{"id":7099,"date":"2012-05-26T23:54:29","date_gmt":"2012-05-26T16:54:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/?p=7099"},"modified":"2012-05-27T00:15:31","modified_gmt":"2012-05-26T17:15:31","slug":"not-staying-idle-at-americas-idol-finale-after-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/not-staying-idle-at-americas-idol-finale-after-party\/","title":{"rendered":"Not Staying Idle at American Idol’s Finale After Party"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Lori Cunningham<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I\u00a0received\u00a0an email a week ago, it’s the kind of e-mail you hope for but never dream it would happen to you. \u00a0I can now say, yes, it has happened to me. \u00a0The e-mail was from Ford<\/a>\u00a0asking me if I would like to attend the American Idol<\/a> Finale as their guest. \u00a0It took me three seconds to formulate a response. \u00a0Three seconds only because I hesitated as I wished my husband could go with me. \u00a0A second reading of the e-mail made it clear that I could invite one guest. \u00a0Score! \u00a0I couldn’t wait to tell my husband the news.<\/p>\n

My husband was beside himself. \u00a0My 9-year-old daughter? \u00a0Less than thrilled, only because I had chosen my\u00a0husband\u00a0over her. \u00a0Wow. \u00a0A day or two later I was informed that Ford had also secured two VIP tickets for us to the after party! \u00a0Wow, it just kept getting better! \u00a0We couldn’t wait!<\/p>\n

With the help of my great in-laws and some friends, we were free and clear to go. \u00a0Although\u00a0my daughter was disappointed she couldn’t go, she was happy we got to go, and besides, we might be able to score her some autographs. \u00a0Hollie Cavanagh was her favorite and her top request for an autograph.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Finale<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We had a fun dinner with some great representatives of Ford. \u00a0They ordered all sorts of fun appetizers and the desserts were so cool – mini replicas of childhood favorites! \u00a0Soon afterwards we made our way into the theater. \u00a0The Nokia theater seats 20,000 people! \u00a0And you know what? \u00a0They all showed up! \u00a0Walking into the theater was a thrill. \u00a0It looked just like it does during the show, only bigger. \u00a0We sat about 25 rows back from the front on the Orchestra level, towards the left of the stage. \u00a0How I wish I could have taken pictures to show you, but then again, if you watched the show, you saw it!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It was a thrill watching Rhiana, Aerosmith, Jennifer Lopez, Reba, Neil Diamond, Chaka Kahn, and more. \u00a0But to tell you the truth, my favorite performance was between Jessica Sanchez and Jennifer Holliday<\/a>. \u00a0Wow, it was incredible and watching the gestures on\u00a0Jennifer’s\u00a0face was a crack-up. \u00a0Jessica said later in an interview that she and Jennifer only practiced the song together once. \u00a0Jessica is\u00a0truly\u00a0a phenomenal singer and I have no doubt she will do well in her career. \u00a0She was my favorite going to the finale, but it struck me while I was in the audience that Phillip\u00a0Phillips\u00a0would win because of his style, confidence in who he is, and all American boyish looks. \u00a0I loved how he couldn’t finish his “Home<\/a>” song at the end and instead went to hug his parents. \u00a0Being a mom, I was very teary-eyed at that gesture.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The After Party!<\/span><\/h2>\n

Wow, what a fun party. \u00a0Although there were several after parties that night, this was the big sponsored party put on my Ford, Coke, and Fox. \u00a0I figured our chances of seeing the young Idol stars were pretty good as they would no doubt be scheduled to make a\u00a0presence, since the party was thrown by the main sponsors of the show. \u00a0The party took place \u00a0in a big white tent, on the top floor of a nine-floor parking garage! \u00a0The tent was huge, nearly as big as a football field.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Once inside, you completely forgot you were in a tent on the top of a parking garage! \u00a0As soon as you walk in you see Ford’s new 2013\u00a0Ford Escape. \u00a0This is the one I read about where you don’t need any hands on the car or your key FOB to open the liftgate. \u00a0Simply kick your foot underneath the back of the car and the liftgate opens for you. \u00a0Amazing. \u00a0If a dog runs or a ball rolls underneath the back of the car, it won’t open. \u00a0This is because it only opens if you have the key FOB nearby like in your purse or pocket. \u00a0I love Ford’s innovation.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Anyways, back to the party. \u00a0The food was good and generous. \u00a0Lots of variety. \u00a0It was a buffet but they also had waiters passing by with appetizers, which was good when you found yourself talking and unable to get to the buffet line. \u00a0Although I love food, I don’t necessarily call myself a “foodie.” \u00a0But a “dessertie” I am! \u00a0If there’s dessert, I’m all over it! \u00a0They had two tables set in the back with rice crispy balls on a stick, mini flourless petit four cakes (yum), mini churros, some great berries with fresh cream, and a gourmet marshmallow type of s’mores. \u00a0I was successfully able to fill every last nook and cranny in my\u00a0stomach\u00a0with these delightful treats.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"\"\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

They had swanky chairs and couches on platforms throughout the tent. \u00a0A huge bar in the middle, with a couple more conveniently located around the outside. \u00a0Drinks were free and free-flowing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Stars<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

We were able to meet up with a few of the Idol stars for a few autographs and pics. \u00a0Unbelievably, Hollie Cavanagh<\/strong> walked right by me as I was talking with a new friend. \u00a0She was my first sighting and the top person my daughter wanted me to meet! \u00a0I gently tapped her and asked her for an autograph. \u00a0She happily obliged. \u00a0I liked her, very gracious and\u00a0accommodating. \u00a0She slipped away and I continued talking until I realized, yikes! \u00a0I didn’t get a picture of her. \u00a0Off I went quickly navigating the crowd until I found her again. \u00a0Being a bit\u00a0embarrassed, I politely\u00a0apologized\u00a0for stalking her. \u00a0Hollie graciously obliged again. \u00a0My daughter would be thrilled!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

The next star on my daughter’s agenda was Jessica Sanchez<\/strong>. \u00a0Jessica was not nearly as accessible nor had the flexibility of time. \u00a0She is a beautiful young girl, stunning really. \u00a0And yes, just as bit as skinny and petite as she looks on TV. \u00a0I was able to pose with her as she made her descent from the raised “star lounge.” \u00a0Just in the nick of time before her body guard drew her away.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

My husband was able to catch Phillip Phillips<\/strong> on camera before he too exited the after party. \u00a0He was enjoying “taking it all in.” \u00a0I can imagine he won’t fully believe he won the Idol title for a week or two. \u00a0He’s living the dream.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/h2>\n

<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

We were able to intercept Joshua Ledet<\/strong> as he exited through the front door. \u00a0Joshua is an amazing singer, I really wanted to see him in the finale. \u00a0I love his attitude, his free-spirit, and vocals. \u00a0He is also very friendly, happy, and cordial in person. \u00a0A class act.
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Remember Jeremy Rosado<\/strong>? \u00a0He too was very generous and warm…very open to pictures and autographs. \u00a0I asked him if he was going to follow up with J. Lo to see if she could help his career, since Jeremy was one of her favorites throughout the show. \u00a0She said he’s hoping to catch up with her that to find out.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It was a real pleasure meeting Elise Testone<\/strong>. \u00a0She is a fun, bubbly, humorous young lady with a lot of spirit. \u00a0She too was very gracious in signing autographs and posing for pictures. She was another of my daughter’s favorites.<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

One more of my daughter’s favorites was Skylar Laine<\/strong>. \u00a0Full of gusto on the show, Skylar was a bit distracted when we met her. \u00a0She wasn’t as friendly as we thought she would be. \u00a0She did pose for pictures and sign her autograph for us. \u00a0I’ll chalk it up to her being pulled in various directions that night and she probably had something on her mind.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Now I would be remiss if I didn’t show you the fun new gadget I met at the after party. \u00a0Coke has a new vending machine that incorporates a touch screen. \u00a0How cool is that! \u00a0It’s a huge touchscreen too that plays videos (notice the newscasters\u00a0talking\u00a0about American Idol on top?) and gives you a full-size picture of each of the drinks in the vending machine. \u00a0You touch the drink you want, confirm it, and it pops out into the tray below. \u00a0Slick!<\/p>\n

Phew! \u00a0At the end of the night, my dogs were barking. \u00a0I’m not used to wearing 4-inch healed boots. \u00a0OK, maybe they were 2-inches, but they sure felt like 4! \u00a0My husband and I sat back on the leather couches, soaking it all in, and pounded the water. \u00a0Ahhhh, what a night.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

* \u00a0I was given American Idol Finale tickets, dinner, and the after party tickets by Ford without anything expected in return. \u00a0I am grateful for this opportunity, thank you, Ford.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ford invited the WellconnectedMom.com for an incredible night at American Idol’s finale at the Nokia Theater as well as the After Party. We caught up with some of the great young stars from the show.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7116,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[747,14,801],"tags":[1141,1142,1150,748,1147,1143,1149,1144,1148,1145,1146,1151,1152],"class_list":["post-7099","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cars-2","category-moms","category-shows","tag-american-idol","tag-coke","tag-elsie-testone","tag-ford","tag-hollie-canavagh","tag-idol","tag-jeremy-rosado","tag-jessica-sanches","tag-joshua-ledet","tag-philip-philips","tag-skylar-laine","tag-touchscreen-coke","tag-touchscreen-vending-machine","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2012\/05\/American-Idol-Finale-11-Copy-400.jpg?fit=220%2C400&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7099","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7099"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7099\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7099"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7099"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7099"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}