And the Winner is...

Hey Guys! I fit more into this weekend than I fit into some weeks: Kids Choice & Teen Choice Gifting Suites & Events, Presented 5 awards at a film festival, halter trained a couple alpacas, spent some great quality time with the family & finally read The Hunger Games (which was a super quick read). Did you catch the Bewitched references on last nights' episode of Mad Men? In the photos above, I'm pictured with Moneyball actor/ baseball player Casey Bond & the absolutely adorable Maggie Elizabeth Jones from We Bought a Zoo.

Memories of Sunset & Gower

Isn't it funny how certain things can trigger a memory? When I smell Aramis cologne, it reminds me of a high school boyfriend. When I smell Shalimar, it reminds me of watching my mom get dressed up to go out. Well a friend posted this photo on Facebook today, & memories came flooding back. This is the corner of Sunset & Gower in the 1960's. We filmed Bewitched right here at Screen Gems & I used to eat at the Copper Skillet all the time. One day, Johnnie Whitaker took me on my first date here. To be fair, I don't think he considered it a date, since I think I was only 5 years old & he was probably 10. It was while we were filming the Jack & the Beanstalk episode of Bewitched. I ordered breaded veal cutlet & he paid with a check. Awwww, memories!!

Welcome Back Mad Men

I missed you Don Draper & I'm happy to have you back! After a 17 month hiatus, the 2 hour Mad Men 'movie' didn't disappoint. I've been to a few parties over the years that have a "Zoobie Zoobie Zooooo" moment: where someone does something like get up in front of the group and sing & dance a completely choreographed routine. It may not come across as sexy, entertaining or adorable as planned, but it definitely leads to years of quiet giggles & inside jokes. It's always a little distracting to me when a character is suddenly replaced by a new actor, probably causes flashbacks to Bewitched. So in the opening scenes, I was confused why MJ Delfino was suddenly being called Bobby Draper. But in Hollywood it makes sense, the old Bobby, Jared Gilmore, has a big part on Once Upon A Time & Desperate Housewives is going off the air, so little Mason Vale Cotton needs a new job. I'm just glad they didn't replace Joan. What did you think of the new Mad Men episode?

Happiness is a Warm Puppy!

Thought I'd share this great photo I just received by Lisa Webb Photography. It was taken at Debbie Durkin's Main Event Red Carpet Lounge Eco-Oscars Event which took place at Mary Pickford's old estate, where they filmed The Artist. They've asked the "celebrities" who attended to autograph the photos, which will be auctioned off to benefit the Fur Fitness Foundation http:furfitnessfoundation.org. Being a lifelong animal lover, I'm more than happy to help! They also graciously sent a framed photo for us to keep. My Dog, Zuma (Mandolin Trails Absolute Afternoon at the Beach) is a Leonberger. The breed is still fairly new to the US & are originally from Germany. They were bred to not only 'look like a lion' but also do water rescue. Leonbergers have webbed feet & can jump out of a helicopter to save someone. We adore her! For those of you who've read my blog for awhile, you might remember when we first got Zuma. You can enter the word 'Zuma' into the search section of my blog to read past posts, including her appearance on Animal Planet. She's not a little puppy anymore & weighs more than I do!

I Believe The Children Are Our Future...

Went to two amazing children's charity events this weekend. The first was a Fashion Week Event for Girls Today Women Tomorrow. It's a fabulous mentoring program. http://gtwt.org The second was a Storyland Funtini Extravaganza benefiting Reading, Writing, It's Exciting! http://rweprogram.org/site/ It was all part of the Reading Across America program. I volunteer in a classroom every week. Hope you can all find something that you're passionate about & get involved. On a superficial note: I'm wearing a St. John Jacket, Milly skirt & vintage ostrich handbag. Photo Credit: Paul Archuleta, Film Magic, Getty Images

Grey's Anatomy Cast Sings to Benefit the Actor's Fund

Darren & I went to a really fun event last night. Inspired by their singing episode, the cast of Grey's Anatomy took to the stage of Royce Hall at UCLA for a concert to support the Actor's Fund. The talented Sandra Oh accepted her singing limitations & acted as a lively emcee, while Eric Dane provided the comic relief. They all looked like they were having a great time & sounded much better than you'd expect for a TV Cast. Sara Ramirez (whose name is pronounced like "sorry") had previously won a Tony for Spamalot & was fabulous. Jessica Capshaw is expecting her third child & looked adorable. The highlight for me was definitely Justin Chambers young daughter who is destined to be a STAR!! Take a minute to visit the Actor's Fund Website (http://actorsfund.org). They're an amazing organization that's been supporting the entertainment community since the 1800's.

Here's the set list for those interested in such things: 1. Chasing Cars- Sara Ramirez, Kevin McKidd, Chandra Wilson 2. How We Operate- Kevin McKidd 3. There's A Girl- Sarah Drew 4. Wait- Chandra Wilson, Sarah Drew 5. Running on Sunshine- Cast 6. Young Folks- Justin Chambers & daughters 7. Everywhere I Go- Wilson 8. Keep Breathing- Ingrid Michaelson 9. Looking At The World From The Bottom of a Well- McKidd 10. The Story- Ramirez 11. How To Save A Life- Cast

PSA for PBS

I shot a Public Service Announcement for the PBS Network today. Growing up in Los Angeles, I've been watching PBS as long as I can remember & my kids watch it now. KLCS, "The Education Station" is one of only 7 PBS stations in the country that is licensed to a school district. Sadly LAUSD is in the midst of a financial crisis & PBS is in jeopardy. Unlike most PBS networks, KLCS has never asked for support from their viewers, but now they have to. They don't need much, but they do need you, pick up your phone & text KLCS to 80888 to make a one time donation of $10. No bank account or credit card is needed or visit www.klcs.org & choose the donor level that works for you. It's easy & completely tax deductible. Support PBS/ KLCS. Together we can make a little magic.

Rest in Peace Davy Jones

The Monkees filmed at the Screen Gems lot the same time we were filming Bewitched. I loved the show & like most of America, I thought that Davy was the cute one. I was lucky to spend quite a bit of time with Davy over the years. He was always funny, charming & ageless. I think a nice tribute would be to download your favorite Monkees songs from ITunes. I did that long before today!

The Montblanc Princesse Grace De Monaco Collection

Oscar Week of 2012 was overwhelming & exhausting. I was as giddy as a little girl to be invited to 18(!!) Gifting Suites & Parties, but then the unimaginable happened. I became SICK. Not a little cold, no problem, kind of sick. But 103 degree fever, coughing, delirious sick. By Saturday, I couldn't get out of bed, couldn't drive & also couldn't possibly miss the party that I was most excited about: Oscar Champagne Brunch at the Bel Air Hotel to introduce the Montblanc Princesse Grace De Monaco Jewellery & Watch Collection. I attempted to put makeup on in the car as Darren drove. The event was even more spectacular than I had imagined. Hollywood stars past & present filled the space: Teri Hatcher, Rosario Dawson, Donna Mills, Morgan Fairchild, Rosanna Arquette, Giada DeLaurentis, Robin Tunney, Kate Mara, Lydia Hearst, Petra Nemcova, Kate Flannery, Sharon Laurence, Kelly Carlson, etc. etc. I was too sick to eat the lavish Wolfgang Puck brunch, but it looked delicious. I've always considered Grace Kelly to be the most beautiful actress ever and the Montblanc collection is a lovely tribute to her. The pieces are in the shape of rose petals, the rings have three intertwined bands to symbolize her three children. Her son Prince Albert was there as well. One of the highlights was sitting with Tippi Hedren who graciously invited me out to visit her Shambala Preserve. Let's hope she doesn't catch my cold & change her mind!

Breaking Bad

photo credit: Araya Diaz WireImage.com Every year Darren & I tryout a new series, that we somehow missed. Once it's won a bunch of awards & has our friends talking, we decide to give it a try. It's nice starting a series after it's been out for awhile because you can rent the 1st season DVD & watch a little marathon. We've done this with Damages, Mad Men & next is Breaking Bad. I took a break from Oscar Week festivities to attend a Breaking Bad event at the Television Academy last night & the series looks truly "addictive"! For those with wardrobe questions, I'm wearing a brown Michael Kors dress, Stuart Weitzman leopard wedge sandals, Alexander McQueen Novak bag & a Minky Couture scarf (that was given to my dog Zuma earlier in the day. The scarf is super soft & Zuma was photographed in it before I was!).

Erin Murphy's Beauty Secrets- Hair Color

I received several questions this week about my hair color. About once a year I get it colored professionally, the rest of the time I color it myself at home. I'm a natural "California" blonde, which means I get lots of highlights by hanging out at the beach or by the pool. I've tried lots of home coloring products & finally found the one that I like the best: L'Oreal Couleur Experte Express. The difference between this & most other home products, is that the kit offers the two step process that you get in a salon (base & highlights). I go back & forth between two different colors (both blonde), Iced Meringue & Toasted Coconut. First you use the base color all over for about 15 minutes, then rinse & let your hair dry. After this step, my hair looks awful! It's very drab & all one color, but don't despair! The highlights may seem intimidating, but they're very easy to do. The kit provides you with two different applicators, but I use my fingers. Select some random starnds around your face, plus a few underneath & in back, wait about 20 minutes & rinse, use the conditioner that's included & style as usual. The kits are available at most drugstores & cost about $10. What do you pay to get your hair colored? The average in Los Angeles is over $250! Have fun, don't be afraid. Hair color isn't permanent.

Snow Day in Bell Canyon

We live in one of the greatest neighborhoods for families: Bell Canyon! Our kids committee puts on so many fun events: Halloween Haunt, Easter Eggstravaganza, Movies in the Park & Snow Day. Kids in Southern California don't have the opportunity to wake up to a surprise sprinkling of snow, unless you happen to be Tori & Randy Spelling. Our neighborhood does the next best thing, we make the snow. Once a year on Snow Day, a truck comes in & turns the hills by the Equestrian Center into a winter wonderland with sledding & snowball fights. So much fun!! Follow @Erin_Murphy

Social Media Bootcamp

I'm all about continuing education. It's impossible to know everything about everything. Some topics, like social media are constantly changing as new technologies surface. So let me share some of my favorite tips from Social Media Bootcamp. It's always nice to put an active link in your posts, something for people to click on. To put a link, remove the "www" & put http:// . That way your readers don't have to copy & paste the url, they'll be able to click directly on the link. Some Social Media sites, like Twitter, limit the length of your tweets, so you'll need to shorten your links. A really cool link shortener is http://bitly.com. You simply enter your link & Bitly will provide you with a shortened link, analytics & also a QR code & it's totally free! One of my favorite concepts to keep in mind about social media is that it's "social". No one wants to be talked at, there needs to be some interaction & communication. Don't forget, keep all your posts light, bright & polite! What are your favorite social media tips? Follow @Erin_Murphy

Erin Murphy's Vlog- Grammy Gifting Suite

Walking in LA...

You may know the song...Nobody walks in LA. Well, recently I took a walking tour with Red Line Tours & loved it! I've never taken one of the Hollywood Bus Tours, never bought a map to the stars homes. I've always thought it would be fun, but also thought I'd be enjoying the bus ride incognito & one of the other passengers would turn & say, "HEY, don't I know you?! You're that girl from that show...right?" Well when Red Line invited me to the unveiling party for their beautiful new 'Icons of Hollywood' tickets & promised a behind the scenes walking tour as well, I jumped at the chance! As an added bonus I got to hang out with friends Kate Linder (Young & the Restless), Romi Dames (Hannah Montana), Mary McDonough(The Waltons), The Livingston brothers (My 3 Sons) & many more. I loved going inside the Hollywood landmarks & learned tons of fun facts. Did you know that Sid Graumann came up with the idea for the red carpet? The first red carpet event ever was for the movie premiere of Robin Hood in 1922 at the Egyptian Theater. Also fun, at the party after the tour I spent half an hour talking to the legendary Ruta Lee & her handsome husband about the joys of alpaca ranching!

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Just My Thoughts..

I do not 'choose sides' when people break up. I'm sorry your ex wasn't a good partner for you; but they can still be a good friend for me. 

My Review of Smash

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

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

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!

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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