Special Olympics Fall Games

 The Minnesota Special Olympics Fall Games has been one of my favorite events that I have done throughout my reign. This was my second time volunteering at the games and I can't wait to do it again. This year I got to hand out the medals for softball and bocce ball. The smile on the athlete's faces when they received that medal after all of their hard work was priceless. I also ran into some people from my surrounding towns and one person that was a cousin of someone that I graduated with. I also got to see some athletes that I met last year but it was great to meet so many new athletes. It is incredible how small the world is but it is even more incredible what this organization offers for the athletes. It was great to see the fabulous Elizabeth Scipioni (a former Miss South Central) and her family, I owe you a big thank you for always keeping me in mind when it comes to volunteering for the games. I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to work with this wonderful organization and to witness the impact it has on so many people's lives.
Love Always,
Lauren

Steele County Fair

 The Steele County Fair is by far the best county fair out there! It was great to spend the afternoon with my Outstanding Teen, Alyssa, at the fair. We started off by going to the petting zoo to see all of the exotic animals. After that we had to go see the ever famous, pig races!! Turns out Brittney Squeals won the race but because Lindsey Lo-ham was caught drinking again, the women were disqualified ( a little pig humor)! Of course, we couldn't leave the fair without having a delicious sno-cone from Sno Biz!! Thank you to Amanda Kanewischer for the free sno-cones!! You will always have my repeat business even when the crown is off my head!! As if the sno-cone wasn't sweet enough, we stopped by the Four Seasons building for some Nitro-Ice Cream!! That ice cream is probably the best thing I have ever had. If you haven't tried it, make sure you get some next year! We then walked around the Four Seasons building and got a picture with Flo (pictured below) and then we got a caricature done of us! It turned out pretty well and the Burger King crowns that he added was a clever idea. To end the night we played bingo...sad to say we didn't win. As you can see in the picture below, my new nickname should be one-away...because that is what I always am! I have come to terms that I will never win bingo but it was fun trying! You can bet that I will be at the Steele County Fair for many years to come, it is always a blast and it has so much to offer!
Until Next Time,
Lauren

Miracle Treat Day

 It can either be called Miracle Treat Day or A Pageant Girl's Favorite Day. Miracle Treat Day happens once a year in hopes of raising money for the Children's Miracle Network. $1 from every Blizzard goes to the Children's Miracle Network, an organization that we raise money for as the national platform for the Miss America Organization. The reason why I call it a pageant girl's favorite day is because we are asked to buy an ice cream treat as our official duty for the day :) If you missed Miracle Treat Day this year make sure you buy 2 Blizzards next year. CMN is a great organization and I am honored to have participated in this very important day!!
Love Always,
Lauren

P.S. The midnight truffle Blizzard was fantastic, try it!!

Waseca County Princess Coronation

 What do you get when you mix together sno-cones, a county fair, free ride tickets, queens, and lots of little girls?...you get the Waseca County Princess Coronation!! We had 21 girls sign up to be Waseca County Princesses, so we invited them to the fair to be crowned. The four of us queens performed a talent ( I sang "Somebody to Love"), then we crowned our "team" and then we got to take our girls on rides! I quickly found out that I am getting too old for rides....Although I look like I'm having fun in the picture above, my stomach was not having very much fun...I only went on three rides and then I gave away my other tickets because I just couldn't take it anymore!! It was a sad realization but I understand now that I am too old for this kind of fun! After my team went on the rides of their choice, we got to go to the Sno-Biz stand for a treat! It was the first time I had ever had a sno-cone and it was amazing!! Thank you to Amanda Kanewischer for the free Sno-cones!! You will for sure have repeat business from me! After our stop at Sno-Biz, Sadie and I went to the hypnotist show and got to be hypnotized! Apparently....I'm hilarious (according to Alyssa)! I had napkins inside my dress, I played a piano with my butt and I'm a flirtatious driver...yep that's what happened while I was being hypnotized :) The Waseca County Fair is always a fun time and I'm so glad that we have so many amazing girls to be a part of Team Waseca with us!

Love,
Lauren

 "Fun" on the rides,

 two of my amazing princesses,

 

 all of our princesses,

 Team Lauren,

 Me and Alyssa at the petting zoo,

 me singing "Somebody to Love",

 enjoying a treat at Sno-Biz,

and crowning my cousin Hudson!!

4th of July Parade

 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays and I'm so glad I got to spend it with my Teen Queen, Alyssa!! Yes, we went the festive route and dressed in Red and Blue! It was a very windy day as you can tell in the picture below but it was a great day. However, I want to clarify one thing, the title Miss South Central and Miss South Central's Outstanding Teen doesn't mean that we are representing South Central College...we have heard this from a lot of people but it was the first time that a parade announcer ever made that mistake! Oops :) Now I end this post with a question... What's better than food, friends, fireworks and fun on the lake?...Nothing!
Love,
Lauren

Relay for Life

 I had the wonderful opportunity to share my platform at the Relay for Life in Le Center this summer. I got to spread the message about Pantene Beautiful Lengths and the work I have done with my platform so far. During the opening ceremony of the event, they had a survivor (pictured below), share her story of when she was diagnosed and how she fought back. It was an honor to meet this woman. She is so extremely strong and a true inspiration. I was able to ask her about how her wig, from Pantene, changed her perspective and how it affected her fight against cancer. It was great to have her insight to what the wig does, from the cancer patient's point of view. Thank you so much for sharing your story, I know it impacted my life and many other's that night! I can't wait to share my message and meet more people like her throughout my journey in the Miss America program.
Until Next Time,
     Lauren

Miss Morris Area and Miss Midwest Pageant

 Two of the amazing ladies that I got to know during my Miss Minnesota experience was Miss Morris Area and Miss Midwest. Chelsea, Miss Midwest, was my roommate during the week and I couldn't have asked for a better roommate! Unfortunately, it was time for both of them to pass on their titles to the next young woman. Although Morris is quite a drive, I couldn't possibly miss Chelsea pass down the crown. So, I secretly contacted her mom to see if I could ride up with them and she said yes! As an added bonus, Chelsea's sister, Corrina, was competing in the pageant so I was able to surprise both of them!! When we got to the pageant, Chelsea met her family in the lobby to get something she forgot (of course), and it took her a good minute before she realized I was standing right in front of her, but when she did...she freaked out!! After the pageant, we got to spend some time with the family that Corrina stayed with during the week. How many pageant girls can you fit in one bathtub?....Looks like six!! I'm so glad I got to see Chelsea perform one last time as Miss Midwest and I just want to say that I am so proud to call her my Miss Minnesota roommate, but more importantly my friend. I love you Chelsea!! Also, congrats to the new Miss Morris Area and Miss Midwest, you ladies will do great!

Love Always,

Lauren

Pirate and Princess Party

 Yes, you read that right...Pirate and Princess Party! We spent the day at Kiesler's Campground in Waseca to help out with their Pirate and Princess Party! As soon as we got there we had a huge line of kids who wanted our autographs and a picture with us. While we did this, we were visited by the best clown in the world (not according to Katie). We then got to compete in the sand castle contest, where Sadie and Alyssa helped build it and I, well, supervised. Turns out, a bunch of kids are way better at building sand castles than us. We didn't even place :( but we got to have fun with kids all day and we even got to see some familiar faces!

 The winners of the Sand Castle Contest,

 Our Favorite Clown,

 And the cutest little Pirates :)

I would like to thank Kiesler's Campground for letting us be a part of their party! 

Stay Classy,

    Lauren

I Finally Made The Cut

After convincing approx. 45 girls to donate their hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths, I finally made the cut myself. I had to wait until Miss Minnesota was over but it was just 2 days after I got home that I cut, what ended up being 10 inches of my hair!! This was my third time donating my hair and I can still say that I feel good after doing it because I know a woman battling cancer is going to get that wig and with it, receive a spark of strength and confidence. It felt so amazing to finally take part in my own platform after all of this waiting and getting to see others take part in this amazing journey!

If you are interested in donating your hair but have questions for me, feel free to email me at Lfellows11@winona.edu

Until Next Time,
    Lauren

Janesville Parade

 Hey everyone!! I'm back!! I finally figured out the problems with my blog and I can now share my summer memories with you!! So here we go, the Janesville Parade! Although people thought we were crazy to be in a parade, dolled up and all, the day we got back from Miss Minnesota week, we had a blast! I have been going to Hay Daze in Janesville ever since I was a little girl so I couldn't possibly pass up the opportunity to be a part of it's celebration this year! The day of the Janesville Parade, I started off the day with my nephew (and Godson's) baptism. This was the first time meeting him and I fell in love with him right away. He is such a little sweetie and does nothing but smile! After his baptism I met Alyssa at the car and we rode through town in the parade. It was great to see so many of my family members, considering only a few could make it to the pageant. After the parade, Alyssa and I ran into Captain Jack Sparrow and even got a kiss on the hand from him. Then I finished the day with a delicious Blizzard from Janesville's Dairy Queen, a treat that I had long been waiting for!! I can't wait until next year when I can enjoy this fun all over again!!
Love Always,
    Lauren

P.S. Congrats to Anna Burns, a past Team Waseca member, for being crowned Miss Janesville! You will make the town very proud!