Hosting the Miss Southeastern Pageant

I had the pleasure of co-hosting the Miss Southeastern Pennsylvania Pageant (MAO local), along with the talented and dynamic Jill Wiley, Miss PA's Outstanding Teen. Congratulations to all of the new Teen and Miss titleholders, as well as Mary Meister, who put together a wonderful pageant.

Miss Philadelphia Workshop

I've been a member of the Miss Philadelphia Pageant committee since 2003 and it's my responsibility to plan the Contestant Workshop. This year's was the best yet! The event took place at the Four Seasons Hotel, which generously sponsored the ballroom space and lunch. Each contestant had the opportunity to hand in all of her paperwork, do two mock interviews, communications coaching with Ronica Licciardello (Miss Philly '05) of Ronica Communications, to work with our Production team, have photos taken with Jean Valentin, talent coaching with Cristina Guzman (Miss Philly '99), Modeling coaching with Brintha Vasagar (Miss Philly '08), attend a presentation by professional makeup artist Alayna Rakes, enjoy What Not to Wear with Chris Saltamacchio, shop with the Red Carpet Pageant Shop, Crowning Around, and Jimmy Crystals, not to mention to get some advice from reigning Miss Philadelphia Ryann Richardson. It was a busy day, but I think everyone enjoyed the experience!

More from the VA Hospital

There are a number of ways to give back to the Veterans who have given us so much! Here's information about donations needed and volunteer opportunities from the VA Medical Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

Wants and Needs List

COMFORT ITEMS

Toothbrushes (individually packaged), Toothpaste, Deodorant, socks, tissues, shampoo, combs, brushes, shaving cream, disposable razors, chapstick, shower gel, denture tablets/creme/adhesive, denture brushes, flip flops (size 10 or larger), hand lotion, phone cards (over 100 minutes), postage stamps, mouthwash (alcohol free), Emory Boards, Back packs (small), Flashlights (small), Baby Lotion, Daily Planners, Baby Wash, Address books

RECREATION PROGRAM NEEDS

Sponsors needed for evening and holiday activities, Coffee, powdered creamer, Paper products, such as plates, napkins, and cups and bulk plastic silverware.

ITEMS NOT NEEDED: Stuffed Animals

NOTE: Voluntary Service may be contacted for any questions concerning donations at 717-272-6621 x4064 or 6030 Thank You!

Volunteer Opportunities

Floater/Greeter, Various activities, Information Desk, Hospitality Bar, Patient Satisfaction Surveys, DAV Drivers, Law Enforcement Day (Annually every May only), Lab Runners

Thank you for your interest in Volunteering at the VA Medical Center. To sign up and orientation contact Patricia Gayle at 717-272-6621 X 4064

National Salute Week

Yesterday, I spent the day at the Veterans Hospital in Lebanon, PA as a part of National Salute to Veterans Patients Week. This program recognizes Veterans for their service and is celebrated each year during the week of February 14th. The purpose of this national event is to:

*pay tribute and express appreciation to hospitalized Veterans

*increase community awareness of the role of the VA medical centers

*encourage everyone to visit hospitalized Veterans

*promote the value of becoming a VA volunteer

It was a moving experience to meet so many men and women who have courageously served our country and to have an opportunity to say thank you. I hope I brought some cheer to the patients as I delivered Valentines made by local schoolchildren and hundreds of my own homemade cookies (the baking of which was made possible by being snowed-in for two days!). They just opened a new Women's Health Center as well, and with so many women returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan, it's good to know that they can receive the best medical treatment possible as they return to families and communities.

Of the 23.2 military veterans living in the United States, over 1 million are Pennsylvania residents. Thank a veteran for his or her service today!

Latest Appearance

It's fairly clear from my frequent posting of my cakes and dinners that I love to be in the kitchen. This past weekend, I was invited to be in the kitchen with world-renown chef Georges Perrier at his restaurant Mia in Caesars in Atlantic City. He taught me how to make white chocolate mousse and we had a lot of fun with the crowd! Wouldn't I be cute on the Food Network?

Merry Christmas!

Best Christmas EVER!!!

I skated with kids, wrapped gifts to raise funds for Habitat, and spent time visiting some elderly ladies in a nursing home and shared in the joy of Christmas.

Thank you to all of the volunteers at the Laura Sims Skatehouse, Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County, and Little Brother Friends of the Elderly for inviting me to share the holiday with you. Thanks to Kate Hertzog, Manager of Civic Engagement at the United Way for all of the referrals. Finally, thanks to my kind and patient husband for driving me around and sharing this Christmas journey with me!

Christmas Volunteer-a-thon

First, I want to wish all of the Christmas celebraters out there a very Merry Christmas!!

This Christmas, I turned to my good friend, Kate Hertzog, Manager of Civic Engagement at the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, for some ideas on how I could use my title to give back to the community this year, specifically on Christmas Eve and Day.

In just a few minutes, I'll be heading to the Laura Sims Skatehouse in West Philadelphia to ice skate with over 200 kids and hand out Christmas stockings. Here's a link to the article in the University City Review newspaper. Then, it's on to the Neshaminy Mall, where I'll wrap gifts to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County. (Incidentally, I led a volunteer group years ago that did construction work on Habitat's Cherry Street project in Norristown. It's great to have an opportunity to reconnect with this organization.) Tomorrow morning, I'll spend a few hours visiting residents of Tucker House Nursing Home in North Philadelphia, as a volunteer for Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly.

Have a wonderful, safe, and Merry Christmas!

What's Wrong With World Peace?

One of the best aspects of pageantry is the friendships that you form, and I'd like to introduce you to one of my pageant friends, the brilliant and successful Ronica Licciardello. She has begun Pageant Consulting as one of the many services she offers at Ronica Communications. Her many years of competition coupled with an Ivy League education have given her great insight into what it takes to be the best and how to achieve that goal.

For those of you striving for pageant perfection, visit Ronica's new website What's Wrong With World Peace and make sure to sign up for the free email Newsletter, which is full of great tips, discussions and interviews. Ronica interviewed me for an upcoming edition and I really enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on my year, thus far, as Mrs. PA US and my love of pageantry.

Pageant Prep Expo

Today was the Pageant Preparation Expo is King of Prussia, PA, where I had a table to market my business as a singing teacher and vocal coach. At my neighboring table was my amazing and wonderful friend, Michael Hartman, who produces and choreographs for the America's National Teenager Pageant. Mrs. Delaware Valley (and hopefully Mrs. New Jersey US 2010) Kim Meehan, Mrs. New Jersey International Heather Cunningham, and Mrs. Pennsylvania International Sheri Jenkins were also in attendance and looking beautiful, as always.

It was a long day, but hopefully I'll get a few new voice students!

Dessert-Mania!

Tonight, I volunteered to serve at the Newtown Lions Club annual Spaghetti Dinner and I baked all of the desserts. My brother is a member of the Newtown Lions and it was a great opportunity to support both him and the Bucks County Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Here's what I baked:

Apple pie

Rum cake

Black Forest Cake

White Chocolate Cheesecake with strawberry swirl

Cinnamon Merlot Roasted Pears

Tiramisu

Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Chocolate Pie with Chocolate cookie crust and chocolate whipped cream frosting

Heres what I learned:

Both chocolate and cheesecake are in demand, pears are not.

Nobody wants to eat burned apple pie

The chocolate hazelnut torte recipe looks complicated for a reason-- it is.

It was a great night and I'm looking forward to next year already!

Recital

On Sunday, October 25th, I performed in a recital at Delaware Valley College sponsored by the Community Conservatory of Music. I sang my favorite songs of all time:

"Someone to Watch Over Me" (Gershwin from the 1920s musical Oh, Kay!))

"They Say It's Wonderful" (Irving Berlin from one of his later musicals, Annie Get Your Gun),

"On the Street Where You Live" (Lerner and Loewe from My Fair Lady)

and finally "The Girl in 14G" (by Jeanine Tesori)

Barbara Weikamp and Joy Keener also sang beautifully. We were accompanied by pianist Bill Gottshall- who is just a wonderful musician and lots of fun to work with.

If I figure out how to add mp3s, then I can add some samples from the performance, but no luck yet...

Greeting an audience member

Abington Lions Club

Last night, I attended the annual Comedy Night fundraiser for the Abington Lions Club. It was a great event, well-planned and well-attended, and I was fortunate to have the honor of being a judge for the amateur comedian competition. Unfortunately, I forgot to charge my camera, so I don't have photos from the event (Bad, Mrs. PA, bad!).

The evening started with dinner and continued with hilarious headlining comedian Tom Ryan, who I recognized from tv. Next, Magician Hunter Gaul gave an entertaining performance. We had some dessert and I drank a couple cups of coffee to keep my energy up for a long evening of fun. Fueled by the magic of caffeine, I was ready to judge the amateur comedians. There were 3 contestants and it was a difficult choice! The audience was kept laughing by the Christian King of Comedy and Chris Smith and some more material from Tom Ryan. My abs are still sore from laughing so much (either I am sadly out of swimsuit competition shape or these guys were really funny).

What a great night! I hope The Lions Club reached their fundraising goal to help in their noble pursuits. It was truly a pleasure getting to know the Abington Lions and an honor to be a part of their festivities.

Rock the Mic for a Cure

I met Turea Hutson when she was just 17 years old and a first time contestant in the Miss Philadelphia Pageant. Turea survived ovarian cancer at age 16 and now at a gorgeous, cancer-free 24 years old is fighting to promote ovarian cancer awareness and to raise funding to find a cure for this disease. Turea created a talent show fundraiser at Plymouth Meeting Friends School and it was a great success! All proceeds were donated to Fox Chase Cancer Center's new Women's Health Center.

Turea Hutson and Dr. Robert Burger, Directorof the Fox Chase Cancer Center's new Women's Center.

"We're going to treat the whole patient and
focus heavily on each woman's
quality of life."
— Dr. Burger

Newtown Market Day

I was proud to promote the Newtown Chamber Orchestra at Newtown Market Day on Saturday, September 19th. They receive funding from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and have a cd for sale and a great free concert for kids planned this March at Pennsbury High School in Bucks County.

Rosh Hashana

Friday was Rosh Hashana, which is the Jewish New Year. I cooked dinner for fifteen guests and we enjoyed a special seder celebrating a sweet new year. Under the tutelage of Chef Georges Perrier, Jonathan learned to make "floating islands", which are merengues drizzled in caramel in creme anglaise.

Guy Savoy in Philly

Jonathan, Chef Perrier, Me, Chef Savoy, and Mary Beth Walling

Internationally acclaimed chef Guy Savoy is in Philadelphia for a brief visit and we had the most decadent evening on Sunday, September 20th. We savored a seven course meal with the Walling Family at Le Bec Fin.