51st Annual Camarillo Christmas Parade!

Miss America Girls
+
Cars
=
PARADE!!

On December 8, Amanda and I suited up and represented the Miss America Organization in the 51st Annual Camarillo Christmas Parade! For this holiday parade, visiting pageant titleholders were encouraged to decorate their cars; Amanda and I transformed our car into a "snowy Rudolph" for the day! He was a big hit in the parade! =)
Good news: Amanda and I had an absolute BLAST!
Bad news: this was my very last parade...!! =(
Parades have been such a fun way for Amanda and I to get out into the community. The kids really love it too; there were several groups of young girls that were watching the parade, and when Amanda and I drove by, they screamed extra loud for us!! I remember doing the very same thing when I was a little girl: my parents would take me to a parade, find a good spot to sit, and then I'd watch and wait for the "queens" to come down the parade route... they were so beautiful and elegant! I'd cheer extra loud when they drove by, and I remember thinking how wonderful it would be to be like them one day; I looked up to those girls! They weren't just pretty girls in fancy cars; they were role models! Now that my final parade as Miss Ventura County is complete, I can only hope that I was able to be that role model for the kids of Ventura County! =)

With THE CUTEST little elf!! =)

My Awesome Gown!!

The Queens and Princesses By the Best
Decorated Float of the Parade!

Our Amazing Parade Car!!

A Giant Gingerbread Man!!

My Incredibly Beautiful Teen <3

Amanda and Me with Patti!

Our Last Parade as Miss and Teen!!
Aww... <3

Ventura County Learning Center Opening Ceremony

With the VCLC Mascot! =)

While networking at the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce December Mixer, I was invited to attend the opening celebration of the Ventura County Learning Center on December 6! Located on Los Angeles Avenue above Lamppost Pizza, I socialized with the staff and other members of the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce in attendance. In addition, I was given a tour of their brand new facility; as you'll see in some photos below, it is an absolutely beautiful facility that is going to do so much good for the students of Ventura County! =)

The facility has informed me that they are in need of books; if you have any reading books appropriate for grades k-12 to donate, please drop them off at the center! Click here for more information! =)

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...!! =)

The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!

One of the Beautiful Classrooms!

A Lovely Playroom for the Younger Kids!

Me with the VCLC Mascot! =)

Moorpark Chamber of Commerce December Mixer

With Contestants Erica Ruiz & Kara Smoot! =)

On December 4, I took several of our Miss VC 2013 contestants to the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce Mixer at Me'n'Eds Pizzeria in Moorpark to get the ladies acquainted with the Moorpark business community and to give them the opportunity to gain some experience socializing in a professional environment. The more you practice handling yourself in a professional environment, the better you get at it! And it gradually feels easier too =)  I am proud to say the girls did fantastic!
I also went to the mixer to further promote the pageant's need for business sponsors; without them, we have no scholarship awards to give to our fantastic contestants! I am very grateful to Abigail Sichmeller, Director of Operations for the Chamber, and Shawn McCartney with BNI for letting me speak for a moment to everyone in attendance about our pageant! A special shout-out as well to Blush Boutique for donating a $20 gift card for me to take as a door prize! =)
Overall it was a very fun evening!

Talking with Miss VC Contestant Kara Smoot =)

With Contestants Erica Ruiz, Kara Smoot,
& BNI Executive Director Lisa McCartney

With Kim Simons of Kiwanis &
Abigail Sichmeller of the Chamber

Thanksgiving Reading Day @ The Moorpark City Library

Showin' Off Our Awesome Turkey Placemats!

On November 21, I was invited to come to the Moorpark City Library and read a Thanksgiving story to the kids! It was great fun! My story was titled Knuffle Bunny Too- a case of mistaken identity! =)
Following the reading, Mrs. T and I assisted with arts and crafts: the kids had the opportunity to make turkey placemats- I even made one for myself! =)
Overall it was a very fun morning filled with holiday spirit! <3

My Welcome Sign! =)

About to Read to the Kids!

Making Turkey Placemats!

Miss City of Orange 2013 Pageant!

Avoiding Sinking Heels in the Grass! Haha =)

On November 17, Amanda, Olivia, Patti and I drove down to the City of Orange in Orange County to watch our beautiful friend (and my predecessor!), Megan Wisler, say farewell and crown her successor, Miss City of Orange 2013! It was a lovely pageant with great entertainment and some tough competition... but at the end of the night, former Miss South Coast Stephanie Patterson took the title!! Congratulations, Stephanie! =)
Here are the final results:
First Runner-Up: Miss Orange County 2012 (and fellow Miss CA '12 contestant and friend) Katie Waylaid
Second Runner-Up: Amanda Starrantino
Third Runner-Up: Rachel Panchal
Talent Award: Rachel Olson
Miss Congeniality: Rachel Panchal
To follow Stephanie on her journey as Miss City of Orange 2013, click here!
<3

With Miss Garden Grove 2013

(and dress twin!)

Missy Mendoza

With Miss CA '12 Leah Cecil
& The SoCal Titleholders!

With My Dear Friend Leah!
Every time I see her we take a
black and white together!!
<3 

With Former Miss City of Orange
Megan Wisler and Miss CCOT
Olivia Sichmeller <3

All Visiting Titleholders with the Newly Crowned
Miss City of Orange 2013 Stephanie Patterson!

VC and Fullerton Families Collide!
<3 XXOO <3

Mary Kay Little Black Dress Event!

With the Lovely MK Consultants of VC! <3

Mary Kay consultant and friend Joyce Murphy asked me to volunteer as a model for her division's Little Black Dress Event at the Marriot in Camarillo! It was an opportunity for women interested in becoming Mary Kay consultants to mingle with one another, get familiar with the new fabulous Holiday line of Mary Kay makeup, and ask any questions they might have about becoming a consultant. As one of the models, I wore a basic black dress and was accessorized and glommed up by one of the MK consultants, then made over by Hollywood makeup artist Nicole Finnegan; it was a LOT of fun! Proof that volunteerism can be found anywhere, even a festive Mary Kay celebration! =)

The Glam and the Bling!

The Makeup!

Being Styled!

Being Made Over! =)

Before My Makeover...

...and After My Makeover! =)

Civil War Reenactment Presented by the Rotary Club of Moorpark!

Every November, the wonderful city of Moorpark is host to one of the biggest Civil War Reenactments West of the Mississippi! The weekend consisted of five thrilling Civil War battles, two separate camps for the Union and Confederate soldiers, a sutlers' camp featuring tents with goods for sale, a food encampment with delicious food from hot dogs to kettle corn, and booths featuring local organizations in the community. Our Teen Associate Executive Director and chaperone extraordinaire Patti Reuter is the secretary of the Moorpark Historical Society, whose booth was one of the several in the area outside the soldiers' camps. I volunteered my weekend to helping her run the booth and visiting with the attendees! The booth was in a bit of a windy spot, but Patti and I managed to hang in there with coats, hoods, and blankets! =)
In addition, I had the pleasure of meeting President Abraham Lincoln and watching him give the Gettysburg Address; I witnessed an extremely intense battle in the cornfields of Moorpark, bought some vintage pins at the Sutler's Tents, and took pictures with admiring attendees!
Overall it was a very fun and successful weekend for all who came!! <3

Watching the Booth with my Teen! <3 

With Miss Teen Simi Taylor Thompson!

Hangin' with Some Girls Enjoying Cotton Candy!

$13 a month?! Sign me up! Haha =)

Hanging with Some Settlers! =)

A Shot from the Battle!! SO cool!!

Lincoln Giving the Gettysburg Address!

With Lincoln and Fellow Fans After His Speech!

Oh you know, just a typical Sunday afternoon...
hanging with former presidents and war generals... =P