Maria Cahill - The Fast, the Furious....the Math Major?! NOT.

Hey everyone!! It has been a crazy couple of days! I have done so many appearances and have been booked for SO many more! 
      Today, I was able to attend to a SmartDrive appearance.  I was incredibly excited because it was the first time as Miss Delaware that I was able to do something related to my platform.  I got to meet a group of over 50 kids and talk about safe driving and tell them why it was so important to me.  The main activity for the day was to drive a golf cart (it was more like a golf cart on steroids...) through an obstacle course.  I was the first one to drive to start the day off.  No pressure.  I was timed driving normally the first time.  The second time through, I was supposed to talk on the phone and answer math questions while being timed.

****TIME OUT HERE, PEOPLE.  I do not like math.  I am not good at math.  The only numbers I look at and get happy about is when I am checking prices at a store and I see something is on sale.  The only "A" in math I ever got was in college and I called my mom and told her right away because it was the most exciting moment of my life...kind of...I mean I did get a 100% and tricked my friends into thinking I was naturally good at math....so that phone call was deserved, in my professional opinion...****

Anyways...as I was driving with a cell phone, I was able to show (in a huge way...) that it was SO hard to drive while distracted!  Not only was my time to finish the course 15 seconds slower, I rediscovered my hatred for math as it took me at least 10 seconds to figure out what 7+5 was.....UGH.

The lady who contacted me to do this event also owns 12 radio stations throughout the state of Delaware so we are already in talks to have me record a PSA to play on all of them :) YAY!!
     - Is it possible to have "In the Arms of an Angel" play in the background?  That song always gets me when it plays in the SPCA psa...

Moral of the story - it takes looking at a cell phone for a second to cause an accident or take a life.  Also, never do math while driving...or avoid it all together if possible....

Check out SmartDrive at http://www.smartdrivede.org/!! DO IT, DO IT, DO IT!

Today, I also picked up my photopads! (photos that I can sign and hand out to everybody...because I know everyone obviously wants one...).  So exciting!!!  I also got my official Miss Delaware 'Thank You' cards which I am sure I will be sending A LOT of! :)

Tomorrow I have my runway debut as Miss Delaware at the Best of Delaware party!  My fitting at Lady's Image yesterday went fabulously and I have some beautiful pieces to WERK! Can't wait to share pictures with you all!

I also did an interview with The Dialog! It is always exciting when newspaper people come to your house and whip out a camera with that fancy umbrella thing!....PHOTOSHOOT!!!

This year has just been incredible so far and every day, I just feel more and more blessed for what I have been given!

Stay chill (and away from math),
                                          MARIA

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
1 Peter 4:8

Life's just a game, it's just one EPIC HOLIDAY!

Photoshoots. Love them. Obviously.  You will hear me talk about fashion, photos and shoots about 4,765 more times before my year is up.  Sorry I'm not sorry...
When the News Journal wanted to do a story about my win, it was apparent that I was stoked.  No one would expect anything less.  Not only did this mean I was going to be in the paper, but this meant...PHOTOSHOOT. yes. yes. yes.

The article came out great and my family was almost as excited to be a part of the pictures and story as I was! Check it out below :)

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20110627/LIFE/106270302/-Newbie-Miss-Delaware-urges-teens-drive-safely?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CLife%7Cp


-I am stuffed on ramen noodles and a bagel.  I think I am about to roll away...ohhhh Planet Fitness!!!! Where are you!?



A couple more appearances that I have done so far?
-Spoke on 88.7 The Bridge radio station! Hope to be back soon!
-Judged the Mr. Delaware pageant!  Was an absolute blast and met so many incredible people and other titleholders :)
-Tim Qualls show

....and so many more!!

The appearances are racking up and I will be sure to update you guys soon!!! :)

On a side note: Happy birthday to one of my best friends in this whole wide world, Sam :) Love you!


Stay chill,
       Maria

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"
Jeremiah 29:11

SPOTLIGHT - My "Little Sisters" :)

I recieved the most wonderful package in the mail the other day from my "Little Sisters" from Miss Delaware!!!  I have to put up pictures of the things they got me!  Since I know they read my blog, this is the perfect opportunity to say HELLO to them!!!!! I love you guys and you made my Miss Delaware win so much better!  They had written me a note a couple days before saying that they knew I was going to win and to always remember them!  Well, I ALWAYS will and you guys are the best!  I knew from the first moment we started talking about our love for food, especially pizza, and Call of Duty, that they would be a part of my life FOREVER!!!  Girls, keep an eye on the mail in the next week or two :))  To their mom, a former Miss Delaware, thank you for already looking out for me and I hope to see you soon!

xoxo,

      Maria

"The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them."

                                                                     - John 15:13

All "waves" were NOT created equal....

      Honestly, it is SO WEIRD being in a parade.  I always loved being the one that candy was thrown at...not the one doing the throwing...LAME.  However, after my 1st parade, I was hooked.


WARNING: I like to fist pump at parades....


My very first parade was on July 3rd.    Because I LOVE America so much, I was obviously pumped.  The Middletown parade was a smaller parade, but it was fabulous nonetherless.  It was my first time waving for an extended period of time........Okay.....on the subject of waving.......

Wave:  Something is the ocean.  To disturb the status quo.  What a tree does in the breeze.

After looking up the definition of a wave, nothing was said about pageant girls, parades, or people having to do it the same way.  On that note, I DO NOT and will never wave like a normal human being.  Not only is it BORING, but why wave from the wrist and up?  Why not put all your energy into it so your whole arm moves and not like you are trying to scoop up the air with just your hand...seriously...it doesnt hurt to fist pump either....case and point?   ------->   http://u0000kdo4ccyol5y.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Lso057BpYPE/I0000.yX4Ygs99Gs/54

AND THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!

July 4th - close to the BEST day ever.

Before I begin, I need to define one more word: Donald.

DONALD:  The best man ever.  The parade driver of the last 16 Miss Delaware's.  Someone who had better hair than Trump.

3 parades.  One day.  For most, that meant a lot of candy.  For us pageant folk, that just means a lot of waving (*see above).  My day started bright and early with the Symrna parade.  I got to be right in the front because it was off to another parade right after that!  The parade was fantastic.  I love that even though I am sitting on the back of a car (a STUNNING car at that), I still get to meet so many people!!  My favorite thing ever is when little girls point at you and scream, "It's Miss Delaware! It's a princess??"  Has anyone ever died of cuteness?  Well, at one point this year, I might!
        After this parade, I had a police escort to get me back to my car and on the road to the Bethany parade!  I have always been jealous of police because they can ride through red lights if their flashing lights are on....just picture this.....a police motorcycle with flashing lights followed by a beautiful '67 red convertible, top down, going 50 mph with a Miss Delaware holding on for dear life still sitting on the back.  Yes. This is real life.  It happened.  I arrived to the Bethany parade with moments to spare.  This parade was CRAZY!!!!! It is a real experience when you are placed in front of at least 2000 people as the new Miss Delaware.  Everyone is just screaming your name, waving at you, running up to the car to take pictures with you....UNREAL!!!  I definitely left that parade on a high!
           After a wonderful dinner with my favorite business manager, Susan, and her wonderful husband, Gene, it was off to Dover for yet another parade!! YAY!  Another wonderful parade with people screaming my name (will NEVER get used to that feeling) and even got to see my mom and two of my sisters who went to watch!!

When I got home that night, it was just another one of those moments that I realized how blessed I am.  A remarkable day :))

My car!

Donald!!!!!

Police escort. The good life.

After the day of three parades!  With my little sister, Annie :)



STAY CHILL,

             Maria

"This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

                                                                                        Psalm 118:24

Walk, don't run, to the nearest ice cream booth!

4th order of business - Miles for Children Walk and PHOTOSHOOT!!!! holla!


After a couple days of catching up on some much needed sleep, it was off to the waterfront in Wilmington for the Miles for Children 5K!! On a side note, was I really a part of the actual 5K if the only walking I did was between the face painting booth and the ice cream booth?....hmmmm....
      This event was awesome on so many levels!  I got to talk to so many people, the most memorable being the woman I talked to about safe driving and why I was so passionate about it.  I could tell that my story really affected her and she said that she would no longer text while driving because of what happened to my friend.  Truly incredible.
       
     - why is it that at all of my appearances, I become best friends with everyone under the age of 10?  Whatever the reason, I LOVE IT!!

MOLLY!!!! the cutest thing I have ever seen! :)

Basically everyone knows that I love photoshoots.  Do I love them more than a number 1 meal at McDonalds (Big Mac with no pickle, large fry and large drink)?   .....That is seriously debatable....I love fashion magazines, fierce shoots and anything to do with Vogue magazine.  For anyone that has not seen some of the photoshoots I have done, here is a preview!.....

So...you can imagine my excited when I was set up with the amazing Paul Pruitt to take my headshots for Miss America!!  It went awesome and the photos turned out amazing!!  Needless to say, the shoot went from basic smiling headshots to full-blown fierce shots with wind in my face....just leave it to me.  The usual... Once I get the OKAY to put them up here, I will! 

Definitely check out Paul Pruitt's work at http://www.paulpruittphotography.com/.  His work is AMAZING and you will not be dissapointed!!!  Can't wait to share my pictures with you all!

Stay Chill,

           Maria

(Psalms 138:3) 3 In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul.

I LIKE TO PICTURE MY JESUS IN A TUXEDO T-SHIRT...

3rd order of business - 2 checks off my bucket list

Yes, I have a bucket list.  Who doesn't?  Is a bucket list still technically a bucket list if you are too lazy to write it down and it is all just bottled up in your head?  Is there such things as a mental bucket list? Oh, life's unanswered questions...
       Two things that have been on my bucket list are 1. to be on the cover of a magazine that people need to pay to get (none of these "take me, I'm free" magazines) and 2. to drive nascars.  Has anyone ever seen Talledaga Nights?  Who WOULDN'T have 'driving a nascar' on their bucket list after seeing that!
1.         Back when I was Miss Rehoboth Beach, I was asked to appear on the September beach guide cover of Delaware Today!! HUZZAH!!!  I packed myself up....EARLY....to go to Rehoboth Beach for my shoot...so early, in fact, that in my delirious state, I rubbed lotion (or what I thought was lotion) all over my face only discover it was acne medicine....true story.  Kill me now.  I met at Dolph's beach house with my fabulous hair stylist Sal from Michael Christophers!  After he dolled me all up, it was off to the boardwalk for me to pose my butt off!  I live for these kind of moment!  I could have photoshoots all day long and be perfectly happy about it.  After the cover shoot, which comes out next month, it was off the Robin Hood's for a bite to eat...not that I ate 6 waffles or anything...  It was there that I saw the Cape Gazette, the paper in which I saw the first article about myself as the new Miss Delaware!  So cool!!  Needless to say, I picked up as many papers as I could fit into my arms...SUCCESS!!  After the shoot, it was a quick change in the car (I am becoming a pro at this...) and off to Dover Downs for an Oakley's Sunglasses appearance!  This event was basically being a hostess to over 20 business men from all over the mid-west as well as "styling" these guys for their own pair of Oakleys.  Sweet.  This is when the "bucket list talk" began....

Cheezin' at the Oakley's event!! :)

2.  Dover Downs is home to what is called the "Monster Mile."  I was talking with the director of the business group from Monsanto about my bucket list.  I told him that I cried when Dale Earnhart died and it has always been on my bucket list to drive a nascar before I die.  "As a matter of fact, we are driving them tomorrow on the Monster Mile if you want to do it!"
        - You know that moment when someone offers you something really nice to you but you decline out of sheer politeness? Yeah, NO. That was not happening in this case.
I told him I would be there.  A quick couple phone calls to my directors later, I was in and my dad was my escort...lucky duck.The next morning, I was up very early.  I had to be on the track by 8.  My dad and I not only got to ride shotgun over 40 times around the track, but we got to drive 10 of our own laps!! I got up to the max speed of 120!!....what do you expect...I am just good like that...  It was an experience like NO OTHER!!!  I got to take so many pictures and meet all the guys who work behind the scenes to make it happen!  INCREDIBLE!!!

Stay chill,

         Maria

Psalm 118:24 - "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

The single MOST EMBARRASSING moment of my life...literally.

2nd order of business - a day with three different appearances! YES!

My day started out with a breast cancer walk for the DBCC (Delaware Breat Cancer Coalition).  Little did I know that this appearance would lead to one of the most humiliating moments of my life....
       This walk to increase awareness about breast cancer was truly incredible.  To see people so passionate about an issue such as this gives me goosebumps. I got to meet so many people, including survivors and their children!  To hear each and every one of them share their story with me was remarkable and heartwarming.  These women are so strong!!  This walk of about 100 was relatively smaller than other walks that I have been to, but the determination with which they talked about overcoming breast cancer was beautiful.
      Here comes the terrible part...I was approached right before the walk started and was asked if I could sing the National Anthem.  HOLD ON.  I can't even HUM, let alone sing two words in tune.  When my own mother tells me I can't sing a note, you just know that you have to let the Mariah Carey's of the world take over for all things National Anthem related.  I politely declined, saying that if you would not like the brand spanking new Miss Delaware to be booed right out of the venue, you would not put me up there.  Sure, I like to chant "USA! USA!" wherever I go and wear red, white and blue 5 days out of the week, but this was just not happening.  The lady who asked just laughed and told me it was no problem at all. PHEW!!! Dodged that bullet, right?......WRONG!  5 minutes later, I heard over the loudspeaker, "MARIA CAHILL, CAN YOU PLEASE COME UP TO THE STAGE TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM!!!" Uhhh......what?!??!  Yes, folks, I did the unthinkable.  I had to sing (or attempt to, at least...) the National Anthem with another lady.  I apologized to everyone before starting, proceeded to turn 17 shades of red and "sang" the Anthem while lip-synching the high notes.  Welcome to the wonderful world of being a Miss Delaware...at least I remembered the words....

With a breast cancer survivor! :)

          After this lovely ordeal (NOT), I finished the mile walk and tried to get everyone to forget about the massacre I had done to their ear drums.  After this wonderful event with the DBCC, it was a quick change in my car then off to a car show!  I got to walk around for hours just shaking hands, taking pictures and meeting SO many different kinds of people!  You know you make an impression when an 8 year old has the courage to walk up to you and say, "I know I am much younger than you, but I was wondering if I could have your number."  Adorable!!  What an awesome event!

Just another day at a car show!

       My day was still not over yet! It was another quick change, then off to Newark to meet with my executive director, the LOVELY Debi, to go to the Miss New Jersey Pageant!!  The pageant was wonderful! I got to see my roommate from Miss Delaware, Chelsea Lee Ray which I was thrilled about!  After a good amount of "vouging" with her (aka. the Maria Cahill version of a photo shoot...check the photos below...), the pageant began! It is much more enjoyable and less stressful watching the pageant than actually being in it.  The stunning Katharyn won!  She did an absolutely fabulous job and I know that we will have a great time at Miss America in January.  The day was long, but it was so worth it!  I am SO BLESSED!!!

LOVE DEBI AND CHELS!! :) (probably the only serious picture of the night...)

Stay chill,

        Maria

"For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands."

                                                               Psalm 92:4