Rock 'n' Roll The Dice

Second Chances?! WOW! What a lucky break for American Idol contestant Matt Giraud who got saved last week on the infamous reality show. Though America voted him out, the judges gave Matt another shot at his America Dream... and boy did that pay off. On Tuesday, Matt sang a heartfelt, and self-composed version of Staying Alive that won him fans and enough votes to stick around for another week in this competition.

Moments like this give me goosebumps. So many times we can all feel as if life is a crap shoot... win some lose some. But that is not entirely true. Never has been. If you stay on your couch and watch Reality TV for your entire life you will never become an American Idol. If you come home from work and complain about your job without doing something about it... a new career will not just ring your doorbell!

The only way to get a 1st chance is to put yourself in the fast lane, the vulnerable world of facing fears and being actively brave. Now... 2nd chances... the golden opportunity to roll those dice just one more time... that is a dream itself. And obviously possible!! So lets all take a note of advice from crooner Giraud... if you want to Stay in a world where dreams can come true... you've got to be Alive... and put your heart on the line.

One day at a time

Just take it one day at a time? You have heard the saying a million times but now Valerie Bertinelli shows us how to really make each day count! After a public divorce from rocker Eddie Van Halen a whopping weight gain to 172lbs (she is 5'2") - Valerie got her life back on track with the help of Jenny Craig and relentless determination.

Now at age 48, Valerie gets to show off the results of her hard work on the cover of People Magazine, wearing a bikini. What a fabulous success story. It shows us all that we can grow and shrink and rethink our images, that it is never too late and that daily persistence does pay off!

I actually got a chance to meet Valerie at NYC Fashion Week this February and she is a gloriously bright person with a heart as genuine as her Touched by an Angel TV character. The bit of advice she gave me about keeping up momentum was to have mini goals and drink plenty of water. I say cheers to that Valerie. And salud to everyone's health! Stick with your goals. Every day, every moment adds up.

Talk the talk!

If you want a Friends advice - take note of what Jennifer Aniston is up to. After countless tabloids claiming that she NEEDS a baby & several hinting that she already has one on the way! - Jen has decided to do something about her alleged need to be close to children.

Teaming up with her Dad, John, Jen will narrate a series of children's books for charity

and proceeds will go to St. Jude's Children’s Research Hospital.

The book, entitled Good Deeds by Nick Katsoris' Loukoumi is the third book of a series in which Loukoumi and her friends make a huge difference in the lives of those around them.

What a great idea for a series. AND what a cool way for Jen to place herself in a positive spotlight. She needs that after all the media attention for her breakups!

Visualizing your goals and placing yourself in a surrounding that is filled with positive vibes CAN help a person reach their dreams quicker. I believe this completely! Jen is being The Good Girl by getting involved with this project (especially with her Dad!) - may it get her closer to her personal life goals, whatever they really are. Cheers!

for more info check out - hollyscoop.com

like a fish out of the Grammys

Your body is a water boy? Well - John Mayer seems to think so and he makes a very interesting and comforting point in saying so!

John attended the Oscars this Sunday with gal pal Jennifer Aniston and when asked about attending he said according to a Ryan Seacrest / KIIS-FM interview... "It's not my world, the Oscar thing, but [Jen] was so sweet to me that night, because you can go from a Grammy winner to a water boy when you walk into the Kodak Theatre on Oscar night."

So even famous singers are made of 80% water and are vulnerable like the rest of us?! Thanks for being honest about how hard shifting scenes can be, John. We all feel like a fish out of the Grammys sometimes ;) Good to know that its normal even for the bigger boys to feel that way.

make a slam dunk

Yahoo News is swishing about LeBron James' half-court dunk! So what makes this trick shot, part of a horse game, actual Yahoo news? Perhaps its the magic of 'ya never know.' Of course you need talent and training - but after that sometimes being in the right place and a little luck can go a long way. The look of shock on Mr. James' face shows us all how amazed we can become with ourselves... especially when we least expect to make a slam dunk. Believe in yor abilities... is that all you need? Well take a look at this video for yourself > SWISH VIDEO!

Put some Rhythm in your Blues!

Though the economy is challenging and many people are struggling - last night Jennifer Hudson showed us all how to stand back up... tall. She took center stage at the Grammy's and thanked her family in heaven as well as those present as she accepted the award for Best R&B Album. We all have hardships... YET!... we are alive and can make a difference in this world, every day if we choose to. Thanks Jennifer for reminding us how to sing with soul.

Neither pen nor sword

Sometimes a pen can be mightier than a guillotine.

If you logged on to Yahoo or Google today you have read the headlines about Stephen King and his statement that "Stephenie Meyer can't write worth a darn."

Mr. King! Mr. King! I am a fanatic fan of yours - BUT - chopping some one's head off for no particular reason - is only entertaining in your horror stories. In real life... your words are called cruelty. Call me Pollyanna, but freedom of speech should not mean freedom to slander. We all have opinions and you are certainly a master of your craft. That said.... Twilight is a phenomenon and Stephenie Meyer is not Carrie at your prom.