Being able to fly home for the holiday and see my friends and family, especially my mom.

The wonderful and overly large meal we had, just look at the table alone:

My health.

That it at least gets a little easier each year not being able to celebrate the holidays with my dad.

The easy move and transition to the left coast.

Being in love.

And so much more. 

Thanksgiving Stats:

• 4,500 calories consumed by the average person on Thanksgiving Day. (I probably did even more than that, which is why I need to cut back now.)
• 11% of Americans eat Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant.
• 11% of Americans admit to unbuttoning their pants after the feast. 
• $16.8 billion was spent last year over the holiday weekend, which is the unofficial kickoff to holiday shopping.  (Redbook)
   

Posted by Tara at 12:01 AM PST

Updated: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 9:12 AM PST

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So our martini party on Saturday was a success. We had over 35 people show up at our apt and I turned into 'mix master Tara' with my martini shaker, making sour apple martinis, cremsicle ones with tang around the rim, cranberry lemon, clear chocolate vanilla and blue raspberry cognac martinis. Our living room turned into a dance floor as the night went on.

Here are the before shots:


We supplied the shrimp cocktail and the liquor, but had asked everyone to donate a martini glass since we only had two. We now have 18 martini gasses and two margarita ones. Some have olives embedded in it, a blue prism bottom and another that's black and white like a tuxedo.

Since I had a few plain glasses now, I took out my bag of nail polish and jabbed dots on the outside of the glasses. It looks very Valentine's day but festive. Take a look:

Posted by Tara at 12:01 AM PST

Updated: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 10:38 AM PST

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On Sunday night I attended the conference, ITA TechWalk, at the Marimont Hotel in Santa Monica from 5-9:30 p.m.  The show is organized by the Interactive TV Alliance. Sounds fun, right? [Being sarcastic] Well, it was definitely more out-of-the-box than traditional trade shows since each exhibitor has their own cottage, instead of a booth, and has  different kinds of food on their balcony lounge area, so attendees then walk from cottage to cottage looking at the displays, demos and talking to that company while sampling sushi, BBQ etc. 

My client had the sushi part of the dinner in their cottage so were quite popular. Anyway, two hours in, after having helped set up, it was becoming a bit redundant telling guests about the company and who they are. I was also standing the whole time and chilly in my wrap around dress since I was out on the balcony. Then, in walks NYPD Blue actress, Sharon Lawrence.  I did a double take, figuring that she wouldn't have a reason to be at the conference despite the entertainment overlap of interactive TV.  Yet, it was her, dressed in a tight dark camel colored leather jacket, beige pants and cute light brown leather handbag. 

Friendly and approachable, she introduced herself to everyone in the room and conversed with my client about an interactive TV project,  entitled "Buzz," that  she is working on, which will encompass broadband and the Internet.  The site is being developed by Cynergy Films (producers: Bruce Hickey and Sharon Lawrence). The multiplatform drama series makes use of interactivity and user-generated content and focuses on a college newspaper. Sharon's father meanwhile is a broadcast journalist and she said to me she's had some experience in the field as well. 

Sharon and the project's co-producer already seemed quite knowledgeable on the subject of ITV, but were attending the conference to gain even more insight and to see what is new. My client made suggestions in regards to advertising and encompassing other cutting edge online applications in their upcoming site, which the duo seemed earnestly happy to receive.

After the shop talk, Sharon and I briefly talked one on one about my move to Los Angeles, PR and fun stuff to do in the area as well as about my blog.  She was super sweet, poised and engaging. I also gushed about how much I liked her short lived comedy show on NBC called, Fired Up. It starred herself and Leah Remini. My dad and I used to like it and I even taped a few of the episodes when it later was picked up by the USA channel. I thought the scripts and cast were really witty, but back then female buddy comedies apparently weren't the rage and they kept moving their time slot. Get this; I even quoted a line that she had said on the show back to her, lol. Don't worry I don't think I scared her, she said she was very happy to hear that I had liked the show and got a kick out of me quoting back dialog to her.

Besides her interactive TV project, Sharon just finished filming a new series, Hidden Palms, for the CW network. While filming the show out in Arizona she said that she was remiss in not checking out local blogs in the area for an inside opinion, which didn't necessarily know that they were talking to her, thus getting the real deal. Hidden Palms, meanwhile, is written by Dawson's Creek's Kevin Williamson and is a blend of The O.C. and Twin Peaks. It debuts in January. 

Posted by Tara at 12:49 PM PST

Updated: Monday, November 20, 2006 1:02 PM PST

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What do you get when you visit Vegas with 25 female friends from across the country? Trouble ... and lots of fun.

Being in Cali, I was able to drive to Vegas for our annual meet-up this year (the destination always changes). On the way, three of us rode the Desperado at Buffalo Bill's casino in Primm, Nevada. For a non-upside down roller coaster, that thing was definitely moving and it was also a pretty long ride.

Thanks to my mom's awesome beverage connections, we made the most of the nightlife. We were able to go into the hot nightclub Tao, VIP and for free without waiting in line, that's a lot of people trying to skip the line too.  Lynn, who works there met me at the door, asked which one of us was Tara and then bam we were there dancing among the naked women in tubs and partying with Nick Lachey (who I actually spoke with before back when he was with 98 degrees and filming a Christmas special for QVC), his new girl Vanessa Minnillo, Mike Tyson and Dennis Rodman. Well, we didn't really party with any of them this time, but they were in the same room, so that counts. I kept seeing Nick and Vanessa, it was her birthday and the DJ gave her some bday shout outs. You can see photos from the party on a paparazzi blog here or also check out her birthday invitation for her party.  NBA's rebel, Rodman, meanwhile, was there without his shirt on and also broadcasting comments from the DJ booth. I didn't see Tyson (or want to), but apparently he was there too. 

The following night we had dinner at Rum Jungle and saw Mamma Mia. It was my fourth time seeing the musical, but each time has been at a different theater: London, Broadway, Providence and now Vegas. This was my least favorite production of it though :(.  After the 10:00 p.m. show we all went to The Foundation Room lounge at the top of Mandalay Bay where we were staying at. The music was old school, but we had bottle service in a private room and the views from the balcony are awesome even after the second time being on it. The balcony is also where they filmed the lights going out on the strip in Ocean's Eleven. We didn't spot any celebs at this club, but had fun dancing with some Marines. 

As for gambling, I fought the craps tables and the craps table won. Although, I did prove  how I got my gabling nickname of "hard eight" and rolled two fours, which gives 10-to-1 odds. I just had a $5 chip on it though, so made only 45 bucks on the roll and then proceeded to loose it. 

We also spent a luxurious  day at Mandalay's spa facility. While I was getting a 25-min aromatherapy massage, the esthetician who kept commenting on my tiny feet and hands, let me select a preferred oil scent from a line of bottles all under the brand name "Tara!" I was torn between the Balancing Tara and the Love Tara, lol. I went with balancing and would have bought a bottle for home, but it was retailing there for $39, while on the Tara Spa home page you can get it for only $21. I think I might order one or at least get their Tara candles for the novelty of it. 

After saying goodbye to the real city that never sleeps, it took a day and a half for my voice to recover from the fake casino, smoke-filled air and yes from screaming at the clubs and drinking. My friend Karen and I call it our Smelly Cat voices from that Friends episode.

Here are some photos ... the ones that I can share at least

Posted by Tara at 12:01 AM PST

Updated: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 10:14 PM PST

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