Crowning Glory

Day 85.

Crowning Glory

A new Miss America will be crowned tonight and I am really looking forward to the show. Did you know that statistically a parent is more likely to have a son playing in the Superbowl than a daughter in the Miss America pageant? Tonight I'll have a small gathering of pageant fans over to my house to watch the pageant live on tv and everyone will have their favorites, but I'm going to go out on a limb with not only my predictions for the contestants I think will make the top 15 cut, but also a suggestion for a cool gift item made in their state. Needless to say these are only my own personal guesses, but it will be interesting to see later tonight how close I get to the actual top 15...regardless of how my predictions do or do not play out, at least I'll have pointed you towards some cool products made in America and also given a shout out to the contestants who I have been impressed with so far.

My personal predictions for the top 15 semi-finalists for Miss America 2013 (in no particular order):

1. New York, Mallory Hagan

2. District of Columbia, Allyn Rose

3. Texas, DaNae Couch

4. California, Leah Cecil

5. Kansas, Sloane Lewis

6. Minnesota, Siri Freeh

7. Missouri, Tippe Emmott

8. Colorado, Hannah Porter

9. Oklahoma, Alicia Clifton

10. Georgia, Leighton Jordan

11. Illinois, Megan Ervin

12. Maryland, Joanna Guy

13. South Carolina, Ali Rogers

14. Alabama, Anna Laura Bryan

15. Virginia, Rosemary Willis

And these are my top 15 suggestions for cool gifts made in each of their states:

Made in New York: Superior chocolates   http://www.supremechocolatier.com/

Made in D.C.: gourmet cupcakes   http://www.georgetowncupcake.com/

Made in Texas: The E-Z Hook barbeque tool   http://www.e-zhook.com/index.html

Made in Kansas: soy candles and more by Magnolia Health and Home   http://www.magnoliahealthandhome.com

Made in Minnesota: Dream Sak personalized pillowcases   http://www.dreamsak.com/

Made in Missouri: Blues Hog Barbeque Sauce   http://www.missourimercantile.com/blueshog.shtml

Made in Colorado: Aspen wood vases   http://www.madeincolorado.com/Aspen-Wood-Vases/View-all-products.html

Made in Oklahoma: Hand milled soaps by Peach Creek Boutique   http://www.peachcreekboutique.com/index.php?p=1_2_Products

Made in Georgia: gourmet chocolate jellies   http://www.georgiamadegeorgiagrown.com/channels/betty-lambert-chocolate-jelly-farms/

Made in Illinois: Perfect Pasta   http://www.perfectpastainc.com/http://www.perfectpastainc.com/

Made in Maryland: Corradetti glass    http://www.corradetti.com/AvailableGiftware.html

Made in South Carolina: clothing by Bamboosa   https://www.bamboosa.com/store/Women-s-Products-c4/

Made in Alabama: The Alabama Outdoors Kit   http://www.alabamagoods.com/alabama-outdoors-kit.html

Made in Virginia: State of Taste in Virginia   http://www.madeinva.com/product_p/state%20of%20taste%20in%20virginia.htm

Good luck to all the ladies representing their states on the Miss America stage!