What I Learned in Los Angeles

I am back from my whirlwind trip to Los Angeles where I was part of the national kickoff rally for ConAgra Foods' Child Hunger Ends Here campaign.

I blogged yesterday about our trip to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. 

But yesterday was so packed, so busy, so moving, so exciting and so stimulating that as I sat down to write about it on the plane I didn't know where to start. 

So I thought I'd look at it a bit differently.  Rather than just recapping, I thought I'd share some of the unusual things I learned on our trip to the set of Desperate Housewives.

Here we go.

It is harder to get onto the lot at Universal Studios than it was to get into Mexico last week.  Not kidding.  This thing was truly a golden ticket.

Most of the houses on the set were actually used on other TV and movie sets before.  For instance, one of the homes was Beaver's house on "Leave it to Beaver."

And this one was the original Munster's house.

The houses and rooms in them are every so slightly shrunken.  I felt a bit like Snow White.

Here I am in Susan's kitchen.

Ever wonder what the second floor of Susan's house looks like?

Nothing.  It isn't finished.  Most of the homes are like this with just select areas built out.

Ali Sweeney is a class act.  She was one of the celebrities who came by to donate items for an upcoming online celebrity auction (I'll have details on that in the coming weeks) to benefit Child Hunger Ends Here and she took the time to come talk to our group.

Jessica from It's My Life, me, Ali Sweeney and Judy from Dirt Road Musings

If you get your picture taken next to a reality TV star (like Gretchen from the Real Housewives of Orange County) you will realize that your face is twice as wide as theirs.

David Arquette is cool and gracious and genuine.  I am officially now a fan.

If you drive around Universal Studios in a van with tinted windows, the tourists on the tour trolleys think you are possibly someone cool and wave and take photos of your van.

The flowers are all fake.  Even the flowering trees.

The grass, however, is real.  And you aren't supposed to walk on it (I am on the sidewalk here, being the rule follower that I am).

Unless you are Brenda Strong and actually a part of the cast (even if you are dead).  Then the grass is fair game.

If you need to use the bathroom, Bri's house is the one with the multi-stall facilities.

TV cameras trump blogger cameras.

There are 13 amazing women in this photo that I was honored to spend time with and get to know.

Back row: Tamara from The Unexperienced Mom, Andrea from Savvy Sassy Moms, Judy from Dirt Road Musings, Kelly from The Centsible Life
Middle row: Melinda from Look What Mom Found, Jenny from The Suburban Jungle, Me, Courtney from Detroit Mommies, Andrea from Mommy Snacks

Front row: Christie from Inside the Chatterbox, Laura  from My Dallas Mommy, Danielle from Extraordinary Mommy, Niri  from Mommy Niri, Jessica from It's My Life

But above all, what I learned was what an honor it was (and is) to be a part of such an important project to raise funds for, and awareness of, the fight against children's hunger.

If you'd like to see all of the photos from this event, please visit The Snyder 5 on Facebook.

Thanks to ConAgra Foods, Feeding America, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and everyone who was involved for pulling together such an outstanding program for an incredibly important issue.

Once I get more than three hours of sleep I am going to kick my own event's planning into high gear.  I hope you will consider doing the same.



Disclosure: I am honored to be a blogging correspondent for ConAgra Foods during this campaign.  As such, ConAgra Foods has provided me with background, information and a stipend to cover some of the costs I will incur.  The words and beliefs are mine.