Miss Hollywood/Southland/South Counties Pageant!

Photo by Doug Hikawa

On Saturday, October 27, I had the pleasure of watching two of my incredibly kind, amazing, intelligent, beautiful, and classy colleagues say farewell to their 2012 titles: Miss Southland Carly Valdez (Top 12 at Miss CA!) and Miss South Counties Crystal Lee (1st Runner-Up at Miss CA!!). I hope that these two wonderful women will continue to compete in the Miss America system; their successors have some incredible shoes to fill! <3
The pageant was very well programmed; there were some technical difficulties, but the duo star hostesses kept the mood light and the audience entertained: Miss California 2011 Noelle Freeman and Miss Washington 2011 Brittney Henry! They were clever, witty, absolutely hilarious, and they played off of each other brilliantly! =)
Other entertainment included former Miss Ventura County 2011 contestant Charlotte Bashner, who sang the National Anthem to kick off the pageant and performed two of her original songs at breaks in the program.
After some majorly fierce competition, the results were announced:
Miss Hollywood 2013: Lauren Smolka
Miss Southland 2013: Annie Wilson
Miss South Counties 2013: Courtney Trouten
First Runner-Up: Caylynn Simonson
Second Runner-Up: Izamar Olaguez
Top Swimsuit: Caylynn Simonson
Top Interview: Lauren Smolka
Top Talent: Izamar Olaguez
People's Choice: Kimberly Bebo
Facebook Favorite: Kelsey Schwarz
Spirit of Hollywood: Sarah Burt
The entire evening was a lot of fun; thank you to the Hollywood/Southland/South Counties committee for putting on a very entertaining pageant! =)

Walking into the Pageant =)

With Olivia Sichmeller, Amanda Ford, Laura Berger <3 

With Now Former Miss Southland Carly Valdez <3 

With My Princesses!
Alyssa & Ashley Horton <3 

Who Says Pageant Girls Can't Be Silly?? =P
With Miss City of LA Laura Berger <3 

Moorpark Trick-or-Treat Village!

On Saturday, October 27, the Arroyo Vista Recreation Center put on its annual Halloween event, the Trick-or-Treat Village! In addition to a village where trick-or-treaters enjoy stopping from station to station and collecting candy, there were Halloween arts and crafts, moon bounces, and carnival games- all promoting safe Halloween celebration!
I was asked to assist with the trick-or-treat village itself; I had a station by one of the graveyards they created! I decided to take the opportunity to dress up as a "Pretty Pretty Princess" so I could wear the pouffiest dress I could find! I also enjoyed getting to know some of the youth of the community; a lot of kids from the high school were also volunteering for the event- it was awesome to get to talk with them about why they are volunteering and to share a little bit more about my platform!

Overall: a GREAT time!!

Working the "Grave Yard Shift!"
Hehe!! I crack myself up...!!

Rough Flight for this Witch...

Goofin' Around with Dear Friend & Chamber Director of
Operations Abigail Sichmeller! Hehe =P

It got dark!! Uh-oh... =P

My FAV Pic from the Day!!
Sleeping Beauty + Miss VC = Perfection!! <3

Simi Valley Hospital Foundation Golf Tournament!

On Wednesday, October 24, I had the pleasure of volunteering for the Simi Valley Hospital Foundation  Golf Tournament and Fundraiser! Held at the Moorpark Country Club, I spent the afternoon driving about the two golf courses with Foundation Development Officer Abby Sherwood and greeting the golf players, collecting camera memory cards from the volunteer tournament photographers... and taking a few pictures with the golfers myself! Several awesome golf players even let me hit a stroke for them! Although I'm not sure that was entirely in their score's best interest... haha! =)
Unfortunately I was unable to stay for the evening festivities due to a dress rehearsal for my fall opera production... but I had such a fun afternoon getting to know more about the hospital through Abby and meeting the wonderful golfers who supported the tournament through sponsorships and donations!

To find out more about the hospital and how to get involved, visit their volunteer page by clicking here!

With Some Wonderful Volunteers on the Golf Course!

Driving the Golf Cart! Haha =)

With Some Very Friendly Golfers! =)

Taking a Shot!! =D

A Hilarious Team of Entertaining Golfers...!

I had no club... so they all handed me their clubs! LoL =P

With Foundation President Debi Schultze and Development Officer Abby Sherwood

Camarillo Noontime Optimist Club Meeting Visit!

With Captain Quirarte and Members of His Battalion! 

On October 15, I enjoyed some yummy lunch at Round Table Pizza in Camarillo with the Camarillo Noontime Optimist Club! I attended their weekly lunch meeting as a guest and had the pleasure of watching them give out the Firefighter of the Year Award to a very deserving firefighter captain named Scott Quirarte! Following the award presentation, Captain Quirarte and his battalion discussed fire safety; it was very informative!

Overall, the lunch meeting was a delightful treat in my day- and I have been invited to return and speak about my experience with the Miss America Organization in December! I am VERY excited to get more involved with this wonderful club full of warm and welcoming members who support the youth of our community! =)

Captain Quirarte with Battalion Chief Kelly Wright and Optimist Club President Ada Lee Sullivan Following the Presentation of the Firefighter of the Year Award!

Next to the Optimist Creed! =)

CHOC Walk @ Disneyland!!

On Sunday, October 14, I ventured where no Miss Ventura County has ventured before....
DISNEYLAND!!
The Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) had their annual Walk in the Park, and I thought it would be awesome to represent Ventura County and walk to raise funds for the hospital and its many programs and facilities for children. The walk started in Disney's California Adventure and circled through Downtown Disney, Disneyland, and then made a loop into Disneyland's back lot and back into Downtown Disney. The funds raised from the walk went to ensure that any child with dire health needs would not be turned away for the family's inability to pay! =)
I left Ventura County at 4 a.m. to get to the park for check-in by 6 a.m.! While wandering around, I ran into two of my fellow Miss America Organization titleholders: Carly Valdez, Miss Southland 2012, and Sarah Silberman, Miss Fullerton's Outstanding Teen 2012! They invited me to join their team (Team ZoBear!) in support of a wonderful little girl named Zoe, who- thanks to the doctors and nurses at CHOC- has started third grade cancer-free!! She's such a fun girl, it was SO much fun walking with her team! Click on the link above to check out her team page, where you can read more about her story, her association with CHOC, and donate to the cause!

Overall, the walk was a VERY fun morning filled with music, laughter, walking for a great cause-
and of course, Mickey Mouse!! =D

With Zoe! *Photo by Doug Hikawa

GO TEAM ZOE! =)

Our Group Outside Cars Land! *Photo by Doug Hikawa

Making Our Way Through Cars Land!

HalloweenTime @ Disneyland!!

The Pumpkins were Staring at Us...!

Outside the Princess Faire <3

Getting Princess Advice from Princess Tiana! =D

Pluto Surprised Me with a Kiss! xxoo

Miss VC w/ Mickey Mouse!

Laugh and Dance Fundraiser

On October 12, I had the pleasure of volunteering for the Laugh and Dance Fundraiser at the Secret Garden in Moorpark! The event raised funds for the Cancer Support Community and Interface Children & Family Services through silent auctions, raffle drawings, and dinner and entertainment that featured comedians Wee Rictchie & Mark Carlyle, music by CJ and the Band, and an impromptu performance by... me! =)
I assisted with the raffle drawings, silent auctions, and helped clean up after the event. It's small tasks like this that contribute big time to all of these local fundraisers I volunteer for. It goes to show that volunteering does not always have to be on such a grand scale- it's the smaller deeds you do that sometimes go the farthest and are not only needed but very much appreciated by those running the fundraisers! I would encourage everyone to get active and get involved in any fundraiser or community project you can find, it'll not only contribute to the projects but it'll also touch your life =)

Talking to the Crowd About Being Miss VC!

With Debbie Solomon, Fundraiser Coordinator Extraordinaire!

The Secret Garden

Presenting Auction Winners w/ their Baskets!