Strike a pose.....4. Compete in the Mrs. Missouri pageant

The main purpose of my bucket list is to push my limits, try something I may have been too scared to do in the past.  Well I think I have found the perfect to-do.  #4 on my 30 by 30 bucket list is to "Compete in the Mrs. Missouri Pageant".

1.  Start a blog
2. Go to the Presidential Inauguration / visit DC
3. Run a destination 1/2 Marathon
4. Compete in Mrs. Missouri pageant
4. Eating a raw oyster
6. Ride a mechanical bull
7. Cook a traditional Thanksgiving dinner by myself
8. Shoot a gun/target shooting
9.  Go Mushroom hunting
10.  Learn to sew / make something I can wear
11. Visit a state I have never been to
12. Ride in a hot air balloon
13. Learn to play craps
14. Eat at Oklahoma Joe's BBQ
15. Complete one Pinterest craft project
16. Take a walking tour of a Civil War Battlefield
17. Learn to make a pie from scratch
18. Make Grandma's kolache cookies correctly
19. Take a shot of Jack Daniels
20. Take a cake decorating class and then decorate my own cake
21. Do at least one pull-up
22. Visit Graceland
23. Take a train ride/ weekend trip to Herman, Mo.
24. Make homemade pasta
25. Run a 8 min/mile 5K
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

Why?  Well, why not?  I meet all of the qualifications:
1. Natural born US citizen
2.  Resident of Missouri
3.  Married and living with my husband
4. Over 21 years old.

If I am going to do something I never would have done before, this is it.  After a little Internet research, I found out that the Mrs. Missouri USA pageant is held in Saint Joseph in March 2013.  With the pageant being held in my hometown how could I say no?  And unlike the Miss Missouri USA & Miss Missouri America pageants, I don't have to actually win and/or compete in a pageant to participate in this state pageant.

After applying to be a contestant online I found out that the cost of the pageant was a bit more than I had expected [total $800].   Finding out the expense was so disappointing.  As a newbie to the pageant scene I did not realize you could be sponsored and/or sell advertisements to help off-set the costs.   I began contacting a few friends and family and have been able to come up with enough to cover my initial registration expense.   I hope to find a few more people to sponsor me (wink, wink) and also sell a couple ads to local businesses.  With the pageant taking place in St. Joseph I am hoping local business would be interested in the advertising.  

If anyone reading this is interested in sponsoring me as a contestant please email me at  abbydennis83@gmail.com or send a Facebook message.  Anyone can be a sponsor at any dollar amount [no minimum].   Businesses can write-off the expense as an advertising deduction.   The best perk is that your name will be listed as my sponsor in the pageant program!!!!!   : )

Tomorrow I will be submitting the paperwork to become an official contestant for this year's pageant.  I have 2 1/2 months to get my booty in shape for the swimsuit competition.  WISH ME LUCK!

My official contestant paperwork to be faxed in tomorrow

P.S.  This will definitely not be the last blog post regarding this pageant and I wouldn't cross it off my list until after the show.  Stay tuned for more details as the pageant weekend gets closer.

XOXO,

Abby

A step back in time...16. Take a walking tour of a Civil War battlefield

Hello again!  Today I check off #16 on my list "Take a walking tour of a Civil War battlefield".  When I started my bucket list in my IPhone notes app I was adding at random and had no specific order to my 30 tasks.  Plus it was too much of a hassle to rearrange the order of the list once I typed in everything.  No one probably cares and / or is actually reading this post but I wanted to clear up any confusion.

As of right now I will post my list on each post with a highlight on the current blog's post.  It may change as time goes by or not.  Who knows?

1.  Start a blog
2. Go to the Presidential Inauguration / visit DC
3. Run a destination 1/2 Marathon
4. Compete in Mrs. Missouri pageant
4. Eating a raw oyster
6. Ride a mechanical bull
7. Cook a traditional Thanksgiving dinner by myself
8. Shoot a gun/target shooting
9.  Go Mushroom hunting
10.  Learn to sew / make something I can wear
11. Visit a state I have never been to
12. Ride in a hot air balloon
13. Learn to play craps
14. Eat at Oklahoma Joe's BBQ
15. Complete one Pinterest craft project
16. Take a walking tour of a Civil War Battlefield
17. Learn to make a pie from scratch
18. Make Grandma's kolache cookies correctly
19. Take a shot of Jack Daniels
20. Take a cake decorating class and then decorate my own cake
21. Do at least one pull-up
22. Visit Graceland
23. Take a train ride/ weekend trip to Herman, Mo.
24. Make homemade pasta
25. Run a 8 min/mile 5K
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

With a  Civil War Battlefield on my bucket list and Wilson's Creek only 45 minutes away from Aurora, the Byers/Dennis clan ventured out on Sunday 12/23 for a day of fun.  It was crazy warm (60 degrees) and sunny that day. What better than to spend the holiday's then with the family and learn a little history too!

The battlefield has 2 options for tours.  We opted for the auto/walking tour which was not a bad deal at $10 per car.   It worked out better since we didn't have horses which was the other option.  There are a total of 8 stops with trails and artifacts set up along the way.

The Battle of Wilson's Creek in a nutshell (or musket shell, hehe): Union General Nathaniel Lyon planned a surprise attack on Confederate troops coming in from Arkansas.  While the initial surprise worked, the Confederates outnumbered the Union and the battle went to the South.  The End.  Oh and Gen. Lyon didn't make it out alive.  In fact, he was the only Union General to die in battle during the Civil War.  At least he is remembered for something!  I'm leaving out a ton of detail because I don't remember it all.  I highly recommend a visit to Wilson's Creek.  Check out the National Park Service website for more info www.nps.gov/wicr.

Here are a few pictures from our day trip.

Justin & I are masters of the self-portrait.  Here is self-portrait #1 at Stop #1- Gibson Oatfield

General Sterling Price was in charge of the Confederate troops.  My dear friend Meredith (Price) Masin may remember him from our adventure at the Battle of Lexington back in college.

Sometimes a self-portrait cannot capture the picture we want and we must ask for help.  My dad needed a little extra instruction to get the picture just right.

almost there...

Here is what we end of with.  #1 reason we self-portrait.

Mom & Dad Byers.  I did my best to enhance this picture with little success.  It was super sunny.

Deer sighting.  Lucky for them we do not hunt.

The second attempt at a cannon picture.  Dad is behind the camera again....

Take 2

Take 3 and still no good shot.  He gave it a good effort though : )

It was a beautiful day.  Here is a shot of Bloody Hill, no explanation needed I hope.

It is amazing how undisturbed the land is with as close as it is to civilization.   Props to the National Parks Department for maintaining the history of the area.

Self-Portrait from the top of Bloody Hill.  I'm still working on keeping my fingers out of the frame.  

One final picture after visiting the Visitor's Center.  [Photo by Tom Byers]

The battle at Wilson's Creek was pivotal for the Union even though they lost the battle and the next battle in Lexington, Missouri.  Turns out the Confederate Generals couldn't agree on a plan of attack and ended up losing the Battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas.   And in case you didn't know, the North pulled out a victory in the end.  I know, I know, I should have been a history teacher.

I also realized that we need to take advantage of the amazing sites we have so close to home, one of my goals of this bucket list.

Two check marks in the first week.  Let's hope I can continue on this pace before July arrives.

Until next time....

XOXO,

Abby

Let the journey begin...1. Start a blog

Merry Christmas!! As I embarked on the final 6 months of my twenties I realized there are still many things I have not done or cannot do.  In an effort to be spontaneous I have created a bucket list of things to accomplish by my 30th birthday on July 3, 2013.  The list currently has 25 to-dos as I anticipate to add the last 5 as the year goes on. I am also open to suggestions though it has to be within reason. I would want to travel to Europe or swim with dolphins but I know neither are affordable in the next 6 months.  And who knows, maybe I am looking to learn a thing or two that I can carry on to the next stage of my life...

So here it is, my 30 by 30 bucket list!

1.  Start a blog
2. Go to the Presidential Inauguration / visit DC
3. Run a destination 1/2 Marathon
4. Compete in Mrs. Missouri pageant
4. Eating a raw oyster
6. Ride a mechanical bull
7. Cook a traditional Thanksgiving dinner by myself
8. Shoot a gun/target shooting
9.  Go Mushroom hunting
10.  Learn to sew / make something I can wear
11. Visit a state I have never been to
12. Ride in a hot air ballon
13. Learn to play craps
14. Eat at Oklahoma Joe's BBQ
15. Complete one Pinterest craft project
16. Take a walking tour of a Civil War Battlefield
17. Learn to make a pie from scratch
18. Make Grandma's kolache cookies correctly
19. Take a shot of Jack Daniels
20. Take a cake decorating class and then decorate my own cake
21. Do at least one pull-up
22. Visit Graceland
23. Take a train ride/ weekend trip to Herman, Mo.
24. Make homemade pasta
25. Run a 8 min/mile 5K
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

Today I start a blog and check the first to-do off my list.  I look forward to sharing each check mark on my list with my friends and family & and any random with might stumble across this blog : ) 

XOXO,

Abby