Reflections....

So, I can't sleep for some reason and when I can't sleep, I just sit up and think about random things. For example, I was thinking about some of the people I've known in my college years and not to sound mean or anything, but there are a lot of people who's names I cannot remember.  It's so funny how there were  things and people that meant so much to me at the time and now I can barely remember them.  There are a lot of memories that I would gladly forget but sometimes, I wonder if there is anything that I've forgotten that was too important to forget....  I know that I am scatter-brained and really don't always pay attention to things that I should try to remember but what if there was something really major that happened and I've forgotten it.... What if one day, I suddenly remember but can't remember why it's so important....I think it's very interesting how the mind works, especially mine... Even in my relationship, I have forgotten so many conversations and events or have gotten them confused.  I know it drives my better half crazy sometimes.  I just wonder why we are able to remember some things perfectly and others just seem to slip away very easily... Maybe i just haven't spent enough  late nights reflecting on my life... Well, I'm not going to make a habit of it... I've got to get some sleep or else I'll oversleep tomorrow and miss out on making new memories to forget (but hopefully not).
Good Night World!

Toddlers and Tiaras is Okay, but Not Babies and Cone Bras...

So... I got home from work and turned on the TV.  I was watching HLN because one of their stories caught my attention.  They were talking about the TLC show "Toddlers and Tiaras" and one of the little girls on the show.  Her name is Mia and at the time of the show, she was two years old.  Apparently, her mother put her in a pageant and in some part of the competition, she decided that it would be cute for her daughter to imitate Madonna.  Go to the link below to see a video of this TWO YEAR OLD's performance. 

http://jezebel.com/5727700/toddlers--tiaras-features-baby-sporting-madonna-cone+boobs

Crazy, Right?  As I watched the video, all I could think of was my own pageant experiences and how grateful I am that my mother never forced me to be involved with anything, especially things like wearing a TON of make-up, wearing a gold cone bra, and attempting to dance around for the amusement of others.  I thought it was a little overboard for so many parents to live through their children by forcing them to do certain activities, like pageants, dance, or sports, but this was truly ridiculous.  I really wish parents would try to see things from their children's point of view sometimes.  Maybe if that had happened, this poor child wouldn't be headed for disaster.  I hope that she grows up to become an intelligent, beautiful, and responsible woman and that the pageant experiences that her mother has put her through won't keep her from competing in meaningful scholarship pageants, like Miss America...

DON'T FORGET!!! WATCH THE MISS AMERICA PAGEANT TONIGHT AT 8PM CST!!! GO ALYSE, MISS ARKANSAS!!!!!!!!!!

WOW!

So... It's been 4 days since I was crowned Miss Texarkana Arkansas and I am still super excited and happy! Every morning I wake up singing and I feel so good!! I have been keeping up with the Miss America Preliminary competitions and I am so excited for Miss Arkansas, Alyse Eady!! I know she is representing us so well and I can't wait to see the outcome of all of her hard work... 
The one thing I love about watching Miss America is how much it inspires me to work hard as well.  The 2011 Miss Arkansas pageant is constantly on my mind.  I am so ready for my directors to get back to Texarkana so that we can meet and start planning.  I start classes tomorrow morning and I will probably meet with my voice teacher in the afternoon. I know that she is very excited and knowing her, she has probably been thinking of a couple of songs she would like for me to work on.  She is such a great teacher and I can't wait to work with her for the semester.  I feel like I am on a winning team this year.  I am a part of an amazing Miss Arkansas pageant and I feel like I have so much support.  I really feel like I am gonna do really well at Miss Arkansas this year...

I am so thankful for everything in my life, both good and not so good.  The good things make me smile and a lot of the not so good things make me better... I am so optimistic about this year and I know that there are great things in store for me.  I can't wait to see what they are! :)

Miss Texarkana Arkansas 2011

The last week of my life has been truly amazing! Last night I was crowned Miss Texarkana Arkansas 2011 and I am BEYOND excited.  The Miss Texarkana program is one that I have wanted to be involved with for a while and I am so blessed to have this opportunity.  I cannot wait to really get started with my year as Miss Texarkana.  I also can't wait to get ready for Miss Arkansas!!! I know that I am in for a year that I will never forget!!!

Miss Texarkana Arkansas' Outstanding Teen, Miss Texarkana Arkansas,

Miss Texarkana Texas, and Miss Texarkana Texas' Outstanding Teen

Miss Texarkana-Arkansas 2011

Valerie Renee' Brown

It's Been A While

So, it's been a while since I've posted anything.  I actually forgot all about my blog.  :( But anyway, Happy New Year to everyone out there.  This year, instead of making a resolution, i've just decided to focus on becoming a better me.  No one is perfect, but it's our imperfections that make us who we are.  The person that I am is one who tries to be the best she can be.  To continue with that, Ive decided to focus on different areas of my life that I need to improve on. 

• Faith: I am a Christian and I believe in God and that He sent his son, Jesus Christ, to save my soul and the souls of the world.  My goal this year, and every year, is to better serve the Lord by doing the things He wants me to do. 
• Family: I have an amazing family and I love them dearly.  Although they don't always seem to be as supportive as I would like, they have done so much for me my whole life.  I am blessed to have been born into the Brown family.  I want us to be closer and hopefully, the Lord will bless us to get through this year together.
• Health: I have been blessed to have lived a fairly healthy life thus far and sometimes, I take that for granted.  I eat things that I shouldn't and I always make excuses for not going to work out.  My goal is to be as healthy as possible.  I believe that God made us in his image and I don't think that image includes poor eating habits and unhealthy lifestyles. 
• Relationship: I LOVE my boyfriend KeAndre' Arnold.  We have been together for 1 year, 9 months, and 3 weeks, give or take a few days. We have been through a lot of things in our relationship and I know that I've put him through a lot.  There have been times when I didn't think we would make it, but I truly feel that we were put in each others lives for a reason.  Honestly, I want to be Mrs. Arnold and if that is God's will, I can't wait for it to happen. 
• Education: I am a student at Southern Arkansas University and am in the middle of my FIFTH YEAR!!!! I never thought I would be here that long, but unfortunately, I am.  I really feel as though I have outgrown this school, the town of Magnolia, and the entire area.  I will graduate from SAU this December.  I'm so excited.  My main goal for this year is to study hard and make the best grades possible.  I am seriously shooting for a 4.0 this spring, summer, and fall.  I will take my Optometry exam this spring and begin the application process for Optometry school in Houston.  I can't wait to move there and continue with my life.  I feel like my future is on hold right now.  But I know everything has a time.  Hopefully, everything goes according to plan :)
• Pageantry: If you know me, you probably know that I compete in pageants and have been Miss Magnolia, and Miss SAU.  I've gotten a lot of positive feedback from people in the last 2 years about my performances in competition and at various appearances.  What people don't know, is that I still have so much improving to do.  My goal is to be Miss Arkansas, but more importantly, to use the Miss America Organization as a vessel to better myself and the communities I live in.  My current platform is Facing the Book: Social Network Safety but lately, I've been thinking about changing it.  I haven't decided exactly what it would be but I want it to deal with role models.  Maybe encouraging people to be positive role models or helping our youth find positive role models.  Maybe both... I'll have to keep praying about that.  As far as the competition goes, I'm hoping and praying and working to get back to Miss Arkansas this year.  I am competing in Miss Texarkana this Saturday.  Hopefully, I win that one so that I can go back to the state competition.  Mrs. Donna and Mr. Mike seem like such great directors and I would love to work with them for the year.  We'll see how things turn out Saturday night.
• Community: Community service is one of the most important things a person can participate in.  If we don't help others, I think that humanity will fail.  I know that if I were in need, I would want someone to reach out to me.  I feel that everyone who is able to should help other people.  I admit that I'm not as involved as I could be and would like to be, but this year, I plan on changing that.  As often as I can, I want to help people, especially young people.  They are the future of our world and if we don't help them and teach them, we are doomed.  I want all youth to have the opportunity for success.  Hopefully, I will be able to impact someone's life for the better.

Hopefully, by improving myself in each of these areas, I can continue to become the best person I can be.  I'm looking forward to an amazing year!!!

♥

First Runner-Up... Not So Bad....

So the Miss Black Ark-La-Tex pageant was one of the best experiences of my life. I won 1st Runner-Up. I didn't get the scholarship but I did meet a lot of wonderful people whom I hope to keep in contact with. And in case you were wondering, Kamesha West is the 2010 Miss Black Ark-La-Tex and she is truly an amazing woman!! I hope that she will continue to do pageants and hopefully we will both make it to Miss America!!!

Winners of the Miss Teen/Miss Black Ark-La-Tex Pageant

Teen 1st Runner-Up-Taylor Henton; Miss Teen Black Ark-La-Tex-Danielle Womack, Miss Black Ark-La-Tex- Kamesha West; Miss 1st Runner Up-Valerie Brown(Me)

On another note, classes at SAU begin tomorrow morning and I am so excited. My classes are difficult, but I'm just ready to get another semester closer to Optometry School in Houston!!! For Spring Break, my boyfriend and I will head down there to look at the school for a few days and then its off to sunny Tampa, FL!!! That is, if we don't change our minds again. But I think we will probably stick with it. One of my classmates lives there and she will be home from Iraq then. I can't wait to see her. We need to go ahead and get our tickets since they are not too expensive. Well I'm about to get ready to go to work at Backyard BBQ!!! Yay...not... :(

My Boyfriend KeAndre' Arnold and I

I figured it was time for a new pic with my Miss SAU crown! This one was used for my Christmas Cards :)