Cardiovascular Disease Foundation Walk for Life 2011

            On April 10, 2011 the Cardiovascular Disease Foundation had their 8^th annual Walk for Life at the Oceanside amphitheater. Because I was the MC/ Raffle Ticket Coordinator, as well as being in charge of the other pageant queens that I had invited to come and help volunteer for the day, I had to be there at the crack of dawn (literally at 5 am). Rebekah Burger, Miss Regional Southern California Teen Achieve, was with me and so her, my mom and I arrived at the Oceanside pier while it was still dark and not to mention absolutely freezing!! I had my official CVDF jacket to wear and zip up to my chin, Rebekah was wearing a sweatshirt and my mom was wearing a tiny little jacket that didn’t keep her warm at all. My poor mom! Luckily however, there was a second jacket in the back of the trunk that she could put on so she didn’t turn blue from the cold. When the three of us got down to the amphitheater, Malinda and Nancy (two of the women in charge) went ahead and gave us tasks to do to not only to attempt to keep us warm but also get us a head start on the day so we wouldn’t be scrambling to keep up on schedule for the rest of the day. Rebekah and I went ahead and taped table cloths to all of the registration tables which is a lot harder said than done because the wind made it extremely hard and kept trying to blow the tablecloths away before we could hold them down. My mom spent the first few hours helping sign in all of the volunteers that came to help for the day. We had UEI College, Mira Costa College, Miss Oceanside and her Princess and two Princesses from the

Vista Court

, and a huge number of friends and community members that came to support the Cardiovascular Disease Foundation. I was really thankful to have all the help I could get because as MC and raffle ticket coordinator I had to take care of both teaching all the pageant girls that were going to be there as well on how to sell the raffle tickets as well as make sure all the sponsors got consistently thanked, the hourly raffle prizes were made, the entertainment was announced, and that the schedule was followed precisely. I did not stop running around from 5 am all the way until 4 pm when the walk and fair finally ended and I was able to help clean up and then sit down for the first time. The day had been so fun. I had been able to hand out awards to the #1 Fundraiser, Biggest Team, Best Banner and Sponsors of 3 years or more. Also, I was able to work with some past Charger football players that were V.I.P.’s for the day and helped me MC for about the first two hours. By the time the actual walk and health fair was over, I was absolutely exhausted. I had worked nonstop for 11 hours but I had had such a great time, working with so many people and getting to just have the time of my life as MC. I have never been MC before but I learned (while introducing numerous people and organizations like Zumba fitness, Ohana Hula Dancing, and The Wasabi Blue Band) that not only am I natural on the microphone but I am completely comfortable in front of an audience and large crowd of people. I can definitely thank my experience as queen for that. And actually when it comes down to it, all of the things that I have learned as queen are able to be used not just this year but for unforeseeable measures into the future.

Bosworth Garden Residential Open House

            Two days after the Walk for Life, my mom and I drove down to El Cajon for an event with the East County Chamber of Commerce. I was a bit unsure about this event because I have never had an event that was actually located in a residential home. Usually I have events at stores, restaurants or offices-so having it in a home was unusual. But then once I walked in-I realized that it was an open house for an assisted living home. The nurses and owner of the open house were so kind and excited to have me there and take me on a tour of the home. The elderly people that were sitting on the couch, watching TV and taking walks through the backyard with their walkers were also very happy to have us there. Some were quiet and didn’t say much and were observant. Others were spunkier and wanted to crack jokes which were just funny to listen to. Later on, more of the chamber members and new Miss El Cajon, Miss El Cajon Teen, Miss Rancho San Diego, and Miss Rancho San Diego Teen arrived. All of the 4 pageant queens, seeing as this was one of their first events, were a little nervous at first but once they saw me working the room and talking to the residents and staff, they began to emerge slowly from their shy bubble. They were the nicest and most beautiful girls and I really hope to be able to see them at the last few events that I do with the chamber. It was nice to see the next and new generation of queens that will be taking over after I am gone. I hope that my new queen, Miss California Teen Achieve 2011, will have a year like I did-and bond with queens from all over the county. Because once you make relationships as queen, they can last for a lifetime.

Sears Outlet Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting

            Yesterday morning, my mom and I went to Oceanside for the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Sears Outlet. It was one of the earliest I have done, it was around 8:30 am, wet and a bit, so I wasn’t extremely motivated to get out of the car because the ribbon cutting wasn’t till 8:45. However, then I saw Lauryn Moses, Miss Oceanside, walking up to the door and I knew that it was time to spring up and get to work. I quickly put on my crown and sash and walked into Sears Outlet where I found myself approaching a circle of employees, and Lauryn, where the manager was talking about how thankful he was too have such a fabulous staff, store location, and supportive city. Even the mayor of Oceanside, Jim Wood, was there to help support the new store and bring a huge welcome and thank you from the city. But because the store opened at 9 am, the manager and team quickly hurried out to the front to take the few pictures with the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, Lauryn and I. We all just had a lot of fun laughing under the balloon arch, taking pictures and then afterwards going into the store to see all of the merchandise on sale. There were clothes and appliances, as well as exercise equipment, TV’s, and Kitchen equipment. My mom, Lauryn, myself and Lauryn’s sister and mother ended up talking for a little bit in the store-about pageantry, dresses, our plans for the future, and events we’ve done in the past. Once again, my mind flooded back to the remembrance of the sad fact this would be one of my last ribbon cuttings. Looking back, I cherish every moment of every ribbon cutting and event because it something I would have never had the opportunity to do this anytime else.

What we wear to the gym...:) hahah



With the beautiful Lauryn Moses, Miss Oceanside 2010!



With Jim Wood, the Mayor of Oceanside

The Miss Carlsbad 2011 Pageant

            As the beginning of April rolls in, so do the majority of the pageants. My close friends on the Oceanside court have only about a month left of their reign (their pageant being the first event I ever did), and the Miss Carlsbad pageant came on this last passed Saturday evening. For those of you that have been following my blog from the beginning, you might remember that the Miss Carlsbad pageant was the first and only other pageant I competed in and now here I was going to it not as a contestant but as a visiting queen. It was strange for me, at first, to watch all my friends/past competitors up on that stage and remembering how it had felt to me to be up on that stage, afraid but excited and hoping with all my heart that I would be queen. Here I am, almost a year later, Miss California Teen Achieve, and not even close to being the same person that I was a year ago. From the day I set foot on that Carlsbad stage, it has been a huge journey for me and in becoming the person I am today. For all of you girls out there who are choosing to be in a pageant I give you all my utmost support. It has been one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me and trust me when I say-you have no idea of how amazing the experience will be. Just competing and going through the entire experience of being in a pageant, gives you a ray of confidence that you never could have gotten from anywhere else. You see yourself in a different light and begin to challenge yourself in ways you never once thought possible. I am so thankful for every moment of my pageant experience and it has undoubtedly been the most life changing event in my life. It is what you make it-so make it great.