Wow! Where has all the time gone? Since my last update, there has been ghost and goblin sightings, turkey’s to baste, tree’s to trim, holiday cheer to spread, Santa magic to make, football to watch, and lastly resolutions to break!!! I hope one and all had an awesome holiday season, and I wish you all the best in this New Year!

My pageant duties are also starting up again from a holiday hiatus! Before I fill you in on what’s ahead, let’s rewind a bit and I’ll tell you about some really cool events I attended just before the holidays. First, there was the Winner’s Circle Grand Canyon State Games Awards dinner. This was my first event last year as Mrs. North Central Phoenix. It was a great evening. The GCS games are a sort of mini Olympics for Arizona’s amateur athletes. Anyone and everyone are encouraged to participate. Kids, teens, athletes with disabilities and seniors are stars in track and field, swimming, tennis, wheelchair basketball, and gymnastics. The special guests of honor were the Ahwatukee Dawgs. The Western Conference Champions who competed in the Little League College World Series. Each of these young men was outstanding! My son, who is seven, enjoyed watching them and cheering them on to victory on ESPN, which broadcasted the LLCWS live. I received an autographed team photo for my son and loved their inspiring journey. I hope my son, at age 11 and 12, is as sweet, smart and as gentlemanly as these young men. Congrats one more time to the Ahwatukee Dawgs and to the Grand Canyon State Games Organization!

After being thoroughly impressed with the outstanding achievements of the Awhuatukee Dawgs, I was touched to the core after hearing about Andrea.
My next event was a silent auction and dinner benefiting a program inspired by a little girl who touched basically everyone she came in contact with. Andrea was diagnosed with cancer and died at age 11. She suffered excruciatingly painful treatments with a smile and a positive spirit. After she lost her battle, her parents founded “Andrea’s Closet” as a way of honoring her memory and to give other children who were suffering from critical medical conditions a small token of hope and happiness. Her parents established a toy closet, if you will, at St Joseph’s Hospital where Andrea was being treated. Every time a child came to the hospital for a painful treatment that child got to go the closet and choose a brand new toy to take home with them. Her parents and our own Mrs. Debbie Castaldo, Mrs. Arizona America 2002, have almost single handedly raised the funds to support an Andrea’s Closet in every St Joe’s hospital in the valley and surrounding areas. During the video presentation and after some children spoke about their illnesses; and how Andrea’s Closet helped them, let me tell you, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. God bless you Andrea and thank you one and all who will keep this small but oh so worthy cause going and growing.

My next event was an exotic and very elegant night in Casablanca! Candle Light Capers is a great event benefiting Good Samaritan Hospital. There was a silent auction, a groovy band and dancing, followed by a delicious dinner, capped off with a very fiery live auction. This was one of the events where the contestants could bring their spouses. The ladies who were able to attend were there to assist with the silent auction, and model the fur jackets that were up for auction. The black tie affair was first rate and held in a wonderfully decorated ballroom at the Marriott Desert Ridge Resort. The chairs of the event were extremely pleased that all the guests had a wonderful time and lots of money was raised to fund research programs and explore new technologies. Thank you to Mrs. Tucson Catherine Rodriguez, Mrs. Valley of the Sun, Jennifer Salmon, and Mrs. Maricopa County, Michelle Poppe and their dedicated husbands. It was a fun event!

Next up for me is the Jewel Ball on January 20th. I am excited to get back into the swing of pageant events as we enter our spring season. And don’t forget if you or some one you know wants to enjoy all of these wonderful and worthwhile events. Visit our website for details on how to become a contestant. We are always looking for women who enjoy helping others and making a difference.
We will be hosting contestant seminars very soon and I would love to meet you there. Keep an eye on my blog or visit the official website for more information!

Have a great day, week and 2007!

-- Kristin

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Erin Nurss, Miss Sierra Vista, and I were guests on the KTAN 1430 AM radio talk show, "The Friday Report" in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Thank you so much to the Host, Fran Richey, Operations Manager Grady Butler, and Pat Call. It was a pleasure to talk about growing up in Sierra Vista, my platform "Breast Cancer Awareness," the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, "The National Anthem Project” and the Mrs. America Organization.

-- Diane

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It was a pleasure to speak to the Cienega Rotary Club meeting in Vail, Arizona.

Thank you so much to Rich Hillman for inviting me to speak about the Mrs. America Organization and my platform, "Breast Cancer Awareness."

Thank you Elizabeth Webb, Rotary Sergeant at Arms, and her daughter Mylan for the photos.

The members of the Rotary Club were a terrific audience and I appreciate all your questions and discussions.

Looking forward to seeing you at the "Race for the Cure" on April 15th!

-- Diane

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