Thank you Veteran's!

Every year as I plan the Veteran's Day assembly at school, I am reminded of the tremendous sacrifice our men and women in uniform make for us on a daily basis.  This year I was lucky enough to have a friend and Washington State Women Veterans Advisory Committee Member, Jurene Mason, speak to our school about the importance of Veteran's Day.  She gave a wonderful speech about service, teamwork, and what a veteran "looks" like.

This year, our school built a "Wall of Remembrance and Thanks".  Each brick had the name of a friend or family member of staff and students from our school who is a veteran.  What I thought might be a small 5x5 foot wall, ended up taking up the whole wall!  It was so touching to see kids and parents alike stop and look at all the names.  I'm glad we were able to honor our veteran's in that way.

Thank you again to those who have given of themselves so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have!

My favorite veteran-my dad, me, and Jurene

Crowns For Kids

Last Saturday I was honored to model in the 2nd annual Crowns For Kids fashion show benefiting The Children's Miracle Network and the Miss Spokane Scholarship Organization. 

Some of Spokane's best boutique's were on hand to show off the latest fashions modeled by current and previous local royalty.  I had the pleasure of modeling for Fringe and Tangerine.  Both stores have incredible clothing and jewelry and are owned by amazing women that were a lot of fun to work with.  Take a peak at their facebook pages and go check them out!

A big thank you to all the volunteers and boutiques that made this event a success-especially Cheri Moore, Richard Learnard of Image 1 Photography, Bev Ottoson Wood, and Angela Stepp Monson.  Thank you!

Fusion Youth Group

It's been a while since I posted about my girls.  We've started a new school year, which has brought some new faces and great additions to our junior high girls group.  Unfortunately, that also means that we've lost some girls to the high school group.  They will be missed!

My co-leader, Lindsey, and I continue to try and provide an atmosphere where our girls feel welcome, safe, and loved.  So many of our girls don't come from the ideal living situations, and we strive to provide them with the consistency and support they need to navigate through the difficult junior high years. 

Wednesdays are long days, but I wouldn't trade my time with these girls.  Love you all!

Best of Spokane Party

Last night I was lucky enough to work the "Best of Spokane" party hosted by Bozzi Media and Spokane Coeur d'Alene Magazine.  This was a sold out event to honor all of the best businesses and organizations in our area.  There was an awards presentation, local vendors, food, drinks and dancing.  It was definitely the party of the year.

I had the opportunity to work with representatives from the Miss Spokane organization by working the coat check and VIP swag bag area.  It was a great way to serve by welcoming everyone to the party.  Cheri Moore did a wonderful job organizing and leading the volunteers.  I had a lot of fun working with Genay Tucker-Miss Spokane, and a few Miss Spokane Outstanding Teen hopeful's.  It was a busy night, but a lot of fun.



Pageant Rehearsals

The pageant is coming up and it's time for rehearsals!  The first rehearsal took place in Lakewood at the YMCA, where Pam and Carla (Mrs. Washington 2010) introduced us to our opening dance number.  It was so much fun!  Although I'm not a dancer, I loved picking up the choreography, and was even chosen to be in a small group solo!

Before the rehearsal, a small group of us met at Mrs. Olympia's beautiful home for a lesson in color draping.  It was a fun way to get to know some of the girls and very informative.  Thank you LaReina!

I also have to thank my amazing travelmate and driver, Tiffany-Mrs. Moses Lake.  We had a great time laughing and getting to know each other in our 10 hours of driving. : )

The second rehearsal was in Moses Lake at the venue for the pageant where five contestants and Lisa Bluhm met with our pageant director, Pam Curnel, to work on the opening number.  It was a lot of work, but a ton of fun.  Thank you Pam for the direction and time from your busy schedule, and Jessica Riggs (Mrs. Snohomish County) for helping us newbies with the swimsuit walk.

I can't believe we're only three and a half weeks away!!



Finally!

Sorry for the break from blogging.  I haven't had a camera that would download pictures, but it is finally fixed!  Now time to catch up...

Moses Lake Kids Fair and Fashion Show

Just in time for back to school, the Little Miss Washington Pageant hosted a fashion show and raffle benefiting Children's Miracle Network.  I was so excited to have my daughters make their modeling debut at this fun event.  They were so cute!

Thank you to Pam and the Wal Mart staff for making it a success!

Valleyfest Hearts of Gold Parade

In mid-September I had the pleasure of participating in the Valleyfest Parade.  It was so much fun to ride in a parade that I've been attending since I was a child.  Although the parade route has changed, the sense of community has not.  Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make it happen and to Appleway Auto Group for providing the beautiful cars.

Of course the parade wouldn't have been complete without my pageant sister, Judy Baggarley.  We always have a blast when we're together.  Thanks Judi!

Head Shots

A huge thank you to my photographer Richard Learnard from Image 1 Portraits for his beautiful pictures, great advice, and amazing support.  Thank you Richard for everything!

Click on the link to see more headshots.

Craig T. Nelson Celebrity Golf Tournament

With Craig T. Nelson

With Sterling Sharpe

Spokane Shock players-Raul Vijil and Tyler Johnson

Many of you may not know, but Craig T. Nelson is actually from Spokane!  He returned for his 2nd annual Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament benefiting Lilac Services for the Blind.  The night before the golf tournament, I was able to help host the VIP meet and greet where I met and had fun with some great people and heard some amazing stories. 
Huge kuddos go out to Mathew Plank from Lilac Services for the Blind and Rogue Photography for the amazing job he did organizing the event.  Fun night for a good cause!

Sorry Tyler, I had to!

If The Shoe Fits, Wear It!

With Miss Spokane, Genay Tucker

With the Mermaids of the Lake

I had the privelege of helping out at the "If The Shoe Fits, Wear It!" event tonight benefiting Shoes For Kids.  It was such a fun night including amazing vendors, a fun fashion show, cute musical numbers, and an unforgetable performance by Sophia Caruso.  I had the opportunity to help host the VIP lounge before the show with Miss Spokane, Genay Tucker, where we met some wonderful people.  Later in the evening Genay and I helped with the auction.  I got to show the amazing works of "shoe art" created by local artists.  They were all awesome and original and some were even made out of chocolate!

One of the auction items

The wonderful and talented ladies of Mermaids of the Lake and Genia Seghetti made the night a success along with the many volunteers who worked behind the scenes and our wonderful emcees of the evening-Angela Stepp Monson and Mike Gonzalez.

Me and Mike Gonzalez

With Deanar Ali Young, the fabulous choreographer

It was a great night for all, but the kids are going to benefit the most.  There is still time to donate.  Click the link to find a drop off location near you and help a child in need get proper shoes for school.  Shoes For Kids

Shoes for Kids fundraiser

INW Classic Car Council

The beautiful Coyote Rock model home

Last night I had the privelege of helping raise money for Shoes for Kids.  Shoes for Kids is a fundraiser with the goal of collecting 1000 pairs of new shoes for local school children in need.  The culminating event will take place next Thursday, August 11, with "If The Shoe Fits, Wear It".  This will be a fun night filled with a fashion show, artwork, vendors, and food all centered around amazing shoes, and all for a great cause.  Click  on the Shoes for Kids link to find out more about this cause and to purchase tickets for next weeks event.


Coyote Rock hosted a networking event for the Spokane Homebuilders Association and allowed us to come and raise money.  Pam Fredrick donated $200 to a raffle for the attendees.  We sold extra raffle tickets to benefit Shoes For Kids.  After all was said and done, $616 was raised!  Including the $200 raffle money won by Gail Foyer who immediately donated the winnings.  What amazing people!

Me picking the winning ticket

I have some people that need to be thanked for making last night a success:

Jurene Mason with AahSome Events for making the fundraiser happen and for your amazing and inspiring passion.

with Shelley of Mermaids of the Lake

Genia Seghetti and Shelley Morgan Hepler with Mermaids of the Lake for creating the event for Shoes for Kids.  Genia-many people see injustices and do nothing, you are creating hope for so many kids.  Thank you.






Spokane Homebuilders Association, Coyote Rock, Pam Fredrick, Morse Western Homes, Cliff Moore, Gail Foyer, and the Inland Northwest Classic Car Council-thank you all for your part in helping raise such a significant amount of money.  You represented what is so great about Spokane and why I love calling Spokane home.  Thank you!!!

Shelley, Bill with SHA, Mrs. Spokane County and Jeremy with Coyote Rock

Where'd the time go?

Wow, who'd have thought that summer break would find me behind in blog posts?  I guess it's time to catch up!  Here's what's been happening so far this summer:

Little Miss Washington-June 18

I kicked off the summer with a trip to Moses Lake to help with the Little Miss Washington pageant.  This is an all-natural pageant for girls ages 4-12.  The purpose is to help girls build their self-confidence while educating them about how they can make a difference by serving their community.

I had the privelege of helping backstage by directing girls when to go out on stage.  All of the contestants were amazing, I don't know how the judges picked!  I'll see the winners again during the Mrs. Washington pageant when they perform their talents.  Can't wait!

That evening I was able to spend time with some of the other Mrs. Washington contestants, as well as our beautiful queen, during dinner at Michael's.  Great food and great company!





Miss Washington Pageant-July 2


 This was a very exciting weekend.  I took a road trip with Mrs. Spokane Judi Beckley-Baggarley over to Renton to cheer on Genay Tucker-Miss Spokane.  Judi and I had a great time sharing stories and laughing along the way.  We met Lisa Bluhm (Mrs. Washington) and some other Mrs. Washington contestants for dinner and then headed to the pageant. 

  This was the first time I had seen a pageant in person, and it was a blast! (Well, besides the fact there wasn't any air conditioning inside the auditorium).  Genay was amazing and placed 3rd runner up.  She made us so proud!  Congratulations and good luck to the new Miss Washington, Brittney Henry.  I'm sure she will be amazing at Miss America.

Vanessa Behan Rosaures Open-July 13

  This was my view for 8 hours and all for a great cause.  I spent the afternoon and evening watching for balls on hole 1 at Indian Canyon Golf Course.  I know-you're all jealous right?  Haha.

I met a lot of nice people out supporting a great cause and even got to see my friend Judi Beckley-Baggarley-Mrs. Spokane!  I'm glad the weather improved and it turned out to be a great day.














Photoshoot-July 15

My first ever photoshoot turned out to be a lot of fun!  Richard Learnard of image 1 portraits www.image1portraits.com spent the morning making me look good while also educating me on the many tips and tricks of photography.  Click on his link to see more of his work and my pictures.  Thank you Richard!

Hawaii-July 19-26

I had the privelege of spending the week with my whole family in Maui visiting beaches, swimming with sea turtles, and sipping pina coladas and most importantly...watching my baby sister get married.  The wedding was beautiful and my sister looked amazing.  I'm ready to go back!

Mad Hatter Tea Fundraiser

Last weekend I had the opportunity to help with the first annual Mad Hatter Tea to benefit the St. Joseph's Family Center.  It was a lot of fun to see everyone dressed in their best tea party attire, complete with big hats that the British royales would be proud to wear.

There were wonderful booths full of diverse goodies, beautiful live music, raffles, and even an Easter egg style treasure hunt!

It was great to serve alongside other Spokane royalty including Miss Spokane America, Miss Spokane County USA, two representatives from the Miss America Outstanding Teen Organization, and Judy Baggarley-Mrs. Spokane.  Great girls helping a great cause!

Hogs for Hackleburg

 

This morning I had the privelege of helping the men and women of the Lone Wolf H.O.G. Chapeter raise money for the small, close knit town of Hackleburg, Alabama.  One of the chapter members works with me, and this is where his wife's family lives.  On April 27, the town was wiped out by an F5 tornado and are having to start the painful process of rebuilding. 

  I was stationed at one of the local WalMart's with some chapter members and asked for donations from shoppers.  This was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I surpassed the nerves and we were able to raise some money to support the cause.  The other chapter members visited with their bikes and ended the day back at Lone Wolf Harley Davidson for lunch.  Each biker paid a donation to ride in the event and have lunch.  Luckily, the rain held off and the ride was successful!

Thanks Jim and Paula Perry for having me!