Cans for Christ

This past weekend i was honored to attend the Miss Ohio USA pageant in Portsmouth, Ohio. While there, I decided to give back to the community that I once called home. So I teamed up with my friend Brandon Hoyme who is Owner-Operator at Special Touch Embroidery in West Portsmouth to give back to our community. I rallied up a bunch of my pageant friends to bring non-perishable items to Cans for Christ.

 Brandon had a goal of collecting 6,000 non-perishable item by December 3 to donate to Mylee's Mission and ROAR Mission. These organizations feed hungry and under privileged families in southern Ohio.

I could not have helped Brandon and his mission without the help of these amazing people:

One of the most amazing women I know, Rian Valentine, Mrs Petite America

The beautiful and with a heart of gold, Jennifer Skogman, Michigan's Perfect Miss

The ever entertaining Brea Galvin, Ohio's Perfect Preteen

The adorable Bailey Loew, Ohio's Perfect Jr. Teen

The stunning Michelle Moore, America's Perfect Woman

The fabulous Rick Martinez, national award winning photographer

Thank you all for helping me help others in southern Ohio! I challenge you to give back to your community this month. Let us all reach a hand out to others and show them that we are all in this together...

Group shot with Brandon. What a big heart this man has.

 I have another "GIVING" benefit that I am working on this week so be checking back to see what it is!

Until next time friends...

Miss Ohio USA

This past weekend was a busy one for me! I went back to my hometown of Portsmouth, Ohio to be a guest at one of the most amazing productions in pageantry- MISS/TEEN OHIO USA 2012. I use to participate myself when I was younger. Like a previous post, I was honored to place as 2nd RU at Teen Ohio USA and 1st RU at Miss Ohio USA. So going back to watch it in my home town was something I have been looking forward to for awhile!

Catching up with some fabulous people!

 I went there as Ms Captivating to support Studio RM's Ohio USA preliminary title holders- Megan Wise, Miss Heart of Ohio and Ivy Hankins, Miss Teen Heart of Ohio. Ivy placed 3rd RU and Megan placed 1st RU! Other former Studio RM titleholders also placed in top 15 including Sarah Newkirk (Ohio's Perfect Miss 2011) and Alexia Castillo (Teen Captivating 2011)!!!

The best part about going was meeting up with friends that i met through this industry! I had an amazing time!

Ms. Captivating '12-'13 and Michigan's Perfect Miss '11- Jennifer Skogman

Ms Captivating'12-'13 and Mrs Petite America '12- Rian Valentine

This picture just sums up the night! A great night spent with great people! We had the biggest cheering section there! Once a Studio RM girl, always a Studio RM girl!

Sums up the night!!!

 Until next time...

Pacer's Home Opener

Tonight I had the privilege of attending the Pacer's home opening game! I had so much fun!I got to sit in a suite for tonight game and the view was awesome!!

Suite 32!

The view from my suite! The yellow is a shirt for those who came!

 I love living in a major city because of the convenience of being able to support my home team! Indianapolis is a blessed city because they have 2 of the top sports venues (Bankers Life and Lucas Oil) in the country! And they are both at my fingertips! Find what fabulous things your city has to offer, enjoy it, and tell others about it!

My daughter and I

After watching the game that the Pacer's won in double overtime, I was able to take Kenna on the court and shoot some hoops! She was so excited even though Mommy shot an air-ball!

That is me at the foul line!

 Tonight was such a fun night spent with great people! I am so blessed with the many opportunities this city has to offer for a fun night with the family. I encourage all of you to find the time and place to have a night out with your family too!

Go blue and gold! Until next time...

Trick or Treat for Kids Off Their Feet

This year for Halloween my daughter decided she was going to be a Bumble Bee. We got her costume, bought a blue jack-o-lantern bucket ot put all her goodies in, and are getting all excited to go trick-or-treating. One day last week at work, my co-worker and I were talking about how much fun Halloween is and how sad that some kids might not get to experience Halloween. So we researched a way to help the best way we know how! So we found "Trick-or-Treat for Kids Off Their Feet" which brings Halloween to the kids at Payton Manning Children's Hospital. This is for the hospitalized child, the child going through chemo and has special isolation, the child who can not get out of bed because they are too sick or too weak. The community donates goodies for the staff to pass out on Halloween!

All the goodies I donated!

There was way too much to hold!

 I also had my daughter help pick out some toys and fun favors and i told her why we were doing this. Instilling in a child at a young age to give is sometimes more rewarding that receiving is vital! I find it to be one of the most important traits a child can take from their parent.

Helping Mommy put all the goodies in a bag to take to the kids at the hospital!

I challenge you to find a way to give back to your community this month!


Until next time friends!

Official Headshots

I'm so excited!!! Official headshots are up! Our director, Rick Martinez of Studio RM, did it again! He made my sister queens and I look AMAZING!

My beautiful sister- MISS Captivating (former Miss Michigan Capt.)

The adorable TEEN Captivating (former Teen Midwest Capt.)

Me- MS Captivating (former Ms. Indiana Capt.)

Three beautiful and accomplished woman from different part of the country and different walks of life have come together to be the current CAPTIVATING queens and are honored to hold these titles. Who will we crown next June? Who wants to follow in our footsteps and have the honor of wearing one of our crowns? I look forward to seeing YOU next summer!

Until then...

Indianapolis Marathon 5K

This weekend I had the privilege to participate in the Indianapolis Marathon 5K! This makes my 2nd 5k I have ever participated in. The first one was the Ronald McDonald House 5K which I walked in. This time I wanted to challenge myself and RUN a 5K. So, with my sister in tow as my motivational support person, I RAN my first 5K!

1st mile marker and still going strong!

Crossing the finish line and finished in 48 minutes!

 I love a good challenge so I wanted to see if I could actually run 3.5 miles! I'll admit, I had to take a few walk breaks, but to say I RAN a 5K is one thing I can check off my bucket list! There is only one thing I am a little embarrassed to admit... my beautiful sister just had a baby 4 months ago... and she beat me! She was the one pushing me to keep going!! She is such a driven individual and I admire her for her competitive nature!

My sister and I with our finisher medals

One thing I have gained from this experience is to challenge yourself. If you think you can not do something, do it just because you think you can't. The worst thing that can happen is you fail. But what is worse than failing is being scared to not even try at all. Failure isn't losing, however, because you already beat the person who was too afraid to try.

This medal is going in my "Accomplishment Cabinet"

I didn't win or even place in the top 100, but I challenged myself and finished. I was so proud of this accomplishment and want to use this as an example that if you set your mind to it you can do anything. From this experience, I have set a new goal: to run in a 5K every month (every other month at the least) and maybe by next year you will see this girl running in her first mini or half marathon! Who knows... Only I can determine that!

Until next time friends...

Miss Indiana USA 2012

Today I was honored to be a guest at the Miss Indiana USA 2012 pageant in Carmel, Indiana at the Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel. It was so much fun being in the audience to watch all the fine young ladies from all parts of Indiana competing for this prestigious title.

Myself and Mrs Sarah Baird

The dresses were beautiful! I wanted every dress in the top 10! Each girl brought to the stage her unique style, amazing poise, and contributions to the great state of Indiana! One girl started an organization called "Warming Heart" which takes blankets to children for Christmas. Another girl started a non-profit organization that helps veterans with PTSD get service dogs to ease their fear and keep them company.

Top 10 in Miss

The winners were so deserving! The amazing Emily Hart won the title of Miss Indiana USA 2012...

Emily Hart #28 is the new Miss Indiana USA 2012

The stunning and beautiful Darrian Arch is the new Teen Indiana USA 2012.

Darrian Arch #2 is the new Teen IN USA 2012

I met some fabulous people while attending the pageant. I was very honored to meet and talk to the beautiful Mrs. Indiana United States 2012, Carrie Owens. She is such a fabulous woman! Look out because we just may tag-team a few events! Who knows!

I had such a fun night hanging with and meeting some amazing people! Next weekend I have another adventure planned so check back next Sunday night to see what I am getting into!

Until next time...