Arthritis Foundation Commercial

Today I was honored to be a part of the Arthritis Foundation's annual television commercial campaign that will help spread awareness of the walks and educational programs available through AF organized nationwide. I hope that by sharing my story with rheumatoid arthritis it will help inspire others to be a part of our program and foster education across the world to those who suffer from the pain of rheumatic diseases.

Let's Move Together!

I am so honored to be featured as this month's "Mover of the Month" by the Arthritis Foundation Click here for the article!

One in five people or 46 million Americans suffer from the pain of arthritis, Let's Move Together is a nationwide movement led by the Arthritis Foundation that encourages people to move to prevent or treat arthritis and rheumatic diseases. Join the movement today!

Judging Sunburst International Pageants

Having a blast judging the Sunburst International pageant finals in Atlanta with my hubby Matt and beautiful pageant sister Tiffany Hudak, Mrs. Georgia United States! We judged over 300 contestants from all over the U.S. and surrounding countries! Whew it was a long day!

More Mrs. International Pictures!

Here are more pictures from the Mrs. International 2008 pageant in Chicago - enjoy!

MRS. INTERNATIONAL ORIENTATION
With Mrs. Alabama Janet Smith, Mrs. Virginia Joy Pfister and Mrs. Southeast Laine Berry - orientation was a memorable experience kicking off the "Go Red for Women" campaign.

DISCOVERING DOWNTOWN CHICAGO With Mrs. New York Lori Donaudy, Mrs. Oklahoma Sasha Townsend, Mrs. North Carolina Shannon Devine, Mrs. Connecticut Jennifer Balzarini, Mrs. New Jersey Kim Meehan, Mrs. South Carolina Patti Mercer, Mrs. Pennsylvania Susan Huntley, Mrs. Ohio Gerri Walczak, Mrs. Florida Ashley Maguire and Mrs. Southeast Laine Berry shopping till we dropped in Chicago!

With Brenda Mee, Mrs. Idaho having a blast in downtown Chicago. Brenda has an amazing voice, she is a very well known radio personality with her husband in Idaho! Listen to her show on KIZN radio. She is as beautiful on the outside as she sounds on the inside!

With my fashion inspiration Mrs. DC, Deanna Linz - girl you know how to dress! WOW! What a classy and beautiful woman, Deanna your work with your platform is amazing and thank you Andy for keeping us safe! You are a perfect couple!

Touring the city of Chicago with the sweet Mrs. North Dakota, Ang Smith, you are so crazy girl! Thank you for being a ray of pure sunshine! We have been email buddies for awhile and it was fantastic to make a beautiful new friend in person! Chewy says hi! :0) Hope to see you in a few weeks!

With Carol Johnson Mrs Arkansas, the sweetest girl in the entire pageant! Always a kind word of encouragement and smile, you made this experience a wonderful one - big hugs to you girl!

MRS. INTERNATIONAL FORMAL DINNER

All the contestants with Mrs. International 2007 Rebekah Negrete and Executive Director Mary Richardson before dinner at the Monaco Room in Chicago. Here's to the amazing class of 2008!

With my beautiful sisters of the South: Mrs. Alabama Janet Smith and Mrs South Carolina Patti Mercer. You both are amazing women and I am so glad we were able to share this amazing experience together!

With Mrs. Illinois Michelle Beckwith, Mrs. North Carolina Shannon Devine and Mrs. Arkansas Carol Johnson at the formal dinner in the Monaco Room - you all look amazing ladies! You are have done amazing work with your platforms, you are all such an inspiration! Thank you for making that evening a night to remember forever!

FRIDAY REHEARSALS
With Deanna Linz Mrs. DC, Ginny Meerman Mrs. Virgin Islands and Joy Pfister, Mrs. Virginia on our way to practice - aren't these women beautiful? I wish we had more time together, you are all amazing women with platforms that really make a difference!

With Jessica Plante Mrs. Massachusetts - we must have been separated at birth, she's so funny, down to earth and gorgeous! I am in awe of your platform work and personal story, you are a true testament of a role model, I am honored to be your new friend!

At rehearsals with my hubby Matt - lookin' good babe!

MRS. INTERNATIONAL FINALS

With Traycee Menifee, Mrs. Georgia Beauties of America 40's! Thank you for always being a constant source of support and wonderful friend, I love ya girl!

With my Florida gal pals - thank you for coming to Chicago to cheer me on!

With my BFF's...Barbra Christner and Angel Kirk - I love you both to pieces! Thank you for coming to Chicago - Barb, I am truly blessed to have you as a friend and cannot thank you enough for all you have done for me. Angel, thank you and Randy for coming all the way from ALASKA to cheer me on! I am humbled by our friendship and cannot wait for you to move to Tennessee so we can be within driving distance of each other. My life is forever changed with you in it, thank you both for being such a inspiration and beautiful women inside and out - I love you both!

The top five finalists with husbands. Laine - congrats on your new title! Who would have thought that we sat next to one another at orientation we'd be the last two standing. May God bless your travels this year with the Go Red movement to help change the stats for heart disease in women around the world, you will make a tremendous impact! Our prayers are with your Dad for a speedy recovery!

1st Runner up - Mrs. International Pageant!

Congratulations to all the beautiful and accomplished ladies this year at the 2008 Mrs. International pageant! I am HONORED to be awarded First Runner-up! Thank you to my loving husband Matt for being so incredibly wonderful throughout this entire journey, I love you so much, you are an amazing Mr. Georgia! I am also so very grateful for my family and friends who supported me through this experience and I cannot thank you all enough for the countless prayers, phone calls, emails, beautiful gifts and cards during pageant week. Being able to champion Arthritis Awareness as my cause is such an honor and thank you to my friends at the Arthritis Foundation for all your support! I walk away from this entire experience a richer and more humbled woman from knowing each and every contestant in the pageant, having met you all, I am richer in friendships and that in itself is so invaluable to me!

Mrs. International 2008 Top 10 from left to right: Tennessee, North Carolina, New York, Oklahoma (4th ru), South Carolina (2nd ru), Southeast (winner), Georgia (1st ru), District of Columbia (3rd ru), Virginia and Massachusetts

The sweetest sister queen I could ever ask for, Mrs. Alabama - Janet you are in MY top ten! I love you girl! My throat is so sore from doing my Chewbacca impression all week! LOL...that was so funny, I am so glad we bonded the way we did and I am so lucky to call you my friend. Group #3 RULES! We rocked it out ladies, I am so honored to share the week with you! From left to right in our opening number outfits: (Nevada, Texas, Utah, Colorado, Georgia, Tennessee, Massachusetts)With my dear friend, Tiffany Love - Mrs. Tennessee...we had a blast together dancing, singing and cutting up all week! You had me in stitches...don't forget, "the world is mine!" I am so glad we got to know each other so well, you are a true delight and have a heart of gold. Melvin was amazing helping all the girls out of the rain too - what a gentleman! Six Flags here we come!Group shot before interviews. These beautiful gals are both my suite mates: Brenda Baecker, Mrs. Colorado - You are a GEM! Thank you for always looking out for me "momma cat," you are the best dancer, all those years of cheerleading paid off...I can't wait to see you and Rick in October! Mrs. Michigan, Keisha Guy - my partner in the opening number, walking down those stairs with you in the opening number was so much fun and now you know my little secret for keeping everything in place!
Receiving the generous $1,500 1st runner-up award from Tammy and David McDonald of Reliant Hospice. Tammy was Mrs. International 2004, and she is stunning!
With Tim Kretschmann of the Pageant Cast! Thanks Tim for a great interview and it was fantastic to meet you in person - finally! Talk with you soon!
With Matt - a.k.a. "Mr. Georgia International" at rehearsals - I love you!

More photos will be added ...so check back soon!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

At the annual 4th of July parade in Marietta, Independence Day is more than a chance for family and friends throughout the country to gather for barbecues and fireworks displays, it is an annual celebration to commemorate the courage and faith of our founding fathers in their pursuit of liberty. Thank you to all military who have served and are still serving to preserve our freedom! God Bless you all!

With Congressman Phil Gingrey, M.D. (11th District of Georgia)

With Cobb County Sheriff's Department(Milton Beck, Division Commander; Lynda Coker, Chief Deputy; Neil Warren, Sheriff) With honored veterans, thank you for your service to our country!With Megan Barney, Miss GA National Teenager & Brittany Parks, Miss GA National Miss)

With my sisterqueen Tiffany Conte, Miss Georgia International