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