Audrina Patridge blogs about DWTS: 'My muscles ache every night'

When the show asked me to participate, I was instantly on board – no hesitation! I did tap, jazz and ballet when I was eight years old, but that doesn't really count because ballroom dancing is such a different animal. It's actually a lot harder than I'd thought. But I'm loving every second of it!

Tony [Dovolani] and I have been rehearsing for about two and a half weeks so far, and my muscles ache every night. The first week I had the worst blisters from getting used to dancing in heels. Funny thing is now when I get pedicures I tell them not to take the calluses off. I actually want calluses on my feet because then they don't hurt as much when I'm dancing. But you know what they say: some of the most beautiful dancers in the world have the ugliest feet!

I'm developing all the muscles in my back, my core, my calves, my thighs – everything is getting very toned. I keep telling Tony that if I feel like this in two weeks, I can't wait for another month to go by.

Patridge also enjoys getting to know her fellow competitors, including Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey, 50, and Brady Bunch maven Florence Henderson, 76:

One of my favorite movies is Dirty Dancing, so you can only imagine how excited I was to learn that Jennifer Grey was on the cast! I absolutely adore her. I am such a big fan! We see each other in the rehearsal studio all the time. She gave me a care package with a ton of bandages for my feet and a B12 shot. She saved me!

I was also excited to meet Florence Henderson because I loved The Brady Bunch when I was little. She just has this amazing aura about her. She's so sweet nice and has the best sense of humor. Rick Fox is really funny, too.

We're all very nervous about doing our first dance on Monday night. Tony and I are doing the cha cha to Katy Perry's "California Gurls." It's a really fun, vibrant, sexy, girly dance. My outfit is very bright with lots of movement. You look at it, and you just think, "California girl." I hope everybody enjoys it!

Season 11 of DWTS premieres Sept. 20 on ABC.