6 Month Anniversary: What Has Been and What is Coming!

As of this month, I have been Miss Ventura County 2012 for SIX months!! Woo-hoo!! I seriously cannot believe how fast time flies! I am SO grateful I've had a camera everywhere I've been or everything I have done would be one big blur! =)
Looking back on these six months, I have seriously had the time of my life!! I have met some of the most inspiring and incredible people; I have grown so much as a person; and I have achieved my dream of competing at Miss California... and looking like I belonged there!! Haha =)
I've also had a wonderful time promoting my platform, Hearts for Service, through volunteering for any event that will have me... I feel so blessed to have such great relationships with various organizations in the community including the Land Rover Jaguar of Ventura, Fit Body Boot Camp, Oaks Christian School, Blush Boutique, Pegasus Fashion Lounge, Moorpark Kiwanis, the Rotary Club of Moorpark, the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce, the High Street Arts Foundation, the local Girl Scouts troops, the American Cancer Society, the Moorpark City Library, the MHS PayIt Forward Club... and lots more!!!
In these remaining months of my service, my focus will not only rely on community service but also on raising funds for the Ventura/Santa Barbara County Scholarship Association. I feel such a strong desire to give back to the program that has given so much to me!! Hopefully by the 2013 pageant we will have expanded our program to reach ladies in Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, and Santa Barbara that will hopefully participate, compete, and reap the benefits this program has to offer, including scholarships for their education, interview and communication skills, and an improved sense of self and confidence in who they are. <3
If you are reading this and would somehow like to get involved with fundraising, donate to our scholarship fund, or become a sponsor, please do not hesitate to contact me!! =)

Miss Garden Grove 2013!

This past Friday, the pageant season in So Cal kicked off with the Miss Garden Grove 2013 Pageant at the Marriott in Garden Grove (a hop skip and a jump from Disneyland!)! The theme was Bring it On; all of the contestants were cheerleaders seeking to be the next JV (Teen) and Varsity (Miss) "captains;" it was VERY cute and a well-run night of entertainment and pageantry!
For the Miss CA Class of 2012, it was also a HUGE reunion!! Over a dozen of us local titleholders in the Souther California Region attended the event to support Bree, Jazmin, and all of the competing contestants; it was SO wonderful to see all my favorite ladies again! =)
The pageant featured three beautiful women that mean so much to me: first, our very own Miss California 2012 Leah Cecil was there! A former Miss Garden Grove herself, she helped MC the event and provided some beautiful entertainment playing her harp and singing.
Second, the now former Miss Garden Grove's Outstanding Teen Jazmin Avalos provided entertainment performing a slow tempo modern dance; she also assisted the JV contestants in their onstage questions and crowned the 2013 winner (more on that later...!). She was absolutely beautiful and very gracious; her farewell brought tears to my eyes!! I am confident she will hold more titles in the Miss California Organization; we have not seen the last of Jazmin!
And finally, the now former Miss Garden Grove Bree Morse welcomed the crowd to the pageant, provided entertainment with an upbeat aerobic dance routine, assisted the Varsity contestants with their onstage questions, and crowned the 2013 winner. I had such a blast competing with Bree at Miss CA; she is such a warm person and absolutely beautiful inside and out! I definitely teared up during her farewell as well... I feel so blessed to know her! <3
At the end of the evening, two ladies were awarded the titles of Miss Garden Grove and Miss Garden Grove's Outstanding Teen 2013... and they were Karina Valdez and Missy Mendoza!! They both shined onstage, inside and out; I was very happy and excited for them both!!
It never gets old watching these wonderful young ladies' lives change as they get crowned; being a local Miss America titleholder is such an incredible adventure, I can't wait to see what Karina and Missy do in their years of service!
Overall: an absolutely wonderful evening!! =)

Miss CA Class of '12 with Our Miss CA!

Amanda and Me With the Miss GG Program

More of Us Beautiful Ladies at Intermission

Me With Andrea and Bethany <3 

Getting Yelled at by the Mistress of Ceremonies Su Sylvester...!

Me with Miss Placentia Ryan Osborn!

The Talented & Beautiful Miss Garden Grove 2013, Missy Mendoza!! Congratulations, beautiful!! Make the most out of every moment, it goes fast!! <3

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk @ Ventura Harbor!

On August 18, I resurrected my Relay for Life Team, Crowns for a Cause, to walk in the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk at Ventura Harbor! Since it was a rather last minute decision to walk, we were only able to raise $60... but every dollar counts in the walk again breast cancer, and it felt great walking for such a wonderful cause!
This Crowns for a Cause team consisted of Miss Moorpark 2012 Sydney Campbell, Miss Twin Counties 2012 Sarah Salazar, Miss VCOT Amanda Ford, and myself; we checked in around 9 a.m. and proceeded to purchase our pink ribbon pins, take photos in the photo booth, and eat some fruit before we took off! We made a loop around the harbor, reached a check point, then walked right back; some people were running the route while others walked with their teams, families, and/or dogs!
Following the walk, we ate a yummy pancake breakfast and then took some fun photos on the beach! Overall, it was a beautiful morning of walking, bonding with my fellow titleholders, and raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research!! <3

Me by the Pink Car! =)

Amanda and Me Before the Walk!

...and we're OFF!

Sarah and Sydney Excited to Start the Walk!

Reaching the Halfway Point!

Sarah and I = The Baddest Pirates in TOWN!

Amanda and Me Enjoying the Beach <3 

Us with a New Little Princess! =)

Animal Lovers Night Under the Stars

On August 11, I had the pleasure of volunteering for the 1st Annual Animal Lovers Night Under the Stars, an event put on by Random Acts of Kindness Productions and the MHS PayIt Forward Club! The evening featured cocktails and a lovely dinner provided by the Secret Garden restaurant, live music from the wonderful band RePlay, and an incredible variation of raffle prizes including dinners, massages, and pet treats of all kinds! All proceeds from the event went to three local animal rescues that do so much for the community and its animals needing shelter and/or adoption: Pawpurrs Kitten and Cat Rescues, CARL (Canine Adoption and Rescue League), and the Itty Bitty and Pitty Rescue!
I checked everyone into the event and then helped draw the raffle winners; and to top off the evening, I performed with the band a very impromptu rendition of "At Last;" it was such a rush and went pleasantly well, everyone loved it! It was a very successful evening that I felt very blessed to be a part of!

Checking Everyone In!

Everyone Perusing the Amazing Raffle Prizes!

Enjoying Dinner Under the Lights!

Hangin' Out in the Lovely Garden!

Avocado Diva & The Ventura County Fair

I hope everyone made it to the Ventura County Fair this year! It was SUCH a blast to attend; there was great food, great entertainment, and fantastic traditional carnival games and various attractions!
I spent my entire day at the fair on August 9; in the afternoon, I volunteered in the agriculture building for my good friend Brenda Cusick and her company, Avocado Diva. Avocado Divs prides itself in shipping in avocados from small farms across the state of California that they call heritage avocados; and man are they tasty!! Brenda set up a coloring station that I ran to entertain the kids while the adults helped themselves to a sample tasting of various heritage avocados and avocado tea; it was a huge success!
Later in the day, I was joined by my fellow titleholders Amanda Ford (my teen!); Olivia Sichmeller, Miss Culver City's OT; Alyssa and Ashley Horton, Miss California Princesses, and several adorable Miss Ventura County Princesses! We spent several hours in the evening riding rides such as the carousel, taking pictures with some fans, and bonding as sister royalty; it was a wonderful day that I will cherish forever! =)

Coloring at the Agriculture Building for Avocado Diva!

Me with my Miss CA Princesses and Brenda Cusick

Me with My Teens Amanda and Olivia! <3 

Going Through One of the Fun Houses!

Going Down the Slide!!

Photo Op with Some Fans ;)

LOVE these girls!! <3 

Ventura County Fair Parade!

Every August, the Ventura County Fair is held in Ventura at (where else?) the Fairgrounds! And to kick off the festivities, there is a big parade the first weekend of the fair- and as Miss Ventura County, I got to lead the pageant family pack of convertibles!
All the titleholders, princesses and parents met together at 8 a.m. on the parade route down Main St. in Ventura, where we had about two hours to socialize and get better acquainted with one another. I had the opportunity to better get acquainted with the newly crowned 2012 community titleholders:
Miss Moorpark Sydney Campbell
Miss Teen Moorpark Emily Gratke
Miss Simi Valley Shelby Herzig
Miss Teen Simi Valley Taylor Thompson
Miss Twin Counties Sarah Salazar
Miss Teen Twin Counties Elizabeth Sutton
Miss California IJM Kimberly Bebo
We took some great group photos to pass the time, and around 9 a.m., my beautiful Jaguar convertible arrived, courtesy of Land Rover Jaguar of Ventura!
And that's about when the dramatic part of the day began: around 9:15 or so, it began to rain...!! All of us dolled up beauties ran for cover underneath some nearby trees while parents pulled out umbrellas for us; I made a dash to my beautiful convertible and chatted with Bruce, our Land Rover Jaguar representative and wonderful parade driver! Our director was ready to pack up and head home- but I insisted we wait it out; there was NO way I was going to let it rain on MY parade! And sure enough, the rain was gone about 20 minutes after it started- and the sun shined through just in time for the start of the parade!  =)
Following the parade, I walked to my car to get going... and happened to run into a (wait for it) princess themed birthday party!! The girls were SO giddy to see and talk to me! We took lots of fun pictures and  talk about how ugh fun it is to be a princess; they even let me jump in the Enchanted Forest Jolly Jump!! It was such an adorable and unexpected surprise, and a wonderful end to a wonderful day! =)
Parades are ALWAYS so much fun! They are a chance to get to know my fellow local and community titleholders; they are also a wonderful opportunity for me to meet the people of Ventura County and network within the multiple communities that come together to celebrate! In this particular parade, we all came together to celebrate the kickoff of the fair and what the fair represents: summer FUN! =)

Some of the Titleholders and Princesses with Patti, Our Associate Director! <3 

Our Entire Crew of Titleholders and Princesses!

Me with Miss Moorpark and Miss Teen Moorpark!

Me with Miss Teen Simi Valley =)

Having Some Fun with the Police Department Vehicle... or tank...? Haha!

And then it began to rain...!

Waiting Out the Rain in the Jag!

Me with My Beautiful Jaguar Convertible! I was a special guest!

Me with Bruce of Land Rover Jaguar Ventura! We had such a fun time! =)

Waiting for the Parade to Begin with My Princess!

Me with Princess Raeline! =)

Getting Started! =)

Riding in the Parade! What fun it is to be royalty! =D

Surprising the Princesses at their Birthday Party!

Me with All of the Party Princesses!

Jumping in the Jolly Jump!

Moorpark City Library Centennial Celebration!

Yesterday Amanda and I had the wonderful opportunity to help out with the festivities at the Moorpark City Library celebrating the library's 100th anniversary! My primary job was to supervise the adorable kids that got to color the 100th anniversary logo and then, going along with the new "Dream big!" campaign at the library, got to write what they dream of for the library... the kids came up with some wonderful ideas ranging from more decorations to weekly cupcake days! My dream for the Moorpark City Library: to eventually build a soundproof piano lab where anyone can check out sheet music and practice playing it right there in the library! =)
I also had the privilege of drawing the winning ticket for a beautiful handmade quilt that was donated to help raise money for the Moorpark Friends of the Library, which supports programs for the library members. It was an exquisite quilt, and I was more than happy to choose the winner!
Libraries are SUCH a vital part of a community: they provide the opportunity for kids, students, and adults of all ages to have access to not only books but to coloring books, encyclopedias, movies, educational videos, video games, and the internet via computer labs. Although many today find themselves able to afford to purchase books, movies, games, and other social and recreational media, there are a lot of families that unfortunately do not have that luxury- but thanks to libraries (and thanks to 100+ years of effort from the Moorpark City Library), anyone can read a book. Anyone can have internet access. And anyone can expand their knowledge and/or their creativity. So if you have a few hours to spare, volunteer at your local library; or if you have some extra books or movies lying around, donate them to your local library; one person's old book is another person's gateway to imagination and knowledge! =)

Coloring with Some Wonderful Kids! =)

My Final Coloring Job!

Hard at Work on Coloring Job #2!

Enjoying the Fun with My Teen! <3

Amanda and Me with the Lovely Librarians and the Friends of the Library; Mayor Janice Parvin was also at the event to show her support! =)

The beautiful handmade quilt- I wish I had won! =)