What a Wonderful Week :)

I want to start this off by saying, this past week and a half has been amazing! I feel so blessed to have so many family members, old friends, and new friends supporting me in my endeavor. If it weren't for all the amazing people in my life, I wouldn't be where I am today. To each and every person that has helped me along the way - you are amazing!

So many exciting new pieces of news to share with you all! Starting off - As of this last Friday, I am OFFICIALLY representing Burbank, CA in the Miss CA Teen USA pageant!! So absolutely exciting, I can't tell you what a great honor it is to be able to represent my home town. Go BURBANK!

My next order of business: Thank you so SO much to Hayley (HayleyisTCB on YouTube) for including me in this video that she made. Can't tell you how thrilled I was to see this. I feel so honored that she took her time to help support me and my causes (the Dream Again Campaign and Love 146). I knew I wanted to email her because I remembered the video that she posted on a campaign that she holds near and dear to her heart, the No H8 Campaign, which supports freedom and 
equal rights among all people, and ultimately hopes to overturn Proposition 8 - giving freedom for same-sex marriages. Hayley is passionate about this campaign, and as she said in the video, it's nice to see someone else who shares a love for a passionate cause. I have been a HayleyisTCB/TresChicBeauty fan for EVER. I'll have a video of a contest entry that I did for her TresChicBeauty 1 year contest linked here (kind of embarrassing to look back on now...oh well!). Many of you might have already seen this, but if not, definitely watch Hayley's video! It will be linked above. So, a HUGE thank you to Hayley and all the wonderful people who have helped support me, I can't tell you how much I appreciate each and every one of you! Go check Hayley's YouTube and "like" her Facebook Page. Show her the same support that you all showed me! :) She's a gorgeous, sweet, hilarious, and talented girl, and deserves lots of love!


Something else along the same lines: Early this morning at around 7 AM, I awoke to about 20+ emails on my phone. This is way out of the ordinary, considering I only get about 7-10 emails from the time I go to bed to the time I wake up in the morning (consisting of newsletters and daily updates on websites)... which is why you can probably imagine that I freaked out when I saw this. I received an email update from ElleandBlair.com, with the title of, "Sparkle & Shine: Dream Again With Me" along with numerous Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter emails!!
Blair was kind enough to post a blog entry on me and my causes, which I will link right here for you all to read. Although I had known about this for a few weeks, I wanted to keep quiet until it went live! Surprise!! But this morning, I just couldn't contain my excitement any longer and had to go expel my nervous/excited energy SOMEHOW, so I found myself on the treadmill at the gym by 8 AM, which is very out of the normal for me ;). By the time I got home, my Facebook Fan Page numbers had increased by over 100 from what they had originally been the night before. Blair is such a sweetheart and I want to thank her SO much for her support and help in my journey as well as my causes. Thank you, Blair and Elle!!

I am now up to 655 Fans as of 11 PM on August 21. This is so exciting, and so surreal! My page has been shared all around the world, which I never in a million years thought could happen. First, it started off across the United States, which is amazing in itself. But soon after, people started telling me that they were from all these different countries! I absolutely LOVE getting messages from people in different places - it's amazing to see the positive impact that the internet can bring. Let me know where you're from on my wall!! But in the end, this is not about me. It is about spreading awareness and knowledge to help save these children from exploitation and the horrors that they're faced with. Remember to check out the Dream Again Campaign and "like" their page on Facebook as well! Those children are the sole reason that I am doing this.


If you have read this far down, thank you for bearing with me. :) I just wanted to make sure I got all this info out right now!

During the last two months, I have discovered some pretty great music. All of which are out of my normal John Mayer/Keith Urban/Lady Antebellum preferred music range, yet I somehow love them all! First off, I discovered this amazing band called Forever The Day not too long ago. Hands down, one of my favorite bands ever! I was lucky enough to get to see them perform live at the Roxy Theater in Hollywood, CA last month. Their performance was amazing!! I could hardly control my excitement. As if that wasn't exciting enough, I got to personally meet each one of them after the show! The band consists of four amazing members, two of which, you've probably seen on the ABC Family show "Make It Or Break It," (one of my all time favorite shows!) Johnny Pacar and Cody Longo. Along with them, you've got the incredible Adam Jensen and amazing Jason Ywahu. I can't even begin to tell you how talented these guys are, and how much kindness each of them exudes. If you have not yet listened to them, you should definitely check them out! Amazing!! If you're interested in reading about my experience watching/meeting them, check out their amazing fan site Forever the Day Fan Site and read about it there! (As a side note: I actually found out about the Dream Again Campaign through Johnny Pacar on Twitter a few days after I met them! So thankful that I did). I can honestly say that these guys were my lucky charms. The day after I met them, amazing things started happening. Starting with being invited to participate in the Miss CA Teen USA 2012 pageant, and continuing from there - the good luck has not died down! Again, I feel so blessed for all these opportunities that have risen.

Next is Persian Bach. Definitely be sure to listen to this music! This is some jazz with a twist. Share some love and listen to his music! He's absolutely great!

Last but not least, if you are a rock fan, be sure to listen to When Paradise Falls. They are a great, stemmed-from-Burbank band! "Like" their Facebook Fan Page here!

That about concludes my music picks for the month, be sure to listen to their music and check out the sites listed above!! Along with that, check out this awesome blog, La Mode! She was sweet enough to write a post on me and what I'm doing. You can read that here. Also, follow her on Twitter @LaMode011. Thank you for that, girl! :)

Now, I must conclude this [extremely] long post with a Thank You. For each person that has "liked" my page, written on my wall, spread the word, thought kind thoughts, and said a prayer for luck - you are all amazing. Each and every person has made the world of a difference to me, and I want you all to know that. Each 'thank you' comment or message that I write, please know those two words are said from my heart. I don't just say them with empty meaning behind them, but with the utmost appreciation and gratitude, and I wanted everyone to know that. Each person in this world can make a difference, and IS currently making a difference to all people - and to those who are suffering. Without having faith and each other, we would be no where. Each of your messages MAKE my day.

All the positive responses, supportive words, and "happy birthday's" have already made the best Sweet 16 present a girl can ask for. Thanks a million guys!

As I finish this, the clock turns 12:01 and it is officially my birthday! Please continue to spread the word about my page and the Dream Again Campaign. I still need 9,445 more "likes" by January! Share the love and help me in getting there! :)

You are all incredible.

xo T.

P.S.
Don't forget to follow me on Twitter, TaylorMRidge
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and "LIKE" my Facebook, TaylorMarieRidge