YARD CRASHERS - Eclectic Dining Space

Have you ever watched a TV show and said, "I want to be on that show!" or "How do you get picked to be on there?!"  Ya, us too, so when Cody & I were picked to be on the DIY Network's television show, "Yard Crashers,"  we got our answer!  We filmed on November 21st & 22nd, 2013 {Yes, it really is only two days} and it was a truly amazing adventure that we will remember forever.  For those that aren't familiar with the show, the premise is, you're minding your own business at your local home improvement store when the host of the show {who is also a licensed contractor} approaches you and probes you for information about your backyard.  If he deems you appropriate, they follow you home and hook you up with a baller backyard!

The advertisement

Matt addressing the crowd of 1300

It's almost our turn!

Cody's 1st interaction with Matt

My fairytale moment when a butterfly landed on my head

How We Heard

My mom knows we're loyal fans of the show, so when she saw on the news that Yard Crashers was visiting the Arbor Gate in Tomball she had to tell us.  Cody & I geeked out and said, "Well, someone has to win; it's worth a shot!"  so we skipped work {even though I’d already missed 2 days due to food poisoning}, got in our car, and stood in line behind 1300+ people in the heat & rain, looking {and feeling} like death.  The host of the show, Matt Blashaw, walked around and looked at EVERYONE’S photos {yes, all 1300}; We were in line for about an hour and a half until it was our turn.  He swiped through our photos on our iPad, asked us a few questions, and went on to the people behind us.  We thought that was the end but apparently he signaled the producers to get our contact info which qualified us for the next phase in the competition!

The Email Between my Mom & Us
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How We Won

We went from competing with 1300 people to now, just 10!  The 10 of us were interviewed by the producers, they re-reviewed our photos, & made their cuts on the spot.  Now, we're in the top 5 and we have to conduct an on camera interview with Matt Blashaw and explain why we need our new yard, show our photos {again}, and really- just interact with him.  When that was over, we were told there would be TWO announcements, the 1st name Matt calls out will be the winners and the 2nd name will be the runners-up.  Our fate was in Matt's hands...

We stood there among the crowed with our fingers crossed, hoping our name would be the 1st one yelled.  Matt does his whole spiel, “Thank you for coming, yadi yadi, yada, etc” and then yells out... Holly's name {who is extremely cute & sweet}.  Cody and I first do the “aaaaaaaaaawe man!” face, but quickly clap & cheer for Holly but the producers yell & remind us, “Stand still, we have to film again, this time revealing the runner-up's.”   and we hear Matt say, “I can’t wait, to crash with this ‘stache” *queue scream*  You can watch all that on Arbor Gate's Youtube channel below {we're at 3:04} followed by an interview we gave at a viewing party the Arbor Gate hosted:

As the runners up we still had to film everything as though we won just in case Holly & Barrett couldn't participate {yes, we threatened to "Tonya Harding" them}. Jackie {the producer}, Matt, & the crew met us at our house first to film the walk through of our yard.  The producer commented on how dorky and cute we were and said, “I wish we could do both yards!”
Once they left we went to dinner with my mom to talk about the excitement and how happy we were just to be runners up but around 8:00 pm we received a call from California and it was the producer, Jackie. Jackie: Do you want to hang out with us at Lowes tomorrow?
Confused Cody: Sure!
Jackie: Can you be there around 10:30 am?
Still Confused Cody: Maybe, we can take a long lunch
Jackie: Is Jeannie there?  Put the phone on speaker. 
*Speaker phone activated*
Jackie: We’re going to f&*king crash your yard!!  
...*a few seconds of pure shocked silence*...
US: VERY LOUD Screams
Diesel & Lashes: Howling
It.  Was.  Awesome.
The next day we took a long & early lunch from work and headed to Lowes; we had to wear the exact same clothes as the day before due to pre-filming footage of us "showing off" our backyard.  We text the producer our location within the store which was next to the BIGGEST grill we could find {a Lowes employee even told us the show was there and wished us luck; she was so sweet, I felt bad lying to her!}.  Then we see a camera, a boon, and the magnificent chin of Matt Blashaw- the episdoe shows the rest of that story...

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Filming Day 1: November 21, 2013

We started filming around 7:00 am on a hot & slightly humid day. After we were shown a glimpse of our yard's plans we went to work clearing the yard, tilling the grass, jack hammering the tiny concrete patio, building the zinc table, painting the fireplace boards, & digging sooooo many holes!!  The video to the right is one of my favorite clips of myself, it makes me giggle >>

Filming Day 2: November 22, 2013

A huge storm rolled in and brought with it lightening & EXTREMELY cold weather {we went from sweating to shivering}; It made for an interesting last day

That's a wrap!

We need to give a huge THANK YOU to everyone that was involved that made this possible:
The amazing producers Jackie, Marie, & Theresa, the hilarious Matt Blashaw, The rock'n Arbor Gate, our new friends - The Lucas Brothers, Pavers y Mas, & all the crew that came with them.  Our friend's & family: Momma & Daddy Miles, Momma Zindler, Justin, Kara, Chris, Patrick, Lance, Mike, Matt, Ryan, Melissa, Kyle, Stephanie, Jacque, Anthony, Uncle David, Sammy, & Monica - You guys worked so hard, and we love you very much!

Before & after

Our yard is insanely awesome.  The show did an amazing job nailing our personalities & needs.  We could NOT wait to add all of our finishing touches and it's easily our favorite space

Where to View It

Our episode aired on July 28, 2014, Eclectic Dining Space is apart of season 12.  If you'd like to watch it and you don't want to wait for a re-fun, here you go:
Amazon
iTunes
Youtube

Frequently asked q's:

Q: Is it really only two days?
A: Yes!  We did hit a few snags so we thought it would be a 3 day, but we turned it around.  Stuff does get delivered to your house the day before though.
Q: Do you get any input?
A:  The host asks you to list 3 things you want your yard to have & what you absolutely don't want and that's it, nothing else, it's so nerve racking!
Q: ^^What where your answers?
A: Hammock, artificial grass, TV, outdoor kitchen, low maintenance plants, privacy, color, and a 15ft table {My dream was to seat everyone at Thanksgiving}.  When asked, "What would you hate to see?"  I answered, "If we walked outside and it was monochromatic and beige my soul would die a little."
Q: Do they really find you at a home improvement store?
A: We asked too, and YES, they really do.  Sometimes it happens as it did for us but the majority of the time it's how the episode airs it.
Q: Does it cost you anything?
A: We had to claim it on our taxes at the end of the year
Q: Do you & the host really do the work?
A: Um, YES!  Matt never sits down but I think our friends/family worked the hardest. *Side Note: The contractors did have a small crew to help finish the projects we started