:)

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 

We raised about $500 dollars to donate to the National MS Society for the MS Walk. The weather was beautiful while 20 teams battled for first place of the 1st annual MS Tennis Tournament. I am going to start working towards a spring tournament that can hopefully be bigger with some awesome prizes! I am so thankful to have such giving and wondrful people in my life that were willing to take time out of their days to help me raise funds and bring awareness to my platform!

Tournament for Multiple Sclerosis

Getting ready to go to bed because I have to wake up early tomorrow morning for a tennis tournament that myslef along with RJ's at the Racquet club at the Bakersfield Racquet club are hosting to raise money for the annual MS Walk. I am so happy to be making this happen, and I am so thankful that my work is helping me hold this event at the racquet club. I give great thanks to Jeff who works/ gives lessons to tennis players at the racquet club and my bosses at RJ's, Russel Carter and Jason Cox for helping me so much with this tournament. RJ's is already involved with the MS society a lot so of course it was an easy decision for them to help out. I am so passionate about my platform so it is so wonderful to have people I care about get involved!
Anyway lol the tournament is tomorrow and the theme is "Tall Small Tournament" meaning that it's  two a team consiting of an adult 19 or over and a child 18 and under. It's a great way to get adults and kids out there enjoying the fresh air and getting a work out in as well. Not to mention raising money for a great cause. I couldn't think of a better way to do so.
If anyone wants to stop by the racuet club downtown located off of Truxtun and Pine to donate, checks may be made payable to the National Musltiple Sclerosis Society. I am hoping I can raise a ton of funding. Also, if you do come by RJs is located there as well so grab some awesome grub too!!!!

Multiple Sclerosis Walk fundraiser

Last Monday Miss Teen Bakersfield Madison Swaim and I were at Cold Stone in the Market place here in Bakersfield dipping ice cream and mixing it for cutomers! When customers who brought in a special flyer, Cold Stone would donate %20 percent to the MS Walk.

This event was not only spectacular, it was delicioud as well! As a volunteer I was able to have whatever "like it" size of ice cream I wanted. Although I took a rain check for the ice cream, I did get to try a sample of the sweet cream ice cream which was awesome.


It felt good to be helping out at a fun event for my platform. looking forward to many more funraisers coming up soon!!!! : D

Myself and Miss Teen Bakersfield

                                                    

The cold Stone emplyees who were so patient with us newbies

                           

Me and Lisa Krch from KBAK/KBFX

Myself and Niki and Danny from Kelly 95.3

Platform!! :)

It has been so long since I have posted in my blog! Mostly because I have been busy raising funding and awareness to my original platform the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and checking things off of my bucket list! My platform was the MS society when I competed and won Miss Bakersfield  but I changed it to "Girls on the Run," which is an organization that I felt I could make more of a personal difference in young girls lives as well as being a role model for them and promote health, fitness, running and living a healthy lifestyle which are things I live my life by. Although I am still planning on bringning that program to Bakersfield, I changed my platform back to the MS society because I have been involved with raising funds and awareness for this devastating disease for three years now and it is something that is very personal to me that and I am very passionate about. That being said, Miss Teen Bakersfield and I are going to be at the Cold Stone at the Marketplace tonight scooping ice cream and serving it to people. Whoever brings in a special flyer to give to us, Cold Stone is generously going to donate 20% to the MS society. I am definitely going to have a hard time resisting that ice cream considering I am getting ready for Miss California lol but I am so excited to be a part of this event.

Food Drive appearance

Had so much fun today at the Food Drive at the sears parking lot. I got to be interviwed a couple of times and got some good sun lol. Most importantly though I got to meet so many inspirational people and I learned that in the year of 2011, Bakersfield was voted the hungriest city!! I was totally astonished at that statistic, however, it made me even happier to be out there supporting such a wonderful organization. Good job to everyone that was out there today volunteering their time, also to those a part of the organization and thank you to those who donated :)

Still recovering from running the LA marathon on Sunday, such an amazing experience :) Now I'm getting ready for a busy week of appearances. On Friday myself along with Madison (Miss Teen Bakersfield) and Joslynn (Mrs. Bakersfield) will be at the "Stuff the Bus" food drive event being held by the Community Action Partnership. Saturday morning I am hoping I can make an Easter breakfat celebration at the Ronald McDonald house. In the afternoon though I will be at the Coldwell Banker Wine Mixer benefiting the American Cancer Society. Then I will be off to play a soccer game. Sounds like a fun and busy weekend!!! :)

Myplatform

 Alright, I am officially starting my blog as Miss Bakersfield!! I am definitely not "tech-savvy" so it has taken me a while to sit down and take the time to set up a blog account. Anyway, being Miss Bakersfield has already been such a rewarding experience. I am enjoying the community events that I've had the pleasure to be a part of and the opportunities and possibilities are endless.

Currently I am working on promoting my platform "Girls on the Run," which is an international non-profit organization for girls grades 3-8 that provides 10-12 week seasons both in the Fall and Spring; through the course of the season, the girls will be training for a non-competitive 5k run that takes place at the end of the season as well as participating in community service. Its more of a mentor program that combines training for the 5k run with lessons that inspire them to love themselves for their unique qualities, become more physically fit and healthy, and as I like to say, improve their positive internal dialogue!!

I chose to support this program because I love running, I'm a health nut, and I have always wanted a little sister that I could be a role model for. Also, the ages of the girls we will be dealing with is an important growing period so I think it is important to provide a fun and comfotable environment for them to learn lessons and gain friendships that will last a lifetime :)

Currently Bakersfield doesn't have a branch, it is my goal to get the program started by August. I am in the process of creating a charitable 5k and 10k race that I am hoping to host on May 5 in order to raise some of the $7,500 to get this program started in Bakersfield. I know that seems to be a lot of money, however, I think Bakersfield could use a such a unique program. It would really benefit the young ladies of our community. I have lots of work cut out for myself the next few months, busy busy busy!!!