Call me crazy but I thought it was a well-known rule of thumb that while appearing in a court of law for any reason at all, the PR standard is to 1. dress respectably 2. act accordingly and 3. generally try to leave a good impression. Gangsters who have never owned a suit will appear before a judge “suited and booted”, hair trimmed, nails clean with a humble demeanor. Psychopaths have been drugged and coached on how to appear “normal” and lectured on keeping a lid on crazed outbursts.
Where was her PR team when Lindsey Lohan decided a discreet “f*** u” delicately painted on her middle finger was just the right accessory to bring into court for her sentencing. I wonder if it was a hopeful use of the term? Thinking she could not possibly spend any time in jail she would cry hysterically and prominently flash the middle finger to the press in ironic triumph??? Or was it crazy foreshadowing and she knew she was going to the bink, the big heezy, “County”. I just find it hard to wrap my brain around the second scenario. Maybe her nail tech, best friend, agent placed the lovely verbiage on her nail unbeknownst to her while she was passed out after the requisite “Night before sentencing party”.
Whatever the reason or situation that led to Ms. Lohan’s unfortunate nail ornamentation one thing is painfully clear. No longer will she be remembered as that super talented actress in the Herbie the Love Bug remake. Now she goes down in the same manner as our esteemed Tara Reid…just another chic, who for a second could have really done something but instead initiated her own demise and managed to go out without a shred of dignity left in tact.

It is a common – even prescribed – practice in marketing to try and get a high profile name linked with a product to get the word out…to help with the “push”, to add legitimacy, glamour, and popularity. I recently set out to find a celebrity to team up with the Keep A Breast foundation and pro surfer Jodie Nelson for Paddle With Purpose, a 39.8 mile solo paddle from Catalina to Dana Point.  Unfortunately due to movie premiers, tour dates, hair and make-up appointments, etc., my target celebs were unavailable. However, our animal friends are proven crowd pleasers and they come without any requests or monetary needs. All we have to do is let them do what they do naturally and hope the cameras are rolling.

Proven by the success of Jodie Nelson’s amazing solo paddle when “Larry” the 30 foot Minke whale unexpectedly joined Jodie for a portion of her journey. The spontaneity was priceless…it was something that no one person could bring to the table. It was non-threatening, magical and the timing was just perfect. People relate to nature and animals, and definitely some animals rank higher than others. Don’t know of many “whale-haters” – I think they are up there with Giraffes and Panda Bears. We see them as awesome and mysterious and powerful and more importantly we WANT TO SEE THEM! It was pure magic that someone doing something so selfless was unexpectedly accompanied by a gorgeous whale just out doing his own thing.

Larry proved to be a huge and unexpected draw that we could never have planned for – and the Today Show took note! Add to that the fact he will not embarrass himself in interviews or prove to be a fraud, or take up some sexually deviant behaviors. Larry wins on all counts!
Watch the Today Show feature on Jodie and Larry here:

It happens every Olympics, I don’t think I will get involved, no way am I getting sucked in but then…

I am sitting on the edge of my sofa holding my breath as Apollo skates hoping he will medal, again and again. I am cheering like a mad woman for Shaun White as he throws himself into gravity defying stunts on the snowboard half pike. I watched ice skating and the ski jumping and something ominously called Skeleton. I couldn’t help myself, I learned about curling and realized I weirdly cared about the outcome of US vs. Canada in men’s ice hockey. The triumphs, the defeat, the overcoming of odds, the stories, the glory the U.S. pride. Yep, NBC sucked me right in and then they cut me off. Cold Turkey. Olympics and then SEINFELD? I am not sure I will ever forgive them. I was in it to win it, there for the bitter end…just not the 11:30 pm bitter end as I am a working mother, Hello?!!! Read more…

Keep A Breast teamed up with PONY to create the bright and colorful “Check Your Self” sneaker collection to support breast cancer awareness, and NBC San Diego gives viewers an inside look at this new collaboration.  Check it out!