THAT TIME I DID NOT GET CAST ON FOOD NETWORK

It was a Monday afternoon in May when I got the email.  It claimed to be a casting agent from Food Network interested in talking with me about a cookie show.  My first thought was that it was not real.  I off-handedly mentioned it to my friends while we waited for our daughters to finish dance class and laughed.  As dance finished off, I re-read the email and found that there was also a DM for me on Instagram from the same person.  After a little research, it looked legit(ish).  I mean really, how was I supposed to know?

I emailed back, and he called me later that afternoon while I was in the middle of grocery pickup with the twins - a fantastic time to have a mini-interview with a casting person. 🤦🏻‍♀️ As it turns out, they were in the final weeks of casting for the Christmas Cookie Challenge (which films in the summer months), and he had come across my Willflowers Bake Shoppe Instagram and reached out to see if I would be interested in applying.

For me, it was a no-brainer.  I had recorded and watched the whole season last year, and though it never crossed my mind to apply, I certainly thought it had looked like fun to compete.  That night, I filled out the application and sent in pictures of my cookies and our life as were requested.  Then, I laid in bed dreaming of grandeur once I was finally a television star.  I kid, I kid.  Mostly. 😜

They scheduled me for a Skype interview the next week, and I became a teeny bit obsessed with baking shows and rewatched some of the Christmas Cookie Challenge from last year to know what I would be getting in to.  I thought I might actually get cast.  I am fun and talkative and fun.  Did I mention fun?  And good at making pretty cookies. (I also hung snow-flake bunting behind me to underline how much I like Christmas.  I considered wearing a crazy Christmas wig, because I have a couple on hand, but decided to go more normal.  Still not sure whether that was a good move or not. 🤷🏻‍♀️)

But, I also knew I might not get cast, which is what I mostly told people to manage all of our expectations.  Because there are a million amazing cookiers out there (I follow a LOT of them on Instagram and am regularly blown away by the talent on display), and I am a white lady baker which is the epitome of obvious.  The morning of the interview came, and John and I figured out where I should be and what I should wear and did a practice Skype call to make sure it worked.  The casting lady that I spoke with was super personable, and we had a great 25 minute chat about cookies and baking and life.  I think it went about as well as it could have.  After about two weeks, I got a depressing little form email stating that I would not be cast, but they would keep my info on file for future shows that I might be a good fit for.

Here's the deal.  My baking range up until now has been largely decorated sugar cookies and other random things that interest me in the moment.  At the end of the day, my understanding is that they needed people with a bit more cookie baking variety.  Or, maybe I just wasn't a good fit.  The form letter certainly didn't include the reasoning behind my rejection.

Because I am a naturally optimistic person, I pretty quickly re-framed the whole thing into a positive experience.  It felt good that they even reached out to me and interviewed me.  I am a little home baker with a little Instagram account, and it was nice to be noticed and applauded for my baking efforts.  It was a good learning experience to go through the process, and I am working to broaden my baking repertoire to increase my chances for next year.  It's also a good reminder that not all dreams become a reality.  Granted, I had not thought to dream of being on Food Network for more than about two weeks, but once I wanted it - I really did.  I wasn't devastated, but I was disappointed.

So, here's to dreams that come true and dreams that don't.  I'm gonna change some things up that might increase my chances, but ultimately, I can only be a better version of myself - not anyone else.  In the end, I do want to be a better version of my baking self and learn and grow and try new things and take my baking to new heights.  Maybe it will be next year, and maybe it will never be, but I do plan to throw my name in the ring again!