Styles and Smiles Fashion Show

I had a fabulous time on Sunday September 25th with the other ladies of the Massachusetts Dental Society modeling for the Styles and Smiles Fashion Show.  The event took place at the Boston University Castle, which was just gorgeous inside.  We wore two different outfits from Lyn Evan Potpourri Design and finished up the show in scrubs and clogs. 
Attendees were all member from the Massachusetts Dental Society.  When they arrived they enjoyed a cocktail hour with passed hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar, followed up by a buffet style dinner.  After everyone enjoyed their meals the real entertainment started with the fashion show. 
All proceeds from this event went to rebuilding the smiles of abused women.

25th Anniversary of Mrs. United States

On August 3rd and 4th I had the opportunity to attend the 25th Anniversary of the Mrs United States Pageant held at the Hilton Resort in Las Vegas. I was there to cheer on our New England States Massachusetts and New Hampshire, represented by Courtney Nappa and Nikol Lauze respectively. I also had the chance to meet up with some of the women I competed with last year, including our beautiful Mrs. United States Rachel Jullieret. It was a really fun two days.

One change this year was that each delegate wore a state costume. Everyone was so creative in their choices. They also invited all the former Mrs. United States back to perform a special number with Jay Joseph the host. I also really enjoyed the opening number that the contestants performed in their red dresses to Ricky Martin.

We also squeezed in some quality fun time with my husband and step-son, while in Vegas.

Floss Night with the Lowell Spinners

On June 29th, 2011 my husband, step-son, and I headed to the Lowell Spinners game for floss night. It was the first event of this kind sponsored by the Massachusetts Dental Society. As attendees entered the game they received a small packed tooth floss pick. At the fourth inning everyone opened their floss and began to floss their teeth. A world record was set for the most people flossing their teeth at the same time, 3,014 to be exact. Also throughout the game fans participated in dental related activities. They had a spelling bee with dental terms, a race around the bases against Mr. Bristles, a toothbrush mascot, and dental trivia. The Lowell Spinners won that night 3-2 but I think the real winners were the fans who walked away with a little bit more knowledge about their oral health.

Mrs. Massachusetts and Mrs. New Hampshire United States Pageant 2011

On April 9th, 2011 we crowned Courtney Nappa as Mrs. Massachusetts United States 2011 and Nikoll Lauze as Mrs. New Hampshire United States 2011 at the Amato Theater in Milford, NH. Irene Raissis Alton the states director put on a fabulous show. All the contestants looked beautiful. The opening number to Enrique Iglesia was a huge hit. The contestants all wore red cocktail dresses, that really looked sharp up on the stage.

I performed a variation from "Stars and Stripes" en pointe. The number was choreographed by Vanessa Voter Shaheen the director of Methuen Ballet Ensemble.

I loved being able to spend the day with old friends and to make some new friends. I met the reigning Mrs. Connecticut United States, Kathleen M. Gneiting, Mrs. Connecticut United States 2008, Lynette Letsky Piombo, and Laurye Koseski Natale, Mrs. Vermont United States 2009. They were all wonderful ladies and I was honored to spend the day with them.

I wish both of our New England Queens all the best. Good Luck at Nationals!

Farwell Address

Approximately one year ago the honor was bestowed upon me to represent the married women of Massachusetts. As I fulfilled my role, the experience of representing the married women led me to many avenues and the acquaintances of many people that will now and forever encompass my life. The 2010 Mrs. United States class are all remarkable women who I am proud to be a part of. Throughout the year I was able to educate people about the importance of their oral health to their overall health. Opportunities also arose for me to work with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

I would like to send out several recognitions. First to my amazing state director Irene Raissis Alton your advice, guidance, positive commentary, and enthusiasm was just what I needed at Nationals. Jane Marshall, Mrs. Massachusetts International 2011, thank you for sharing your year with me. I feel so lucky to have been able to attend so many appearances with you. To my family thank you for all of your encouraging words. James, my husband, you are an amazing person you will always be my rock and support in everything that I do. Vanessa and Ashley you have remained my biggest fans through this reign and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I believe that my ballet training at Voter's School of Dance gave me the confidence and poise I needed to earn this opportunity. Finally to my mom, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have taught me to go after my goals and if I do I will always be successful. Thank you too for being my personal seamstress. Your expert hand at sewing provided me with the most perfectly fitted gown and well adorned bathing suit for Nationals. I love you and thank you again.

To Courtney Nappa, our new Mrs. Massachusetts United States!!!! Remember to always be true to yourself. Enjoy your reign and do everything you can while opportunity presents. This will be a time in you life you will treasure always. Congratulations and best wishes to you.

Pearls of Wisdom Night

On Thursday March 25th I attended Presentation of Mary Academy's Pearls of Wisdom night as their guest speaker. I graduated from PMA in 1997 and it was great to go back and see some of my former teachers and all the changes that were made to the school. The event took place in the library which used to be the old gymnasium. They have since built a new gym named after my principal Sister Rosemarie Dupre, who had passed away from cancer several years ago.

Paula Liberte, the event coordinator, had called back several alumni to adopt a little sister from the 2011 graduating class. Each one of us got up with our little sister and gave them some brief words of advice. My little sister Leah was a remarkable young lady. She is planning to attend college and major in psychology, she has her college choices narrowed down to two schools, Endicott, or Umass Amherst. My pearls of wisdom to Leah was that: "life is not measured in the breaths we take but by the moments that take your breath away." Afterwards we all enjoyed refreshments, a truly enjoyable experience.

Oral Health Presentation at the Nesmith Library

Yesterday, March 21st, I had the best time speaking with a group of home schooled children, ranging in age from 5 to 10, at the Nesmith Library in Windham, NH. We started out with a little presentation about what oral health was, how to keep our teeth healthy, what a healthy diet was, and the different parts of the teeth. I have to admit I think some of this was a bit much for the 5 year olds to absorb however when I broke out the puppet they loved this. The puppet, who the children named Mr. Buggy, was a great teaching aid to show the children where to brush and how to brush. A lot of the children were surprised to find out that we should also brush our tongues. We then read some stories about going to the dentist and what to expect. Afterwards I answered questions for the children. I have to say my favorite question of the morning was: Are you the Queen of Massachusetts? To which I replied in a sense I am one of the Massachusetts Queens. All the children were wonderful, inquisitive, and very well behaved.

Read Along at the Library

On Monday, February 22nd I went to the Nevins Memorial Library in Methuen, MA to read to the children stories about going to the dentist and taking care of their teeth. The first story was about an alligator with a loose tooth. He went with his friends to see the dentist to make sure his teeth were ok, turns out his tooth was supposed to be loose because an adult tooth was taking its place. The second story was about a little boy who was afraid to see the dentist because his friend had scared him by showing him all of his fillings. The boy had brought along his play dinosaurs and after the dentist checked the dinosaurs teeth first he wasn't scared to have his checked. Once we were done reading we did an art project with decoupage. We took recycled plastic water bottled that were cut down and made toothbrush holders. The children took glue and placed all different colored tissue paper on the outside to decorate them, it was a fun time had by all!