Sour Patch Kids and REALLY comfy beds!

Hi to All!

I am getting so excited for the "Great Miss Minnesota Scholarship Giveaway!" I am so blessed to be competing in the pageant for a second time! I have been working diligently for a few years on my platform, "Financial Smarts: Give Yourself Credit." As Gretchen Carlson said during the Miss America LIVE pageant on TLC, "platforms are what gives the Miss America Pageant meaning." I could not agree with her more...after reading all of the contestants platform statements and what they are doing with their lives, I can say, without a doubt, that I have never met a group of young women who are more active, driven and goal-oriented than the Miss Minnesota 2009 contestants...I am so glad to be a part of this group. We will have so much fun during Miss Minnesota week and I cannot wait :-)

As I was reading the Q&A on the Contestant Showcase website, I noticed that my roommate, Miss Winona (Danielle), mentioned that her favorite candy is Sour Patch Kids!! I could not believe this! After all, one of my best friends, Liz Neaton, who was Miss Brainerd Lakes last year is OBSESSED with sour patch kids (for those of you who know Liz, you know I am not joking!) Liz had a 3-gallon bag of Sour Patch Kids in the dressing room last year...it was a good time, we were on a sugar-high during the pageant! So, I am really excited that my roommate shares the love of Sour Patch Kids, because I will feel right at home. I was at Target yesterday and bought Danielle some Sour Patch Kids, just in case she forgets to bring them!

I am really looking forward to the REALLY comfy beds at the hotel! Although, I raraly sleep over 8 hours and I would rather not sleep at all because I have too many things to get done, I can still appreciate a great bed! So for those of you fearing the beds, let not your heart be troubled, you will be living the life during Miss Minnesota week! There are plenty of pillows too ;-)

In summary, I am blessed to be a part of this year's competition! I am truly looking forward to spending a week with some of the most ambitious young women in the State of Minnesota. The Miss Minnesota Scholarship Organization has molded me into the woman that I am today and for that, I am forever indebted to this organization. And when I say indebted, I do not mean that in financially illiterate way, I mean that from my heart!

With much love and luck,
Kelsey Malecha