I snapped this photo just before I got out of my car and headed into the audition for Wheel of Fortune. I posted it on my instagram feed because I needed some serious encouragement! I was so incredibly nervous I was shaking. I force fed myself breakfast and lunch that day, I had no appetite from being so nervous. I did a lot of research on what to expect and got some great pointers from a friend's sister that went through the audition before and actually made it on the show! I walked in about 20 min before and they had just opened the doors to the conference room. They handed us a paper to fill out like an application and I sat at the very end of the second row. From the moment I entered the room until I left 3 hours later I smiled. My mouth, face, and hands were SO sore from all of the smiling and clapping. There was about 70 people there auditioning with me and I was surprised that not many were dressed very nice. After we filled out the application we watched a video on an overhead projection with past winners and bloopers on Wheel which was comforting and eased my nerves. One of the casting directors came around and asked each of us our names since she was making a seating chart. Then the three casting directors explained what we were going to do, which was play a very fast game of Wheel with everyone. They were going to call out a name at random from the seating chart and once they've seen and heard what they needed to see (since they had control of the fake Wheel) they would either Bankrupt/ Lose a Turn us so they could get through everyone. I was the third to be called and I jumped right out of my seat with a big smile and shouted "R", it was up there then I immediatly bought a vowel an "E", it was up there too! Then the casting director purposely made the wheel land on Bankrupt as to move on to someone else. This lasted about an hour and 1/2 and again I did not stop smiling or clapping for everyone else, I showed as much enthusiasum as I could. After that part was over we had to take a timed test. We had 5 minutes to take this test which different words/phrases/people/before and after with missing letters and you had to fill in the blank for example......proper name _ _ _ L _ _ _ _ _ 0 _. Any ideas??? It's Bill Clinton. The test was HARD. I did my best and hoped my 20 seconds of play time were enough for me to advance to the second part of the audition. After the three casting directors graded our tests (which was about 20 minutes later) they came back in and announced that they were going to call out some names and those whose names were called get to stay and everyone else had to leave. They called 15 names out of 70 and I was one of them!!!!! The next part was to come up in 2 groups of three to play faster more intense rounds of Wheel. Before that the casting director came around and took our picture. So the first group was called up and I was in it...and the first to spin. I guessed an "N" got it, bought a vowel, spinned and guessed a "T" but it was not there. I had a few more turns and pretty much the same thing happened, nothing bad and nothing good. I got lots of nice compliments with each of my turns from the casting directors so at least I know or I hope I was doing the right thing. After the two rounds were over we had to remain standing and tell the casting directors about ourselves just like if Pat Sajak was in front of us. I was first, did awesome and then quickily realized after all 15 people went I was the most boring person in the room. I was the only stay-at-home mom, and how can I compete with people that speak 7 languages, ridden an elephant in Thailand, cancer suvivors...etc. So after everyone had a chance to go the casting directors told us if we were picked to be a contestant we would recieve a letter in the mail in about 10 days. So that was it! I had so much fun at the audition and I feel so lucky I was given the opportunity to participate in it. We will see what the future brings but I'm pretty proud of myself for having made it all the way to the end!!
I have had some serious luck lately with my pinterest pins on my recipe board. Usually when I try out a recipe for the first time its hit and miss but as of late they really have been winners. I meal plan on a weekly basis. I only grocery shop on Mondays and every other Monday I add a Costco trip. That means no in between trips during the week...I make sure to buy everything needed on that day and stay on budget. I've been doing this now for almost 2 years and it was very difficult at first but now it has gotten much easier. I treat my pantry and my refrigerator like a store and I keep a strict inventory. I never over buy and as crazy as it sounds I be sure to memorize everything my "store" has in stock. Bryan didn't believe me months ago when we were chatting about this and I told him to go ahead and challenge me I can tell you exactly how much whether it be boxes, cans, etc...you name it I'll tell you if I have it and how much...from the pantry, fridge down to my spices...I was serious and sure enough I had gotten every single question right. Call it OCD or whatnot I just like to be organized and I take my current job as a stay at home mother, meal planner, home organizer very seriously. Anyways with that being said I meal plan and with the weather warming up I've had to put away my winter/spring cooler weather recipes and pull out and plan my summer recipes. Summer cooking is difficult in AZ. It's well over 112 degrees and grilling outside isn't an option in the summer months with the monsoons and intense heat. So lots of salads and lighter meals are great...without turning on the oven that makes it even more perfect. Anyways, I've had huge success with lots of salads and lighter meals I have pinned on pinterest but I had to blog about my two favorite. One is just plain delicious, healthy and screams summer and the other the kids have been fanatic over. I love pizza and take-out pizza is always fun. I end up over eating it and I always feel gross afterwards. I found this recipe on pinterest that uses frozen Rhodes rolls as pizza dough. I put them out 3-4 hours before dinner, (to let them thaw out and rise), and they make the PERFECT little tiny mini pizzas. My kids have had a blast making their own little pizzas. They require the use of an oven but not for very long at all and its so worth it. They come out so perfect and light and with a side of fruit,salad or quinoa dish it is perfect. Next is my favorite. Chickpea Salad. I could eat this ALL summer. It's beautiful and so tasty not to mention healthy! I stumbled upon it while looking for some sort of cold cucumber/onion salad for Bryan. He had mentioned a while ago that he wanted to try this cold salad he saw at the deli counter at the super market...I took a mental note and decided to find something along the same lines but WAY better to make for him for his Father's Day dinner. I found this recipe and decided to give it a try and serve it as a side to his favorite BBQ beef pulled sandwiches that I had planned for Father's Day. It was such a hit! We had our sweet neighbors over too and they loved it as well. Finally, how fun is the last photo?! I had made chocolate chip coconut bars for FHE dessert last week and my sweet Brody, bless his heart, always has SUCH a hard time waiting until after dinner and a lesson for treats. Can you tell? He grabs his little step stool and just stares ... until I chase him out of my kitchen.
