A blurry iPhone picture of me marching onto the football field for the graduation ceremony. Hearing the graduation song got me choked up. Seeing my parents wave and yell at me from the stands as I walked by, tears in their eyes, brought tears to mine. I have had so many wonderful memories during my time at St. Olaf. The friends I made and the experiences I had will follow me through the rest of my life.

I'd like to thank my parents for all of their support during my time at St. Olaf College. To be honest, my choosing to go there was largely due to their plotting (Dad, this is for you!): My parent$ $ent me to mu$ic camp after my junior year of high $chool, after which I became completely hooked on the idea of being an Ole. $ometimes I think my parent$ know me better than I know my$elf. The dollar signs are in reference to a graduation card my dad wrote to me. He told me I was worth it. :) I get my sense of humor from my dad! Tuition costs are rising, people! Do a pageant! Win some scholarship money! (Did you notice that plug there?)

On Sunday, May 27, 2012, I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from St. Olaf College. For most of my four years at St. Olaf, I had tunnel vision for medical school. Winning the title of Miss Minnesota, however, caused me to reevaluate my values, interests, and goals. Although I successfully completed all of my pre-med requirements, I decided to switch gears toward a career in broadcast journalism and vocal and theatrical performance. I look forward to what the future entails! Please connect with me on LinkedIn!

So who was I during my time at St. Olaf?

• I was a library dweller.
• I had seemingly permanent goggle marks around my eyes after Tuesday/Thursday chemistry labs.
• I received the Academic Achievement Award in Chemistry.
• I was nominated for the Phi Lambda Upsilon Chemistry Society.
• I was a tunnel vision pre-med student, perhaps with a touch of high blood pressure. ;)
• I was an energetic St. Olaf Chapel Choir member and officer. My most important duty: Calling Cub Foods to order donuts for the choir.
• I was a vocal lesson student (my favorite class each week with Jim McKeel!).
• I worked at the Center for Experiential learning as a Peer Advisor, advising students regarding internship searching, resume writing, networking, and career exploration.
• I was the Special Projects Coordinator for the Volunteer Network.
• I founded and acted as Program Director for Awesome Club, a social skills program for kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
• I was a St. Olaf Truman Scholarship nominee.
• I was a member of Blue Key National Honor Society, which shouts the motto, "Serving I Live."
• I was and will always be Miss Minnesota 2011.

I am excited to take what I have learned at St. Olaf College and commit myself to living a life of worth and service. I am ready to put my ideals into action!

UM YA YA! 
Congratulations to the Class of 2012! I will miss you! See you soon!

On May 17, I performed and helped emcee the In His Steps Ballet Company spring recital. Thank you to Lisa McKinnis, the owner of In His Steps Ballet Company and the new Miss Minnesota Business Manager, for inviting me to participate in this event! Look at all those tutus! So cute!

Around pageant time, the shopping list never seems to end, right? I've been there. But I just HAD to take the time to share some of my favorite products with you! These are my personal must-haves for pageant week and for living life Miss Minnesota style!

Todays' topic: Miss Minnesota 2011's favorite products

For me, fake eye lashes are a must have! But don't spend $30 on a pair of fancy shmancy eye lashes! Ardell is a great brand that can be found for a few dollars at your local Target, Walmart, or Walgreens. For day, I like to wear the 110s. For stage, I love the "Wispies." Test out different eyelashes to see what looks good on you!

The lights are bright and I am naturally very pale, so a tan keeps me from looking washed out on stage. I propose several options for getting a great tan for the Miss Minnesota pageant. I actually build my tan by using all three, but I suggest you pick and choose what works for you! Please note, roasting in a tanning bed like the New Jersey Mom is not part of this equation! 

Anne Malwitz is the goddess of spray tan! Her spray tan is the only one I have found that does not turn this very pasty, 75% Swedish girl into a carrot! The day before I leave for pageant week, I get a spray tan from Anne. I look a little silly before I go to bed that night, but when I wake up and shower the next morning, I am left with a flawless glow. The tan will look totally perfect for about 4 to 5 days, depending on how well you take care of it.

Since pageant week is a little longer than that time frame, I also like to build my tan using Fake Bake, which can be found at Ulta stores. This product is amazing! First, you exfoliate using the body polish. Then, you spray rough areas like knees, knuckles, and elbows with the Skin Smoothie spray. Finally, while wearing gloves, you use the Self-tanning Lotion. It looks like brownie batter, and thusly, is a little terrifying, but I swear, it works AND it won't leave you looking orange!

For a finishing touch on the day of the pageant, I like to use Sally Hanson Airbrush Legs, which can be found at Target. This product CHANGED MY LIFE! Seriously, Sally deserves that Miss Minnesota Quality of Life Award, because my life has been improved! I LOVE this stuff! It is makeup for your legs! Not only does it make your skin look flawless, but your legs also end up feeling silky smooth.

This is the product that always shocks people who are new to the pageant world: butt glue. The plain fact of the matter is, we don't want our swimsuit bottoms to ride up while we are strutting across a stage wearing 5 inch heels. That would be a problem. IT STAYS adhesive is a great product that I purchase from The Pageant Shop in New Brighton. 

Other helpful notes about swimsuit:
1. Practice wearing your swimsuit. If you aren't comfortable walking around your house in your swimsuit, you won't be comfortable walking on a stage, under bright lights, in front of an audience in your swimsuit.

2. Break in your heels now! Blisters during pageant week are no fun!

My favorite place to get makeup is Smashbox. There is a Smashbox location at the Southdale Mall Macy's in Edina--Ask for Mischa! Once I started using Smashbox primer, concealer and foundation (the products that come closest to the skin), my skin improved dramatically. I highly recommend Smashbox make up, especially for stage.

As much as I love Smashbox, there are a few products from ARTISTRY® by Amway - Miss America's largest sponsor - that I cannot live without. For those of you who don't already know, I recently became an Amway Independent Business Owner (IBO). If you would like to find fabulous products, or discover a way to supplement your income by becoming an IBO yourself, I would be happy to help! I have had a great experience thus far! Just click the Contact tab on this website and pop me an email! 

Click the images below to be directed to www.amway.com/NatalieDavis, where you can purchase my favorite products. I know you'll love them too!

The ARTISTRY® essentials Colour Quad is all you need for daytime eye shadow. It is a beautiful, natural-looking palette that enhances your eyes without it looking like you are wearing a ton of makeup, which is easy to do when you are a pageant girl. It is compact and so convenient to toss into your make up bag when you are on-the-run as Miss Minnesota.

Who doesn't love Light Up Lip Gloss?!

Cool things about this product:

1) The applicator wand has LED lights in it that turn on as soon as you untwist the cap.

2) The lights, along with the built-in mirror allow you to literally put your lip gloss on in the dark! That, plus it's a great emergency flashlight! (See the photo below of my mom using it to read something in the dark. Isn't Mama Cory cute?)

3) You feel a cool, minty sensation every time you put it on. Very refreshing!

4) It comes in 5 versatile colors!

YOU WANT THIS LIPGLOSS!

Admittedly, I am terrible about remembering to take all my vitamins. The NUTRILITE® Women's Pack makes it easy. Just one little on-the-go packet provides everything your body needs – calcium for your bones, omega 3s for your brain and heart, a little something to keep your hair, skin, and nails beautiful, and a daily multivitamin with 24 vitamins and minerals. When you are traveling all over as Miss Minnesota, you have to remember that your health comes first! If you are not healthy and energized, you can't get the job done!

Anyone else have a hard time focusing during their work outs, especially when there is SO much going on? My To Do list taunts me during my work outs. I tried Rhodiola for the first time recently and it made a huge difference! The supplement is Arctic herb rhodiola rosea and caffeine naturally sourced from green tea. It gave me the energy, endurance, and focus of an athlete for better workouts. 

Okay, Miss Minnesota get's tired. Lots of driving, lots of early mornings, BUT she also needs to stay fit and healthy.

Bad news for me regarding energy drinks I like:

Chai tea latte: 250 calories
Full Throttle Energy Drink: 220 calories
Caribou Coffee Mint Condition Mocha: 580 calories

But wait, there's good news!:

XS® Energy Drink: 12 CALORIES!!! TWELVE!!! You have GOT to be kidding me! So exciting! I can stay awake on my long drive starting at 5am AND avoid suffering my nutrition! My favorite flavor is Cranberry Grape Blast. :)

If you are like me and you don't build muscle easily, you need to up your protein intake after work outs! After workouts, I mix Syntha-6 chocolate protein powder in half a bottle of water and I feel like I am drinking creamy, rich chocolate milk! It is so good! I got my Syntha-6 from Jason Young at Youngquest Fitness. 

Now, of course, don't feel pressured to go out and buy every one of these products. I just know what works for me. I hope you can find something you like amongst my favorites! 

Miss Minnesota will be crowned in 3 weeks! Tick tock! Who will it be? Buy your tickets to the Miss Minnesota competition now at www.missminnesota.org!

Hi Everyone! I apologize for the wide gap in blog posts! I am coming up on the last few weeks of my college career. That, along with my crazy Miss Minnesota life, has me running a bit behind! Take a look at what I have been up to!

As I mentioned in a previous blog, I facilitated a discussion at Governor Dayton's mansion to discuss key issues related to the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) community. Senators, state representatives, members of the Department of Health, and of course, Governor Dayton and members of his staff, were present at this meeting on March 29. The forum happened to be held on the same day the Centers for Disease Control released its new statistics. I cannot possibly express to you how astonishing it was to wake up that very morning with a "Breaking News" text message telling me that the prevalence of ASD was now 1 in 88. The timing was appropriate to say the least, and it certainly emphasized the growing need for services and opportunities for employment for people with ASD. Thank you, Governor Dayton, for giving me the opportunity to share my personal experience and my concerns with our political leaders.

I also had the wonderful opportunity to speak at the State Capitol on April 2, 2012, National Autism Awareness Day. Other speakers included both political leaders and families touched by ASD. The number of people who attended the rally spoke volumes about the impact of ASD on our state.

I also spent the month of April promoting ASD Awareness through social media and by interviewing with numerous radio stations, including Minnesota Public Radio, KMSU, KTOE, KDUZ, and KTWIN. Karen Wright from KMSU radio is also an advocate for ASD because of her son, Grant, pictured below.

I had the pleasure of promoting both The HopeFULL Company and Autism Radio this month. The HopeFULL Company makes food pop kits and recipes for people who struggle with eating problems. During the month of April, The HopeFULL Company donated 20% of the proceeds of their sales to Autism Radio. Click the Autism Radio link to hear my March interview with Paul Cimins on Hope Saves the Day.

I gave a "Wellness Event" presentation about the issues surrounding the growing prevalence of ASD at St. Olaf College on April 25. Over 75 students were in attendance. 

I also hosted a "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" fund raiser for Awesome Club, the social skills program for students with ASD that I founded in 2008. Thank you to Stephanie Smith and the rest of the St. Olaf Autism Awareness Committee for organizing this event! I had fun being a gameshow host!

I gave opening remarks about the importance of supportive, dedicated special education teachers at the Autism Society of Minnesota State Conference on April 27, and I supported Trevor at his first book signing, which also took place at the conference on April 28. 

Trevor hosted his first book signing at the Autism Society of Minnesota State Conference on April 28. Check out the YouTube promo video for more information about the first book of his series The Adventures of Charley McChooChoo, entitled "Danny and the Whistling Engine" (written by Trevor Davis, illustrated by Lochlin Anderson, and edited by yours truly!). To learn more about Trevor, his book series, and how you can purchase "Danny and the Whistling Engine," visit his website: www.CharleyMcChooChoo.weebly.com. I am so proud of Trevor for pursuing his dream of becoming a best-selling children's book author! He has accomplished the "author" part of the deal; the "best-selling" part is now up to you! 

May 10 was my last day of Awesome Club. I cried. For those of you who don't know, I founded Awesome Club, a social skills program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2008. It started with 4 volunteers working with 4 middle school students. We now serve over 30 children at two different schools.  Never in a million years did I dream that this program would flourish as much as it did. The kids are absolutely amazing. Watching them build friendships and grow and develop through this program has been so rewarding. Thank you to all of my incredible volunteers, especially Noelle Waldschmidt and Nick Hoverstad who took over leadership for me this year, for the work they have done to make Awesome Club a wonderful experience for all involved. Also, thank you to Lisa Weis and Candace Hard of the Northfield Public School District, for being wonderful teachers who truly care about their students. Families like mine appreciate teachers like you!

On April 19, I performed and spoke at the Walmart/Sam's Club Appreciation Day for Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare. Thank you, Walmart and Sam's Club, for all you have done to improve the lives of children facing medical challenges!

The next evening, a Dance Marathon for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare was held at St. Olaf College. Thank you to the St. Olaf Volunteer Network for organizing the event!

I attended a Bowl-a-thon, hosted by Marriott Hotels, to support the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals on May 6. Thank you Marriott for your generous support of Gillette Children's Hospital!

I already blogged about my experience at the Bridesmaids Ball fund raiser in Duluth, but I recently received some fun pictures I thought I would share!

My dear friend and mentor, Donnell Rank, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I attended the Bling Ball fund raiser to support her in her battle with with this disease on May 7. Donnell is one of the strongest women I know. She is smart, talented, and the most beautiful bald women I have every seen! Donnell started out as my voice coach when I was 16 years old, and since then, we have developed a beautiful relationship. She is like family to me. Please pray for Donnell's recovery.

I emceed the Eco. Logic Fashion Show at St. Catherine's University on Saturday, May 12. This fashion show showcased some incredible talent from up-and-coming designers! Thank you to my friend Yevette Willaert, a talented designer herself, for arranging for me to come!

The Tracie Joy McBride Organization held its annual scholarship fund raiser on April 14 at Redeeming Love Church in Maplewood, MN. The McBride family founded this organization in memory of their loved one, Tracie, who lost her life at 19 years of age. The mission of the Tracie Joy McBride Organization is to keep Tracie's memory alive through the support of an organization they feel best exemplifies who Tracie was, the Miss Minnesota Scholarship Program. The Tracie Joy McBride Organization has provided thousands of dollars in scholarship money to young women involved in the Miss Minnesota program. This organization specifically provided the scholarship money I received from being a Preliminary Talent Award Winner and Quality of Life Award Finalist last year, as well as being named Miss Minnesota 2011. Thank you to the McBride family for supporting the Miss Minnesota Scholarship fund.

While the Miss Minnesota Scholarship Program maintains its tradition of providing scholarships and personal growth and development for the young women involved, it is also moving forward with great momentum under the leadership of the new Board of Directors. Be sure to like our new Facebook fan page! Follow me on Twitter (MissMN2011) to get the play-by-play of pageant week in June! Tickets to the Miss Minnesota pageant June 14-16 can be purchased on our official website. You can even choose your seat and print your ticket at home! Order today to come see for yourself who will be Miss Minnesota 2012!

I have been busy doing homework, learning new vocal pieces, taking quizzes, writing scientific manuscripts and preparing for final exams. In less than two weeks, I will graduate magna cum laude from St. Olaf College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry. At the end-of-year Senior Chemistry Major Banquet, I received the Academic Achievement Award for having one of the top GPAs in the senior class of chemistry majors. I always get the nerdy awards!

Next year, I plan to switch gears and attend St. Cloud State University to do some academic work in the area of Mass Communications. My goal is to have a successful a career in broadcast journalism and performance. I am looking for any and every opportunity to sing, emcee, or intern with a television or radio station. Please contact me if you have any leads!

At St. Olaf, I am also a member of Blue Key Honor Society, which consists of only 1% of the student body. This year, we successfully planned two three-day blood drives for the American Red Cross. We also organized a panel on Living a Life of Worth and Service. I served as the moderator of this panel, which included professors, alumni, and the Vice President of Student Life, Greg Kneser. Blue Key also had its end-of-the-year banquet to award the seniors their blue cords to wear at graduation and to have one last hurrah before we face the real world and dedicate ourselves to living a life of service to others. 

"A ZU YIIHPETON...Serving I Live."