Real Housewives of Atlanta Take a Bow
It’s finally over. The Real Housewives of Atlanta took Bravo by storm this fall, and last night the ladies of leisure put an end to the bickering, blubbering and backstabbing in the season’s finale.
For those of you who have managed to avoid the Housewives phenomenon, the Bravo series follows a group of wealthy wives in various ‘gated communities’ throughout this fine land of ours. We’ve been to sunny Orange County, sophisticated New York and now the wilds of Atlanta.
The southern belles this season filled their days planning parties, hiring assistants, and dropping cash like it grows on trees. And when the ladies didn’t have anything better to do? One housewife started a clothing line (even though she knows nothing about design – or clothes) and another attempted to jumpstart a fledgling country-singing career (even though she is completely and tragically tone deaf).
It’s riveting television.
One housewife in particular, Lisa Wu Hartwell, does seem to have her act together. The busy mother of three is a successful real estate agent, has a children’s clothing line, Hart 2 Hart Baby, and a high-end jewelry line, Wu Girls. Not too shabby.
The Wu Girl look features colored gemstones in chunky designs with both 14 and 18 karat gold. Retailing from $1200 on up, the pretty pieces can set you back a few if you don’t have a sugar daddy around to pitch in.
If you want to channel your inner Housewife without breaking the bank, Jewelry.com has the same looks for here for less:
Rings
Necklace
Bangle
And if you thought you could get a reprieve from gawking at how the ‘other half’ lives, think again. The Housewives of Atlanta reunion special airs next week (with a surprise showdown between Lisa Wu and another housewife), and the Orange County ladies return on November 25th. Just in time for the holidays.
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The Girl Next Door is Going Legit: Kendra to become Mrs Hank Baskett
The playmate next door is about to take a trip down the aisle and say bye bye Playby Mansion. Kendra Wilkinson, a former girlfriend of that sprightly octagariean Hugh Hefner, has announced that she’s giving up the ‘single’ life – well as ‘single’ as it gets at the Playboy Mansion – and make it official with Hank Baskett, the Receiver from the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Kendra Wilkinson has met someone who she would like to spend the rest of her life with,” Hefner told US Magazine’s Web site in a statement. “He popped the question last Saturday. I have given her my blessing and will be giving her away at a very special wedding ceremony at the Playboy Mansion this coming June.”
Apparently the NFL player is somewhat of an old-fashioned romantic. He popped the question with a stunning diamond ring atop the Space Needle in Seattle.
Hef won’t be left too lonely though. Although another ‘girl next door’, Holly Madison, has said adieu to her bunny ears and is reportedly dating “Mindfreak” illusionist Criss Angel, the Master of the Mansion has found two replacements. Mr. H is now playing host to two blonde 19-year -old twins.
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Floor It With Diamonds
Diamonds, pearls and gemstones are familiar faces in your jewelry box, but what if you found them in the floor? Nope, not on the floor, IN the floor. Luxury tile and flooring company, Pietra Firma, is satisfying the opulent tastes of home design hounds by putting the bling in an exclusive line of glittering tiles.
This limited edition of LuxTouch jeweled tiles can be used on your walls, ceilings and, yes, floors if you so desire. And at a mere $1,000,000 per square meter, we’re sure you’ll want a football-field sized swatch of ‘em. Encrusted with more than 1,000 diamonds, 2400 pieces of mother of pearl, 400 pieces of abolone shell and 500 pieces of black onyx, one square meter of the material is sure to outshine that Mop ‘N Glo-ed hardwood you’re so fond of.
According to Pietra Firma’s website, “When inlaid, the diamonds sit slightly raised above the tile, which results in the maximum tactile and visual effect. Walking barefoot on a LuxTouch floor can only be described as a truly sensual experience.”
Or a good heel buffer. For the well-heeled among us, LuxTouch is one dazzling way to take that golden parachute for a walk on the wild side.
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Mega Diamonds and a Media Mogul
Hip hop’s top dog, Russell Simmons, and Ugandan model, Kiara Kabukuru, showed off two gigantic diamonds to the press this week. The two radiant rocks were cut from the famous 316-carat Ponahalo diamond and will be the centerpiece at Christie’s Auction House for their highly anticipated event, “Jewels: The New York Sale”.
The Steinmetz Diamond Group cut the Ponahalo when it was unearthed in 2005 into four polished stones, and it took them almost 18 months to create the gems featured in the sale.
The two mega-diamonds weigh in at 102 and 70 carats, respectively, and are expected to draw high bids, with the larger jewel predicted to sell for $4 million and the smaller gem a mere $2.2 million.
“I hope someone wears it,” said Rahul Kadakia, head of jewelry at Christie’s. “It’s something that should be seen.”
Let’s hope the price includes a pair of burly bodyguards and a lifetime supply of pepper spray.
A portion of the Ponahalo proceeds will be donated to Russell Simmons’ Diamond Empowerment Fund, which funds projects in Africa.
Other high profile items up for grabs are leftovers from model Giselle Bundchen’s jewelry box and a dolphin brooch given to Liz Taylor by former husband, Richard Burton.
If your savings can take the hit, this is clearly the event of the year for jewelry collectors everywhere (and the moguls who love them).
Shine on, you crazy diamond lovers! Shine on!
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