Heather's Lessons Learned

I want to take a moment to tell you all how much fun I have had sharing a part of my life with you. You all have been so supportive and given me so much positive feedback; you just can’t know how much that means to me. What a crazy ride we have been on since the first episode aired back in June. Now, 18 weeks later, here we are at the end of our journey and I have learned a lot.

Tonight’s show opens with the gang coming together to support Carole’s charity at a fun table tennis tournament at Spin NY. This place is so cool. Susan Sarandon (yes, the actress) is a partner in the space and you see lots of people of all ages and tons of hipsters there any given night of the week. But tonight, I was bringing my “A Game” to support Carole and go for gold. With any other group of friends this would be an easy night of laughing and maybe a couple of pitchers of beer, but not with this crowd. There are landmines set all around the room. Aviva was still steaming about Ramona kicking George out of her event from the day before and with everyone here Carole is doing her best to keep everyone separated. I thought it was nice of George to say hi to Mario. George is 80 and his heart is in the right place. He is harmless overall and he seems to be taking it all in stride. I won the tournament just beating Avery, who was so cute and such a great sport. Just a couple more chords on my air guitar paddle and it is time to relax. Carole and I are doing our best socializing with everyone and I walk up on my Jon having a heart-to-heart with Aviva. I think Jon is right about Ramona and I think he gives Aviva some great advice, but I also am getting frustrated with the same ole, same ole from Aviva and clearly think it is time for her to move on to a new conversation. The end.

I was at my Yummie Tummie offices sitting at the same table where I first met with Sonja to talk about branding her toaster oven concept. James and Gian Andre are here with me, and in comes Sonja to see our presentation of the layouts. Remember, we did this exercise to help Sonja out. We gave her our time and expertise at no expense to her because we want her to succeed. Sonja has had it pretty bad these past few years between the lawsuit and her woes with her ex so this toaster oven could really help her out if it hits big. We went as far as mocking up a box for her so she could present it to potential retailers, and I think we nailed it. The box looked amazing and I could tell Sonja liked it too. I think we brought it home for her with both images and in the end, we stuck it in and delivered Sonja exactly what I promised I would. Yay!! It was not easy, but I wanted to help a friend and I am glad I did see it through for her! Can you tell me what you thought of it all? Which one did you prefer? (Please pick the one with the hunk in it! And, yes I did enjoy the model casting. LOL) Later that day, Aviva stopped by for her fitting for the fashion show. She had a lot of anxiety about exposing her leg, but she was able to put everything aside to help me raise awareness for my charity and you gotta love her for that. I honestly believe she is beautiful, and I think her flaws make her even more so. I gave her a couple of options to wear and I was thrilled she chose the Tsispora Tank, Analeigh Blazer, and Briefie Bottom. I can’t get over her figure. Wow! She really looks awesome!

Now we are in the moment preparing for the big event. The Kellner Pediatric Liver Foundation as you know, is truly so dear to me. Samantha Kellner is such a wonderful friend. As I told you in last week’s blog, she really made a difference during those difficult months when Jax was undergoing transplant surgery and healing. I knew that we would forever be bound and that together we would work to make a difference in the lives of others that may find themselves in the very same position we had. So, this year’s fundraiser has to be the best. Everything was crazy backstage as we prepared for the runway show and I have to keep on with Aviva and her desire to make changes. You can’t mess with the designer’s vision and she knows better to push me when I am being pulled in a thousand different directions. But, she looks so gorgeous and I am so proud of her for doing this. And how about my friend Miri Ben-Ari, the GRAMMY award winning violinist? She was beyond! She worked so hard on that composition and it was the most beautiful music! Please check out Miri's new album at MiriBenAri.com.

Aviva took off the jacket. Wow. She doesn’t fail to surprise me these days, but in the spirit of my charity I decide to let it all go with her, but what I can’t stand for is Sonja and Ramona’s incessancy about this damn toaster oven! Not even a congratulations!?! They start right in with it and this behavior at my event is sickening to me. Carole said it right. . .Samonja needs the attention and spotlight all of the time. So, they talk through the runway show and they start up with Gian Andre and they are just a hot mess. Watching the episode with you all, I can see that they were both a little sorry they brought this up and they were back peddling to get out of BUT hindsight is of course 20/20. I had worked so hard on this event and it was so meaningful to me that I finally had had enough of it. It wasn’t the place for this conversation and it was time for me to say it. The good news is that we raised over $275,000 at our event. . .not enough for a transplant, but it goes a long way toward one and I am so proud of our continued accomplishments at Kellner and so grateful to all those who so generously support us.

Aviva Walks the Catwalk

We close the season at Carole’s book baby shower party and she looks so glamorous. I am really proud of Carole for finishing the book and I know you will all love reading it too. I had the honor of previewing the first few chapters and it is SO good!!! Carole is a truly talented writer and I am very excited for this book to hit the shelves and what's to come for her! Go Raz!!!

So, is it just me or is there something truly disingenuous about an apology if you have to ask for it? I for one don’t accept it as being sincere if I have to beg someone to say sorry. I bring this up because I think Aviva needs to stop asking Ramona to apologize. What will it do? Will it make her feel better? In my opinion, she needs to just back down and give this whole thing with Ramona some time. They just continue to circle the drain with these heightened emotions and it's getting them nowhere.

Aviva and Ramona Have it Out

What did you think of my behavior at the party?? A bit icy, right? Well, I just can’t fake it. My feelings were hurt about the things that went on with Samonja at my charity event the night before and I just can’t pretend everything is ok. I am the kind of person that needs to say her peace and move on and forgive. I have learned not to hold grudges and admittedly sometimes it’s easier than other times, but I can see Ramona trying to improve on herself and I know in her heart Sonja is grateful.

With that, I will leave you with a few lessons I've learned this season: Narcissism is a truly a disease and trust me it is highly contagious. I’ve also learned that the best way to be is to just be yourself. That you just can't sweat the small stuff! The truth will set you free, and above all else ya’ gotta "do you" and "keep it movin" and you all can Holla that!!

This season has come to a close but you have to tune in and watch our reunion shows. It is going to get crazy! And if you want to see my entire runway show, with no interruption watch it here right now. You only caught a glimpse during this episode and there is so much more great stuff to see. If you love any of the looks, enjoy 20% off with promotional code hollafororgandonation20 at checkout. Also, please check out Kellner Liver Foundation . As I wrote above, we raised $275,000 that night but the magic number is $400,000 to pay for a single transplant. Please help us get there. And don’t forget to follow me on Twitter at @iamHeatherT because I will continue tweeting to you so holla back to me! Remember to visit donatelife.net to sign up to become an organ and tissue donor.

Thanks for an amazing season!
Heather