Thursday, June 18, 2009

I can't think of a clever title...sad.

More pictures from my year as a princess! I'm finally understanding my role, and with that understanding, I totally revamp that role and make it my own. That's how we do.

I'm very excited, this summer has a lot of fun things on the calendar- JULY 4th BABY!!!! But besides, that splendid holiday weekend, there is a lot of philanthropy on the calendar. I wanted this office to be more than mastering the "princess wave," and wearing a tiara, I knew it was an opportunity to make a difference.

In July we'll be baking cookies for our firefighters, in August we have a "Royal-Tea." I was able to get the venue for FREE (thank you Masons!), and we're going to have it as a fundraiser for our various platforms, mine being the Fallbrook Food Pantry. We are going to have a raffle, and are looking for donations of various items. Our Miss Fallbrook's mom is making a quilt to raffle off as well!

I'm trying to coordinate a "Knit-A-Long" at our local yarn shop....the owner's kids are on summer vacay right now so it's been a bit iffy but it will happen eventually!

Me with a wad of cash from selling "quilt raffle" tickets at the Fallbrook Animal Sanctuary benefit tea.
Destiny and I trying on some Silpada jewelry...I LOVE that stuff!

One of the raffle prizes at the Animal Sanctuary benefit tea, the kitty as a tiara!!!

The "crowns" with Micheal from the "Lone Wolf Garage" a local classic car restoration shop.

Hot Summer Nites- an event on various Fridays in the summertime that hightlights local vendors, and allows different classes of cars (Imports, Classics, etc.) to be shown off on Main Street!

Hilarious Moment- "How do you feel about Gay Marriage?" Ya'll know how I feel about it, hahaha Everytime I wear this tiara I get asked that question! Thank you Miss California...let's hope I can answer more eloquently.


Oh yes, I love to SHOP! We were able to work out a deal with Catherine from Divas to get a lil discount!!! I did some damage!

It's so important to support your local economy, I take that job VERY seriously.


A Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce "Sundowner," which is an event for local businesses to mingle, network and of course, support the chamber by buying raffle tickets for prizes and cash!

We sell a LOT Of raffle tickets! I must be a pro by now!
Is it wrong I love holding the cash basket??
The beautiful Miss Melissa, who was the 2008 2nd Princess, who crowned me. She has been a dear friend since we ran together in 2008, and now she is running for Honorary Mayor of Fallbrook! I hope she wins!




A random one from the Animal Sanctuary Benefit!


Well ya'll, that's it for now! I have been a busy little bee this week, but just had to update you with my dorky pictures! I send my love- toodle loo for now!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Holy Cow!

THE PUGS ARE WATCHING YOU!!!!



Hi everyone, Shannyn reporting in again. Life has been a bit stressful lately, as I have had to sit down and try to get a vague idea of where my life is headed in the next year. As you know, I have made the decision to apply to graduate school- and the process really involves a lot of soul searching.

I have to write my first post-high school resume, get letters of recommendation from my professors, take the GRE (which requires months of studying) and worst of all, DECIDE WHERE I'M APPLYING TO! haha! Sofar, my portfolio consists of the following: SDSU, UCSB, Harvard, USC, UCSD, Stanford and perhaps University of Colorado at Boulder. I may or may not actually apply to these schools, I'm still in the sniffing out process. I am applying to two Ivy Leagues because well, having a letter of rejection to frame on my wall from an Ivy League would be kinda cool.

After the inital freak out of having to get the ball rolling on this process, and scrambling to wrap my head around this lengthy app process, I finally was able to break it down into bits. Right now, I'm studying vocab for the GRE, building my portfolio (with application requirements and program information from schools I like), and working on my resume. I was SO lucky to get into a GRE prep course down in San Diego which is $200 (as opposed to the one that's 10 minutes away from my home and costs $1,100). My friend Misty is letting me room with her for those GRE weekends..yay!

This month, we got to celebrate my best friend Whitney graduating from CSUSM..yay Whitney! Chris graduates from LLU this Sunday,....Yay Chris!


Misty and I went Wine Tasting, which involved one quick stop at the House of Jerky.Leonesse Winery, amazing!
Misty and I at Wilson Creek....true Winos!
Making an appearance at the Fairy Tea, I was sick as a dog from the luau food the day before...ugh!



So adorable! The Fairy Tea was a great event, if I hadn't been so ill and it not so chilly it would have been perfect!Our other princess Destiny and I selling tickets at the Fallbrook Film Festival in May!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The Summer Wind, is Blowing In!

Another pic of us at initiation....it's our family within a family...Lacey, top left is the oldest member who took Liz as a little sis last year, and Christiana as a little this year...since I'm Liz's little, Lacey is my "grand big" hope that makes sense!

Two ladies I'll really miss who just graduated.. this is our senior dinner where the soon-to-be graduates get presented with their stoles to wear with their cap and gown!

Some of our "family" in AxiD before semi-formal... peace! :)
Some of the girls and me at AxiD's semi-formal!




Christiana and I before Alpha Xi Delta initiation

My Big Sis and I in our new matching letters... (it's tradition for the little to give her sis a painted paddle and the big to give her little sis a set of matching letters) You cannot wear greek letters untill you are initiated so I was super happy to be able to get these! You can't really see, but the pink part has hearts on it! :)

Another funny picture of me from pageant night! hahahha


Preparing for the Little Miss and Mister Avocado (a contest for kids ages 4-10)...you can see our excited police escorts, hahaha
The avocado derby 500. Destiny, our other princess beat Christiana and I....boo!

This is me and a former contestant from my first year, and awesome chick named Rachel...she works where we had our chamber golf tournament fundraiser!

Right now I'm about to make a phone call to one of my professors to talk about Grad School options. I'm still in the very, VERY early stages....meaning, I am still looking into what program interests me, where to go, etc. I haven't even scheduled my GRE exam yet, but got a book about it, and found a free info session on the GRE exam.

So far, I'm looking into getting a MA degree (most schools now-a-days that I've looked into only allow you to get an MA with the idea you'll stay for a PhD...oh god!) at UC Santa Barbara, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, USC and maybe an Ivy League School for kicks and giggles. hahaha!

I just started pawing around their websites, so it's still in it's infancy stages...I haven't even decided where I'm applying, so don't quote me on those schools later! ;) I met with a friend yesterday who got into George Washington University in DC (holy COW!) and she gave me some pointers on how to start this whole process- it is NOTHING like applying to an undergraduate program I come to find out. Eeeek!

I have officially formulated my "Grad School folder (of doom)" as I call it..which has tabs for all the schools I'm seriously thinking about, for addresses, due dates, etc. Apparently, I've been warned...you must keep organized or you may miss a due date or forget to submit a required document!!!!!

Failure is not an option...but PRAY FOR ME! I'm really intimidated by this whole process!

Love you all and hope we can get together SOON for some fun times and good food! :) Miss you!

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Introducing Shannyn, Princess of Genovia, I mean, Fallbrook!

If you haven't heard the news, Shannyn is officially a Fallbrook Princess! The pageant was April 18th, and I'm sorry I don't have the pictures of all my family and friends, those weren't taken on my camera!

I actually LOST MY VOICE on the day of the pageant, and you can imagine how devastated I was. Luckily for me, I was able to get through the interview, and after that I didn't speak for 4 hours to conserve my voice for the introduction and on-stage impromptu question. Talk about a nervous breakdown...I was so dissapointed.....but it worked out just fine!

I got crowned with two other awesome ladies, Christiana Monarez my friend and Alpha Xi sister, and Destiny Altvater, a new buddy! They are beautiful inside and out, and check out www.thevillagenews.com and look up Pageant 2009 photos to see more!




The casual wear competition! (saying "I love you" in sign language!) The cheers made me smile!


My evening gown!

Hearing my name!

Miss Fallbrook! :)

Us with one of the Judges and Fallbrook's Honorary Mayor before the awards began!


The very next day at the Avocado Festival...wow, big day! It's werid wearing a tiara for me still!


My wonderful Aunt Norie who came down to support me! Like I said, I had lots of family/friends at the pageant, but sadly don't have the photos yet!

Thanks to everyone who came to support me, and those who were there in spirit! I am so excited for this opportunity and love each of you! The next year will involve me going to ribbon cutting ceremonies, Chamber of Commerce Mixers (twice a month for Bonsall and Fallbrook), Parades, Festivals and Charitable Events.

My personal platform is promoting the Fallbrook Food Pantry and I am ready for action! I have so much love and gratitude, I hope to make you proud!

Friday, April 10, 2009

My Wonderful Life...My Wonderful Family!

I got to go to FRESNO this past weekend! woo hoo! I got to hang out with my Rainbow peeps and also with my awesome family who always keep me entertained!

Every year in Spring I come up to Fresno for an annual conference for Rainbow, this year I was graciously invited to stay at the "Hotel Birchfield" instead of the Radisson! My friend Misty (an officer from my year) and I stayed at Vern and Norie's house, and the whole gang dropped in to hang out- it was fun. Not only did we get to go to Big Hat Days, make delicious hamburgers and s'mores, but I got to walk through a Walgreen's with no shoes on- pretty cool! haha!



Misty and me at Grand Assembly...you can read her like a book! haha

Yeehaw!
Cousin Travis!
His friend and roomie Luke!
Part of the gang at Big Hat Day...Jennah Bean is staying hydrated and full of cheetos!
Sno-Cones are fabulous in Fresno weather!
That was his second virgin daquiri...haha..how he didn't get ill, I don't know!
Peas in a pod!
Babies don't look in cameras!

Misty on the Ripstick, lookin' cool before the not-so-fun falling part!
woops, crooked picture... haha...Smores!

Thanks family! I had a blast with you and miss you already! I owe ya'll s'mores at my house!