Cory Monteith: An all-too-familiar & tragic Hollywood ending

Last night I received a text from a friend just as the news about Cory Monteith's passing was breaking. This is exactly the same way the Heath Ledger news went down in 2008. In 1993, it was via a New York Post headline for the shocking news of River Phoenix's death. Sadly, the news of losing someone far too young in such a tragic way like Phoenix or Ledger will happen again and again. It's a familiar Hollywood tale.

While we don't know yet what caused Monteith's death since an autopsy won't be performed until Monday. (Toxicology tests can take weeks for the final results.) However, the public and media will speculate what might have happened.

On May 2, I wrote an article about the Glee star and his devoted girlfriend/co-star Lea Michele for SheKnows. The article discussed the united front the two were showing upon his release from his stint in rehab. It's really hard to even read that article now, especially with the adorable video that accompanies it.

Post-rehab Cory Monteith & Lea Michele show a united front >>

I've interviewed Michele before and she is a driven and focused young woman. She's not a familiar face on the Hollywood party circuit. Everyone I know who has worked with the young couple said that they were great together and that the Broadway star's positive influence was good for Monteith. From friends to co-workers, that rehab stint this spring was a surprise to everyone. No one had an inkling he was in trouble and that his former demons had resurfaced.

Addiction is a beast and it's even harder under the microscope of Hollywood, fame and fortune. The 31-year-old was always honest and open about his struggles. In Tinsel Town, it's really an admirable quality in a city that is filled with smoke and mirrors.

As he told Parade magazine in June 2011, "I don't want kids to think it's okay to drop out of school and get high, and they'll be famous actors, too. But for those people who might give up: Get real about what you want and go after it."

Let's remember Cory Monteith as the talent that he was...youthful, hopeful and sweet to the core.

"Just the Way You Are"

Brake install complete

The brake are now complete.  The lines are all installed, after 3 orders from Jegs before I got the correct fittings I needed...a mistake on my part.  I still need to bleed the brakes, and tighten up a few hanging fuel lines.  I took my driveshaft measurements and plan on ordering my custom shaft on Monday. We should be back on the road very soon.

Here you can see one of the tabs I welded on the housing.  Initially, I was having trouble with my welder.  Come to find out, I needed to switch the wire in my mig, which I assume gets hotter.  Once I had the correct wire in place, it melted my axle tubes like butter, fixing the tabs to the tube after the first spark.  At some point later down the road I will clean up the welds with a grinder and repaint it.  It's pretty tight confines and figured I'll drop the housing later on to clean them up with ease.

Hard lines plumbed.

Yeah, that's my car cover/dog bed.

Finished brake installation.

Open lug nuts installed.

Back on the ground for the first time in a long time.  Still dirty as hell, I think I'll wait until I get my driveshaft installed, and can move the car to the middle of the garage before bustin' out the power washer.

Orange Is the New Black: What would you do with your last 24 hours of freedom?

In honor of the July 11 premiere of the new Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, I was given the challenge by SheKnows.com to talk about what I would do with my last 24 hours of freedom.  The series focuses on a woman who is sent to prison because of her relationship with a drug smuggler. 


With only 24 hours to enjoy my freedom, here is what I would like to do:

Location: While I thought I would immediately hop a plane to Bora Bora, my dream destination, the flight takes too long. I don't want to waste my 24 hours on a cramped flight and have to pay for my luggage. So, I am off to Malibu just 15 minutes down the road from my humble abode. I figure a beautiful view is all I need, so this oceanside home should do the trick. All of my friends and family can visit while I chow down on my favorite meal.

Food: As a gal from New England, there is nothing better than a Maine lobster. I would make sure to eat a two pound lobster dripping in butter with a baked potato, corn on the cob and steamers with even more butter. A glass of champagne and a bottle of wine to toast my last day of freedom will also be on hand. Some other items that might make it on to my glorious food table include truffle mac and cheese, homemade bread with butter from Napa Rose restaurant and cannolis from Mike's Pastry in Boston.  If I'm going to have face prison food, I'm going to make sure my meal is good, expensive and high in calories.

Rachel Roy dress, Christian Louboutin shoes, Express NYC clutch

Fashion: I want to spend my last day in the outside world dressed to impress since the orange jumpsuit isn't going to do much for my pasty complexion inside the jail cell. Here's the outfit I picked out to enjoy on my last day of freedom. I wanted something cute and flirty with a really expensive pair of shoes I would never buy for myself in real life. Oh, and a splash of color with the clutch....orange really is the new black.

Relax: A massage, a facial and a mani/pedi are a must for an important day like this. I'm not sure they do extractions for your pores in prison. I want to be as relaxed and laid-back as possible, I imagine the inmates are rather intense, don't you think?

Sleep:  I want the Westin Hotel to send me one of their signature Heavenly Beds so I can sink into a comfy bed because prison sure isn't a five-star experience. I could snuggle with my significant other and slumber away after I've eaten my weight in food and massaged every muscle to say goodbye to my freedom. There is nothing better than a good night's sleep.

What would you do with your last 24 hours of freedom? Let me know in the comments below. 

Check out the new series “Orange is the New Black” on Netflix. For more information check out SheKnows.com.



This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

AfterBuzz TV SYTYCD: Sharna Burgess

This was such a fun show. I cannot tell you how much I love Sharna Burgess as a guest. She is honest, funny and forthcoming with her insight. I always appreciate it because I know we are getting the truth when she talks about a controversial issue. The best part of Sharna though....she's nice.  I just like the gal. So, you will see her again when DWTS starts up again in the fall. Thanks, Sharna!

In watching the show back today, there were two things I noticed:
1. Judges: With all of the excitement around Paula Abdul judging, we barely mentioned her. In fact, Erin Andrews received more mentions than Paula. While the honor of having Paula on the panel is a big deal, I am not sure her judging comments resonated that much with us.  What do you think?

See our pre-show Vine video >>

2. Comfort Fedoke: Yes, she was the one who was eliminated and was brought back to the show. We were thinking hard on the fly and couldn't come up with a name, but we knew it had happened before. The real question is: Why don't they bring back contestants anymore?

I'm bummed the show will be pre-empted by the MLB All-Star game. We want All-Stars, but the ones who dance, not hit a ball. I will miss you guys next week, but we will return on July 24 with Mollee Gray and Kent Boyd. They have exciting news to discuss with their Teen Beach Movie coming out on the Disney Channel. You can also stay up-to-date on our future guests by clicking here.

To see the Sean Cheesman side-by-side comparison of his jazz routine from SYTYCD Canada with the U.S version, click here.

I would love to hear your comments on the show, so hit me up in the comments section below:

Sean Cheesman's Routine On SYTYCD Canada

I was alerted about the recycling of choreography from last night's SYTYCD show by a comment someone made in the  EW recap.

Pieces get reused over and over again in dance, so there is nothing scandalous or controversial about this. However, I love being able to compare dances side by side.

Who do you think interpreted the choreography better? The U.S. dancers or the Canadian dancers? I actually think the judges' comments make more sense once you see the original piece on different dancers. Give me your thoughts in the comments below!

Take a look at Sean Cheesman's piece on Jasmine Mason and Alan Bersten:



SYTYCD Canada, Season 3 with Janick Arseneau and Jeff Mortensen:

Perlier Lemon Sorbet Crackling Body Water Review

This might be the best product I have seen all summer. I had no idea what I was in store for when I opened the box from iFabbo and Perlier. Normally, I would just write about the product and give you my insight on how well it works. This time, I shot a video since you have to see it to believe it...and you have to hear it, too. Perlier's Lemon Sorbet Crackling Body Water has its own "Snap, crackle and pop!"

Now, let's get down to business.

Description of the Product via HSN:
It's summertime. You're sweltering. All you want is a cool, refreshing sorbet. How about indulging in a little sorbet sweetness — for your skin? Exuding an exhilarating scent, this granita is the perfect summertime skincare refreshment.

Key Benefits:

• Sparkling and crisp
• Moisturizes and refreshes in one step
• Makes your skin pleasantly smooth and scented
• Crackles when applying to skin
• Provides sudden and strong cooling effect
• Formulated with food ingredients, just like a true fruit sorbet
• Fresh and light texture gives a sorbet-like effect on the skin
• Made in Italy

Ingredients:

BUTANE, AQUA (WATER), ISOBUTANE, PROPANE, ALCOHOL DENAT., CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, PPG-15 STEARYL ETHER, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, PEG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, MENTHYL PCA, PPG-26-BUTETH-26, PEG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, BENZYL BENZOATE, CITRAL, GERANIOL, HEXYL CINNAMAL, LIMONENE, LINALOOL, CI 19140 (YELLOW 5), CI 42090 (BLUE 1).

Does It Work?:
This product is so cool and fun, watch my short video to see how it works and what I had to say!



Cost: $24.50

Where Is It Sold?: You can find it at HSN, so click on their website and be sure to enter this code iFabbo5 to receive a $5 discount with your purchase!

Connect:
If you want to learn more about Perlier, visit their social media pages--
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Visit some of my other reviews for iFabbo:
Hydroxatone Anti-Aging BB Cream
Own Firming Silk Concentrate
Perlier Shower & Bath Cream Kit


Disclosure:  I was given a complimentary sample by Perlier and iFabbo in exchange for a review. I was not paid for this post. All opinions are my own.

SYTYCD On AfterBuzz TV: Top 18 Perform Preview

After much discussion about last week's eliminations, I am happy to see that Nigel Lythgoe and the rest of the producers retooled the format a bit. Tomorrow night, we will see the Bottom 6 revealed at the top of the show. Two dancers will be immediately saved and then the Bottom 4 will fight for their lives during the show. The judging and eliminations will happen at the end of the evening. This is a fantastic format and it makes more sense. I'm sorry that Brittany and Carlos didn't have that same opportunity.

The celebrity guest judge is Paula Abdul.  I know a lot of people are excited by this news. Paula will offer some interesting insight, but I feel like she's been a judge on every talent show on TV. Also joining the panel will be FOX sportscaster Erin Andrews. She's familiar to DWTS' audience after her Season 10 stint on the show with Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Let's see how tomorrow night goes.

If you are clever,  you've been peeking at the list of upcoming guests. If you haven't heard, then it's time to announce our AfterBuzz TV SYTYCD guest this week.

It's Sharna Burgess! We are thrilled to have her back to the ABTV studios. She is so honest with her answers and she has the inside scoop on this year's contestants since she works with choreographer Jason Gilkison.  He choreographed that infamous Jive and the Viennese Waltz first live week.

If you have comments or questions for Sharna, make sure to add them in the section below. Remember, we are focusing in on SYTYCD, so DWTS questions will probably not be answered at this time.  Thanks for all of your feedback so far!

Watch SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV LIVE at 9pm PT on Wednesday. Watch here.