Bachelor Recap Episode 8: Hometown Visits!

I just love hometown visits week on the Bachelor!  We had the best experience when Sean brought Emily home to meet us on the Bachelorette.  I just know all four of the families were so excited to meet Sean and more importantly, see their daughters!  

Here are some quick facts about hometown dates:
1. While the contestants are not filming their specific date, they stay in LA and hang out with their handlers.  Sean had the best time with his handler Adam during this time period.  He went to a baseball game, a basketball game, he went to the beach, had massages, ate at fun restaurants...he was completely spoiled!  They do not see the other 3 contestants until the rose ceremony after the hometowns are complete.

2. The contestants fly into their hometown with the crew and only see their family on the one specific day of filming.  They don't spend the night at home.  When Sean brought Emily home, we saw him for the first time that morning when they filmed him walking into the back yard and then he left with the crew that night and flew back to LA.

3. The contestants do get to decide what they want to do on their dates.  They get to pick the activity and stuff themselves.

Being the travel agent that I am...we're going to look at these cities one at a time and do the pros and cons of Sean falling in love with a girl that lives in a different city...let's let the city speak for itself...

AshLee in Houston

There are a lot of pros to Sean marrying a Houston girl...

First, as you can see on my map here...her family would only be a few hours from mine.  This would make holiday gatherings so easy and convenient   Plus, if Sean and AshLee decided to move to Houston, he wouldn't be far from us.  And their children would be Texans through and through.

Plus...I love seeing the Red Sox play the Astros because that stadium is awesome!  Since he doesn't have a Boston girl in the top 4, this is a pretty good baseball angle for me...and you know, I always love a baseball angle.

And a recipe to go with AshLee's date...Tex Mex, of course!  My Fiesta Chicken with Rice pairs nicely with a Houston gal.

My favorite part of AshLee's date was listening to her dad talk about falling in love with her.  That was such a special story told by a man with such a big heart.  I wanted to give him the rose!

Catherine in Seattle

Seattle would be a beautiful location for me to visit if Sean picks Catherine.  Let's see the pros...

Well, first of all...it's so outdoorsy!  And I love all things outdoors!  (Well...not really.  I have no desire to go camping...sleeping and pottying outside do not sound like things I want to do!  But hiking, shopping, dining and seeing a Mariners game sound like lovely outdoors activities!)

And...if you know me, you know that I am OBSESSED with Frasier.  I know, I know...weird, right?  But I love to watch it before bed at night.  It's relaxing and mindless and funny all at the same time.  And well...it takes place in Seattle, so that gives this city a big bonus in my eyes (yes, I know it was actually filmed in some Hollywood sound studio but I like to pretend!).

And when I think Seattle...I think coffee.  My Chocolate Coffee Hazelnut Bundt Cake is the recipe that reminds me of Seattle.

My favorite part of this date was the honesty of Catherine's family.  I am not one to sugarcoat things, so I appreciate how honest and direct her family was.  It's tempting to just go along with things since cameras are there...so I highly respect them for being truthful despite the cameras and crew filming them.  They really showed how much they love Catherine and really had her best interests at heart.

Lindsay in Fort Leonard Wood

We are blended family of Texans and obnoxious show-me state Missourians over here at the Shull house, so Lindsay would fit right in!

Andrew's family is from Joplin, so if Sean picks Lindsay, we will be near her family too.  Right now, our family is dominated by Texans with just little old Andrew representing Missouri by himself...he needs someone else to be on his team :).

And come on?!  Her dad is a Two Star General!  That is so impressive that I think General Yenter deserves to be a "pro" on my list today.

And since I'm married to a Missouri boy, I know what the people of the Midwest like...meat and potatoes!  My Coach's Stack would win the heart of any Missouri lady (or gentleman!).

My favorite part of Lindsay's date was when her and Sean were just walking around the town square.  That seemed so normal and just like something a real couple would do on a weekend (no harnesses or helmets needed to be involved in this date...perhaps the first time this season!).

Desiree in LA

Sweet Des made it to hometown dates but it didn't go well for her after that.

A little Hollywood would have been a fun addition to our family...but sadly, she didn't get the rose.  I haven't had the opportunity to meet Des but she seems beautiful both inside and out.  She was one of my favorite girls this season by a mile.

Too bad he didn't pick her...I was hoping that if she were my new sister-in-law, I could somehow find my way onto the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.  I love these ladies :).

And to me, nothing says Hollywood more than Champagne.  My Pink Champagne Bundt Cake would even delight a Housewife.

I felt so bad for Des.  I would have been mortified and so angry if my brother would have acted the way her brother acted.  Des is such a sweet girl with a big heart...I can only imagine that watching last night's episode was really sad for her and her parents.  Such a beautiful girl!

Don't forget, tonight is Sean Tells All  at 9/8c.

And to see more of my delicious recipes, click here.

Don't forget, A Bachelorette Told Me To is up and hysterical!.

For the rest of my Bachelor recaps, click here.

Ok, next up...three girls and a guy head to Thailand.  That sounds really far away...