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Ellen's send-off celebration to Miss America is THIS Saturday, in Celina! I am sad that I will not be able to attend this year. This will be the first Miss Ohio send-off since, well...mine, that I will not be at. I've been to Karissa's, Erica's and Becky's. All three of whom will be at Ellen's send-off...so that's great!
Also, you MUST vote for Ellen in the Miss America Video Contest! America can vote for one young lady to be in the Top 15! Click on either photo above to go to the video page, or watch it right here:
I also think Ellen is the front runner for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Miracle Maker Award! Based on her CMNH fundraising link (here), she's raised over $20,000!! If you haven't all ready contributed, donate TODAY!
I've been able to have a few conversations with Ellen over the passing weeks and she has really been working hard and is dedicated to gearing up for the job of Miss America! Ellen...have a blast this weekend at your send-off!
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.-Matthew 5:16
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It was a BUSY day, but a great day. Everyone in our family pitched in to make sure the day went off without a "hitch"...other than that of the bride and groom getting hitched! We even made the beautiful bouquets you see in the photos above! Only took 5 hours for 6 or 7 of us to whip up boutonnieres, bouquets, corsages and centerpieces! It wouldn't have been so bad had it not been the day before the wedding BUT they were fresh flowers, so had they been crafted any sooner; they wouldn't have held their beauty.
The flowers were made through The Flowerman, in Columbus...I think!
The same week, Steve and I attended the Laws of Life banquet and awards. I don't have any photos yet. Crystal Jo Foto was actually the photographer for that event, so hopefully we'll see some soon. I was a judge this year and it was truly an honor to read essay's from 20+ students throughout Ohio. It was great to review their stories and hear about their life experiences, those experiences which they've all ready learned so much from and have helped them become the good-character driven students/youth they are today.
Each student that night received a cash scholarship. Pretty nice considering some of them aren't even in high school yet.
Then...I got to see MY Miss Iowa, Diana Reed! Many of you may remember her as one of the guest performers at Miss Ohio 2008. But most of you will remember her as the "baton twirler" who didn't get to perform at Miss America! She made the Top 10 the year we competed at Miss America 2008 together.
She's currently on tour for Disney's Phineas & Ferb LIVE show...which brought her to Ohio for a week! So my FAVORITE person (and host "mom") brought Diana to Columbus so we could catch up. I took them to Marcella's...oh yummy in my tummy just thinking about it! Here's a photo of the 3 of us at the end of the night...
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Busy, busy, busy. There's never a dull moment in my life! First, I wanted to share some photos from the Weinandy Wedding. I shot Margaux (Love her name!) and Adam with Crystal Jo Foto back in September. This was such a fun wedding and it was practically held in my backyard! Here are some of the awesome shots I took:
And then...remember that "something exciting" I wanted to tell you about? Well, I think most of you all ready knew...I went to cheer on my friend and Miss Ohio sister, Becky Minger, as she competed in the 2011-2012 Miss Ohio USA competition! I made that drive to Portsmouth and got to catch up with some wonderful people before getting comfy in my seat for the 2 hour show!
The production was really neat, they held the Miss and the Teen competition simultaneously! It made for an exciting show and it flowed really well.
Becky came in as 3rd runner-up! She should be so proud! She was nervous...believe it or not! She had no reason to be, she's an amazingly talented, beautiful and accomplished young woman! She deserved that spot in the Top 5...hey, she was my new Miss Ohio USA! ;)
Also...Cecili Weber came in as 1st runner-up in the Teen division! Remember a couple of months ago, I helped organize a local pageant in my hometown which was a prelim to the Miss Ohio Teen USA pageant? Our winner (Miss GC/South Central Ohio Teen) was 4th runner-up this past weekend...way to go Alexis Laurine!
Here are some photos:
Blessings to you until next time...
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I think I took this one. Ha.
These were funny. Light Girl and Crystal Jo were showing the bride and groom what they wanted them to do...
I took the one in the middle.
Again, I took the one in the middle.
I don't think the CJoFoto crew has any fun at weddings.
We shot two weddings that weekend. I'm sure photos of the second wedding aren't too far behind.
We'll help my sister-in-law celebrate her upcoming nuptials at her bacherlorette party in Columbus this weekend. Should be fun! My lil sis had her freshman homecoming dance this past weekend...I did her hair! Aw, so pretty. BUT...we didn't take any pics. How silly of us. Next week I'll participate and snap photos at the 2011 Ohio Schools of Character Summit. There's another exciting event in about two weeks that I'm anticipating sharing with you...but I'll test your patience!
Love & blessings 'til the next blog...
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On Friday I shot wedding #2 with Crystal Jo Foto, followed by wedding #3 on Saturday! Followed by hosting my sister-in-law's bridal shower on Sunday. Needless to say I've been preparing and getting ready for this one busy weekend.
As soon as Crystal Jo Foto edits photos from the weddings, I will be sure to share them on the blog. But for now, here's one from Friday; the Longman wedding!
My sis-in-law is an avid reader...she carries her Kindle in her purse 24/7. So I took that & created a book inspired "theme" for the bride's shower over the weekend.
Everything from her invitations, the favors & centerpieces had hints & touches of...books. The invitation looked like the cover of a book. The favors were bookmarks. You get the idea.
We had a lot of fun & she got some great gifts. Here are some photos, taken by none other than...Crystal Jo Foto!
The yummy cake/cupcake tower made by the grooms aunt.
One of the centerpieces.
I liked the card holders...they were pages from books & pencils were holding them up.
And the gift table had a display with pics of the bride & groom growing up!
I asked the groom to come & surprise the bride.
He thought it was lame, everyone else loved it!
He thought it was lame, everyone else loved it!
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On September 7 & 8 in 1921, on the beaches of Atlantic City, no one could have imagined that a beauty pageant by the sea would become a spirited American tradition that would still be relevant and thriving 90 years later!
With pride and dedication, we mark our 90th birthday and salute a great American symbol so rich in history with ideals and true values. These ideals have become timeless and still continue to inspire young women across America to be the very best.
Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan, one of the youngest Miss Americas ever crowned, continues the legacy and helped to mark this special birthday this week in the city in which she was crowned, Las Vegas! Teresa was presented the key to the City of Las Vegas, by the Honorable Mayor Carolyn Goodman. The day was also filled with school visits to continue to support and strengthen our mission of promoting education - the cornerstone to our great tradition. A special thanks to our Miss America Board members, Gloria Fine and Sue Lowden for helping mark this occasion in Las Vegas!
We celebrate all of our Miss Americas this week and their incredible legacies, as we mark this milestone in our organization’s history.
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She's out on some major highway right now, cycling her tail end off for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals! She's trying to raise $100,000 over the next 20ish days so make sure you donate to this great cause TODAY! Click HERE to make a contribution.
Here are some photos from Monday, the day she kicked-off the Miss Ohio Bike Tour in Columbus. I was so honored to be a part of the first stretch of her 850+ mile tour. We rode with Hans, who was a huge help and made us feel "safe," and Sue Swinehart! I was nervous about riding but it was so much fun. I'm sure, at this point, Ellen wouldn't call it fun but I know she's driven and passionate about this cause. I look forward to riding with her again in a couple weeks, as she completes the tour!
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