Introducing the beautiful new Miss Michigan Teen USA 2009 . . .Kristen Danyal!!! :)

I am very pleased to introduce our new Miss Michigan Teen USA 2009! Kristen Danyal is 18 years old, a college freshman, and is from Sterling Heights! Kristen is in a five year program to become a Physician's assistant! This was her very first pageant and she rocked the house! I am so proud of her! She was not afraid to ask questions and really took an interest in the USA system! She will do an amazing job at Nationals ~ I have no doubt! She is gorgeous and is a real sweetheart! I love her personality ~ so much fun and an easy smile!

The new Miss Michigan USA is Lindsey Tycholiz (we have known each other for years from the MAO system) and she is terrific too! These two new queens will do a fantastic job and will make all of Michigan proud!! :)

As for me, I cried during my farewell and I tried so hard not to, but sometimes there are things that just can't be helped! This has been the most incredible year of my life and I hated to see it end!! The standing ovation was a complete surprise to me and that made me cry even more!!!!! I was happy that I got the crown on Kristen without a problem (the last time I crowned my successor it immediately got knocked off when I gave the new queen a congratulatory hug!!!) at least this one stayed on for Kristen's "walk"!!!! :) I encourage everyone to embrace Kristen . . . she is very special and to give her all of your love and support!!!

Well, this is my last blog and I need to start getting ready for my last Homecoming dance tonight. . . so I send a very sincere thank you to all my family, friends, and loved ones for your continued love and encouragement all year! May the Lord bless and keep you until we meet again!

For the last time and with much love,

Elizabeth Anne Hawthorne

Miss Michigan Teen USA 2008

Who will be the next Miss Michigan Teen USA????!!!!

I am so excited to meet all the girls tomorrow night competing for the title of Miss Michigan Teen USA 2009!! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will change one of these young ladies life forever and I can't wait to see who it is!

Every contestant submitted a beautiful photo and I know several of the girls personally! While it will be hard for me to close this chapter of my life, I am honored to crown a new girl and very excited for her!

I am a Christian so I don't believe in luck (good or bad) so let me wish to each of you that you do your best by being yourself! Relax, smile, have fun and remember that "everything happens for a reason!!!"

God bless you!!!!

Much love,

Elizabeth : )

Arts & Apples Festival!! :)

I have to be quick with this entry as my dad is leaving for France in about an hour for 10 days and there goes my laptop! I won't be able to enter anything until the 16th of Sept!

Yesterday, September 6th, I went to the Arts and Apples Festival in Rochester Hills to judge a pie eating contest!! This was my first attempt at judging pies, but I loved it!! Of course every pie was . . . apple! There were 8 entries and each pie tasted delicious! Thankfully, I was not the only judge!! The Mayor of Rochester and a Channel 7 news anchor also helped me with the final decision! We decided the best of the best had a hint of chocolate in it and it was unanimously the favorite for all three of us!

The top three bakers got a beautiful hand painted pie plate for their future creations! I just have to say I got the biggest laugh out of the two ladies hiding behind their plates (see picture)!! They looked like they were saying something about the winner and I couldn't help but giggle! Truly they were great sports and we all had a wonderful time! I am so glad I was invited to judge this event! I am super happy it was after the National competition so I could really enjoy the pies! And I did!! :)

I wish I could have gone through all of the booths at the festival, but I had to rush off to a wedding in Grand Rapids by early afternoon and had hours of travel ahead of me! Now that I know about the Arts & Apples Festival I hope to return next year and take it all in!

Clarkston's Labor Day Parade!! :)

What a glorious day for a parade!!!!!!!!!

Today was my last parade as Miss Michigan Teen USA 2008. It was bittersweet as I have enjoyed participating in so many different events and to think I have only a few more weeks left before crowning my successor was a bit sad, but I managed to smile as big as I could and wave to the many who came out to enjoy the day's festivities.

I love Clarkston and even though I only moved here exactly three years ago today (yes, on Labor Day!!) I have come to sincerely enjoy the community and the people! Today's parade only had 53 entries. I was #16. It is the first time I have ever been in a parade at the front of the line and not at the end! I liked that alot! :)

Shelia Klien, Miss Oakland County, MAO, Miss America Organization, was also in the parade, but quite a ways behind me. We had met before so it was really nice to catch up with one another and reconnect before the parade began! She is as beautiful as ever and I sure wish I could dance like her! She is amazing and shared with me she just spent one and a half months in New York City for even more dancing! I can't wait to see her dance in her next competition if not before!

This year's parade theme was "Working Together To Keep Our Community Green." I chose to wear a green gown (for kicks and giggles) although I do understand what the real message is about!! In fact it was the same gown I won this title in and I must say that while I love it as much as ever it is really too big for me now as I worked especially hard to get into shape for Nationals so I had to keep hiking it up over my bustline (I am sure that was attractive!!) but it all went fine!

I hope that you have/had a great Labor Day holiday! And tomorrow . . . reality hits . . . back to school! But I am officially a Senior now! And you know what they say . . . Seniors rock!!!!!!!!!! :)