

Wow, I can't believe that 2012 is over now and we are already flying through 2013! I had an amazing Christmas with my family and Brian's. They were quite and calm, everything I need around the holidays! My favorite present was my new phone case! It's the character Stitch from Lilo and Stitch, it's so cute :) During Christmas break, I also got the chance to go to a fondue party at Olivia's house. It was a really fun time with everyone.
Ringing in the new year was a great chance to reflect on 2012 and to project in to 2013. I am so thankful for the opportunities that I have gotten from becoming Miss. North Central Ohio's Outstanding Teen and I cannot wait to start competing in the new year!
SOOO What is everyone's new year resolutions? This year, instead of making resolutions, lets make new year challenges! I follow the actress/life coach Bethenny Frankel says it, resolutions set people up for failure and lower self-esteem if you don't live up to them! However, challenges help push you a little further than you were, but never set you up for failure.
So, here is the fun part, I want YOU to email me your new year challenges! That's right, I want to hear them! Let's make this a little more fun though, after all the entries are submitted, I will read them all and I will choose the best new year challenge and post it (no worries, we can keep in anonymous) on the blog and my public Miss. North Central Ohio's Outstanding Teen Facebook page. Your challenge will inspire others! AND if THAT wasn't enough, the winner will receive a autographed photo from me! Email me your new year challenges at miss.NCOOT@gmail.com I will do my best to respond to ALL of the emails!! Let the challenge begin!!

Can't wait to hear your new year challenges!
Mel

Miss. Vacationland

Sorry for being so MIA lately!! I have been super busy spending time with my pageant family. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the Miss. Vacationland pageant this last month. While I was there, I got to spend some quality time with one of the princesses Olivia Anderson! She looks great and was so much fun to get to know! I also got to spend some time with my good friend Allison Goodwin. She, like always, looked stunning and was a pleasure to hang out with.

I know, you all want the details, well the winner of Miss.Vacationland was...... the beautiful, talented, well-spoken, April O'Brien!! She defiantly deserves the title and is going to do an amazing job.

I cannot thank Gloria and Jay enough for having me attend the pageant and for always being there to support me! Thanks so much you two!!

I am also pleased to announce to you all that I will be competing in the Pure American Pageant with Nicole Lyle!! I can't wait!!!

If you have a chance PLEASE vote for Allison Goodwin to win the Amway Miss America Pageant
you can vote for her by clicking here (it connects through Facebook) This scholarship gives Allison the chance to win $10,000 along with meeting Miss. America. Talk about a dream come true! Please help make her dream happen!!

Miss. Vacationland and I!

Me, Allison, and Olivia

Olivia and myself

Allison and I

Nicole and I, who will be competing
in the Pure American Pageant soon

Voting for YOUR Country

By now everyone is ready for the election to be over and for all the political ad campaigns to be over with! I know I am!! I ask all of you who are eligible to vote tomorrow to please do so. This is your country and you should have a say in who is running it! I'm not going to say who is the right choice and who is not, because frankly it doesn't matter who I want, as a country we need to come together and make the right decision! That decision though, can only be made if all eligible voters vote! 

Good luck everyone and lets be proud of America!!
 

Hope and Prayers after Sandy

Well, it's officially one week after the saddest week this year has started. This time last week many of us were starting to lose the precious power in our home and scary skies were coming their ways. My tiny town where I live seems to suffer greatly! The majority of my town was without power until last Saturday afternoon or even coming in to Sunday. I am so thankful to have power back and be able to connect with those who are still without their home and those who are needing support right now. It was devastating to watch this horrible storm rip apart home and lives of our family and friends in our nation. I'm sure many of you have or at least have starting thinking about donating to the families in need! There are many ways you can help and remember any donation is a donation! 

-American Red Cross- Donate any amount online now

-To give a $10 donation to help the disaster relief teams at the Red Cross: Text REDCROSS to 90999 (This will be put on to your next cell-phone bill) 

-To send a $10 donation via text message, you can text the word STORM to 80888, and confirm the donation with the word, “Yes.” They are also accepting used clothing and furniture donations to local Salvation Army locations 

I hope everyone is able to make a donation to help those in need! 

Prayers and Love to everyone,

Mel

I've got some BIG news!

I hope that everyone is having a great fall and enjoying the beautiful weather we are experiencing! I know I have been busy with school and spending time with many of the pageant girls! I was blessed to get to spend the day with Miss. Ohio and her dad while playing mini-golf. Most of the other pageant girls were there, but my friend Abigail was very missed! We had a great time playing together though, and it was really fun getting to spend some time with everyone.

Was so much fun spending the day with
Miss. Ohio

Well, I am sure you are all asking...."Whats the BIG news?!" Well, it's official I can announce that I will be competing in the Miss. Lake Erie pageant!!! I am looking forward to competing against the other girls and hopefully coming away with a crown....

I will keep everyone posted on how the competition goes and anything else that I might be working on!

Much love and God bless!

Mel

Reaching Out for Support

I'm sure many of you locals have heard about this weeks tragedy in Avon Lake, Ohio. On Saturday night, one of the freshman from the Avon Lake High School had committed suicide. I feel some much pain for the family and the friends of this young girl. I may have not known her personally, but she will be missed by her community. I think that it is important to understand that you have people around you wether you think it or not. One person is ME! No matter what your story is, I am here! Suicide is something that should never be taken lightly and should be dealt with immediately. The signs are always there, and I want everyone to know that they need to speak up! These thoughts of suicide are not healthy and are signs that someone needs help from someone else. Please if you see someone struggling, PLEASE lend out a shoulder for them to cry on. I am here if anyone needs to talk.

If you need someone to talk to, please call the suicide prevention hotline at 614-429-1528 or visit their site click here

I leave you with this bible verse that everyone should remember:

Timothy 1:7  for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control

Good-bye summer, hello school!

I was so lucky to enjoy such a great summer after I last blogged! I got to spend the remainder of my summer doing what I love! I got to spend time with my amazing boyfriend Brian and I even got to attend a couple of pageants and support the girls competing! It's always so great to watch other girls compete and getting to witness their dreams come true! I also really enjoy getting to still wear the Miss. North Central Ohio's Outstanding Teen sash and crown and I'm slowing accepting that after the new year, a new girl will come and hold the title!! But that's not until later, so until then, I am going to still hold my title nice and proud!!!

So not only did I have an amazing summer, I started college this week as well! So far I am really enjoying it! :) I can't believe that these are the first steps to becoming an adult!! That's a little scary!! College is a whole new experience for me though! I am quickly learning that all my study tips and ideas from high school no longer apply! I am finding myself making lots more flash cards these day!! :)

I hope everyone had an amazing rest of their summers and everyone has a smooth transition into school! I want all the girls out there to remember to study hard (I know, it sounds cliche!) but education is the most important thing and you should never let anything get in the way of that! See you all soon!

Much love, 

Mel

One of the pageants I attended this
summer :) 

Spent an amazing summer with the people I care most about!