Archives for May 2011

Yeeeee Haw!  Scotty McCreery won the title of American Idol last night.  It was a fun finale.  I really did not care if Scotty won or Lauren Alaina won because I had picked them both as my favorites when the season first started.  I love that they are country singers.  And they just seem like really good kids who love their Mamas. Here’s the moment when Scotty won:

I can’t wait to hear Scotty’s country album.  I’m crossing my fingers that he goes on tour with Tim McGraw because their duet of “Live Like You Were Dying” was awesome.

And you know who else was awesome?  This amazing diva.  Beyonce gave an on stage master class performance on how to be a pop star.  I hope they all were watching.

I just ugly cried through the entire final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show.  It was perfect.  No guests.  No fanfare. No “Favorite Things” to hand out.  Just Oprah talking about the lessons she has learned and the wisdom she wants to pass along to us, her faithful viewers.  (And she looked so pretty in a beautiful pink dress with ruffles down the front.)

My awesome hubbie took the kiddies to the library and out for smoothie treats so I could watch the final Oprah alone, in my family room, on the coach with my Starbucks and a box of tissues.  And I definitely needed those tissues.  Not because the show was particularly sad, but because she spent the hour reminding me, once again,  to keep life in perspective.  To live with passion and love.  To help others.  To trust my gut.  To listen to my inner voice.  To find my calling.  I’ve struggled a lot lately with the thought of what I’m going to do when both my kiddies go to school full time.  Will I get a regular job?  What is God’s plan for me?  What is my purpose?

Oprah always reminded me that everyone carries the same desires: to be seen, to be heard, to know that they matter.  Oprah always said that we matter because we were born.  That is the strongest message I want to pass along to my children.  That they MATTER.  That they serve a purpose.  They just need to figure out what that is and they need to follow their hearts.  I need to remember this lesson too.

I’m excited that Oprah has her OWN Network.  I’ve already been watching a lot of that programming.  But it won’t be the same without The Oprah Winfrey Show. I’ll miss you, Oprah.  But I’ll always remember to live my best life.

“Until we meet again, to God be the glory” – Oprah’s final words on her show.

I was going to write all about the 2011 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, but this is all that really happened:

Justin Bieber and his girlfriend Selena Gomez kissed!  Justin did not mention Selena when he took the stage to accept his many Billboard awards, but he did call her “amazing” in a backstage interview.  These two pop stars kept their teenage romance under wraps for months, but now it looks like they are comfortable enough for some PDA.  Ahhh…they are too cute.  (And I really dig his gold sparkly coat.  Very cool.)

It’s official.  I will never see a live taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show.  Boo.  I did try to get some last minute tickets for her final season but everything is a lottery and it was basically impossible.  I had a plan that if I did manage to win one single ticket, I would fly by myself to Chicago so I wouldn’t miss that opportunity of a lifetime.

But Oprah taped her final two shows last night in Chicago.  It was called Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular and it was held at the United Center with 13,000 audience members. (And I still could not get a ticket!) Below are some photos of the surprise guests.  These celebrity filled shows will air on Monday, May 23rd and Tuesday, May 24th. The final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show will air on Wednesday, May 25th after 25 years. (The content of that show is still under wraps.) I’m getting my tissues ready now.

I still have TWO of my four favorite American Idol contestants left in the competition: Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina.  Yay! They will compete against Haley Reinhart for a spot in the finale.  Scotty and Lauren are both country artists.  I would love a country finale.  I wonder what songs they would sing?  Here’s Scotty singing one of the best songs ever written, Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning?) by Alan Jackson.  It was the perfect song because it was so relevant and it showed how Scotty has emerged as a true artist.  Watch out, Nashville.

This woman rocks.  Enough said.