Help Hope!

Hey guys! Glad we all survived May 21, 2011, the end of the world ;-) so that now we can all VOTE for Hope Driskill, Miss Missouri USA & help secure her spot in the Top 15 at Miss USA 2011. It’s super easy.

1) Click this link: http://www.missuniverse.com/missusa/members/contestants
2) Click “VOTE” by Hope’s picture
3) Fill out a short questioner
4) DONE :)

Hope is an incredible woman and I have been so blessed to get to know her during our year together. I know your support means the world to her :)

XoXo,
Sydnee

Pinkie Couture, Fearlessly Me! and Sassy Chic

Hey guys! Last weekend was filled back-to-back with exciting things :)

Saturday I set out for Overland Park, KS right after my track meet ended. That night, I visited my awesome hair sponsor, Pinkie Couture.  Owner James Pillatzke treated me to some highlights and a haircut, which looks awesome!! My locks feel so healthy now :) thank you James!!

Sunday was the start of my first Vanbros boot camp, and every Vanbros teen & miss was there—it was so nice having everyone together in one place! This boot camp was entitled “Fearlessly Me!”, and CEO, Motivational Speaker & Certified Life Coach of Fearlessly Me!, Daryl Woods, was there all weekend to work with us. Even though we started our day at 8 am and ended at 5 pm, it felt much shorter—Daryl was incredible to work with. From sharing life experiences and sketches of what our future tattoos would look like (these were interesting, lol!) to hot topic drill-down sessions, I loved everything about this weekend.

Daryl said a few things which stood out to me. Number one: being at ease with ourselves helps others be at ease with us. Number two: speak to be heard.  Number three: get out of your own world!!!!!

I loved the idea that you must see the “bigger picture”. Being able to relate to others makes you approachable, worldly knowledgeable and charismatic.  Thank you to Mr. Woods for providing us ladies with such an inspirational & insightful weekend. I know this will help me not only at Miss Teen USA, but my life as well.

Sunday night, my mom & I went out for some Sushi with Mary-Kate Hartley (Miss Arkansas Teen USA) & her grandma. Then we indulged in some frozen yogurt at Orange Leaf :)

After Monday’s morning session of “Fearlessly Me!” my fabulous director John Vannatta and I traveled to Sassy Chic where Ashley Litton had designed numerous dresses for me. We picked my Miss Teen USA gown, which is AMAZING! Miss Danielle Bounds of Sassy Chic—it was lovely seeing you!! Ashley—I would not have dreamed up anything more beautiful than what you have designed for me. I cannot wait to wear it this July. Thank you for being such a great supporter & sponsor of the Miss Missouri USA & Miss Missouri Teen USA programs, we love you!

Thank you to John & Jason Vannatta for a wonderful weekend. I love you guys!

Pinkie Couture Website: http://www.pinkiecouture.com/

Fearlessly Me! Website: http://www.fearlesslyme.com/philosophy.php 
Sassy Chic Website: http://www.sassychicgowns.com/

XoXo,
Sydnee

Modeling for Allyce King Swim

This past Saturday I got the opportunity to model in the launch show of the Allyce King Swim collection at Lumiere Place at the St. Louis Independent Designers Fashion Show.
The best part of the event, other than the awesome swimwear by Allyce, was getting to see some friends from Miss Missouri USA & Miss Missouri Teen USA this past year! It was great visiting with Lauren Peterson (Miss Missouri Teen USA 2007), Kelly Peterson, Lacie Hill, and Stephanie Isaacson who competed this past November.

After getting our hair and makeup done, we did a practice walkthrough. After that, 7:30 was show time! It was so much fun walking down the runway :)

Thank you to Allyce King and Stephanie Isaacson for including me in this awesome event. Visit Allyce’s face book page to view some of her stunning designs: http://www.allyceking.com
XoXo,
Sydnee

Springfield Ballet Princess Tea and Children's Fashion Show in Springfield, MO

Yesterday Hope and I attended the Springfield Ballet Princess Tea and Children's Fashion Show in Springfield, MO which benefited the Springfield Ballet.

Dozens of little girls got to dress up like a princess for the day and have a delicious lunch with their moms! Hope and I served as the “real-life” princesses and posed for pictures and signed autographs – these girls were absolutely adorable and so much fun to hang out with!!!

The afternoon started with an awesome fashion show which included many of the Springfield Ballet dancers, who modeled off some of the latest trends in children’s clothing :).

Then, the audience was treated to a sneek peak of the Ballet’s upcoming show. As a dancer for many years, I really enjoyed watching the performances. The two numbers we got to see were beautiful!  

What a wonderful afternoon – thank you so much to Springfield Ballet coordinator Katie Cornwell for having Hope and I out to join in on this special day.

Love,

Sydnee

Children's Miracle Network Hospital in Columbia, MO

Happy March blizzard fellow Missourians! It’s cold, but at least it looks pretty, right? Anyway, back to business…(the best kind!)

Yesterday afternoon Hope (Miss MO USA) and I got the chance to visit with some Children’s Miracle Network Hospital kids!

 

To start off the afternoon, Hope and I got to play with some children in the pediatric playroom, which was a blast! Kids are truly adorable, and those at the CMN hospital were no exception! We continued our visit into the patient rooms, where we were able to visit with them and their families as well as take pictures and sign some autographs!

 

We wrapped up our visit in the adolescent wing where we got to hang out with the teens and see their lounge – which is awesome, by the way!

The CMN hospital in Columbia, MO, is truly a beautiful facility. I am so blessed to have been a part of it for just a day! I am always reminded of what a great gift representing Missouri is every time I get to witness the 

miracles taking place in my community.

Thank you to the Children’s Hospital staff for allowing Hope and I to spend some time at their facility with their patients and for being wonderful guides!

Love,

Sydnee

Pictures!

Hey everybody! Here is a little peak at some of my photos from the 2011 Vanbros fashion photo shoot. Thank you to those who made these pictures possible, I love the final product and couldn’t be more grateful for your services and the chance to work with you :)

Special Thanks:

Will Patterson: Photographer
Lisa Proctor: Make-up
James Pillatzke of Pinkie Couture: Hair
Bryan Wood of Salon Capellli: Hair
Kim Forsyth: Wardrobe Styling

Love,

Sydnee

Miss Teen USA, Kamie Crawford & The Pedaling Princesses to benefit The Buddies

Happy almost Friday everyone! I have something really exciting I want you to be involved in! Miss Teen USA, Kamie Crawford, is going to be a participant in the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port Bike Race on the Miss Teen USA biking team, The Pedaling Princesses. The Buddies is a charitable alliance of Miss Teen USA, which means it’s our duty to get involved, just like any other amazing cause ;-). Kamie has made a facebook page to raise awareness about The Buddies, which I encourage all of you to join!! Miss Teen USA has also made a donation page, in which she’d be grateful to raise donations of any amount for the cause!

 JOIN Facebook HERE: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Audi-Best-Buddies-Challenge-Team-The-Pedaling-Princesses/145381235524507

MAKE DONATIONS HERE:www.hpchallenge2011.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.aspievent=422413&lis=1&kntae422413=B7B8E398ADC84B56A343F613CBEBD141&team=3945462

HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE,

Sydnee <3