Kara DioGuardi Fired, Ellen Quit: Are you still watching Idol America?

Reports are coming out that Kara DioGuardi has been axed from American Idol. [UsMagazine] Among this report, Ellen DeGeneres has quit the show after one season stating, "It just didn't feel like the right fit for me."

With the firing of Kara, the show will go back to the originial 3 panel judge.

Jennifer Lopez has been hired to fill Paula's place and it is likely Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler is in to fill Simon Cowell's shoes.

With a new panel of judges arriving on the hit show, America: Are you still watching

Phot Credit: Michael Beckler/ Associated Press

When the heat gets going, the only thing I need is...

This month has been one of the hottest months on record her in the Mid Atlantic. As a Shine Beauty Guru, each month we are given an assignment to write on concerning beauty topics. This month is: What is your summer beauty secret?

Well.... when it's as hot as it's been lately and the only secret I can come up with concerning beauty is ICE!

When your face is melting off and your can barely breath from the humidity either take yourself inside an air conditioned room and sit or you can take a plastic baggie and fill it with ice. Wrap it in a thin towel and place at the nape of your kneck. When your body is cool, you can back to looking your best.

A couple of other secrets I do to keep cool:

• A Fan


• A Personal Mister


• A Parasol

Want to ever think about selling your home? Don't do this.

My family and I are in the process of searching for a new home to buy. As someone who sold their house before the market bombed, here are a couple of pointers to help sell in this market.

Want to Ever Sell Your House? Don't Do This:

1. Purchase plumbing products that are colorful: Who really wants a blue toilet or a yellow tub? Stick to the basics such as white or tan. (Preferably white.)

2. Not clean your window treatments: How gross are blinds that have dirt piled from the last seven years on them? Wash them or throw them away!

3. Keep so much furniture in the house you can't see the floor: Do you really need that 4th chair in the den? Do the kids need so many stuffed animals lying around. Clutter isn't good for your health or your pocketbook. Pack it up so you can move!

4. Keep that brass chandelier in the dining room your builder picked out: Just stop!! Get it out of there or spray paint it and put those little shades on the light bulbs! Please save the world from ugly chandeliers.

5. Paint every room tan: You have seen enough shows on how to quickly sell a house but tan everywhere is so blah! Sage green is a nice neutral color and it goes with everything! This is good for those moving in also.

6. Be afraid to paint your cabinets: Oak is ugly. Paint them with an oil-based paint and no one will ever know they used to be.

Do We Really Care about Jennifer Aniston's New Perfume?

As Jennifer Aniston gears up for her new fragrance, Jennifer Aniston, to hit the market, I wonder who really cares?

I think the last perfume I bought that had a celebrities name attached to it was Debbie Gibson in the 80's when I was a pre-teen. As a consumer, I just don't feel the need to purchase a product because some star stands behind it.

For years in the marketing industry, models were paid to look pretty and promote a product. In today's time, celebrities with their movies, books, hit singles and clothing lines are the rage.

What "Big Time" star doesn't have a perfume named after them? You have Brittany Spears, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Avril Lavigne, Eva Longoria, Halle Berry, Reece Witherspoon, Queen Latifah, Kate Winslet.... Carlos Santana just to name a few.

Are you excited about Jennifer Aniston's new fragrance?

And Baby Makes Marriage: Bristol and Levi Engaged!

Growing up from a self absorbed teenager into a responsible young adult takes time. Add a baby to the mix and you are either forced to grow up fast or do as many do by running fast from the situation.

During the last Presidential election, the world was made aware that vice presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, was hiding the fact her daughter Bristol was pregnant. With the conservative beliefs that exist in the Republican Party, this sent everyone into a tizzy when the news was exposed to the public. Someone was having premarital sex and her mother was running for the second most important position in the United States Government.

As we later saw through mass media outlets, the Palin household was not very happy about all of this and especially not very happy with the father of Bristol's child, Levi Johnston. Levi basked in his new found fame; he posed for the risque magazine Playgirl and played around like any 19 year old guy would do. (They do... I'm just saying...) Sarah Palin stated in an Oprah Winfrey interview his, "aspiring porn" career was "heartbreaking." All the while, Bristol was at home playing mommy to Tripp and continuing to finish school.

During their recent custody plan for their 18-month old, something changed. Instead of arguing it seems the two began to fall back in love with each other. Doting over their son, the two rekindled the high school romance.

"I really thought it was over," Levi tells UsWeekly. "So when I went I had no hope. I think we both just started talking -and then we took Tripp for a walk."

Bristol continues, "When he left that night we didn't hug or kiss, but I was thinking how different it was. He texted me: "I miss you. I love you. I want to be with you again'... I was in shock."

Aww.... young love. I really wish them the best. How often is love just like this? Crazy and awesome and then something breaks down but if it works... it comes back.

Don't Get Caught With Sweaty Pits: Secret Clinical Strength

Wanna know how you can tell if your antiperspirant is working? Well for me it meant traveling thirteen hours to my hometown, experiencing one of the hottest beginnings of summer the Mid South has seen. With temperatures hovering at the 100 degree mark and humidity that made the temperature feel like 120, Secret Clinical Strength Waterproof Antiperspirant/ Deodorant held strong all day. With the heat as high as it was, dousing yourself with water was a must. Even when swimming, it didn't swim away. It stayed put and keep me smelling my best.

Summertime means shaving the underarms more frequently. Usually, I am worried about deodorant causing pain and irritation to this delicate skin but Secret Clinical Strength didn't let me down. With skin soothing conditioners and odor absorbing capsules, the heat and humidity was no match for the toughness of this deodorant.

Don't be caught with sweaty armpits...

Viola! I have been Made-Over

For months I have romped around town with a new do. Sick and tired of being labeled as only a blonde made me wonder what it would be like to go back to my roots. Armed with brown hair dye and a hopeful wish, I took to my locks wishing it to come out looking decent. Well.... let's just say it wasn't the best look for me.


Brown dye over bleach blonde hair pretty much turns green. After years of being too scared to try anything new with my hair, here I was with green hair. Instead of a tragic look slapped upon my face, I just laughed. What should I have expected? Did I really think it would turn out looking wonderful? No, but I was hopeful and hope died that day.


The next day I returned back to the store to purchase more brown dye. Hey, I could try again. Maybe an extra couple of bottles would take to my hair better? It did, thankfully. Thanksgiving and Christmas came and went. A dividing line grew among of friends and family. They either loved it or they hated it.


"It looks so much more natural," said my neighbor.


"I think you look good," said my husband.


"You just don't even look like Leigh Ann," said my eighty something year old Aunt.


"You need to put a little more blonde in it," said my pap paw.


"Mom, is your hair green," asked my youngest.



I took their questions and statements with a grain of salt. Whatever, it's my hair and it's my life, I told myself. I'm the only one who has to walk around looking like this and if I want to be a brunette, it's my prerogative. I want to walk around with green hair, I can!


Well... slowly but surely as they snow melted away and the promise of spring awakened in my spirit, the dreams of blonde began to reemerge from hiding. Looking at pictures of myself from seasons past, sporting blonde locks began to call to me again. And so, I wound up in the hairstylist chair ready to reembark on my past.


Little by little my hair has changed. I did the dark hair thing and I'm almost back to where I was a year ago. A little shorter in length but that's alright.

It's hair! Feel free to play with it!