Four years ago, after having my third and final child, I wanted to make sure that I didn’t lose my sense of adventure while raising three young children. So, I created a challenge for myself: Every year I would try something new, something uncomfortable, and something exciting! I called it my “Bucket List.” Not shying away from competition, I chose to prepare for a triathlon as my first “Bucket List” challenge.

Training for a triathlon fed my competitive spirit and also had the added benefit of helping me lose the baby weight. I felt an amazing sense of accomplishment by setting a goal, training hard, and enjoying the rush of crossing the finish line. I competed in a second triathlon only two weeks later and shaved 15 minutes off my time.

After finishing two triathlons, I decided to really push outside my comfort zone and compete in what my husband calls, “The Beauty Triathlon,” a.k.a,-- The Mrs. Colorado Pageant!

After the curtain dropped in the 2008 Mrs. Colorado Pageant, I finished fourth runner up, I realized that achieving the goal of becoming Mrs. Colorado was not just another item on my “Bucket List,” it was a dream I needed to fulfill. I’m proud to say I achieved that dream and am thrilled and honored to represent the state Colorado!