Introducing the Belt Bucket to Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

This was such a cool opportunity! I must first tell you how I finagled my way onto the set of Extreme Makeover:Home Edition with VIP access. My very good friend Tara was asked to be the main photographer on the set to document all of the activity for Premier Homes (the builder.) She called me, ready to explode with her excitement, to tell me about this opportunity. I immediately assigned myself as her set stylist and assistant! So with Tara getting us in the door we were able to be a part of this awesome event, up close, and personal for the entire 6 days. It's an amazing process watching a custom home being built in 96 hours! Ask me about it sometime.

DAY 1: We put on our Pink Belt Buckets and in them we carried our cell phones, lip gloss, keys, batteries for the camera, and water bottles. We wore them every time we were on the site. The second day we painted our hard hats the same color pink as the Belt Bucket so they would match. Women began noticing our ensemble and asking for Pink Belt Buckets for themselves. As the week went on I had people asking for them all the time, including children. I would ask them if they even knew what it was for - most didn't care they just wanted a cool colored bucket to wear around the work site too! I handed out several, but told them I would only give it to them if they promised to wear it on the site all week long. They did.

DAY 3: Eventually, I had the opportunity and confidence to talk to the producers of the show to present the Belt Buckets. I was nervous for some reason, but I kept thinking to myself I am introducing OUR Belt Buckets - they will help these designers do their jobs faster, safer, and cleaner why wouldn't they want them. Plus they come in so many cool colors and people love that they can wear this bright colorful tool around their waist and match it to their shoes and hat! I'm not trying to give them something they don't need.

The producer, Rachael, was very receptive to them. I asked her if she had seen one before, she said no but she thought the ones we were wearing were "cool" and "cute." That's when I was able to jump in with my "elevator pitch" and let her know how they could help her painters or designers. She asked if she could have one and opted to take the blue one. I told her she could have it if she promised to do me a favor and make sure Paige gets the Pink Belt Bucket since she wasn't going to be on the the set for this shooting. Rachael said "yes, she'll love it!" Paige is the co-star of the show. Her trademark is that she is always wearing something pink (tool-belt, gloves, hardhat, vest, boots, etc.) Paige actually promotes a line of pink tools called Tuff Chix.com. I thought Paige needed a Pink Belt Bucket to match all of her other pink stuff! After I explained what they could be used for Rachael asked if she could have more and hand them out to the designers. I told her I had 12 in my car ready to give to them if they would like. She said she would give them to the designers on one of their future projects. She also mentioned that they had a muralist coming in to do some work and she would see if she would like to use it. I promised to bring some Faux Mates for the muralist to use with the Belt Bucket. I was psyched!!

DAY 4: I brought my last 6 Belt Buckets and was able to give them to the painting crew that worked on painting nearly 30 different colors in the house. Tara told me she had been inside the house taking photos when she saw that a painter had set up a plank of wood between two ladders and was standing atop it painting while a second painter was on the ground below him holding a cup of paint for him to use. She tried to give them her own Belt Bucket but they wouldn't take it becasue it was pink :) I marched right in to the house and told them I was delivering product to the painters - that I heard they were having painting "issues." The contrator announced that the painters needed those and I should find them right away. They were very excited to see the Belt Buckets and told me they could have used them much earlier - they had been painting for nearly 10 hours straight. They also informed me that there were 15 of them and they all needed Belt Buckets. However, I had given them all that I had in my possession. I felt like my job was done!

DAY 5: I did not visit the site this day but Tara was out on the site taking pictures. She called to tell me that the key had been turned over to the EMHE crew and she got pictures of some of the crew wearing Belt Buckets including the muralist (who is a muralist that travels with the team, not a local artist.) I asked what colors they were wearing and they were different colors than the colors I had given to the painters so that meant Rachael had handed them out!! Tara told me she talked to the muralist about the prodcut and what she thought of it. She had some suggestions for the product, one of which was already a feature of the product that Tara was able to help her with - thank God that Tara knows the product and was there to help!!!!! Love you girl :) Then Tara told me she had gotten her picture taken with Ty! (I hope she had that Pink Belt Bucket on!!!)

DAY 6: We were able to help present the home to the family and be up close to watch all of the filming, activity, and celebration! My husband was able to come and be a part of it to. As a tribute to Ty he wore his one of a kind Tye-dye Belt Bucket!! We hope to see ourselves sporting the Belt Buckets on the show when it is aired in January. And even more than that I'd love a call form the producers saying we need more Belt Buckets can you send more???