A day of V.I.P. fun with the Redskins and my little friends from Recess by the River

About a week ago, the top twenty young participants from Recess By The River (as determined by officials from the DC Department of Recreation) were invited to attend a Washington Redskins football game as special guests of the Redskins and GlaxoSmithKline.

I attended the event as a chaperone (along with Mrs. Northeast International, Deanna Linz, and three chaperones from DC Dept of Rec). When we arrived, we were greeted by representatives from the Redskins and GlaxoSmithKline and invited to a private tailgate tent in the “Fan Zone” where GlaxoSmithKline had a buffet full of spiced shrimp, juicy barbecue, potato salad, warm rolls, steamed vegetables, caesar salad, grilled chicken, and gourmet brownies and cookies waiting for us. Our private tent was also all set with tables, chairs, and a heater, which was DEFINITELY appreciated by all on the cold, rainy day! After we had all had our fill of tailgate food and fun, we were led into the stadium and up an escalator to the club level, where our group occupied an entire row of seats.

At half time, we were invited as VIPs from our club level seats, complimentary of the Washington Redskins, down to the field for an awards presentation. Mrs. Northeast International and I accepted a Community Partnership Award on behalf of the American Heart Association and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation from the Redskins and GlaxoSmithKline for all of the work behind, as well as the successful production of, Recess By The River.

Though the award was given to the American Heart Association and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation as a whole, it really means a lot to me personally because, having fundraised to sponsor the most recent Recess By The River event, as well as having volunteered at every Recess By The River since the very first one, the award not only proves to me that my hard work paid off, but it also reminds me that everyone can have an impact on something bigger than themselves, which I believe is the most important concept that a titleholder can understand.

It’s so easy to get caught up in big, sparkly crowns, glitzy jewelry, V.I.P. treatment, expensive gowns, lavish prize packages, and fierce competition that many women lose sight of the bigger picture.

Though pageantry does facilitate great personal growth and can open many doors of opportunity, the point of having a crown and a sash, especially an International crown and sash, is not the potential personal gains, but rather the potential societal gains that they provide. As titleholders, we have a voice where so many do not, and we have the ability to use that voice to create  great changes in our communities, our states, our regions, our countries, and even world-wide!

The best part is, by each choosing a platform that appeals to us on a personal level, we are driven by our own personal passions to heavily pursue those large-scale changes and benefits.

I am so grateful to have experiences like this one to keep my feet planted firmly on the soil and to serve as constant reminders to me of the true meaning of the title “Miss Teen International”.

Juliana McKee

Amazing world's tallest tower building in Burj Dubai

The tower is so enormous that the air temperature at the top is up to 8 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) lower than at the base. If anyone ever hit upon the idea of opening a door at the top and a door at the bottom, as well as the airlocks in between, a storm would rush through the air-conditioned building that would destroy most everything in its wake, except perhaps the heavy marble tiles in the luxury apartments. The phenomenon is called the “chimney effect.“

What can you do at Burj Dubai? Level 108 is the top floor of residential apartments. For work, you can go to the offices upstairs – anywhere up to the 160th floor. To eat, you can visit the restaurant on the 122nd and to exercise, you can use the gym on the 123rd, about 440 metres up. The gym has both an indoor and, unnervingly, an outdoor swimming pool.

 

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It's Finally Over!

Well, it’s been a long 4 months searching for a job, but it’s finally over! Starting in January I will be working as a bridal consultant at a shop down the street from my apartment. I am so excited! If you have ever seen “Say Yes to the Dress,” you will know why I’m excited – wedding gowns are so beautiful & working with women that are at such an amazing time in their lives (getting married) is going to be so wonderful!

It took a lot of soul searching & some courage to realize that I didn’t want to be an attorney after getting my law degree, but I think this job is going to be the perfect fit! Fingers crossed!

Ashley Smith

Year End Wrap-Up

As the year draws to a close, I want to update you on how my year as Miss Teen International 2010 is going so far and thank you all for support on my journey to this point and for fallowing my reign through my blog posts!

Since being crowned in July in Skokie, Illinois, I have worked with the American Heart Association, the Downs Syndrome Society, the Washington Redskins, the Korean Women International Network (KOWIN), and the National Council for Adoption. I have represented the International pageant system and served my platform at the Children’s Inn at NIH, the Pediatric Ward at Walter Reed National Medical Center, the Korean Ambassador’s residence, Boys and Girls Clubs, schools, and recreation centers in Ohio, Washington DC, Chicago, Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware. I have walked in the Baltimore Heart Walk, the Washington DC Heart Walk, and the Buddy Walk for Downs Syndrome. I have had the privilege of working with Redskins Quarterback Donovan McNabb, Redskin player Maake Kemoeatu, Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Senator Mary Landrieu, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, Presidential Cabinet Member and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, my own Congresswoman Donna Edwards, former Editor and Chief of People Magazine Jeannie Park, and Project Runway’s Tim Gunn! I plan to travel to Florida, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, and hopefully Asia and Europe in the coming six months.

During all of these exciting experiences, I have continued my work as a spokesperson for the American Heart Association and its Alliance for a Healthier Generation, as well as my pursuit of a degree in Communications and Public Relations at the University of Maryland College Park. I am looking forward to an internship next semester at the American Heart Association’s Greater Washington Region office as their Youth Volunteerism and Outreach Coordinator.

I want you to know I am thinking of you during this holiday season, and I am so thankful for all of your love and support. I feel so blessed to have become part of the International family. The family of individuals involved in the “Mrs”, “Miss”, and “Miss Teen” International pageants have shown me so much love and support throughout my year. Mary, Mel, Cristen, Susanne, Joey, Clay, Terri, Shannon, Ashley, and everyone else involved in the International family, thank you and I love you all!

Happy holidays and God bless you!

Juliana McKee

Sparkle Into the New Year

The new year is just around the corner, so we decided to take a little break from all of our Christmas posting to focus on the party of the year. New Years Eve is a big event, whether you like to party out in Times Square, host a dinner party, or snuggle up in front of the fireplace. If you plan on going out, then you have to wear at least a little sparkle and even if you're not going out, it can't hurt to get a glitzy... it is New Years after all. So here are some ideas on how to sparkle and shine this New Years Eve:

This dress by Eva Franco makes us wish we had fancy New Years plans that involved more than playing guitar hero and drinking sparkling apple cider. It's a gorgeous velvet v-neck dress with layers of gold and silver stripes that will make you you look wonderfully festive. We would love to see this dress with some flashy jewelry and magenta peep toe pumps... let's make it happen.

A sexy black sequined top may not be for everyone, but we think it would look great with a pair of dark jeans and boots (or pumps if you're headed to da club). The wonderful thing about a basic tank is that you can dress it up or down as you see fit. Just don't go overboard with the jewelry; your shirt will shine enough without giant chandelier earrings. And when in doubt, add red lipstick!

If you really want to shine, pair the sequined top from Express with this sequined skirt from Anthropologie! The full tulle skirt reminds us of Black Swan, except in a fun, non-psychotic way. This would also look great with a cap sleeve blouse, a scarf, and some cute ballet flats.

A bolder skirt option is this blue and black sequined skirt from Forever 21. It would look great with black tights and booties or a slim fitting blazer. Sure, you may only wear this skirt once in your whole life, but it's only $20 and you're only young once!

Dress up your eyes this New Years Eve with the Glitter Eyes palette from Sephora. It provides all the tools you need to get sparkly, sultry eyes that are sure to get all the boys swooning. The best part is that it comes with a little instruction booklet, so even if you lack skills in the makeup department, you can still come out looking like a rockstar.

A more casual option that we can see ourselves wearing is this loose fitted sequined top from Top Shop. It's a bit more modest than our other suggestions, except for sexy racer back.  It will definitely be more comfortable than a sequined skirt, and you can wear it with dark jeans and flats for a comfortable but chic night out.

A small sequin bag that can store your lipstick, cell phone, cash, and Tide-to-go is just the thing you need if you plan on party hopping on the 31st. It has a dainty little strap and will go with almost any outfit. Plus, you can reuse it for the next wedding you have to go to.

Even if you're just staying in, you can still dress up (a little) by throwing on some sparkle nail polish! That way your nails will dazzle, even if the rest of you is covered in flannel, Rufus Humphrey Style.

 We think the gold nail polish would look great with this fitted, spandex dress from American Apparel with hold embroidery. It has just a touch of sparkle, which is great for those of us who tend to shy away from shiny things. Be sure to wear it with gold hoop earrings, plenty of attitude, and a pair of Spanx.

 We're huge fans of this sequined vest from Victoria's Secret. It would look great with a casual tank (pictured above) skinny jeans, and ankle booties. Add a long necklace, some loose curls, and you're ready for a sexy and fun night on the town.



All that glitters IS gold!



XOXO,



Jen & Saira

The Twelfth Day of Christmas Winner!

On the Twelfth (and final!) Day of Christmas PDR gave to Sheryl...a totally awesome set of letter tile coasters from Yard Sale Press.

Sheryl will receive this fantastic L-O-V-E  set of letter tile coasters. Sure, you could also choose to say that it is a "V-O-L-E" or "L-E-V-O" set, but we think L-O-V-E is just a little bit more our style. You could even make it say "O-L-E" by leaving out the "V" or, if you'd like, you can use this as a base set and order other letters to create even more words and eventually your dining room table can be like a game board!  

Bryan, at Yardsale Press, has his Bachelor's degree from Rowan University and currently works as a printer.  He loves his work and will gladly take on any challenges that come his way from t-shirts, to logos, to wedding invitations, and more.  Although we are not sure where this idea to make these coasters stemmed from, we're so excited that he is making them as they are so clever and fun.  Even though it's hard work (Bryan individually cuts, sands, and carefully prints letter (and points!) before putting the finishing touches on them)  we think it will certainly pay off because they are a seriously cool item to have around your house.  In fact, Jen has a few of these coasters and can personally attest to the quality and level of fun it brings to your space.  But, there can only be one winner.  So, if you are not Sheryl, never fear, you can still order your own set of coasters by contacting Bryan at yardsalepress@gmail.com.  Also, be sure to check out his website for additional information!

Thanks, Bryan, for helping to make our giveaway successful.  

We appreciate your support and wish you continued success. 

Keep up the great work!

That completes our 12 Days of Christmas and our 2010!  We hope you all enjoyed this gift giveaway as much as we have and we hope to be able to do it again next year.  Congratulations to Sheryl and to all you winners! And, for all of you who haven't won, there's always next time!

Have a Merry Christmas, a safe and happy New Years, and we'll see you again in 2011.  

XOXO

Jen & Saira

A Devine Decade

Jason & Shannon Devine married on December 23, 2000

December 23, 2010 marks our 10 year wedding anniversary! Yes, we were married two days before Christmas in the year 2000. I love everything about Christmas, the decorations, the holiday cheer, the weather…for me, it was the perfect time to marry my best friend!

Our lives have changed so much since that Icy Saturday night 10 years ago. Jason was an officer in the United States Air Force and I was working as a sales representative in the pharmaceutical industry. Our first home was located in Lillington, NC. Jason was stationed at Pope Air Force Base.

In 2004, we purchased our home and moved back to God’s Country (the western part of NC…we both LOVE the mountains).

In 2008, God blessed us with our daughter, Halle-Grace Khanh Devine. Miss Magic continues to bring so much JOY and she has completed our family!

Today, Jason works with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals and is finishing his Masters in Divinity at Gardner Webb University. I’m a sales manager with Genzyme Biosurgery. We are both blessed with jobs we enjoy! Being parents to Halle-Grace obviously takes the cake and representing the International System as the “Mrs. International Family” has been an amazing adventure and a tremendous honor. We look forward to the coming year…and what the next decade holds in store for us.

In closing, I want to wish a very special couple a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Mary & Mel Richardson were also married on December 23!

Shannon Devine

History guitar

According to an oft-quoted phrase we are all adolescent intellectuals without history. So it makes sense to explore the noble history of classical guitar, which has travelled a long way only to carve a niche for itself in the world of music globally.

This history would be incomplete without naming the legendary guitarist Luther Antonio de Torres (1817-1892) who made significant changes in the construction of the newly framed modern version these guitars. He is also considered as the founder of the modern classical guitar school.

This unique history can be traced back to the Near East. The archaeologists found its representation in myriad forms in the excavations of Babylonia. Also referred to as a Spanish guitar, classical guitar heralds from the family of instruments called chordophones. They have been a part of the ancient musical tradition for over 100 years.

Spanning over four centuries history classical guitar has been a subject of great debate and controversy. Many earlier instruments also contributed a great deal in shaping its history. Many great players and composers also contributed to an amazing extent in shaping up this amazing journey of this popular instrument.

The popularity of the guitar was on the downslide with the emergence of the piano in the middle of the 19th century. Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909) initiated a whole new style of playing which added a new definition to the entire history of the classical guitar.

Some of the earlier instruments, which shaped the history are as Renaissance guitar, Baroque guitar.The size and shape has been the same over 100 years.The modern version of the ancient guitars has evolved over the following few sources
The Lute, The Vihuela, The Renaissance five-string guitar.

Some of the legendary names associated with the field of guitar are as Gaspar Sanz, Fernando Sor, Mauro Giuliani,John Williams,Julian Bream.

The most accepted convention these days is to use the fingertips to play on the guitar. However, in the bygone era it was the prevelant custom to use flesh over nail to play the guitar.

Some of the renowned players who preferred using fingertips over nail include - Fernando Sor, Francisco Tarrega.

Since, there is more space between the strings on a typical classical guitar it is easier to handle it for amateurs. Some of the cardinal features of this popular instrument are as follows-
It uses nylon strings.
It generally makes use of a rich colour palette.

Hogging the musical scene globally classical guitars are a player's delight. With changing times it has undoutedly evolved a lot. Technologial advancements may have given guitars a backseat with newer instruments like synthesizers hogging the limelight these days. But, still the old guitar has retained all its alluring charm and reigns supreme over other classical instruments which have made the entire musical journey all the more enticing for the listeners through ages.

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