Mrs. Washington Stage Practice 10/16

Mrs. Snohomish County Jessica, Mrs. Spokane County Amee, Mrs. Washington 2011, Mrs. Spokane Judi, Mrs. Moses Lake Tiffany & Mrs. Walla Walla Valley Shontina

Our Director Pam Curnel happened to get the theater where we have our pageant for a few hours on Sunday. It's been reserved every weekend for practices for the upcoming musical School House Rock. So a few of us could make it to Moses lake on short notice. For 3 of these contestants it was the first time to see and be on the stage! I remember how excited and nervous I was as a new contestant that first time I came to the theatre! What a journey it's been for me and I hope these ladies enjoy it as much as I have!!

We practiced the opening number that is shaping up to be fabulous!! I can't wait to see it all come together on pageant weekend! Only 4 more weeks until the pageant when a new Mrs. Washington will be added to the group! We will get to share our reign together until March when my year is officially done. I look forward to doing appearances with my sister Queen!!!

Mrs. Washington workshop 10/15

Helen Bacon Florentine Mrs. Washington 2000, Lisa Bluhm Mrs. Washington 2011,

Beth Kovacevich Mrs. Washington 1996

Me, Mrs. Snohomish County Jessica Riggs & Beth

Helen, Mrs. Pacific Nortwest Larissa, Mrs. Lacey Kami & Mrs. Olympia Lareina

Mrs. Pierce County Amy, Mrs. Island County Angee, Me & Jessica

Mrs. Snohomish County, Mrs. Island County, Mrs. Pierce County, Mrs. Washington 2011, Mrs. Pacific Northwest, Mrs. Olympia, & Mrs. Lacey

Our last workshop of the season was at Beth Kovacevich Mrs. Washington 1996's beautiful home. We talked about all things pageant related but also got to know everyone much better. It was interesting to hear everyone's stories and how each of our lives are so different. This is another amazing group of women who do so much to lead and serve others. Any one of them will make a great Mrs. Washington!!

Seattle Vision Walk

My friend and the current Mrs. America with her children. PSA for FFB.

Mrs. Thurston County, Mrs. Snohomish County, Mrs. Washington 2011, Mrs. Seattle & Mrs. Olympia at the start of the Vision Walk

This sweet little girl wanted a picture with the "Princesses"!

The Foundation for Fighting Blindness is our national platform for Mrs. America. Our new Mrs. America April Lufriu has been diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa as well as her children and her sister. She took up the cause and started a chapter in Florida to raise money to help find a cure and has now brought awareness of this to a National level! April is a shining example of how to use a title to make a difference.

The vision walks are held nationwide to help raise money and bring awareness. This was the first inaugural walk in Washington. $41,000 was raised by all the walkers and teams! Our team Mrs. Washington Pageant for a Cure was made up of myself, Mrs. Seattle, Mrs. Snohomish County, Mrs. Olympia, Mrs. Thurston County and Mrs. Washington 2009. I helped get the fun going by leading the group of walkers in a Zumba warm up! I also got the chance to share April's story and the connection we have with our Mrs. America Pageant. It was nice to be welcomed by the FFB staff and to feel their excitement of our participation.

Miss Washington USA Pre-lims 10/8

The show started an hour late! Me, Mrs. Snohomish County Jessica Riggs & Mrs. Olympia LaReina Delay waiting patiently (kinda)!

Mrs. Olympia, Mrs. Washington, Mrs. Snohomish County & Mrs. Seattle

The Miss Washington USA prelims were so much fun to watch. Both Teen & Miss divisions competed. It was a large group of girls and oh what a tough job the judges had! Our Mrs. Washington 2008 had her daughter competing and she won the spirit award and was in the top 11!! What an accomplishment!!

Photo Shoot at the State Capital with Dinea De Photo 10/5

Photo not from my photo shoot but by Dinea while at the Day of Empowerment!

I've seen Dinea's amazing photos that she had taken of the founder of Cinderella's closet Renata Hanson and at other events where Cinderella's Closet Gowns have been worn. She just happened to be the photographer at the Day of Empowerment and after chatting with her we set up a date to take some Mrs. Washington photos at our State Capital building.

I decided to wear only gowns from Cinderella's closet so we could use the photos to help promote our non profit organization. What a fabulous time we had!! Dinea is amazing and has so many creative ideas. I can feel her passion as she composes and captures her photos. One hour turned into 3 with 4 gown changes and about 12 different locations around the Capital Buildings and downtown Olympia! It was so exhausting but Dinea made me feel like a beautiful Queen!!! I can't wait to share the photos!!!

Day of Empowerment 10/6

Lori Kenyon and I collecting donations for Cinderella's closet!

One of our beautiful gowns.

Lori & I at our information table!

The Day of Empowerment was an amazing event held in Lacey. They provided Cinderella's closet with a display area and allowed us to do a raffle to raise some money. Lori Kenyon and I were sponsored for tuition so we could attend classes and the sit in on the speaking events as well. We had a great time, we learned about Feng Shui in the home, how to cook some yummy appetizers that were gluten free, learned about creating a fabulous bio and how to make money our Honey (that one needs more explaining than I have time for!).

All of the women had a great time, great food and great fellowship! We ended the day with wine and appetizers from Swing Wine bar YUM!!