Saying Goodbye

Christopher Allen Rice
August 19, 1968-July 31, 2010
Bentonville, Arkansas

Christopher Allen “Chris” Rice, 41, of Bentonville, Arkansas died Saturday, July 31, 2010. He was born August 19, 1968 in Hurst, Texas to William Miles Rice and Lois Norris Rice. He worked for All-Weather Heating and Air Conditioning as an installer. He was fun loving and adventuresome, yet was a serious, hard worker. Chris was also a huge Kansas City Chiefs fan. He loved his family dearly and will be missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his father William; one sister, Deborah and one brother, Calvin.

Chris is survived by two sons, Levi Rice and Keenan Rice both of Washburn, MO; his mother Lois Rice of Bentonville, AR; five brothers, Roy Rice of Azle, Texas; Kenneth Rice of Elm Springs, AR; Larry Rice of Bentonville, AR, Robert Rice of Bentonville, Curt Rice of Garfield; two sisters Connie Scroggins of Rogers; Janet Carpenter of Jay, OK; two very special nieces Angel Slinkard, Misty Underwood; and one grandson.

Graveside services will be at 11:00AM Monday, August 2, 2010 at Bentonville Cemetery in Bentonville with Pastor John Dean officiating.

We Love You Chris.

Where have I been???

I can't believe it has been so long since I have checked in with y'all! (I hope I still have more than one person that checks in on me!) Things have been a little crazy around our house. Let me catch you up on our family.

On Sunday April 11th we had an absolutely beautiful day. The weather had been very cold up to that point, and it seemed that it either rained or snowed every weekend! So on this particular Sunday my Handsome Prince decided to take full advantage of the warm, sunny day and get some much needed yard work done. He cleaned the front porch and pulled weeds out of the flower beds and even mowed the lawn.

At about 11 in the morning he didn't feel good. Sort of short of breath and just not "good" so he decided to take a little break. He grabbed a bottle of water and sat on the porch for a little while and started feeling better so he went back to working. That happened a couple more times and the shortness of breath became more of a tightness in his chest. Hmm, maybe this is something more than just 'working in the yard for the first time this year' aches and pains.

He decided it was time to call it a day with the yard work around 2. Came in, cleaned up and then sat in the chair for a few minutes. Still didn't feel good. I began with the list of questions - "Does your left arm feel numb? Are you nauseous? Dizzy?" No, to all of the above. He decided maybe he should check his Blood Pressure - it was 166 over 100. Okay, we are going to the Emergency Room - NOW! We arrived at the hospital a few minutes before 3 and by 3:05 we were in a room and he was hooked up to more monitors than I could count.

We were VERY fortunate that we didn't wait any longer than we did. The first blood test they did showed no enzymes, but because they couldn't rule out the heart as the source for his discomfort they decided to admit him overnight for observation. They did three more blood tests during the night and each time the enzyme level was a little higher. My Handsome Prince had a Heart Attack. They scheduled more tests Monday to determine where the blockage was and how much blockage he had. They had thought they could just do a stent (stint?) and all would be fine. Unfortunately, the blockage was 95% in his main artery, and 40 and 45% in two other arteries on the left side. Bypass surgery was the best option and scheduled for Tuesday Morning.

The Medical Staff at Mercy Hospital is just phenomenal! We were so Blessed to be cared for by highly qualified Doctors and Nurses. Everyone was so kind to us and very good to explain all of the different procedures and what we could expect. This is scary new territory! We are getting through it though, and Larry is feeling MUCH better. He even went back to work for a few hours yesterday! (We both work for my Parents, so you don't have to worry that he overdid it. He went to the office to get caught up on the projects we have going on and then came home to rest.)

This has certainly caused us to put things in perspective. You really can not take ANYTHING for granted! Tomorrow is not promised to anyone. We are making some changes for the good in our lives. There will be a LOT less stress and a LOT MORE family time. Larry and I want to Thank all of you that carried us through this in prayer. We appreciate you! I'll check in again soon!

Stella & Dot Trunk Show

Stella & Dot recently released their spring jewelry line, and I am currently hosting a Trunk Show at our art gallery, Big Red Gallery & Gifts.

It is the perfect setting for this beautiful jewelry!

I have a large area to display the jewelry along with the gift items that the Gallery carries.

The framed and unframed art work is on the second floor.

I have a little "Sale" area set up just inside the door.

These are pieces that have been discontinued from the fall line. I have them discounted and I am offering them as cash and carry for my Customers. Several of these pieces are sold out and no longer available through my Stella & Dot website - Collector's items!!

Stella & Dot has many items that are perfect for your casual every day wardrobe, and can easily transition to a fabulous date night or special occasion accessories. If you know of someone getting married soon we have several items that are perfect for the Bride and Bridesmaids.

Necklaces, Bracelets, rings and our charm collection!

These are just a few of the gold chains and earrings.

A little something for everyone!

Bracelets and charms.

Soiree Bracelets in every color!

Our Charm Collection continues to be one of our top sellers. Available in Sterling Silver or Gold Vermeil (ver-may) you can create a look that is unique for you, or someone special!

The Palm necklace with Starfish Brooch and matching Starfish earrings.

A few of our Sterling Silver chains and earrings.

Looking for something to go with your Easter outfit? I bet we can find the perfect accessory for you!

At a Stella & Dot Trunk show you can try on all of the jewelry so you are sure to fall in love with something that is just right for YOU! Once we place your order it will ship directly to you in just a few days and arrive in your mailbox within the week. Everything ships in adorable little boxes - just add a ribbon and you are good to give!

Each month we have a few special offers for our Customers. We call these Trunk Show Treasures and this month you can take advantage of a 25% discount on these smoky styles. The Smokky Drop Earrings, Della Triple Strand Necklace and Smoky Cluster Bracelet look great with a variety of colors.

I would LOVE to help you earn FREE jewelry while you and your friends enjoy a Girls Night IN!

There is no boring presentation to sit through, just a fun couple of hours trying on jewelry and gabbing with the Girls. Schedule your personal shopping date and get an extra prize from me - it could be up to $30 off of your order!!

If you want to see more please visit my website - www.stelladot.com/sherririce

or leave me a comment and I will be happy to answer any questions you have!

Introducing Stella & Dot

Happy Saturday y'all!

I am so excited to tell you about my new business! I am now an Independent Stylist with Stella & Dot Jewelry. Jessica Herrin is the CEO and Founder of the company, and Blythe Harris is the Chief Creative Officer. The name Stella & Dot comes from their Grandmothers. I think that is very neat that they are honoring their Grandma's this way. AND I just LOVE the logo! So CUTE!!

If you know me at all, you KNOW I love me some Bling! As I was flipping through the fall Look Book, there was something on EVERY page that I just loved. I want to share a few things here today! (Okay, maybe a LOT! I'm excited about this!)

Our Signature charms are a chic way to create a personalized gift - for you or someone you love! You can choose your base, and mix and match the charms to create a custom piece that is VERY affordable. Choose Relationship charms in sterling silver or gold vermeil.

Add an Inspiration Charm...

And an Initial...

How about a Birthstone briolette? Also available in sterling silver.

Wouldn't you be proud to give this to your BFF?! I love that you can mix and match them, so if you want to wear the necklace today and tomorrow you are more in a bangle sort of mood you can have a completely different look! SO FUN!!

You may not have heard of Stella and Dot, but you have probably seen the jewelry before. We have been featured in People, InStyle, Lucky, Rachael Ray and O magazines. Our jewelry is Celebrity-coveted - Debra Messing, Penelope Cruz and Paris Hilton, just to name drop a few! Do you watch "The Bachelorette"? Jillian wore several Stella and Dot pieces last season! We have even been recognized by the New York Times and the Today show!

Some of my favorites! This is the Della Triple Strand Necklace.

The Grace Pearl Earrings.

The Veronica 4 Strand Necklace - LOVE the 1930's inspired pave buckle clasp!

Want to see more? Check out my website here. You can order online (enter my name as the Hostess) and your choices are mailed directly to you (Priority Mail) in just 2 to 3 business days! Instant Gratification!!!

I would also like to invite you to my very first Trunk show! Next Saturday, October 10th from 10 until noon you can stop by my house and see the samples that I have started with. Try them on and we can mix and match styles, share some ideas and have so much FUN! Bring your friends and we will have a blast.

My samples arrived yesterday and it was like CHRISTMAS! I unpacked them and tried everything on and then played with making a small display...

I can't wait to share this with you! If you would be interested in hosting your own trunk show and earning 100's of Free jewelry please let me know! It only takes about an hour and a half, I don't bore you with a formal presentation - we just play with the samples and have a fun time with you and your friends!

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow!

I took a BIG step this week y'all! I got a hair cut. More than one actually, and quite a bit for me!

When I was sixteen years old I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease. The Doctors that were caring for me decided the best course of treatment would be Radiation Therapy followed up with Chemotherapy. I am so thankful for these Doctors and I know that GOD deserves ALL the Glory that I continue to be cancer free over thirty years later.

I tell you that so that you can understand my affection for my hair. Since I was a little girl, I have always loved long hair. Crystal Gayle fascinates me! I also have an older cousin(my namesake) that had thick, beautiful long brown hair. I wanted that hair! What I have is a lot of thin, straight, baby fine hair. It of course fell out shortly after they began the radiation treatments. Just in the back, from the crown of my head back. Weird stuff, that radiation! As a young teen I was devastated. We did find a cute wig, but it just isn't cool when you have to wear it, no matter how cute it is. So once I was finished with my treatments and my hair was long enough to cover my bald head, I ditched that wig and set about growing me some LONG hair! It took a LONG time, but I have some hair now!


Forgive the poor picture quality! Have you ever tried to take a picture of yourself backwards?? LOL!
I have been contemplating what to do with my hair for MONTHS. I was getting very frustrated with it. The majority of the time I was twisting it in a knot and clipping it up because it was always in the way. Bend over to pick something up, here comes the hair. Sit down, move the hair. Lay down, move the hair. I was OVER it! So I talked it over with the Handsome Prince and he was very encouraging (I think he was tired of the grumping!) I took a deep breath and called my hair stylist. She was very surprised when I told her how much we were cutting - she asked several times if I was SURE I wanted to do this. Yes, I am sure.

It feels SO MUCH better! We put a few highlights in there too. I MAY have some gray...

I think it looks great! AND I am donating the ten inches we cut off to Locks of Love, so that a child in need can have a cute wig!

Fall Catalog Reveal Party

As a Collector, and an Independent Consultant with Southern Living at HOME, I look forward to the new catalog, and all the beautiful new products that come with it! Two times per year the Designers and Stylists amaze me with the creative ideas that they come up with for entertaining, organizing and decorating our homes. August 1st was the debut date for the Fall 2009 catalog, and it did not disappoint!

I ordered a few of the new products, and patiently waited for everything to arrive. While I waited, invitations were sent and our house was given a mini fall makeover. I planned the menu, wanting to keep the food simple (for me!) and made a buffet of fresh watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew melon, along with red and green seedless grapes. They were SO GOOD! I had to have something fattening, so I grabbed some of those frozen cheesecake bites, because I love them. I also had an antipasto platter with some yummy cheeses and crackers. It looked very pretty I think!

Everyone seemed to enjoy it! The dishes you see here are part of the Gallery and Cinnabar Collections, and the Gail Pittman Hand Painted casserole in Siena.

Of course I had to show off some of the classic pieces in our product line! I wanted my display to show how all of the collections mix and match beautifully. Everyone went on a tour of our home and I showed some different ideas for product use. One guest had to whip out her phone to take a picture so she wouldn't forget!

Then we settled in to our seats for the "unveiling" of new products! I used a piece of fabric to cover my display, and nearly broke the new Astoria dispenser when a string got caught on the pump. I wanted to create some drama, but this was not what I had in mind! All was well, it landed on the carpet unscathed.

Finally, I had a drawing for three Door Prizes - Congratulations to the winners!

Jackson Square tray - Michelle

Cinnabar Baker - Lisa

O's Big Book of Happiness - Denice

Thank you Ladies for coming and making the afternoon very enjoyable! I hope you enjoy your prizes!!

American Idol: Now there are 5

We had a Double Elimination tonight on Idol. The 45 Million Votes have been counted and the results are in. We got to watch Paula be Drill Sargent as she choreographed the Contestants for this week's Disco Group Number. I guess the producers wanted to remind us that Paula has Skilz, that's why they put up with her rambling each week.

Dim the lights, let's get started.

Lil Rounds. Ryan asked her to go take a seat on the far side of the stage, she is in the Bottom 3.
Something distracted me, and before I knew it Ryan was announcing that Lil was in fact, eliminated from the competition. Well at least they aren't dragging it out.

Next up was a medley of disco songs performed by some classic artists. (Respecting our Elders, I am). Freida Payne performed "Band of Gold", Thelma Houston did "Don't Leave me this Way" and KC, without his Sunshine Band "Did a Little Dance, Made a little Love". Let me just say, it appeared that it had been a while since KC last busted a move. He was relieved that it was commercial time.

Speaking of commercials, I'm loving the "Super Freak" Visa Debit card commercial! FUNNY!

Okay, Dim the lights, Let's get back to it.

Kris Allen, is safe.
Adam Lambert, is Safe.
Danny Gokey, is Safe. YAY! Happiness!!
Anoop Desai, is in the bottom three.
Allison Iraheta and Matt Giraud are asked to stand at the same time. Matt was saved last week by the Judges, but he didn't need their help this week. He is safe. Allison joins Anoop on the stools of doom. (Would you call them elimination stools?)

Little David Archuleta was back tonight! He performed "Touch my Hand" and then gave Anoop and Allison some words of encouragement. It was good to see little Archie!

Bring down the lights, here we go.

Anoop is going home. He knew he didn't do his best last night, so he was disappointed.

So what are your thoughts, do you think the right ones went home tonight? Who are your picks for the Top Three?

Let's Discuss!!

American Idol: Top 7, Revisited

It's Disco night on Idol! Since the Judges used "The Save" on Matt last week, Two Contestants will go home tomorrow night. No Mentor this week, No silly introduction for the Judges. I like this! I think they are trying to save time and they may have figured out how to edit some of the "Fluff" - Yay!

Up first tonight is Lil. She looks fantastic tonight! Lil chose "I'm Every Woman" and I had high hopes for her. Chaka Khan is exactly the type of artist Lil should be singing. I really liked this performance, and I would even go so far as to say it was her best to date. You could tell she was having fun. The Judges must have heard something different than I did, because they didn't care for it. Randy thought it was wild, Kara said that she had been waiting for Lil to do some Chaka and it wasn't worth the wait, Paula clued us all in that Lil had no voice yesterday, so she thought it was a great recovery, but Simon said it was her last performance. No Vote for us.

And please don't talk back to the Judges!

Kris is next. I was prepared to be disappointed when Kris revealed he was going to sing "She Works Hard for the Money" by Donna Summer. I just didn't see how he could pull this off. I've got to tell you though, Kris knocked my socks off! This performance was SO COOL! He completely changed the arrangement, slowed the tempo, played the guitar, and I loved it. I would buy this single. It reminded me of David Cook last season with his rendition of "Billie Jean". (How he made it his own) Kara told Kris he took a risk and it paid off - BIG TIME, Paula said it had a Santana feel to it (She was right! The only thing she said all night that made sense) Simon said it was Original, well thought out and a Fantastic job and Randy told Kris he was ready for the BIG TIME. VOTE

"September" by Earth, Wind and Fire was Danny's disco tune. I liked this performance. It was very high energy from start to finish and his vocals were fantastic. Was it my favorite Danny performance? No, but this isn't the type of music I see him making either. I don't think he hurt himself any with this song choice and performance. Randy said he was worried about the song choice, but felt that Danny worked it, Good job! Kara agreed with Randy and said Danny's pitch was SO RIGHT ON, Paula said he had a Sexy voice (Okay, two things Paula got right tonight! Must not have put the additive in her Coke glass yet) Simon said he couldn't fault the vocals at all, but he didn't get "Star Power" from the performance. WE VOTED!

Allison was next with "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer. WHO is dressing this child? Her outfit was a Hot mess, and so was this song for me. I don't like what she did with the arrangement and I'm ready for this to be OVER. This girl can sing, but this performance didn't do it for me. Randy didn't like the arrangement either, but he said he loved Her, and thought she was one of the best singers in this thing, Kara agreed with Randy(She does that a LOT) Paula babbled and Simon said he thought it was a Brilliant Performance. No Vote for us.

Adam chose "If I Can't Have You" from the soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever. Randy said Adam is ready. RIGHT. NOW. Kara said he was Brilliant, Paula cried, She could FEEL him, (She's found the additives for her Coke) and Simon thought he made it something original and it was memorable. I think you know by now, No Vote for us

Matt is back with his hat! He went with the Bee Gee's "Stayin' Alive". One problem, Matt isn't the Bee Gee's and I don't think he is Stayin Alive. Randy didn't love the song choice or the arrangement, but thinks this is a talented group of kids this season, Kara thought he brought Disco back, Paula said Matt picks songs like she bowls - sometimes you get a gutterball, and sometimes you get a strike. Tonight was a Strike. Simon didn't like it. No Vote for us.

Anoop finished the show tonight with Donna Summer's "Dim all the Lights". I didn't like this either. Maybe I'm too tired tonight, these songs are just making me crabby. Randy, Kara and Paula liked it. Simon said it was Mediocre at best. No Vote for us.

So that's it for Disco week. The Best Performance for me tonight was Kris. Hands Down. I think we will see a repeat of last week's bottom three - Lil, Matt and Anoop. I predict Lil and Matt go home.

What did you think? Let's Discuss!

American Idol: TOP 7 Results Show

Who is going home tonight? I have formed my opinions, and visited several of my friends blogs to discuss their thoughts with them today. That is the fun part about this show for me. Everyone has their favorites by now, and some of us have VERY strong opinions about them! Tonight we will get to hear Idol Alum Jennifer Hudson and Hannah Montana is in the house! You know the drill, **SPOILER ALERT** Come back later if you are behind on your DVR watching!

Ryan reminds us that The Save is in play for only two more weeks. Will the Judges use it tonight? The Finale is a little more than a month away. It seems like just yesterday we were listening to the try-outs! The Top 7 performed "Maniac" from Flashdance for their group number this week. In my opinion, it is a good thing they weren't being judged on that! Not so good for me.

Alright, let's get down to business! Dim the lights, we are building the Bottom 3.

1. Allison - SAFE
2. Adam - SAFE
3. Anoop is in the Bottom 3 for the third week in a row. You can tell he is getting frustrated. This surprises me, because I didn't think he was bad last night.

Jennifer Hudson performs "If this isn't Love". Such a pretty girl. She has had a roller coaster year. Loving the bling she is sporting on her fingers tonight. When the song is almost over, My Handsome Prince said he "Hoped the album didn't cost more than a dollar" Causing me to snort as I laughed until I had tears! My man, he has his moments.

Who will join Anoop? Dim the lights and we'll get back to it.

4. Kris and
5. Lil are asked to stand at the same time. Kris is finally told that he is safe, and Lil will join Anoop.

6. Matt (IS That a huge zit in the middle of his forehead?) and
7. Danny stand at the same time. I really dislike this drama that Ryan tries to build - just TELL US WHO IS SAFE!
Please.

Danny has not been in the Bottom three yet, and he is safe again this week. Matt joins Anoop and Lil .

When we are back from what seems like an hour of commercials, Ryan is going to give one of the three some instant relief. Anoop is sent back to the couch. So Matt and Lil have to wait until after Miley Cyrus sings to learn their fate.

Man! Those Quiznos Toasty Torpedo sandwiches look good! Only $4 - Cheap Lunch!

Okay Dim the lights, let's get to it. After 36 Million Votes, America has spoken and Lil is...

SAFE. Matt is singing for his life, while the Judges deliberate whether or not to use The Save.
And MUCH to my surprise, the Judges DID save Matt. That means that TWO Contestants will be sent home next week - AND it is DISCO week. Ouch!

So what did you think? Did America get it right? Did the Judges? Let's Discuss!

THIS! Is American Idol! Top 7

It's Idol Night! Tonight the theme is "Songs of the Cinema" with the great Quentin Tarantino acting as Mentor this week. This theme can be a bit scary - Big songs, BIG shoes to fill and the talent isn't always there to support the expectations. We are down to an hour show, so the Judge's will be giving their opinions in teams tonight. I guess they learned their lesson last week! Let's get this thing going! **SPOILER ALERT** Come back later if you haven't watched and don't want to know!

Allison is first tonight. She chose "I don't want to miss a thing" by Aerosmith. LOVE this song! She can usually sang, so this should be good! Um, kind of a shaky start for me. Not my favorite performance by Allison. Paula thinks she has a special sauce, Simon thinks it's BBQ? Simon said he thought she was the girls' only hope left in the competition. No Vote for me.

Anoop chose "Everything I do, I do it for you" by Bryan Adams. LOVE this song too! Quentin suggests to him that he "rough it up" a bit. Anoop listened to him, and I LOVED IT! This was one of my favorites, EVER from Anoop Dawg. Randy said "WOW! Anoop Dawg you have found your zone!" And Kara thought this was his best performance to date. VOTE!

Adam is next and is singing "Born to be Wild" from Easy Rider. You never know what you are going to get with Adam. He's back with the spikier hair and manscara. And the screaming. I loathe the screaming. Paula babbled something, but I think she liked it, Simon didn't think it was as good as some of his performances have been. No Vote for me.

Matt is doing another Bryan Adams song. "Have you ever really loved a woman" is another of my favorites. So far I didn't need to worry about their song choices! Matt started out really good with this song, and then it just went downhill. Randy said he felt like Matt fell down more than he won, and Kara pretty much agreed. No vote for me.

MY FAVORITE, Danny is next. Danny bought a guitar this week. He's going to learn how to play while they are on tour this summer. And he chose one of my favorite songs of ALL TIME! "Endless Love" brings back all kinds of good memories for me. sigh I think Danny has some good memories too, because you could feel his emotion as he sang. I loved it. LOVED. IT. Paula thought he started out a bit off, but about midway he hooked it and slayed the end. Simon thought it was good, but he was disappointed that he didn't do anything different. I LOVED IT - VOTE

Kris picked a song from a movie I had never heard of. "Falling Slowly" was a perfect song for him. Maybe it was because I don't have anything to compare it to, but I thought this was WOW! Really good job! Randy didn't think it was quite it for him, but Kara thought it was one of his best moments ever. VOTE

Last up tonight is Lil. She chose "The Rose". Hmm. A little scared for her. This was actually a pretty good performance. Poor Lil has struggled and I think it is do or die for her and she is feeling the pressure. Paula thought it was a beautiful lyric. I'm still not sure she was complimenting Lil with that comment though. Simon said he was annoyed and Lil tried to defend herself but we were out of time. No vote for me.

Top 3 tonight for me are Anoop, DANNY and Kris.

In trouble are Allison, Matt and Lil. I think Matt or Lil go home.

What did you think? Let's discuss!

American Idol: Top 8 Results

Frankie Avalon started the show out tonight. Ryan thought we should go ahead and carry this week's theme over to tonight. It seems that Simon's birth year is 1959 and Frankie had the hit "Venus" that year. They started out showing an old video clip, and before you knew there he was - Frankie in the flesh!

I guess I should issue my **SPOILER ALERT** Come back later if you want to be surprised about tonight's Results show!

Next we were treated to some behind the scenes footage of the Contestants making this week's Ford commercial. They all look like they were having fun! We also learned that Anoop is not a fan of the glitter. He only wore it because they made him! Okay! Dim the lights, Let's get to it.

1. ADAM - safe
2. KRIS - safe
3. ANOOP - Bottom 3

He has to squirm and worry while a bunch of people come out on stage. This is where I remind you once again that I RARELY listen to anything other than Contemporary Christian or Country music. The audience seems really excited that someone called FLO RIDA is about to perform. I would have spelled it Flow Rider, but the kind people at FOX put it right up there on the screen for me. Are they a group? Or is it just the guy with lots of back up? If Ryan had not said the name, I would have thought we were going to see a vacation video for the Sunshine State. All I know for certain is that if the "songs from the year they were born" theme didn't make me feel sufficiently old - this performance was the icing on the cake!

Bring down the lights, back to the results.

4. DANNY - safe YAY! Happiness!
5. MATT - safe
6. SCOTT - Bottom 3
7. ALLISON and 8. LIL. One is safe, the other joins Anoop and Scott on the stools. Allison is safe, and Lil has to join the boys on the other side of the stage.

Ryan asks Simon about "The Save" and if he thinks they may use it this evening. They can only use it once, and they only have 3 more weeks that it is good. (kind of humorous to me, The Save has an expiration date) Anyway, Simon says that there are one or two that they would consider using it on tonight. I'm guessing he was referring to Anoop and Lil.

Season 5 Contestant Kelli Pickler stopped by tonight. She is cute! I'm not sure I'm liking her new 'Do, but I wish I had that Bod! Not my Favorite performer, but she's cute. And she helped fill the hour.

Time to send one Contestant back to Safety. Ryan quickly puts Lil out of her misery and sends her back to the couch. So we're down to Anoop or Scott. Who is it going to be? There were 34 Million votes last night, and only 30,000 seperate these two. Gee, I bet that makes them feel better - NOT! Anoop is Safe, Scott is singing for his life.

I actually think Scott sang a little better tonight. The Judges were split 2-2, so Simon had to make the final decision and Scott is going home. He showed a lot of class. I am really conflicted about this. I was pretty sure he was going home, but it still makes me sad. He is very talented, but Scott isn't the American Idol. I hope that he has caught the attention of the industry, and can have a successful career.

That's it for this week! What did you think? Agree? Disagree? Let's Discuss!

THIS! is American Idol! Top 8

We're down to eight tonight. The theme this week is "Songs from the Year the Contestants were Born". This is always a fun week, and we are starting right off tonight with Baby pictures - OF THE JUDGES! And Seacrest. HA! Ryan is a redhead, who KNEW!? I never would have guessed that he colors his hair. (snicker snicker) It's only an hour show tonight, so I will issue my ** SPOILER ALERT** and warn you to come back later if you don't want to know about tonight's show. Let's get down to business!

Danny Gokey started us out tonight with a song from the year I graduated High School. I'm feeling really old admitting that! Danny was born on April 24, 1980. He chose "Stand By Me" by Mickey Gilley. I loved Urban Cowboy, but this song choice immediately made me nervous. And Danny stepped up and made this song his own! I've made it no secret that Danny is my Favorite, and I LOVED this performance tonight. The Judges all thought it was a great way to start the show tonight. VOTE!

Kris Allen was born on June 21, 1985. He chose the Henley classic, "All She wants to do is Dance". Good song, but I did not like this performance AT ALL. Kris has been winning me over the last few weeks, but tonight I had to get back on the fence. Judges didn't like it either. I like how Randy explained to him that HE got lost in the song. I hope he stays around a little longer, but I did not help his cause tonight. No Vote.

October 20, 1984 Lil Rounds came in to this world. Lil is her real name, named after her Grandmother Lily. Her Mom shortened it to Lil. She went with Tina Turner's classic "What's Love got to do with it" I thought this was MUCH BETTER than Lil has been the last three weeks, but the Judges still weren't pleased. I'm getting very worried for Lil. No Vote.

Here's some Idol Trivia for the books - Anoop Desai shares a birthday with DAVID COOK! They were both born on December 20, 1986. Anoop made points with me tonight, because he apologized for his reaction to the Judges criticism last week. He chose Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors". And I was completely surprised, but I LOVED it! Judges loved it. VOTE.

Scott MacIntyre was born June 22, 1985. He surprised me tonight because he did NOT play the piano, and he did play the Electric Guitar. "The Search is Over" is the song he chose. It wasn't good. This could be the final week for Scott. No Vote.

The baby of the group was next up. Allison Iraheta's birthday is April 27, 1992. Her Mother was worried when she was younger, because she talked ALL the time. She sang one of my very favorite Bonnie Raitt songs, "I can't make you Love Me". Very Good! VOTE.

Matt Giraud was born on May 11, 1985. He went with "Part Time Lovers" by Stevie Wonder. I can't remember a thing about this performance. I know I didn't vote.

Adam Lambert was born on January 29, 1982. It's been a "Mad World" ever since. Simon gave him a Standing Ovation. I can not, and will not deny that it was a great performance. I just can't vote for this guy.

So, my Top three tonight were DANNY, Anoop and Allison. I would guess that Lil, Scott and Matt are in the Bottom three, and I think we say Goodbye to Scott. What did you think? Let's Discuss!

AMERICAN IDOL: Top 9 Results Show

**Spoiler Alert** I'm about to tell you everything that happened on tonight's show. Come back later if you don't want to know yet!

36 MILLION Votes last night - another record! Ryan asked Simon who should be worried tonight. He responded (rather quickly) Anoop, Matt and Megan. I'm hoping Megan. We'll see in a little bit. The first performance tonight was the Top 9 doing the classic Journey song, "Don't stop Believin' ". One of my favorite groups, and songs. They did a good job with it!

The Ford commercial was pretty good again this week. Then we were treated to a short video of what the contestants do all week. They all seem to genuinely get along very well. They do impersonations of each other. Very FUNNY!

Okay, Dim the lights, here we go:

Ryan asks Megan, Matt and Kris to stand and move to the far side of the stage.

Adam, Lil (LOVE her outfit tonight), and Allison go to center stage.

Scott, Danny and Anoop form the third group near Ryan. He teases us that one of these three groups represents the bottom three. Who could it be? We will have to wait until after our current Idol, David Cook performs his latest single! I'm so excited for this - I LOVED Cookie last year! "Come Back to Me" is a great song, and after his performance Ryan presented him with a plaque representing his Debut album going Platinum! He has sold over a million copies in just three months - WOW!

Okay, Bring down the lights, let's get to it.

Kris - SAFE
Matt - take a seat. He thinks Bottom 3, then Ryan tells him he is SAFE
Megan - She tells Simon she doesn't care about his opinion. Ryan tells her she is in the Bottom 3, and she does some sort of chicken dance and that "Caw-ing" noise. Good Grief I hope this is it for her.
Lil - SAFE
Allison - Bottom 3
Adam - SAFE
Danny - SAFE (YAY! Happiness!)
Scott - SAFE
Anoop - Bottom 3

The next performer tonight is some chick named Lady Gaga (sp?) singing (Screaming) a song called Poker Face and it just made me feel old. I couldn't wait for it to be over.

Ryan asks the Judges if they would consider using The Save on any of these three? Simon says only One of them. Alright let's find out who is going home.
Allison is Safe.
Anoop is

SAFE!

Which Means MEGAN IS GOING HOME! Thank you Jesus!! Simon told her when she said she did not care, nor do we. They will not consider The Save for her, so this is her swan song. She did graciously Thank everyone, and then got emotional when she said "Baby, Mama's coming home"

Next week the Top 8 will be performing "Songs from the Year they were Born". Should be a good one! So what did you think? Did America get it right? Who do you think is in trouble next? Let's discuss!

It's Tuesday night, must be time for American Idol!

Gosh! This has seemed like a crazy, busy week already - and it's just Tuesday! Time to take my Reality TV break. I have had SO much fun doing these weekly recaps! This is the REALLY exciting part of the show for me. We are down to the Top 9 contestants, and the competition is really heating up! Have you picked your favorite yet? There are so many talented people this season, I don't think I will be too disappointed with whoever the winner is. I do have my favorites - Danny, Matt and Allison and I also have a few that I can't help but wonder, WHY? are they still here? Well, maybe just one now, but still - HOW can Megan still be in this thing? Seriously.

Let's get down to business! The theme tonight is "The most popular downloads from ITunes". They can choose ANY song they want - this should be GOOD!

Anoop Desai went first tonight. He wanted to be more up-beat, so he chose Usher's "Caught up". Personally, I prefer Tender Dawg Anoop. His vocals were okay tonight, just not that spectacular, and I think at this point you have to blow us away. The Judges pretty much agreed with my thoughts, and then Anoop got a little snippy with them. Not good Dude - No Vote.

Megan Joy chose the Bob Marley/Lauren Hill "Turn your lights down low". She absolutely LOVES this song, and she thinks the judges are going to feel her. I did not. I'm still wondering HOW? WHY? Kara thinks she's in trouble, Randy said it was like watching paint dry. No Vote.

Danny Gokey is next. Have I mentioned he's MY FAVORITE?? Danny chose Rascall Flatts' "What Hurts the Most" This song is about losing someone you love - and HE FELT IT. I had goose bumps and a lump in my throat. SO GOOD. Paula said it left her wanting more, Simon said it was his best performance of the season, Randy said that tonight's show just started with that performance and Kara said it moved everyone emotionally. So true! VOTE VOTE VOTE!

Allison Iraheta chose a No Doubt song, "Don't Speak". Allison needs to SERIOUSLY fire her stylist. This outfit is NOT flattering - it added at least 10 pounds and her hair was distracting. This girl can SING IT, and she did. But it wasn't her best. The judges agree with me, Randy even said WHAT? are you wearing? No Vote

Scott MacIntyre got to sing a song by one of his idols - Billy Joel. His version of "Just the way you are" was great, just him and the piano. I agree with the judges, I think this is his best performance so far, but I still don't think he is Idol material. No Vote.

Matt Giraud went with a song by The Fray, "You Found Me". Because he was in the bottom three last week after choosing a song he thought the judges would like, he went with a song for himself this week. I'm not sure it worked for him. He is one of my favorites, but I didn't really care for this performance. The judges basically told him it was a poor song choice, and he needs to decide what kind of performer he is going to be - R&B or Rock? No Vote.

Lil Rounds chose a Celine Dion ballad, "I Surrender". I'm scared for Lil. I really like her, but she seems to be struggling. I think she is WAY better than she has performed the past few weeks. I like her dress, but I'm not liking the wig tonight. There was a really cute moment where one of her little one's went with Ryan over to Randy and was supposed to hit him at Ryan's encouragement. She instead gave him a big ole hug. Sweet. No Vote, by the way.

Adam Lambert chose Wild Cherry's "Play that Funky Music". I loved this song back in the day. I've got lots of good memories of my friends and I singing this at the top of our lungs while cruising up and down main street wasting our parents gas in high school. I hope he doesn't ruin that for me. I wish Paula would sit down! The song was pretty good actually. Judges all thought it was original, Paula mumbled something about genius and Randy thinks he's in the zone. I'm not voting for him though. You can't make me.

Kris Allen is the final contestant tonight. He is leaving the guitar behind tonight, and going with the piano. I didn't know he played piano, hmm. He's chosen "Ain't no Sunshine" - good song. He wants to really "Have a Moment" tonight. I think he did! This was VERY good! Kris just keeps surprising me! The Judges were impressed too. Randy said he Slayed it, Kara is counting on her fingers tonight, three words THAT IS ARTISTRY, Paula thought it was very good and even Simon thought it was a clever song choice, and said that is the Confidence he was talking about. VOTE

So only Danny and Kris got Votes from me tonight.

I think the bottom three will be Anoop, Megan and it could be Matt again. I will once again say I think that Megan should go home. I guess we'll see tomorrow night! What did you think about tonight's show? Let's Discuss!

American Idol Top 10: Results Show

BIG night tonight! An hour jam-packed with performances and surprises. There's much to cover, so let's get right to the **SPOILER ALERT** This post contains all the details from tonight's American Idol results show. If you want to be surprised, come back once you had a chance to watch the show! 36 Million Votes last night. That is the most EVER for the Top 10. Did America get it right? Let's see...

We start things off with the Top 10 performing a medley of Motown hits. They all take turns making sure Scott gets where he needs to be. The Ford commercial was really good this week. I bet that is a lot of fun putting the commercials together. They make it look fun anyway!

Season 2 Idol Reuben is in the house tonight. He performs his latest single "Together". Poor guy is sweating something fierce and Ryan wants to chat. Can't you see this big boy needs to catch his breath Ryan? Give the man (and us) a break! We really just want to know the results! Dim the ligts, here we go:

1. Adam is SAFE
2. Matt is in the bottom 3??? WHAT?? My mind is blown and my gut is rolling. Wow.
3. Kris is SAFE
4. Lil and 5. Michael stand at the same time. Ryan gives us a bit of Idol History, all the other contestants that sang "Heatwave" including Jennifer Hudson ended up in the Bottom 3 that week. Lil however, is SAFE. Michael joins Matt in the hotseats. At least we got this much right.

Josh Stone and Smokey Robinson perform for us next. I really liked this song, "You're the one for me". I'll be the first to admit I rarely listen to anything other than Contempory Christian, and occasionally Country radio, so I have no clue if this was a new song? Old Song? I think Megan is similar in style to Ms. Stone. I still think she should be the one to go home tonight, I just had that thought and thought I'd share.

Dim the lights, here we go again:
6. Allison is SAFE
7. Anoop is SAFE
8. Danny is SAFE - YAY!! Happiness.
9. Scott and 10. Megan stand at the same time. This is where I am thinking we will have the three "M's" in the Bottom 3 - Matt, Michael and Megan. I'm also still thinking Megan is done. And then Ryan announces Scott is in the Bottom 3, and Megan is SAFE. Huh.

This is the part where we stand awkwardly at center stage wondering who Ryan will let off of the hook while he chit chats with them. After a sweet FOREVER, Scott is Safe. This is absolutely blowing my mind. Matt or Michael, Who will it be? For now, Stevie Wonder is going to treat us to another Medley of Motown hits. Love me some Stevie, and he starts out with my song! My Sherri Amour :) (I meant to spell it that way) Was it just me, or was Stevie a little pitchy tonight? And as they panned past the Contestants dancing while he sang, I couldn't help noticing poor Megan just can't dance. It's not just when SHE is singing. Girl got NO rythym.

Okay, dim the lights, here we go. America has voted, and Matt is

SAFE. HUGE sigh. So Michael is singing for his life. They got it right! I don't see the point in the Judge's deliberating about "The Save", since Simon already told him last night he would not win. I will give Sarver props, he went out with class. I think it is the first time he didn't talk back to them, a welcome change.

That's it for this week. What do you think? Did they get it right? Do you have a favorite yet?
Let's Discuss!

American Idol: Top 10

It's Wednesday night, time for American Idol! Because of the President speaking last night, our scheduling is a little off this week - tonight was actually performance night. We'll have a recap of the results show tomorrow. As the announcer was introducing the judges this evening, I could not help SAYING OUT LOUD, "WHAT is Paula wearing?" Good Grief! She looks like she's going to the Prom after the show and doesn't have time for a wardrobe change. My Goodness.

Tonight was a tribute to Motown. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Motown, and the contestants got to go to Detroit this week and get a tour with the Founder, Mr. Berry Gordy. The Mentor this week is Smokey Robinson. Are we in for a treat! Here is where I will do my weekly **SPOILER ALERT** Don't read any further if you don't want to know what happened on tonight's show.

First up tonight is Matt Giraud. He went with Marvin Gaye's "Let's get it on". He started out seated at the piano, and then he DID get it on! I thought it was a very good performance, and Matt is becoming one of my favorites. The judges were all in agreement that it was a great way to begin the show tonight. VOTE

Kris Allen was next with "How sweet it is" by Marvin Gaye. (James Taylor is the version I am familiar with). Smokey said that Kris "blew him away" when they were doing their rehearsal. I thought he did alright. Overall the judges thought he did well, but stressed that he needed to begin to believe in himself. I agreed with that thought, and I think he is safe again this week.
No Vote

Scott MacIntyre chose Diana Ross' "You Can't Hurry Love". He was at the piano again, and I think that is how we will always see him. He's comfortable there, and it works for him. Didn't care for the pink-ish pants the stylist chose for him. The performance was okay for me, the judges felt like he chose the wrong song. I think he'll be safe for now, but the end is in sight for Scott. No pun intended, and No Vote.

Megan Joy I dropped my last name was next. She went with "For Once in my Life" by Stevie Wonder. She was obviously feeling much better tonight. The dress was cute, but the whole time she was singing I couldn't wait for her to be done. I kept thinking "HOW is she still in this?" And then the judges basically agreed with me. I think she's in trouble. No Vote.

Anoop Desai was next. Noop Dawg went with some Smokey Robinson "OOH Baby, Baby" GOOD Move Noop Dawg! Fire your stylist, but I loved the performance. VOTE

Michael Sarver, our Oil Rig guy was next. He really turned me off last week with his talking back, so I have a bit of an attitude myself before his performance begins. He chose "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" by the Temptations. Appropriate. But not so good. The judges didn't like it either. No Vote.

Lil Rounds was up next. I had high hopes for Lil tonight. This should be her week to shine. She chose "Heat Wave". Lil got very emotional during the trip to Detroit. She really wants to do the music proud tonight. She looked HOT in the dress tonight (pun intended!) The emotions got the best of her in my opinion. I've heard her sing SO much better than she did tonight. I hope she is safe another week to prove she's in it to win it. The judges were disappointed too. I completely agree with Simon, she could have had "a moment" tonight, had she chosen the right song. No Vote.

The big surprise of the night for me was Adam Lambert. No black nail polish, stylish suit and tie, hair greased back like he was channeling his inner Elvis. He actually looked nice. He went with another Smokey Robinson song, "Tracks of my Tears". And he did a GREAT JOB. The judges thought it was the best of the night. I think I would have to agree, but I still couldn't vote for him. Just can't do it.

My FAVORITE, Danny Gokey has the unenviable job of performing after that. No small task.
Danny went with "Get Ready". I thought it was great. Very high energy, he showed us he has a few dance moves. Awesome. The judges were split, Randy and Kara thought it was good, not his best. Paula rattled on, but I think she liked it. Simon did not. I Did. VOTE.

The last Contestant tonight is 16 year old Allison Iraheta. I am constantly amazed that this girl is only 16. Probably why I bring it up every week. Allison SANG "Papa was a Rolling Stone" SANG IT! OWNED IT! By far the best female performance tonight, and one of the best overall in my opinion. She got a VOTE from me!

My Top picks tonight are Matt, Anoop, DANNY and Allison
Bottom three are Megan Joy, Michael Sarver and probably Scott. I think either Megan or Michael go home tomorrow.

What were your thoughts? Let's Discuss!

American Idol: Top 11

**Spoiler Alert** If you haven't watched Tuesday night's show yet, come back after you have had a chance to watch!

Tonight was a tribute to The Grand Old Opry. One of my favorite country stars, Randy Travis was Mentor this week. While I really enjoy country music, I usually dread country week on Idol. Simon doesn't like this genre, and is ALWAYS negative, even when the Contestant does a really good job in my opinion. So I'm already on pins and needles! Here we go:

Michael Sarver started us out this evening with his version of "Ain't goin' down 'til the sun comes up" by Garth Brooks. His performance was okay for Larry and I. The judges weren't all that impressed, and then he made the mistake of talking back to them. PEOPLE! Do NOT talk back to the judges! They are trying to help you! No Vote

The little 16 year old was up next. Allison Iraheta chose Patty Loveless' "Blame it on your heart". WOW! She put a blue-sy twist to this song that I really liked. The judges really liked it too, and all Randy had to say was DOPE! VOTE

Our local boy, Kris Allen chose one of my very favorite Garth Brooks songs. "To make you feel my love" from the movie Hope Floats. I'll be honest, even though Kris is from Arkansas, I've always struggled with enjoying his performances. I've really been on the fence with him. I feel like I SHOULD like him, because of the local connection. Tonight Kris won me over. He came out with no guitar and just SANG. Simon said it was a terrific song choice, and Randy called him a "tender Dawg". All I know is, VOTE.

Lil Rounds was next and she chose "Independence Day" by Martina McBride. She was nervous about her performance, because this isn't really her music of choice. She wanted to honor the music and I really felt like she did a good job. She looked really pretty too. The judges weren't fans of her performance tonight. This is where I have to remind myself that I will not vote for everyone, because it just doesn't make sense. So I initially had her down as a vote, but after everyone was done, there were others I felt more deserving tonight. No vote.

Adam Lambert went with "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash. I don't know where he found this version of the song, but I am not a fan. I didn't care for it, AT ALL. Paula is hitting the sauce again tonight and she apparently liked it, although it was hard to tell what she really meant carrying on and ON. No Vote.

Scott MacIntyre performed "Wild Angels" by Martina McBride. I think he did a good job of making it his own. Paula thinks he needs to not play the piano every time. I like his story, but I don't see him going all the way, so tonight for me it was a No Vote.

"Little Dolly", Alexis Grace performed "Jolene" by Dolly Parton. She changed it up just enough to make it her own. I really liked it. VOTE.

My Favorite, Danny Gokey was next. Going to commercial they said he was going to do a Carrie Underwood song and I immediately said to Larry he's going to do "Jesus, Take the Wheel". Sure Enough! I scared my Handsome Prince (and myself!) with my uncanny ability to predict this correctly. GOOSEBUMPS. VOTE.

Anoop Desai had some serious work to do tonight. Simon told him last week that he didn't deserve to be in the Top 13. He took that to heart and really wanted to prove he DID belong here. I was scared for him when he revealed his song choice was "You were always on my mind" by Willie Nelson. Let me just say: NOOP DAWG IS BACK! (and yes, I did say this before Paula) He did a very good job, and Simon even said that he went "from zero to Hero" this week. VOTE.

Megan Joy Corkrey chose "I go out walking after Midnight" by Patsy Cline. Patsy is one of my girls, DON'T mess with Patsy! Megan has not been one of my favorites, but she actually did a pretty good job. And then I found out she has the flu, and has been in and out of the hospital this week. Great job, but No Vote.

Matt Giraud was the final performance tonight. He chose another Carrie Underwood song, "So Small". Matt was back at the piano and definitely in his comfort zone. WOW! VOTE.


So, to sum tonight's performances up in MY opinion, the bottom two were Michael and Adam. Everyone else did really good and we had "vote" by all of their names at one point. I had to make some tough choices tonight. I have high standards I must uphold! You just shouldn't vote for everyone. So here is who I ended up calling in for tonight:

Allison
Kris
Alexis
DANNY
Anoop
Matt

Do you have a favorite yet? Let's discuss!

American Idol: Results Show

And then there were eleven. Or ARE there? This is where I remind you *SPOILER ALERT**
If you don't want to know the results yet, come back after you've had a chance to watch the show!

The big announcement that was sure to be dramatic, and could possibly Change Everything is called "The Judges Save". Ryan reminded us how we felt when Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry were eliminated. Most of us felt like it was too early, and were totally shocked. This year, the judges will have the opportunity to give someone a second chance. They can only do this once, and it has to be a unanimous decision. They are only allowed to do this through the Top 5, and once they use the save, that is it. Plus, the week after they use it two people are eliminated.

I don't know that I'd call this dramatic, but I kind of like the idea. We are all still voting for the winner, and I for one will ALWAYS be curious if Daughtry hadn't been eliminated so early, would he have won? He's very good, and has had success even without being the "winner", but I still wonder... We'll see how this plays out!

Here's how it went. Dim the lights please. Cue the soft drum roll...
Michael Sarver - safe
Allison Iraheta - safe
Jasmine Murray - go stand at center stage
Matt Giraud - safe
Kris Allen - safe
Megan Joy Corkrey - join Jasmine center stage

Megan is safe, Jasmine is out unless the Judges save her. I will admit that at this point I wasn't fully grasping how the whole "Save" thingy was working. In my head, EACH contestant had one chance at a save. Looking back at that now, especially after just typing that here, I'm wondering WHAT was I thinking?? DST strikes again! Anywho, the judges didn't use the save on Jasmine, so she is done. Such a cutie. I do hope she tries again, I think she is just too young and there are lots of very talented people in this group this season.

Kanye performs for us next. NOT my thing. Found other things to do...

Okay, we're back! Dim the lights and drum roll please...
Scott MacIntyre - safe
Alexis Grace - safe
Danny Gokey - safe (YAY!!)
Anoop Desai - knows to go to center stage even before Ryan tells him to
Adam Lambert - safe
Jorge Nunez - join Anoop center stage
Lil Rounds - safe

Make Anoop and Jorge suffer while Kelly Clarkson chats it up with Ryan and then performs "My life would SUCK without you in it" from her new album. Yes, that really is the title. At this point I'm feeling really OLD, because I thought that song Sucked. In the end, Anoop was safe this week - YAY! and Jorge is going to have to say goodbye, because the judges did not use their one and only save on him.

I agreed with the results tonight - What did you think? What is your opinion of the new rule, The Judges Save? Do you have a favorite yet? Let's discuss!