Photos from Baysox v. Reading by Bo Zhang

Miss Maryland + Bo Zhang productions, take two. I just love his work! ENJOY.

Photos are of me at the stadium before game time, signing autographs with "Louie" in the background, my killer fast ball, me for the Maryland Lottery and chatting with my new bff Alyssa!

Baltimore Farmer's Market

It's the little things that make summers in Baltimore well, summers in Baltimore-- cool, eclectic and just downright entertaining. Lone guitarists making money for their cross country trips, Migue's famed mini donuts (plus cinnamon, and powdered sugar, oh and don't forget the chocolate sauce) for breakfast and a partner in culinary crime (Hey Stephanie!) to help me navigate through one of my now favorite ways to spend a Sunday-- the Farmer's Market.

Ran into Children's Guild teacher Brian who recognized me sans sash and crown. He biked all the way downtown from Perry Hall-- that's 30 miles back and forth! Wow.

So anyway, I saw Giada DiLaurentiis make goat cheese stuffed squash blossoms a couple weeks ago on the FoodNetwork. She's basically my food idol, well her and Rachel Ray. Edible flowers aren't standard fare at my local Giant so I knew this would be a perfect place to track them down. A half an hour I had my small carton of green squash blossoms in one hand (hello Monday dinner) and a piping hot vegatarin samosa in the other.

Heaven oh heaven.

Til next Sunday!

Bowie Baysox vs. Reading Phillies

If last week's model call for Maryland Fashion Week wasn't 2 miles away from Prince George's Stadium I might never have known where Baysox stadium was! The largest AA stadium in the U.S. seemed intimate enough to chat with your row mates or even approach the home team in their dug out. (Thanks for the autographs guys!).

Thanks to Lauren and her staff for entrusting me with the first pitch of the night. SUCCESS-- not quite ready for the big leagues but I definitely made it over the plate. I think it was just the goodluck they needed to score a 0-2 win over the Phillies that night!

I also participated in the in-field recognition of a group of middle schoolers who vowed to say no to drugs as part of the stadiums "Keep a Clear Mind" campaign and hung out with an energetic little league team "the Nationals" from Pasadena. All in all a great time in Bowie!

Photos from Bo Zhang to come.

Children's Guild Annual Report

When you think Annual Report you think numbers, auditors, blah blah blah. But not at the Children's Guild! This year's theme-- the circus. Less the grand buffet style dinner you'd think you'd stepped into an Off Broadway theatre house or Barnum and Bailey stage... complete with tight rope walkers, a bearded lady, a man on stilts, you just had to be there! The auditorium had been completely transformed.

The self-proclaimed "Greatest Show on Earth," was just that-- fun-filled, inspiring and a chance to spot light the successes of today's youth as well as those who are courageously shaping their minds. I first met Dr. Ross, President, Director and Monday night's Master of Ceremonies when I attended the premier of my first Public Service Announcement the evening after I won my title. Little did we know that it would be the start of a great friendship and year long collaboration.

It is no wonder the students who enter the doors of the Guild are changed by the education and attention they receive-- I know I was just having spent a few hours there. I broke into a tiny tear fest when one of the students Chardonnay Cary sang her version of "At Last," accompanied by one of the Guild's music teachers, former accompaniest to the famed Billie Holiday. Chardonnay will be back to attending regular public school for her senior year next year. Congratulations! For more information on the Guild, please visit their website-- http://www.childrensguild.org/. And please let me know if you are interested in attending another benefit in September to support them.

Thank you to both Susannah Dowell and Tya Anthony who took photographs of the event-- their photos to come.

As for my own snaps-- here are a few... one of the first song numbers, Dr. Ross and Chardonnay.

Friends of Villa Maria Golf Classic

The first event of a double appearance day this past Monday was attending the Friends of Villa Maria Golf Classic at the Towson Golf and Country Club. At this rate, I should really make an effort to learn to play golf this year!

One of the first questions I heard from one of the teams of sponsors was "What is Miss Maryland doing here!" And not that they weren't excited, but it's easy to miss the connection if you don't know me personally. As someone who attended Catholic school from K-12 and is currently attending a Jesuit university for my MBA, service has consistently been a foundation of my education. Not only that, I remember volunteering at Stella Maris and Villa Maria as a high school student at Mercy. So there I was-- happy to again be partnering with the Catholic Charities of Maryland for this event and for other opportunities throughout the year.

Villa Maria focuses on providing health and education services to children and families with special needs. It being the 24th annual event is really testament to the faith and continued committment of the organization to serve this segment of our community. For more information, please visit their website-- http://www.catholiccharities-md.org/children/villa-maria-continuum.html

For what was expected to be a fairly rainy day, the weather held off and we were blessed with a sunny afternoon!

The photos below are of me and a great team of volunteers and me in the middle of the caravan of golf carts!

NFRC 5K for Families

One of my faaavorite 'pageant' questions is what are three words that best describe you-- for me, resilient comes to mind. And I think it's only fitting that one of the first organizations I contacted to help was the National Family Resiliency Center. What they have done in terms of education and family wellness is extraordinary. And to help support their work, I was joined by over 100 partipants in their annual 5K for Families and 1mile fun walk early Saturday morning.

Introduced as a 'celebrity' by Executive Director, Risa was a bit of an overstatement but I'll take it! I shared a few words about my own journey-- I have just been so priveledged to speak on behalf of great causes within the community in the past month of my reign.

Photos of the beautiful morning in Ellicott City at the Meadowbrook Park are by a great sponsor and photographer, April Sims. Please visit the event page at: http://www.pictage.com/671530