Seeing myself on TV is funny, because when you’re talking with your friends, you see it one way. But when you see it aired, it all feels different. You realize people are watching, and you start critiquing yourself. So watching the premiere I felt exposed, but at the same time, I knew that I wanted to share my story – and I hope that’s what’s going to come out of this.

Also, on a different level, when we were filming I was struggling with the fact that I had gained a significant amount of weight for the first time in my life. When people see me in interviews now, I look quite a bit different than I do on the show. Personal trainers! Only get the hot ones. They will encourage you to come back. And then suddenly you’ll be wearing makeup to the gym, it’s really weird!

Of course, my friends and family have been so supportive. They loved watching the 30 minute preview. They also understand that this show is something that I did with a lot of trust, and that it’s difficult to put yourself out there and be vulnerable. The fact that I’m on the show, I have nothing to hide – it almost builds stronger bonds with me, my friends, and the community. And the community is very proud of Louisville being aired in such a beautiful light, which it deserves.

Shea, a diamondtini, and some gorgeous loaner jewelry.

With the charity event, we were very strapped for time, which was a concern from the get-go because that’s just not how Louisville works — you plan in advance. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be successful in anything that I do and I just know that we could have done better and that was my disappointment. So what we’ve learned is: we need to plan ahead. Because there were a lot of people who wanted to be there who didn’t know and didn’t have enough advance notice.

I think everyone contributed what they could contribute to the event. I was very very happy with the diamondtinis, and I am very appreciative to Anand for contributing the diamond and bringing jewelry out for the event, I thought that added something special.

On that topic — I was a little bit disturbed when Emily handed me the diamond necklace back. Jewels were brought down to us in hair and makeup, and she had really wanted to wear the one that was specifically brought for my dress. When she did not get that one she just decided to go with her own stuff while all the other girls were thrilled and enjoyed the idea that it’s a “princess ball” and they got to be princesses with loaner jewelry. When Emily wadded the necklace back up and handed it to me while I’m in the midst of getting my hair and makeup done and I’ve got nowhere to put something that’s so valuable and that was so generously lent to us, I was insulted.

Emily and I never discussed this – I actually went to Jeff and talked it through with him. I was emotional about having not raised the money that I would have liked to raise for the cause, and then that happened, so I went to my best friend, I went to Jeff. And he helped calm me and I put it in the past.

Shea: "Jeff and I had an instant connection."

Jeff and I met in college sophomore year. He was dating a girl in my sorority and I was dating a guy on his baseball team. We briefly met, and we had a little bit of a flirtatious relationship (which is not uncommon for Jeff). But it was really never pursued and we didn’t run in the same circles so nothing happened.

Then our five year college reunion came around, and he called me and asked if I would be his date to the reunion. Just a quick note: not only are most southern girls married by the time their 5 year college reunion comes around, it’s very southern to take a date to those events. So even though it was a little out of character for me, I jumped on a plane and met Jeff in South Carolina, and we went to the reunion, and we hit it off. And the story goes on (on TV!) since then.

Believe it or not, the ring shopping was Jeff’s idea. Both he and I felt after the reunion that we had an instant connection. He approached me about moving to Louisville ,and we were talking about marriage, family, getting a home, and our future lives together for quite a while. Ring shopping came up and we decided we were going to take that step. My father suggested going to Chicago, where he knew a dealer and there would be a better selection. So we picked a date and went! What girl is going to turn down an invitation to look at diamonds?

That said, I think the first episode (and the ring shopping scene particularly) gives a glimpse of me from a very superficial standpoint. I really don’t think it gets at the heart of me by any means — that’s something that’s going to be revealed in other episodes.

I enjoy nice things, I have nice things, I’m not ashamed to have them, but I don’t need them. And that’s why I am excited about having this new life with Jeff, because we’re going to have to figure it out together.

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