Thursday, January 26, 2012

East West Shrine Game

On Saturday, January 21st I attended the East West Shrine Game held at the Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Since 1925, the Shriners East-West Game showcases the outstanding football athletes across the nation while supporting the Shriners Hospitals for Children. There was a tailgating event before the game with numerous Shriners, some patients, volunteers, and fans. Each event that I attend with the Shriners, I gain more appreciate for there dedication to the kids at the Shriners Hospitals. I feel so blessed to be a representative for this organization.

Mitch and Robert. Both Shriners!




The game!

After the game with my family and Lynne Dalton

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Miss America Pageant 2012 !


The Miss America Pageant week was filled with amazing events!
It was held in Las Vegas, Nevada from January 10th-14th.
Tuesday January 10th was the first night of prelims! All 53 contestants were split up into three groups each night. Kristina answered her on stage question for prelims on Tuesday night. I had the opportunity to meet the majority of the state teen titleholders, as we all sat together cheering on our Misses! 
Special thanks to the Janolo Family and Veronica Livesay for helping me get around and taking me in as family on Tuesday when my family hadn't arrived yet!

After prelims I was able to see Kristina at the Visitation. She did amazing!


 On Wednesday morning, it was off to practice with the state teens for our performance on the Miss America stage that night!
Ohio's Outstanding Teen. Absolutely loved her! 

I'm on the Miss America stage!! I was so happy :)
 On Wednesday night, I performed on the Miss America stage with the other state titleholders! We proudly wore our beautiful Tony Bowls dresses, shoes, and earrings! We all did fabulous and truly sparkled. That night, Kristina competed in swimsuit and evening gown competition. She looked stunning and confident.
Ready to perform on the Miss America stage!
Special thank you to Tony Bowls for providing all the State Teen Titleholders with our dresses, shoes, and earrings!

Thank you so much grandma for coming to support me on my big night!

Thank you so much dad for your continuous support! I loved being able to see you in the audience as I performed on stage.

Kristina Janolo, I am so proud of you! Mary Sullivan, I really appreciate your support. You both have a heart of gold. 
 On Thursday, during the day I spent my lunch with the people I love outside of the Bellagio where we could watch the water show! Then I attended an autograph session with all of the state teen titleholders. 
Expensive, but delicious lunch with my grandma, dad, and Megan Clementi at Olives.

I met Joey Fatone backstage right before he hosted the Price is Right!

Autograph session with all the teens!
 On Thursday night, I attended the last night of prelims. Kristina performed her talent and truly took my breath away!
Ready for the last night of prelims!

Kristina and I on the last night of prelims at visitation!
On Friday, I spent my day with the state teen titleholders. First stop, pictures at the Vegas sign! Then we were headed to the Children's Miracle Network Hospital St. Rose for a tour. We all had lunch afterwards at the Mi Mi's Cafe. At last, we took a tour of Wayne Newton's Ranch where I saw a copious amount of exotic animals, 54 horses, explored his plane, and more! We all had such a blast and bonded like sisters!
Welcome to Las Vegas!

Mi Mi's Cafe with Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen! What a delicious meal!

We had such a good time at Wayne Newton's Ranch!
 On Friday night, my dad and I went to a Cirque Du Soleil show called Le Reve! We unfortunately couldn't take pictures of it during the show, but I have never been so amazed in my life!
The end of the show, but the memories of Le Reve with always be remembered!
 It was finally Saturday! The big day we had all been waiting for. I started my day off with attending the trade show. For lunch I went with my father to the Eiffel Tower Restaurant, then explored the Las Vegas strip!
Special thank you to Regalia (David and Carry) for all of your support and love towards the Miss America Organization. Also for all the dresses and more you have provided me to always look tremendous. Words can't explain how much you two mean to me!

Walking on the Vegas strip!
 Saturday night was finally here! Everything we had all been so anxious for. Kristina Janolo was placed in the top 12 out of 53 contestants in the Miss America pageant. Kristina, you are such a remarkable person and I am so incredibly proud of you! Even though you aren't the new Miss America, you are always going to be MY Miss America and you represent the state of Florida so well! I couldn't ask for a better big sis and role model! Congratulations to the new Miss America 2012, Laura Kaeppeler!
Mary Katherine, Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 2010

My father!

The Florida family!

The wonderful Miss America 2011, Teresa Scanlan. You were such an amazing Miss America and I feel so blessed to have a special bond with you!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Florida Citrus Parade

 On New Years Eve, I was in the Florida Citrus Parade in Orlando, Florida. The Florida Citrus Bowl promotes the agriculture of Florida. It was televised on national tv and on our local channel 9 station. The parade was two and half miles long which went through downtown OrlandSpecial thanks to Greenway Ford for providing a 2012 Mustang Convertible, so I could ride in style.

The wonderful Shriners!

Florida Citrus Parade

 On New Years Eve, I was in the Florida Citrus Parade in Orlando, Florida. The Florida Citrus Bowl promotes the agriculture of Florida. It was televised on national tv and on our local channel 9 station. The parade was two and half miles long which went through downtown Orlando. Special thanks to Greenway Ford for providing a 2012 Mustang Convertible, so I could ride in style.

The wonderful Shriners!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Florida Hospital for Children visit

Enrique; 2 years old.
 On Wednesday, December 28th, I handed out Love Letters, my comp cards, and fuzzy socks to 16 kids at the Florida Hospital for Children in Orlando. Even though we may live in Florida, the hospitals always seem to feel like winter weather all year round. The fuzzy socks were perfect! Not only to keep the children warm, but are fashionable too! The smiles brought to each child's face as I entered their room truly shows how the simplest things in life for us mean the world to them. It's hard to describe the impact that each child has made in my life, but is the reason I will never stop with my platform: Sharing Kindness with Precious Kids.
Christian is such a sweet boy!

Enrique and his parents were so thrilled!

She loved pink!

Megan, thank you for this wonderful opportunity.

Adventurous Journey

AirBoat Ride
 On December 21st and 22nd I was a participant in the Adventurous Journey for the Duke of Edinburgh Award, which is an award to positively influence the lives of America's youth by inspiring ages from 14 to 25 to grow and achieve! This Adventure was held in Inverness and Crystal River, Florida. The Journey included an airboat ride and canoeing on the Withlacoochee River. We learned how to tie a rope, cook over open fires, navigation, and camp skills. We went snorkeling with the manatees in the Crystal River and took a boat trip to Archeological park to learn about the Seminole Tribes of Florida, spear-throwing, and more facts about the history of the park itself. All in all I had a blast, but spending it with the people I love was indescribable. Special thanks to the Fechtel family for putting this wonderful journey together and to the girls: Teresa Scanlan ( Miss America 2011), Elizabeth Fechtel (Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2012), Kristina Janolo ( Miss Florida 2011), MaryKatherine Fechtel, Samantha Janolo, Kalen Dennis, Danielle Mueller, and Amanda Wilcher for truly making this experience a memory of a life time.
The girls!

Canoeing!

Snorkel time with my big sis and manatees!