CHRISTMAS BALL TOUR: Sarasota/Bradenton, FL

After meeting new DV8 Casting discovery Brandon Wilde in Minneapolis, I discovered he'd never been on a plane, never seen a beach, never been outside of Minnesota! After I landed in Florida, I texted him, half-joking at first, telling him he should get on a plane and come see me and my family for Christmas. He jumped at the opportunity and within 48 hours had flown himself to the Sunshine State!

We made Christmas cookies on Christmas Eve, saw the beach in Sarasota on Christmas Day, had dinner with my family and then went to see "It's Complicated." (I love me some Meryl! I liked it so much I saw it again with my mom a few days later.)

I've had lots of great time with my mom here, hanging with her, my step-father Jimmy and their friends, taking in movies, overdosing on turkey and stuffing -- and I think I have successfully addicted her to "True Blood" so my job here is done.

NEXT UP: Tomorrow, Brandon Wilde and I pick up the love of my life Brandon Baker at Tampa airport and head to Jacksonville, Florida to spend New Year's Eve and New Year's Day at Metro with my best gurl Chi Chi LaRue! Then on the 2nd, Brandon Wilde will head back to Minnesota while Brandon Baker and I return to Bradenton for him to meet my parents before we head to Las Vegas for some surprise added dates and parties to the Christmas Ball Tour.

We like to keep Christmas going... as looong as possible!