Francine Brokaw’s writing career, which spans over two decades, has taken a few twists and turns: she’s focused on everything from politics and travel to celebrity interviews and entertainment news. Her new book, Beyond the Red Carpet: The World of Entertainment Journalists, out today, looks at the ever intriguing world of the rich and famous. Lucky for us, she shares never-before-told stories and behind-the-scenes secrets about Hollywood’s hottest residents. Having interviewed celebrities like Johnny Depp, George Clooney and Tom Hanks, Brokaw knows what it takes to get these folks talking about life on and off the red carpet.
We chatted with the author about her experiences in the entertainment industry, specifically those celebrity interviews about lasting love and messy break-ups, and her advice for up-and-coming journalists. …Don’t miss the rest! Click here for more.
Zoe Saldana prepares to welcome a child. Photo: SGP/FAMEFLYNET PICTURES
By Ann Csincsak, Vintage Sweet & Chic
The fast rising star of the new hit film ‘The Words,’ Zoe Saldana, gets a top-tier award for her easy laid-back style. She always dresses to impress, even in her everyday denim. She takes a t-shirt and makes it special with eye-catching accessories and flawless makeup. If you’re looking for a great weekend outfit to wear on a daytime date or out to a lunch at your local farmer’s market, take a look at Zoe before heading out the door.
1. Knitted Blue Cardigan (ROMWE.com), $22.95
2. Bacio 61 Estatto, $160
3. Waverly Cory Satchel, $295
4. Grey and White Striped Tee (sheinside.com), $33
5. J Brand Maria High-Rise (actual), $220
1. J. Crew Basic White Tee, $25
2. J Brand Skinny Leg Jeans (actual), $175
3. Asos Tassel Crossbody Bag, $26
4. Rocker Bracelet Set (shoplately.com), $16
No matter what your style, remember to stay true to yourself and you will always look amazing! Follow the trends, but don’t be afraid to change them and step out on your own, just like Zoe.
PLUS: TOWNE & REESE GIVEAWAY!
GIVEAWAY ALERT: This week, we are featuring a fabulous look for any style from Towne and Reese, a favorite jewelry brand of Emily Maynard, our most recent Bachelorette. Emily was spotted wearing Towne and Reese in almost every episode this season – and now, you can wear it too!
Towne and Reese will be giving away two of my favorite pieces: the Harlow Necklace in Gold (above) and the Elena Mint Ring (below), both worn by Emily during the show.
Rob Patterson and Carmen Electra. Photo: PRN / PR Photos
By Whitney Baker
Labor Day weekend is often filled with beach and barbeque, giving people an opportunity for an extra day off before the summer ends. Some celebrity couples like to keep things simple as they spend time together with the sand and the sun, while others add a little glitz and glam to the usual date plans.
In anticipation of the upcoming holiday weekend, let’s look back at how the hottest duos in Hollywood celebrated Labor Day last year:
Matchmaker and reality star Amy Laurent didn’t realize how much she needed her own help until she began filming Bravo’s ‘Miss Advised.’ As viewers saw throughout the first season, she quickly learned how hard it was to be open to love and how scary it was to feel vulnerable. That was the catalyst she needed to write her book, which she began working on two-thirds through filming. 8 Weeks to Everlasting: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting (and Keeping!) the Guy You Want isn’t about getting the ring or getting to the altar; it’s about building a strong foundation for a lasting relationship with your perfect person. “This book offers simple guidelines that every women needs to follow when they first meet someone they like,” Laurent explains. “It’s about how to change your approach to dating so you don’t lose yourself in it.” No one knows the importance of these parameters better than the author. We had a chance to chat with her about what rules to follow, what lies men tell and what she’s learned in her search for love. …Don’t miss the rest! Click here for more.
Amy screams on the first date, but it doesn’t involve her “giving it up” in the sexual sense. A rock climbing date brings out her biggest fears, and it’s tough to tell whether or not the climb during the date is literally or figuratively getting the best of her. Later on, Emily’s friend David surprises her on-air, but his appearance leaves them both stunned by how unexpectedly similar their theories on love are…
Sure, sometimes it’s fun to splurge on a fancy date, but other times, it’s nice to do something simple, entertaining and budget-friendly with your guy. Regardless of what you do, he’ll be excited that you took the pressure off of him and planned a cheap outing. Whether you enjoy exploring a new area of town, staying indoors (and avoiding the summer heat!) or being active, there’s a date idea on this list for you:
I have to say, I was shocked at ‘The Bachelorette’ finale. Well, kind-of shocked. For some reason, I knew that Emily was going to pick Jef, but I was still surprised that she didn’t choose Arie. It goes to show you that physical chemistry does not equal partnership for life and that you can make the right choice if you take your time and really evaluate what relationship is best for you.
Wedding Cake for Breakfast: Essays on the Unforgettable First Year of Marriage, edited by New York literary agents Kim Perel and Wendy Sherman, offers an intimate peek into the first year of marriage, as experienced by twenty-three critically acclaimed female writers. This collection of essays explores the unexpected and often difficult moments — from a surprise pregnancy to ghosts of husbands past to blending families — that brides fail to plan for as they prepare for their “big day,” and the 365 days that follow. …Don’t miss the rest! Click here for more.
Celebrity stylist June Ambrose has worked with A-listers including Alicia Keys and her husband Swizz Beatz, Jay-Z and Sean Combs, and now, she’s sharing her fashion tips with CupidsPulse.com. “Fashion is your voice, your expression. It’s how one exudes confidence from the inside out,” she explains. Watch our video interview with Ambrose to learn more about her personal style advice, her go-to date night outfit and her role as a Caress Fabulista.
For more videos from CupidsPulse.com, check out our YouTube channel.
Earlier this week, Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise signed their divorce settlement, reaching an agreement faster than most Hollywood couples. While details of the arrangement remain private, sources say that Suri, the couple’s six-year-old daughter, will live in New York with her mother, while her father will have generous visitation rights.
In order to better understand the ins-and-outs of this process, we spoke with Judge Lynn Toler, who hosts ‘Divorce Court,’ the longest-running court show on television. Since 2006, Judge Toler has brought both tenacity and compassion to the courtroom, focusing on the relationship at hand and dispensing helpful advice to real litigants. …On the edge of your seat? Click here to continue.
While attempting to play hard to get, Amy breaks (another!) rule by desperately asking her date why he didn’t text her. Julia visits a witch (yes, witch!) to help her break bad dating habits. Meanwhile, Emily uncovers some unexpected answers on open relationships…
Watch: Amy unloads on her date.
Watch: Julia hazes her date.
BONUS: The first episode is available for FREE on iTunes here!
Monday, July 9th at 9/8c – The Real Housewives of New York City
It’s London at last for (most of) the housewives! Carole, Sonja and LuAnn live it up in the London penthouse that Heather arranged, but they show their “gratitude” by claiming that Heather’s “lost it” at her Yummie Tummie business dinner. Back in the Big Apple, Ramona and Aviva go retail therapy crazy trying to convince themselves that they’re having the better time.
Paul Fisher is surrounded by beautiful women everyday — he is a modeling agent, after all. The passionate, no-nonsense agent, who has represented fashion icons like Naomi Campbell and Kimora Lee-Simmons, made it big in the 90’s and is now the star of television reality series Remodeled on the CW Network. But, Remodeled isn’t just another show about models; it actually provides Fisher with a platform to change the face of the modeling industry and what society deems beautiful.
As a relationship expert and executive matchmaker for the past seven years, Amy Laurent has plenty of advice when it comes to navigating the dating world. And, now she’s putting it out there publicly starring on Bravo’s new reality series ‘Miss Advised,’ a show that features three single relationship experts as they attempt to follow their own dating advice in the search for love.
Given Laurent’s background, we thought she’d be the perfect source to comment on the most talked about divorce of the week (and most likely the year), the infamous TomKat split. By now, we’ve all read the tabloids or heard the news that Tom’s obsession with Scientology was a huge factor in their divorce (source), but how important is religion to a marriage?
Harlan Cohen, a nationally-syndicated advice columnist for over 17 years, knows what he’s talking about. The author of The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into In College has already helped thousands of people survive dorm life. Now, with his recently-released Getting Naked: Five Steps to Finding the Love of Your Life (While Fully Clothed & Totally Sober), he’s taking his advice a step further. With his simple approach, Cohen offers a candid guide to falling in love and finding happiness. …On the edge of your seat? Click here to continue.
According to recent polls, twenty-three percent of females now own a gun — up from thirteen percent in 2005. However, plenty of women are still fearful of this powerful weapon. Ann Csincsak, ‘The Bachelor’ Season 13 contestant and wife of ‘The Bachelorette’ season 4 winner Jesse Csincsak, knows this feeling all too well.
“I grew up in a ‘no gun home,’” Ann says. “We strongly believed in the right to own firearms but never did so ourselves. Until my late twenties, I had never even touched a gun.”
In the final season of ‘Teen Mom,’ which premiered on Tuesday, June 12, we are going to see Farrah Abraham as more than just a teen mom. In the premiere, she makes the decision to move from Iowa to Florida with her daughter Sophia, now three-years-old, to study culinary management and begin her life as an adult.
After reaching fame on the hit MTV series ‘16 and Pregnant,’ she showcased her struggles as a single mother in ‘Teen Mom.’ Furthering her success, she recently announced her partnership with LA modeling agency Models International as well as the release of her first book, ‘My Teenage Dream Ended,” which is due later this summer. …On the edge of your seat? Click here for more!
There are some celebrity couples that we love to hate. Sure, they annoy us, but we can’t help but wonder what they’ll do next. And then there are those couples that we want to go away. They’re constantly in the news — and often, for the wrong reasons. Thanks to their outlandish behavior, we’ve forgotten why they’re famous in the first place.
From their frisky displays of public affection to their willingness to do anything for attention, these five Hollywood pairs have us wishing that they’d break up already:
Holly Durst with husband Blake Julian. Photo: Twitter.com
By Whitney Baker
Fans know Holly Durst as the bubbly winner of ‘Bachelor Pad 2,’ but now, she’s content just being a newlywed. Durst and Blake Julian, who met while competing on the reality show, tied the knot in South Carolina on June 2, 2012. The big day was perfect and more than she ever imagined. “I’m so happy! I love married life. It’s just the best,” she gushes.
Durst says her best piece of advice for brides-to-be is to hire a wedding planner. She adds, “I planned my whole wedding on Pinterest. I wanted to make sure that I remembered all of the little things.” …Don’t miss the rest! Click here for more.
If you’ve been watching this season of ‘The Bachelorette,’ you’ve surely taken note of Emily Maynard’s fabulous wardrobe. Week after week, she continues to impress us with her easy sense of style, transitioning effortlessly from date to date. Whether she’s wearing jean shorts and a crochet sweater for a day by the water or a one-sleeve gown at the Rose Ceremony, one thing remains the same: her eye-popping jewelry. And now, CupidsPulse.com readers have the opportunity to win one of two Towne & Reese jewelry giveaways OR receive 15 PERCENT OFF the entire Towne & Reese collection, including the highly-anticipated Fall 2012 Collection, from Pea Pod Paper & Gifts. Use the discount code cupidspulse at checkout.
GIVEAWAY ALERT: Send an email to cupid@cupidspulse.com, with ‘Towne and Reese Giveaway’ in the subject line, saying that you want to enter the contest. Once you do, you will automatically be entered to win either the Daisy Turquoise Ring or the Brooke Earrings in Crystal OR Mint Green! Both of these pieces were worn by Maynard on ‘The Bachelorette. Giveaway ends at 5pm on Monday, July 9th so act quick!
Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to everyone who signed up!
Ashley Grulich won the Daisy Turquoise Ring, and Elizabeth Gottier won the Brooke Earrings in either Mint Green or Crystal.
Towne & Reese Daisy Ring in Turquoise. Photo: Towne & Reese
Towne & Reese Brooke Earrings in Mint Green. Photo: Towne & Reese
Pea Pod Paper & Gifts, a one-stop shop for all things paper and gifts, is a company known for their quick turnaround time and impeccable customer service. In addition to selling personalized paper products, monogrammed gifts and party supplies, they also have a wide range of jewelry, including Towne & Reese items.
Your cute neighbor — who you’ve been crushing on since he moved in — finally asked you out on a date. He even planned the evening for you: an al fresco dinner at your favorite restaurant followed by a romantic stroll through a nearby park. Sounds perfect, right?
It is…until your allergies show up (uninvited, of course) and you can’t stop sneezing. Itchy eyes and a red nose is not how you hoped to end your night.
If only you would’ve learned from Brooke Burke-Charvet’s mistakes. Merck teamed up with the Dancing with the Stars host to create the video below, showing you how easy it is to live your life with your allergies instead of constantly battling against them.
Thanks to non-drowsy Claritin®, Burke-Charvet can survive her busy day — and you can make the most of your relationship with that new man in your life. The difference is clear.
Although Kim Kardashian has had her share of ups and downs in her love life, she definitely can rock an outfit on any date. Kim has a great sense of style and always knows how to dress her curvy body to make it look great. Take a few fashion tips from her on her bright color choices and use of accessories! …On the edge of your seat? Click here for more.
Despite her hectic schedule as she prepares for the 2012 Summer Olympic games, Hope Solo, goalkeeper for the United State’s Women’s National Soccer team, strives to live a balanced life — both on the field and off the field. When she’s not training, she loves being social and enjoying life. As for romance? She is looking for a confident and honest partner, someone who wants the best in everything that they do.
Solo’s also partnering with Unilever to promote their Simple Skincare line. As someone with sensitive skin, she understands the importance of a skincare line that she can trust as she travels from city to city.
For a chance to win a trip to Los Angeles and meet Solo, visit the Escape with Hope Facebook page!
For more videos from CupidsPulse.com, check out our YouTube channel.
When you embark on a new relationship, you end up with more than just a great guy in your life. Soon enough, you will meet his friends, his family and his co-workers, and your social circle is immediately changed — for better or for worse. Some of these new friendships may come easy for you, while others may be a struggle. Either way, try your best to be open-minded: don’t make assumptions about his friends or their feelings towards you and always be yourself. Remember that there are pros and cons to bonding with his buddies. Here are a few things to consider before introducing yourself:
