Crazy Good Week

I guess I've teased and tortured y'all long enough about last week.  Where to begin?  With only a two day notice, I spent last week in Scottsdale, AZ.  I was invited by SheKnows to be a part of the Homestretch series - a show where 2 designers have 2 days and $2000 to transform two rooms.  My mind must have sounded something like this:  Different time zone.  A week away from home.  Need to lose 10 pounds.  Short notice.  Need to finish the ORC.  Crazy work schedule.  Never done this before.  What would I wear?  Overdue for a hair appointment.  Camera shy.  Sure, why not?  It would have been much easier to say no, but if I went I would be facing my fears. I had to say yes.

The family who received the makeover could not have been any sweeter or more gracious.  The hilarious crew kept me in stitches all day!  Everyone was so incredibly nice!  Every now and then I catch myself remembering a "moment" from last week and laugh out loud.  Actually, I believe there was a scene where I could not stop laughing.  I mean crying laughing.  Kid in church who can't stop laughing, laughing.  Not breathing.  Get the picture?  When the director yelled, "Cut!" I felt like a kid in time out.  Oh no, they're going to ask me leave.  The crew was so patient.  There were also times when they would say, "That was good, but next time let's try this".  In other words, that really sucked - let's do it over.  I'm okay with that though because I learned so much about myself, and really stretched professionally and personally.  Oh, and I think my southern accent might have thrown them.

Each morning we were up before the sun and on our way to the house.  A super nice and helpful PA drove me everywhere I needed to go in a cargo van provided by SheKnows - except for that one late night trip to Target.  Look out Scottsdale - here comes René in a cargo van!  Woot!  Oh, and another late night Target trip with Courtney on the hotel shuttle.  You can just imagine us with tables, lamps, etc. ...on a shuttle.  #hardcore

Early days, late nights, and severe lack of sleep required proper caffeination.  Girl's gotta survive.  At this point my nails are chipped and my skin is beginning to look like a lizard ;).

Hair and make-up was done first thing each morning.  My make-up artist was lovely and whimsical and I just loved her.  She really was a ray of sunshine and shared a few trade secrets with me.

There was so much to do and so little time to do it.  Filming took a long time because the lighting first had to be right and then the cast had to get it right, and well then you have someone who might laugh uncontrollably - wonder who that could be?  I could not have done everything without the help of the awesome (and I don't use that word often) PA's, the home owners, and the crew.  Everybody pitched in and made it happen.  Thankfully this project didn't require paint (other than touch up) or structural work like some of the other shows in the series.  Everyone said this was the easiest show ever but they weren't inside my head.

Probably the best part of the whole trip was that I was able to meet Courtney from the blog A Thoughtful Place and chat it up most evenings.  This was such an intense, fun, stressful, amazing, tiring, and rewarding experience. I'm so glad to have someone who can truly relate.  After getting to know this amazing woman, I'm certain we were meant to be put there together.

This yummy treat was waiting for me in my hotel room the last night.  I think Mr. knew that I needed a little pampering.

Sorry I didn't share more pictures of the actual project.  Wouldn't want to spoil all the fun surprises now would I?  The series should air mid December.  At which time I will crawl under a rock  share more pictures and insight, but you might find a few more pics here.