BBQ and Awards Dinner

 Barbeque!

It was a very laid back weekend for Julie Ann and I. We attended a BBQ on Saturday that was thrown for realtors of CPS, the Miss Lake County gals, a local baseball team and others. We presented awards to the players of the baseball team and chatted with local community members. There was great food and lots of activities to do like swimming, basketball, a treasure hunt and even karaoke! The princesses and I got up there and sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" for everyone. It was so nice to kick back on a summer day and hang out!

Most Valuable Players! The Richardson Family!

Princesses and I singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

 Pizza Party!

On Sunday, we had a pizza party with all the contestants from the teen and miss division to talk about awards, DVD orders and next years pageant! It was so nice getting back together with all the ladies and see what they've been up to now that we don't have rehearsals twice a week. Miss Lake County 2012 Jennifer Humble even came up for the party and it was so nice getting to catch up with her since I became the new title holder. I hope to see all these girls throughout the year! Here's more pictures of the ladies receiving their awards here.

Miss Lake County 2012 Jennifer Humble and I

Two of my committee members and the previous titleholders

Julie Ann and I talking to the girls about perseverance, our relay for life team and the upcoming Bass Bowl Pageant

Chamber of Commerce, Firefighters, Taste of Lakeport, and a Car Show!

Such a busy week for me! I had lots of duties as Miss Lake County this past week while I was working and preparing for my last year at Mendocino College.

Chamber of Commerce

Julie Ann and I went to our first chamber of commerce dinner last Wednesday. It was fun to meet a lot of the business owners from the area and have a great meal at Zino's Restaurant. We got to draw the tickets for numerous prizes and chat with people at our table. Thank you to the chamber for having us!

Julie Ann and I with Phil

Drawing a name for some raffle prizes at the dinner

For more pictures click here.

Visiting the Firefighters

There were 2 large fires burning in Lake County. As a result, Cal Fire has set up a command center at the fairgrounds. I thought it would be nice to bring them some cookies and tell them what a wonderful job they're doing. One of the men there gave us a grand tour of the command center and it was so interesting to learn about the process they go through for setting everyone up.

One of the firefighters from Ukiah and chamber members

For more pictures click here.

The Taste of Lakeport

This was such a fun event this past Friday! Julie Ann and I walked up and down Main Street in Lakeport with a little red wagon filled with cold water. We passed out waters to all the event goers which gave us a chance to talk about the Miss Lake County Scholarship Organization. People were very impressed and they loved hearing about us competing at Miss California to represent our county. We ate amazing food cooked by local restaurants and listened to live music. We had a wonderful time and can't wait for more local events like this!

Julie Ann and I as we arrived

One of the amazing event coordinators Catrina. Thank you for having us!

Lakeports finest!

One of our new little friends. So cute!

For more pictures click here.

Second Annual Lower Lake Car Show

I spent part of my day in Lower Lake at a car show to benefit Lower Lake High School. I helped hand out awards and took donations for the school. There were so many cars and they were all beautiful!

Thank you to the Car Club for having me!

Just one of the awesome vehicles! See more here

Sitting in one of the old cars!

We were in beautiful downtown Lower Lake, right next to the fire house!

For more pictures click here.

Our Photo Shoot!

Yesterday, Julie Ann and I did our official Miss Lake County headshots with the wonderful Tiffany Chavez. We had so much fun and loved finding places to shoot! These pictures will be used for our autograph pads that we'll have just in time for the fair!
Keep an eye out for our pictures on the Official Miss Lake County Facebook page! I'll also post them to my blog under the T.A.C. Page.

Tiffany and I after my shoot!

First Appearance: Concert in the Park

Julie Ann and I had our very first appearance at our local park. During the summer in Lakeport, we have a concert every Friday. This past Friday was the last concert of the summer series, so we went to meet and greet!
It was such a great experience to meet new people and take pictures with the kids! I don't know if I'll ever get used to this. Especially when little kids are staring at the top of my head!
Over all, we had a great time. I even saw some of my family there enjoying the concert. To see more photos of our first appearance click here.
We had a great time and we can't wait to do more!

Julie Ann and I with princesses

Meet the new Miss Lake County

I am still in complete disbelief that I have just been crowned Miss Lake County 2013. As I look at the pictures of myself in the crown and sash, I keep saying "That's not me, I don't believe it." I've wanted to be Miss Lake County since I was a little girl. To me, being Miss Lake County meant being a strong, caring, smart, beautiful, and kind role model. And I looked up to every single one of those women who wore the crown. Right when I became eligible to compete at 17 years old, I contacted the director. The first year I competed was overwhelming and scary. I had performed on stage before, but never as myself, I was always a character up there.

After my first competition in the Miss Lake County Pageant, I caught the pageant bug and had to keep going for it. I took some time off to improve and came back when I was 20 to place 1st runner up. I went home feeling so accomplished and proud of myself that I placed in my second pageant. That's when I realized that I was in it to win it and worked on improving my talent, interview, and posture. When I came back this year to compete, I realized that I was running against so many other talented, intelligent, and beautiful ladies. I knew it was going to be a fierce competition! It was wonderful getting to know all these amazing girls and I will never forget a single one of them.

Shout out to Amber, Amanda, Denise, Fran, Jamie, Miranda, Felicia, and Angela! Love you ladies!

 Crowning was a whirlwind of emotions because I knew I had messed up on a few little things throughout the night and I even tripped while walking out of my interview! (oops!)
I was graced with the Miss Congeniality award which was a tie between Angela Tompkins and myself. And then they started announcing the runner ups, I was so nervous that I stopped breathing because I didn't want to cry. When Tony finally called the 1st runner up Denise, the anticipation was killing me and I still wasn't breathing.
The moment Tony announced my name as Miss Lake County 2013, I completely lost it and could not contain myself. I burst into tears out of happiness that I had finally fulfilled one of my life's dreams to represent my home in the Miss California pageant.

I'm so proud to be your Miss Lake County 2013 and there are so many things I want to do as a titleholder. But you'll have to keep following me to see!

I know this first post is long, but here come the thank yous:

Thank you to my parents and little sister for their love and support

Thank you to my boyfriend Mitchell for listening to me even though you don't understand the pageant world and being my #1 fan

Thank you to my awesome boss/sponsor Patrick Lambert for putting up with my hectic school and pageant schedule and for being so understanding.

Thank you to Dr. Grey for sponsoring me and for my beautiful smile!

Thank you to Tiffany Chavez (T.A.C. Photography) for pictures, a spray tan and your makeup skills.

Thank you to my best friend, stage manager, and singing coach all in one, Alissa Iaccino!

Thank you Jennifer Humble, Miss Lake County 2012 for all your help, venting sessions, and crowning me as the new titleholder.

Thank you to the committee, Julie Ann and I look forward to working with you!

Thank you to Tony for the pep talk. I can't wait to start working with you!

Thank you to my new outstanding teen Julie Ann Mather for taking on this year with me, I'm proud to have you as my sister titleholder
(I used to babysit this girl!)

And More Thank Yous!

Bob Minnena for taking pictures at our dress rehearsal and show (You Rock!)

The Judges for choosing me as Miss Lake County!

Our auditors for the pageant

The Soper Reese Theater Volunteers

Tony Barthel

Iaccino Family for their pin pledges at our bowling with beauties fundraiser

Ellen Ann for taking in all my dresses and getting it perfect every time

Jackies Flowers for my winners bouquet

Shefferts Videography

Janice Hornby for fixing a few unexpected blemishes on my skin with less than a week before the pageant!

US Nails in Lakeport for getting my nails perfect every time

The Norcio Family

Brian Griffin for my sponsorship

I'm sorry if I forgot anyone else, it's been a long sleepless few days.