The Extra-Long Lasting Challenge had a tiny over-bite. Nicole took on-going teasing about chipping her two front teeth by diving into the shallow end of the pool with a great sense of humor. In fact her jokes were just as good if not better than everyone else on the crews. Have I mentioned that Nicole does a hilarious impression of me? Well, I should clarify that she does an impression of everyone on set, the crew and other competitors. So I am just one of many… and she’s really good, and very funny. So, even though she’s totally making fun of you, you’re totally laughing right along with everyone else.

I found a fellow Harry Potter fan in Hollie. We shot that challenge right when book 7 was released, so I snuck a copy in to Hollie. After that it was impossible for the production team to get us to be quiet because we were whispering back and forth for days about the characters and the story. And what you may not know, is being on a reality show is exhausting – All the players are up and working out with their trainers early, all day every day. So, it took Hollie forever to get through HP, and I was seriously dying for her to have time to read so we could talk about it. As you all know who’ve read it – there is just SO MUCH to discuss… but that is for a different blog. Lol.

Anyway, I was sad to say goodbye to B this week. And the red team. It was a really hard time for Kim as well as B. He has done an amazing job on campus and it was so sweet to hear him talk about how being a part of BL has changed his life.

How AWESOME were the make-overs??? Didn’t you just cry with each reunion?! And how fantastic everyone looks?! I was so excited for everyone! Even though I had to shoot Days at the same time, I was running back and forth to the wardrobe area and I got to see Hollie, Kae and Isabeau trying on their new clothes. They all looked so great – and happy to be out of work-out gear! But Kae surprised me the most, she was all giggly and so excited to be girly – I guess I’m just so used to seeing her so focused, she is ‘Bob’s soldier’ after all!

It was also fun for all my Days’ friends to come over and meet the contestants. Kristian was SO sweet – she brought a necklace from her jewelry line, Hope, Faith Miracles (www.faithmiracles.com) for each of the ladies. They were all so touched! Also, they were excited meeting their first fans! Because I’ve spent so much time talking about them – without giving anything away! – with my castmates, that Martha (Belle), Brandon (Shawn), Julie (Billie) and Jay (Philip) couldn’t wait to go over and meet them because they are such huge fans of Biggest Loser. Talk about world colliding! I was all over the place that day – making introductions, learning lines for both shows, changing wardrobe, sneaking in to watch the ‘loved-one surprise’, not to mention hosting a dinner party!

Finally, a challenge close to home! First of all, I work out at 24 Hour, so that was familiar, but then it was weird showing up to a gym, and then getting my hair and make-up done in a locker room, to look nice, rather than getting all sweaty and gross. The other nice thing about shooting locally, is I was finally able to invite my friends and family to come watch. My mom and dad came with my brother and his new wife (they were married last Christmas) and Dave came for a little bit. As well as Bryan (Dattilo, Days) and Kyle (Brandt) stopped by later in the evening.

We didn’t start shooting until after 9pm, which definitely made for a late night. I think we wrapped around 3am the next morning. A long day – given that I had been shooting at Days since 6:45am that morning. But never mind my schedule – I can only imagine how brutal it was for everyone competing in a triathlon until 2am. But, man did Hollie kick butt in that swimming pool or what?

This was such a great idea. Ever since my character on Days had a “Green Wedding” I have been even more aware of all the little things we can do to help the environment. I now incorporate some of the things I learned during that storyline when I’m throwing parties or just in everyday life. So, I was really excited that Biggest Loser was doing something for the environment too! And happy to see how everyone embraced the theme this week. A little grumbling from Bill (justifiably afraid of going back into the desert with Jillian) aside, they all were enthusiastic about learning ways they can be more eco-friendly.

Days ‘adopted’ a park last weekend. A whole bunch of actors and crew from the show met up at a local park, and we planted trees, raked leaves and generally got the place looking pretty good. (I must say!) It was part of NBC/Universal’s campaign to bring awareness to being ‘Green’. And not in a Kermit kind of way.

Actually, this has been quite a ‘Green’ year for me! This spring, Lucas and Sami got married in a eco-friendly wedding. And that was such a big awakening for me. I learned there are more ways to help the environment than just recycling. During the Lumi wedding, Bryan and I had a bunch of scenes about ways the ceremony and reception could be more earth-minded. And it was so cool how we got all these local vendors to help us make the event really special.