Glee FINALE: 3 Character Favorites will not be returning of SEASON 4

Glee Favorites Will Not Return for Season 4

Lea Michele, Chris Colfer and Cory Monteith are Graduating From Their 'Glee' Characters

Everyone knew this time would come and now that it's been made official, the news has Gleeks everywhere mourning their favorite characters. It has just been announced that our Glee favorites, Lea Michele, Chris Colfer and Cory Monteith, will not be retuning to Gleefor season 4.

"[They are] not going to be back at all for Season 4,” Ryan Murphy said. “You can keep them on the show for six years and people will criticize you for not being realistic, or you can be really true to life and say when they started the show they were very clearly sophomores and they should graduate at the end of their senior year.”

It's not a big surprise since Ryan had announced earlier this year that some of the characters would be graduating at the end of the upcoming season 3, but Lea, Cory and Chris are the first to officially be leaving the show. And it seems they weren't privy to this information before the rest of us were.

It turns out that Chris Colfer found out about his departure from Glee through Twitter.

“Yesterday, on Twitter. Yeah, I found out that they made that announcement. I didn’t necessarily know that it was going to be our last season next year, I knew something like that was coming up eventually. I mean, we can’t be there forever," Chris explained. "I don’t necessarily want to leave so soon, but I mean, it’s fine. It’s what it is. And all things come to an end. As a performer, I feel so fulfilled. I have two Emmy nominations and just from hearing from people out in the world about how much the character has helped people. If it’s time for a conclusion, I’m fulfilled with it, and I’m fine with it.”

Lea Michele, however, didn't seem as surprised by the news.

“We always knew we’d graduate in real time," Lea wrote on her Twitter. "It’s all part of the plan and it’s all good! It’s going to make Season 3 amazing!!! To Gleeks everywhere, you’re in my heart now and forever. Love u all!!! This is just the beginning!!”

Which outgoing Glee character (if any?) will you miss the most?

ICONIC TRIBUTE: Donna Summer Passes Away at Age 63

DONNA SUMMER "QUEEN OF DISCO" PASSES AWAY

In a world where the term "diva" is as overused as a MAC machine in an Atlantic City  casino,  DONNA SUMMER stands as a reminder of what true divadom is. She's got talent, class, style and a stack of gold and platinum records that's the envy of Fort Knox - yet at heart she still remains an "Ordinary Girl."  

Legendary disco singer Donna Summer died Thursday after a battle with cancer, sources close to the singer confirmed to FoxNews.com. She was 63.

"Early this morning, we lost Donna Summer Sudano, a woman of many gifts, the greatest being her faith," family of the singer said in a statement.

"While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy. Words truly can't express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time."

Often called the Queen of Disco, Summer was born LaDonna Adrian Gaines on Dec. 31, 1948, in Boston. She began singing early in the church choir and by her teens had formed several musical groups. 

Her sound was a mix of genres, and helped her earn Grammy Awards in the dance, rock, R&B and inspirational categories.

Her first album, "Lady of the Night," arrived in 1974 in Europe, and 1975's "Love to Love You Baby" brought her worldwide fame. 

In the 1978 disco film "Thank God it's Friday," her song "Last Dance" won Summer her first Grammy. 

Summer's soaring vocals on "She Works Hard for the Money" brought her a Best Pop Vocal Performance Award in 1984. 

In the mid-1980s, Summer encountered controversy when she was accused of making anti-gay comments related to AIDS. She claimed she had been misquoted but not before thousands of her records were returned and dance clubs boycotted her music.

Summer holds the record for most consecutive double albums to hit number one on the Billboard charts (three) and was the first female to have four number one singles in a 12-month period: three as a solo artist and one as a duo with Barbra Streisand, CBS said.

She released her last album, "Crayons," in 2008. She also performed on "American Idol" that year with its top female contestants. 

Words cannot describe the sadness I have felt over losing another one of my favorite singers, being in the shadow of the late, great Whitney Houston. It seems like all of the GOOD ONES are leaving us to soon. We will miss you Ms. Summer you truly were a FABULOUS ICON. Im sure God had to dust off the disco ball in storage when you entered HEAVEN. May you forever rest in peace!

DONNA SINGING her HIT!  LAST DANCE in 1983

Whitney Houston's New Jersey Mansion for SALE! Is the ASKING PRICE OFFENSIVE!

Whitney Houston's New Jersey Mansion for SALE!! 

The MOST OFFENSIVE REAL-ESTATE Listing EVER??

Photo Credit: Car Property.com

Photo: 

Less than a week after the passing of music icon Whitney Houston, the singer's New Jersey mansion is already on the market with an asking price of $1.75 million.

Less than a week after the passing of music icon Whitney Houston, the singer's New Jersey mansion is being newly marketed with an asking price of $1.75 million.

In one of the most offensive real estate ads we've ever read, the 5-bedroom house is being shopped on CarProperty.com as the place where Whitney's downward spiral began over 15 years ago.

But that's not all! Your nearly $2 mil (which they ask for upfront in liquid assets, no less), gets you 12,500 square feet, five acres of land, and your own, personal access to the set of Whitney's short-lived reality series Being Bobby Brown.

"The mansion was also used in the filming of a 2005 reality show in which she and her ex-husband appeared at the pinnacle of Whitney Houston's fall from musical power and grace," the ad reads. "A great conversation piece for anyone."

A great conversation piece? Perhaps we should remind CarProperty.com that this was someone's home, not a piece of memorabilia.

UPDATE: CarProperty.com has since amended the ad, omitting the section about Whitney's "fall from musical power and grace." The mansion is now described as the place where "she and her ex-husband appeared [on television] at a very rough time in Whitney's life."
Source: CarProperty.com, NYPost.com

The 9 MOST DANGEROUS "HEALTH FOODS"

THE TOP 9 FAUX HEALTH SNACKS - 
Great for your TASTEBUDS / BAD for your HEALTH




Have you ever eaten something because you thought it was healthy, but later found out that food wasn’t good for you at all? Don’t be embarrassed if the answer is “yes.” Advertising and misinformation surround what we eat and can make every food appear healthy—even if nothing could be farther from the truth. To help you distinguish food friend from food foe, we asked two registered dieticians, Lauren Antonucci and Lisa Moskovitz of Nutrition Energy, a sports performance nutrition center in New York City, to unmask some of the diet-sabotaging villains hiding behind “healthy” labels. Here are their nine worst offenders:

Protein Bars

“Protein bars are basically vitamin and protein-infused candy bars,” says Moskovitz. “They seem like a healthy snack replacement, but they can contain more than twice the amount of fat and carbs as a chocolate brownie.” To steer clear of needless calories, look for options that have less than 180 calories and 5 grams fat, and provide at least 5 grams of fiber.

Dried Fruit

With more than 100 calories per ¼ cup serving, calories can add up quickly when you’re eating dried fruit. Antonucci recommends reaching for fresh or frozen fruits instead. “You'll be able to eat a larger, more satisfying serving for fewer calories and feel fuller from the fluids,” Antonucci says.

Yogurt

Yogurt in any form is a good source of calcium and vitamin D. But some brands have as much fat and sugar as a jelly-donut. Be sure you’re only getting the good stuff by choosing plain, low-fat versions. Flavor them on your own with fruit and honey. And go Greek when you can. Plain Greek Yogurt offers twice as much protein and half the amount of carbs as the traditional type, Moskovitz says.

Margarine

In a head-to-head battle between butter and its artificial competitor, the original wins by a landslide. Sure, the spreads have the same number of calories, but Margarine has more trans fat, which simultaneously raises your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol and lowers “good” (HDL) cholesterol, according to the Mayo Clinic. “That’s the one ingredient we dietitians recommend to avoid completely,” Moskovitz says. To limit your risk of heart disease, stick with the real stuff. And choose whipped butter, which has a lower caloric density.

Reduced-Fat Peanut Butter

When manufacturers take fat out of peanut butter, they replace it with sugars. As a result, reduced-fat peanut butter has the same total calories as the original, but more than twice the amount of carbs. “It’s better to stick with the regular stuff,” Moskovitz says. “You’ll eat less, because the full-fat version is more satisfying and filling.”

Bran Muffins

“Think of these as a decadent treat, not a healthy coffee companion,” says Antonucci. A typical bran muffin has more than 400 calories and up to 15 grams of fat, with most of the calories coming from sugar and refined flour. Can’t skip your morning muffin? The best bet is to make a lower-fat, portion controlled version at home, Antonucci says.

Fat-Free Salad Dressing

If you’re watching your blood pressure, steer clear of this stuff. “In just two measly tablespoons of fat-free Italian dressing, you take in up to 500mg of blood-pressure-raising sodium,” Moskovitz says. “That’s a third of the total amount you should eat in an entire day.” Instead, she recommends making your own low-salt dressing by combining balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and flavor-packed seasonings like pepper, turmeric and mustard seed.

Turkey Burgers

Many people think that ordering a turkey burger instead of beef will keep them slim. Don’t be fooled. The average restaurant-style turkey burger has more than 600 calories and 30 grams of fat – and that’s without the bun or toppings. “The next time you’re wondering which burger to choose, don’t worry about the type of meat,” Moskovitz says. “Instead, limit your portion size by sharing it with a friend, or going open-faced."

Sushi

Sushi rolls can be deceiving, because they’re packed tightly and look small, but some are calorie bombs just waiting to blow up your waistline. A single roll can pack more than 500 calories. To steer clear of these calorie-dense tripwires, Moskovitz recommends avoiding any roll that includes these ingredients: tempura (which is another word for deep fried), cream cheese, shredded cheese, or spicy mayo .

HEALTH & FITNESS - THE BENEFITS OF INFRARED SAUNAS & Detoxification

THE JOYS OF SWEATING!

One of the great things about working in the fashion and skin care  industry is the great people I meet along the way. A couple of months ago I met with a good friend of mine, Teresa Ducoffee, the owner of Atlanta Colonic & Massage in Alpharetta, GA

Teresa is very passionate about what she does (which I now understand why after trying one of these things). I knew the great benefits of having regular colonics.....(which are amazing at pulling down toxic levels in the body).....But when she first told me she worked with saunas my first impressions were still “yeah whatever”, because I could vaguely remember sitting in a steam sauna with my girlfriends over ten years ago now and not liking it at all because it felt way too humid to be comfortable.

But then Teresa told me that the saunas she works with are far-infrared (FIR), there’s no steam involved AND they’re amazingly good at detoxifying the skin and the whole body FAST!!!!. So now I was interested. And of course even more interested when Teresa invited me around for a session to try it out for myself.

My far-infrared sauna experience

I was a little wary before my first FIR sauna experience because of my previous steam sessions that I didn’t particularly like. I’m a summer boy so I love the heat but steam saunas can get uncomfortably hot and very humid which is not that fun. So on the way to my FIR session I was a little more apprehensive than excited because I assumed this sauna experience would be the same as the others.

Wow was I wrong. I was lucky enough to enjoy a cabin FIR sauna for a whole 45 minutes. Sure the last ten minutes were feeling a little too hot and uncomfortable and I should’ve either opened the door or finished earlier, but the first 35 minutes were absolute bliss. Sitting in the cabin felt so beautiful, cosy and warm. Teresa gave me a few CDs to play in there (yes some cabins have CD and DVD players) and I took in a book to read figuring I’d get bored sitting in there for 45 minutes. But it was so cosy and so warm that all I wanted to do was close my eyes, relax and do nothing.

Infrared saunas are different to traditional steam saunas in a lot of ways. But most noticeably by the lack of steam. In fact the heat feels like a dry heat (I can tell because my hair didn’t go frizzy at all) even though you sweat A LOT. And wow did I sweat. For the first 20 minutes or so I had a nice little sexy glisten of sweat. By the end of the 45 minutes my body was literally dripping with sweat, which …was no longer sexy at all! Was it uncomfortable? No, because I was in there to sweat out some toxins so was happy that it was actually working.

But the best part was how amazingly good I felt after the session. You know that feeling after you’ve had a long hot bubble bath or a good massage? It was exactly the same feeling as that. I felt happy and relaxed, and to be honest I think it calmed my mind down a little so it must be good at reducing the vata too.

The night after my sauna session I went out with a friend of mine. One of the first things she said to me was “wow, you’re glowing” which of course everyone wants to be told, but it’s especially desirable in the industry I work in.....THE FASHION INDUSTRY....LOL. I’m not entirely sure why I was glowing that night but I can’t help thinking the sauna session had something to do with it. And my skin did feel clearer and healthier for a few days afterwords.

Cabin vs capsule

I also got to borrow a smaller “capsule” sauna from another friend for the weekend (by the way, did I tell you how much I love my job?) which was great because I got to have a few more sessions to really test it out and I got to compare the different sizes. It’s actually called a “solo system” but I prefer capsule because that’s just what it looks like. Don’t you think?

solo system

cabin sauna

I have to say that even though I enjoyed the capsule and it did give me a good detox, I liked the cabins a lot better at the Atlanta Colonic & Massage center. In the capsules your head sticks out the top which frustrated me a little because I felt like it wasn’t detoxing the skin on my face enough which is the area I’m most concerned with.

For this reason, if I was to purchase a FIR sauna I’d definitely invest in a cabin or just purchase a package of sessions with Teresa. (see below for details)

How it works

To be honest I was initially surprised when Teresa told me how great they are for the skin and how acne sufferers have seen improvements from regular sessions. But really it makes sense. We all know that acne is caused by toxins and dead skin cells that have built up under the skin, so of course you’re going to see improvements if you sweat these toxins out before they turn into a spot.

If you want a detailed scientific description on how and why far-infrared saunas work at detoxing the body and the skin then you’ve come to the wrong blog. I’m just not that scientifically minded (hey, I read the material so I tried!). 

There’s also a passage here from The Science of Far Infrared Therapies by Dr. Toshiko Yamazaki, MD which explains it all better than I could -

When a 10 micron FIR wave is applied to thee large water molecules containing toxins, the water becomes active. It begins to vibrate. This vibration reduces the ion bonds of the atoms which are holding together the molecules of water. As the breakdown of the water molecules occurs, encapsulated gases and other toxic materials are released.

Whatever that means, but it sounds impressive.

Apparently FIR saunas help with blood circulation and deep cleansing of impurities. Research has also shown improvements in acne (which is what we wanted to know about right?), rashes, burns and skin lesions.

 If you want to try a far-infrared sauna too, then check out your local spas or if you live in Atlanta or in one of it's luxurious suburbs check out Atlanta Colonic & Massage.....because they 2 amazing saunas cabins to use, also you can get a massage and colonic while you're at it. (Thats what I do for "A DAY at the SPA")

Here is the place that I go almost every week

Atlanta Colonic & Massage

6710 Jamestown Dr.

Alpharetta, GA 30005

CALL THEM TODAY - 770 558- 6900

visit their website http://atlantacoloniccenter.com

ICONIC TRIBUTE: Whitney Houston Passes away at age 48

REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF AN ICON

Ms. Houston Bowing out for the final time.

"It is with a broken heart that I pay homage to a woman who forever touched the lives of so many people including myself with her music and presence. He passing will bring about a major void in the music industry and in the hearts of her followers. As a child of the 80s i grew up listening the sounds of her amazing voice with decades of chart topping hits. Then of course came the roles in box office hit movies such as The Bodyguard (Ive seen 1000 times) Waiting to Exhale, The Preachers Wife and many more. 
I  will never forget this Iconic Woman. " - Richard Tomas

Whitney Elizabeth Houston (born August 9, 1963) is an American recording artist, actress, and former fashion model. A relative to several prominent soul singers, including her mother Cissy Houston, cousins Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick, and godmother Aretha Franklin, Houston began singing at her New Jersey church as a member of a junior gospel choir at age eleven. After she began performing alongside her mother at night clubs in the New York City area, she was discovered by Arista Records label head Clive Davis.

Houston released her debut album Whitney Houston in 1985, which became the best-selling debut album by a female artist.

Her second studio album Whitney (1987) became the first album by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Houston's crossover appeal on the popular music charts as well as her prominence on MTV enabled several African-American women to follow in her success.

Following her marriage to fellow singer Bobby Brown, Houston appeared in her first starring role in the feature film The Bodyguard in 1992. The film's original soundtrack won the 1994 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, and became the world's best-selling soundtrack.

 Its lead single, "I Will Always Love You", became one of the best-selling singles in music history. Houston continued to star in feature films and contributed to soundtracks including 

Waiting to Exhale (1995) 

and The Preacher's Wife (1996). 

After the release of her fourth studio album My Love Is Your Love (1998), she renewed her recording contract with Arista Records in 2001 for a historic $100 million dollars. 

She subsequently released her fifth studio album,Just Whitney the following year with One Wish: The Holiday Album being released in 2003. Amidst widespread media coverage of personal and professional turmoil, Houston's marriage to Brown ended in 2006.

Houston is one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 140 million albums and 50 million singles, worldwide. She is ranked as the fourth best-selling female artist in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America, with 54 million certified albums. Known as "The Voice" for her "powerful, penetrating pop-gospel" vocals, she has been listed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Her Final Album ironically titled "I look to You" her anthem of loosing everything and looking back to God. 

A collection of memorable photos - 

The EARLY YEARS

The Bodyguard

On the set of The Bodygaurd

I HAVE NOTHING

I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU





WAITING TO EXHALE










THE PREACHERS WIFE
What an amazing movie....the soundtrack alone will send the listener into total rapture......

Whitney Singing with the Georgia Mass Choir on the set of the Preachers Wife

Shopping with her personal angel Denzel Washington





I BELIEVE IN YOU AND ME





MORE MEMORABLE PHOTOS


Ms. Houston Belts the National Anthem

Whitney on the shoulder of Nelson Mandela

Whitney rocking out I will always love You in honor of her mentor Clive Davis

With her daughter Bobbi Christi

Some of her most memorable performances.
The ed sullivan show "Home"

"One Moment in Time" at the Grammy's

"I am changing" RARE VIDEO

Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey "When you Believe"

 HERE IS A GREAT COMPILATION REMIX VIDEO OF WHITNEY!  ENJOY

Whitney You have blessed the world with the very gift God gave you. You will be forever missed in this Life.

My prayers are with your remaining family and friends.

Be at Peace with God

You were LOVED

WHITNEY HOUSTON

1963 - 2012