I have a confession to make, I am addicted to reality TV. I know, big shocker, so is the rest of the world. My addiction to The Biggest Loser hit an all time low when I found out Kristin Steede from season seven lived in my town. When I found out she lived one block away from my closest friend I did what any (not so) rational person would do, I stalked her. I stalked her Facebook, her Twitter, her blog, I drove by her house and I told everyone I knew where Kristin Steede lived. It got so bad my six year old knew when I was doing a drive by and would say, "There's the biggest loser house." I even almost ran her over while hitting the Panera drive-thru. For the record, this was an accidental meeting. I didn't follow her to Panera nor did I plan to run her over. Like most things in my life, my obsession didn't last long. Lucky for her I've lost interest.

My addiction, obsession, infatuation, call it what you will, has turned to a first-rate show on the History channel called American Pickers. Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz drive all over the country looking for treasure in other people's trash. They drive around looking for houses with junk in the yards, broken down cars in the driveway and anything rusty that looks like it might be worth some cash. I absolutely love it!

The guys and their shop, Antique Archeology, are located in LeClaire, IA which is only 20 minutes down the river from where I grew up. We were back home the second week of July and I knew I had to get to the shop and meet these guys. I called them, I left messages, I sent Tweets, I sent emails...ARE YOU IN TOWN? I NEED TO COME TO YOUR SHOP AND SEE YOU. WHY WON'T YOU TALK TO ME??!?? I got no response. (I'm pathetic, I know this, you don't need to tell me.) When Mike Wolfe posted on his Twitter he was going to the shop early I loaded up my kids and my dad and we headed to LeClaire.

We watch the show as a family, so my kids were just as excited as I was to be standing outside the shop. I found these really cool wire baskets that looked like they came from an old swimming pool locker room. The chick at the cash register said they weren't for sale, but I haggled with Mike Wolfe and got one for $20. I even managed to snag an autograph.






I was so excited to be there and to be meeting these people we watch on TV I think I checked my brains at the door. I had a conversation with Danielle, one of the girls on the show, and sounded like a complete idiot. I babbled on and on about how much we love the show and my grandma collects antiques and blah, blah, blah. She very graciously nodded her head like she was interested. I think I saw her throw me an eye roll or two.

I finally got up the nerve to ask Mike to pose for a picture with me and ofcourse he said yes. I gave the camera to my dad and while I was telling him how to use the camera he snapped this picture. The look on my face pretty much sums up how big of an idiot I felt like the entire time.


Make sure to set your DVRs because Mike said my baskets will be in an upcoming American Pickers. Very cool!