Mrs. America Week

Hello Friends,

Well I am back from Mrs. America. The week started on Tuesday September 1, when I arrived at Ventana Canyon. I was dropped off by my hubby and mom. I met my roomie Mrs. Utah, Heidi. She is super sweet and we were good pals all week long. Tuesday night I attended our welcome dinner, where I officially got to meet all the other 50 beautiful ladies and pageant staff. 9-2-09Wednesday started with breakfast and rehearsals, followed by lunch and then an outting to support Tucson's Habit for Humanity. Lets just say I can't plant trees, but I sure tried. After and long monring in rehearsals and then an afternoon planting trees in the Tucson heat. We had a short tour of Tucson and then back to the hotel, with a quick change for our dinner party hosted by EL Charro Mexican Restuarant.

Everyday began for me at 5:30am, making myself look good for the whole day and going to sleep about 10,11pm every night.

9-3-09Thrusday- Began with breakfast, then a morning full of rehearsals. Rehearsals were fun, I got a laugh out of our choregraphers Frit and Frat. For some reason they liked giving me a hard time. But I'm tough I can take it. After lunch we went on a shopping venture and "red carpet"treatment at La Encantada. Then back to the hotel for our dinner party with Mr. J Walker president of tucson visitor beauru.

9-4-09Friday. Started again with Breakfast and then we were off to the Ventana Canyon Golf course for some morning golfing. Followed by a day full of fun filled rehearsals. Friday night another dinner party, this time for our wonderful site host Mr. B Johnson president of Ventana canyon. They was fun because everyone looked beautiful in their gowns.

9-5-09- Beautiful Saturday morning began for us at 6:30 am poolside photo shoot. Then off to breakfast and the seminar from MENC, then more time in rehearsals. Then dinner and off to more rehearsals and our delagate gift exchange, that felt like christmas I got some amazing stuff from 50 states. Then off to sleep and prep for interview bright and early for the first half of the states, l.ike myself. In the #3 spot.

9-6-09 Sunday morning was my interview, Judges were really nice and great conversation. The rest of the day was free til about dinner time then off to the Jazz Festival, then off to another night time rehearsal.

9-7-09 Monday morning and day fulll of rehearsals leading up to prelims tonight. I am glad that on Saturday my director Di ritter arrived and my friends/make-up/hair Kelly and Kora arrived, less stress for me having to do my own hair/make-up.LOL I had a great time being on stage, thats my favorite.

9-8-09 Tuesday!! Today is the day. final day of Mrs America week and final show. All day was spent on rehearsals then getting ready for the pageant. I got to be on TV moments before the show, local news Fox 11 asked me to the commentary and short story about Mrs America pageant. Benefit of being the hometown/homestate gal.

Unfortuantly I didn't make the finals, I was little sad, but I am glad that I have really great friends and family who came out to the pageant to support me. There love and support really lifted my spirits by the end of the night.

My Mrs America expericence was truely a dream come true, even though I wasn't a finalist. I am proud to have had the once in a lifetime opportunity to represent my State in my hometown. To me that is awesome. I am overall please with how i did and i know my family and friends are proud.

My journey has only just begun, I am still Mrs. Arizona America 2009. I will continue to represent everyone to the best of my abilities and be the best i can be.

Now its off to work and continue to be your Mrs. Arizona America 2009.

Stay tuned for more updates thoughout my year! Its gonna a be a great one!!!!

Lots of love

Elisa Rister, Mrs. AZ.