Thank You, Jim Kryshak Jewelers!!

Thank you to my third business sponsor to come on board with me, Jim Kryshak Jewelers of Wausau!!

Jim Kryshak is a name that I have heard among many of my friends in Wausau, and they have all had positive things to say.  Some have a one-time experience of purchasing wedding or engagement rings, others buy all their fine jewelry there, but they have all told me that the deals on jewelry are great, the selection is fantastic, and the customer service is wonderful!  One customer sent in the following testimony: ""I wanted to thank you for your kindness and willingness. After losing my engagement ring, your team of staff was very helpful. With your help, I was able to replace my ring wth the best deal possible. Everyone I worked with was caring and professional. It was obvious the staff really did care about my situation,and everyone did their best to help out. I would greatly recommend your store and services to others."

On their own website, jimkryshak.com, Jim Kryshak shares their promise to customers: "Our promise at Jim Kryshak Jewelers Inc. is to provide our customers with a shopping experience that will exceed their expectations of our store, our merchandise, and our service."

In addition to engagement rings, wedding bands, and a variety of fine jewelry,  Jim Kryshak also offers Custom Designs, Diamond Education, and offers customers a chance to request a diamond of a specific shape, size, and other features.

If you are looking to make a jewelry purchase and would like to support a local business with great selection and customer service, please visit Jim Kryshak at 3808 Rib Mountain Drive or visit their webpage.  You can also "like" Jim Kryshak on facebook.  Thank you, Jim Kryshak, for helping me represent Wisconsin at the Miss International pageant in July, and to be a voice for my platform, "Bringing Orphans Home: The Power of Adoption"!

I am almost one-third of the way to raising my sponsorship!


If you would like to sponsor me, either as a business or individual, please send paypal payments to misswiinternational2013@gmail.com, or use the link below:

I look forward to working with Jim Kryshak Jewelers to promote their business in the future!!!

Thank You, Midwest Premier Pageants!

Thanks to my second business sponsor, Patience Lord, owner of both Creations by Patience and Midwest Premier Pageants.

Patience has quite an impressive resume of pageantry, including state and national crowns...

Patience being crowned Young American Miss International in 2010

...but, for now, most of her pageant competitions are on hold as she focuses on some new priorities:

(There will be "Mrs. Wisconsin" in the future, don't worry!)

This past fall, Patience asked me if I would help judge the "Miss Pretty in Pink" pageant that she was directing in Wausau.  I was thrilled to learn that a pageant was finally being held in my hometown (I don't know why there is no "Miss Wausau" pageant!), but I wasn't sure what to expect.  When I arrived, though, I was amazed to find an organized, professional, well-attended pageant, all arranged by a 20-year-old college student and new mom!   The pageant ran flawlessly, with girls ranging in ages 2 to 23 having fun getting dressed up and just "being girls," but also practicing poise and confidence onstage.   And this was only the first of many pageants that Patience would direct!  I am blown away by this young lady's business skills and her commitment to making a fun, affordable pageant experience available to girls throughout the Midwest!   

Patience also runs a second small business on the side, designing custom children's pageant apparel.  Here's a sneak-peak at some of her creativity:

Patience will graduate from Northcentral Technical College this December with a degree in Small Business Management.  With what she has accomplished already, I'm sure that the future is bright for her and for her businesses!

If you are looking to get involved with a fun, affordable, natural pageant in the midwest, please check out Midwest Premier Pageants to see when the next event will be!

Thank you, Patience, for helping me represent Wisconsin and promote my platform!

If you would like to help sponsor me, please donate using the link above, message me to request a paper form, or send paypal payments to misswiinternational2013@gmail.com.    I have $100 left to raise before TOMORROW!!!  Who will come on board with me!

Thank you, Stephanie Marie Dance Company!!

I'd like to thank my first official business sponsor to come on board with me: Stephanie Marie Dance Company, owned by my close friend and former Miss Milwaukee, Stephanie Obst!
Click here to check out SMDC's facebook page and learn more!

The mission of Stephanie Marie Dance Company is: "To teach our dancers the discipline and determination that it takes to reach our goals."

Stephanie and I have a story that only fellow pageant sisters will understand: after months of being friends on facebook (because ALL pageant girls in Wisconsin are friends on facebook, regardless of whether or not they've met in real life!), we bumped into each other while preparing to model eveningwear for The Pageant Event in Milwaukee and started chatting casually...only to realize (after about ten minutes) that this was the first time we had actually met face-to-face!  Since that day, she has become one of my closest friends and a precious sister in my walk with Christ!

At the time when we first met, Stephanie had just completed her reign as Miss Southern Wisconsin 2011.  Last year, I celebrated with her as she captured the title of Miss Milwaukee 2012.

Stephanie had a full year ahead of her, serving her community as a role model and an advocate for her platform: The Pink Effect.  Breast Cancer charities and pink ribbons might be all the trend right now, but, for Stephanie, breast cancer is a real and personal, as her own mother is a survivor.  "My focus is not on research, but awareness," she says.  "I've had one too many talks with people who have been diagnosed about insurance, money, and treatment."  She adds that her goal is to raise breast cancer awarness with "Coffee house meetings, declared council days, more talk about mammograms and less talk about the whole 'pink' movement.  Yes, it's great to know that October is breast cancer awarness month, but over 7 million eligible women in the United States aren't even getting their mammograms."  For Stephanie, pageants are a chance to be a voice for a cause that is close to her heart.

Stephanie also represented Milwaukee beautifully at the Miss Wisconsin pageant in June in Oshkosh...

Talent: a tap-dance to "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"

...and, in the midst of it all, she graduated from UW Milwaukee and began a career at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Yet, even in the midst of it all, Stephanie continued to make her dancers a priority, serving not only as a dance teacher but also as a role model and mentor to her students:

This year, she even had the privilege of accompanying her dancers to Disney World for a performance:

To anyone in the Milwaukee area looking for a dance company that will give their daughters an exceptional dance experience, please check out the Stephanie Marie Dance Company on facebook or email stephaniemariedancecompany@gmail.com.  It is my honor to recommend Stephanie as an instructor and a mentor to young dancers!!!

If you would like to join me as a business sponsor to have your business featured in this blog and help me raise awareness of my platform, please consider donating!  Donations from individuals or families are also welcome!!