About Me

I am one of the hosts of NBC's new live daytime show iVillage Live. We are television's first fully interactive show that is truly all about the viewer, and for the first time in the history of television, you can talk back to your TV and get an answer. Our sound stage is an outdoor theater in Universal Orlando Resorts and every day is an adventure with interesting guests, great ideas and sometimes a visiting squirrel or scream from a rollercoaster. I have spent the last 16 years living in New York City, so starting this job meant a move home. When I say this, I mean it literally because my husband, daughter and I moved in with my Mom and Dad. We live in a house with three generations, several political affiliations, 2 cats, a dog, a turtle, 3 fish and an ant farm.

I like to say I come from a true American family, not the kind that we dream about in fairy tales where there are two perfect parents who never disagree, with two beautiful children (boy and girl, of course) who have no learning disabilities or trouble in school. My husband and I were both married before....I like to call my first a "starter marriage." Because my first husband and I had no kids, we divided up what was left of the wedding gifts and parted company. My husband Michael, on the other hand, has two amazing sons from his first union and one ex-wife who will always be a part of the major events of our lives. Add to that our daughter, who at five is nine years younger than her nearest sibling, and you have a messy situation, because blended families are not perfect, they are messy. I had a lot of training for this as I come from a messy family and I proclaim this proudly. My older brother is mentally retarded from a birth accident. Pete is the light of our lives and very special but not perfect and yes... Pete lives with us too.

I graduated from the University of Florida and then spent a year as Miss Florida. It's true, I was once a pageant girl and I had really big hair. I moved to NYC to be an actress and did several Broadway and off-Broadway shows including "Jekyll and Hyde," "The Flowering Peach" and "Annie Warbucks." I have done hundreds of commercials, so yes, I am the woman that you saw on TV with the diapers, lettuce, orange juice, etc. I've hosted shows on Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, A&E and Animal Planet. My favorite moments have been meeting and interviewing people from all over the country. It is amazing how different we all are until we sit down and talk about our kids or pets or what makes us laugh. When I think about what I love and who I am, first and foremost I am a mom. Having my daughter put everything into perspective. It made me realize how the simplest moments of your life are the most beautiful. It also brought me even closer to my amazing bonus kids Everett and Michael. I believe that families come in all shapes and forms: single mom, two dads, parents that love each other but can't stay together, half-siblings, step-parents, and the list goes on. I am a sister, a daughter, a wife and a mom and I choose to embrace the idea of the messy-not-perfect American family.