Miss New Hampshire US of America 2012

Today was a special day as we watched our daughter give up her 1st ever title of Little Miss New Hampshire US of America 2011!  It was a bittersweet day, but can I tell you how in "awe" I was of her.  At 9 years old - there's no way I could have done what she did today!  She performed 2 songs and I have to say, HOLY COW..... the girl was just soooo good!  I'm not saying that becasue I'm her mother, seriously, I'm a pretty tough critic.  She played both her songs and sang so good - I think it was the best I've ever heard her play and sing!  Luckily, I have it all on video because it is just timeless!  I am so very proud of how she has grown in the past year and it was my honor to watch her bloom!!  Thank you to the Directors, LacyJane and Tammay Folger for a wonderful pageant!  It was so nice seeing so many wonderful girls and ladies competing!  Congratulations to all the winners, have a fabulous year!

 On stage, talking about the national pageant

 Baby girl giving her Farewell speech as Little Miss New Hampshire 2011

 With my baby girl - such a proud mama!

 Daddy is a pretty proud daddy too!

 With both my girls!

 With Sam and Allie - two of the new Queens - Congrats ladies, can't wait to see you at Nationals!!

End of my reign as Mrs. New England 2011

A whole year has gone by and it is time to crown the new Mrs. New England 2012.  I have had a wonderful yearfilled with so many amazing experiences and I will truly be thankful to my lovely Director, Christina Couto whose passion for pageantry is precious.  

With my lovely pageant sister - love this woman!

 With my beautiful daughter, Little Miss US of America 2011

 Are all of these wonderful ladies stunning or what - inside and out!

With my lovely daughter after giving my Farewell Speech & receiving my Crown Septer

Honored with St Jude's Fundraising Efforts

Pageantry with Heart!

Since 1995, Couto Pageant Productions Inc has been graciously donating a portion of their pageant proceeds to St. Jude Research Hospital.  This year they collectively donated over $2,000 towards St. Jude's Research Hospital.  We were so very proud to be part of this fundraising effort and completely honored for being recognized!

click on the Amherst Citizen link below to view full published article:

http://www.amherstcitizen.com/files/Archives/VOLUME_20/V20-N11/PDF_files/AC08.pdf

Couto Holiday Celebration

Every year our lovely director, Christina puts together a holiday celebration for all her Queens!  It was such a nice day to gather and spend time with some wonderful ladies and girls - it's always so nice getting together outside of competition days and just spending some good old quality time, getting to know everyone for who they are on a daily basis!  We all had such a great time!!! 

Me and my beauitful girls!

 They got out on that ice and skated away!!

The Couto Queen Gang!

Merry Christmas ~ Kala Xristouyena 2011

Happy birthday Jesus - that's right, "MERRY CHRISTMAS and KALA XRISTOUYENA" to my Greek family and friends!!!

Wishing all our family and friends a wonderful Christmas.  May it be filled with all things of health, happiness, prosperity, peace and the greatest of all things, LOVE! 

A Christmas Carol

When we got the audition alert for A Christmas Carol at the Palace Theater, Ev said she "Really" wanted to audition.  So, we said "ok, are you sure, it's going to be really tough and you have to really prepare for this audition as it is a professional show".  She said she was up to it!  We take her to the audition and holy cow!!!  The voices were unbelievable!  Scott and I thought - there's no way she'll get cast, there's just way too many people auditioning and they all seemed like pros!  We were able to hear her audition from behind closed doors and she was really good! I am my own worst critic by far which makes me unfortunately, their worst critic, but also their biggest fan!!  Well... she was cast in the show as one of Belle's daughters, a snowballer, child of poverty and as a youth caroler!  I can't even begin to tell how excited she was and how proud we were of her, not only that she was cast, but that she auditioned doing something she had never done before!  The rehearsals were demanding, but the end result was AMAZING!!! We were so impressed with the staff at the Palace!  They were fantastic with the children and mixed them in well with the professional actors!  When we went to watch the show - I have to admit - I had tears watching her, she was a natural and seemed so comfortable on the stage!  The music, the dancing, the voices were phenomenal.  Truly a fabulous show! 

That's our girl in her 1st ever professional production!!

With the Nate from the Palace Theater

The Children's Cast

Being silly before the 1st show!

Back stage with Ev - break a leg sweetie!  Can you tell how proud I am???

Children of poverty

As a Snowballer

As a Youth Caroler

As Belle's daughter

Finale!

With Scrooge and the Spirit of Christmas Present

Full Cast - Finale!

The Milestone of turning the BIG 40....

So, yessssssss... the day has come, I am officially 40 years old!  How the hell did that happen?  Seriously, how did that happen?  I have alot to say about this milestone, but still can't find the right words. I will be back to compose once I have come to acceptance of this... I'm just not there yet :)

Mother / Daughter Tea

For the past 5 years, we have been attending the Annual Mother / Daughter Tea event around Christmas time at The Bedford Village Inn.  This event has actually become a holiday tradition for us and we all look forwars to it.  But this going to be the first year that Ev was not coming since we began attending.....she had bigger plans, performing in her 1st ever professional production of "A Christmas Carol" at the Palace Theater.  How can I possibly be upset with that?  So, it was an opportunity for it to be a special day just for me and Sop!  It was really nice having that 1 on 1 time with her.  I think she enjoyed it being just us, as well!!  I love the memories we build and the special moments we share!! 

 With my baby girl - love ya munchin!

 Can you tell she's really enjoying her hot cocoa in her pretty little tea cup?

Miss Northeast 2011

I had the pleasure of attendig the 2011 Miss Northeast Pageant and Pageant Expo in Shelton, CT.  Pageant director, Christina - does such a wonderful job.  It was so much fun to catch up with some pageant sisters, check out lots of new pageant items - such as the custom made crown case I purchased for my daughter - OMG - I soo love it and spend lots of time cheering on all the ladies both "young and mature" competing!!! 

 With 2 of the most beautiful women I've gotten to know!
Kristen Pope and Mandisue Peixoto

 Love this woman - Laurye Natale!

 With pageant sister, Allie Meader

 With the lovely Taylor Hough - gosh I feel so short - look at the legs on this girl - whooo!

 My baby girls new custom made Crown Case - I absolutely LOVE it!!!

Miss NH USA 2012

It was so exciting to go to the 2012 Miss NH USA pageant this year and what a wonderful production it was!!  It really felt like a fashion runway show with lots of glitz and beautiful young ladies competing for the title - way to go NH!  I always love to watch with many of my pageant sisters and pick my winners!  So proud of many of the ladies that competed.  Congratulations to our winners - I am sure they will represent NH with class and pride!

 MISS and TEEN NH USA 2011 & 2012

 With 2 of my favorite pageant sisters, Jane Marshall and Nikoll Lauze!

NH Pageant friends - lots of glitzy ladies!