Leave My Reality Alone

When reality shows first came into our homes, we were transported to another place where reality met fantasy. We were all capable of being celebrities now thanks to shows like 'Survivor', but back in the day, you were hard-pressed to find an unkind word printed about the contestants or the shows themselves. Now, reality bashing has become a full-time sport and gossip websites and rags are dedicating themselves dishing the dirt on contestants and the shows themselves. Apparently, the American public, by and large, is not only wanting to know they can be like those contestants, but they also want to know that they are less than perfect. I'm probably in the minority here, but I would rather they leave my reality shows alone and let me enjoy my hour or so of fantasy as an escape from my otherwise hum-drum life. So what if the 'Dancing with the Stars' professional dancers get a little help from seasoned choreographers and so what if one of the 'American Idol' contestants borrowed an arrangement from another artists? How does that change the fabric of my life? All I ask is just give me back my reality shows and let them be. I know they are far from my reality, but that's what makes them so interesting.

A Rumor Too Far

It's already old news that Britney Spears made a guest appearance on "How I Met Your Mother" Monday night, but all kinds of news is stemming from the appearance including one that is going a bit too far. First of all, rumor has it that the producers of the show loved Britney so much that they are thinking that she might become a regular this season. The fact is (and this is a fact), the ratings for the show soared for Monday night's appearance and both TV Guide and The New York Times (really!!) loved Britney saying she looks so much like the Britney we fell in love with years ago. Only one reviewer from Newsday wasn't impressed, but they pretty much hate everything on television or in the movies unless it has sub-titles. Another rumor is that some of Britney's wardrobe from that appearance is being auctioned off for charity, but I can't confirm that. One last rumor that is going just a wee bit too far is that Britney is thinking of a reunion with Fed-ex, but that's just too bizarre to believe. Let's just hope that these two can come to a mutually favorable relationship for the sake of their two adorable boys.

Anti-Aging Products Within Your Budget

There are probably many times when the thought of purchasing skincare products is overwhelming. You go to the store and there are numerous lines available that claim to diminish the signs of aging and many do a great job. However, if you have anti-aging issues along with acne prone or oily skin, you may be hard pressed to find a line over the counter that will work for your skin type. You can go to a dermatologist to have special products made for your skin, but you can imagine that this will cost you many hundreds of dollars. This is usually not within the budget of most women. Now, there is a line of skincare products that was designed by a physician for her clients with all kinds of skin types that target numerous problems, including aging skin. Best of all, these products cost no more than anything you might purchase over the counter from someone who is much less qualified to give you skincare advice. If you do have aging skin, then you know that the most delicate area to treat is right around the eye. You can now purchase a renewal eye cream that not only diminishes the look of fine lines, but this unique eye cream also has a cosmetic luminiscent polymer which helps to mask fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness and the dreaded dark circles that happen to most of us from lack of sleep, stress and poor diet choices. What really separates this product from anything else you can find on the market is the unique anti-inflammatory properities which really help protect skin from aging over the long haul. The physician who created these products for her patients, now makes them available to everyone. She is so sure that you will not use any other products after trying these that she stands behind them one hundred percent and recommends them over other products she could recommend for much more money so she is sacrificing her extra income just to prove how great they are for your skin. You can create an account on the website for the skincare products and even request a sample if you want to try it and see for yourself just how great these affordable skincare products really are.

The Up And Down Life Of Carnie Wilson

Carnie Wilson is the well-known daughter of Beachboy, Brian Wilson and she is also known for her own music career as a member of Wilson Philips, the all girl vocal group, but she is probably best known for her weight problems. She has always been heavy, using food as a way to cope her way through a difficult childhood, but as an adult, she became so heavy that she resorted to weight reducing surgery that, at the time, was ground breaking. She even allowed herself to be videoed during her surgery so that millions of others who suffer the same problems, could see that there was a way out. The surgery allowed her to slim her way down so much so that she looked like a fashion model. However, her problems with food were never clearly dealt with and led her to years of alcohol abuse. She cleaned up her act and eventually her and her husband had a little girl. However, she has continuously struggled with weight issues having appeared on a number of talk shows and even a reality show to help her lose unwanted pounds. Now she claims she has hit rock bottom, blaming motherhood for her bad food habits and lack of sleep. Now this once talented singer, has made a longer career from her weight issues than for anything else she has ever done, including a successful run as a talk-show host. Maybe Carnie should watch my new favorite show on TLC called I Can Make You Thin. Here, host Paul McKenna, who is a famous hypnotist, will actually deal with the issues of emotional eating and help those who were hopeless to lose weight using their minds instead of useless diets. In fact, Paul doesn't believe in diets and believes that you can learn to eat anything you want just like thin people do and lose weight and he has hundreds of followers who have proven him right. If you have food issues just like Carnie, then you can watch Paul's show on TLC or click the link in this post to watch online and join his community to network with other folks.

Transform Your Home With Renuzit

Renuzit TriScents is a brand new way to bring the freshness of Spring into your home. This unique electric oil air freshner comes in two scents; Seaside Breezes and Morning Meadow, both of which will automatically transform your home into a Springtime oasis. If you want to try the brand new scents, then just print out the coupon for three dollars off the TriScents Starter Kit. The starter kit will contain three different scents in either the Seaside Breezes or Morning Meadow category. When you plug in the starter kit, each of the three scents alternate every forty-five minutes, continuously renewing your home! So how can you win a twenty thousand dollar home makeover with Tanya Memme? First, check out the official rules. What you will have to do is submit a home video that is no longer than two minutes in length to visually show why you need a home makeover. The entry should also include a written essay that is no longer than two hundred fifty words. Make sure you read the rules! Your entries will be voted upon starting May 8, 2008. If you win, you will not only receive the twenty thousand dollars for the makeover, but will receive the expertise of Tanya Memme, who will give you great tips for the best makeover of your home. In the meantime, you can have a mini-makeover by using your three dollar coupon to try the Renuzit TriScents Starter Kit. Bringing a fresh, new scent into your home is just one small way to transform your home.

Jenny's Babies

People magazine has scored the very first photos of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony's brand new twins now can be seen at their website. The new issue features Jennifer on the cover with her babies and she looks radiant, of course. There has been some controversy over her alleged choice of diet, but who cares? Anyone who carried around twins for nine months deserves to eat whatever she pleases....for the moment anyway.

The Art Of Rap

If you are a fan of rap music or anything to do with rap, then you will love this website. Here you can read about your favorite rap artists, their music and the latest hip hop news. There is also a forum where you can chat with other fans. Registration is free and you can be sure to get the most up-to-date information on the latest releases. This post is sponsored by Pay Per Post.

Hopeful

It is not easy being a parent to two daughters, one of whom is a major superstar and the other a budding star, especially when those girls are Britney and Jamie Lynne Spears. Say what you want about the parents, but they have been making the best of difficult situations in two separate locations of late. Lynne Spears is reportedly splitting her time between Britney, who is said to be stable right now, and Jamie Lynne, who is expecting her first child. Neither situation is great, but both parents have been hard at work putting their family first. Sometimes, good things come out of things that seem so terrible and this is just one of those instances.

Justice????

Up until now, I've avoided posting about Elliot "Client 9" Spitzer nightmare. As a wife and mother of an impressionable teen, I think too much media attention, especially to the rising star prostitute, is too much. I firmly believe that this cast of characters and all their slimey details is a result of the hypocracy that exists in our society. Are we so desensitized that we no longer find these acts appalling? Have our expectations of our elected leaders fallen so low that we no longer blink an eye when they are caught breaking the law? And what of the woman I will only refer to as "Kristen"? If there ever was a negative role model for young girls, then it has to her. The fact that she might actually spin a career at of her infamy is so disturbing to me. Now she's upset that certain photos are circulating. Is she upset that those photos will destroy those chances or that she's not earning a penny to support her very lavious lifestyle? Whatever the reason, I can only hope that her fifteen minutes is up very soon.

Rachel's Talking Days May Soon Be Over

Page Six is reporting that Rachel Ray's one hour talk show may soon be at an end. The show, produced by Oprah's company, King World, never really had the ratings it takes for an enduring run. As a result, her contract for the talk show is rumored for no renewal. Perhaps it is not Rachel's fault that her show is not doing well. None of the talk shows that followed in that time slot, after Rosie O'Donnell retired from her morning talk show, did well. So what may slide into that time slot next? Supposedly the new talk show hosted by none other than Marie Osmond, who had a successful run with a previous talk show co-hosted with her brother, Donny. Although it would be ashamed if Rachel loses that spot, she still has tons of other gigs to keep her busy including her magazine and more cookbooks just to name two.

Waking Up To A New Sport

The year is just flying by and before we know it, summer will be here. With the coming of summer, comes all the great things you can do outdoors. There's a rather new sport that is something like skateboarding, but it's done on water and requires what is known as a wakeboard. Of course, there are all sorts of accessories that go along with this sport, but if you like trying new things and enjoy both skateboarding and snowboarding, then this will be just right for you. It looks like a lot of fun and it has to be a great workout as well. There are also some really cute wakeboards for girls and it is less expensive than and less cumbersome than a traditional surfboard. Also, when your not wakeboarding, you can pick yourself up a cute pair of sandals and you know, I'm all for accessorizing. This post is sponsored by Pay Per Post.

Madonna's Moment

Last night, Madonna was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. So what got Madonna inducted into an institution that frowns on disco? Her impact on the visual mostly through her unique music videos early on in her career. In fact, it was those videos that pretty much changed the face of MTV, but don't tell her that since her ego is already inflated to the max. So if Madonna can be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, then who can be next to follow? Surely Cher or Bette Midler, but those famers are fickle so who knows who will be next. In the meantime, Madonna, looking more like Justin Timberlake's mother than co-collaberater on her next CD, was thrilled to accept the award and probably more genuinely emotional than we ever get to see her.

Real Housewives, Real Disturbing

Bravo's 'The Real Housewives of Orange County' was a huge hit for the channel; so much so that the next in the series features a group of housewives from the most expensive city in the universe, New York City. This group of socialites makes those Orange County housewives look like poor slobs. These women, most of whom occupy multi-million dollar, multi-level penthouses in the winter and summer in their Hampton's mansions. They spend their days arranging their very important social calendars...opera openings, fund raising events, tennis parties and just about anything else most people can't relate to, although 'The Daily News' recently reported that most of these women barely ever made the society or gossip pages. The only interesting member of this group worth watching is Bethenny Frankel, who was a runnerup on the now defunct 'The Apprentice: Martha Stewart'. She also coins herself the runaway bride, having escaped several serious relationships over the years. Her attempts to get her current beau to commit to a live-in situation may be the only interesting focal point for this reality show. The most annoying member of this group is Alex McCord. She is also the only member who technically does not live in NYC. In fact, her and her husband opted to purchase a townhouse in Brooklyn. The first episode introduces all the housewives, which include an actual countess, along with their husbands, children, servants, dogs and tennis pros, but will viewers watch? Only time will tell, but my guess is these NYC housewives will only be able to squeeze one season out of their social calendars.

Sew Fierce

If you don't already know (or even care), Christian Sirano of Bravo's "Project Runway" was the winner of this season's challenge. Christian, the youngest ever to win at age twenty-two, was overwhelmed by the announcement that he had beat out Jillian Lewis and Rami Kashou. His collection was a favorite of guest judge, Victoria Beckham, so much so that she asked if she could wear one of his designs. Her opinion clearly helped him clinch the honor of winning this season. As the winner of "Project Runway" Christian will not only receive $100,000 to launch his own line, but he also a receives a brand new Saturn Astra in a fierce shade of red as well as a spread in "Elle" magazine and a chance to sell his designs on Bluefly, one of the sponsors of "Project Runway". Even if you didn't think Christian deserved to win (I personally favored fellow Long Islander, Jillian Lewis), you have to admit that he brought a level of entertainment to the show that had been missing in the last few seasons. Bravo Christian!

Putting It In Writing

If you are a bride-to-be and you are planning a late Spring or early Summer wedding, then now is the time to start thinking about wedding invitations. The old-fashioned method would mean you would have to travel from printer to printer looking through cumbersome books for the perfect invitation. You would have to wait days or even longer for a proof of your wedding invitation and even then, there is no guarantee that your invitation would be perfect. This might mean more waiting and more money until you finally got your invitation. Thankfully, there is a much more simple way to order your perfect wedding invitation. You will get what you want in less time and save yourself money. Best of all, you can customize your invitation to fit the theme of your special day. If you are planning a wedding at the beach, then you can choose from an array of beach wedding invitations which will begin the mood of your unique event. I personally like more traditional invitations, but I found one with a slight twist. This invitation has a traditional feel, but with a fresh take on a timeless look. This is just one of many ways you can express yourself. The best part is just how easy it is for you to order your invitations. You never have to even leave your house. You will save money, time and gas and get the invitation that will best express the most important day of your life. This post is sponsored by Pay Per Post.

Unconditional Love Lost

This morning I received a phone call from my dog's vetenarian. She had been boarded there overnight for a mysterious illness that appeared out of nowhere. It is the one call that any pet owner would never want to receive. My sweet dog had passed away this morning. For thirteen years she had given me and my family unconditional love and loyalty every minute of her life. Whenever I was feeling ill, she was at my side. She was my constant companion. She was loved deeply, but never as deeply as she loved us. My heart is broken, but I have a lifetime of memories for all the joy my dog brought me. She was more than a dog...she was my best friend. Rest in peace sweet Shana.