Erin Murphy's 16 minutes

My Review of Smash

2012-01-25T16:46:00.000-08:00

I saw the preview episode of the new NBC series Smash on an airplane today & let me be one of the first to say that I smell a hit!The show follows the making of a broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe & the two young actresses vying for the lead (Katharine McPhee & Megan Hilty). I can't even remember who won American Idol the year Katharine McPhee was the runner up, but hopefully she won't be in 2nd place this time. The pilot reportedly cost $7.5 million with a budget of approximately $3.5 million per episode. With a cast that includes Debra Messing & Anjelica Huston & a production team that includes Stevn Speilberg, I can practically guarantee that this Glee meets American Idol & Chorus Line will be a SMASH! The series premieres on Monday, February 6th at 10:00 PM, but you can download the pilot for free right now on ITunes.

Showered With Gifts

2012-01-23T09:42:00.000-08:00

One of the wonderful advantages of being 'semi-famous' is being invited to Gifting Suites. In the days leading up to virtually every awards ceremony (Golden Globes, Emmys, Academy Awards, etc.), Gifting Lounges pop up all over town at hotels & sound stages. The Suites are a win/win situation for everyone involved. The companies are able to get their products in the hands of some high profile folks & in return the celebrities are gifted with some fabulous items! Over the years, I've gotten game systems, toys, bikes & adorable clothes for my kids & some wonderful things for myself & husband too. I'm more than happy to wear the items to red carpet events & when I tell the company owners that I love their products, I MEAN IT! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!

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Alpaca Porn

2012-01-11T09:51:00.000-08:00

It's Wednesday, otherwise known as "Hump Day", so what better way to celebrate than a little alpaca porn.. which has proven to be very popular with my blog readers. This is one of my black girls, Toscana, with her boyfriend Champion Canzelle's Swahili. Alpaca color genetics are very confusing, but we're hoping for a grey baby, which is the rarest alpaca color. White is the most common. The video gives a good example of the male alpaca "orgling".Follow @Erin_Murphy

We Vacuumed Our Dogs!

2012-01-08T11:59:00.000-08:00

I'm not embarrassed to say that I asked for a vacuum cleaner for Christmas. With a house full of kids & pets a vacuum cleaner is a necessity! Actually anything that keeps our home cleaner & more organized is a necessity. I received the amazing Dyson Animal with the pet grooming attachment. As soon as Darren & I took down all the Christmas decorations, we decided it was time to "vacuum the dogs". The attachment is similar to a dog slicker brush; but instead of leaving piles of hair all over the floor & stuck to our clothes, it cleverly sucks up the hair as you brush. I'd have to say the first time you use it is a two person job, but once Zuma & Lucky got used to it, they sat happily. I swear they smiled!

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Making TV Magic

2012-01-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

Now that the Press Dome Campaign is running, I can show you a little behind the scenes footage. One version of the commercial has a segment with & little wink & nod to Bewitched Magic. I'm frequently asked about how we make things appear & disappear on Bewitched. Here's a little video tutorial that gives a good example of the "freeze process". Kids love the results if you want to try a little movie making on your own.

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Beneath The Darkness Premiere

2012-01-05T08:59:00.001-08:00

Last night my hubby & I went to the premiere of Dennis Quaids' new film Beneath the Darkness at the Egyptian Theater. For the first time in his career Dennis played a bad guy & once I got used to that idea I kind of liked it. Co-starring in the film & also co-producing is my old pal Brett Cullen. Brett & I worked together over 20 years ago in a western TV series called Young Riders. That show was also the launching pad for future Academy Award winners Melissa Leo & Josh Brolin.After exiting the theater I was met by a friendly crowd of autograph seekers. Just fyi, if you ever see me out & about I'm always happy to sign anything. The fact that people still ask is beyond flattering. Although, it does make me wonder how people seem to have an endless supply of Bewitched 8 X 10s on hand...Follow @Erin_Murphy

Press Dome Campaign

2012-01-03T18:01:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to talk about this since we shot a few months ago, but I had to wait until the Press Dome campaign rolled out. I'm really excited about this product from United Home Tech/ Chef Concepts. The project was a pleasure start to finish: especially working with the amazing team at Cesari Direct up in Seattle. They sent me samples before we shot, so I was able to use them in real life situations & they really do work great! They can keep dinner warm for up to an hour. They're perfect for bringing snacks to school, a game or

a party, they can stick directly to the kitchen countertop & in my favorite test for freshness, they kept Sprinkles red velvet cupcakes fresh for seven days! I think they would have kept them fresh even longer, but we ate them. www.pressdome.com http://unitedhometech.com/Follow @Erin_Murphy

All About Eggs

2012-01-02T13:23:00.000-08:00

I've received a lot of mail asking about chickens & eggs, so I'll try to answer some of your questions. There are many different varieties of chickens, we currently have 5. Some chickens are dual purpose, eggs & meat. But we ONLY eat the eggs. I'd have a hard time eating a pet that we've raised from a chick. The chicken pictured in this post, Marzipan, (photo credit: Christopher Ameruoso for OK! Magazine) is a silkie chicken. I like to refer to them as the "kittens" of the chicken world. Silkies are darling, fluffy & very mild-mannered. They are wonderful with children & will sit happily on your lap. Every time someone new sees one of our silkies they ask "What is that?". I have several friends who've gotten chickens after meeting mine. Silkies do lay eggs & the eggs are about 1/2 the size of a regular chicken egg (see photo for comparison to a Buff Orpington egg). They taste the same & they're perfect for recipes & as a "diet" egg. Farm raised eggs really do taste better & it's nice to know that our eggs come from happy chickens!Follow @Erin_Murphy

Healthy Cooking Segment- Avocado Chocolate Mousse?

2012-01-01T08:27:00.000-08:00

HAPPY 2012!!Let's start the New Year with a healthy cooking segment: Avocado Chocolate Mousse. I know it sounds weird, but It's delicious! If you don't tell people that avocado is the main ingredient, they'll NEVER figure it out!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_yQIWmMagE

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Alpacas Mating

2011-12-31T08:48:00.000-08:00

I thought you might enjoy this PG video of one of my alpacas, Brighton, visiting her boyfriend, Champion Canzelle's Mombasa. Alpacas are induced ovulators,like bunnies, which means they don't come into heat. The act of mating causes them to ovulate. The male alpaca makes a funny sound called "orgling' while mating. Alpacas are pregnant for about 11.5 months, so we're hoping for an 11/2012 baby. Baby alpacas are called cria & are one of the most adorable things on the planet!http://youtu.be/g8WGaqUWv5UFollow @Erin_Murphy

Have a Magical Holiday Season!

2011-12-22T11:54:00.000-08:00

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Magical Alpacas!

2011-12-16T18:38:00.001-08:00

We're featured in the 12/26/2011 issue of OK! Magazine.My two yearling alpacas, Latte & Cinnamon. Photo by the amazing Christopher Ameruoso.Follow @Erin_Murphy

My How They've Grown

2011-07-18T16:21:00.001-07:00

Sally, Spot & Omelette explore outside on 7/18 while the kids swim! We can't let them out unsupervised: we've got hawks, owls & coyotes nearby...Follow @Erin_Murphy

Summer Chicks! June 4th!

2011-07-18T16:19:00.001-07:00

Sally, Spot & Omelette

Farm Fresh Eggs!

2011-07-18T11:28:00.001-07:00

This year in addition to fruits & vegetables, we're adding something new to our garden: chickens! Despite the fact that I love animals, I've always had a slight fear of birds. I think this can be traced back to some traumatic childhood experiences. Once while riding my bike, an enormous black crow swooped down & plucked hair from my head & knocked me to the ground. Also, as a young teen, I was chased daily by a pair of swans, who would follow & peck at me when I sailed past their nest. I've also had some negative experiences with angry geese & roosters. Surprisingly, when our local feed store mentioned that they had chicks for sale, with very little prodding from the kids, I quickly agreed. I learned a couple interesting facts: The reason you can get 1 day old chicks is because they don't nurse & are separated from the hens before they hatch. Also, they can determine the sex of a newborn chick with over 90% accuracy. This is important because many people want eggs only, not baby chicks & many neighborhoods don't allow roosters.
The chicks have been delightful, funny, friendly, EASY pets so far. We have seven: 2 Buff Orpingtons (Sally & Omelette), 1 Plymouth Barred Rock (Spot), 1 Black Sex-Link (Dot), 1 Americauna (Dot) & 2 Black Silkies- pictured above (Disco & Daiquiri). I'll fill you in on their personalities & more as we undertake our adventure in farm fresh eggs!!
Follow Me on Twitter: twitter.com/Erin_Murphy

Farm Fresh Eggs!

2011-07-18T11:16:00.000-07:00

This year in addition to growing fruits & vegetables, we've decided to add chickens, so we can have fresh free range eggs. To be perfectly candid, as much as I love animals, I have a slight fear of birds. I think this comes from several childhood incidents. Once a large crow swooped down & actually plucked hair from my head while I road my bike. I was also chased daily by swans when I was a young teen when I sailed by their nest.
But, when our local feed store was offering chicks for sale, with very little prompting from the kids, I very quickly agree. Much to my surprise, the chicks have turned out to be delightful, funny, easy pets! We have seven so far: 2 Buff Orpingtons (Sally & Omelette), 1 Plymouth Barred Rock (Spot), 1 Black Sex-Link (Dot), 1 Amer
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Drag U Promo!

2010-09-16T13:53:00.000-07:00

Watch

Rupaul's Drag U

2010-06-06T10:59:00.000-07:00

See if you can spot me in the promo clip!

TMZ Caught Me With No Makeup!

2010-04-17T07:03:00.000-07:00

Here's my paparazzi moment from this week. Of course they caught me after a workout with no makeup!

http://www.mefeedia.com/video/30561682

This Week

2010-04-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I chaperoned the fourth grade field trip, then we went to see a taping of The Doctors about autism. After the show, the Glee kids were waiting at the Paramount valet with us. They're all so cute (& all have brand new cars)!

Also, went out on a school night this week! I'm a girl who usually falls asleep watching TV with my hubby around 10:00 PM. Went to see Mark Ballas (Dancing With the Stars) sing at The Mint, then to see my friend Raven's show at Micky's & Candice Cayne at the Abbey. Grabbed a slice of pizza with friends before heading home. Since I spent the night nursing a club soda, I felt great at 6:00 AM the next day when I had to wake up to pack lunches and get the kids ready for school. I made the press: //www.wenn.com/archives/18009 Follow @Erin_Murphy

I'm on Twitter!

2010-04-10T12:41:00.000-07:00

I don't quite understand twitter, but my friends have been teasing me for not being technologically advanced. If anyone is interested in my random musings, I am now on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/erin_murphy

Tweet..TweetFollow @Erin_Murphy

My Commercial With Ronald Reagan!

2010-04-02T13:21:00.000-07:00

Thanks to GaryB from Australia for finding my old commercial with Ronald Reagan. I'm topless, of course! This was one of Ronald Reagan's last commercials before he ran for Governor of California.

Busy, Busy, Busy!

2010-03-31T15:47:00.000-07:00

It's Spring, my favorite time of year. Full of promise. We've been spending every weekend in the garden planting and battling the bunnies. I love all the rabbits in our yard, as long as they don't eat my roses! For the first time ever, I've planted a vegetable garden: several varieties of tomatoes, sugar snap peas, pickles(okay, cucumbers really...but my kids love pickles!) and pretty in pink strawberries. Can't wait to post photos of our first harvest.

I HATE MOTHS!!

2010-02-03T09:46:00.000-08:00

OK, I don't hate ALL moths. How can I hate something so closely related to a butterfly? I like watching moths flitter around the outside lights in the summer. I also like finding those weird mutant moths that are the size of a soccer ball. To be specific, what I hate are the individual moths who made a meal out of one of my favorite dresses. These moths were so stealth and crafty that I didn't even know what they'd done until I was out IN PUBLIC leaving a meeting. I felt a sudden draft and realized that the entire back of my dress was disintegrating leaving me completely exposed! It was like something out of an R rated episode of I Love Lucy as I attempted to use my purse to cover myself.

Have a Very Scary Christmas :)

2009-12-21T19:36:00.000-08:00

My first grader had a class project last week where he had to prepare a presentation about how our family celebrates the holiday season. Some of the kids celebrate Christmas and some celebrate Hanukkah. The first part of the assignment required the kids to draw a picture that showed how their family decorates for the holidays. My little boy colored a picture that was very dark and a little scary looking. In one corner it looked like there was a knife with blood. I asked him how his picture symbolized Christmas. He said, "Weeellll, our family also celebrates Halloween!!

Why Don't You "Stay A Spell"?

2009-12-13T16:15:00.000-08:00

While on a recent trip to the East Coast, I paid a visit to the Bewitched Bed & Breakfast in Rehoboth Beach. The lovely owners, Inez and Shirley, graciously offered me a tour when I called them completely out of the blue. They have three beautiful B & B's in a row and one of them is completely Bewitched theme. Such a fun place to stay!!

http://www.seawitchmanor.com/

Hell's Kitchen!

2009-10-19T15:11:00.000-07:00

I love a good haunted house! Our neighborhood has a fun Halloween event and this year we've decided to add a Haunted Kitchen. I'm in charge, so I'm calling on all my creative friends to send me your great ideas! I've come up with some scary "menu" items: Mice-A-Roni, Hot Apple Spider, Spaghetti and Eyeballs & for dessert a nice slice of Frosted Chocolate Snake! We also got lucky because one of our neighbors produced the Halloween movies, so we have access to some cool props and costumes. I'm thinking that we stick with the kitchen theme and have people dressed like scary chefs, waitresses, etc.
We'll have a less scary version early in the night for the younger kids and a teenage version later on. Any suggestions on how to totally transform a banquet room catering kitchen?

Fight On!

2009-09-12T20:34:00.001-07:00

I love college football! The USC-Ohio State game tonight was absolute perfection. Have you ever ridden a roller coaster and found yourself laughing hysterically and totally exhilarated? That's how I felt after tonight's game. Led by our true freshman quarterback, Matt Barkley, we're going to have quite a season.
Great job kid!

Fried Pickles?

2009-09-08T06:11:00.001-07:00

When I was in Junior High and High School, our family did weekly theme dinners, like "taco night" (which we still occasionally do) and "fry"day, which ironically we had on Thursday. Keep in mind this was quite awhile ago and folks weren't as health conscious. Our family had a deep fat fryer (just sounds unhealthy, doesn't it?) and my mom would cook up a tasty assortment of sizzling treats: fish sticks, tater tots, vegetables. As an adult, I'm not a huge fan of fried foods, but I do enjoy hearing about the latest crunchy offerings that they come up with each year at the county fairs. We took the family to a fair this summer and one of my sons was delighted with the deep fried pickles, which were actually better than they sound. I recently heard about one of the most disgusting sounding treats ever: Deep fried BUTTER! I wish I were kidding.

Firestorm!

2009-09-02T12:05:00.000-07:00

I'm a big supporter of lifelong learning. I try to take a college course every semester on a topic of interest. I'm also not afraid to admit that I don't know something. If I can't answer a question, I turn to the internet (much as I turned to encyclopedias when I was young.). This week I was confronted by something that I'd never seen or heard of before (see photo above). I learned about clouds when I was a kid: stratus, cumulus, nimbus; but somehow, I'd missed out on learning about pyrocumulus clouds. They're formed when a rapidly moving fire sucks all the moisture out of the atmosphere and burning brush. The most amazing example of nature taking care of itself is that the clouds can turn to rain and extinguish the fire! In an ironic twist on the workings of Mother Nature, the clouds can also produce lightening which can start another fire.

In Living Color!

2009-08-24T23:44:00.000-07:00

I was reading to my youngest son about the history of Sesame Street, which happens to be celebrating it's 40th season. The story featured lots of photographs, including a black and white shot with Bill Cosby. He asked me what year the photo was from & I guessed somewhere around 1970. My dear little boy asked "When did color start Mommy?". I explained about color television and photographs. I told him that when I was young, lots of people only had black and white television sets and NBC had an animated peacock that would open it's tail with a voiceover that said "The following program is brought to you in color". My sister Diane & I called it the "following peacock". After I'd finished explaining, he said "I mean when did color come to the earth,like the sky and the trees?". My sweet little son thought that the entire world was black and white in 1970.

The Joys of Summer

2009-07-17T12:44:00.001-07:00

Do you remember Otter Pops? Of course you do, they're still around. I'm a fan of Strawberry Short Kook. There are so many things that I love about summer, but today while watching my kids invent new dives (Look I'm a pencil! I'm a question mark!), I realized that not many people have diving boards anymore. I wonder if they were deemed too unsafe, like those merry-go-rounds that used to be on every school playground and now you only see in deserted parks. When I was little, we had a diving board and our parents also got one of those big fiberglass pool slides. Boy, did we have fun with that! These days, it seems like people only have rockslides that look like something you'd find at a 5 star resort. Since my childhood home is only a couple miles from our current home, I drove by and took a peek in the backyard. The pool's still there, but no diving board or slide! Oh, well.
Another thing that I'm enjoying this summer are popsicle stick jokes. Example: Where do actors go camping? The Holly Woods! Is that funny, Mommy? Yes, it is.
Summer is all about the simple pleasures. Put on some sunscreen and Enjoy!

Reading is FUNdamental!

2009-06-27T07:17:00.000-07:00

Summer is here. Hooray!! Even though summer is associated with outdoor activities, I thought I'd write about one of my favorite indoor locations: the library. We visit our local library at least once a week all year long. Where else can you get all the current magazines, bestsellers, the latest dvd releases and internet access...FOR FREE!? Our library has fireplaces, comfortable chairs and year round activities for kids. We read nightly bedtime stories on school nights and the current favorites for 5-9 year olds are the Roscoe Riley Rules series by Katherine Applegate and the My Weird School series by Dan Gutman. If you haven't been to the library lately, check it out (pun intended!).

You're Still The One!

2009-06-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

I thought you might enjoy my birthday photo (Thanks John!) and also footage from the Celebrity Brides show I did:
http://www.joost.com/201rs8y/t/Celebrity-Brides-Unveiled-S2-ep-4
<a href="http://www.joost.com/201rs8y/t/Celebrity-Brides-Unveiled-S2-ep-4">Celebrity Brides Unveiled S2 ep 4</a>

Play Ball!

2009-04-18T07:18:00.001-07:00

It's T-Ball season in Southern California! If you've never been to a T-Ball game, let me explain it for you. It's played by 5-6 year olds who have very limited knowledge of the sport. The ball is hit off a "tee", so no one strikes out. After the ball is hit, the coach "reminds" the hitter to run. Every player on the opposite team leaves their respective positions on the field & runs for the ball. The result is a large pile of little children. The sport, at least in the league where my kids play, is completely noncompetitive. The score is always a tie & the parents shout encouragement instead of orders. Definitely a fun way for a family to spend an afternoon. Play ball!

Magic Castle & They Liked My Dress!

2009-03-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

Alright, I'll admit it. I do now & have always loved magic! I don't think it has anything to do with being on Bewitched, but who knows. One of the coolest places in the entire world is the Magic Castle in Hollywood. I guess you could describe it as a really hip private club where magicians gather & perform. Last night Darren & I went to the Academy of Magical Arts 41st Annual Awards at the Avalon. Neil Patrick Harris was the host of the event. NPH is not only talented & funny, but he's also a lifelong fan of magic. He's on the board at the Magic Castle & was part of their junior program when he was a kid. The show was amazing & to top it off the press liked my dress!
http://jezebel.com/5166626/the-stylish-had-tricks-up-their-sleeves-at-the-magic-arts-awards#c

Potentially Great News!

2009-01-07T11:24:00.000-08:00

I don't know if they're joking with me, but I got a call that as of today I'm in first place for the Wrestling Radio Awards Female Interview Of The Year!! I was just hoping not to come in last. I just talked to one of the DJ's who interviewed me. I told him how surprised I was that I was getting votes. I believe his exact words were "You can't be more surprised than I am!"
If you have the time, you can keep voting for me once a day & maybe, possibly I might even win!!
You guys are the greatest.
http://wrestlingradioawards.com/ballot.html

Who Likes Wine?

2008-12-15T16:02:00.000-08:00

The correct answer is EVERYONE! OK, everyone over 21. You know how hard it is to find the perfect bottle of wine: one that you don't see at every grocery store, one that tastes great & is reasonably priced. Where do you go to find friendly wine merchants who will happily answer your questions & make you feel like family? Two of my favorite people in the entire world (my wonderful sister, Diane & her equally wonderful partner, Laura) have entered the wine business! Their new venture, Classic Vines, has just launched their website:
http://classicvines.com
Since we've already agreed that EVERYONE loves wine, now you know where to shop for those "hard to buy for" folks on your Christmas list. Or get a couple bottles,some cheese & crackers & host your own holiday wine tasting party!
Cheers!

Holiday Travel

2008-11-26T08:40:00.001-08:00

We were at the airport the other day & a woman in a very sparkly, very purple, very tight pantsuit suddenly ran right in front of our car (against a don't walk light I might add). After my husband slammed on the brakes, he said "How could someone see that outfit hanging on a rack & want to try it on?". Then I recognized her. It was Paula Abdul!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!

CCW Backstage Interview

2008-11-11T10:25:00.000-08:00

http://www.cmt.com/shows/series/hulk-hogan-celebrity-wrestling/series.jhtml

2008-10-24T07:14:00.000-07:00

I thought you might enjoy this article about my strategy on Celebrity Wrestling.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2008/10/22/7166416.html

Red Carpet Interview About Celebrity Wrestling

2008-10-23T16:58:00.001-07:00

All Erin, All The Time!

2008-10-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, even those of you who love me, may get sick of seeing me so much. Not only is episode two of Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Champonship Wrestling on four times, but you can also see the episode of Over Your Head that I did for HGTV & WGN is playing a couple episodes of Bewitched. The shows couldn't be more different. On HGTV I'm building flagstone steps for the kids play yard & on HHCCW you can see me...well, that one you'll just have to watch!
Building flagstone steps is almost as challenging as fighting Bonaduce (although I tackled both!).

Celebrity Wrestling to Air on VH1 & TVLand!

2008-10-19T10:20:00.000-07:00

Hey Friends!
Thanks for all the positive feedback on our premiere episode. For those of you who don't get the CMT network, I've got some great news. HHCCW will also be running on VH1 & TVLand starting this week. Check your local listings!
http://www.cmt.com/shows/series/hulk-hogan-celebrity-wrestling/series.jhtml

Home Sweet Home!

2008-10-16T07:01:00.000-07:00

Thank you, thank you for all your prayers. Our entire neighborhood was saved & we are now back home. An extra special thank you to the firemen and other emergency workers who camped out in our yard to make sure that we all had homes to return to. Words can't express how much we appreciate your efforts.

Evacuated!

2008-10-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

We're finally settled in for the night & it's impossible to answer all the e-mails. Yes, we were evacuated today. It was one of those surreal experiences where I watched the news reports about a fire, miles away from our home, drove to pick the boys up after school & came home to Police, Fire & Search & Rescue Officers telling us we had five minutes to evacuate. What do you grab when given five minutes? What is truly irreplaceable? We left our home with our children, pets, family photos & some jewelry. I also packed things to make the kids feel safe & comfortable for our temporary relocation: some small toys, school supplies, clothes & a book to read as a bedtime story. The kids are sleeping soundly, but I don't think Darren & I will be able to. They're expecting 70 mile per hour winds tonight & the fire is headed straight towards our neighborhood!

Chocolate Skittles?

2008-10-02T05:38:00.000-07:00

Since anyone who knows me even remotely knows that I have a sweet tooth, & in the past I've blogged about everything from chocolate covered Altoids to chocolate covered edamame, I feel an obligation to introduce you to chocolate skittles! I stumbled across these by accident while out on a Sunday drive with the family. I don't know if they're available everywhere yet, but I found them at a little gas station midway between Los Angeles & Santa Barbara. They come in a five flavor mix, including flavors like brownie batter & s'mores. I can't say that I love them, but I do like them! I volunteer at a therapeutic riding stable every week & I like to keep snacks in my car to nibble between the lessons. I always have those little Trader Joe's individual packets of raw almonds & a bottle of water, but what I really want is a little bit of chocolate. The problem is, most of the year in California, chocolate melts. Chocolate Skittles seem to hold up to heat.

Celebrity Wrestling Video

2008-09-21T16:44:00.000-07:00

Hulk has just posted the first video from HHCCW on his website. On his main page, click on the third video. By the way, how cool is our animated banner? I told Dustin he must have bribed the animator to get those biceps. Let me know what you think!

HHCCW

2008-09-16T13:28:00.001-07:00

CMT has posted our first photos from Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling. In case you're interested, these were taken after midnight! Episode information & a message board will be following shortly.
http://www.cmt.com/shows/series/hulk-hogan-celebrity-wrestling/series.jhtml
Check out pics of my castmates:
http://www.cmt.com/pictures/hulk-hogan-celebrity-wrestling-championship-cast/1594636/thumbnails.jhtml
& be sure to tune in for our premiere episode on CMT on October 18th.

90210

2008-09-05T08:38:00.000-07:00

It's quite a coincidence that the new series 90210 premiered the same week that Dr. 90210 launched his skin care line. While I haven't seen the new 90210 series yet (I tivoed it, so will get to it eventually), we did attend the launch party for Dr. Rey's skin care, Sensual Solutions. On the way to the party we stopped for a quick bite at my favorite sushi restaurant in the world, Matsuhisa. I've been going there about 15 years & every time i eat there, I see someone famous. I've dined next to David Bowie & Iman & Heather Locklear & Ritchie Sambora borrowed my husband's cell phone once. This night was no exception, midway thru dinner a tall, pretty blonde entered wearing a black silk bathrobe looking jacket with something that looked like a gold dragon sequined on the back. She walked over to her table & her date stood & hugged her for at least thirty seconds. It was a really sweet moment. Then I realized who they were; Heidi Klum & Seal!
By the way, I'm not a patient of Dr. 90120. Anyone who watches his show will know, that's the other Tabitha Stephens!

The 60's...Man!

2008-08-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

I just shot a segment for a national PBS telethon. Tune in on September 13th for the three hour special live from San Francisco. The telethon will focus on the 60's & feature music & educational programming. Others taping with me were Leonard Nimoy, Carl Reiner, Susan Olsen, Charlene Tilton, Johnny Whitaker, etc. etc. It's so interesting listening to others reminisce about the 60's. I realized that most of the bands I could think of from the 60's started with the word "THE": Beatles, Stones, Doors, Who. Since I'm a California girl, I've always been partial to The Beach Boys. Speaking of which, I went to a screening the other night at the Writer's Guild for a really great film called The Wrecking Crew. It's about a group of Los Angeles session musicians who played on virtually every famous song of the era. The film is currently playing the festival circuit, but if you have a chance to see it, I'd highly recommend it.
If you're a huge fan of PBS (like I am), tune in on 9/13 & show them your support!

Summer

2008-08-05T10:39:00.000-07:00

I know, I know it's been way too long since I've posted. The problem is I can't talk about the thing that everyone wants to hear about, Celebrity Wrestling! I promise I will soon & I have MUCH to say. Summer is passing too quickly, as it always does. I know when I was a kid the school year seemed to last forever & summer was gone in the blink of an eye. You'd think that now that I'm a parent & summer means a house full of kids, it would be reversed with the school year speeding by; But that's not the case at all. I think I may love summer even more now: planning fun activities, having friends over, outdoor concerts & swimming every day. Also, no perfume is quite as appealing as the scent of sunscreen. I'm currently busy planning a party for our two August birthday boys & filming a Celebrity Brides show.

Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling!!

2008-06-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

CMT and Hulk Hogan are shaking up the wrestling world!

CMT teams-up with Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff (Former President of World Championship Wrestling) and producing partner Jason Hervey in a celebrity fueled reality wrestling competition slated to premiere this Fall. HULK HOGANS CELEBRITY CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING will train ten adventurous celebrities who, through various exhilarating challenges and elimination matches, will compete for the title of "Celebrity All-Star Wrestling Champion."

Each episode will take the viewer through the training process, preparation and performance aspects of professional wrestling. In addition to starring in the series, Hogan will also serve as Executive Producer.

"The CMT audience loves professional wrestling, so a show where superstar Hulk Hogan trains celebrities, gets them into character and into the ring, and really pulls back the curtain on how intense, colorful and difficult it is to be a champion, is a big win for us and our viewers!" said Bob Kusbit, Head of Development for CMT.

The new series will feature 10 celebrity contestants, male and female, in tag teams, performing moves like the Pile Driver, the Running Power Slam, Dragon Sleeper and the Triple Power Bomb as they compete against one another for the CCW title! Former pro wrestlers, Brian "Nasty" Knobs & Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, will train the contestants, with Hulk, former World Championship Wrestling president Eric Bischoff, and Jimmy Hart serving as judges.

Contestants include Dennis Rodman, Dustin Diamond (Screech from Saved by the Bell), Danny Bonaduce, Tiffany (pop singer), Todd Bridges (Different Strokes), Trishelle (Real World), Butterbean (boxer/ Jackass 2), Nikki Ziering (Playboy), Frank Stallone (musician), and Erin Murphy (Tabitha from Bewitched)!!

Famous Neighbors

2008-05-29T07:36:00.000-07:00

I was at an event recently & someone approached me to tell me that they'd read online that Micky Dolenz, from The Monkees http://www.mickydolenz.com/, (who was also attending the event) was my neighbor. I chatted with Micky & his wife & it turns out that we live a block away from each other & I walk the dogs past their house everyday. I live in LA, where it's pretty common to see celebs at your local Starbucks. Depending on a person's age, I either tell them that Alyssa Milano (http://www.alyssa.com) or Jamie Farr (http://www.jamiefarr.com) is my neighbor. The Kardashian girls & Lisa Rinna both have clothing stores at the local shopping center & Nikki Sixx's daughter is in my sons' class at school. When I see him daily, it's hard not to mention that I saw him in concert in 1983! Despite all this it not only surprises me that there's a list online of my famous neighbors, but also that I'M on the list!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_Canyon,_California

Personal Appearance

2008-05-07T09:53:00.001-07:00

I love to attend personal appearances. They're fun for me for many reasons. I get to catch up with old friends, I get to meet celebrities I've always admired & I get to chat with people who know more about my life & career than I do! Several things about these events are consistent. At least 100 people will ask me which Darren was my favorite (I'm going to start saying my husband). A couple famous actors will hit on me shamelessly (which while very flattering, would be much more enjoyable if we were both single). I also get to hear some great stories that I've never heard before. This past weekend I sat next to my friend Lou Ferrigno. He's an amazing guy who's been married for 29 years (& didn't even flirt a little). He told me that in May of 1995 he was in the hospital with pneumonia, that he contracted by drinking milk in another country. Same thing happened to me by the way (one time in my teens & another time with ice cream in my twenties. So be careful in countries that don't pasteurize). Well it turns out that Lou was in the room right next to Elizabeth Montgomery, when she passed away. Lou Ferrigno was the very last person to get Liz' autograph.

Whooping Cough?

2008-04-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

Consider this blog a public service announcement. Remember all the immunizations you got when you were a little kid? Many of them can "wear off" when you're a grownup. How do I know? Because I caught Whooping Cough! It's also called pertussis & is the "P" in the DPT immunization. How do you know if you have Whooping Cough? First of all you cough uncontrollably & at the end of the coughing fit you inhale a large gulp of air that makes a "whooping" sound. Also, unlike a regular cold, your cough doesn't go away. For many people, including me, it can last for over three months! Before the vaccine became available, 5,000-10,000 people a year would DIE from whooping cough. There's a sudden rise in cases of whooping cough because many parents are choosing not to immunize their children & as a result those kids are infecting the adults (whose immunizations have worn off). Unfortunately once you have it, there's really no effective treatment.

Two Things You Don't Know About Me...

2008-03-18T07:26:00.000-07:00

Here are two facts about me that I'm pretty sure you don't know.
1. My Uncle Leo created the sport of Roller Derby.
2. My mother, sister & ex-husband have all been bitten by rattlesnakes!

HGTV & Me!

2008-03-07T09:34:00.001-08:00

Have you ever watched a home improvement show & thought "I can do that"? I'm the type of person who thinks I can tackle anything. But my recent attempt at building flagstone steps left me a little "Over My Head". How could I build steps when I couldn't even lift the rocks? So, I contacted my good friends at HGTV & they came to the rescue! I've got blisters & bruises everywhere, but the finished product is totally worth it. The crew was so much fun & totally kid friendly. Plus I have a new love of power tools. I'm sure the execs at the network are hard at work & I'll have my own HGTV series soon called the Helpless Housewife!

Something Funny...A Blonde Joke.

2008-02-28T08:09:00.000-08:00

My sister e-mailed me a joke this morning. She is so NOT the type of person to send e-mail jokes (because she knows I hate them), but this one is actually funny.
I've changed the wording a little, since the writer/perfectionist side of me always tries to improve everything:

A blonde calls her boyfriend & says 'Honey, please come over. I have a really tough jigsaw puzzle & I can't figure out how to get started.' Her boyfriend asks 'What's it supposed to be when it's finished?'

The blonde says, 'According to the picture on the box, it's a rooster'. Her boyfriend decides to drive over & help with the puzzle.

He looks at the pieces spread out on the table, looks at the box, then turns to her & says, 'First of all, I love you very much, but no matter what we do we're not going to be able to assemble those pieces into anything resembling a rooster.' He takes her hand & says, 'Second, I want you to sit down & relax. Let's have a nice glass of wine & then...he says with a deep sigh...

'Let's put all the Corn Flakes back in the box'.

Groomer Has It!

2008-02-01T08:07:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my enormous Leonberger puppy Zuma & I spent a fun day taping an episode for a new show on Animal Planet (think Project Runway for dog groomers). Being the reality TV fan that I am, I immediately recognized the loft as the same one used for America's Next Top Model Los Angeles. The host is Jai Rodriguez, the "Culture Vulture" from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. I can't give out too many details, (since I signed a $1,000,000 non-disclosure form!). I'll let you know when to watch so you can see Zuma looking beautiful & me with absolutely no makeup on! Only on Animal Planet will they spend hours grooming the dogs & not even put powder on the humans.

RIP: Johnny Grant

2008-01-10T12:05:00.001-08:00

It is with great sadness that I discuss the death of the Honorary Mayor of Hollywood, Johnny Grant. I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Mr. Grant many times over the years & I'm delighted that I was able to have a long conversation with him last Friday as he unveiled his last star on Hollywood Blvd: Elizabeth Montgomery's. I'd like to share a story he told me about his first trip to Hollywood. Johnny came to California from North Carolina in the 1940's to serve in the Army in World War II. He was in Santa Monica & asked one of the guys how he could get to Hollywood. They told him to walk outside & stick out his thumb. The first car that drove by picked him up & the driver asked "Where you going Sarge?". He said "Take me to Hollywood!". The car dropped him off at Schwab's Drugstore, where he was greeted by Charlie Chaplin. He told me that the number one thing that got him through the war, was the thought of getting back to the place where he wanted to spend the rest of his life: Hollywood. He was a class act, who was sharp as a tack to the very end. He will be fondly remembered & greatly missed.

Sisters At Heart

2008-01-09T10:00:00.000-08:00

Bewitched - Minisode - Sisters At Heart

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In honor of Elizabeth Montgomery receiving her star on the Walk of fame, I'm posting the minisode of her favorite episode of Bewitched: Sisters at Heart. It's one of my favorites as well! I love the story behind the story: the episode was written by an English class at Thomas Jefferson High School. Their teacher asked the class one morning, about the reading assignment from the night before. No one had done their homework, but they'd all watched Bewitched. The teacher came up with the idea for the class to write an episode of the show as a class project. They presented the completed episode to Liz & Bill Asher (who loved it & decided to flm it!). The entire class came to the set & even as a child, I knew how special it was.
For those interested in the star ceremony, there are some great photos & videos on the Harpies Bizarre site:
http://www.harpiesbizarre.com/star.htm

A Star is Born!

2008-01-03T13:46:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd share the press release for Elizabeth Montgomery's Star Ceremony tomorrow. If you're in Southern California, please stop by & say "Hi".
Thanks to "SamSarah" & Melanie at http://www.harpiesbizarre.com/ for the photo.

OH MY STARS!

ELIZABETH MONTGOMERY TO BE HONORED WITH POSTHUMOUS STAR ON THE

HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

WHO: The late Elizabeth Montgomery

Honorary Mayor of Hollywood Johnny Grant

Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, President/CEO Leron Gubler

Guest speakers: Actors Robert Foxworth and Elizabeth Sheridan

Accepting the star will be Montgomery’s children, Rebecca Asher and Bill Asher.

WHAT: 2,353rd Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

WHERE: 6533 Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Hillview Apartments

WHEN: Friday, January 4, 2008 at 11:30 a.m.

COMMENTS:

The late Elizabeth Montgomery will be awarded the first star of the year when she will be honored posthumously on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, January 4, at 11:30 a.m.. Her star will be unveiled at 6533 Hollywood Boulevard.

Montgomery was born on April 15, 1933 in Los Angeles, the daughter of screen actor and TV star Robert Montgomery and former stage actress Elizabeth Allen. She and her younger brother Skip were raised in Hollywood, but were kept from the glare of the spotlight.

After her parents divorced in 1950, Elizabeth lived in New York. Her father had begun his successful television series Robert Montgomery Presents and it was here that Elizabeth made her television debut playing opposite her father in an episode entitled “Top Secret.”

Montgomery quickly became a prolific and hard-working television actress, making appearances on dozens of dramatic anthology shows of the 1950’s. She made her big screen debut in 1955 in The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell and although she would make more feature films, it would be television that would make her a star. In 1960 she earned her first Emmy nominations for her performance as prostitute Rusty Heller in an episode of ABC’s landmark drama The Untouchables. She also guest starred on a classic episode of the Twilight Zone.

In November 1963, Elizabeth starred in the pilot episode of Bewitched as the beautiful, good-hearted witch Samantha. The first episode aired in 1964 and the show was an immediate success. By the end of the season, Bewitched was ABC’s biggest hit ever and made ABC the #1 television network in the top 50 urban markets worldwide. Produced by her husband William Asher, Bewitched featured sophisticated writing and one of the best casts in television history. The show immediately became a part of the national popular culture. Catch phrases such as “Oh my stars!,” “you son-of-a gun”, and “what’s his name?” are specific to Bewitched, as well as hundreds of mesmerizing incantations, side-splitting humor, and of course, that famous “twitch”. Above all, Bewitched became a classic because Elizabeth’s character, Samantha, was so believable.

Bewitched was still ABC’s top show at the end of the decade. Unfortunately, ABC’s success demanded the show create nearly 40 episodes a year, placing a tremendous work load on the cast, writers and crew. Near the show’s end, Bewitched was rewriting earlier episodes to keep up. By the final season, the show was burning out. Mid-way through the final year, ABC moved the show to Saturday night opposite All in the Family, a stop-gag measure to block CBS’s gaining momentum. Bewitched held steady and the network requested two more years, but Elizabeth decided it was time to move on to other projects.

Montgomery continued to work in television, becoming the first and foremost “TV Movie Queen”. She created a string of classic TV films, including Mrs. Sundance, Belle Starr, The Legend of Lizzie Borden, The Awakening Land and A Case of Rape. Her final film Deadline for Murder was one of the highest rated movies of 1995. During the filming of that movie, Elizabeth fell ill, and after a short bout with cancer, she passed away in her home on May 18, 1995.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T06:57:00.000-08:00

January first is the one day of the year where everyone gets a fresh start. It's time to reflect on last year, admit any bad mistakes or decisions you made & move on. It's time to choose a resolution that will somehow change your life, make you a better person & positively affect those around you. I usually pick something relatively simple (like drink more water) that I can stick to long after the Rose Bowl is over (Fight On SC!!). This year my goal is to learn to play the piano. I've wanted to take lessons since I was a kid.
For those who sent e-mails asking about my "wild" New Years Eve plans: I fell asleep watching Spiderman 3, had my hubby wake me up at 11:55, so I could watch the ball drop & kiss everyone. My life's not as glamorous as you may think (but it is happy).

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

2007-12-27T10:18:00.000-08:00

It never (or at least VERY rarely) snows where we live in Southern California. This year for Christmas, we gave the boys the gift of snow! We found this stuff at Harrod's in London & it's really, really cool (literally). The kids love it, but perhaps not quite as much as I do!

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-24T09:35:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas! Wrapping presents, singing Christmas songs, decorating the tree, baking cookies & watching the kids open presents. I hope you get everything you wished for. Here's a little gift from me to you, my favorite Christmas song EVER: Step Into Christmas by Elton John:

Wild Encounters

2007-11-30T16:15:00.001-08:00

I'm a huge animal lover, have been all my life. When I was really young I wanted to be a veterinarian & one of my young sons wants to be a zookeeper. Over the Thanksgiving holiday our family took a trip to Michigan where we were greeted not only by snow (!) but also hunting season. My thoughts on hunting are a little complicated. When I see deer walking in the woods, I slow down to look at them or let the kids take a photo. I certainly don't feel like shooting them. That being said, I understand that deer can be pests & I'm definitely a meat eater. During our vacation I saw something that I've never seen before. After eating lunch at McDonald's (thank goodness we'd already eaten!) I saw an SUV at the drive-thru with a dead deer strapped to the roof (not something you're likely to see in Southern California). Try explaining that to your kids!
When we arrived home, we found that a coyote had moved into our yard. We have a large yard that's totally fenced & somehow he's gotten in & can't get back out. I've called animal control, department of fish & game, etc & no one can seem to tell us how to get rid of him (although their voicemail system did tell me how to get a hunting license). The coyote doesn't seem too afraid of me & comes right up to our backdoor & looks in. Of course, I'm nervous about our dogs & kids (although he's probably more interested in all the ground squirrels & bunnies). If any of you have coyote advice, I'd love to hear it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-21T17:18:00.000-08:00

There's something kind of great about a holiday that seems to be almost totally based on food. Remember to take a minute before you slip into a tryptophan induced coma to think about all you have to be thankful for. Have a wonderful holiday surrounded by family & friends!

Edamame Update

2007-11-10T15:28:00.000-08:00

Who would have thought that my post on chocolate covered edamame would cause me to receive over 100 e-mails? Many people agreed with me that it didn't sound good. Cooks & chefs said the combination would be fine (perhaps even delicious). I also heard from several Trader Joe's employees (& friends of Trader Joe's employees). I learned from them that TJ workers sample all the products that they carry (what a great idea!). The consensus was that since the edamame are dry roasted the taste is similar to a chocolate covered nut. Alright, I like chocolate covered nuts, so I decided to drive over & pick up a container so I could give a fair review. When I arrived, I headed straight to the edamame display & ...it was gone! The edamame had been replaced with caramel covered popcorn. Oh well, I guess I wouldn't be able to do my little taste test after all. But then, I was approached by "Brad" one of my super helpful TJ "crew members". He told me that it had simply been moved to the "chocolate covered" section of the store. So. here I sit with an open container of Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Edamame. What does it taste like? Let's see: dark chocolate, slightly salty & crunchy like a nut. It reminds me of the Trader Joe's milk chocolate covered soy nuts (& that makes perfect sense since edamame are soybeans, after all). Will I get them again? Probably not, but at least I can honestly say that they aren"t as horrible as they sound.

Delicious?

2007-11-04T16:46:00.000-08:00

I'm a fan of Trader Joes. I'm sure I've mentioned it before. They offer good food, typically healthier stuff than at the grocery stores, that's easy to prepare & at reasonable prices. But today when I was on my weekly visit to TJ's to stock up on supplies for school lunches, I saw an item that made me say "Ewww" out loud! I'm a firm believer that almost anything tastes better with chocolate on it. But Trader Joe's may have gone too far with their latest creation: chocolate covered edamame! Don't get me wrong, I like edamame. I eat a little bowl every time I have sushi, but the thought of it covered with chocolate just seems wrong. I may take the plunge & try it. I hate to condemn a food I haven't tasted. If anyone has tried it & thinks it's delicious, let me know.

Forces of Nature

2007-10-23T08:43:00.000-07:00

With wildfires raging in Southern California, I wanted to let you know that our home, family & pets are safe. Thank you for the e-mails expressing concern. We've got fires burning all around us (Malibu, Santa Clarita, etc.) We had a scare the other day when winds shifted, the sky suddenly turned black & orange, the power & phones went out. But just as quickly, the skies cleared & utilities came back on. We're not being evacuated, the kids' schools are open. The winds are stronger than I've ever felt. Huge branches keep dropping from our trees blocking the driveway, but we quickly pull them out of the way. Several hundred thousand people have been evacuated & the current numbers say at least 1,000 homes have been lost. Please keep those who are in danger in your thoughts & prayers.

Bonaduce -vs- FairPlay

2007-10-04T16:49:00.001-07:00

So Many Choices!

2007-10-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed that you can go weeks without any special plans & then suddenly you'll be invited to three events that are all on the same day & time? It seems to happen to me all the time, but this month more than ever. My sister scheduled a wine tasting party the same night my good friends planned our annual trek to Knott's Scary Farm (hard decision, but family wins). I'm invited to London for work, my husband's 20 year high school reunion & Mario Lopez' birthday party all fall on the same weekend (hubby wins, but really only because of last minute travel problems with London). Just this week I was asked to be a presenter at the Annual ERA (Electronic Retail Awards) in Las Vegas the same night as the Fox Reality Really Awards. I tried my hardest to attend both. I'm really fascinated by the whole Direct Response Industry & I was looking forward to all the educational seminars at the convention. Plus, I was flattered that they asked me (a fledgling host) to present. But the Fox Reality Awards is a REALLY fun event, I have tons of friends who work there, I have a great time doing the Reality Remix Roundtable & I am truly a fan of reality television. I was also one of the judges for the awards this year. At the event virtually every reality star from every reality show hangs out in a fun, casual, booze filled venue. Last year I saw "parts" of Chynna Doll that I'm still trying to erase from my brain! My initial plan was to attend the ERA show & all the events, present the award & fly straight to LA for the Fox party. Hey, I would already be in a cute dress, it could have worked! But, I decided it was a crazy idea & I was having so much fun in Vegas that I decided to stay. Check out the clip of all the excitement that I missed at The Really Awards! Reality Stars mixed with alcohol always makes must see TV!
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid353549946/bctid1213872318

Busy, Busy, Busy.

2007-09-21T17:31:00.000-07:00

What a fun week! Besides being the "Mystery Reader" at the kids' school & attending back to school nights & puppy obedience classes, I also filmed a roundtable segment for Reality Remix Weekend, I did a Pop Culture segment for Bob Saget's show (1 vs. 100) & finally found a few minutes to edit my reel. I added footage from the Ab Shark & Bun Shaper infomercials, one of my Parentpedia segments from Disney's Family.com, a little Craft Lab (look for a blow torch), some new Reality Remix, & included a little bit of the studio tours that I did for the special features on the Bewitched box set.
Let me know what you think!
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=18580360

The Dog Days of Summer!

2007-08-15T06:45:00.000-07:00

Summer is my favorite season. The kids are out of school. The weather is warm. Everything seems a little more relaxed. While this summer had the makings of being significantly more crazy than usual, it's turned out to be one of our best. We're well in the midst of our move from Orange County to Los Angeles. We could have been stressed that we arrived at our new home over a week before most of our furniture & before the remodel was finished, but we've turned it into a little camp out. Since our cable hasn't been hooked up yet, we're enjoying more of the simple pleasures of life: swimming, eating Otter Pops, running in sprinklers. Another thing that has kept us occupied is the newest addition to our family: our new puppy Zuma! She's a Leonberger & will soon be bigger than I am (really...130 pounds!)!

Welcome To The Parker!

2007-07-29T09:16:00.000-07:00

I'm one of a very few people who will openly admit that I really enjoy reality television. I also have a life-long love of the desert oasis known as Palm Springs. So, when my good friends at The Parker invited us to the screening party for their new Bravo series, how could I say no? The event was everything a screening should be: relaxed, fun & decidedly "hip". My favorite part about going to screenings is seeing how people in the show/ film react to seeing their friends / themselves on the big screen. They laugh, they cheer, or in the case of the Parker crew they collectively "boo" at a rather obnoxious food critic. We watched the show from a comfy, cushioned circular lounge chair right in front. Although they weren't serving my favorite Kobe Beef Sliders, I munched on my snacks of choice (Junior Mints & Reeses Pieces). We also got to see the second episode of the series, which I enjoyed even more than the first. Check out the show, it's fun to see the chaos that goes on behind the scenes at an upscale resort. By the way, only in Palm Springs will you attend a screening with the Mayor sitting cross legged on the floor in front of you!

On The Road Again

2007-07-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

Here I am, 2 weeks post-op & all I can say is that I'm overwhelmed & humbled by the outpouring of love & support that I've received. Surgery went great. I was in superb hands: my surgeon was my long term doctor, who delivered my 3 youngest children. My scar is really low, so I can still wear a bikini (& I did yesterday!). The hardest part of the recovery is actually taking the time to heal. Luckily I have the most wonderful family, who've taken amazing care of me. I'm the proudest mom in the world to see what loving, compassionate children I've raised. When my doctor told me it would take six weeks to be back to 100%, I wasn't quite sure what that meant. I knew I wouldn't be able to do an hour on the stairmaster, but I didn't know that I wouldn't be able to walk up a flight of stairs (or even 2 stairs!). I decided it wouldn't be smart to "post" on Percocet, but I'm totally off all medication now & I'm feeling really good. I'm allowed to start driving tomorrow.
Before my surgery, I made a commitment to attend the Hollywood Collectors Show in Burbank this Friday & Saturday, http://hollywoodcollectorshow.com/Burbank.htm , & I WILL be there. If you're in town stop by to say "Hi".
I don't know if I'll ever be able to respond to all the e-mails, cards & messages that I received (I'm going to try), but please know that your thoughts & prayers are truly appreciated.

Medical Update

2007-07-01T09:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes morning TV keeps you up to date on current events or the latest in fashion and Hollywood gossip & sometimes it provides information that can save your life. The other morning while watching Live With Regis and Kelly, they talked about the funeral of Claudia Cohen (pictured). WHAT? Didn't I just see her on TV a week ago? When did Claudia Cohen die? For those who haven't heard of her, she was a regular on Regis & Kelly and had been the gossip columnist at New York's Page Six for years & was probably just as well known for being the ex-wife of Ronald Perelman. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and sadly left a young daughter behind.
The conversation about her death continued on The View where I learned that her only symptoms were sudden weight gain & bloating. Hey, I'm a little boated. I jumped on the scale & to my surprise, I'd gained seven pounds in 2 weeks. It must be the Sprinkles cupcakes (I don't think I've mentioned it, but I'm obsessed with the red velvet ones). To be safe, I called my doctor to schedule an appointment. Well, it turns out that I have a tumor the size of a grapefruit! After further tests, they found two other smaller tumors. I go into the hospital for surgery on Tuesday. Luckily, I'm by the beach, so I'll be able to watch 4th of July fireworks from my hospital room. I really debated writing this post. I certainly don't want anyone to worry about me. But if you read my blog regularly, you know that I'm a big supporter of promoting awareness (AIDS, Autism, etc.). If reading this post encourages even one person, who is experiencing symptoms and ignoring them, to seek medical advice & diagnosis, it's easily worth giving up my lack of privacy.
On the positive side, I may be posting more in the next couple weeks. I'll be on bed rest, so what else do I have to do? I'll be better soon & I've got some fun TV projects lined up for August!

Parentpedia

2007-06-14T09:01:00.000-07:00

I worked on a really fun project this week for Disney.com / Family.com called Parentpedia. I'm sure you've all heard of Wikipedia, an online resource for information on just about anything (I'm even a category!). Well Parentpedia is an online resource for parents. One of the segments we shot involved me explaining that Parentpedia can help you with just about anything that family life can throw at you. This was illustrated by all sorts of things being "thrown at me". The script called for me to dodge a bowl of spaghetti & ends with me catching a soccer ball. Luckily it was decided that spaghetti wouldn't "read" well, so instead they threw a lamp at me. After a couple takes, the binky that had to bounce off my temple was replaced by a stuffed animal. You'd be surprised how much a pacifier can hurt when it hits you in the head. Parentpedia should be up and running in July. I'll keep you posted.
http://family.go.com/parentpedia/

Wayne Newton

2007-06-07T07:54:00.000-07:00

I'm back! I know it's inexcusable that I haven't written in so long, but I'm officially back on my regular blog schedule. My computer decided to melt a series of charger cables & despite the fact that the battery is on the recall list, Hewlett Packard hasn't replaced it yet. I'm not happy HP! I'm certainly no computer expert, but when a "laptop" starts burning my thighs, we've got a little problem. I'm trying to transition to an Apple Macbook. I'd always heard they were easier, but after years of "right clicking", I'm not sure how to use the mouse. I'm sure I'll figure it out soon (I've purchased the Macbook for Dummies book, but haven't had time to read it). So, I'm posting today from the kids' computer.
So much to say, so I guess I'll start with our weekend trip to Vegas. My husband was already there for selection day for his Verge development (that'll have to be another post), so I drove 5 hours across the desert with a van full of kids to meet him. Immediately upon arrival my darling hubby surprised me with tickets to a show! Would it be Elton? Prince? Nope...Wayne Newton! I can honestly say the only Wayne Newton song that I could think of was Danke Schoen (& I only knew that one from Ferris Bueller's Day Off). I also had visions of Wayne sweeping me off to his horse farm (remember Vegas Vacation?).
Well to my surprise, I LOVED the show! We weren't the youngest people in the room, but it was close. Wayne's show was a fun combination of his songs, covers of other hits & comedy. I was the only person in the room who knew that the 2006 Academy Award winning song was It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp (& I felt a little embarassed shouting that title out considering the audience). But they asked if anyone knew the title & then they performed it! One of Waynes' singers told him who I was & we took photos with Wayne & various others. I'll post them if I can ever figure out how to scan.
I'd highly recommend the show: Old school Vegas at it's best!

Memorial Delay

2007-05-26T14:50:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts. I try to keep my blog upbeat & lighthearted (much as the way I live my life). Unfortunately, we had a death in the family recently & that, combined with Memorial Day has left me at a loss about what to write. Without getting into any discussion about political beliefs or thoughts on the war, I'd like to say that I think of myself as a very patriotic person. I'm very proud to be an American. My Grandfather was a fighter pilot in World War I & my Father was in the Army in World War II. On this first day of Memorial Day Weekend, I sit at home, surrounded by my loving family, & quietly support our troops.

Myspace & My First Frenemy

2007-05-15T16:29:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm about a week into my myspace experience & I finally understand the appeal. My 300+ friends are made up of a fun mixture of real friends, old friends that I'd lost touch with, people I've met or worked with, people I'd like to meet & a group I guess could best be described as people who'd like to meet me. My myspace philosophy is simple: If you ask to be my friend, I'll accept your friendship. I look at everyone's profile first, but haven't turned down any requests. I might be a little concerned about my "friend" who likes "kinky balloon play"; but perhaps only because I'm not sure what that is. I'm also flattered by the handsome, famous guy who asked me out & then apologized when he read my bio & saw that I was happily married.
I did have to delete one friend. In two days he filled my bulletin board with over 100 messages. He responded to his elimination from my friend list by informing me that there are much "cooler" people than me to chat with. I'm sorry Naked Shower Guy (a description of his online photo, not his screen name), but you're right, there are much cooler people.

Teacher Appreciation Day

2007-05-08T07:53:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is National Teacher Appreciation Day. They've taken a survey & by an overwhelming majority, the teachers have said that the gift they most appreciate is a heartfelt letter from their students or parents. Teacher Appreciation Day makes me think of all the teachers I've had over the years: the Good, the Bad & the just plain...Odd. For the Good, I immediately think of Mr. Alexander, my 6th grade teacher who told fascinating stories & read O. Henry books to the class. I also think of Ms. Girault, my favorite teacher ever (English in Junior High) who encouraged me to write & let me babysit her beautiful daughters (with equally beautiful names: Genvieve & Giselle). I didn't even complain when she only paid me 75 cents an hour (way below the going rate of $1). For the Bad, no one compares to my junior high art teacher, Ms. Costello, who brutally told me that I had no artistic ability & was wasting my time & her time! All these years later I still think she was awful! Just goes to show how biting comments can stay with you. For the Odd, I automatically think of one of my College Instructors who taught the oddly named course: Challenges Of Leisure. A typical class involved an evening field trip to a dark side of town where we'd hang out with prostitutes and drug dealers. I'm still not sure if he was promoting that as an appropriate way to fill our free time or perhaps just an alternative. In retrospect, I guess I'm lucky that the tabloids didn't run an article suggesting that I was turning tricks!

Be My Friend!

2007-05-04T18:51:00.000-07:00

I know I'm way too old and not cool enough to be on MySpace, but one of my dearest friends set up a profile for me and I'm going to use it.

So the next step is getting friends (since that seems to be the "goal" on MySpace). Most folks seem to have thousands of cyber friends & I currently have 1. If you're familiar with MySpace, you probably know that my first friend "Tom" isn't even a real person. Well, I suppose he's a real person, but he's not technically my friend. But I think on MySpace, the word "friend" is used rather loosely.

But with that said, please be my MySpace "friend".

http://www.myspace.com/erin_murphy

10,000!

2007-05-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

Today my little website will have it's 10,000th visitor!

http://www.starwebsites.com/erinmurphy/

That may not seem like much by celebrity standards, but for me it's huge! Thanks for taking the time to stop by.

Hats Off To William Shatner!

2007-04-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

Frequently when a celebrity lends their support to a charity you hear about it everywhere. But I think just as often, anonymous checks are sent or good deeds go unnoticed. Well, right here in my own backyard, William Shatner has quietly been hosting a charity horse show for the last 17 years! We had the pleasure of attending & it was truly inspiring (& really fun too!). The kids loved the stunt riders & I got teary as a beautiful little girl with Down's Syndrome did an equestrian routine to Wind Beneath My Wings. Usually (despite the best intentions) only a portion of the proceeds at these events actually make it to the recipient. But Mr. Shatner has been able to get everything donated so every penny that comes in, goes right back out. The recipients are Ahead With Horses: a therapeutic riding program that provides services for children with disabilities and developmental disorders & Camp Max Straus: an amazing facility that provides a camping experience for underprivileged children.

You might wonder which of Bill's celebrity friends showed up...Leonard Nimoy? James Spader?

Nope. In no particular order: Scott Hamilton (One of my favorite ice skaters, & I'm not embarrassed to admit I have favorites!), Gary Busey (http://imdb.com/name/nm0000997/), Rick Dees (http://imdb.com/name/nm0214418/), Jimmy Kimmel (http://imdb.com/name/nm0453994/) & Karen Black (http://imdb.com/name/nm0000947/)

HGTV: Rate My Space!

2007-04-25T11:26:00.000-07:00

HGTV has a fun new feature on their site where you can upload photos of your home & readers will "rate" it! You can show off your interior decorating skills or ask questions like "What color should I paint my walls?" If you're shy about sharing, you can also browse rooms for inspiration.

http://ratemyspace.hgtv.com/SNC/Main.aspx?pguid=6db6be3f-1720-4ba3-a081-999042c09b6b

Hooray for HBO!

2007-04-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

HBO really knows how to do original programming. The Sopranos, Big Love, Rome, Entourage, Curb Your Enthusiasm & Sex and The City...Love them all! Great acting, original scripts & new episodes this week for Sopranos & Entourage. Plus, Rex Lee who plays Ari's assistant has the distinction of being the most intoxicated person I've ever had a conversation with...although I'm SURE he doesn't remember!

The Joy of Motherhood!

2007-04-18T15:03:00.000-07:00

People are always asking me what my license plate means. SC actually stands for several things. I love Southern California, I love USC college football (Fight On!). I'm also fond of Santa Claus & sugar cookies, but more importantly I LOVE six children!

But occasionally children can do things that make even a loving parent a little upset. You know the incident will eventually be a funny family story, but it hasn't quite made it there yet. When I was a kid, I loved the story about how when my Uncle Jimmy was a little boy he thought he was a magician & made all the clothespins disappear in the toilet. I'm sure it wasn't so funny for my grandparents who had to dig up all the pipes in their front yard. Well, one of my children (who shall remain nameless) recently discovered the "magic toilet" & made one of my favorite necklaces (pictured above) vanish. Somehow, the clothespin story no longer seems so amusing.

Terms of Endearment!

2007-04-17T10:36:00.000-07:00

Confession time: I like McDonald's. Most of my friends would describe me as healthy. I always have fruits & veggies in the fridge. I choose water over soda. Sushi is my favorite food. But, I still have a special place in my heart for Micky D's. I've been going there my entire life (I remember when burgers were a quarter!). I did a commercial for McDonald's when I was a young teen (sadly no food was consumed). They also have really great happy meal toys & the best fast food fries. I always order a hamburger happy meal (with just ketchup on the burger, barbecue sauce to dip my fries & a diet coke). But my fondness for the place has nothing to do with this post. I'm writing about the boy (I'm pretty sure he's under 18) who works the register & occasionally takes the orders outside. We go there about once a week, so I've seen him fairly regularly over the last 6 months. He always refers to me by a rather odd string of greetings (No, "Thank you, Ma'am, or even Miss for this young man). He's called me "Hon, Baby, Sweetie, Babe, Dear & even Toots"! I'm never sure how to react. My kids always look puzzled & as we drive away say "Do you KNOW that guy?

AIDS Awareness

2007-04-09T12:41:00.000-07:00

If you're in Vegas this Friday, I'll be hosting the Fashion Fling Event to benefit Aid for AIDS of Nevada. http://thefashionfling.com/ Stop by, it should be fun!
I thought you also might be interested in reading my answers to a magazine interview regarding the Hollywood Graffiti Gown & my experience modeling.

1. What was the experience like modeling during Fashion Week?
I had a wonderful time. I'm a huge fan of fashion, so it was fun participating in a show rather than being a spectator. I had already convinced myself that I was going to fall (and accepted that fact) so when I didn't fall, it was a huge relief!

2. What was your favorite part of the show?
Besides the whole "not falling", my favorite part was seeing the Graffiti Gown. It was truly inspirational that AIDS awareness can come about in such an unconventional way. Plus, since I love fashion & TV, it was exciting to see all the Jeran gowns with television history.

3. What was the most challenging aspect of modeling?
I think the most challenging part was trying to look taller. I'm only 5'4" & some of the girls that I was modeling with were 6'. I watch America's Next Top Model, so I thought it wouldn't be a problem faking a runway walk, but I came out to Material Girl & the designers wanted me to dance like Madonna. I wiggled around a little & waved & blew kisses to the audience (probably more like a 6 year old than a sexy superstar!).

4. Based on that experience, if you could would you want to model for a living? I have fairly strong opinions & have a hard time keeping quiet. When I watch the show Project Runway, it makes me want to design clothes & explain them, not model them.

5. Has that experience altered your perception of fashion models? I worked as a makeup artist & stylist for years, so I've worked with lots of models. This reinforced my opinion that models are very hardworking, young, pretty & tall!

6. What was your impression of the Hollywood Graffiti Gown?
Noted above. It's really something you should see in person. It's very thought provoking. I provided my signature to be added to it. I'm honored to be included & have written about it in my blog (in hopes that any mention allows more people to not only know about the gown, but also the underlying issue : AIDS awareness).

8. Which signature was the most impressive to you and why?
Mother Teresa. As much as folks seem to admire actors, I have to give my admiration to a great humanitarian.

9. If you could have any woman—living or dead—sign the gown today who hasn't already, whom would it be and why? Elizabeth Montgomery. She was such a big supporter of AIDS research. After she passed away she donated her clothing to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Los Angeles. We had a fashion show fundraiser & I modeled in that as well. She would have wanted to be a part of this project.
http://www.hollywoodgraffitigown.com/

I-Tunes: Free Means Free!

2007-04-04T07:43:00.000-07:00

I was late to the whole i-pod thing. My introduction to i-pods came when I won a video i-pod at my sisters' company holiday party (a fact that didn't seem to please the actual employees). My i-pod holds 30G (which I think is higher than my computer). How in the world could I ever fill it?
I-Tunes to the rescue! Every week I-Tunes offers free downloads (songs, TV shows, short films, etc.). This week, 6 episodes of Sesame Street are free (TV shows are normally $1.99).
The big secret (at least to i-pod novices like myself), you don't need an i-pod to receive the free downloads, just a computer. You never know when you might need to entertain a toddler!

Moving On Up!

2007-04-03T07:47:00.000-07:00

Let me start by saying that I HATE moving! Sorting the closets crammed with stuff that somehow seemed important enough to keep. Packing, unpacking, trying to decide where everything goes. It just seems easier to stay where you are. But, this summer we're going to take a leap. We found a home that makes the move worthwhile: big enough for the kids & animals to run & play, amazing schools, close to work & check out the view!

Fashion Update & Exciting VH1 News!

2007-03-28T18:03:00.000-07:00

Here's a photo backstage at the fashion show wearing Jeran Designs "Playboy" gown. I'm pictured with one of the designers, Jerry Skeels. No negative comparisons to Joan Collins please (I didn't have the benefit of airbrushing).
Exciting News!
I just got a call that I'm shooting a pilot in a couple days for VH1. No details yet (I don't want my possible future employer mad at me).

Another Day, Another Gown

2007-03-24T10:01:00.000-07:00

I just had the pleasure of modeling the spectacular gown that Jeran Designs created for Joan Collins to wear on the cover of the 1983 Christmas issue of Playboy magazine. I learned insider info that before posing, Joan had gone on a strict diet of...champagne & caviar! The dress went on to be the inspiration for the famous "Jessica Rabbit" dress in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. I walked the catwalk to the tune "Material Girl" & the designers asked me to utilize my "dance training" & move like Madonna. Dance training (??)...Could they mean the tap lessons I had when I was 6?

Deja Vu

2007-03-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

As much as things change, they stay the same. I'm in Palm Springs for a few days & everyone is talking about how much it's evolved in the last few years. Granted, there are beautiful resorts & great shopping. The lux Merv Griffin Resort has transformed into the ultra funky "Parker" (if you ever have a chance to try a Kobe beef slider, I'd highly recommend it.). But, Palm Springs is still the picturesque, quaint desert town where I learned to swim when I was a very little girl. I experienced the same sense of deja vu on my recent trip to Sunset Gower Studios. It's undergoing a multi million dollar renovation & all I could think was "Oh my gosh, the big doors on Stage 3 are exactly the same!".

Legos

2007-03-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

Am I the only parent who has a love / hate relationship with Legos? I love the look of accomplishment on a child's face after they've built something spectacular. I love the big plastic tubs that let the kids use their imaginations to build (& then rebuild). I love how they keep the kids entertained for hours. I even love Legoland (a Southern California theme park, with rides & entertainment). What I don't love is that Legos are now sold in "model sets" like Harry Potter & Star Wars. New sets seem to be released every day. Don't get me wrong, I used to be a fan of these sets. But the problem is, kids build the model, then they want MORE lego sets. Sometimes the models are displayed, but other times the models break & then end up in a huge bin of broken models, or in a Lego pile on the floor. Alright, maybe "hate" is too strong a word to use, but if you've ever stepped on a Lego first thing in the morning, you might agree with me.

Verge: Know When To Say Yes!

2007-03-08T18:35:00.000-08:00

Verge Living

2007-03-08T15:27:00.000-08:00

One of the fun things about having a blog is that I can talk about whatever I want. Today, I'm going to shamelessly plug my darling husbands' new project in Downtown Las Vegas. He & his company have graciously allowed me to include an autism awareness fundraiser in conjunction with their VIP Grand Opening of the Verge Lifestyle Center:
VERGE, downtown Las Vegas' newest mid-rise, mixed-use condominium community, has announced it's Grand Opening Ceremony for March 15th, 2007. Reservations for the Priority Interest List are now being taken. Downtown Las Vegas is currently undergoing an epic $14 billion revitalization to cultivate the first pedestrian-friendly, urban experience Las Vegas has ever seen, similar to the makeover that redefined downtown San Diego's gaslight district making it one of the most exclusive areas of the city. This comprehensive plan consists of new commercial, residential, retail, live-entertainment and dining establishments for local patrons to live, work, and play.VERGE is a testament to the vibrant future of the new downtown Las Vegas. The innovative architectural design promises significantly lower cost to build, which is great news for potential residents. But although attractively priced from $149,900, VERGE homeowners are buying much more than a condominium. VERGE's location is within walking distance to all the action, including the newly renovated Fremont Street casinos, the Block, Union Park's World Jewelry Mart, the World Market Center, the Smith's Performing Arts Theater, Fremont East's Entertainment District, shopping malls, boutiques, and much more.VERGE's 296 residence community will offer the latest in modern living, state-of-the-art architecture and design. There are 39 impressive floor plans including studios, one, two, three bedroom condominiums and spectacular lofts with 23-foot ceilings. Many residences will have remarkable views of downtown Las Vegas & the entire Las Vegas Valley. Other onsite amenities include 2 rooftop pools, rooftop restaurant, on-site boutique grocery store, wine bar, indoor racquet ball courts, fitness center with steam and locker rooms, secure access-controlled parking and entry, and even a rooftop pet park.Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman will preside over the ribbon cutting and give his insights on the newly emerging downtown redevelopment. Mark Stark, CEO of Prudential Americana Group Realtors, and Darren Dunckel, the developer, will be keynote speakers. This will be everyone's first look at VERGE, and it should be exciting. No reservations will be taken at the Grand Opening Ceremony - this event will be purely for fun and information. It is anticipated that fully refundable reservations will be taken within a week or two of the Grand Opening, and that units will go to contract sometime in May for late 2008 delivery. To register for the VERGE Priority Interest List, please go to the Verge website:http://www.vergeliving.com/ . As a registered Priority Interest List guest, you will be invited to attend the VIP Grand Opening of the Verge Lifestyle Center, so come join us for the hottest party in town: eat, drink and mingle with the key players of Old and New Las Vegas. The VIP Grand Opening will be held on March 15th from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at 516 North Main Street (at Bonanza).
Hope to see you there!

Hollywood Graffiti Gown

2007-03-07T07:15:00.000-08:00

Emmy Award winning designers, Jerry Skeels and Randy McLaughlin, have asked me to model their spectacular Hollywood Graffiti Gown. The gown was created to raise awareness of AIDS and its' mission is to bring women of all ages and cultures together to make a significant impact through fashion and influence towards the fight against AIDS. The gown is covered with more than 400 signatures of notable women including: Barbra Streisand, Elizabeth Taylor, Sharon Stone, Kate Blanchett, Sophia Loren, Mother Teresa...& now ME!! The Hollywood Graffiti Gown was the focus of the 2006 Best International Documentary. The gown will be touring the globe, before being auctioned for an opening bid of $1,000,000 to benefit AIDS research. It's believed that the gown will eventually be displayed in the Smithsonian & I'm honored to be included!

http://www.classic-media-entertainment.com/Graffiti%20Gown%20home.htm