mecdream week

I'm tired. And pinch me.

That's about all I can think of how to start this post. It's been the craziest, most exciting, whirlwind of a week! If you follow me on Instagram on Facebook (you really should, we have lots of fun over there), you noticed that I had some exciting adventures this week. I was blessed enough to appear on Australia's Today Show, Inside Edition, and the Us Today Show, and was also featured in DailyMail and The Stir. Many of you have asked how in the world that happened, and where/how you can check out the features. I don't want to forget any details from this exciting week, so for my own journaling purposes as well as to fulfill your curiosities, I thought I'd give you the inside dish on it all!

I guess we'll start at the beginning…

In June of 2013 I filmed an episode of Extreme Cheapskates with TLC (see HERE). It aired a few months later, in November (“watch” it with me HERE).

TLC filming

The episode has continued to air every few months, in various parts of the world.

This August I got an email from someone at a news agency out of the UK/NY that saw my TLC episode and wanted to do a feature on me. This agency writes up interesting features, then sells them to publications. I agreed to do the feature, a little curious about who would be interested enough in frugal tips to actually pick up the story. But I figured, “hey, if it doesn't take too much time and as long as it's a legitimate publication then I'll do it…online exposure is usually a perk for a blogger, right?”.

I did the photo shoot/video shoot/interview, and it ended up being the worst timing ever (if you remember HERE and HERE) so I definitely was frustrated with myself for agreeing to do something that “probably wouldn't pan out to much, anyway”.

bad day

Months went by and I didn't think twice about the photo shoot, figuring no one ended up being interested in the story.

Then on Wednesday Jan 7 I got an email from the news agency, asking me to fact-check a few things since they were getting some interest in my story. Everything looked pretty good…but to be honest, I sped-read it from my phone because I was out and about scrambling to get things ready for MECCA.

The next day my site completely crashed. I had no idea why. When I finally got it up and running, I saw a huge influx of traffic from an article in the DailyMail. Looks like they picked up my story and it started going a bit viral.

UK feature

Then the next day…another crash. Turns out The Stir (with 30 million visitors per month!) also did a feature on me (which I had 110% no idea about and was 110% flattered by, they were so stinking nice to me!).

A behind-the-scenes look at my national TV appearances! From FunCheapOrFree.com

The next day I was running around picking up things for MECCA, when my phone rang.

It was Good Morning America.

“Hi, is this Jordan? We saw your feature in the DailyMail and we would love to have you on our show.” I had to pull over my car, I couldn't even concentrate on driving. The phone calls and emails kept coming…”Hi Jordan, this is Inside Edition”…”the Today Show in Australia…”…and other calls that (I'm sorry to do this) I can't tell you about yet, but let's just say that it'll be worth the wait if they pan out.

Dream week!

The next day (Saturday) I was on stage with Melea at MECCA, we were teaching a class on grocery shopping. It was her turn to talk so I sat off to the side of the stage…when my phone rang. ON STAGE. In front of 300+ people. Even though it was on silent (what the?). Oops.

MECCA

I grabbed my phone (which was plugged in to the PA system because I used it to play music between classes. Double oops.) and saw a voicemail from a NY number. I was putting my phone away when a text came in that I will never forget. It started with,

“Hi Jordan, this is the Today Show.”

If I hadn't been on stage in front of 300+ people I probably would've screamed. Or ugly cried. Or both. The Today Show? Seriously? Are you kidding me?  Wait…how'd they get my number? I don't care! THE TODAY SHOW?! 

Let me back up for a second…

I have a secret bucket list that I have been tempted to write a post about for years now, but never have. My dreams and goals are so far-fetched, so…ridiculous, is a word that comes to mind, I have been embarrassed to put them out on the web. I'm an open book about most things, but very few people aside from Bubba actually know some of the things on that list. I guess because I couldn't bring myself to say them out loud since the chances of them happening are so slim. Guess what's near the top of that list? You guessed it,

Be on the Today show.

(And under that I had “become a regular contributor for the Today Show, but let's not get choosy here.) Needless to say it was hard to concentrate at MECCA the rest of the day.

Over the next few days I had to breathe, center myself, and pray…because I quickly realized it wouldn't be possible to accept all the opportunities. Certain shows and channels are competitors, after all, so if I said “yes” to one opportunity, it would actually close the door to certain others since each show strives to be the first to crack a new story or personality (which is totally understandable!). At one point I was sitting quietly in my room with a pit in my stomach, trying to decide between the Today Show and GMA. I thought to myself, “is this seriously happening to me right now?

I went with my gut and decided to move forward with the Today Show feature. It just felt right. The GMA staff I had been talking to were the nicest, and I could only hope to get the opportunity to go on the show someday.

After MECCA things moved into hyper speed. I was on the phone, emailing, and texting nonstop. On Monday night at 7pm I was on the phone with Australia setting up my interview for the next day, while simultaneously texting the Today Show producer…when we decided right then that Today would be filming THE NEXT DAY at my house. I looked around and laughed out loud. MECCA kept me so busy (and exhausted) all week, I hadn't focused on cleaning my house. AT ALL. I actually snapped a picture earlier that day, knowing I would tell this story to you all at some point.

My behind-the-scenes look at my national TV appearances! From FunCheapOrFree.com

 But hey, it's the Today Show! You find a way to make it happen!

I stayed up all night cleaning my house and scrambling to find a sitter to help watch my kids while they weren't needed on-screen (not easy since all my babysitters are at school during the day!). But where there is a will, there is a way. I found a sitter, and shoved laundry baskets-full of stuff into any available closet, and somehow managed to hide the dark circles under my eyes the next day.

First up that day was the Today Australia interview.

Today Australia

I went to a studio in downtown Salt Lake for the interview. It was a small studio with a SLC skyline backdrop, a fancy camera, lighting, and a chair. That's it! I couldn't see anything but the camera: no teleprompter, no anchors, no graphics or prompts which made me a bit nervous at first, but I think went well overall. I had a secret agent-type ear piece and could hear them with (after a huge delay, as you see in the video), which made me feel all sorts of cool. Again, watch the interview HERE.

My behind-the-scenes look of my national TV appearances! From FunCheapOrFree.com

In case you're wondering, here's what I wore (sorry for the horrible public bathroom lighting):

outfit

Silky floral $8.99 top from Ann Taylor Loft, my favorite $7 skinny jeans from Forever21, my lucky $0.01 Nordstrom shoes (mentioned at the end of the video HERE), my bling-bling jeweled necklace from Cents of Style (you can see it in the video), and a blazer from H&M. I paid $34 for it which is WAY more than I normally would but I knew I'd use it a ton for blog stuff, so you know. A girl's gotta splurge once in a while.

The segments snuck up on me so quickly I didn't have time to buy new outfits or anything, so they were all things I had from my closet.

Next up…The Today Show

After my segment wrapped I kicked off my $0.01 heels, sprinted to my car, and sped home to start filming with the Today Show crew…that had been setting up at my house while I was filming with Today Aus.

My behind-the-scenes look of my national TV appearances! From FunCheapOrFree.com

I had just enough time to run to my closet and change my shirt. Hind-sight I probably should've touched up my hair and taken more time to plan my outfit, but I just threw on something I new wouldn't show any unwanted lumps and bumps, and something comfortable that was “me”. See my Today Show segment HERE.

My behind-the-scenes look of my national TV appearances! From FunCheapOrFree.com

It was a fun surprise to reunite with the sound guy, Keith, that filmed my TLC episode 1.5 years earlier! The film crew doesn't fly in from NY, they are mostly local and are freelancers and are hired by the shows to film for them. The segment producer was also local/freelance, but the producer for Inside Edition was actually flown in from LA.

We spent the next 4-5 hours filming throughout my house. They had frugal tips in mind they wanted to film (they had heard about from the TLC episode and the DailyMail feature), but I also gave them a few additional ideas.

When we wrapped filming, I was EXHAUSTED. I didn't get back from taking the babysitter home until after 7, then I immediately had to hop on call after call with Inside Edition (and other shows! TBA hopefully!). Again, it was that night that we decided to start filming at 10am the next day. Here we go again! bring it!

So again, I scrambled to find a sitter, tidied up my house, and flung myself into bed at 2am where I fell asleep before my head hit the pillow. Like, for reals.

Last up, Inside Edition!

The next day the crew arrived at 9:15am to set up. Hello crew!

My behind-the-scenes look of my national TV appearances! From FunCheapOrFree.com

One thing about filming for TV is that it's SUPER invasive (in the best way); my house looks like a tornado has gone through it when we're done filming, every time! Remembering this, I wasn't as stressed about having a clean house when Inside Edition came. If there was clutter in the way, I moved it out of the camera shot, blew off any dust or spit-shined a surface, and called it good.

My behind-the-scenes look of my national TV appearances! From FunCheapOrFree.com

I spy: #PoorChubbyOllie and my granny recliner that is usually hidden in the nursery but made it's cameo because I forgot to have Bubba move it back up there before he left for work.

We did many of the same shots with Inside Edition that we did with the Today Show, which was nice and easy. But they also shot me and my shopping tips at the grocery store which was fun. It's always a kick to see the look on peoples' faces when they see a camera crew walking down the cereal aisle…

A behind-the-scenes look at  my national TV appearances! From FunCheapOrFree.com

The Inside Edition feature was done a little differently. You can watch video online HERE, but it's actually pretty different than what they showed on-air. So I took a really poor cell phone video of the aired segment so you can watch it online HERE (or click and watch below):

Again, the crew was awesome to work with. We wrapped filming around 2:30pm, I grabbed a quick sandwich on the way home (the first time I had eaten that day), and spent the rest of the day taking care of my kiddos and family. I was so exhausted, I was in bed by 9:30 that night, which is a new world record for me.

WHEEW!

Days later, I still feel like I have a media hangover. I'm still sooo tired! Between MECCA and the segments, it truly was the week of dreams (hence the super catchy post title, eh?). But seriously, I can't thank you guys enough for being interested in my story (and crazy ideas) to read this blog. If it weren't for you, these dreams of mine wouldn't be coming true! So, as sappy it sounds, I truly love and thank you all! *group hug*

hearts

I plan to do a series of posts that talk more in-depth about some of the frugal tips, and tidbits of our “story” that were mentioned. So…

Do you have any questions that you'd like me to answer in a future post? Let me know in the comments and I'll get to work on answering them!

Thanks for the good vibes guys, it seriously paid off this week. Now if you'll excuse me, I need a nap.

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