One Week!!!

The Pawnee Prairie Days Pageant was held today in Pawnee, IL, which is in the Springfield area. I was one of three judges who scored the adorable little girls and boys according to appearance and charm/personality, as well as choosing the 'most photogenic' contestants. They were all adorable, and it was a fun event. I almost wished I would have had another outfit with me so I could have ridden some of the rides at the carnival! Thank you to Jenny Thomas, who organized a great pageant and invited me to judge.

I also picked up my dresses from the seamstress today!! Thank you so much, Mavis! You do great work! I will also be picking up my custom-designed talent gown--I am so grateful for your talent, skill, and generosity, Miranda!! It is gorgeous! Thank you!

In exactly one week, the new Miss Illinois will be crowned and begin her year of service to the people of Illinois and preparing for the Miss America pageant in January 2011.
I'm sure Miss Illinois 2009 Erin O'Connor has mixed emotions about giving up her title--it has been a great year for her. Although I didn't personally see her often this past year, I've been able to keep updated through the Miss IL website. She has grown so much, and it's really been neat to see what she's been able to do with the crown, especially her amazing work to spread her message of awareness of and ways to prevent skin cancer. I know her mother would be so proud. Thank you, Erin, for your dedication and representation of the MISA/MAO. Best wishes for whatever is next!

I am so thrilled that Miss Illinois week is almost here and everything is coming together. It's also going to be such a special time for my princess Bella and me. Thank you so much to my family and friends for their support, especially to mom (thank you for being such a good listener for all my late-night talks) and to my director Rachel for her advice and direction, and thank you, Lord, for this opportunity to pursue my dream and for the way you've blessed me. I feel so prepared, and I've grown so much not only since I began competing but as Miss Capital City. I'm anxious for the wait to be over and to put my whole heart into competing for the job and title of Miss Illinois 2010! Let's do this!

Cards or gifts can be sent to:
Natalie Sherer~ Miss Capital City 2010
c/o Pheasant Run Resort & Spa
4051 East Main Street
St. Charles, IL 60174

MY COMPETITION SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY NIGHT: TALENT and EVENING GOWN
FRIDAY NIGHT: SWIMSUIT and ON-STAGE QUESTION
SATURDAY NIGHT: FINAL NIGHT and CROWNING OF MISS IL 2010!

For Tickets, call: 630.584.7200 ext. 10
Here is the link to the Norris Cultural Arts center website: http://www.norrisculturalarts.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.eventDetails&EventID=191

Thank you for reading my last post before the 2010 MISS ILLINOIS PAGEANT!

Princess Bella's Dance Recital, Nursing Home

I was so proud to see my princess Bella on stage for her dance recital this weekend! The recital was held at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, and there was a full house! Bella performed in two dances--the first one was to a Hannah Montana song--they really rocked it!--and in the second dance, they wore cute racing outfits and hats.
All the dancers took a group photo after the recital, and when Bella saw me in the audience, she had the biggest smile on her face and it melted my heart to see how excited she was that I was there! It was definitely fun to see Bella doing something she loves, and she did a great job! Her mom told me that she has been asked to join a competition team!











On another subject, the bottom line of my personal platform is using your talents to serve others. I have been a pianist for almost 15 years now! I also love singing, and I played cello for 8 years. Since I am musically-inclined, music has been my means of serving others. I have performed two solo benefit piano recitals to raise money for St. Jude Children's Hospital and Children's Miracle Network. When I was in NYC, I also performed for patients of the psychiatric ward of New York Presbyterian Hospital, and it was really a blessing to see how people were moved and appreciated the music.
Performing for and visiting with the residents at local nursing homes and Westminster Village, a retirement community here in Bloomington, is something I've done for years. I really have a heart to spend time with the elderly, share my gift of music with them, and help to brighten their day. During my most recent visit, I was able to see a long-time neighbor, Dora Wilson, (pictured)who is in her late nineties now. It is so important to remember the elderly and reach out to them--and anyone who could benefit from our time and talents. I encourage you to think of ways to reach out to people this summer!

Spring Forum/2010 Miss IL Outstanding Teen and Pre-Teen Pageant

This weekend, I was at the Hoogland Center in Springfield--for Miss IL Spring Forum 2010. It was fun to be back in the venue where I was crowned last November!

All of the contestants met each other, turned in paperwork, went to meetings lead by Executive Director Amalia Schwerdtmann and several Board members, and dance rehearsals to start learning the opening number. Miss Illinois 2009 Erin O'Connor spoke about her experiences, and we also had sessions with Michelle Holmes from The Pageant Room(http://www.pageantroom.com/coaching.php ), Fitness Trainer/Nutritionist Staci Boyer (http://www.motiv8nu.com/), and Brandi Robinson and Lanna Horman from About Face Makeup (http://www.aboutface.limelightstudiophotography.com/) and had mock interviews, which were great practice.











It was also great to see all the hostesses and security staff--I want to thank EVERYONE who volunteer their time to this organization during Spring Forum, Miss IL week, and during the year!! This whole program is successful because of your help.

It was definitely an informative weekend, and it was exciting to find out contestant numbers and roommate assignments--I'm looking forward to rooming with Miss Northern Illinois Lauren Murrell! I'm contestant number 13, so I will be first in the Omega group. I will be competing in Talent and Evening gown for the first night of prelims (June 17) and Swimsuit and On-Stage Question for the second night of prelims (June 18).

I enjoyed going to the 2nd Illinois' Got Talent Competition on Saturday and rooting for Reghan and Summer in the Pre-Teen and Teen pageant on Sunday! I loved your yellow dress, Reghan, and Summer, I'm so happy for you for winning 2nd runner up! I'm so proud of you both, and it was fun to get to hang out this weekend and sit together during the Talent Show. Congratulations to the new titleholders! Pictures and more information about these events are on the Miss IL website.

WOW...Miss Illinois is coming up soon! I can't wait! After my fitting this weekend, the finishing touches are being put on my custom-made talent gown..and I absolutely love it! I'm looking forward to spending the day with my director Rachel tomorrow and going to my Princess Bella's dance recital this weekend! I will be posting a couple more times before the pageant..so please check back and thank you for visiting my blog!

~17 days until Miss Illinois 2010 is crowned!~