Christmas Caroling @ Simi Valley Hospital!

Me with All of My Wonderful Friends! =)

On December 18, some of my friends and pageant sisters joined me in singing Christmas songs and carols in the main entrance lobby of the Simi Valley Hospital! Unfortunately, we were unable to carol door to door due to health and safety reasons; however, our caroling was broadcast on the live radio that circulated into every room of the hospital- so our voices reached all of the patients! =)
It was a LOT of fun! My friends and I shared our favorite Christmas songs and told stories behind our favorites; it was so rewarding to spread Christmas spirit to those who may not have been in a joyful holiday mood <3

With my Beautiful Teen!

With Veronica Sichmeller, One of Our
Fabulous Miss VC 2013 Contestants!

With Miss City of LA and Dear Friend
Laura Berger <3

With Dear Friend and Fellow Voice Teacher
Jeanette O'Keefe!

Moorpark Kiwanis Breakfast with Santa!

With Two Wonderful Kids!

On December 15, I acted as Santa's Helper and volunteered for the annual Breakfast with Santa event sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Moorpark! Held at the Boys and Girls Club in Moorpark, the event included some tasty breakfast for the families in attendance, along with a visit and photo with Santa, candy canes and a photo op with Miss Ventura County, and the chance to pick out a toy from the toy table! It was a LOT of fun and SUCH a joy and blessing to watch the faces of the kids that visited Santa and then picked out their favorite toy!
To be honest, I was struggling with getting into the Christmas spirit this season. Between finals at CSUN and figuring out holiday plans with my family, Christmas was beginning to feel like something to get through rather than something to enjoy and be thankful for... but appearing at this event, seeing the incredible looks of joy and happiness on the faces of the kids and their families... it really put me in the Christmas spirit! I am so grateful to have had a part in this incredible event that brings joy and Christmas to families who otherwise may not have been able to have it.

With My Candy Canes by the Christmas Tree!

The Kids Visiting Santa...

...and Me Visiting Santa! Haha =)

With Kiwanis President
Kim Simons!

BABY SANTA!! =D

Hugging My Own Special Toy! =)

Posing with Santa and the MHS Jazz Band!

CANDY CANES!!

Noontime Optimist Club Camarillo Visit and Presentation!

Speaking to the Club Members!

 On December 3, I drove to Camarillo and visited with the Noontime Optimist Club a second time; this time, however, I was their honorary speaker! I gave a presentation and talked to the club about my year as Miss Ventura County, competing at Miss California, and the wonderful organizations I represent: the Ventura/Santa Barbara County Scholarship Association- and, of course, Miss America!
Overall, the afternoon was a LOT of fun! All of the members were so warm and welcoming!
The club's annual Youth Walk is coming up on January 26! To get involved as a volunteer or sponsor, click here for their contact information!

With President Ada Lee Sullivan!

Ventura Chamber of Commerce 16th Annual Poinsettia Awards

The Poinsettia Award Winners!

To further network for the pageant and to branch out into the community of Ventura, Nancy Gruttemeyer, my Executive Director, and I attended the Ventura Chamber of Commerce 16th Annual Poinsettia Awards. Held at the Marriott Ventura, the annual luncheon honored members of the Ventura community, awarding awards such as Small Business of the Year, Large Business of the Year, Educator of the Year, Students of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Police Officer of the Year, Firefighter of the Year, and many more! I had the pleasure of meeting several members of the Ventura Chamber, including president and CEO Ed Summers, and also the Ventura Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Trudy T. Arriaga!

Overall it was a wonderful luncheon; everyone was very welcoming, and I got to meet some pretty inspirational people! =)

The View of the Ceremony from My Seat!

With My Other Wonderful Chaperone,
Alison Carlson! =)

With VUSD Superintendent & Citizen of the Year
Dr. Trudy T. Arriaga

With the Pretty Christmas Tree! =)

With My Wonderful ED, Nancy Gruttemeyer!

Ventura County BNI Holiday Mixer!

On December 9, the Ventura County Chapter of Business Networking International (BNI) held its annual holiday mixer at Sugar Beets Restaurant in Oxnard! I was invited to attend the event and network for the pageant; it was a LOT of fun venturing outside of Moorpark to another area of Ventura County I am not so familiar with. The restaurant had a great environment and a wonderful selection of delicious food; and the people there were very welcoming and kind! I hope I made some new friends for the organization; I know I made at least one in Sonic the Hedgehog! LoL =)

Making Their Marks: Morgan and Chloe for CHLA!

On December 9, Amanda and I ventured to the Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks and volunteered our time to help out two outstanding young ladies in their mission to raise funds for Children's Hospital Los Angeles: Morgan and Chloe! Both are junior ambassadors for CHLA; Morgan is "making her mark" by selling handmade bookmarks to raise money for the Literally Healing Program at the hospital, while Chloe is selling handmade bottle cap bracelets to raise money for the general hospital fund! Throughout the day, it was wonderful to see these girls in action selling their handmade products! Both truly exemplify hearts for service; I felt honored to come help them in their causes! =)
To help Morgan and Chloe in their mission to raise funds for CHLA, check out Morgan's website and Chloe's Facebook page!

Amanda Picking Out Her Own Bracelet!

Amanda and I Selling Bracelets and Bookmarks!

With Morgan (left) and Chloe (right);
We were clearly having too much fun to take
a serious photo...!  =P

Amanda Talking with a Fan =)

Amanda and Me Modeling Our Awesome
Bracelets with Two Adorable Customers!

Christmas Celebration at the Moorpark City Library!

With My Decorating Committee! =)

Following my final parade as Miss VC, I headed down to the Moorpark City Library for their Christmas Celebration! I sang carols with the kids while creating ornaments and decorating the library Christmas tree with them! I was only there for about two hours, but it was a lot of fun! It was also very enjoyable because one of our Miss VC 2013 contestants, Carly Paul, shadowed me! I find it very important for our contestants to see what I do and what she will possibly do should she win the 2013 title. Overall it was a very fun afternoon filled with fun, Christmas spirit- and lots of glitter!! =)

Coloring in my Candy Cane Ornament!

Putting it on the Tree! =)

Helping One of the Kids Put His Ornament
on the Tree!

With Two Library Volunteers! They drove all the way from
Agoura to help out... now THAT'S service! =)