December Appearances

I love the holidays! Christmas must be my very favorite time of the year -- I love the holiday spirit, the decorations, the lights, the colors, the food, the music, and all of the events and festivities that surround it. The beginning of winter is always so nice! Here is what I was up to in December. It was a very busy month!

On December 3rd, I performed at Wolfeborro New Hampshire's Holiday Fair. I loved bringing holiday cheer, though it was a bit chilly! It was a blast to see Barbara, Kelsey, Lauren, and other friends!


Lauren and I after performing in Wolfeborro.

The following day was the Miss Easton and Miss Tri-Counties Pageant. I performed "Superwoman" and helped with crowning since this is a new local pageant. Congratulations to Alana Megna, Miss Easton, and Jenna Nowlin, Miss Tri-Counties.

The next morning, I headed down to Taunton for the Taunton Christmas Parade. The parade was so much fun! Thank you to Bob Burgess of Executive Auto who is always willing to give up his car and his time to drive me in parades!


with Taylor Kinzler, Miss New Bedford at the Taunton Christmas Parade

That night, I appeared on a teen talk show hosted by Young Broadcasters of America called Back Talk Teen, a talk show hosted by teens. I was able to talk about my pageant experience and experience as MMOT, and perform "Hallelujah". It was so much fun! The hosts of the show were so inviting and friendly. Communications is what I hope to major in next year, and I may be going into Broadcast Journalism. This was definitely great practice! Thank you to Katie Thompson of YBA for involving me in the show. Here are the links to view the show!


http://www.youtube.com/user/YBATV#p/u/45/q2QWbZsCW0w


The following week, I hosted a Singing for Seniors performance. Thank you to students of The Voice Studio for getting involved! :) I also had my holiday recital with my voice studio, which is always one of my favorite performances of the year!

Loren's send off was fabulous. Despite the blizzard, it was great to wish Loren luck, visit with friends, and hear her talent piece for Miss America. She represented Massachusetts so well on the Miss America stage -- but more about that later!


“Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve.”

Kendall :)

November Updates!

Hello! I bet you've missed me! My apologies for not keeping up with my blog; as you will see, I have been quite the busy girl the past few months.

In November, I attended the Miss Taunton pageant, The Miss Fall River and Miss Bristol County pageant, hosted a Singing for Seniors performance, and was a guest at Blades an Ballons!

Miss Taunton was a blast. It was only the second local of the season! Congratulations to Molly Whalen, Miss Taunton 2010, and to Brianna Bostick, Miss MA Outstanding Teen 2009 who placed as 2nd runner-up.


With some of the local titleholders at Miss Taunton:)

Singing for Seniors is one of my favorite activities. Thank you to Jenn Messina from The Voice Studio for helping to make this such a memorable performance for the residents at Atria Marland Place!


Jenn and I at Singing for Seniors

I loved attending the Miss Fall River and Miss Bristol County local pageant! I even got to perform two songs: Hallelujah and The Climb. Both are some of my favorites!


Singing!


Congratulations to Maggie Wakim, Miss Fall River 2011!


With Kelly McBee, Miss Bristol County. Congratulations, Kelly!

Perhaps my favorite appearance in November was Blades and Ballons. Blades and Ballons was a fundraiser hosted by Loren Galler Rabinowitz, Miss Massachusetts. This Figure Skating Exposition that raised over $20,000 for Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals was certainly a success! I had the opportunity to perform the National Anthem at the beginning of the event. I loved seeing Loren's ice dance; she was amazing! I even got out on the ice for a few minutes ;) We won't talk about how I almost fell. I also got to see one of my best friends who lives in New Hampshire, Lauren Percy! She's Miss Strafford County's Oustanding Teen. Here are some pictures from the event!


With Andrew Miller Korda (Loren's skating partner), Loren, and Kimmy


I love these girls!


Lauren and I!


Look Ma, no hands!

What a fabulous November! More updates on my recent happenings -- appearances, college acceptances, and The Kindness Campaign -- are to come!

Love,
Kendall

The Big E & South Row Elementary School's Pumpkin Fair!

Hello!

Fall is in full swing! I think Fall is my favorite season -- I love the foliage and the Holiday Season, starting with Halloween! I'm not sure what I'm going to be yet, even though it is only days away...hmm...

Anyway, at the beginning of October I had the opportunity to attend the Big E! The Big E stands for "Big Exposition" because of the number of vendors that are there. I had never been before, which is crazy since it is the 9th largest festival in the country and it is in my state! It was definitely lived up to the hype -- there were so many people there!

My mom, stepdad Charlie, and brother Bennett, and I all met up with Keith, the director of the Miss Western MA pageant, and Katelin Bolduc, Miss Baystate. Once we arrived, we went straight to the Massachusetts Statehouse, followed by the New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Vermont Statehouses. I had some Maple Cotton Candy from Massachusetts, a delicious Lobster Roll from Maine, Seven Layer Bar Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream from Vermont (my new favorite flavor -- delicious!!), and some Clam Chowder, also from Maine! Kate and I had a blast exploring The Big E!







We tried legendary Cream Puffs -- thank you to the Cream Puff King -- they were delicious! We ran in to Sam Thomas, 3rd Runner up at MMOT last year. It was so good to see her! We also saw the world's largest butter sculpture, and got foot massages!




One of my favorite parts of the day was when we got "Cheddared" by Cabot Cheese! Cabot Cheese does "Random Acts of Cheddar" which encourages random acts of kindness. Here is the link to our picture on Cabot's website!
http://www.givecabot.com/they_got_cheddared.php?id=361
I spoke to the woman at Cabot and told her all about my Kindness Campaign, which is my platfor where I encourage kids to volunteer and share my message that each and every single person has the power to make a difference in someone's life. I loved Random Acts of Cheddar because it aligns so closely with what I do!

I had an incredible experience at the Big E - thanks to Keith for inviting me to thise event! It has been one of my favorite appearances so far. It was so much fun, and there is even more to explore, so I have decided that I am going to designate an entire weekend to The Big E next year!

Last weekend, I was invited to attend South Row Elementary School's Annual Pumpkin Fair! I had been looking forward to this appearance for months, and I was so excited to attend! I met so many chidren and had a blast talking to each and every one of them. This was a great kick-off to the Halloween season. All I can say is I should have worn orange!

Here are a few pictures from the day:



Who would have thought that I would meet Mrs. Nigeria 2009 at a Pumkin Fair?!


I loved these "Kindness Starts With You" signs that were scattered around the school!


I met Amanda (in purple) and her family at Planet Hollywood when I was in Orlando competing for Miss America's Outstanding Teen while they were vacationing in Florida. It was so funny that I saw them again at the Pumpkin fair! What a small world!


She was so shy, but so sweet!


Nicholas and I. Nicholas was so friendly and precious!

Thank you to Cathy from South Row's PTO for involving me in the Pumpkin Fair. I had such a great time!

Last week, I read a very inspiring quote that I would like to share with you:

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." --Barack Obama

Love,
Kendall

September Appearances

September was quite a busy month!

I enjoyed painting faces at the Boston Heart Walk!! I think we probably painted about 300 faces! I also got to meet Jared, the Subway guy. It was incredible to hear the stories of people who were walking the Heart Walk. There was one ten year old boy who was born with half of his heart and had undergone so many surgeries, yet he was able to walk for Heart Disease. I admire people who have gone through so much -- their perseverence is so inspiring to me.





The next day, I was in the Apple Peach Parade in Acushnet. Although it was a little chilly, I had so much fun!! Thank you to Bob Burgess of Executive Auto for once again providing me with a car for the parade -- this yellow one was so cool!








I also attended the first local of the year -- Miss New Bedford! It was great to see Donna, Val, Alie, Loren, and so many others! I spoke about the Outstanding Teen program onstage and ran a booth for the first Miss New Bedford's Outstanding Teen Program that will be held next Spring. Congratulations to Taylor Kinzler, Miss New Bedford 2011!








Love,
Kendall

Miss America's Outstanding Teen!!

Hello everyone!

Sorry I haven't been updating the blog! I can assure you that between the time you last heard from me and now, I have been quite busy! Other than going to Florida for MAOT, I have made numerous appearances, started my senior year of high school, taken the SATs, worked on The Kindness Campaign, and started applying to colleges! More to come about all of those later...but now - MAOT!

On August 20th, I woke up bright an early and my whole family headed to the airport to leave for Orlando! I don't think I had ever been so excited in my entire life! We crammed five people, eight full sized suitcases, and my huge gown bag, and several other carry on items in my mom's SUV -- but that is nothing compared to when we fit all of that stuff in a little Toyota Corolla, our rental car. Let's just say that car ride was far from comfortable!


All ready to leave for Orlando!


When we arrived in Orlando, we checked in at the Rosen Center, and I got ready for the first event of the week, the Video Shoot, where I recorded my introduction. I met a bunch of the other girls for the first time, and Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2010, Jeanette Morelan. Afterwards, my family and I enjoyed dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company!


With some of my MAOT sisters




My brothers and I before dinner!


On Saturday, I went to registration, had a blast at my Tony Bowls Photo Shoot, went to the first rehearsal, moved in to my room, and went to our welcome party! I had such a blast! It was great to finally meet all of the girls and officially begin our week!







The rest of the week was full of rehearsals, special events, and starting Tuesday, shows!! I loved Medivel times, Planet Hollywood, the Princess Pizza Party and Makeover Party, and our tour of the Artistry bus.

Here are a bunch of pictures from special events!
















Competition started on Tuesday with my interview and Sportswear. Wednesday was talent, and Thursday was Evening Gown and Onstage Question. I loved getting to see my family and Board of Directors at visitation. I can't thank them all enough for everything they have done for me!









My week at Miss America's Outstanding Teen was one of the best expeiences I've ever had. I feel so lucky to have had these opportunities. I met lifelong friends and shared incredible memories. Right about now, I'm really missing my MAOT sisters! I learned so much about myself that week and MAOT week is an experience I'll always treasure. Congratulations to all of the girls, and especially to Lacey Russ, Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2011!!


I'll leave you with Dr. Suess' "All The Places You'll Go". My voice teacher Danielle sent this to me before I left for MAOT.

"Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!"

More updates to come later!!

Love, Kendall