:)

Had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family and I am absolutely looking forward Christmas! I think I am going to put my Christmas tree up tonight after I do some homework. Speaking of homework, I have so much of it and studying to do, last two weeks of school then I have winter break. Very excited about that as well.
Soooooo I joined a mentor program, so I can become a mentor for young girls middle school through high school age. I am so happy to be doing this and I hope I can lead by example and be a positive role model. I can't wait to meet my mentee!!
I have a couple of appearances coming up, and I also am planning a fundraising event benefiting the MS society, details very soon!!!!

Busy Busy!

Well, I have been super busy this month with various appearances and volunteer work. Plus I have started training for the next marathon that I am going to do. Not to mention keeping up with the 16 units of school that I am taking. Geez! Lol.

Tomorrow is the annual MS walk and I absolutely can't wait!!! It's going to be a fun event and I am so happy to have the opportunity to support my platform and an organization that I truly feel connected to :)

Today though I am starting training to become a mentor for young girls. I am really excited about this, I have always wanted a little sister that I could be a positive influence for. It's going to be such a wonderful experience and hopefully a life changing experience for me and hopefully even more so for my mentee. I really hope that I can change her life for the better! I have already created a list of tons of things to do with her lol and I haven't even met her. I totally can't wait!!!!!

Just thought I would share....

On a personal note (I know this isn't Miss Bakersfield related lol)... But my boyfriend Ryan Gifford left for boot camp this past Monday for the Navy. So sad!!!! I will be flying to Chicago to see his graduation which will take place tentatively November 30. I am definitely going to be busy not only with school and Miss Bakersfield duties but also writing him lots of letters!! I would like to take a moment and thank those who join the military, not only does it take guts, dedication, and giving up a lot of their personal lives but it truly shows how much they truly love our country. Thank God for those brave enough to join! Good luck Ryan :) Just thought I would share a picture of us :)

Ryan and I right before he left

Miss California International is actually over??? lol

What an incredible weekend this was! It was very nice to spend so much time with such a kind, talented and beautiful group of ladies whom all worked so hard and dedicated so much time to their platforms in preparation for The California International Pageant. I am honored to say that I was awarded the people's choice award as well as placing 1st runner-up!!!!! Yay! :) The beautiful young lady that was crowned is the beautiful Tiffany Allen whom was representing Ventura County. Her platform is Big Brother Big Sister (I think that is the formal name of it lol). She will represent California in July at the national pageant with class and grace. Miss Teen Bakersfield Madison Swaim received 2nd runner-up in the Teen division so I am very proud of her as well!

The production of the pageant was really great, a live band played while we sashayed on stage, it was very organized and I dont believe anyone fell on stage so that's an accomplishment in itself! lol. Gayle Tape is the new director of this pageant (she used to be the director of Miss Bakersfield) and she did so well for her first year putting on the pageant, I am so happy for her!

After all of the dieting, stress, interview preparation, exercising like a mad woman, and the cost, it felt nice to be able to relax the past few days and eat whatever I wanted lol. Looking back, I wouldn't change anything about how I competed because I worked really hard to prepare for this pageant and I gave it my all. Now, back to focusing on achieving other goals in my life and representing the town that I love through the Winter until I give up my title as Miss Bakersfield in March. I think my next step in pageantry will be competing for Miss Kern County for the Miss America system, but for now, bring on the cookies and fried food!!!!! :)

Here are a few pictures, I will post more when I get the disk..

Miss Contestants before interview

Pageant Court

California International court

My friend Garrett and I afterward holding one of the posters my mom made :)

My wonderful family is so supportive!!



The beautiful Miss Jen and I totally hit it off this weekend. She was awarded Mrs. 1st runner up



Special awards for congeniality, me winning People's choice award :)

My best friend Ashley and I the day after celebrating by eating lots and lots of junk food!!!!

Miss California International :D

The count down has officially begun! I have 6 days until I compete for Miss California! It is so totally crazy to think that for the past 10 months I have been preparing for this and the time has just about arrived for me to but hard work to the test. Through the rollercoaster to get here, the ups and downs and the stressing out because of last minute wardrobe changes I feel completely ready. I am mostly excited to compete because the whole weeked is just going to be so much fun. I love being on stage and I love public speaking.

The most difficult thing for preparation has been dieting. Oh all the cookies I have resisted and wish I could have had. All those times going out to dinner ith my friends and watching them eat burgers, nachos, pizza, among all the other fried and cheesy and delicious food I wish I could have eaten while I ordered my tiny salad with no dressing, no cheese and no croutons lol. It is a hefty price to pay but so totally worth it because I have never felt more healthy nor have I ever been so fit, thin and tone in my life. that being said, you better believe that the day after the pageant I am going to pretty much spend it gorging myself with the delcious food I have been resisting for months :)

I am really hoping I win because I really want to bring awareness to my platform. That is the most important thing about competing in pageants to me. If I win, it will give me an even bigger voice and more opportunities to educate people about Multiple Sclerosis and the importance of finding a cure. I have been working with Kim and Christine at the MS Society who have both been just wonderful by letting me do so much to be involved with the MS society because they recognize the passion I feel for making a difference in any way I can.

Overall, I have worked really super hard to compete for this title but I know that all of the other beautiful young women I am competing against have been working just as hard and are just as passionate about their platforms as I am. I truly feel this group of ladies that I am competing against are beautiful on the inside as well as the out and I will gladly and proudly congratulate her with poise and grace if God decides that day that she is the one to be crowned over me. I think pageantry is truly a sisterhood and such a wonderful way to make new friends and connections with girls that have common interests. Most importantly though, I view pageants not necessarily a competition agaiinst someone else but a competition with yourself.

some appearances so far this year :)

 Myself, Mrs. Bakersfield Joslynn Jarett-Skelton and Miss Teen Bakersfield at the ribbon cutting event for the new store "Outdoor Galore."

 At the Bakersfield Condors Hockey game where Madison, Joslynn and I got to "drop the puck."

 CAPK Food Bank "Stuff the Bus," event. I got to help out along with some incredible young ladies from Teen Challenge. That was a good day!

                                       Downtown firestation for a cancer memorial service.

                            Joslynn and I at the American Heart Association "Go Red Luncheon."

 KUZZ St. Jude's tele-thon with one of the most brave and amazing young ladies I have ever met :)

                         At the "Outdoor  Galore," ribbon cutting event with Mayor Harvey Hall

                          Getting my cholesterol and basic health check at the go red luncheon.

                                         At the Lexus Wine Mixer for The Relay For Life.

 Green Air Expo in front of a "all green," art display made by this awesome young lady

                           At a different food Bank drive. She looks great in my crown! lol

Kern County Fire Department Captain Derek Robinson, me, and Bakersfield Fire Department Captain Jeff Heinle.

Post Miss Bakersfield Pageant

Teen Bakersfield Madison Swaim, the current Miss California Dedria Brunett, Mrs. Bakersfield Joslynn Jarrett-Skelton and myself right after crowning.

                     Miss Bakersfield 2011 Michaela Beard and I at the reception that night

 1st runner Taylor Haggerty and I backstage right before we went on stage for evening gown.

 Perhaps the most delicious cake I had ever eaten in my life considering it was right after the pageant! lol

                                              The beautiful Nikki Austin at the reception.

The new court, Teen and Miss 1st and 2nd runner-ups and  the 2012 Teen, Miss and Mrs. Bakersfield