Chicago welcomes the Miss and Teens to the International Competition!

Our Carolina girls are shining bright as stars as they arrived today in Chicago at the Double Tree Hotel!! it was fun welcoming all 4 girls as they brought MOUNDS of luggage and charm to Skokie! to follow photos, please see my facbook page daily.

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages&ref=mb#!/carolinainternationalpageant

Joy

State Director

NATIONALS DISCOUNT THIS WEEK ONLY!

Are you on the edge of your seat watching the Mrs., Miss and Teen International Pageant this week?

In celebration, we are offering a HOT discount this week on your state entry! Get $100.00 off and pay only $375.00 to enter our fantastic Carolina International STATE Pageant with NO AD PAGE FEE! You could be here next year!

Send in your application by July 30th with at least $100.00 to reserve your spot! Visit www.carolinainternationalpageants.com or  email ncdirector09@aol.com for more details!

Great job to both our Mrs., at the Mrs. International Pageant!

What an amazing production and all the ladies were stunning! Congratulations to Shannon Devine, Mrs. International 2010! We have all had an AMAZING time here in Chicago! TEAM Carolina was nothing less than amazing and I am So proud to have them representing the Carolina's!

I would like to thank Reign Fine Apparel for being a huge sponsor for us and would like to share some of the gown photos because they are STUNNING!

Off to Nationals for Miss Teen South Carolina International!

   Yesterday I had the honor of visiting three wonderful places in my hometown before going off to compete for the title of Miss Teen International 2010. First I visited Cayce Historical museum and the Cayce municipal building, where I got to meet many wonderful people. I then went to Sister's Care, a battered womens shelter, acompannied by Miss Teen world Elite, Alana Redmond who is also my bestfriend! We donated about 20 bags of clothes to the shelter, and met the cordinator of Sister's Care. Now I am waiting for my arrival to chicago, in one more day! I want to thank all my wonderful supporters, and my WONDERFUL director, Mrs.Joy, and my mom and sister. I couldn't do it without you and I love you all!!!!

Cayce Historical Museum

Carring a 30 pound bag in heels is hard!

All the bags of clothes we donated!

Update from Nationals

Chicago has been glorious! Just arriving yesterday, the Mrs. International Pageant is in FULL swing. Ladies from around the world "brought it" this year! Spectacular gowns and beautiful faces have filled the Double Tree Hotel in Skokie, IL! I am so proud to have two of the most spectacular ladies in the North and South Carolina State Titleholders! I could not be MORE proud of them as they most certainly made the Carolina's PROUD last night at Prelims! The ladies were outstanding!

I invite you to follow my Facbook page for quick pictures and Mobil uploads!

FACEBOOK


Joy
Executive State Director
Carolina International Pageants

Miss North Carolina International at Crowns and Gowns HIV/AIDS Gala in Columbia, SC!

Hello everyone!!

I hope you are all doing well!! Nationals Nationals Nationals is getting closer by the minute! This past weekend, I was asked to participate in the Crowns and Gowns HIV/AIDS Gala in Columbia, SC hosted by our very own Lori Pelzer, Mrs. South Carolina International 2009. It was also great to reunite with my sister queen, Mrs. South Carolina International 2010, Shana Harmon-Goff. I had the opportunity to speak on my platform, One Life to Love and to speak about my passion for HIV/AIDS awareness, education and prevention. I was also ecstatic to meet, listen to, and discuss HIV/AIDS with Dr. Bambi Gaddist Executive Director for the South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council, operator of the only mobile HIV/AIDS unit in South Carolina,  and a CNN Hero of 2008. Her wisdom, passion and power truly filled the room. She makes an impact just by stepping into a room. I was thrilled to be able to steal her away from the crowd and discuss the growing issues with HIV/AIDS and the plans and/or lack of plans our federal and state governments have to combat it. It was fabulous to pick her brain about the issues facing South Carolina, where their entire HIV state funding has been cut along with Breast Cancer Screenings and other vital health needs. I am so excited that I will be able to connect with and work closely with her to restore funding for South Carolina and implement and increase prevention and education programs.

Thank you for reading my blog!

All my blessings,

Kristie Tobias
Miss North Carolina International

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

Miss North Carolina International Partners with the North Carolina Community AIDS Fund!

Hello everyone!!

Nationals Nationals Nationals!! Yay, in exactly 5 days, I will be on the plane with my fabulous mother to CHICAGO!! The Windy City! Ok, if you cannot tell, I am EXCITED! Before I get into my appearances and events from this week and weekend, I need to say a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my fabulous father, Dr. Andrew Tobias, Sr! He has been such a strong man and support system in my life, and I am so proud to wish him a fabulous Happy Birthday!!

On May 25, as you may know, I was able to take part in a very important day for HIV/AIDS, HIV Advocacy Day at the State Legislative Building in Raleigh, NC, where I was able to lobby, participate in press conferences, and talk with my state senators about the importance of increased and continuous HIV funding. Well, I am pleased to announce, we were successful!! We successfully received $14.1 million in recurring HIV funding, so we are very excited, especially in the light of the release and controversy of the first ever HIV/AIDS Strategy introduced by the White House.

 Well, while I was at HIV Advocacy Day, I met with a lot of different organizations and a lot of different people. One of the people that I was pleased to meet was Edgar Villanueva the Senior Program Officer for Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, and the founder of the North Carolina Community AIDS Fund. His passion and work with HIV/AIDS is truly inspiring, and I was so blessed that only 1 day after our meeting he contacted me to set up a meeting. The meeting was fabulous. One thing that I love is talking with people about HIV/AIDS, its current impact on our community and the world at large, and the steps we need to take to combat this disease.  Edgar and I are kindred spirits, and he asked if I would serve as an ambassador, celebrity board member, and voice for the North Carolina Community AIDS Fund. Boy, was I thrilled! The North Carolina Community AIDS Fund began as a vision to bring together funders from across the state to work together developing a new type of collaboration that would support HIV programs in North Carolina. North Carolina is 1 of 6 locations that was chosen by the National AIDS Fund to be part of the The National AIDS Fund’s Positive Charge Initiative, a partnership with Bristol-Meyers Squibb to fund access to care initiatives for the HIV community. Our main focus is prevention, and I am truly blessed and excited about this partnership, and about the National impact it will have on HIV/AIDS.

Thank you for reading my blog!

All my love and blessings,

Kristie Tobias
Miss North Carolina International

"God is in control, I'm just following His lead." ~Miss NCI

Miss Teen North Carolina's Video Blog!

So, a lot of people enjoyed my first video blog! I must say I really enjoy doing them because I LOVE talking as most everyone knows! ONLY SIX MORE DAYS UNTIL NATIONALS!!!!!

Heres the link!

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=115996305114586

Miss Teen NC Video Blog update!

Hello Everyone!
 SO I have decided to a video blog update before and during nationals to let everyone know my progress in preperation and how I feel about everything! Heres the first one, let me know how you like it!
Heres the link to watch it!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/video/video.php?v=115689661811917&comments&ref=notif

Mrs. North Carolina International's Send-off Party for the Mrs. International Pageant!

Mrs. & Mr. North Carolina International

Invitation

Hors d'oeuvres from Cafe' Monte

MMM....Cake!

Chocolate with Chocolate Raspberry Ganache!

Mom and Dad

Wyc and Jane

Tara my National Wardrobe Sponsor and her husband Darrel

Stuart my Personal Hairstylist! 

Kelly my Personal Make-up Artist!

Taylor, Andrew, Coles-Albert, Me, Joseph minus Grayson, who was at my mother-in-law's   

Joseph was very secret in the planning of my Send-Off Party.  He wanted to make it very special for all to enjoy!  He planned out all the details and designed the invitation.  Guests enjoyed a Wine Tasting & Fundraiser for PP4Alz and surprised to have the opportunity to view my National wardrobe.

It was a pleasant evening to relax and celebrate the journey that both Joseph and I have enjoyed since winning the NC State Title.  

I wish I could share my wardrobe with you, but it is TOP SECRET!  I will post other photos after National's!  We are packed and ready to leave in the morning for Chicago!  I have 33 outfits, 20 pairs of shoes, and 13 purses to showcase all week. We have a busy, but sure to be FUN week planned.  Here are some of the high-lights.

Tuesday Evening - Contestant Orientation

Wednesday - Chicago Tour, Make-up Seminar, Rehearsal

Thursday - Interview, Rehearsal

Friday - Rehearsal, Preliminaries

Saturday - Rehearsal, FINALS!    

You can see updates during the week at the Mrs. International website!

http://www.mrsinternational.com/

Thank you to my darling husband Joseph for choosing me to be his Mrs. Griner.  He has made me the person I am today!  So many wonderful, and memorable family experiences through marriage and raising our 4 sweet boys.  We are truly blessed!  Thank you also to ALL of my sponsors, family, and friends.  You have continuously encouraged me along the way as my Alzheimer's Advocacy has grown.  

I plan to do my best to convince the judges "It is time for PURPLE!"  Our PP4Alz work is in memory of Robert A. Albert Sr. & Kelton Virnelson.    

PURPLE PASSION 4 Alzheimer's

http://www.pp4alz.org/

Event Fashion ~ Flow by Tara Davis

http://www.flowbytaradavis.com/

Mrs. North Carolina International

Cynthia Griner

        

our Mrs. leave for Mrs. International!

Cynthia and LaShana leave this week for Mrs. International! We wish them the very best and safe travels to all!!

Mrs. North Carolina International and her son Grayson visit The Ivey

Some of The Ivey staff ~Victoria, Kelly, June, Me, Grayson, Cindy

PURPLE PASSION 4 Alzheimer's has several active programs.  Some were designed specifically by Joseph and me to involve our family.  We have a big family of four boys ranging in the ages between 4-16. 

It is very important to teach our children the importance of giving back with their talents to the community they are growing up in!  I hope that through our programs my boys will learn this and appreciate my gentle push to do so.  I have been blessed with very talented boys!  Today July 8th we visited The Ivey, which is an Adult Day Care Center located in the Southpark area of Charlotte.  PP4Alz helps support The Ivey through it's many fundraisers toward a Caregiver Fund and emphasizes the importance of enhancing in the quality of life of an Alzheimer's victim.

Grayson, who is my adorable and very bright 10 year old agreed to share his 4th grade Poetry Project during our visit that he worked so hard on.  He is very pleased of the A+ he received from his teacher.  This was a chance for him to "shine", gain confidence in front of a crowd, and touch the members of The Ivey and the staff with his original poems as well as authored ones.  He is shown above proudly holding his Poetry book that he made.

The members were very appreciative of our visit.  Seniors receive energy from children when they visit.  It helps them remember when they were young.  Grayson brought smiles and questions of interest from the Senior members today.  They especially enjoyed and understood the Acrostic Poems he read.  Kelly, who is the Activities Director, had just studied this style of poetry with her members.

I have below some of the original Acrostic Poems Grayson wrote.  This is how Grayson describes this style of poetry.  An Acrostic Poem is a poem where you use one word and each letter of the word becomes a description of the word used.  Grayson was very glad to have this opportunity to share one of his many talents with the members of The Ivey.  I am a very proud Mama! 

    

... and the Journey is Not about you... It is About those you can touch, speak to, embrace, give hope to, encourage with words, lift, and Love...and You...will be Blessed Beyond Measure!

The Ivey
http://www.theivey.com/


The Alzheimer's Poetry Project, founded by New York poet Gary Glazner
http://www.alzpoetry.com/

As audiences go, Alzheimer's patients are a tough group. Some stare into space or drift off to sleep. Others have trouble sitting still — and tend to get up and wander off if they're bored. Many forget why they came or who is performing.

Studies show that listening to poetry can lower heart rate and other indicators of stress, and that using words in new and creative ways sparks dramatic reactions in the brain's pathways.


Mrs. North Carolina International

Cynthia Griner   

     

Miss NC International Judges The Global America Pageant!

Hello everyone!!!

I hope you are all doing fabulous in the smokin' hot weather! I also hope you were all able to enjoy a very patriotic 4th of July!! It is truly an honor to celebrate the signing and adoption of the Declaration of Independence to declare our Indepence as a sole nation owned by none. I am truly proud to be an American, and even more proud to share such a momentus day with my friends and loved ones. I was also blessed to judge The Global America Pageant (a fitting name!) on Saturday, July 3 in Florence, SC directed by the wonderful Melissa Hooks. I was proud to participate on the distinguished judges panel, and to meet so many beautiful and talented young women. This pageant meant more than just a title, but for the director, her family and loved ones, this pageant was showing victory over tragedy as they lost one of their loved ones only 1 month prior. It was a true testament of character to witness the emotions and strength that each person carried, and I am honored and blessed to be a part of it.

Thank you for reading my blog!

All my blessings,

Kristie Tobias
Miss North Carolina International

"So do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."Isaiah 41:10

Mrs. North Carolina International is a Celebrity Chef at Golden Living Senior Center

MMM....My Stuffed French Toast to share!

I am wearing an apron that Joseph's Grandmother Mamma made....

 

Volunteer, June, Bryan, Natasha Braden ~ Regional Director

Me, Monica ~ Marketing

Byan Rife ~ Activities Director Golden Living

Golden Living Nurses

Mary ~ Central Supplies

The Certificate they presented to me for my time

Signing Autographs for residents and staff

Our photo and my BIO on Calendar Wall

An event had been included on July's Calendar for the residents at Golden Living located on 5th Street in Charlotte. I was to be their Celebrity Chef! Bryan Rife, who is the Activities Director invited me to prepare my favorite recipe to share with the residents. I of course chose my Stuffed French Toast!

This recipe has been enjoyed by my family for the past 17 years! When I was pregnant with my first son Andrew; Joseph and I stayed in a local B&B before he was born. The hostess of the B&B served us this dish for breakfast. Stuffed French Toast has become a Griner Family Tradition to enjoy on the Holidays especially Easter and Christmas! It is a recipe that can be made ahead of time to enjoy the next day. I usually serve it with maple sausage, fresh fruit, syrup, and whip ceam.

Two of the residents were able to help me. One counted and cracked all eight eggs then another so intentently whisked the egg batter. Due to privacy reasons there are no photos of all of the sweet residents in their chef hats. I was touched when Bryan gave me a certificate as appreciation of my time. I have an open invitation and next time will bring PP4Alz Teens to the Golden Living Senior Center. Natasha Braden has also invited me to make a visit at any of the other Golden Living Centers! ROAD TRIP!

Golden Living is a family of healthcare companies committed to enriching the lives of its residents and patients. Our comprehensive approach ensures our patients receive the most innovative and expert care possible, while our compassion and dedication keeps our focus exclusively on the individual.

Golden Living Senior Center ~ 2616 5th Street, Charlotte
http://www.http//www.goldenlivingcenters.com/locations-staff/find-care-location/location/golden-livingcenter-charlotte-nc.aspx


I have included the recipe below! ENJOY!

Stuffed French Toast

If you can, mix the ingredients the night before, then bake it the next morning.

1 Loaf Egg Bread (also know as Challah Bread)
8 Eggs
1-8oz Cream Cheese
1 1/4 cups milk
1/2 cup maple syrup
6 tbsp butter melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12 X 9 baking pan with Pam Butter Spray. Cube bread and layer 1/2 in baking pan. Cut cream cheese into pieces and place on top of bread. Cover with remaining bread cubes. Whisk milk, eggs, maple syrup, and butter and pour evenly over bread in baking pan. Press bread cubes to soak up egg mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight if possible. Next day, sprinkle with Cinnamon. Bake with aluminum foil “tented” over the baking dish in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Bake uncovered another 15 minutes (times are estimates, based on oven temperatures), until it is toasted brown on the top and "puffy". Serve with warm maple syrup, assorted berries, bacon or sausage balls, and fresh whipped cream.


Mrs. North Carolina International
Cynthia Griner

... and the Journey is Not about you... It is About those you can touch, speak to, embrace, give hope to, encourage with words, lift, and Love...and You...will be Blessed Beyond Measure!