American Idol Favorites

Here are my favorite American Idol contestants this season.  I decided to pick two girls and two guys.  We’ll see how far they go.  Or how long I keep loving their performances.  And don’t they just all have the best names?

Also, Kris Allen had an amazing live performance last night and he proved once again why he deserved to win.

Angela Martin: American Idol Messes Up

Angela Martin missed out on her THIRD, and FINAL, attempt to be a contestant on American Idol.  (She is now 28 and past the age limit.)

The first year she auditioned she had to quit because her father was shot to death by her stepmother.  Awful.

The second year she landed in jail with unpaid traffic tickets.  She could not afford (nor could anyone in her life afford, I assume) to bail her out.  She watched the auditions from inside a cell.  She also has a special needs daughter AND her mother disappeared two months ago.  She’s had a tough life.  A tragic life, really.  But she is an incredible singer who did not give up on her dream.  She is an inspiration.

This year, she made it all the way to Hollywood Week and then… the judges CUT HER.  Um, What??  SHOCKER! I could not believe it.  I think it’s wonderful that Ellen had Angela on her talk show today to showcase her talent once again and Kara DioGuardi has now agreed to write Angela a song and help her find a record label.

That’s all great news.  But WE needed the opportunity to see Angela on American Idol.  She deserved that.  WE deserved that.  Shame on you, American Idol.  You got it wrong this time.

 PS:  Another reason to like her?  Her name is a character on The Office.  Just saying.

Jon & Kate Gosselin Divorced

It’s all over.  It is still sad.  One FINAL look back at Jon & Kate Plus 8.  Now, let there be peace.

Hoarders

I was fascinated when Oprah featured a show about hoarders a few months back.  There was one woman who lived in a house full of so much stuff that, once emptied, it filled two giant warehouses.  Not only were these items filling every room of her house from floor to (almost) ceiling, it was costing her thousands upon thousands of dollars.  Completely unbelievable.

I decided to check out the season premiere of Hoarders on A&E this week and, again, I was shocked.  This time the woman lived in utter filth and decay.  I don’t even like to think about it.  Underneath the piles in her living room, they found two dead cat carcases.  Yes, UNBELIEVABLE.  So I decided to TIVO some more episodes.  I was hooked.

Why can’t these people just THROW THINGS AWAY?  They have disgusting, rotting food in piles on their kitchen table and they can not bring themselves to toss it into the garbage can.  The organizers who visit these hoarders sometimes need to wear “space looking” suits and masks because of the awful smell and potential danger.  These hoarders don’t notice ANY OF IT.  Plus, many of these hoarders have obsessive buying habits too. They can’t resist a sale or things on the clearance rack, so they keep bringing home more stuff to add to the piles. 

I am really fascinated because I am pretty obsessed with being neat and organized.  Sure, my master bedroom closet is in disarray right now, but I basically spend the day making the kiddies put back their toys. And I’m always Clorox Wiping something.  I never hold onto anything we don’t need.  I love to donate to Goodwill or toss things out.  I just don’t have room for clutter in my house.  Clutter would make me feel claustrophobic and just, plain yucky.

One compulsive hoarder said she used to be completely neat and organized.  She said she would stay up until 3 AM every night just to straighten her house.  But the stress of keeping everything clean and orderly threw her out of whack and she did a complete 180.  She is now a hoarder. 

It is a true mental illness.  These hoarders can’t tackle the mess.  It’s too overwhelming and debilitating for them.  One woman tried to clean up, but she spent the entire day trying to clean ONE bathroom.  She had to touch and look at every old shampoo bottle or piece of paper.  One couple lost their children because of the unsafe environment and they STILL could not clean it up.  It really is eye popping television.

After watching a Hoarders marathon the other night, I had to run back to my master bedroom closet to start cleaning and organizing my piles.  I could not get all those Hoarders images out of my head.

And I probably should be keeping my eye on Annabel too.  (Hee.)

Things I Am NOT Thankful For…

1. Adam Lambert’s crazy performance at the American Music Awards on Sunday.  I wanted to do a recap of the entire awards show, but the only thing I keep thinking about is Adam and his many bumps, grinds, and that KISS.  Okay, I get it.  That was the POINT.  He WANTED the water cooler talk the next day.  (Adam has arrived!  Woo-Hoo!)  But I just thought it was too much, too soon.  I LIKE Adam.  I’ve written about it here and here and here.  I was excited for his post-Idol career.   I guess I was just expecting to see the Adam I fell in love with on American Idol. But he showed his true colors at the AMAs.   I’m sure he’s fine with the fact that he’s now alienated his core American Idol audience of soccer moms.  Well, that’s me.  Bummer.

2. Oprah leaving her talk show in 2011. I already wrote about it here.

3. The series finale of Jon & Kate Plus 8 last night.  I really thought Kate looked great and Jon looked relieved.  I’ve watched this series since day one and it is just so sad to see it end this way.  A broken marriage, tons of tabloid scandals, and bitterness.  At the end of the day, I just hope those eight adorable kids are happy.

4. Entertainment magazines, websites, and television shows that do those ”Celebrities Without Makeup” or “Celebrities and Cellulite” pieces.  Just…MEAN. 

5. And, finally, the fact that I am about to consume a bazillion calories in T-minus two days and counting.  (But, oh, it will hurt so good.)

The Real Housewives of Orange County

The Real Housewives of Orange County are back for Season Five!   This was the original “Real Housewives” series on Bravo TV and it is still the best one.  I love Vicki and Tamra for being so outspoken and feisty.  I love Jeana for being the Mama Bear although it looks like she needs some serious financial help this season.  We already learned that Vicki turned down Jeana’s request to borrow money, so THAT’S gonna get tense. Lynne is just so entertaining because she really is the definition of a ditsy girl. And then there’s Gretchen.  She is just so over the top gorgeous and flawed.  I can’t stop watching her.  And now she’s dating Slade!  Slade has already dated two other OC Housewives! 

We also get introduced to Alexis, the brand new OC housewife, who’s already starting some new drama. 

I can’t wait to watch all the crazy stuff unfold again this season.  Welcome Back Ladies!

Adam Lambert - “Time For Miracles”

Here is American Idol runner up Adam Lambert’s very first music video!  Awesome. 

The music video is for his very first radio single, “Time For Miracles.”  The song also appears in the Columbia Pictures’ action film 2012. 

Time For Miracles

Adam Lambert | MySpace Music Videos

My Husband Met Bethenny Frankel From “Real Housewives” and All I Got Was This Autographed Photo

My husband is a morning radio host so he gets to do lots of cool things. Like broadcast from car dealership grand openings and giveaway concert tickets.  Well, this weekend he hosted a meet-and-greet at the Southern Women’s Show…with Bethenny Frankel from The Real Housewives of New York City!

My husband has never seen ONE episode of this Bravo TV reality hit.  I’ve watched EVERY episode!  I can tell you Alex lived in a complete mess while her brownstone in Brooklyn was being renovated and her husband wears Speedos. I can tell you LuAnn makes limo drivers call her “Countess.”  I can tell you Ramona sells religious jewelry and always puts her foot in her mouth.  I can tell you Kelly is CRAZY.  I can tell you Jill has the most outlandish NYC apartment I have ever seen and it’s filled with over-the-top fabric from the store she owns with her husband.  AND I can tell you Bethenny is the COOLEST and most REAL of all the housewives. 

But I didn’t meet her.  My husband did.

Yes, I was at home hanging with my kiddies while my husband was talking to Bethenny Frankel and learning all about her recent engagement (and that six caret ring!), her book and her Skinnygirl Margaritas.

But he DID bring me the photo. 

And look!  It says that she wishes she could meet me!  Maybe next time Bethenny. 

For now I’ll just have to tune into the next season of The Real Houswives of New York City and your brand new reality show Skinny & The City.  Can’t wait!

Open Letter to Kate Gosselin

Dear Kate,

Please quit the show.

Quit the show that involves you and your eight adorable children.  We’ve watched them grow up on TV and it has been a fun and joyful ride, but now it’s enough.  Cara and Mady especially need to move on without cameras.  I heard you say on The Today Show this morning that your children LOVE the show and that they were “wailing and sobbing” when they found out their Daddy had temporarily pulled the plug.  That may be true but I know kids and YOU know kids, Kate.  Give it a week and they will be glad the cameras are gone. You have given them an amazing life and that will continue on.

We all understand you need the money.  You have eight kids! But I think YOU should do a show. You can do a talk show or a lifestyle show about raising eight kids. Take us back to when we first loved Jon & Kate Plus 8. We loved YOU and were in awe of how well you organized your house and your life.  You had fun holiday ideas and interesting outings.  You can take all that and put it into a talk show about being a single mom.

That’s the other thing Kate.  You and Jon are over.  O-V-E-R. We all know it.  Jon nailed that door shut when he showed up in the tabloids a week later with his new girlfriend.  I wrote here that I thought maybe you both could (or should) still work it out.  I still believe that marriage is sacred and you should try and save it.  But based on Jon’s antics and all this back and forth press that continues on and on and on, it is time for you both to MOVE ON.  Sign the divorce papers.  Take off your ring.

You are a strong woman, Kate.  You can do it on your own.  But be sure to get some really supportive people around you. I felt sick when I saw this interview with your brother and sister-in-law.  They may have been trying to protect your children, but they are just as bad as the papparazi when they run their mouths to an online tabloid magazine.

You can absolutely do a  television show that does not have your kids in it.  You are a star.  You are a celebrity.  And that is what will make you money.  Write more books.  Write your cookbook.  People will buy it.

There’s a small window of opportunity here.  This whole thing is tuning into a really bad he said/she said eight-ring circus. You’ve said that you will take the high road.  We all appreciate that. So end Jon & Kate plus 8 (or Kate plus 8) NOW.  Do it before you lose all your fans.  Do it now with dignity.  Do it before we do it for you.

Take some time off to be with your kids in this new transition.  When you are ready, come back.

We will be here.

-Pam

Girl Power

I’m adding this to my list of reasons why raising a daughter to have great self esteem and great body image in today’s society is SO important.

This toddler girl T-shirt was featured on the front page of ParentDish today:

The creator of this tot nipple tassel T-shirt is trying to be “ironic.”  But are people actually buying these shirts for their little girls because they think it’s cute or funny? There are so many young girls who try to dress ”sexy” because they think it’s “cool” or because they want to look like one of their pop idols. (Yes, I’m looking at you pole dancing Miley Cyrus).

So do we really need to start this madness at 2 years old?  Why even throw something like this T-shirt out into the world even if you are just trying to prove a point about society?  Most people probably won’t get it.

On a positive note, back in 2005, this T-shirt was pulled from the shelves of popular teen retailer Abercrombie & Fitch after a group of teen girls organized a boycott against them.

Thank goodness, right? There were a bunch of other really offensive versions as well. 

And don’t even get me started about the terrifying reality show, Toddlers & Tiaras.  I caught a few minutes of it on TLC the other day and was horrified by the parade of  innocent little girls on display.  They were flaunting big hair weaves, fake nails, fake eyelashes, tons of spray tan, adult makeup, and expensive designer dresses.  They also wore bikinis! These toddler girls are basically being taught that being pretty, smiley, and polite will get you money and a sparkly crown.  It really is disturbing.  I heart you, TLC, but this show has GOT TO GO. 

Then, there is Tyra Banks.  She has always created publicity for her talk show by doing something extreme which also seems to promote a healthy self image message to teen girls.   A couple years ago, Tyra started a “So What?” campaign to empower young girls.  During one show, her entire audience of young women, and Tyra included, wore red bathing suits with their weight printed on their chests.  For this year’s The Tyra Banks Show season premiere on September 8th, Tyra is going to reveal to the world her natural hair by taking out her weave on national television. She wants to encourage women to “own and rock what they’ve got and be proud.” Crazy publicity stunt?  Sure.  But if her target audience of teen girls gets the message that being strong, fearless, and comfortable in your own skin is important, then props to her.

We need more of that.

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