Minty Fresh?

Every now and then a product comes along that can best be described as counterproductive. A product that is so contrary to its' intended use, it makes you want to scratch your head and say "Huh?". Let me introduce you to the newest such product: Cappuccino Blitz Power Mintz, the new breath mint that makes your breath smell like COFFEE!!

Cat Fight!

Today I came face to face with my "arch nemesis". Only 4 people will know what I'm talking about (and I suspect that I'm the only one who finds it hilarious). Let me share the story with the rest of you.
I'm a regular rotating panelist on the Reality Remix Weekend Show on the Fox Reality Channel(http://www.realityremix.tv). The panel typically consists of 2 women and 2 men. Since the host of the show is a woman, the other female spot alternates between me and an author named Anna David. They also throw in the occasional female reality show contestant (but that's irrelevant and only complicates my little story). A couple weeks ago, I received an e-mail from someone asking me if I'd ever met my "arch nemesis, Anna David"! Well, rest easy everyone, this weekend Anna David & I are on the panel together (3 girls & dear Joe Adalian from Daily Variety). Let me report that not only is Anna smart & funny, she has excellent taste (she loved my shoes)! Girls rule!

You Call This a Party?

Have you ever been invited to a party where the entire purpose of the event was for the host to sell you something you didn't want? I don't know if this trend is sweeping the country or only popular with the suburban crowd of Southern Cal. In the last year, I've been invited to at least twenty little get togethers (disguised as parties) that include vendors. I've been pitched everything from lipstick that lasts all day (but burns the heck out of your lips!) to housewares (I'll never use) & clothing (that's not my style). This may be the modern version of a Tupperware party, but I'M GOING ON STRIKE. I love my friends and I'm a big fan of girls night out. I'd love to go out for dinner and a movie or come over and hang out (I'll even bring the wine), but please don't try to sell me anything!

P.S. Girl Scouts are still welcome. We'll take 10 boxes of Thin Mints.

They're Vintage!

Does everyone have something in their closet that they just can't throw away? I'm not talking about the fabulous, expensive outfit that you found on sale and you're sure that you'll wear somewhere, someday. I'm also not talking about the much loved jeans that have more holes than fabric or the concert t-shirt that reminds you that you were once young and cool (at least in your fuzzy memories). Several years ago my beloved Grandma passed away. Since I'm known as the sentimental one in my family, it was decided that I should become the lucky recipient of Grandma's...shoes! Those who know me well know that I'm a bit of a fashion nut & also a fan of classic, vintage items. The problem with my new shoe collection is that Grandma's shoes are at least half a size small and as stylish as my Grandma was, well, they're not shoes that she wore in her 20's (or even 50's!). These are the shoes that Grandma was wearing in her 80's. So taking up a large corner in my closet, I've got at least 20 pairs of shoes that I can't wear or even bring myself to give away. One day I walked into my closet & I could almost hear Grandma say "Dolly, my white shoes would look so pretty with your green dress." So, I threw caution (and fashion and comfort) to the wind & squeezed into a pair. This turned out to be the first (and hopefully last!) time my style was criticized in the press: "Erin Murphy's cute dress was cursed by her matronly pumps!" You just can't win.

& it Tastes Great!

I just watched a Dateline NBC piece about infomercials. Dateline created a pill that they claimed would moisturize your skin "from the inside out". They hired a production company to make the infomercial and a doctor, a host and a group of testimonial people that all said how effective the product was. The problem was, the product wasn't effective at all. It was really...Nestle Quik! The host (who shall remain nameless since we have the same agent) lost all credibility when she acknowledged that, despite her claim, she'd never tried the product. What's the difference between an actor in a 30 second commercial and a host of a 30 minute infomercial? Well, in the first you're "an actor" playing a character, probably even given a different name (He likes it, hey Mikey!). In the latter, you're being yourself and if you say you "use it and like it", you should really use it and like it! I understood the difference between acting and endorsing when I was six. I was hired to promote arguably the worst flavor of ice cream Baskin Robbins ever created. I graced the posters and smiled my way thru the campaign. But when I made personal appearances and people asked me if I liked the flavor, I honestly said that I preferred Jamocha Almond Fudge. As a post script, I saw the host from the infomercial on the season premiere of Criminal Minds and ...she's a really good actress!

16 Minutes

I'm sure you've all heard the old Andy Warhol quote: “In the future everyone will be world-famous for fifteen minutes.” It always surprises me how many people want to be famous. They see fame as a goal. . They change the way they look, act, dress all in the pursuit of fame. They do unusual or even disgusting things to achieve fame (reality television anyone?). I don't usually acknowledge my tenuous grasp on fame, but for my first ever post, in my first ever blog I feel like I should be candid.
I've been famous...& it's really not that great.