Star Speaks

Ex-host of 'The View', Star Jones, has finally admitted in a recent interview, that she did have gastric by-pass surgery to help her lose almost 200 pounds. She says that although she said she was trying to protect her privacy, she really was afraid of what the public would think of her. She attended therapy after the surgery and says that she now feels confident enough to admit that she did have the surgery to help her achieve a healthy weight and lifestyle. Another ex-host, Rosie O'Donnell, who has lambasted Star in the past for keeping her secret, has flatly turned down an offer of two million dollars from Donald Trump, to appear in the celebrity version of 'The Apprentice'. She said she wouldn't do it for $200 million. Frankly, I think Miss I-can-dish-it-out-but-can't-take-it is afraid of what the public would do to her if she agreed to appear on Donald's reality show.

Bad Pedestrian

Young artists have always used numerous ways to display their art and clothing is just one of many. In upscale boutiques in urban cities, you will find one-of-a-kind works of art that can be worn. One up-and-coming artist who just graduated high school, began his own clothing company just as one of his role models had done a few years back in Boston (Johnny Cupcakes). With Bad Pedestrian this young artist is finding a way to express his creativity while combining it with savvy marketing techniques. Here you will find some very cool t-shirts with his unique designs and bright colors for only $25 each. Very cool!!

The Shoes You Love To Hate

Crocs have been around for a few years, but they mostly could be found on the feet of three and four year olds at the beach or playground. They were colorful and one woman even invented little decorative plugs for the holes. She was featured on Oprah because she became very rich from those little plugs. Now, truth be told, those shoes are too cute on two year olds, but not on forty-two year olds. In fact, unless you are wearing them to do your gardening or trudging through the sand on your way to your beach blanket, you shouldn't be caught dead in them. They are beyond ugly and are in no way a fashion statement, but what do I know? I hated Uggs when they first came out and sure enough, they grew on me. Nevertheless, there is one lady that hates crocs more than I do. So much so that she started her own blog and dedicated it to how much she hates Crocs. You can read all about it at I Hate Crocs.

Learning From A Distance

College is a wonderful experience and anyone who has the chance to go, should do it and experience all that college has to offer from the higher education to the social life. However, if you have a full-time job, going to college is not an easy task. Making the time to get to classes, traveling to get there and then doing assignments is nearly impossible if you are working a forty hour work week. It's for that reason that distance learning is so appealing to those of us who are already in the work force, but who want to increase our chances of advancement through further education. I have two very good friends who did just that. One is a nurse and the other is in education. Both opted for a distance learning phd program that allowed them the flexibility to complete the program while still being able to work full time. If you've been thinking about completing a degree or certificate program through distance learning, you will be interested to learn that Capella University has launced new degree programs and eight new graduate and undergraduate programs in psychology, education, information technology and business. One area of interest to educators might be interested in Capella's School of Education's Special Education Leadership program. This is a great program for those educators thinking of moving towards an administrative position. This is just one of many ways you can improve your career and, ultimately, change your life forever.

Another Train Wreck

Allegedly, in an attempt to boost her career, Britney Spears set up a photo shoot/interview with OK Magazine. She reportedly was not cooperative (big surprise) and displayed erratic behavior. The photos were not very good and only very recently OK decided to go ahead and print the photos in favor of attempting to candy coat the fiasco. Britney reportedly wiped her hands on her Gucci dress after eating some fried chicken, leaving the dress badly stained. It will be interesting to see if OK goes through with printing the photo shoot as it reportedly could put another nail in the coffin formerly known as her career.

This And That!

I would love to go one day without having to read about yet another star who is arrested for drunk driving and/or drug possession. Unfortunately, early this morning, Lindsay Lohan was arrested for all of the above, while apparently chasing the mother of her assistant who had just quit; all this shortly after she was released from rehab. This was reported by
TMZ with a statement that although Lindsay was wearing a cuff to monitor her alcohol consumption, it had not detected anything wrong, even after her arrest. Her attorney made a brief statement and I paraphrase him, that she is basically still battling an addiction..........It was announced that comedian Drew Carey, will be the next host of 'The Price Is Right'.........earlier this weekend a huge party hosted by Tom Cruise and his wife, Katie Holmes and Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, was thrown in honor of the arrival of the Beckhams to America.

Cutting Edge Skincare

Now there is a cutting edge skin care line made by Emerge Labs that will give you immediate results, without any redness or other side effects when used as directed. Emerge skin care products will give you cleaner, smoother, brighter skin with the very first application. Emerge Skin Care Labs offers quality and consistency with every product they make and will help enhance any medical procedure you may have had initially. I have several friends who have had plastic surgery and it is a must to have an effective skin care line to compliment your medical procedure.

British Invasion

I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of Victoria Beckham. I've never seen a photo of her smiling and she looks like she doesn't eat anything. She is always dressed like she's dressed for fashion week, teetering on high heels, even when she's just running errands. Well, the other night, desperate to find something worthwhile to watch on TV, I came up short and resorted to watching her reality show about her move to the United States. She made a fan of me in one short hour. I found her to be charming, funny and much more down to earth than I could have imagined. I'm not sure if NBC is thinking of making the reality show a regular, but I do believe it could be a hit.
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My New Career!

I've left teaching part-time to sell real estate. The market is terrible right now because there are too many homes and not enough buyers and mortage rates are far too high to have to borrow, but I'm still going to give it a try. You can visit my broker's website at H&G Sells Homes.

Finding Fit Dates

Fitness dating is a great new way to meet people. This is a dating site which is completely free to join. They provide fresh, new profiles each day for men and women looking for dates, fun or long-term relationships. Each profile contains at least one photo and many have more than one so you can see the person of interest very clearly. That person provides a brief description of themselves and any of their interests, including what or who they are looking for in a date. You can also see their age and where they live. If you have any interest, you can send that person a message or send them a "flirt". With fitness dates you can be as selective as you want to be. There is a place on the website where you can search a member by their nickname or you can search according to geographical area just by typing in your zip code. You can meet muscular women, if that's what you're into, or you can meet buff guys. There are actually links that will take you to pages just for people with those interests. The site clearly states that it is for men and women looking to find a fit partner and for people who care about fitness and health and who take care of themselves, but you can see that for yourself as you view each and every profile. It's free to sign up so you have nothing to lose and who knows, maybe you can meet someone special before the Summer ends.

A Stress-Free Vacation

It's seems like a bit of an oxymoron to say that someone had a stressful vacation. Afterall, aren't vacations supposed to be fun and relaxing? They should be, but when going on vacation to say, Orlando, Florida, the thought of purchasing all those tickets for theme parks can be very stressful and down-right intimidating, not to mention, very expensive. Just the thought of it could make a person decide to stay home, but what's the fun in that? Instead, there's a great way to get Cheap Universal Studios Tickets that will not only save you money, but is extremely stress-free. What about Disney? That alone could be stressful, just trying to figure out which days and what kinds of passes to buy for everyone in the family. Now, it is all laid out for you in such a well-organized manner, that purchasing your Disney tickets will not only save you money, but will be a snap. You won't want to miss out on all that Disney has to offer, including for theme parks, two water parks and much more. You can also find tickets to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and for some night-time fun, there are some great discount tickets to dinner shows, including Arabian Nights, Medieval Times and Pirates Dinner Adventure. Won't the kids just love that? Of course, there are some educational and fun things to do as well like one of my all-time favorites, Sea World and the Kennedy Space Center. Not to worry, you can purchase your tickets there too, all from one great website, all at the same time, in just a few minutes. It's user-friendly, stress free and very cost effective. In other words, it has all the right ingredients for a great family vacation!

The Natural Way To Beauty

I don't often write about all-natural beauty products, but there is one line of beauty products that has gotten very good reviews and the products are very reasonably priced. Kiss My Face has been making quality self-care products for a while and their line began with just a few products. Now, they have many, many products to choose from for face and body that rival other products sold on the market. Best of all, Kiss My Face products are available in may stores. In fact, you can find a store near you that sells their products by going to the store locator on their website. Check out their cleansers, face masks and other beauty products. They have gotten rave reviews in many fashion magazines. These are especially great products if you have sensitive skin or any allergies that are exacerbated by other products.

Rosie's At It Again

Not that she ever stops, but Rosie took the opportunity to blast her former co-host from 'The View' by holding up a photo of her during a stand-up routine on one of her fun 'gay only' cruises. The photo of Elizabeth, of course, was drawn on to make her appear as a devil. Rosie quipped that her only claim to fame was 'Survivor'. She also made some more rude comments about Donald Trump. This woman is in need of a muzzle! Maybe instead of dueting with Barry on "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart", she could have sung "The Bitch Is Back" instead. Speaking of her duet, it is all over the internet now and not in a good way. AOL is citing it as so very wrong and the TMZ is reporting the duet as a real heart-breaker, and not in a good way either.

Attention Sports Fans

Just when you think there isn't any other way you can benefit from using a credit card, along comes CreditCardSearchEngine.com to mix two of America's favorite past times: shoppng and sports. When you click on Sports Credit Card Low APR you will find a way that you can gain benefits for your favorite sport, just by using one of their credit cards. If you are a baseball fan, you can earn a licensed jersey, football fans can earn a gift card for NFLshop.com, racing fans can earn NASCAR collectibles, poker fans can earn points which can be redeemed for WSOP buy-ins for the Texas Hold'em Championship and fishing enthusiasts can earn points for contributions to the National Wildlife Foundation. Besides offering credit cards with unique benefits, CreditCardSearchEngine.com is one of the longest running sites for online credit card comparison. It will allow you to compare advantages to all kinds of credit cards regardless of your credit status. This is especially great for college students, businesses and any kind of consumer. Their issuers include J.P. Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Citibank and leading credit card brands like Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover Card.

Is The Magic Gone For Criss?

Criss Angel is firing back at his estranged wife, Joanne Sarantankos, whom he has been married to for the last five years of their fifteen year relationship. She filed for divorce over a year ago, but recently and allegedly claims that Criss is not only financially neglecting her, but has also been allegedly carrying on an affair with actress, Cameron Diaz. Criss admits to a friendship with this actress, but that's all. He further alleges that he never tried to cover up his marriage to fans to make him appear more accessible to his overwhelming female followers, but on one episode of his 'Mindfreak' series, he introduces Joanne as his fiance, not his wife, so one has to wonder if maybe there isn't a grain of truth to her allegations that their marriage was to be kept a secret to the public. In any event, Criss will appear on Larry King tonight to tell his side of the story. I almost wish he wouldn't. I wish people would take Paul McCartney's example. When Paul was interviewed recently on Larry King, he flat out refused to answer any questions other than to say he was doing just fine. Personal problems should be just that...personal, then maybe they will disappear a lot sooner.

The Odd Couple

Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows that I am a big fan of Barry Manilow. I'm not a Fanilow, just a fan of his music. Barry will be releasing a new collection of his ode to the decades this September. Hopefully, this will be the final installment of a lackluster collection of hits that began with the fifties and is hopefully ending with the seventies. Barry is one of many artists under the iron wing of Clive Davis and, as anyone who knows Clive, artists over the age of twelve are relegated to recording cover albums. Clay Aiken said recently in an interview that he was strongly urged by you-know-who to go in that direction, but he wisely resisted. Not Kelly Clarkson style, but in his own gentile way by mixing original songs, some of which he wrote, and cover songs based on Clive's formula of success. However, artists like Barry and Rod Stewart, seem to be doomed to this kareoke existence in order to keep a pulse beating in their career. Too bad because Paul McCartney who is older than the both of these guys is still kicking ass in the songwriting department and doing very well under Starbucks' label.
What you will find in this latest collection of Barry's hits from the seventies is middle-of-the road classics that he didn't already cover on his last ode to the seventies 'Summer of '78'. This batch of songs will include a duet with, and I feel like barfing when I write this, Rosie "I can't carry a tune in a wheelbarrow" O'Donnell on Elton John's "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart". If this is supposed to boost album sales, I'm not quite sure if it won't backfire given Rosie's history of instability lately, but it should be one track to skip over should you decide to purchase this CD. If you do purchase it, skip the regular version and go for the deluxe package which will include a second CD filled with Barry's greatest hits, which were re-arranged and recorded acoustically. Yes, 'Mandy' will be there too, but Barry has apparently omitted his signature huge orchestrations and opted for a minimalist approach to these beauties. On the flip side of that bonus CD, you will find a DVD with an inside look at the making of the collection which is always fun to watch.
If you decide to skip it altogether, that's okay. Barry will have a new jazz based Christmas collection coming out later this Fall for Hallmark and I hear that one is really great!

Spence Diamonds' Guide To Buying The Perfect Engagement Ring

There's nothing more fun for me than buying jewelry and diamonds are my favorite to shop for. Like most women, I know a thing or two about buying jewelry and I've learned a little bit about how to spot a good diamond. However, if you are man, you may need a few tips on how to chose the perfect ring for your special lady. Spence Diamonds has put together the best and most comprehensive guide for not only picking out a quality ring, but picking out the right ring with her taste in mind. A woman dreams of getting an engagement ring, probably from the time she is a very little girl. How disappointed she would be to receive a ring that is nothing like the one she's been dreaming about her whole life. Spence diamonds has given great clues on how to figure how to buy a ring that matches the taste of the woman in mind. Paying attention to specific details like style and shade of gold can really make the difference in making her dreams come true. In this guide, men will learn how to look for hints on what kind of ring to choose, just by looking at the jewelry she is wearing right now. Is she modern and contemporary in her tastes, or does she lean more towards vintage, traditional styles? These clues will help you pick a ring that is right for her, not just any ring. More importantly, Spence Diamonds takes the time to give a very brief and easy to read guide to choosing a quality diamond like the cut, which is the most important part of the brilliance and sparkle of a diamond. Next, you will learn how to choose the right color. Did you know that the whiter the diamond, the more valuable it is? Another important aspect is the clarity which specifically refers to any inclusions or blemishes which can only be seen when viewed under microscope. If you have a budget, the guide will help you there too. Did you know that the majority of engagement rings are less than 0.5 carat weight? Carats are how diamonds are measured, and lest you think that you have to have a diamond no less than one carat, you are wrong. Beautiful diamonds come in all sizes and shapes, and you can have the perfect ring that will not only fit her finger, but will fit your budget as well. Even if you haven't picked up on all the hints she may be dropping, you don't have to worry. Spence Diamonds has expert help to guide you through this very important process and will help you make it as stress free as possible.

In Case You Think You're Not Hip Enough

Along comes Her Fab Life. This is a website designed for young women, or women young at heart, who want to find out the very latest in trendy styles, restaurants, spas, stores and events you won't want to miss out on. They even have a section for men and they feature one hot guy a week you may want to get to know better. If that's not enough, they have a fabulous network of women you can get to know better. Listen, even big city girls need a little help every once in a while and this website is just the ticket to keep you up-to-date on all those must-have styles and the most popular meeting places where you live.

Losing Weight With Alli

Alli, the FDA approved diet pill which is sold over the counter, has made a huge splash at just about every drug and discount store in the United States. So much so, that there is a companion book to go along with the pill which helps the users choose foods that are low in fat. Well, it's not only sound advice to eat low-fat for a number of reasons, but eating high fat foods while taking Alli can prove to cause very bad side effects. The pill, which contains the same ingredients found in Xenical, but with only half the strength, blocks about twenty-five percent of the fat ingested by the user. Too much fat though causes people to experience bloating and oily diarreah. Sorry, but there is no nice way to put it. In any event, although this may seem like the answer to the prayers of anyone struggling to lose weight. People should seek assistance from their physicians when taking this or any other diet pill so you can get maximum results, with minimum discomfort.

Faking A Celebrity Tan

If you want the exact same faux tan that you see all the celebrities wearing on the red carpet, then Fake Bake is what you really want. The original product, which you can still get, comes in a cream form which, when applied, will give you a true bronze color. At first, the color will be so deep, it may appear almost too dark, but shower the excess off, and what will remain is the perfect faux tan. Of course, since the original product came out, Fake Bake has come up with several products that also include an anti-cellulite version as well as their air-brush tan which you can do at home. The price may be a little more steep than anything you can buy in a drugstore, but it is long-lasting and far less expensive than a professional faux tan which can run into the thousands of dollars. Why bake in the sun for hours and cause sun damage as well as subject yourself to the possibility of skin cancer when you can just fake bake?

Nicole Will Be A Mommy

Nicole Richie is expecting her first child, as confirmed by the website TMZ. After weeks of speculation, it has been confirmed that she and her fiance, Joel Madden, from Good Charlotte, are not only expecting their first child, but are planning to wed this summer as well. So what will happen to Nicole's pending DUI charge? At the moment, her case is on hold, but hopefully, when it finally gets to court, the Judge won't try to make an example of her as was the case with her Simple Life co-star, Paris Hilton, who has been vacationing in Hawaii with another good friend.

Why I Love The Police

If you love the band, The Police, then you must be very happy to know that they are on tour this summer. They are probably coming to a town near you so be on the look-out for The Police and the great hits that they will be playing during their concert. What if you can't get tickets though? They not easy to come by and you may have to give up a more than a few lattes to pay for those tickets. If you are fan like me and can't get those much sought after tickets, don't despair. The brand new Police Cd is now available. What is it? It's a two-cd set that contains all the great hits from The Police which you can blast any time of the day or night and pretend that you are sitting front row, center at one of their concerts.
Please click on this awesome banner where you can watch The Police's videos, listen to tracks from The Police's new 2 cd hits collection, enter to win a trip to NYC to see The Police in concert and even view details about their current world tour. When you click on the eye wonder banner, you will see that it contains all of the following features: Cool videos of The Police, the track listing for the brand new, two-disc set with all twenty-eight tracks and a cool jukebox, information about their current tour, a place to enter a great contest to win tickets to see the Police, ringtones for your cell phone. You can even send it to all your close friends so they can view it too!
How come I know so much about the brand, new two-CD set from The Police? Because I already own it and I can tell you that it is a must-have for any collector and makes a great graduation gift, birthday gift, anniversary gift or just something wonderful to make you feel really good. I gave a set to my husband for Father's Day and he listens to it in his car which puts him in a really good mood and that works for me! Best of all, you get a great vintage poster two which is suitable for framing and a collector's dream!
Maybe you are new to The Police although I can't imagine no one not knowing the words to "Roxanne", but if that's the case, and you are a music lover, then you have to have this collection just so you can hear what you've been missing all these years. If you know the music from Sting, but not his early work, then you need to hear his roots. Music makes a great gift because it's one that consistenly brings joy and happiness to a peron's life and this is one collection that I guarantee will do that for you or someone you love!