Happy Holidays!

Hello! Recently I have been on the run, filling my weeks with community service events and appearances!!! I had a great time volunteering at the Jingle Bell Run for the Arthritis Foundation! It was awesome seeing so many people get dressed up as Christmas characters to go for a 5K run. Such a wonderful event! The Portsmouth Holiday Parade was an absolute BLAST!!! I even got a few kisses blown back to me from some of the kids:) What made it even more special and fun was the scavenger hunt that Kamilah and I participated in. The scavenger hunt is a holiday parade tradition. I am proud to say that we conquered the night and got everything on our list!!! We had a great time meeting marching bands, cheer leading squads, and people dressed up as crazy holiday characters. Our driver Mark was super nice too!

Last night I had my first Nutcracker of the season. Great job TEAM!!! We had a beautiful show. I was SO excited to see Grace (the little girl I babysit) in the audience. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful support system, thanks to my mom (for helping me with my 20 second change and just being my mom), my grandparents, my father (and dance partner), and my brother for being so supportive. Tomorrow we have a performance at the historic Claremont Opera House

On Friday, I visited the Bow Elementary School again to talk about my platform. I have been organizing a Toy Drive for the Children's Miracle Network at Children's Hospital Boston. I was so excited to see that they already had so many toys that they have collected! We also made "Hope Bracelets" for the pediatric patients and invited everyone to the "Princess Party" at Applebee's in Hooksett to benefit the Children's Miracle Network on Thursday, December 16th from 5p-10p.

Wear your best "Princess" attire and ask for the Children's Miracle Network flier at the door! 15% of your bill will be donated to the Miss NH Children's Miracle Network Fund. Please join us for food, fun and miracles.

Everyone keep voting for Krystal!!!! She'll do a FABULOUS job as Miss America.

With love & miracles, Lauren

Bella's Circus

I was so lucky to be a part of Bella's Circus at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, NH that helped raise $14,000 for the Bella Tucker fund. It was so nice to see the community come together for this amazing young girl and to enjoy the spectacular circus show put on by performers from Cirque de Soleil, Ringling Brothers, Chicago's Midnight Circus and Circus Smirkus. http://www.bellatucker.org/

Miss Rockingham County

Congratulations to the new Miss Rockingham County Katrina Lynne Ulaky and Miss Rockingham County's Outstanding Teen Angela-Marie Conklin. Thank you Paula Moore for your exceptional service and commitment to the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Program. And best wishes to Joy and Justine Barker, the new Directors for the Miss Rockingham County Scholarship Program.

P.S. It's always fun to reunite with former Miss Strafford County titleholders. This year four Miss Strafford Countys will compete in the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Program: Caitlin McGlinchey (MSC '07), Miss Lakes Region 2011; Jenn Clements (MSC '09), Miss Berlin-Gorham 2011; Lissa Silk (MSC '10), Miss Winnipesaukee 2011 and Miss Strafford County 2011: Kamilah Fucci.

Fourth Annual Manchester City Marathon

Congratulations to the more than 1,500 runners who participated in the Fourth Manchester City Marathon to raise funds for The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester http://www.mhcgm.org/. Thank you to Andy Schachat, Mayor Ted Gatsas and Anthem for an exciting day of racing. Congratulations to 2010 Race Champion Evan Graves who finished in 2:29:39! Hope to see you running next year http://www.cityofmanchestermarathon.com/.

Caring and Sharing Food Drive

It was an honor to join Susan Demers Weigold, Dan Lunnie, Mike from C&J and the Dover Fire Department at Hannaford for the Seacoast's largest food drive. http://www.987thebay.com/

Miss Gate City & Miss Souhegan Valley

Congratulations to Brittany Freeman, Miss Gate City; Brittany Dube, Miss Souhegan Valley; Victoria Whalen, the new Miss Gate City's Outstanding Teen; Makenzie Goode, Miss Gate City Preteen and Ariel Hunt, Little Miss Gate City!

Pats 28-Vikings 18 (and 10 stitches for Favre)

My first trip to Gillette Stadium to help raise funds for the Miss NH Scholarship Program. MC, Jessica, Katie and I had a blast with all the crazy Halloween characters. Thank you to the Tidds who organize the volunteers and run the concession stand at every game...raising over $15,000 last year. A huge thank you to Mr. Rossi, Tina and Danny who cooked all the delicious pizza, fried dough and hot dogs. We are always looking for volunteers to help out at games. Learn more at http://www.missnh.com/gillette/ Love & Miracles, Lauren

P.S. It was awesome to see my friend Kendall http://www.missmaoutstandingteen.org/ who was working at the Miss Massachusetts Booth next door. I'll see her again soon at the Skating Club of Boston for BLADES AND BALLOONS to benefit Children's Miracle Network hosted by Miss Massachusetts 2010: Loren Galler Rabinowitz. Order your tickets today at http://missmass.org/