Miss Universe

Did you watch the Miss Universe pageant yesterday? What did you think of it? Did you want a specific country to win? I always want the USA woman to win because I am from the USA and suprisingly to me, she won. I thought Miss Philippines should have won. She was poised and elegant, spoke well and wore her gown beautifully. I thought almost all the ladies who made top 10 and top 5 had gorgeous gowns but the one I did not like was Miss USA. She had way way way too much cleavage showing and I didn't think it tasteful at all. I also was annoyed that she kept holding and lifting up her dress. This is a major pageant Faux Pas. She also tripped on her gown once. How does any of that show poise or grace. This is my opinion of course. Miss USA did not answer her question very well, was not clear and even said UMMMM. Philippines did not, answered and spoke well and looked great. It was a beautiful show and it moved along well. I liked that. All the ladies seemed to have a great time and I am sure it was a blast. It was great they all made it this far!! Congrats to Miss Angola in giving up her reign as Miss Universe 2011.

Glitz photos, contest, please vote, and photographer

Pageant Friends, please take time to go on facebook and like the page below Please like the facebook page noted below and then post under my posting or on the page saying "Sari Hurtig sent you here" There is someone barely beating me, i need at least 20 more people and I can win!!! the contest is open until tomorrow, Friday until 5. ... then I can win a free photo retouch/glitz. please help!!!! you need to post under my posting on their page and comment or at least comment on the page saying Sari (me) i sent you there. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fancy-Fotos-Retouching-by-Mary/234359826603908 I have a picture of sheridan I would like to have glitzed but would prefer to win the contest so we get the glitzing for free. your help is appreciated.

This pictures is before it is even glitzed, I think it is amazing. Snow Dog photos is the photographer and Alicia takes amazing photos. If you need good pageant photos, I recommend her. Tell her Sari sent you. Reminder again however, please go to the facebook link, like the page and say "sari hurtig sent me". Note: All photos can not be glitzed, no matter what anyone says. A good photographer knows the looks and lighting to take a perfect picture. Like Snow Dog.

Deals in pageants

it is hard to find a good deal in pageants, they can be costly if not on the local level then once you do a local competing in a state or a national can cost a pretty penny with Travel costs, hotel, car rental, food, not to mention the cost of the pageant itself... however, here is a deal for you... Try this newer pageant in Illinois with a great national should you move on... it is International Junior Miss. there is a special deal, 5 more days through living social. I did not get this deal for Sheridan because she was already signed up... but you can get it!!! go here: http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/326-chicago-north-suburbs/deals/520348-entry-to-illinois-international-junior-miss good luck

Volunteering and pageants

Some people get mad at us for doing so many pageants or winning so many titles, but I don't agree with them. I think if you win the bigger titles as long as you can fairly represent them all you have a right to them. When Sheridan started competing seriously at about the age of 10 she ended up having 3 titles that year, Miss Northern Suburbs OPT 2010, IL Preteen Miss American Coed 2010 and Northern Illinois Scholarship Pageant (NISP) Junior Supreme Star. That year she made time to volunteer in all three organizations representing her title. She had at least 102 hours between all 3 programs, if not more. So my point in this post is that volunteering and representing the title is key to any pageant queen's responsibility. You don't just win a title, prizes, crown and sash. Sheridan volunteered this past weekend for 5 hours at a local church food pantry. This is a monthly pantry where we often like to go and help out, every 3rd saturday of the month. This weekend we are going to Bernie's book bank for the open volunteering time on saturday from 9-11 and Sunday for Bernie's we are wrapping gifts for a 5 hour shift at a local Barnes and Noble book store. I am sure while Sheridan is off from school we will go to our favorite animal shelter and sit in the cat room and pet/socialize the cats. We love our time there volunteering.

trying to get reelected

it is that time of year where I have to collect signatures to try to get on the ballot again for the April election. It is really a lot of work. For the Township Trustee position I need approximately 350-550 signatures. I am aiming for 400 or 27 pages of 15 signatures per page. This is not easy. I wonder as I am collecting signatures how the people running for positions representing larger territories do it. They obviously need volunteers to help gather them. I am gathering signatures mostly on my own. My sister did a page and I have two pageant mom friends gathering a page or two if possible. So far I have 23 pages today, not including what the two friends are gathering. I think some of my fellow township trustess are also helping gathering signatures too. The first time I did this 4 years ago I stood out at the library getting signatures and went to a game or two at Libertyville High School. This year I am being smarter. I am going to the Libertville Highschool sports, including Gymnastics, Wrestling, Girls and Boys basketball, choir and band concerts, also to the Hawthorne Middle school basketball games, and Rondout school holiday concert. It is much better gathering the signatures inside instead of out in the cold, wet, rain and snow. I also volunteer at a food pantry and got signatures there too and from a boyscout troup's parents at a church where my daughter was taking piano lessons at the time. Any big groups of people. This Friday I should be able to get my last few sheets. The documents are all due on the 26th of December, originally it was Christmas eve but that has changed, thankfully. If I get on the ballot I hope I will be re-elected. I love representing the community and watching how our money is being spent and helping control the spending too.

Elite USA IL pageant weekend

What a great pageant weekend.
wend friday night to register early and get t-shirts to bling for intro and interview. met alicia and mia and Sam for dinner

Saturday registered at hotel, Marriott in Schaumburg, great venue, great location, has nice pool and hot tub, near retaurants. decent price...
had intro and interview at 4 and 430 resepectively and then grabbed dinner and had talent at 7 with crowning for talent immediately to follow. Sheridan performed two talents, sang, and played piano and sang, she was amazing. results were a bit surprising for me but either way, sheridan was great, she got 2nd runner up in the 7-12 division. our friend mia in the 4-6 division won.

Sunday we got up early and we had actress and modeling, mia and sheridan both won actress and modeling in their divisions, 4-6 and and 7-12 respectively and the person with the highest score in ALL divisions (last division for optionals was 13 and up) won supermodel, a new title, that was sheridan she won supermodel.
Sam H. our friend, coach, hair and makeup artist did an amazing job on both girls hair but especially sheridan because she did this really cool, butterfly hairdo.

then they changed for beauty and in elite it is unique because it consists of both a high fashion or fun dress modeled in a beauty pattern and then a standard beauty gown as well.
Afterwards more awards were given, mini optionals, sheridan won two, she also Won her division (10-12) and took 2nd runner up in Grand and made top 5 in Elite. Nationals here we come in June.

Elite US IL march 31, april 1

Hi All,
As many of you know, the Elite pageant is the 31/1st
so i am inviting you to come. Here are the details; schedule;costs etc. if you choose to come please please say you are here to see sheridan so we get ticket sales credit b/c there is a hostess crown for most ticket sales that she can win.

the schedule is as follows:

sat mar 31
4-5pm Personal Introduction-
5pm Interviews - Personal Interviews –
7pm TALENT competition (2 minute max)

Sunday april 1
11am MODEL/ACTRESS
competition – begin with 30 sec, live commercial presentation, followed by runway outfit (open modeling)

2:00 BEAUTY
Competition begins with modeling Fashion Wear, followed by Formal (Stay in formal if you do not do talent, as we crown in formal attire)
6:30pm CROWNING

the location is the schaumburg marriott

tickets are $20 for saturday OR sunday or $30 for the two days

the pageant is called Elite and will be in the ballroom.

should you choose to attend, look for me/us also when buying tickets, at door, please say you are there to see sheridan b/c she gets credit and there is a Hostess crown for most tickets sold.

Thanks, Sari

Natural Pageants do's and don'ts

So it drives me nuts when I see basic mistakes in natural pageants,

Don't wear a dress that is too short, shows your ankles, or is a cocktail dress for formal wear.
Do wear one that nicely touches/brushes the floor.
Don't wear a dress that you can trip on.
Don't wear heels that you can't walk in.
Do learn how to walk smoothly and gracefully in heels.
Do practice walking in your clothing, outfits.
Do wear age appropriate clothing
Don't dress too old.
Don't act overly sexy, pageants are glamorous not slutty.
Don't put your hand on your hips when modeling gown.
Don't hold your dress
Don't lift you dress (if too long wear higher heals or get shortened)
Do wear appropriate color clothing for your hair and skin type.
Don't model a bathing suit where you are hanging out.
Don't wear too much makeup
Do wear age appropriate makeup
Do follow the rules and guidelines for the pageant
Do tan if you are too pale
Don't get an Orange tan
Don't sing without backup, karaoke music unless you are a perfectly intune and interesting acapella singer.
Don't sing a song about God in a pageant, not appealing to all
Do entertain
Don't sing the National Anthem as your talent song
Do make sure if you dance you have smooth lines
Do learn to cover mistakes, no one knows it is a mistake unless you make it obvious!
Do practice a few weeks/months in advance.
Do practice interview questions and onstage questions so you are prepared
Do follow timing guidelines for talent
Don't vote for miss congeniality b/c someone asked for it.
Don't vote for miss congeniality just because they are a friend
Do vote for a miss congeniality b/c the person deserves it.
Do have fun and make friends

miss chicago 2012

last night was the miss chicago 2012 pageant and it was bittersweet, sheridan gave up her title as Miss chicago outstanding preteen. It was a long day. we were at Concordia university, arriving at 730am and the pageant began at 4 and ended by 8.

we had 25 miss 10 teen and 3 preteen, 5 princesses. it was a long day and night. interviews started at 8am and ran until about 2pm, in between the ladies did talent tech on stage, learned their walks for the pageant and learned the intro number.

Cara the director was so organzized. she had a great team helping her, her mom and dad, her cousin who was in charge of the production on stage. she had Jennifer Heim as photographer and Mathew Jacobsen videoing. they are both such professionals and do a great job.

Cara provided lunch for the whole gang of 40 contestants plus the outgoing queens and their families as well.

The outgoing Miss chicago Erika Uhlig and Miss IL Hannah Smith (former Miss Windy City) were the emcees. Sheridan the outgoing Miss Chicago OPT and Rebekah Williams the outgoing Miss Chicago Teen asked the questions to the princesses/preteens and the teens respectively. Mia our outgoing Miss Chicago Princess led active wear for the princesses.

Interviews for miss were 10 minutes, Teens interview was 8 minutes and preteen 6. the miss go 9min30 sec and have a 30 sec wrap up if they choose.

The princess, teen and preteen model active wear in a sporting outfit, the miss in a bathing suit. they all do a talent, preteen and Miss have 90 seconds and teen has two minutes. Then they model gown.

what was nice is after intro where they all say their names, they have their on stage pop question, usually about their platform.

All ran smoothly.
Sheridan sang On My Own from Les Miserable and was dressed as beautiful as she sang (and yes I am biased but it was true). Sam H. did her hair and makeup and she looked amazing as always. Rebekah performed her talent as a lyrical dance and Erika sang the national anthem at the beginning of the pageant and played her violen as her farewell performance.

It was a great day!!