Shop For A Cause~~~Saturday Sept. 20th!!!

The American Heart Association and one of their biggest supporters, Macy's, has teamed up for Shop For A Cause Day! This will be held at Macy's across the US, as well as online!

Shopping can be good for your heart! Did you know that a 150 pound woman can burn 684 calories in two hours of shopping? Burn some calories and support the American Heart Association’s "Go Red For Women" movement by participating in Macy’s "Shop For A Cause Day" on Saturday, Sept. 20.

With just a $5 donation, you will receive a shopping pass good for 10 to 20 percent off most purchases at Macy’s that day. Along with your savings pass, you are also eligible to enter an in-store drawing for a $500 Macy’s Gift Card!

I happen to be selling the shopping passes! So either contact me to make your $5 donation, or visit http://www.heart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3058560 to purchase you savings pass online!

Thanks everyone

A special note....

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

(watch the Smilebox Slideshow to see the official pageant competition photos of Hilary Gushwa, Miss California International 2009!)

Since I had some extra time today, I thought I'd take the time to make an extra special post! I received the photos from the pageant photographer, and though everyone might enjoy seeing some of the great quality pictures from the pageant!

I also wanted to make sure to thank several people! Thanks to several of the California International Sponsors: Flower Mart, Dr. Warren Stout, YogEssence, Shari's Berries, Stila Cosmetics, Pro Beauty To You, BECOME International, Crowns and Gowns, and Torgny & Co. Jewelers. You have all made such amazing donations to the pageant, and I sincerely appreciate everything you are doing to make this a wonderful year for me and my sister queens.

I also wanted to thank Eddie Peterson, the Director, and Dennis Cooke, the Administrator and Producer, who are the reasons behind the success of the California International Pageants. They are both such incredible men, and I look forward to a wonderful year with them!

Optimist "Spirit of Community Award"

Make a Smilebox postcard

Today I was off to an early start! At 7 am this morning I was the speaker and guest of honor at the Simi Valley Optimist Club. I had the opportunity to talk about my platform, Heart2Heart, and share my story of how I became involved in Leukemia Awareness. I also shared about the International pageant system and how it really promotes making a difference in your community and beyond. I also learned a great deal about the Optimist Club, and how they are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children. I found the "Optimist Creed" to be quite uplifting, so I wanted to share a couple of the items they strive for:

*To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true
*To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own
*To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future
(and my favorite) *To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile

Aren't those cool?? You can read the rest on one of the photos I've posted.

Then, to my surprise, I was given an award after my speech! I was honored with the first ever "Spirit of Community Award" for making a difference through Heart2Heart. Thank you so much to the Simi Valley Optimist Club for having me. What an amazing day!

Miss California International 2009 Pageant Finals!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

On Sunday August 10, 2008 was the pageant finals at the Palm Springs Auditorium! The stage set was beautiful, completed with a sparkling crystal chandelier. Our opening number was to the song "Shopping for Labels" and it was a total blast! We wore gold sparkly tops, jeans, sunglasses, scarfs, and carried fully decorated shopping bags!! Mine were Godiva and Swarovski.....of course I would pick crystals and chocolate as my shopping bags! :)

I was so excited when they started announcing the Top 10 for Teen....both Miss Teen Gold Coast Dedria Brunett, and Miss Teen Ventura County Katie Karp were called! I was called as spot #7 of 10 in the Miss category. I really enjoyed having a big stage to model my outfits on!

At the time of coronation they also announced some extra awards....I had also won the Preliminary Interview Award! What an honor! I am so thankful that I am now a part of the California International sisterhood, and am looking forward to making a tremendous difference in my platform, Heart2Heart "Making Strides for Leukemia Awareness" as well as Go Red for Women which is an alliance that was created with the International pageant system! Enjoy the photos!!

First post....Preliminary Competitions at the California International Pageants!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

(click above to see Hilary Gushwa's slideshow from the California International pageant weekend!)

Welcome to my blog!!! I guess a great place to start my blogging adventure is the weekend of the California International Pageants. What an amazing group of ladies that were competing for the Jr Miss, Teen, Miss, and Mrs titles! I felt so lucky to be surrounded by positive, ambitious, genuine women. I really enjoyed my time with so many of the contestants....Miss LA County and Miss Santa Clara kept me laughing the entire weekend! :)

Pageant weekend kicked off on Friday morning with a wonderful breakfast, where we had the opportunity to mingle and hear what was in store for us for the weekend. The off to rehearsal where we found out we would be walking a 36 foot runway!! I was so excited!!! Friday night I competed in the Fun Fashion category. We did a "runway" segment at the end of the show for GO RED to show our support to women who are fighting heart disease.

Saturday was an early morning, starting with rehearsals. I had my private one-on-one interview with the judges early afternoon, and that night I competed in Fitness Wear and Evening Gown. Then it was time to celebrate! We had a delicious Awards Dinner. To my surprise I won Miss Photogenic, Miss Community Service, and the Preliminary Evening Gown Award. I also won the Become "What Makes Me Beautiful Inside and Out" Essay.....which was accompanied with a $625 cash scholarship! Thank you so much again to Become for choosing my essay....I was psyched!