Hats Off To William Shatner!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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!

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!

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!

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

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

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

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!

Verge Living

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

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

Out of The Mouths of Babes!

My little boy was telling me that one day he'd like to have a pony named "Steve". I told him that I'd never met a pony named Steve. I asked where he'd gotten the name (since there are no Steves in his class & I couldn't think of any cartoons with a Steve). He told me it was from Shrek. He elaborated by saying the donkey in Shrek says "I'm your Noble Steve". He meant "Noble STEED". Isn't that cute? What are the odds that I'd have two donkey posts in a row?

Let's All Laugh Together Now

I hate mass joke e-mails. I'm sure you get them too. Friends, family, co-workers all get the same jokes & then they all think you'll find them hilarious (so they ALL send them to you). I don't like getting them, but I've never complained, I find it a little bit sweet that my friends /family are trying to make me laugh (or cry, or feel patriotic, etc. depending on the tone of the e-mail) .

You may have seen this one before, but it's a good one!

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.
The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw.
With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less

NOW --------
Enough of that . . .

The donkey later came back, and bit the farmer who had tried to
bury him. The gash from the bite got infected, and the farmer eventually died in
agony from septic shock.

MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:

When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.

Think Spring

To all my friends on the East Coast (& other cold climates), Hang in there...Spring is on the way!!

Discontinued

Don't you hate it when a company discontinues a product you love? It happens all the time, when they try to "reformulate" something to somehow try to make it better. Companies usually fail miserably when they try to improve a classic (new Coke anyone?). Well California Pizza Kitchen has eliminated my favorite: Peking Duck Pizza (hold the crispy wontons please). I understand it may not have been for everyone, but CPK is known for the original. My kids love the BLT pizza (bacon, lettuce, tomato & mayo) which surprisingly is still on the menu. I guess I'll have to start ordering the garlic chicken (good, but not delicious).

Starbucks Addiction!

Ok, I admit it...I'm addicted to Starbucks. I can't help it, their coffee is just SO good. No matter how hard I try, coffee just doesn't taste as good when I make it at home. I use the same coffee beans, the same flavored syrup & it's somehow not quite right. I'm pretty sure that some day a study will be conducted that shows Starbucks has some "secret" ingredient that they slip in the cup that makes their coffee so delicious. I'm not apologizing for my love. As far as addictions go, coffee & chocolate are relatively harmless. The caffeine speeds up my metabolism, takes away headaches, & just makes me feel better. One word of advice for my germ obsessed readers (which I most definitely am not!): Have you ever noticed that when people take their coffee drink to the sugar / milk station they remove the plastic top & put it face down on the ledge? That means the top part that touches your lips is touching the "germy" counter. I flip the lid over so the bottom of the lid rests on the counter when I add three splendas to my venti nonfat sugar free vanilla latte. I tell you, it's a sickness!!