I write this, my last blog as Classic Ms. Global United, to the 2013-2014 Global United Pageant contestants. If you’re like me, now is the time when you are in full stress out mode- about packing, making sure you have just the right outfits, comfortable but cute shoes, an amazing scrapbook of your community service, and every little detail has been thought of, shopped for and readied. 
It is now that I encourage you, instead, to step back for a few minutes, and remember why you are in the Global United Pageant. Why this one rather than another one? You see, I was never a “pageant girl”. In fact, being in a pageant has always been the furthest thing from my mind. If you don’t know my story, please go to the Global United website and click on my photo. It will take you to it, where you will see that I have been on a journey over the past few years to change my life. Competing in this pageant last year was part of that journey. NEVER once did I think I would win. What I did instead was to enter this week being myself. For the most part I wore clothes I already had and didn’t lose my mind putting so much weight in how fancy my dresses were or if my shoes matched perfectly. In the end, I was given the talent award, Best Eveningwear and Best Interview, before having the beautiful crown placed on my head as I received my new title as Classic Ms. Global United. The judges’ made comments on my scoresheet that included “She has real and practical ideas that are already implemented and do-able plans for the future.” “She is the REAL DEAL. Very confident! GREAT eye contact!”, “AWESOME”, “well poised”, “working it!” and “So impressed with her”. And even while those things were said about me by the judges, other women that competed against me thought I shouldn’t have won. Please remember, none of the others are in the interview with you, none of them have reviewed your volunteer log, read your essay or seen your scrapbook. Be real. Be yourself. And never doubt that you CAN take home the crown. I wish you luck and can’t wait to meet you all!

Classic Ms. Global United 2012-2013 Lisa Stordahl <3

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Time Really Does Fly!

I can't believe how fast one year goes!
It feels like just yesterday that I was on stage in my pageant dress receiving my crown from Rose in tears not believing that I had won!
This has been an amazing year, and I wouldn't have wanted to spend it any other way then representing Global United Pageants as Miss Global United!
In the next few days as I get a chance to meet and get to know all the new contestants and the girls that will be running for my title, I hope that who ever takes my title and wears the crown wears it with pride because she was chosen to represent this pageant! :)


Here are a few pictures from some of my favorite events of this past year!

Top Left:
This is a picture of me volunteering for Kids n Kinship's Christian Elder Bike Memorial. I helped set up the event before the riders came back from a long bike journey that took weeks!!!! I played games with the kids, I even made a Thank you card which im showing in the picture!
Top Right:
This is also a picture of me volunteering for Kids n Kinship's Birthday Bash. I helped put together these yellow bags full of toys, books, and candy which will be distributed then later parents can get for there kids if they cant afford to get there kid a birthday present!
Bottom Left:
This is me volunteering for NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance for Mental Illness). I spent about an entire day sorting and packaging boxes full of games, toys, and cleaning supplies for all sorts of ages that would then end up getting delivered later that day to psychiatric hospitals.

 Sincerely, Miss Global United <3

Mrs. Global United photos with friends

 

 

 

I had to share one of my favorite photos, this is Nick and George. They are twins and they both served in the Korean War. They were so honored to have their picture with me.....but as I told them, the honor is all mine!!! These two are just adorable!!!

 

 

 

 

Where In The World?

Where is the world has Mrs. Global United been??? I have been everywhere in my crown and sash!!!

I have had so many amazing opportunities to meet incredible people and volunteer with organizations that are just amazing! I have golfed with blind and disabled veterans at the National Veteran's Tee Tourney, worked at the Stand Down for homeless veterans event, spent time at Dillard's Dept store promoting their clothes.....Dillard's has been very supportive of me and I buy many of my appearance clothes there! I have attended Honor Flight ceremonies and was even blessed to be a guardian to 2 Korean vets on a trip to Washington D.C. to see the WWII and many other memorials. I have volunteered at senior citizen expos, Birdies for the Brave, chaperoned the Miss Iowa/Iowa Teen USA and Miss Colorado/Colorado Teen USA pageants, have been a guest speaker at events to honor our military and veterans and dressed up to attend the Veteran's Day banquet.
Joe and I had the great privilege to travel to California and judge the NAM Nationals!! What an experience that was!!! I have never seen so many talented, well spoken and beautiful young ladies at once!! This experience taught me, that while judging, we really do just look for the best you!! We spent Thanksgiving with 100s of girls and their families and had some very delicious food! I hope to go back some day!!
For Christmas, my husband took me and all 5 of our kids to Cozumel! It was so fun to visit Mexico and take beautiful photos on the beach. I was so happy I was able to visit at least one other country as the International Queen!! The staff at the hotel also had fun.....they were all in awe of my gorgeous crown!! Who knows......maybe someday we will have contestants from Cozumel, I volunteer to do the recruiting!!!
Some of my favorite times have been spent time with my Princess Izzy, we had a great time attending parades! When I met her, she was so quiet and shy and now this spunky 11 year old can out talk me!!! And that is hard to do! Thank you to Global United for extending the opportunity to our youth, to gain self confidence and life skills they might not have had the chance otherwise.
Rounding out my time as Mrs. Global United, I celebrated the 4th of July attending the Voices of Hope concert, a parade of course, I attended a fundraiser for vets Fly-In breakfast at the airport, was a special guest at the Riverside, Iowa Blues Fest and after a hot day playing with the kids I found myself working at the beverage tent while the community danced the night away! Something I never thought I would do in a gown, heels and my crown and sash!! But it was so much fun!!

What can I say...... I have spent the last year doing so many things in my crown, sash and heels I never dreamed possible........guess that saying..."give a girl the right pair of shoes and she will conquer the world" is true!! This has been a year full of excitement......and I am not done yet!! One more week as your Mrs. Global United......... tick tock, making every minute count!!!