It's been a while!

August and September have been quite a whirlwind! 

I went back to USC the first week of August, following a very successful pancake breakfast with the Rowan County Court and Committee! We raised a lot of money for the Rowan County Scholarship pageant so I know it's going to be great this year! Another fundraiser we had recently was our booth at China Grove's Farmer's Day. We set up our famous "Princess Booth" and went to work at making every girl feel like a Princess! We raised a lot of money in what felt like a very short day. Kristalyn and I got to judge the Little Mr and Miss Farmer's Day pageant. It was a tough choice for every age division...they were all so precious! I definitely won't miss out on Farmer's day again, we all had a blast. 

In August, my committee and court put on the annual Miss Rowan County Scholarship pageant Golf Tournament. Unfortunately, I was in the middle of sorority recruitment at USC, so I wasn't able to attend. From what I heard, everyone had a great time! 

As of now, we've been busy trying to get ready for the Miss Rowan County 2012 pageant. My committee has been hard at work trying to establish a theme and get everything in order. Whoever wins the title this year is a lucky girl...she will have the best committee behind her! I am so blessed to have spent a year with them and with my wonderful Outstanding Teen. I don't know what I'm going to do without them! 

We haven't stopped working hard yet this year, though. We donated a check to a local children's hospital with some of the funds we raised at Farmer's Day and the Pancake breakfast. I hope I will be able to visit soon and see what all our hard work is benefitting! This week we will be set up at the Rowan County fair! I'll be there on Friday night. I'm so excited to be back in Rowan County and to see all the other booths at the fair. But most of all, I can't wait to ride the rides! Come out and see us this weekend!! 

 One of my shots from the photo shoot with Blair Phillips!

 Another great shot from Blair!

 Spray painting hair as part of the Princess package...it was so hard keeping the pink paint off of my sash!

Me with some of my sorority sisters on "bubble gum day"...This is the day we give a presentation on our efforts for St. Jude Children's Hospital! This was also the day of the Miss Rowan County Golf Tournament...I may have been in Columbia, but my heart was in NC!

See you all at the fair!

-Elizabeth

Post Miss NC

After Miss NC, my family and I went straight to Washington DC on Sunday. It was nice to get away from home for a little bit, have fun, and eat whatever I wanted! My first post-pageant meal was McDonalds, followed by waffles in the morning, Bojangles for lunch, pasta for dinner, and a HUGE brownie sunday that night! I forgot how much I love unhealthy food! 

We came home from Washington on Thursday, just in time for all of my Independence Day appearances! Saturday, I introduced a performance at the Charlotte Symphony concert in Kannapolis. I met so many kids from in and around our county and went through an entire autograph pad! 

Sunday, I threw out the first pitch at the Kannapolis Intimidators game. Charlotte seemed happy with the pitch, which means it must have been acceptable ;) 

Monday, I rode in the Faith Fourth of July parade, which was HUGE and never ending! It was so much fun, some of the kids there recognized me from other appearances. It's nice to know that they like me enough to say "hi" whenever they see me! =p Thanks to Ben Mynatt Chevrolet, who loaned us the red Camaro convertible I used in the parade!! It got TONS of compliments (not to mention publicity...)!

Monday night, I threw out the first pitch at the Rowan County vs. Kannapolis legion game. The Salisbury Post wrote an article about the game for Tuesday's paper and called my pitch "respectable." Glad to see my pitch isn't so bad after all! There's only so much a girl can do in 5 inch heels...

Today, I had a photoshoot with Blair Phillips! His photography style is very unique from the other pictures I've had taken so far. I'm very excited to see how his pictures turn out! He had me on top of a piano in my evening gown...that's something I never thought I'd do. But I'm sure they'll all be incredible! Blair is so talented!

It's been a busy but wonderful couple of days...I'm so lucky to live in such a great place!! Next up for Miss Rowan County? The Miss Rowan County Scholarship Pageant Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday, July 9! If anyone is interested in coming, let me or one of my committee member know!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth! 

Elizabeth

Me and some of the wonderful kids I met at the Charlotte Symphony performance

Throwing out the 1st pitch at the Intimidator's game July 3rd

Me and Diana riding in the Faith Fourth of July parade!

Thanks again to Ben Mynatt Chevrolet for letting us borrow that red convertible!

Being interviewed on the radio at the Rowan County vs. Kannapolis legion game

Miss NC

Back from Miss North Carolina! The best week I could have ever asked for...it was probably the most rewarding experience of my life. I can't explain the feeling of being on the stage of Memorial Auditorium as a candidate for Miss North Carolina. It's simply indescribable. I made so many friends at Miss NC, and I am so lucky to know so many of those girls! They are all great representations of North Carolina. I may not have won this year, but I'll be back! I am so blessed to have the opportunity to represent our state, maybe not with the state title, but with my local title. And I LOVE ROWAN COUNTY!

Me and Diana, my Carolina Princess.

Me and My Outstanding Teen, Kristalyn.

World's best Committee!! Kendra, Kim, and Charlotte.

It's almost here!! I officially have every outfit/costume for the Miss North Carolina pageant. My tutu and cleopatra costume came in today! They both fit perfectly and are BEAUTIFUL. And....my dress from Sherri Hill finally came in!! We had it custom made and it is gorgeous. We actually ended up changing the straps on it but it's even more perfect now!! Charlotte, my ED, cried when she saw it. That just made it official- it's THE dress! I can't wait to show everyone at the wardrobe showing on Sunday. They're going to love everything!

I had a photoshoot with Jeanna Beasley a couple of weeks ago- I got the pictures back yesterday. They're incredible. She's truly talented. Here is one of my favorites (we're using it for my autograph pad):

Wishing everyone a blessed weekend!!

Anti-Bullying Vigil

I was asked to speak at a candlelight vigil held by Junior Elite Miss North Carolina, Megan Braun. The vigil was to raise awareness of her platform, bullying. Other speakers at the vigil included the Rowan County Sheriff, the Rowan County Maser Deputy, a teacher, a doctor, and a pastor. Several Rowan County citizens attended, as did News 14 Carolina! I'm proud of Megan, she did a really great job raising awareness of such a serious issue. Look out for Megan, she's hoping to hold a Rowan County title soon! Good luck Megan!

Miss Rowan County and Junior Elite Miss North Carolina

Relay for Life

I have been working on Relay for Life since March. I got the idea to have a "Princess Booth" to raise money for Cancer. At the booth, we would sell plastic crowns, crown-shaped lollipops, candy bracelets with candy crowns, gold nail polish and gold hair spray paint (Gold is the color of childhood cancer), and crown tattoos. When the day of Relay came, I was nervous. I didn't want the booth to be anything less than what I had envisioned it to be! Good news...it was a hit! We raised over $100 dollars for Relay- which means we sold 20 princess packages! It felt like it too- the Rowan County queens were painting nails, spray painting hair, applying tattoos, and crowning little girls as fast as possible. We had so much fun though, and we really felt like a family working together. I can't wait for the next Princess Booth at Farmer's Day!

Me, My Carolina Princess Diana, and my OT Kristalyn painting nails at Relay! How often do you get pampered by 3 queens?

Catawba Baseball

When my Executive Director told me I would be throwing out the first pitch at the last home Catawba Baseball game, I was nervous. I'd never touched a baseball before...I'm the definition of a girly-girl. I got my friend Cody to teach me how to throw- the first one I practiced hit a car and the second one went 5 ft in front of me. After about an hour I finally got it down! At Catawba, my pitch actually made it across the plate!! I even got a few compliments on my throw. And I did it all in 5 inch heels too. Go Indians!

Me, my Carolina Princess Diana, and 3 of the Catawba baseball players.