Since being crowned Mrs. Illinois International 5 months ago, I have attended over 42 appearances - not only in Illinois, but also in different states as well. Every single time I leave an event, no matter what the cause, I leave with a sense of wanting to be EVEN MORE involved than just "making an appearance." I am SO inspired and most of the time I spend the drive home in silence brainstorming what MORE can I do for the cause, for the organization and the people they serve. I truly believe I was blessed with this opportunity not to parade around the state with a beautiful crown, but because I am meant for something so much bigger. It is my absolute pleasure to bring attention to the MANY amazing non-profits changing the lives of thousands every single day with their selfless service. This week I was invited to visit the Bridge Teen Center . They are a non-profit community center for students 7th - 12th grade. When I say this is one of the most beautiful facilities I
Being a parent means loving your children more than you've ever loved yourself. It also means getting used to going to the bathroom & taking a shower with an audience! Welcome to my blog about navigating through parenthood, celebrating the good, coping with the hard, and managing to keep a little bit of yourself through it all! We are the proudest parents to 3 year old Cristiano, and 6 month Ashlynn Grace. She is our NICU grad, brave CP fighter, and mommy's hero.