Moorpark Foundation for the Arts: Official Talent Scholarship Sponsor!

Nancy and Me with Executive Director Hugh Riley
and Foundation Board Member Michael W. Marion!

A HUGE thank you to Moorpark Foundation for the Arts for their incredible donation of two talent scholarships: $300 for our Top Miss Talent, $200 for our Top Teen Talent!! The Miss America Organization is one of the few pageant organization that not only puts an importance on talent: it is the most highly weighted score in the entire competition (35%)!! So it is only fitting that the Top Talent winners receive some scholarship funding to keep perfecting their craft through their education-- and on top of that, it is even MORE fitting that Moorpark Foundation for the Arts has provided the funding!!
Moorpark Foundation for the Arts supports and promotes the arts throughout the community of Moorpark, particularly in the High Street Arts Center. It has been such a pleasure helping them this year, particularly with their annual fundraiser! Thank you SO much for your incredible, wonderful support!! Check out their website for more information, including showtimes and ticket information on the High Street Arts Center's upcoming production of Aida!

Moorpark Chamber of Commerce January Mixer

On January 8, I attended the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce Mixer hosted by Insurance Brokers West in Moorpark with my director, Nancy Gruttemeyer! It was a lively mixer, full of fun people, great networking, and a celebration of IBW's Five-Year Anniversary! I had a particularly good time talking with a lovely little girl who loved my crown; I just HAD to let her try it on!! =)

Her Crowning Moment...!!

All smiles!!  =)

EPIC Fitness: Official Trainer to Miss Ventura County!

Me with Adam Berezowsky, CPT and
Owner of EPIC Fitness!

When I was crowned Miss Ventura County 2012, I knew I had some BIG responsibilities, one of them being to get into great shape for the Miss California Physical Fitness Competition... and when debating on how I was going to get into fantastic shape, I didn't know where to start- until Nancy, my Executive Director, purchased a BOGOPOD deal online for a boot camp program in Simi Valley. Little did I know how much my life was about to change... see, I had tried many other programs and methods of getting into shape and staying in shape, but nothing I tried really got me where I needed to be for Miss California; but after three months of attending Adam's EPIC Fitness Boot Camp classes, some additional personal training sessions, and eating according to Adam's recommendations, I was in THE BEST shape I have ever been in- truly, EVER, I went from an 8 to a 2 (check out my AMAZING results below)!! Even after Miss California, I have continued to work out with EPIC Fitness to not only continue to stay in shape- but to continue to have FUN doing it!!  =)
And now, EPIC Fitness has become the official physical fitness sponsor for Miss Ventura County!!! YaY!!! Not only did Adam donate a $50 scholarship to our Physical Fitness competition winner: he will have Miss Ventura County 2013 participate in his boot camp program absolutely FREE!! That is an incredible opportunity for our 2013 winner, I couldn't be more excited to work out alongside whoever she may be!!

So I'd like to give a HUGE thank you to Adam and everyone with EPIC Fitness, who in my journey have become like family to me; I appreciate all of your faith and encouragement in every obstacle I have had to overcome and your continued support for our organization as I pass on my crown!! <3

Working Out at EPIC Fitness!

Workin' it! Haha =)

Kiwanis Club of Moorpark Visit & Presentation

Barbara and Me with
Kiwanis President Kim Simons!

After singing the National Anthem for the Thousand Oaks High School Girls Varsity Soccer game, I went straight to the Kiwanis Club of Moorpark meeting held in the Chamber of Commerce office in Moorpark! I had been invited to attend the meeting and speak about my year as Miss Ventura County, what's coming up for our organization in 2013, and how we'd like Kiwanis to be a part of it. Overall I spoke for about 15 minutes, then took questions; it was a LOT of fun! Barbara from ____ also gave a presentation on a anew form of education for the next generation of young students that was very enlightening; it was great to see her again! 

Overall is was a great evening; everyone in Kiwanis was very welcoming and eager to learn about "Pageant Land," and I was more than excited to have the opportunity to give them the inside scoop!

With Barbara, President Kim Simons,
and Several Kiwanis Members

TOHS Girls Varsity Soccer Game National Anthem!

Singing the Anthem on the Field!

On January 7, I had the honor and pleasure of singing the National Anthem to kick off one of the Girls Varsity Soccer games at Thousand Oaks High School! Everyone there was very welcoming; it was a lot of fun singing for them! I don't get a lot of opportunities to sing the National Anthem, so I was more than happy to visit TOHS and sing for their game!! I gotta tell you, though: I was doing my best to stay balanced, but it was very hard... my heels were sinking into that grass!! And it was VERY cold on that soccer field; it was about 40 degrees that night!! I admire all of the soccer players that had to run around in the cold after I finished singing and retreated to the heater in my car!! Haha =)

Note My Sinking Heels...!!

Finished! It was a success =)

Continuing to Make Their Mark: Morgan & Chloe Visit Muvico!

Hangin' with Morgan and Chloe
At Our Awesome Booth!

 On January 6, I reunited with Morgan and Chloe at the Muvico Theatre in Thousand Oaks to raise further awareness for Children's Hospital Los Angeles and to continue to sell their handmade bookmarks and bracelets! It was a fun afternoon; a lot of moviegoers showed their support for the girls, and we all had fun sitting and talking together! Morgan and Chloe are two incredibly kind and compassionate young ladies, making a difference one bookmark and bracelet at a time! =)

In Action!  =)

Two Great Girls Doing Wonderful Things!

PJ Reading Night @ Moorpark Library!

With Some of My Wonderful Audience!

Last week, I made my first appearance in the New Year at the Moorpark City Library! I've spent several mornings and evenings as a guest reader for the Moorpark Library- but this time I got to come in my PJs as part of their Pajama Reading Night, sharing some of my favorite bedtime story books such as Grandfather Twilight and The Napping House (where everyone is sleeping!). The kids seemed very enthusiastic about the books that I read, and I was more than excited to return to the Moorpark Library and share my love for reading! =)
To keep updated on the special events at the Moorpark City Library, check out their website and their  Facebook page!

Reading "Grandfather Twilight"

Reading "The Napping House"