True Life: I Was a Contestant on WHEEL OF FORTUNE! Part 2

Well, the time has come. My episode of Wheel of Fortune has aired...and by now, I'm sure most of you know that I was not, in fact, THE big winner. Or a big winner at all, really. I know, who can complain about an extra $1,000 bucks in their pocket? But it's sufficient enough to say that, at the time, I was extremely disappointed with the outcome. I had such high hopes for my time on Wheel of Fortune, and things just didn't work in my favor. I wanted to write this now (while I'm still here in Los Angeles after the taping in October!) so that my memory of the whole event is fresh...but obviously it will be posting here on my blog once my show airs! Whoo....how futuristic!

Anyway... before I get in to the "behind-the-scenes" commentary of my show, let me say a few things that I learned from this whole process:

1. The WOF staff at Sony is FABULOUS! I had so much fun with them, and everyone truly is rooting for you! From the contestant coordinators to the make-up ladies to the mic/sound folks, to Pat and Vanna and Jim the announcer! Everyone is just fantastic! Thanks guys!

2. Being a contestant is EXHAUSTING! Granted, I might not have been so tired if I had taped earlier in the day, but I had to wait until the 5th (of 6) tapings and was hyped up on pure adrenaline ALL day. I finally crashed around 5pm when I was done. But they have you at Sony Studios at 7:45am and run you non-stop all day! Phew. Bring your energy, if you are ever a contestant! You'll need it!

3. It's true what they say...playing the game at home is A MILLION times easier than playing in real life. There is a lot of pressure, and you don't always think so quickly. And even if you do...

4. Luck has to be on your side. You can be THE BEST puzzle solver in the world and still "lose" this game. Ask anyone...I'm REALLY good at playing Wheel. I wouldn't have been picked for the show if I wasn't. But whenever I knew the puzzle (which was all but twice), it just wasn't my turn, so I couldn't solve! Scott ALWAYS beat me to it, and that's what is most disappointing!

5. No matter what, I'm STOKED that I got to have this experience. Honestly, being selected to be a contestant (especially as quickly as I was) is amazing in and of itself! How many people can say they've been on WOF? Not too many! =)

Ok! So enough of my sentimentality. I wanted to document the show from my standpoint. Sure, you probably saw it last night, but you don't know what was going on inside my brain while the whole thing was going on. This could be fun for some of you to read, but I mainly want to document this so I remember. The whole ordeal happened SO quickly and was SO surreal! I want to help myself remember everything that went on for years to come!

Taping 5 was finally ready to go! Melissa, Scott, and I all took our places and the contestant coordinators warmed us up. Practice spins, practice letters being shouted across the studio. Lots of clapping. Don't forget to smile! Then the make-up crew touched us up as the producer let us know to watch the monitors for the opening footage, then to look at Pat and Vanna as they walk in. SMILE. CLAP. All these things are important.

We picked up our "signaling devices" when Pat instructed us to do so and prepared for our first Toss Up puzzle. BOY DO I HATE THOSE! It's so nerve racking! Even though the category was "Song Lyrics," which one would think a music major would be good at, I just didn't know it. Scott buzzed in with "Heat out on the highway," which Pat chuckled at and said was incorrect. I could have guessed it since there were only like 2 letters missing, but the second I went to hit my device, Melissa had already rung in to solve, "Head out on the highway." Duh! Of course! Oh well...still more game!

Pat did our intros, starting with Melissa and finishing with me. Super nice, super easy, and I think Pat was impressed with me! Then on to the second toss up. Bleh.

Gosh...now I can't even remember what it was, but I know that Scott solved it...yet again...so the next round started with him. Category: Before and After - MY FAVORITE!

We went through a few times, Melissa even landing on the Brazil trip (which we all were drooling over!!!), but RIGHT when I knew it, Melissa was finishing her turn. It was on to Scott. I don't think he knew it going in to his turn, but he called all the right letters. "P" was what sealed the deal, and I knew he knew it. As mean as it was, I was secretly praying he would spin a Bankrupt or a Lose a Turn so I could spin and solve! But...that didn't happen! He solved it: "The Princess and the Pea Soup." Ding ding ding. More money for him!

We stopped for the commercial break (yes, you take those even in real life while you're taping. You don't just go straight through and edit the commercials in later). The contestant coordinators came up every time to pump us up, calm us down, give us water, and remind us of what was coming up...including giving us the next category. All this was happening while the make-up ladies touched up our faces.

Back to the wheel and on to "Phrase" - AND Mystery Round! I got to start this time since I was the only one without money. Wah wah... =( I did well and managed to call a bunch of good letters, including buying lots of vowels (which are a fantastic tool, those of you nay-sayers out there! Yes they cost money, but BOY do they help fill in the gaps!). My one fear was that I was going to say or do something stupid to embarrass myself, and that did, in fact, happen. I was looking at the wrong part of the monitor (it's confusing from the contestants' standpoint!) and I didn't think I had any money left to buy a vowel. So I started to say, "I'd like to buy an A...OH WAIT! I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY!" and Pat reassured me that I did have money! So we laughed, I bought the vowel, and spun some more! *Thank goodness ABC later edited this out so I didn't embarrass myself on national television!* I EVEN landed on the mystery wedge! I had no clue what to call, so I VERY hesitantly said "L???" Pat chuckled at my insecurity and said "There are 2!" And then came the moment of truth. I vowed to myself the day I found out I'd be on the show that I would take the gamble (unless there was just too much at risk). I only had $2,900 or something at stake, so I said, "I told myself I'd go for it!, so I'm going for it!" AND I DID. But...it was Bankrupt! Darn!

On to the other two contestants. It eventually got back to me and I was able to solve the puzzle (without having a care in the world as to how much money I actually had!) "Rare, medium, or well-done." What a random puzzle. I only had $500 in my bank (whoops, who knew? Not me! I was too distracted!), so I got the house minimum of $1,000. Little did I know, that would be it for me!

We took another break, same routine with touch-ups and stuff, and came back to play the Prize Puzzle round. I REALLY wanted to solve this one because it guarantees you a trip. We started with Melissa (I think?) and she racked up quite the bank, over $9,000 I believe! But then something went wrong (either bankrupt/lose a turn, or she called a wrong letter), and it was on to Scott. He had bad luck, too, so on to me. I had some bad luck, so it was back to Melissa. Same thing. So it was Scott's turn. But I KNEW IT! I knew the puzzle then and was chuckling to myself because I thought the prize was going to be a trip to Hawaii based on the correct answer....and goodness knows my history with Hawaii wasn't the best! But I'd still love the trip regardless! But then it clicked with Scott. He knew it, and I knew he knew it, and I was bummed out AGAIN! "Sugar Cane Plantations" was all that was standing between Scott and a trip to Jamaica (I think? Gosh...now I can't remember. I think it was Jamaica!). *sigh* Scott won more!

So then another commercial break and back to the wheel for the 3rd toss up. I knew I wanted this one to bank an extra $3,000! It came up. The category was Living Thing. I KNEW the second word almost immediately, but I just couldn't figure out the first 3-letter-word! Darn those short words! Scott buzzed in with, "Pet Chihuahua" Yup. $3,000 more for Scott. And then the part I dreaded the most. The final bell sounded.

Pat spun the wheel, and I was praying for it to land on the $5,000 wedge so I could have a fighting chance at winning, but he landed on $900. Each letter would be worth $1,900 in this puzzle. The category was Things. I almost called N (my favorite WOF letter - dorky, I know), but I opted for R. I should have called N. Melissa called it after me, and there were 4! Back through guessing letters. Still didn't know it. But right after Melissa's next turn, I KNEW IT! I was bouncing around I was so giddy, because I didn't think Scott would get it. But he called a correct letter, and then declared that he'd like to solve the puzzle. My heart sank. He got it right, "Hand-written thank you note." And with that, he was THE big winner. Melissa and I gave each other a look like, "Well...at least we tried." My heart sank. It was over! I'd never get a chance to do this again.

Of course everyone plays nice when Pat comes over to shake your hand. I said thank you and that I had fun, which, of course, I did. But I was also ready to burst in to tears. I just wanted to be able to play the game and have it go my way! But luck just wasn't on Melissa's or my side that day. Scott walked away with over $26,000 in cash in prizes. He deserves it...he and his wife have their hands full with 3 little ones (all under 2 1/2) and lots of medical debt from the twins' premature births, but I love it so much more when games have the wealth evenly distributed amongst all three players. Some games you see the "losers" walk away with $27,000 and up! Not this game. Melissa and I each took away the bare minimum.

If you ever find yourself fortunate enough to be a contestant on WOF, only do it if you're prepared to win the minimum and TRULY be satisfied with it. I thought I would be...and I kept telling myself how great getting even $1,000 would be, but it turns out I didn't truly believe it. I had HIGH hopes and was eager to win big and go to the bonus round. I was hoping to win Up With People money, Grad school money, and money to help me move out of my parents house in to my own apartment, but that just wasn't meant to be. Even though I knew nearly every single puzzle that game, I simply never had the chance to solve for the win! Greedy as it sounds, I was heart broken to walk away with the house minimum. I felt like I wasn't a good player and that I failed. My parents could see it in my face when I met them afterwards. That was NOT how I intended the game to go. *Note written from 1/18 - I'm truly ok with it now. I was just disappointed initially. It wears off*

I'm still bummed about it, but as I replay the whole experience in my head, I'm very happy that I did everything in my power to play the best I could. I was calm (really, truly!), I had fun, I acted like myself (at least I THINK I did! haha), I called good letters, and I took a HUGE gamble! How often do you have a 50/50 shot at $10,000? I have no regrets about the show because I did everything in MY power to play the best game I could. The wheel and my fellow contestants were the ultimate factors working against me. 

Scott did great, and Melissa and I are thrilled for him and his family. Yes, we wish things had gone differently, but I still have this amazing experience to look back on and appreciate! I've scratched a MAJOR wish off my bucket list and I had a blast doing it. I hope you all enjoyed watching the show, and my October 2012 self REALLY hopes that my January 2013 self doesn't come across too dumb or embarrassing on national television!!! =)

And now, from my present self, here are some pictures to add from my show! My UWP host parents and I had way too much fun pausing the screen and getting all my ridiculous faces!

Goodwill Thrifting...Again! =)

Call me weird, but Goodwill 1/2 price days are one of my absolute most favorite things!!! My family gets up super early to get to the store before they open, and then we hit up as many different stores as possible. Sometimes when I go into Goodwills, I don't find a single thing I want, but whenever I'm there on 1/2 price days, I find a TON of stuff! It's great! So, here's my haul from today, where I went to 3 different stores around the area!

Store #1:

 

 

Cream colored Lucca jacket with zip off hood - $5.00

Columbia red/orange windbreaker - $4.50 (COLUMBIA! Practically new! WHAT?)

Columbia orange fleece - $7.50 (my parents got this for me. It's officially replacing my wornout blue fleece that I've had for FOREVER! If you've known me anytime between 7th grade and now, chances are you've seen me in it! haha)

Karen Kane Burgandy ruffle sweater - $2.50

Worthington dark gray skirt- $2.50

Blue band skirt - $2.50

Mossimo taupe knit dress - $3.50

Mossimo dark gray 3/4 sleeve dress - $3.50

Total: $31.86 (with tax)

(oh, I also got a brand new collapsible music stand for just under $4) 

Store #2:

Express long black knit sweater - $3.15

Yellow bow sweater - $2.25

Brown belt - $1.80

Total: $7.20

Store #3:

Rust/orange 100% leather jacket - $18 (YES! $18 for a leather jacket!)

Merona white puffy vest - $2.88

LIKE NEW Black Danshuz character shoes (for UWP) - $2.16 (I mean, honestly! Can you beat that?)

New York & Company dark teal dress shirt (brand new with tags, retails for $19.95) - $1.80

Mudd rust colored long sleeve shirt - $1.44

Old Navy mint sweater - $1.80

Total: $28.69 (with tax)

Amazing, huh? Today made me VERY happy! I will forever be a thrifter! Why pay full retail price when you can get STEALS like this? For under $70, I got 17 awesome {mostly name brand} items in great condition that would normally retail for SO much more! Always check around and see when 1/2 price days are at your local thrift stores, and GET THERE EARLY! You won't regret it! =)

To see my major haul from over the summer, click here!

So I Remember...

I have every intention of buying this AWESOME map upon returning home from Up With People, so I wanted to post the link to remind my future self. I think it symbolizes the experience perfectly. Music around the world...it's an amazing uniting force! =)

Bow Ring Giveaway

Gotta love reposting all of these giveaway contests, but hey! It earns me another entry and gets me one step closer to possibly winning this cute design! Check it out here at The Jackson's blog!

Giveaway!

Check out this adorable monogram necklace seen here on The Pink Peonies.

Color Me Rad: Dirty Thirty!

I had a blast running (mainly walking...) my first 5K for my sis-in-laws 30th birthday on September 29th! (yeah I know, a little late in posting!) Although the traffic made for a very hectic start to our day, we had a blast meeting up with the rest of our "Dirty 30" team and getting a little wild and wacky throughout the course of the Color Me Rad 5K!

For those of you who don't know about the Color Me Rad (or Color Run) 5K races, they are super chill, super laid back, and super fun! You go wearing all white and end up all colorful! Volunteers along the course through colored corn starch at you so your have splatters of colors all over. What we weren't aware of is that they also had liquid color that they squirted at us with. We got pretty messy!

Here are some fun pictures of the day, including some of the "after-party" shots from Mindy's birthday celebration (it tied in to the theme of the Color Me Rad day)

Obama Re-Elected: 4 MORE YEARS!

It's late, and I have to teach tomorrow, but this is too monumental a night to not blog and get my thoughts down! I have such a happy heart and such a heavy heart all at the same time! Let me explain...

I've been the kind of person who has despised politics my whole life. In my opinion, politicians are always sleezeballs who make empty promises and just rub me the wrong way! I never cared for anything political...that is until I turned 18. When I voted for the first time in 2008, I was the black sheep of my family, submitting a different vote than everyone else. I will admit, I didn't really know the issues at hand or what I was voting for, but I cast my vote because Barack Obama was different than any other politician I'd encountered...EVER. I can't tell you what it is about him, but he is GENUINE. He is someone I would WANT to spend time with, and I absolutely adore his family. Many reading this right now are probably thinking, "Wow...she picked her candidate based on THOSE qualifications?" But yes...when I was 18, I did. Character says a LOT about someone, more so than their political agendas. When you get a feeling about someone, it speaks to whether or not you can trust them and truly stand behind them. Obama gave me that feeling, and I voted with confidence.

I will be the first to admit, Obama's 1st term hasn't been AMAZING. He hasn't done things perfectly, and there have been mistakes. We still have a LONG, LONG way to go to improve our country, but for everyone out there saying that Obama is the worst thing that has happened to this country, I am so brokenhearted to hear such negative remarks. I can only imagine how horrendously difficult the job of President truly is. Think about all of the pieces you have to put together, all while facing a public that is so tremendously divided. You have to be diplomatic and reach out to other countries, dealing with global issues in addition to the crap pile you inherited at home. You have to deal with the ridiculousness of bipartisanship in the House of Representatives and the harsh dichotomy of public opinion. To everyone out there saying President Obama accomplished nothing in four years...let me first point you to the HoR and the fact that so many great ideas were shut down because of bipartisanship. One party simply votes against another to see who can "win" rather than reaching across party lines to work together. So much for the "united" part of the United States of America.

I also don't think people realize that CHANGE TAKES TIME. I charge anyone to step into the President's shoes and try to fix every single one of the country's problems in four years (with the division in the HoR). RIGHT! No one can do it! No matter what party is in office, people are going to point fingers and say, "They've done nothing to fix our problems! Get them out of here!" rather than looking to the good that HAS happened. For all the negativity pointed towards the President these past four years, I ask that you acknowledge all the good he has done. Equal pay. The end to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Ending the war in Iraq and creating a plan to get troops out of Afghanistan. Work for higher education and Pell grants. Creating new jobs. Reviving the auto industry and investing in new energy sources. He has CHANGED this country, and I am SO excited to see what Obama accomplishes in his next term. I support the President as he moves our nation forward. 

What hurts my heart the most, however, on this exciting night, is all of the negative commentary I've been seeing on Facebook. I KNOW there are two very opinionated parties involved in this election, and we all knew that today would bring disappointment for one of those parties. My heart truly does go out to Romney supporters because I know if the shoe was on the other foot, I would be devastated tonight. But I so wish everyone could appreciate what Obama has done for this country and stand behind him, not tear him to pieces! Some friends have been completely melodramatic saying that our nation as we know it is over now that Obama has a second term. That everyone who voted for Obama is an idiot who can't think for him/herself and has had the wool pulled over our eyes. That our nation is DOOMED.

Such remarks truly break my heart and have tainted the victory of this night. Yes, we are suffering economically. Yes, there are issues overseas that need attending to. Yes, our schools are in crisis (this is especially important to me as a future educator!). Yes, THERE ARE PROBLEMS! But Obama is working to fix them. Many won't agree with me, but in my opinion, the most important issues are the humanitarian issues we're facing here at home. I am so excited about our President because he has publicly announced his support of same-sex marriages, one of the most important issues to me. I am in tears I am so happy because I look at so many friends that I love dearly and I see a future of equality for them under President Obama. I was so fiercely afraid of their potential future if Romney had been the winning candidate tonight, not because I don't think he could have had success as President, but because he would step forward and deny the RIGHT OF EQUALITY TO EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN. I don't care what your personal and religious views are, the words of our forefathers teach us that every person is created equal. Under President Obama, that can actually happen! AND I AM ECSTATIC!

Regardless of your vote in this election, PLEASE be respectful of those who earned a tremendous victory tonight, and be grateful that you will be given a chance at equality, regardless of your race, gender, religious views, or sexual preferences. Just as we've made enormous strides concerning women and African Americans in our nation's history, this new era under President Obama will certainly bring about more historical victories. With Obama as president, equality can actually happen. Embrace change...because like it or not, it can and will happen. We are a nation that is moving FORWARD!!!

True Life: I Was a Contestant on WHEEL OF FORTUNE! Part 1

So, many of you know already how obsessed with Wheel of Fortune I am. And through Facebook, many of you know my history of auditioning with the show! Well, let me try and recap my experience as best I can!

It all started with this. Click to read my very first blog about my Wheel of Fortune experience from back in 2011 if you haven't already!

After not hearing from the show after my first audition, I was a little bitter...especially after watching the show and seeing some of the bum contestants they chose instead of moi! So, I reapplied online. A couple of months later, I received an email for auditions in the Denver area for Sept. 27th. I had the day off, and the timing was perfect, so I headed up to Westminster knowing full well what I was in for! It was much less nerve racking going through the audition the second time knowing what to expect. AND I NAILED IT! I had a blast and did a great job. I thought I was a shoe in.

But then there was an exciting twist! The contestant coordinators came back in to the room after deliberating and announced they had a contestant cancellation for Oct. 5th (aka...just over a week away). Usually it takes the staff 2 weeks to notify you by snail mail to tell you you'll eventually be on the show. Then you have to wait to hear when you'll be taping. But this case was special. They were going to call one person that SAME DAY and let them know.

I left feeling really great, but tried not to get my hopes up. But at 5pm that night, I got a call from a (310) number...aka Culver City, CA. I had a mini freak out moment, then answered the phone...and it was Gary from WHEEL OF FORTUNE! THEY PICKED ME!

After the initial shock wore off that I was ACTUALLY going to be on my favorite game show, we set in to panic mode to plan a completely last minute trip to Los Angeles! Give the Polete's 2 hours and we can work some magic! Wham, bam, thank you ma'am!

I practiced like crazy for the next week, never missing a show, playing the app, and yes...even doing research about things like the 70s, 80s, and 90s in case I got one of those as a puzzle category! I felt pretty well prepared, but just knew no matter what to go out and have fun. No use getting nervous.

NOW fastfoward to Oct. 4th. The Polete family (Aunt Sarah included) hopped a plane to L.A. That trip was a few firsts for me! First time flying to L.A. and LAX. First time in the boonies of DIA's A Terminal (really...Gate A 60? I didn't even know that part of the airport existed!) AND my very first time on a little 2-seats across plane that has you go OUTSIDE on the tarmac to board the plane! I was giddy because I've always seen it done in movies, but I've never done it myself (ah, the little joys in life!)

I played my WOF app the entire flight. We landed. We got our rental car. And we found our hotel. I got my stuff ready for the morning, and tried to sleep. Easier said than done. I woke up quite a few times, wishing that 6am would get here already! I even had a horrid nightmare where I showed up for the taping, they paired me with this random stranger, told us to pretend like we were dating because we were filming on a Couples Week (haha- what a weird thing!), and then, right as I was about to go on with my stranger boyfriend, they told me I jut wasn't right for the show and that I should just go home. I got so mad that I flipped one of the production tables over and screamed at them for ruining my dreams! Yeah...I have a dramatic subconscious.

BUT! At 5:59am, that horrible nightmare woke me up, 1 min. before my alarm was due to go off, so I got up and got ready to go. The morning was a little...hectic. I took longer to get ready, as usual, so we left later than planned. Then we couldn't find the hotel that I needed to be at to catch the "WOF Contestant Shuttle" that was leaving at 7:15. I must admit, I didn't leave things so happy with my parents as I stepped out to join the other contestants, but I was stressed. Still no excuse. But no one wants to jeopardize their chance at stardom, right?

The contestants who were on the bus made small chit-chat as we drove to Sony Studios. When we got there, we met up with the contestant coordinators that we already knew from our auditions from around the country. It was nice to see familiar faces! We were ushered in to the contestant area and immediately handed paperwork.

We went over all the legality stuff (while still making it fun by cracking jokes here and there) and then were ushered out on the the set (hooray!) to practice spinning and learn the ins and outs of the studio and taping equipment. I was SHOCKED when I turned the corner to see the set that I saw every night on TV. They say the camera adds 10 pounds...I think for sets the camera adds about 100 sq. feet! Holy smokes was it tiny! And the audience section? Like 3 of the tiniest movie theatre sections lined up next to one another. SMALL! But it was so fun seeing it in real life.

The wheel. Oh, the wheel! Fun fact...it weighs 2400 lbs. Yup. And I spun it. BAM! It's smaller than it looks on TV though...but it's also more ghetto than it looks on TV! Sorry...I'm removing the smoke and mirrors, here! haha. It's old and clinky and it's LOUD! That thing clicks and clacks like there's no tomorrow! And all those little bonus things they add to the wheel, including the Wild Card, 1/2 car tags, gift tags, and the wedges like the mystery and million dollar wedge? Yeah...all just flimsy cardboard things that they smack on every time! haha. They look so fancy on TV, though!

We were familiarized with the "Used Letter Board" - which is about the most important piece of equipment to us contestants- and the other things like the monitors we would be using, etc. etc. Then we practiced. Did you know that the platform that the contestants stand on is MOVEABLE? FOR EACH SECTION? Well, it is! That's how everyone gets to be the appropriate height to spin! I'm tall, so they moved my floor space down...WHOO! Free ride! (Oh, the mini thrills in life). Rehearsal, rehearsal, blah blah blah!

Oh. Vanna White showed up. No big deal. Samuel was spinning the wheel and all of a sudden applause and cheering erupted, so I assumed he landed on the $2,500 (contestants tend to get really excited, even in warm ups!), but I turned to look, and THERE SHE WAS! Street clothes, hair up in a messy bun, and no make-up, holding her coffee and tote bag. Just like any other normal plain Jane! It was fun to see her out of the typical "Vanna White" look, but hey, I suppose she's only human, too!

We recorded little promos for our home stations that air WOF, so be on the lookout for yours truly the week of my show! Mine went a little something like, "Hi! I'm Amy from Highlands Ranch! Be sure to watch me play Wheel of Fortune on Denver 7!!! *smile, smile, smile, smile, smile!* Thank you, thank you! I know, I'm a natural..

Back to our little holding room we went. Some of us were ushered in to make-up while we were also told who we would be playing with. There were going to be 6 tapings that day, so 18 of us had to be split in to 6 groups of 3. I found out I'd be playing with Scott and Melissa, both in their 30s and with kids...both VERY nice! We then got to find out the most important part...what show we'd be taping! I wanted anything but show 1 and 6...for obvious reasons! 

They do everything randomly for this show, with the exception of picking what contestants will play on the same show. After they determine that, one person from each group reaches in to a bucket and pulls out a golf ball with a number 1-6 on it. That determines your show! Scott pulled 5! Yes! It wasn't 6! Yes...we'd be waiting a long time, but it wasn't the last show of the day! Then, each group had to go up to the front of the room to draw for standing order up on the podium. You know how they have a red, yellow, and blue spot? Well, that translates to 1, 2, and 3. It turned out that Melissa would be 1 (red, closest to Pat Sajak), Scott would be 2 (yellow and in the middle), and I would be 3 (blue and on the end). I was happy about that, too, because I thought 3 was the best view of the board. Dumb reasoning since all contestants can obviously see the board...I just liked the thought of being on the end!

Once all that excitement was over, we continued make-up application and then and went over the rules. I chuckled at HOW detailed they were in the rules...like those of us Wheel fanatics don't already know the rules! But I suppose they have to go over it all...and in painstakingly boring detail, too. But oh well. They were slave drivers in the sense that they didn't let you leave the room...even though SOME of us were DYING for a bathroom break (I wasn't the only one, but MAN was I losing focus!) I finally slipped out before we went back to the recording stage to do one last practice. Then the audience, including our guests, began showing up! Before I knew it, and before I could snag a bite to eat, I was being ushered up to the chairs to join the audience so we could watch all the shows!

This was really happening! It was fabulous to see the whole thing come together. I don't know what it was about the whole experience, but it never really hit that I was sitting there, watching WOF, waiting to be a contestant myself! I think it helped that all the contestants had quite the camaraderie and were all there to support one another! We had so much fun cheering one another on! It's so much more fun watching folks win big bucks when you know them!

Because of confidentiality agreements, I can't reveal what happened on my show (so please don't ask!) MY SHOW WILL AIR FRIDAY, JANUARY 18TH, so please be sure to tune in! If you're in the Denver area, be on the lookout for yours truly on a pre-recorded promo to watch Wheel of Fortune. It should air the week of my show! I'm excited to see what it all looks like from the audience stand point, because even though I was really calm (I say that honestly...I stayed cool, calm, and collected the whole time!), the whole thing is a blur! That 30 min. goes by SOOOOOOO fast when you're up there on stage! You blink once and the final round bell sounds...

 I tried to remember as much as I could, but it's kind of like an out-of-body experience. I went in to it just wanting to have fun, and I'd say that was accomplished. It's certainly something I can check off my bucket list. I've now shook hands and made small chit-chat and jokes with Pat Sajak, and I'll be on national TV playing my favorite game show, so that's pretty darn cool! Oh, and Vanna waved and smiled at me, so that makes me feel pretty important!

I'll be writing a blog that won't post until January 19th about my actual show and my experience as a contestant, but for the time being, I'll include some pictures for you all! I had to have my phone off all day, and cameras weren't allowed in the studio, so the few pictures we do have were taken on my mom's cell phone and after the taping! Better that than nothing, however!

Ready to go on the morning of the taping!

Legit contestant...name tag and all! Fun fact...they're just held on by double sided tape! I always thought they were fancy schmancy with magnets and stuff! Nope! Just tape!

 Daddy

Mommy

Outside of the studio

 Cardboard Vanna and Pat

Lighting in the hallway was awful! Sorry!

 Playing Vanna...

 ...and there's the car I won! (hehe. I KID! That was just a parked car outside of the studio)

THRIFTING! My Kind of Shopping!!!

Get ready, cuz this stuff excites me. So please pardon me if I get a little over-enthusiastic. IT'S JUST SO EXCITING!!!

Today (Labor Day) means that ALL thrift stores in the Denver area offer 50% off sales. Now, not just 50% off a certain color ticket. No, no. We're talking the whole. gosh. darn. store! FIFTY PERCENT OFF! And given that we're talking thrift stores, we're already talking cheap, cheap items! THEN ANOTHER FIFTY PERCENT OFF THAT! Whoooo!

Ok, so I know many people who are scared of thrifting, or they think that thrift stores are just icky or that you won't find good items. I've never had thrifting-phobia, so I can't relate to those mindsets. But I'm here to tell you that if you are persistent, patient, and willing to wake up early, you can find some STEALS!

My reasons why you should shop thrift stores?

1. Reduce, reuse, recycle! Purchasing thrift items and not always buying new helps keep things out of landfills and re-purposes perfectly good items!

2. It's so much cheaper!!! Goodness knows I'm about as frugal as they come, so getting clothing and other items at a steal of a price is so much better than paying through the nose for new, marked up items!

3. Thrift stores help your local community! Money earned in thrift stores (such as Goodwill, ARC, and Savers) helps support those less fortunate, so go buy, buy, BUY! =)

Still squirrly about buying items at thrift stores? If it's clothing you're scared about, just take it home and wash it! Clean! If you still refuse, at least take some time to go look at books, furniture, or other household items, because you can find some awesome things that other people simply don't want/need anymore! Like they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure! AMEN!

Today we traveled to 3 different Goodwills, ARC, and Savers, and we fought the bustles of people just like us out for bargains! I set my budget for the day at $100, and I am happy to report that I got TONS of items for a grand total of $84 - and that doesn't include the items I'll be re-selling in my garage sale (for even more money...shhh!)

Stop 1: Goodwill on Broadway (in Denver)

What I got:

 TOTAL: $51.10

Broken down:

2 pairs of Corduroy pants - $3.00 each - $6.00

Blue sweater - $2.50

Khaki H&M Jacket - $5.50

Brown/Tan Jacket - $2.50

Red fedora - $3.50

Vera Bradley bag - $2.00 (VERA BRADLEY! I'll re-sell this.)

K-State sign (for the McKassons haha) - $2.00

Wilton tip saver case - .50 cents (these little things retail for $6.99!)

White "shabby chic" lantern - $2.00

2 HUGE ruffled blue pillows (I was going to keep these, but they don't look right in my room. Oh well! Garage sale it is!) - $3.50 each - $7.00

Kid's easel/blackboard - $5.00 (I've already re-sold this for $15, so $10 profit)

Small wire dog/cat cage - $5.00 (I'll also re-sell this)

*not pictured* - 4 large IKEA plates to make in to cake stands (I'll do another blog about this little crafting endeavor!) - $1.00 each - $4.00

Stop 2: ARC on Broadway (in Denver)

What I got:

  TOTAL: $8.00

Broken down:

1 green skirt (unfortunately NOT 50% off, darn) - $4.99

ADORABLE blue purse - $2.50

Stop 3: Goodwill on Broadway (in Englewood)

What I got:

TOTAL: $12.39

Broken down:

Gap Body white fitness tank (for my upcoming 5K Color Run!!!) - $1.50 

Blue/White H&M dress (WITH POCKETS!) - $3.00

Green khaki pants - $2.50

*not pictured* a MVHS choir dress in pristine condition! - $4.50 (I'll either sell this to a choir girl or just donate it to the choir department. I couldn't leave it in the store when those dresses normally retail for upwards of $80!)

Stop 4: Savers in Littleton

What I got:

TOTAL: $12.86

Broken down:

Strapless coral ruffle maxi dress - $4.00

Purple dress - $3.00

White shorts (again, for my upcoming 5K Color Run!!!) - $3.00

Red beaded necklace (unfortunately not 50%) - $1.99 (still a bargain!)

Stop 3: Goodwill on Broadway (in Highlands Ranch)

What I got:

NOTHING! haha. I tried, but we got there later in the day and the store had been picked over. Nothing for this exhausted shopper!

DO YOU SEE HOW MANY AMAZING THINGS YOU CAN FIND IF YOU JUST LOOK!? Thrift stores are great to begin with, but add the benefit of shopping on 50% off days and you're in for a steal of a deal! Just try it out! I promise it's worth you while! =)