I was living a dream come true! Weeks later I returned home with my lips tightly sealed for months, until finally in September we were permitted to let the cat out of the bag. Each episode includes 2 challenges, the first is for an advantage in the 2nd, which is an elimination challenge; someone is sent home and someone wins the episode. There are 8 episodes and 10 competitors. The final episode is a finale with the last 3 competitors. The winner gets $50,000.
I went to LA with 3 goals. Survive the challenges, don't go out on the first episode, and enjoy every second of it! Don's goal was to keep the inn running smoothly by doing both out jobs each day, every morning flawlessly make one of the three breakfasts that he had learned, and not tell anyone where I was! We both achieved our goals.
When the first episode aired, things got really exciting around here. I won the first episode. I still can't believe I won the first episode!! Amazing!! I was up against professional, culinary school trained bakers who owned bakeries from around the country and I won the first episode with my "First Snow Cherry Pie". That recipe is now on Food Network's website. What an amazing achievement! In the second episode I won the first challenge with my Peppermint Scones and that recipe is also on FoodNetwork.com. How cool is that!
By the third episode my lack of training was catching up with me and the cake challenge did me in. But I went home feeling like a winner. And our business has exploded since November and December when the show aired. Folks just come in off the street for a picture or autograph. I get recognized when we are out and people stop to chat with me about the show. Many asked if we had a cooking class. This interest birthed our new business - Breakfast Diva Cooking School. Now I do classes out of the dining room of our inn every Saturday afternoon. We are looking at opportunities for expansion as well.
We were just recognized as one of the top ten B&Bs in the USA by Bedandbreakfast.com - I cried tears of joy. We have been working so hard at this labor of love and every success leads us to another new challenge. Don and I believe that there is no such thing as treading water. You are either going forward or falling behind and it is this attitude that has fueled the fire that keeps us going.
How is this romantic? We are a team. I couldn't make amazing breakfasts or be that "personality" that people enjoy if it weren't for Don reminding me to turn on or off the oven, or gently insisting that we take a day for ourselves, or keeping track of our finances so well. He doesn't want the spotlight, but makes sure the electricity doesn't get shut off! He is also my best taste-tester, the one I first bounce an idea off of, the beginning and ending of my every day, and the guy who keeps my feet on the ground and encourages me to reach for the stars! We have never been more in love - with each other and our life together.
Farmers Guest House
334 Galena, Illinois 61036
815.777.3456