Why I Love What I Do

I have my dream job! What is not to love?

Well, sometimes the “dream” isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. Show business – in reality – is a lot of long days that are unpaid with zero recognition and lots of rejection. It’s humbling and terrifying. There’s no job security and there’s always someone prettier, funnier, wealthier, and more successful vying for your meal ticket. Traveling can also be far from glamorous. It’s a lot of wear and tear on the body, packing and unpacking, uncomfortable flights, missing friends and family, missing out on big moments, and, at the end of the day, loneliness.

BUT if you can get through the bad, there is unbelievable good. This job has been 10+ years in the making. It’s the Hail Mary pass I never thought would be caught. No one ever said I could host a travel show, and, here we are, a week away from the start of our second season.

Even with all that build up, Vacation Creation has EXCEEDED every expectation. On a working level, I couldn’t ask for a better co-host, mentor, and confidante than Tommy Davidson (and big shout out to his wife Amanda- #BossLady!). The whole team – from those on the ground shooting and producing to those back at the office putting out every fire – is supportive, kind, fun, and insanely talented! There are, of course, the destinations. I’ve been to beautiful places in the world I never thought I would go to- ummm, Bora Bora? St. Petersburg? Alaska? Norway? WHAT IS MY LIFE!!

But above all that, there are the people. The families and individuals we meet have changed my life forever. It’s easy to get caught up in what we want or what we think we deserve, but it’s impossible to do that on this show. Some of these people have been through so much and have come out the other side kinder, softer, and more giving. It’s truly inspiring. And that’s what shocked me. Vacation Creation is fulfilling on a level I never expected.

Obviously, all this couldn’t be put in a sound bite, but this is why I love my job. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted and a lot of things I never thought I wanted, but absolutely needed.

Please check out the new season when it moves to ABC on Saturday Mornings starting October 7, 2017.

 

xoxo

I’M A TELLY AWARD WINNER!

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I’M OFFICIALLY AN AWARD WINNER!

Well, I’m officially an official award winner. I’ve got plenty of participation trophies – that don’t have my name on it, because they don’t do that for participation trophies – but now I have a legit trophy!

Vacation Creation won a Telly Award in the travel and tourism category!

Now, you might be asking – what? What’s a Telly Award? 
The Telly Awards is the premier award honoring the best in video and TV across all screens, receiving more than 13,000 entries annually from 5 continents. And boo yah! We won. And I’m so proud. Our team put in a ton of long hours, a lot of heart, and maybe 3.5 million gallons of sweat into the first season of Vacation Creation, so it feels great to have it recognized and rewarded.

As a gracious winner, I will say congratulations to all the winners and thank YOU to all who who have been watching! 
The best news is to come- Vacation Creation will be back– and this time airing on ABC! So make sure you keep your Saturday morning open to watch on ABC starting October 7, 2017.

Now I just need to build a mantle to put this award on… Anyone know a good carpenter? 😉

100 Best Places: Mini Golf Edition

 

Ever wondered where that golf course was located in The Karate Kid? Or that one featured in Modern Family? Or my high school girl crush Avril Lavigne’s Girlfriend music video?

I found it! Welcome to Golf N’ Stuff– the most insane mini golf course I’ve ever been to in my entire life. Sure, it’s “mini” golf, but there’s nothing mini about this place… or EASY! I’m no Tiger Woods (well, on a lot of levels), but I can definitely get a hole in one. But, it took about 20 tries to get the one you see in my new 100 Best Places episode for TV Land. It’s definitely a challenging course!

So, here I won’t teach you HOW to golf, but you will get to see me drive a tiny train! Golf clap? … Thank you! 😉

It’s Time to Say Goodbye, But The Show Will Go On

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Today, thousands of people have come to Miami to party with the world’s biggest DJ’s and tens of thousands more are watching it all unfold on Ultra’s live stream. This is the first time in five years that I will not be there.

The question that is on a lot of people’s minds- well, according to my Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram – is: Where am I?

Well, I am currently at home in LA with zero makeup on and eating junk food. Shhh!

The real reason I am not in Miami is because, with a very heavy heart, I am no longer working with Ultra. If you have followed me on YouTube and social media, you will know that I’ve always wanted to host a travel show. After years and years of hard work, slaving away making YouTube videos for no money, it has finally paid off in the most incredible way: Vacation Creation. I was unable to fulfill my 2016 contract with Ultra due to filming and scheduling conflicts. And with Vacation Creation Season 2 now on the horizon, it’s time to pass the Ultra Live mic on to the very capable hands of Andrea Helfrich and the team at NOMOBO.

Uh. That was hard to write.

Ultra Live and the Ultra Family have been such an integral part of my success as a TV Host. I moved to LA in March of 2011 with nothing but a little bit in savings. I was a few years out of my expensive degree at NYU with barely any hosting credits, but a lot of waitressing experience! I decided that I would give it a year in LA – put everything I had into classes, learning, and auditioning- and if it didn’t work out, I would find a behind-the-scenes job in production.

Exactly a year later – March 2012 – I received an e-mail from this random Dutch guy Charly Friedrichs (aka THE FINAL KID). It was his second e-mail to me as the first one somehow didn’t make it to my inbox. I will never be able to live that down. He asked me if I wanted to host the live stream for Ultra. It was perfect timing as I had always wanted to go. A week later, I was in Miami. He took me under his wing, told me everything I needed to know about the DJ’s and the dance music culture, and together we had the time of our lives and created a live stream that made us proud. I casually mentioned that Ibiza and Buenos Aires were on my bucket list for personal travel, and lo and behold, within a few months I was at both with Ultra.

For the last five years, Ultra Live has been so much more than a job; it’s been a dream life. I’ve traveled the world, met incredible filmmakers, producers, and dj’s, and most importantly, had a family other than my own: The Ultra Family. It has always been the highlight of my year to reconnect with my Dutch production family, my Miami family, my DJ family, and the Ultra fan family. There really is no love like being at an Ultra event.

Here is a big thank you for an incredible five years: Charlie Faibisch, Russell Faibisch, Michael Faibisch, Cesar Rivera, Charly Friedrichs, Damien Pinto, Robert Buisman, Remco Evers, Constantijn van Duren, Sicco Dinnessen, Joost Hoozemans, Marieke Hoogendijk, Omar Peralta, Vinny Palatano, Jonathan Llewellyan, Katie Kansas, Jocelyn Lam, Jordyn Hartlein, Maria Bessonova, Tiago Machado, Hardwell, Armin van Buuren, Fedde Le Grand, Dash Berlin, Boris, Nicky Romero, Martin Garrix, Andie Helfrich, Dylan Landon, and the list goes on and on and on. You guys made my life, my job, and career that much better.

And most importantly, thank you to all the Ultranauts who have followed me and supported me these past five years. I hope you have enjoyed the live streams, the interviews, and all the quirky things I did in hopes of entertaining you. I hope that you will continue to support me on this next chapter of my life and career.

When one door closes, another opens, but man, it sure is bittersweet.

xx

Vacation Creation Season 2 Is Now Casting!

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Here we go! Vacation Creation Season 2 is officially beginning to cast!

If you haven’t seen the show (Saturday mornings on the CW), we take deserving people/families/couples on a trip of a lifetime. Throughout this season, Tommy Davidson and I have had the honor of witnessing a marriage, multiple vow renewals, help families heal from losses, and give performers a chance of a lifetime to headline a show on board a cruise.

As I’ve written before, this has been the most rewarding experience of my life and I would love to give more incredible vacations and make more once-in-a-lifetime memories with awesome people.

Call, e-mail, or submit here ASAP: https://pitmancastinginc.formstack.com/forms/vacation_show.

Hint hint: The casting process is quick!