I can't believe that Sandra Bullock has filed for divorce! (Though I don't blame her) It is unbelieveable that how wonderful things may seem on the outside, it is sad that they might not be that perfect!

Changing the subject, the Miss Alabama 2010 workshop is the weekend, which brings the 47 contestants one step closer to the big week this June where I crown my successor. They will be doing sound checks for talent and learning how they can best prepare themselves for that week. Saturday night is the Miss Alabama Gala at Old Car Heaven downtown, so if you want to raise money for scholarships and attend a GREAT party with the beautiful contestants, go to missalabama.com for more info!

So.... my fourth annual dance showcase for my platform, "With Every Beat"- prevention of cardiovascular is TOMORROW, Friday, February 26th at 7:00pm. It is held at Pelham High School Auditorium and is a fundraiser for the American Heart Association! Hoover, Spain Park, Pelham, Oak Mountain, Thompson, and UAB Dance teams will be there including the studios the Alabama Youth Ballet, Exclusively Ballet and Dance, Dance Etc., Tap, Toe, and Twirl, Encore and Corky Bell will all be performing, including myself.. It's going to be a GREAT night! Hope to see you all there!

First off, it is wonderful to be back in Alabama.. I almost kissed the ground when my plane landed. I was able to represent the most wonderful state in Las Vegas and am so proud to be able  continuing to do the same.

The first few days in Vegas were crazy busy with rehearsals, fittings, and appearances, so they flew by. As contestants we went to the Venetian for gondola rides, a raceway to race go carts, saw Phantom of the Opera, and had a fashion show at Vegas' Fashion Show Mall. The latter were by far my two favorite events. Competition started Tuesday of the week with my personal interview with the judges and SwimSuit and Eveningwear competitions. Wednesday I did my talent and Thursday I had on-stage question. Each area of competition went without a hitch, and I was ecstatic with my performance!

My Miss America journey has come to a close, and I am not complaining too much since I NEVER have to wear a swimsuit onstage every again! I am back to my official duties as Miss Alabama, traveling the state and loving it!

It is 1:00am, and I am leaving for Las Vegas and the Miss America Pageant in just a few hours... Crazy! The moment I have worked for sooo long is here! Nonetheless, there has been a lot of packing and preparing the past few days, but I finally feel ready! I will be in the Birmingham News this Sunday, so check that out... AND, Be sure to watch TLC January 29th at 10pm est for "Countdown to the Crown" featuring all of the contestants! And, of course, Saturday January 30th at &pm cst is Miss America LIVE on TLC. Off to Sin City! With Love!

This past Saturday was the Miss Alabama Top Ten Fashion Show at Vestavia Hills Country Club. It went very well, and everyone including myself is very excited about the wardrobe that I preveiwed for Miss America. I showed three cocktail dresses, a high fashion suit, a VALENTINO dress from Gus Mayer, and five beautiful evening gowns, only three of which I can take to Miss America :(. Nonetheless, I will be more than well dressed while I am there at all of my appearances.. So excited! Only 8 days til I leave!

So I heard my shout out on the radio followed by my favorite Lady GaGa song, "Bad Romance." And I loved hearing it played! I think the reason why I like the song so much is because of the music video... it's so interesting!

On a Holiday note, I had a wonderful New Years, but had an embarrassing moment, the kind of moment that "keeps you humble" haha. I had dinner plans at Ruth Cris Steakhouse, so I figured I would get a new dress for the occasion. I was excited about wearing the dress and was having a perfect evening until a worker there came up really close behind me. She said "I just wanted you to know that your tag is hanging out.." Ahhh, let's just say I was slightly embarrassed because I had walked through a good half of the restaurant before this realization. Nevertheless, all you can do is laugh about it, and of course cut the tag out!

So I had the opportunity to co-host the Q Holiday Bash with Yankee Pete from the Ace and TJ Show! I had such a good time, and it was definitely a different scene than at most of my appearances! I got to meet Iaz, Jason Derulo, Boys Like Girls, and Sean Kingston.. not to mention enjoy all of their concerts. I was so impressed with their performance quality, they are all definitely the real deal.
 
Iaz was so funny and down to Earth backstage...I also greatly appreciated that Jason Derulo brought dancers to the show... they pretty much rocked! And Paul and Martin definitely free styled with Sean Kingston back stage! It was cool to see the artists interact. The crowd was commented on by all the artists as being one of the best they have seen in a while, and I replied... well that's how we are here in the South! Everyone was wonderful and a good time was had by all.. This was definitely one of my favorite moments as Miss Alabama!

The benefit this past Sunday for Children's Miracle Network went without a hitch... well at least not too great of one ;) All of my personal Christmas favorites were performed including "My Grown-up Christmas List" "O' Holy Night" and "Let It Snow." My favorite memory of the show (and the crowd fave) was a duet I choreographed with my brother, who is not a dancer, to Harry Connick's "Rudolph." This is something I have always wanted to do, and my brother Clint had such a good attitude about it. He lifted all 6 feet 1 inch of me several times throughout the routine, which is definitely a task in itself.. but we did it and he definitely stole the show!

Over $4,000 was raised for CMN, and I couldn't be more proud that Birmingham came together for such a worth cause.

One of the most favorite things about my job as Miss Alabama is being able to learn about things I didn't know much before. Last week, I visited the New Beacon Hospice office of Birmingham, for their 30th anniversary celebration. Besides their food being wonderful, I was able to get to know their organization better. Their mission is to strengthen the quality of life for people who have little time on this earth left to live. What a special job people who work at this organization have! They have the ability to affect the fleeting moments of life a person's life. With something as little as a volunteer holding a man's hand in his final minutes, giving a perennial Christmas tree to liven up a room, or a nurses smile in a much needed minute, their work undoubtedly makes a difference in many lives. I am thankful to have gotten to know an organization like this. 

Saturday was the Rider's Harley Davidson Teddy Bear Ride for Children's Hospital. It was definitely a memorable and fun appearance. Upon my arrival I was fitted for leather to wear on the ride down to Children's in downtown Birmingham. I was pretty excited about the gear and have always secretly wanted to be in leather from head to toe while riding a motorcycle. Being 6' 1"I knew it would be hard to find pants that were long enough, and I was right.. So I didn't get to wear the cute pink leather chaps and matching jacket. However, we did find men chaps, boots, and a women's jacket that fit just right. I finished out the rest of the day meeting the biker community participating in the event and then the big ride. Annually, as a tradition, Miss Alabama rides in the side cart on the bike that takes her downtown. I tried out the side cart and of course I was too big to fit. My knees were in my chest and I looked generally not very cool. So I got to ride on the back of a motorcycle and it was so much fun! When we got to the hospital there were patients outside waiting to meet all the bikers and get the teddy bears. This year they raised thousands of teddy bears as well as over $20,000! It was so special to see how excited everyone was and how something as simple as a stuffed animal could make a child so happy.