Guest Blogger: I'm Getting So Big by Baby Doll

I turned 17 months old today so Mom thought it might be fun to show you some of the amazing things I'm big enough to do. I'm awesome on the skateboard!

Princess taught me how to play her clarinet today...I only broke the reed a little. Why would you put something in your mouth anyway that you don't plan to eat?

Crafty didn't want to do her job so I told her I would help with the vacuuming.

Scout unloaded the dishwashers but Mom needed a little help loading. Who needs a stool?

After all that work I needed a little time to relax so I decided to do a little table dancing in my jammies..

Look, Mom! No hands!

It's a good thing I never fall.

Mom says I'm driving her crazy.

I don't know why.

Do you?

My Second (and Last!) Beauty Pageant

I've told you plenty of times that I'm a small-town girl. We only had 83 students in my entire graduating class! Our high school was made up of kids from three towns, two a little bigger, and a small one. If you do the math, that meant there were only about 16 girls in my class from my home town.

The year was 1983 and there was incredible pressure on every graduating senior girl to enter the town's beauty pageant. I was still smarting from my recent loss in the Miss United Teenager pageant, so I was not excited to try again.

There were lots of reasons to NOT sign up. First and foremost was the fact that I just didn't look that great in a bathing suit. Second was the humiliation factor...I didn't like losing. Third, and probably the most logical, was the fact that I was so nearly engaged to my sweetie. Winning the pageant meant I had to represent our town at the local parades and other functions. It was a year-long commitment and getting married was not acceptable.

But my friends eventually talked me into giving it a try. Immediately we were celebrities! As contestants our pictures were in the local newspaper. We were given lessons on sitting properly, public speaking, and posture. They even had classes on hair and makeup! It was a pretty good deal since it didn't cost anything.

I know, it's a repeat picture!

When the day finally arrived, the only part I was really dreading was the swimsuit competition. I had a nice new one-piece bathing suit and three-inch heels to wear with it. We had practiced this particular part of the show, but I was still not adequately prepared for the awkwardness of the situation. Thankfully, even though I knew there were several hundred people in the audience, I was blinded by the spotlight and I managed to do my little twirl and pose without falling down.

Then we had the talent portion of the show. I don't think I've ever mentioned that I love to sing other than that I had taken some voice lessons at one time. I belted out Billy Joel's "Piano Man," a song I had performed several times in front of large audiences. I actually love singing in public (or at least I did then...I haven't done it for so long, I'd probably be terrified now), so that part was easy.

The last segment was the evening gown competition. Because there were only about 10 of us (not everyone was as easily persuaded as I was), there were no preliminary cuts. Everyone was in until the winners were announced. After walking the stage (again in my prom dress), we were asked silly questions and then it was time to announce the winners. I felt pretty good and with the eternal optimism of youth, I thought I had a chance.

Once again, I was disappointed to be left out of the winners' circle. Just for fun, I pulled out my old journal and this is what I had to say about it:

                                      May 7, 1983 - Saturday
                                      Well, I didn't win Miss Ephraim, but I guess that
                                       was to be expected. The day was busy and kind of
                                       fun. I wouldn't change anything I did, that's what
                                       hurts., when I feel like I did my best, and I still
                                       didn't make the grade. Oh well, another learning
                                       experience I suppose. I guess it was worth it. I got
                                       some pretty flowers and the shoes and swimsuit
                                        Dad bought for me...

 
Just like a typical teenager, focusing on what's in it for me...But it all worked out OK. On May 23rd I accepted a ring from my sweetie and my life changed drastically. Even a tiara wouldn't have been as sweet as my awesome engagement ring. And I couldn't have worn it nearly as many places...

credit

Beauty Pageants

Have you ever been in a beauty pageant? I know, that doesn't really seem to be my style, does it? Well, one year I was invited to be a State Finalist (whatever that means) in the Miss United Teenager pageant.I was excited and flattered and it took me a while, but I finally convinced my parents that I really wanted to give it a try. It was 1982 and I was a junior in high school

I never thought of myself as being a beauty. I struggled with weight issues all my life, but this pageant didn't have a swimsuit competition and it did have a writing segment. Silly me, I thought I might have a chance.

It was held at the University of Utah. Grandma brought me up to campus and I remember getting lost. We eventually found the check-in area and I settled into a dorm. The competition took two or three days and I really don't remember it all that well.

I know that the red and white outfit in the first picture was required and we all practiced and then performed a big number together in those clothes. They sent us patterns and I made the skirt. White strappy shoes were also required. We were allowed to choose our own evening gown and this peach-colored one was actually the dress my mom made for my junior prom.

I felt pretty good about things going in, but by the time I met the other girls I realized I was way out of my element. Having our pictures snapped every 2 seconds was disturbing to me and I didn't love wearing a dress all the time. I felt like most of the time I was pasting on my smile and not being myself.

Not surprisingly, I was eliminated in the first round, but that didn't stop me from tossing my hat into the ring one more time. I'll tell you about that tomorrow.

Pinterest Flowers

I asked Teach to put up some random pics for me again since I couldn't seem to get my brain working today. It seems my creative juices have dried up...

When I was younger, I was a craft-a-holic. I loved working with my hands doing embroidery, felt, plastic canvas, hooking rugs, you name it, I was there. Maybe tomorrow I'll show you my greatest creation (if I can get it out of the cedar chest where it's been hiding for almost 30 years). Kind of silly, huh?

So it would seem natural that I would LOVE Pinterest. But I really don't. My days are so filled with other things now that the only time I do crafts is with my girl scouts, on a road trip, and sometimes during General Conference. I prefer to spend time with my sewing machine when I want to make something.

But Teach loves Pinterest and she is constantly showing me some new thing she would like to make. Sometimes it's food and sometimes it's crafts. So last weekend she raided my fabric and rallied her little sisters while I wasn't home and they created some really cute flowers for their hair. Most of them were eventually attached to a headband although her pictures just show them this way.

I wish I could say I participated in this activity, but I was a terrible mom and mostly I just complained about the fact that the yellow gingham USED to be the exact size for a quilt back.

Thanks for taking up the slack, Teach! Maybe someday Pinterest and I will become best friends. Until then, keep showing me the pictures, maybe one of them will get my creative juices flowing again.