Birthday Picnic

There’s something about your birthday that just makes you feel extra special. And on May 26,2011, the day could not have been more perfect. With Nebraska weather, you never know how the weather will be (one day it’s 75 and sunny, the next day its 50, rainy, and windy), but God chose to make my birthday the perfect temperature with clear skies, and boy was I thankful!

This called for one a birthday picnic at one of Michael and I’s favorite places: James Arthur Vineyard. We grabbed the pup, some sandwiches, a blanket and headed to the outskirts of Lincoln. We were lucky enough to have the vineyard all to ourselves. 

My favorite wine from James Arthur: Edelweiss

Harley was loving every minute.

I encourage you to venture out the next nice spring or summer day for a picnic. It's really easy, all we did was take some sandwiches, got some wine at the vineyard, grabbed a blanket and we were set! It's fun date idea! 


Later that night, some friends came to grab dinner. It was short notice, so not everyone could make it, but I was thankful to my close friends that could. Especially since Michael and I were taking off for California the next day where I spent the summer interning at an advertising agency! 

Cheers to 23 years old and new adventures!

Xo,

Belinda

I'm Back!!

Hello everyone!

Wow, it’s been way too long since my last blog post, and boy do I have a lot to fill you in on! Since my last post, I traveled to California for an internship, we crowned a new Miss Nebraska USA, I made my way to St. Louis, Chicago, NYC and Oklahoma, I’ve been loving everyone minute I spend with my friends, family and puppy and I’ve been finishing up my Master’s degree at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln.

You'll notice the new name and design to my blog. I had great help from my Facebook page for a new name, and my friend Misty thought of this: A Crown Worthy Life...After the reign. I loved it! And to me it has a deeper meaning. I always wanted to humanize the role of Miss Nebraska USA, and I hope this blog continues to do that. Also, I believe everyone deserves a "crown worthy life," tailored around your goals and aspirations.


Because I don’t want to leave you out of the loop, these next couple months I’ll be blogging about my life since then, along with posts from the present. I’ll later archive those blogs to their proper date.

If you are new to my blog, please check out my previous posts from my reign as Miss Nebraska USA 2010! From here on out, I’m going to spice things up and blog about some of my passions: sewing, fashion, DIY, health and fitness and more, along with my general lifestyle blog posts. Prepare to see a lot of photos, my way of thinking has always been to document my life through pictures. It may have steamed from my lack of a photographic memory, but I enjoy it!

As always, I’d love to hear your opinions and comments. Stay tuned, because my life is about as crazy as it can get as I prepare for new adventures after graduate school! Thanks for stopping by!

Best regards,

Belinda

Teammates

With the girls involved with Teammates

On Saturday, May 7th, I visited Ord, Nebraska to attend the Teammates Tea. Mentors, along with their girls and the girls' mothers came together to get manicures and get their make up done. We had a nice dinner and then it was time for me to speak.

Speaking to the mentors and mentees

I spoke to the group about life, hope and possibilities. I reached out to the girls about dreaming big and creating BHAGS: big hairy audacious goals. I shared my life story and answered lots of questions about the Miss USA pageant, life as Miss Nebraska and the importance of education. I had such a good time being able to have an intimate setting where I could share my views and strive to inspire the Teammates group. After the speech I took pictures with the girls and signed autographs for each of them.

Signing autographs for the girls.

The Teammates Mentoring Program was founded by University of Nerbaska- Lincoln Head Football Coach Tom Osborne and his wife Nancy. There are over 4,000 matches across Nebraska, Iowa and California. I hope everyone, no matter your age, continues to set goals and go after your dreams! It was such an honor to be asked to speak to this amazing group of women.

xo,

Belinda Wright

Stepping up to the plate

May 1, 2011 I attended the Storm Chasers baseball game in Omaha in honor of the Nebraska Family Support Network. Over 175 people, consisting of children and families boarded buses at the Nebraska Family Support Network office and came to the ballgame. I threw out the first pitch of the game to kick off Children's Mental Health Awareness Month for NFSN.


After throwing out the fist pitch, I was thrilled to be welcomed by smiles and hugs from the Nebraska Family Support Network crew. I autographed pictures and baseballs for the kids and their parents. This event completely made my day, everyone was so kind and excited. It was a great day spent with amazing people.

May is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month. According to the Surgeon General “the MECA Study (Methodology for Epidemiology of Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents) estimated that almost 21 percent of U. S. Children ages 9 -17 have a diagnosable mental or addictive disorder.” While bad temper tantrums and the occasional bad mood are normal for developing healthy emotions, when actions or behaviors begin to seem questionable or at times even frightening many Douglas and Sarpy County families need to find resources to help cope. Nebraska Family Support Network is a non-profit organization focused on helping families find resources and improving knowledge about mental health awareness among Douglas and Sarpy County residents.

I chose to wear green during the event. The color green signifies ones awareness to the needs of children and youth with behavioral, social or mental health disabilities. Green is the chosen color because during the 1800’s the color green was used to label a person with mental health disabilities as “insane”. In order to use green as a more positive message the mental health community has chosen to use green to symbolize new life, new health, and new beginning. Much in the way that a revived plant in the spring turns green with its new life, green can symbolize the change proper resources and correct treatment have in reviving the life of a child with mental health disabilities.

Best wishes,
Belinda Wright

Life As of Lately...

Geneice and I before the Lady Gaga concert.

Wow! It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged. I’ve received a few emails from people wondering what I’ve been up to so I apologize for my absence. I really appreciate the emails and from here on out will do better at updating my blog.

Cover of Metro Magazine featuring the event I did for "Dance for a Chance"

Well, life has slowed down for me, and for now I am really enjoying it. I have been fully focused on graduate school and preparing myself for the work force once I graduate next May. I am happy to say that my hard work in school and long hours of studying have been paying off. I’m on the path of receiving a 4.0 in my full course load of graduate classes! I’ve given tons of presentations this year, and I thank my training in pageants for the success and comfort of public speaking I now have. Only a month and a half stands between me and summer break. Although, I don’t know if it will be a break, since I will be taking classes, but the nice weather will be nice for a change!

Valentines Day with my amazing boyfriend.

I have been busy applying for fashion, advertising and public relations internships for the summer in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. I really have my heart set on Chicago and Los Angeles and have had a few offers, so within the next few months I will know for sure where I will be relocating this summer and working. There are so many great companies I’ve been in contact with and I look forward to working with them in the summer months. Relocating this summer will also give me a chance to see where I’d like to move after graduation. Although I love Nebraska and the people in it, the one downfall is that Nebraska is not the place for me to be to work in the industry I love.

Weekly outings with my Advertising friends.

Besides school and the intern hunt, I’ve had ample time to do my long list of hobbies. Sometimes I think I’m an old soul because I love doing all of the things my grandma and mom taught me when I was young. I’ve been a quilting maniac, sewing for hours upon end. I’ve been scrap booking out of control and also cooking a lot. I’ve been spending a lot of time with my little puppy Harley, my family, friends and boyfriend and have been able to continue living a healthy lifestyle. So although life has slowed down a little, I can’t complain. I’m taking advantage of the free time I have because life is about to pick back up to the busy schedules I adore so much.

Miss Nebraska 2010, 2006, 2007 and 2011

I’ve been spending a lot of time with my Miss Nebraska USA girls. Haley Harold is preparing for Miss USA, and I couldn’t be more excited for her! She is one amazing women and I can’t wait to watch her in Vegas this June as Miss USA celebrates their 60^th Anniversary. Be sure to check out the contestants, and rate Haley 5 stars at missusa.com. I am also beyond enthused to see all of my Miss USA sisters from the class of 2010 as we reunite this year at Miss USA.

Out to eat.

I have some motivational speaking events coming up, so I look forward to sharing my experiences and helping others. I also have some very special little ones that will be entering my life. My brother and sister-in-law and my best friend and her husband are expecting in June and September! I am beyond excited for them!

More pictures with people with crazy outfits from the Lady Gaga concert.

Well that’s all for now, look for more updates to come!

Xoxo,

Belinda

Graduation!!

Journalism friends.

It's hard to believe how fast the last 4 and a half years flew by. Before I knew it I was ordering my cap and gown and finishing up my last semester of undergrad. I remember so clearly preparing to move from Scotia to Lincoln to start my college career. It was a huge step but I felt at home at UNL right away.

My roomie and I bright and early graduation day morning!

UNL did not want me to leave without a bang, they made me work extremely hard my last semester! But that made graduation day that much more special. It reminded me of how hard I had worked throughout the four and a years to receive my bachelors degree. School has never came easy for me, I've always had to study hard and put in extra hours to ensure a good grade.

With my good friend and co worker Katie!

Graduation day was wonderful. My entire family came, along with one of my best friends Geneice Wilcher and my boyfriend and his mom. I was even able to spot them out of the enormous crowd that filled the Bob Devaney Center in Lincoln. I was lucky enough to have a great number of my friends graduating at the same time as me. This made the day even more special.

With my brother, his wife, mom and sister!

Graduation didn't last quite as long as I was expecting. Since UNL is an extremely large school, graduation has the reputation to last quite a long time. But it was done in about an hour and a half. I graduated with the college of education and human sciences. But as a textile and clothing design & journalism and mass communications major with an emphasis on advertising, I have a very close link to the journalism college that I will be joining full force to get my masters degree.

My boyfriend/best friend.

Speaking of getting my masters degree; I couldn't exactly relate with a majority of my classmates because I'm not done with school or the University of Nebraska- Lincoln. I start right away in the spring semester in January. I'll be a full time student for the next year and a half completing my masters degree. I'll be studying Marketing, Communication and Advertising to receive my MCA. I've thoroughly enjoyed studying journalism and advertising, but am excited to further explore marketing and communications studies. I'll continue to work at our school newspaper, the Daily Nebraskan, and focus on successfully finishing my large load of school work.

My great friend Geneice!

After graduation we headed out to eat at my favorite restaurant in Lincoln: Sho Gun! Sushi and yummy food prepared right in fun of us with my family made for a fun time! Thanks to my mom for taking us all out to eat!

My mentor, biggest supporter, greatest mom ever!

Well graduation day was spectacular! Thanks to my friends, family and other supporters for all of the encouragement over the years! I did it!!

Happy Holidays,

Belinda

Tis The Season

It's my favorite time of year! Minus the snow that is! I love the cheer in the air, the giving all around and the gathering of families. I love the hot chocolate and chai tea, the warm clothes with gloves and scarfs, and the racing inside from the cold weather. Another love is decorating for Christmas. This year I got my very own Christmas tree! I thoroughly enjoyed decorating it with browns and golds. There's something about having a Christmas tree all lit up that just puts you in an automatic good mood! The one thing I can't say I absolutly love about this time of year is finals week.

Although graduation is approaching in a couple weeks, December 18th to be exact, finals weeks has kept me busy with my nose stuck in a book at the library. I enjoy school, but can't say I enjoy the late nights of studying, stressing and preparing that the end of a semester brings. I'm a huge organizer so I've never had to pull all-nighters. But this year there was no getting around it. Five hour energies became my best friend. And I must say, they do work! I had to put them to the test a lot last week.

O'Neil Advertising agency with our professor Ruth Brown.

Celebrating after a successful campaign!

We had a huge presentation for my capstone advertising campaigns class and this required late nights rehearsing. And when I say late, I mean late. We rehearsed until 1:30AM Wednesday night. This was a huge presentation because we presented in front of UNL faculty and the actual client that we were pitching our campaign to. Luckily our hard work paid off and we ended up winning over the client! This was a huge accomplishment. It was a whole semester packed with work, but the group I was working with made it a lot of fun.

I'd love to say the studying will end soon, but unfortunately it will not. I have one more week to go, and then in January I start graduate school. Other than school consuming my life, I had a great sushi date with Geneice Wilcher, Miss Nebraska 2007, and Haley Herold, Miss Nebraska 2011. Haley is on the road to success! She is so down to earth, and not to mention motivated! She has a great chance to do amazing things at Miss USA this year. I am so excited to help her in any way that I can and most of all to watch her compete! P.S. Her walk is fierce on stage! Miss USA class of 2011 better watch out!

Geneice and I.

By the way, have I mentioned how much my puppy Harley loves the bathtub!?! He has a slight obsession to say the least. He is in and out of the bathtub daily. Last week when I was taking a shower, he thought it would be a good idea to jump in with me! And what do you know? He's in the shower with me and I can't get him out. So, I finished up and he proceeded to hang out in there for awhile. I finally decided to fill the tub up with water and see if this would satisfy his needs. And it did, for an hour and a half in fact. He played in the tub like a little kid does with their toys. Complete craziness. I feel I have a dog with OCD, my mom suggested looking into a dog psychiatrist, I might have to do this! haha!

There will be much more to come, but I better hit the books!

Lots of love,

Belinda