Arbor Hill Nursing Center Grand Opening

            Yesterday evening, my mother and I went to the Arbor Hill Nursing Center for the grand opening. The nursing center, located in La Mesa, was probably one of the most fancy and well designed centers I have ever seen. It seriously looked like a hotel, which each bathroom and room looking like a suite at the Hilton. One of the management staff gave my mom and I a tour of the facility, and took us through one of the rooms, their bathrooms, their rehab center, and the courtyard. There were at least 50-70 people there supporting the grand opening, and everyone had something positive to say about the facility and their staff and residents. Sherral, and a few other members from the East County Chamber of Commerce arrived and I was excited to see them because this was one of my last ribbon cuttings, and I want to see them as much as possible. I’ve developed such fabulous friendships and relationships with them over the past year, and I truly feel as though we are a family. Spending nearly 12 months with all of the chamber members and getting to go to all sorts of functions, from selling raffle tickets, to countless ribbon cuttings, to being on the radio, to supporting local retirement homes and raising money for the Salvation Army, the East County Chamber of Commerce has really been a blessing to my entire reign and they have played such a key role to why this has been the best year of my life. With amazing support, they have given me the chance to do so many amazing things, that otherwise I would have not been able to do and I will miss them all greatly when my reign ends. However, I know that the relationships I have built with them will surpass time, and I will be there in an instant if they ever need anything.

Miss Oceanside 2011 Pageant

            Last night was the Oceanside Pageant. For those of you who have been following my blog posts from Day 1, you might recall that the Miss Oceanside 2010 pageant was my very first event. I was there to see the crowning of Lauryn Moses and Demi Mundo, who over this past year, have both become two of my closest friends and pageant sisters. This year, I went to watch them both give up their titles and root for two of my own friends that were in the pageant this year-Vanessa Okafor and Elise Cruz.  Vanessa Okafor is a Miss Teen Vista princess and was actually borrowing one of my evening gowns-while Elise Cruz, for those of you who know, was giving up her title of being on the Miss Oceanside court. When I arrived at the pageant, I saw Rebekah Burger, my Miss Regional California Teen Achieve, and her mom.  Rebekah was looking beautiful, and I was excited to see her, and be able to experience a second pageant with her. During the pageant, Lauryn and Demi gave both of their farewell speeches and I found myself tearing up. Not only had both of them put a small thing about me in their speeches, I realized just how much little time would go by before I would be the one up there giving my farewell speech, trying not to cry as I talk about experiences in my past year or the friendships I’ve made. It was a very emotional moment, for all of the queens there. When it was finally time for the conclusion of the pageant, I clenched Rebekah’s hands and burst into screams and jumping up and down when I heard Vanessa Okafor’s name as the new Miss Oceanside 2011! And Elise Cruz was announced as third princess for Miss Oceanside. It was so exciting to me to see that both of the girls I was there rooting for, had been crowned royalty and now have a fabulous year waiting for them ahead. It was truly a moment that brought back so many memories, and reminded me that there will be many more to come.

American Red Cross Bloodmobile at Pine Park in Carlsbad

            On Sunday, my mother and I went to Pine Park at last minute to help run a blood drive check-in table. When we arrived we were surprised by how busy it was and also by what was going on in the park. There was apparently a small cookout and raffle prize going on in the park to raise money and support for a man from our local community who has been diagnosed with leukemia. People, obviously from his family, church, and friends, were all there helping raise money for him and even come over to the table that had been set up next to us that was helping people sign up to give bone marrow for him ( or anyone else). I have never had a separate organization come help us on the same day but it was really phenomenal watching so many sign up for one or even both of the different donor-ship opportunities. During the time I was there, I signed up probably 23 people to give blood and even there was about a 40 minute wait per person, they still diligently waited for their turn and their opportunity to help save a life. I was honored to help serve these people because they were so determined to do what they could to help make a difference. It also reminded me that I need to give blood again soon! Its been a few months, and I know that I need to go ahead and go back and give again-so I can be just as determined to help save a life. Because it’s not just enough to do it once-you have to do it again, so that you are consistently making a difference and it’s not just a one time thing.

The Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair and Parade

            Yesterday, on April 16^th, Rebekah Burger, Miss Regional California Teen Achieve and I went to the Linda Vista Multi Cultural Fair and Parade. It was a very warm sunny day and I was glad that I could celebrate my last parade (yes my last parade) in weather that wasn’t freezing or raining-in fact it was quite the opposite. When we arrived, I went up to the registration table and told the lady who we were and she checked us in and gave us our numbers. As Rebekah and I waited with my dad for Aunt Lotte, Robert and my mom to catch up with us (for we had taken two separate cars), I introduced myself to some of the other parade participants. This included the USD soccer team, Miss Vietnam and her 4 queens. I was excited to meet all of these people because not only were they so friendly but they wanted to take pictures just as bad as I did! When my mother finally arrived she quickly got out of the car, camera in hand, eager to take as many pictures as she could. Rebekah and I posed for several pictures with Miss Vietnam and her court, Buddha’s Light International Association, San Diego Submarine Veterans, the Panamanian Marching Band of California, and many others. We even took photos with people dressed inside those giant dragons you see at Chinese festivals. It was so memorable to both me and Rebekah ( seeing as this was her first parade), and I was happy to be able to teach her how to be in a parade so that when she carries on the title of “Teen Achieve” she will be poised and prepared. After the parade was over, my entire group went over to the fair were we were asked for pictures left and right by adorable children and their families. It was such a great ending to a fabulous year, to see the faces on little girls who saw “real-life Barbies” or “Oh my gosh mommy a real Cinderella!” and their entire face lit up when they got to take a picture with us, or get to wear our crowns. And that, in my opinion, was the entire point of being a queen. To bring joy to others, to serve the community and best of all-to inspire those around us, that they can do the same.

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.