Bunny business

I mentioned yesterday on Facebook it seemed like a sick joke that I had an Easter interview scheduled - at a Target store! I can't walk out of that place without spending 50 bucks, so the fact that I was heading there in the middle of the day was definitely hazardous.

I managed to make it out of there after only spending $30 (candy for my desk and frozen dinners) because I had to take the train back to my office and I didn't want to lug several bags on the Metro.

The final countdown

I wandered out of bed this morning and headed to our local Fox station to talk about what to expect in the final days before Christmas. The breaking news of the hour was that the general manager of the Redskins stepped down, so the fact that this segment even happened at all was surprising.

OH, and no I do not have a publicist. It's a good thing they weren't showing my face when she said that. I'm sure my first reaction was priceless!

Spooky

In one word, "spooky" describes our Halloween estimates for this year. So much for this being the fun holiday to talk about!

Five seconds of fame

I was on Good Morning America this morning...for about five seconds. Still, if you want to see it, watch it here.

It's beginning to look a lot like...

NBC called yesterday to tape a Christmas in July piece. The last several times they've called, I've run over and taped and the piece has never run. Apparently, it was a slow enough news day that the light-hearted news made it in. Go figure.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I told you so

Well, I said that the holiday season would be here before you know it. I didn't really mean literally...

And yes, I know, it was apparently a bad hair day today. Better luck next time.

Fast-forward to February

Well, the back-to-school season is underway (according to us, at least, and the 20% of people who say they have already started shopping). And after this comes Halloween and after that comes the holiday season and after that comes our Annual Convention and...oh dear Lord, I don't know if I'm ready for this!

Here's my short (and when I say short, I mean two-minute) CNBC interview from this afternoon on our survey. (Just scroll your mouse over the arrow below if you have high-speed internet and want to watch.)

I'll be back in February.

Hoppy Easter

To my aunts and other relatives who have been commenting lately on people's fashion choices, I hope I passed the test!

After this interview, I went to tape a segment for Good Morning America. I am officially talked out and ready for the weekend.

Valentine's Day on a budget

I spent most of my week talking about Valentine's Day (and, appropriately, spent most of the week wearing pink or red, except for Wednesday when the Today Show called and I was wearing all black--oops). Even though I've never been the world's biggest Valentine's Day fan, it was much more fun to talk about than the dismal holiday season.

My favorite segment that came out of this week is below. As you can imagine, this reporter was absolutely hilarious to work with.

Live from DC (again)

I completely forgot that I promised to do this interview on CNBC Monday night. They called at 3 p.m. to confirm and my mind was totally blank. After being at work for almost 15 hours, I assure you that I was running on pure adrenaline.

Prior to the interview, they told me to be "high energy" and I laughed out loud. I tried, though! (And no hair-flicking this time!)

Live from DC

I hate setting an alarm on Sunday mornings, but I did so I wouldn't sleep through this interview!

Mental note: I need to stop flicking my hair!

Tongue-tied

I literally spent so much time talking earlier this week that the words just wouldn't fit together anymore. Typically I'm spot-on with TV interviews, especially the taped ones, but by Tuesday afternoon, forgetaboutit. It was all I could do to create coherent sentences!

Here's a piece from Today Show this morning that I taped on Tuesday. The first sentence out of my mouth was so convoluted I had to listen to it twice. It does make sense, but it's not typically how I would have worded things.

Mental notes

Notes to self on what I learned from this interview:

1) Smile already! When you're delivering good news, put a little twinkle in the eye. (And this goes for absolutely every single time you're saying something, because they will inevitably only pick up a fragment of that 20-minute discussion.) And when you're delivering bad news...well, smile more. You look like you're delivering a death sentence! I know it's Halloween and all, but, sheesh...

2) Turtlenecks do not look good on TV.

3) Even if you don't have a TV interview scheduled, do not wear said turtleneck to work the week of Halloween. (Remember? You made that same mistake on Tuesday when you wore a bright pink turtleneck sweater and then the local Fox station came by. That didn't look good either...do you not learn?!?)

4) A red shirt and brownish-red lipstick do not work. Folks, do not try this at home. And definitely do not try this on TV.

5) At least you don't look like the guy from the Charlottesville costume shop.

6) You are your own worst critic. [At least...I hope!]

Orange you glad...that I wore green?

When I was at CNN yesterday, they told me the Halloween segment I taped would air all day. I jokingly mentioned I should have worn orange. The producer said he was so glad I didn't! Apparently everyone was showing up in orange to talk about Halloween and it was becoming a running joke in the office.

That didn't stop me from wearing an orange shirt today, though!

Soundbites

This is what you call one soundbite repurposed. It's funny that the interview lasted fifteen minutes and this specific answer was picked up both times. But I do appreciate that NBC didn't make me go there twice to say the same thing!

I taped this interview last Saturday for a piece that was supposed to air last Sunday. I was hoping that taking two hours out of a beautiful weekend day wasn't fruitless. Eight days later, pieces from the interview finally ran.

In case you missed it...

My first holiday 2008 TV interview. And there will be more to come...

Bad hair day

It's irritating to me that the day before I'm scheduled to get my haircut, I'm asked to appear live on Fox Business. Couldn't they have waited until tomorrow afternoon to talk about something that's a week away?

If you can get past my bad hair day, this wasn't a horrible piece.