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.

Handling Curve Balls

Breaking news on every station, blog and cartoon is Jessica's Simpson's weight gain. And at first I did not want to chat about this topic since I think its appalling how society ridicules any starlet a pound over zero. But since I do have such a strong diagnosis (I mean opinion :) - here it goes. Jessica Simpson may not currently be "Daisy Duke" slim but she is not about to be pushing daisies either. Many times the media overgeneralizes what a weight problem really means and with 3.8 million people clocking in at over 300 pounds - there are real concerns, true issues, that the press should focus on. I am an advocate of fitness yet at the same time I think that such scrutiny can damage opinions on what is thin versus normal and the more those lines blur the harder it becomes for young women to keep up their confidence. THANKFULLY! Jessica seems to be telling people that she is happy with her curves. Her friend told OK magazine that Jessica's “ done depriving herself and missing out on life just to fit into a size 2 jeans,” AND her sister, Ashlee, blogged "How can we expect teenage girls to love and respect themselves in an environment where we criticize a size 2 figure?" I agree.

Lets all tip our baseball caps to those who are handling life's curve balls. And try not to sling any more.

For more info visit:
Ashlee's Myspace Blog
OK Magazine

laugh at yourself

Some people get too big for their own britches - not Kim Kardashian. the former dancing with the stars contestant and hollywood socialite just got nominated for a Razzie award which basically pokes fun at movies and actors. It is the complete opposite of an oscar nom... and Kim found the nomination as hilarious as it was meant to be. She wrote on her blog "I'm having a really good laugh, I had so much fun filming Disaster Movie and giggled the entire time during the shoot."

So many times we are hard on ourselves for not being the best or achieving a certain level of success. Kim reminds us that it is ok to laugh. LOL. at ourselves.

For more LOL info check out...
Razzies
Hollyscoop.com
Kim Blog
PEOPLE.com

a comeback

Live from the ER today...
Dr ;) Kelly is pleased
to learn that
according to hollyscoop "Dr. Doug Ross (aka George Clooney) will be making a comeback on ER on the shows final episodes." This is a valuable decision in my opinion. Rumors swirled that he would in no way return to the the show that helped launch his career. Such a lack of grattude can only come back to haunt a person - and since the show is about a hospital I think George's choice is even wiser. We should all keep in mind where we came from and who made us. Great move George. May your career be long!

For more details check out Hollyscoop.com

Anything Can Happen

History making and soulfully inspiring - the thought for today is Hope. Change. As President Barack Obama said in his inaugural speech... 60 years ago his father would probably be turned down from a restaurant and today he is leading a nation. President Obama is a glorious illustration of dreams coming true. He also reminds us to keep it real once we do reach a higher level... by taking the time to compliment his wife, Michelle, before saying anything about himself at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball. With Hope, Change - Love & Respect! A healing time is officially underway.

Marriage: Always Sunny?

The dr :) is reporting live from Park City Utah today - and I am getting indie with Celebrity Therapy. I had a Slamdance film on my couch this morning called A Quiet Little Marriage. The film (by Mo Perkins and starring Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Mary Elizabeth Ellis) centers around a couple who have differing opinions about whether to have babies and it speaks about the quiet moments we all cherish yet take for granted. The director and cast worked collaboratively on this project and together they shine a warm light on the every day, pointing out how important communication and constant energy are to making relationships last. It may not be bright and cheerful 24/7 post "I DO" - yet it is ALWAYS radiantly beautiful to love someone deeply and truly.

For more info on the film check out A Quiet Little Marriage.

Believe in Miracles

Many times we feel as if our life is falling out of control. Well, pilot Chesley Sullenberger literally felt his life descend yesterday as he guided the US Airways plane into the Hudson River saving everyone on board. His heroism continued beyond skill as he made certain that all passengers got to safety before he left the plane himself. Thank you Mr. Sullenberger - for your brave act! For reminding us that miracles exist and for showing us that we can all land safely from life's frightening instances.

An Apple a Day

Once upon a time many women believed that you had to be married with children in order to find happiness. But now its 2009 people! - and according to People Magazine, Christina Applegate has redefined the meaning of joy. She says "It's about finding happiness and joy, as if it were water and I was a person dying in a desert. You have to search for that." - What a beautiful and active statement. In order to achieve glee we all need to take charge of our lives instead of waiting for sweet charity.

For more details on Christina check out People.com

Idolize Yourself

Will American Idol be safe in 2009? You may have to wait until after the break to find out... According to the latest rumor mill, the foxy reality show is trying too hard to re-invent itself and it may face network elimination. What an upset! You mean that if we are loved by millions we should not try to change who we are? That being ourselves - is better than trying to dazzle the masses? Dog, that is some solid advice. New tricks are good for expanding our minds - as long as we keep true to who we are. Kelly out.

Sweet Self-esteem

Tina Fey
is Ear Candy…

At yesterday’s Golden Globes Tina Fey won best actress for a TV comedy series and during her acceptance speech, she unwrapped the sweetest statement… She said that if someone starts to feel too good “they have this thing called the Internet, and you can find a lot of people there who don't like you.” Then she went on to tell those people to “suck it.” Whether the hilarious names she made up such as "Babsonlacrosse," and "Cougarletter" were real or not – one thing is for certain - Tina Fey is no joke. Her talent is remarkable and her advice is dead on. Judgment slings in all directions yet we should not let it affect us. Believe, hope, dream, be – without letting anyone else hold you back. Everyone is capable of moving mountains or at very least a 30 Rock.

Relationship Advice

Dexter just married his sister!

Yes. Really. His Sister. Ok so they are only related on TV but if that isn't real life than what is :) Who knew they were even dating - not I - and I am a Dexter fanatic. The show rocks... and so does love. So take a bit of self-help advice from these two sibling sweat hearts. It will not kill you to love. Whether you fall for your sibling, a co-worker, someone older, younger, heavier, simpler... of a different race, creed, orientation, animal kingdom or planet (ok I may have gone too far on the last two) But the point is... we worry sometimes that our hearts beat for for the wrong reason or that someone is not exactly right for us. Who says! Each and every time you get a chance to feel love... slice into it! Thank you to Dexter and his foul mouthed sibling (aka Michael & Jennifer) for showing us that love is not a crime. May you live happily ever after... or at least until death do you part.

For more information on these nuptials check out...

HOLLYSCOOP.com
PEOPLE
OMG