Dionne Warwick Files for Bankruptcy

Divabetic

If you’re filling out your taxes ‘say a little prayer’ because Dionne Warwick has just filed for bankruptcy after discovering she owes more than $10.2 million in taxes.

I guess those trips to San Jose really do add up!

Warwick’s publicist announced that the  singer and Celebrity Apprentice star cites fiscal mismanagement as the reason she owes so much, according to Reuters.

Warwick filed the bankruptcy papers March 21 in New Jersey. Most of the alleged “negligent and gross financial mismanagement” Warwick referenced occurred in the late ’80s through the ’90s.

Warwick listed her average monthly income as $20,950, with expenses totaling $20,940. Her publicist, Kevin Sasaki, says it is interest that Warwick is left to pay, as most of her back taxes were reportedly paid off.

“In light of the magnitude of her tax liabilities, Warwick has repeatedly attempted to offer re-payment plans and proposals to the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board for taxes owed,” Sasaki said. “These plans were not accepted, resulting in escalating interest and penalties.”

READ MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/26/dionne-warwick-bankrupt_n_2955615.html

TUNE IN: Serve Taste or Trash Game! podcast: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/04/02/serve-taste-or-trash-game-2

Easter Parade 2012 with Mr. Divabetic:

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundtable Inspired by Melba Moore http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/03/12/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-melba-moore

Basics In Diabetes Pattern Management – Divabetic

Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA, Bethesda, MD and Pittsburgh, PA in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org

Kim Kardashian’s Baby Weight is Normal

Can we leave Kim Kardashian alone?!! She’s not fat, she’s pregnant, okay?

Kim Kardashian divulged to a reporter this week that all the fat jokes have been bothering her and that she’s only 140 lbs and she’s been eating a lot of vegetables lately, okay?? Also, there’s a baby inside of her!

The fat-shaming that has followed Kim Kardashian is in some ways more of the same — more of what we saw with Jessica Simpson — but it’s much, much more. Both the volume of stories about Kardashian’s body and what headlines say about it remind us how acceptable it has become to talk publicly about an individual woman’s appearance in terrible ways. Why does this happen?

These articles also demonstrate how having a female body that is anything other than thin — whether it be average, overweight or simply pregnant — is being cast as both a crime and a punishment.

Here’s what one tabloid had said about Kardashian over the last few weeks:

Star considers Kim’s supposed 65-pound weight gain to be a “nightmare.”

You can argue that Kim Kardashian of all people welcomes any press, good or bad -but this is about way more than her. Bloggers Emma Gray and Margaret Wheeler Johsnson say, ” It’s about portraying weight gain as a central tragedy in a woman’s life, the cause of meltdowns and the source of insults, that then must be fought with extreme diets — even “while she’s pregnant.” It doesn’t take much for the average female supermarket-goer to think to herself, “Do people think that about me?” And just like that, weight has become a central drama in her life too.”

“These headlines affect us all, even when we tell ourselves we aren’t paying attention, that we write them off as trash. They leak into the cultural ether and affect how women see themselves and other women and how much time and thought and energy women put into fixing bodies that aren’t broken. When will we acknowledge that all of us, even Kim Kardashian, deserve to spend our lives thinking less about how we look and more about what we can do — and that the former definitely gets in the way of the latter?”

READ MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emma-gray/kim-kardashian-pregnancy-weight-fat-shaming_b_2951324.html

Easter Parade 2012 with Mr. Divabetic:

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundtable Inspired by Melba Moore http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/03/12/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-melba-moore

Basics In Diabetes Pattern Management – Divabetic

Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in New York, NY, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org

Lorraine Brooks’ poem, ‘Ms. Melba’

Lorraine Brooks – Divabetic

Last night, I had the honor of interviewing R & B music legend and Tony Award winning actress, Melba Moore who’s life off stage is as dramatic and inspirational as her art on Divabetic’s free monthly podcast, Diabetes Roundtable. 

I feel she’s truly the embodiment of Divabetic’s ‘Don’t Get Down, Get Diva!’ spirit. Her much publicized problems with music executive Charles Huggins, her partner at Hush Productions, that sent her spiraling into bankruptcy serve as a testimony that she is indeed a true survivor after experiencing some dark years in her life.

“(It was a) very, very, very difficult (time) because of just the total crisis and collapse of everything that had any kind of security around my life.  Nothing is familiar or  comfortable.  Everything is about depression with no money, with no esteem, no support.  You don’t know what you’re doing.  This territory is not difficult, its impossible.  It’s chaos, but you gotta live.  You gotta figure out how to put one foot before the other,” says Melba Moore.

Divabetic

I hope Melba Moore’s moving story helps to inspire anyone who are feeling overwhelmed by having to deal with diabetes on top of everything else they have to manage in their lives. If you feel this way, you are not alone. After all, there are no vacations from diabetes; it’s with you 24 hours a day.  And diabetes affects absolutely every aspect of your life. But the truth is YOU have the strength to overcome obstacles in your life just like Melba!

Today, Melba Moore’s basking in the glow of her upcoming forth album entitled, “Forever Moore” which will be released on her new label A’Moore Music, Inc. The single, “Love Is” is up for two Grammy Awards in the first round of nominating process in the category of Best Short Form Music Video and Best Traditional R&B Performance. Be inspired by Ms. Melba Moore to ‘not get down, get DIVA! 

I asked our resident poet, Lorraine Brooks to write original poem about Melba’s perseverance titled ‘Ms. Melba’ which she was unfortunately unable to share on the podcast due to technical difficulties.

Ms. Melba

 

The musIc you gIve us

Is touchIng and fIne

In ways that warm all of our souls.

Your voIce and your presence

Are lIke a good wIne

We love you In all of your roles.

 

But lIfe, as It happens

Has ups and has downs and

You’ve had your faIr share of sorrow.

We’ve watched you be human

And watched you rebound

And gave us new hope In tomorrow.

 

Not once, but twIce now

You hIt a low level

Betrayed and mIstreated for sure.

But you dIdn’t buckle

You faced your own devIl

You stood up and you saId NO MORE!

 

So,you are a dIva In all cIrcumstances

A dIva who’s strong and dIvIne

You say we can do It

We all have our chances

To get up and make ourselves shIne!

 

Here’s to you, Ms Melba

Keep lIghtIng the flame

And tellIng the truth as you fIght…

You’re one of those women

We all can exclaIm…

You’re truly a ‘dIva’ tonight!

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundtable Inspired by Melba Moore http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/03/12/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-melba-moore

Let’s Talk About Sex!  Here’s a sneak peak of  Divabetic’s ’Love On A Two Way Street’ free outreach program focused on ‘Sexual Health & Diabetes’ and presented at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

LISTEN NOW: The Mr. Divabetic Show featuring Kirsten Holly Smith and Holly Clegg http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/03/04/the-mr-divabetic-show-with-kirstin-holly-smith

Basics In Diabetes Pattern Management – Divabetic

Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in New York, NY, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org

From Pepsi to GQ, Has Beyonce Gone Too Far?

Diva Don’t

Is anyone else a little disgusted by the February issue of GQ magazine featuring Beyonce? She’s practically naked. It makes me wonder if a famous male celebrity like Hugh Jackman would be willing to pose seductively in a Speedo for the cover of a magazine to promote Les Miserables? Or Jay Z for that matter?

I highly doubt it.

GQ says its showing readers the 100 sexiest women of the 21st century — but it doesn’t look like they want readers to look further than their cover star, Beyonce.

Beyoncé Knowles is the third most honored woman in Grammy history; with a total of 16 awards, and with 44 total nominations she is now the second most nominated female artist in Grammy history, after Dolly Parton (who has 45 nominations). Overall, Knowles has won 184 awards from 529 nominations. On top of selling over 60 million albums as part of the group, Destiny’s Child, she’s also made three solo albums, all of them yielding No. 1 songs.
So why does she have to pose suggestively on the cover of a men’s magazine? Isn’t she at the point in her career where she can make the rules? Instead she’s seen grabbing her curly locks with both hands in a seductive pose that shows off her amazing abs, toned legs and underboob in a cropped football jersey T-shirt and red-printed underwear like a Playboy centerfold. Did I mention that she’s also wearing belly chain and her tiny undergarments also feature two zippers on either side?
And GQ promises the issue has even more sexy photos!
I say, please don’t release any more of these photos. I thought it was bad enough when Beyonce announced she signed a $50 million dollar deal with Pepsi to promote their products after working on Michelle Obama’s ‘Let’s Move’ campaign  but this cover somehow makes me even more sad.
Follow us: @usweekly on Twitter | usweekly on Facebook

Diabetes & Exercise? What real women living with diabetes have to say about blood sugars, marathons and motivation with Mr. Divabetic 

TUNE IN: Free to Diabetes Roundtable podcast Inspired by Rihanna with guests: Neva White DNP, CRNP, CDE, Connie Frazier RD, CDE, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, author Elsie Spruill, poet Lorraine Brooks, hairstylist and makeup artist Charlene Wilson,  Mama Rose Marie and Allison from Jersey City, NJ living with diabetes

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/01/08/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-rihanna

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic rolls out the red tomato carpet at the 68th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in Tucson, AZ, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org 

The Hottest Woman of The Year Is?

Superstar Katy Perry  lands the number one spot in Men’s Health magazine’s 100 Hottest Women of 2013.The singer  beat out Mila Kunis and  Jennifer Lawrence to take the title, which solidifies her spot as one of Hollywood’s sexiest stars.

“I’m very flattered that someone still thinks I’m hot,” she said. “I think it’s the weirdness [that makes me hot]. Maybe it’s just the fact that I’m OK with being a geek.”

Katy Perry even defeated Men’s Health’s reigning hottest woman of all-time champion, Jennifer Aniston, who placed fifth on this year’s list.

Here are some of the other rankings:

2. Mila Kunis
3. Christina Hendricks
4. Jennifer Lawrence
5. Jennifer Aniston
6. Scarlett Johansson
7. Angelina Jolie
8. Beyonce
9. Gisele Bundchen
10. Amber Heard

Diabetes & Exercise? What real women living with diabetes have to say about blood sugars, marathons and motivation with Mr. Divabetic 

TUNE IN: Free Diabetes Podcast Inspired by Anne Hathaway with guests: Neva White DNP, CRNP, CDE, Cheryl Marco CDE, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, author Dr. Beverly S. Adler,  Mama Rose Marie and Lorraine from Long Island, NY living with diabetes

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/12/11/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-anne-hathaway

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic rolls out the red tomato carpet at the 68th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in Tucson, AZ, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org 

How Anne Hathaway Gained The Role of Fantine

Divabetic Diva Inspiration for December, Anne Hathaway was in the middle of shooting The Dark Knight Rises when Les Misérables began casting, and right away, she says, she “really, really wanted this part.” She first saw the musical at age seven, when her mother, who was the understudy for Fantine in a touring production, went on in the role. “I’ll never forget it—I just sat there sobbing,” she recalls. “And I don’t think it was just because I was watching my mother die, though that was definitely part of it. I was just so moved and felt so connected to her and the music and the whole production. I’ve been in love with the show ever since.”

With her charming performance in the 2002 Encores! stage production of the musical Carnival and her duet with Hugh Jackman at the 2009 Oscars, Hathaway had already demonstrated that she knew her way around a show tune. You’d think that she would have been at the top of any shortlist for Les Misérables. But she was told that the producers didn’t want to see her, because she was too young for Fantine and too old for the younger parts. Hathaway insisted, got the audition, and flew to L.A. to meet with Hooper. She had been asked to prepare Fantine’s big number “I Dreamed a Dream,” as well as “Fantine’s Arrest.” (“They wanted to make sure I could hit that E-flat,” she says, going on to demonstrate for me that, in fact, she can.) Hooper, clearly excited, asked her to work with him on Fantine’s death scene, and by the time they were through, three hours had passed.

“It was little short of astonishing—one of the greatest auditions I’ve ever had the privilege to witness,” Hooper recalls. “I’d already had a pretty extraordinary group of female film stars come in. But what was so inspiring about Annie was that I was sitting there still trying to work out, How does one act through song on film? How do you make these songs work in a close-up and get them to tell a story? And Annie provided the answer. It was one of those moments where I relaxed because I thought, Oh, it’s going to work. She gave me reassurance that what I was aiming for in my head was possible.”

Although I’ve heard  Les Misérables  is FANTASTIC, I must admit I’m probably not going to see it. Anne Hathaway’s character’s downward spiral is too depressing. It’s one thing to see Fantine’s story dramatically unfold on a rotating stage but the idea of watching a very realistic portrayal (selling her teeth and her body) on the big screen does not interest me.

TUNE IN: Free Diabetes Podcast Inspired by Chaka Khan celebrating National Diabetes Awareness Month with guests: Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, Pam Butler MS, CDE, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, cookbook author Holly Clegg, Mama Rose Marie and Ginger Vieira, from Burlington, VT living with type 1 diabetes

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/11/13/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-chaka-kahn

Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in Tucson, AZ, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org 

Oops, Britney Spears Did it Again!!

Brtiney Makes The Big Bucks!

Britney Spears is the top-earning female artist of 2012 thanks to sales of her latest album, “Femme Fatale,” a spot on Fox’s “The X Factor” and hefty endorsements and Elizabeth Arden fragrances.

Spears is ranked as the highest-paid performer on Forbes’ “Top-Earning Women in Music” list this year. Spears earned $58 million from May 2011 to May 2012. That was shy of the $64 million she made in 2010, but it was still enough to beat out the No. 2 contender, Taylor Swift.

“Britney has an electricity that connects with audiences on screen and off,” music attorney Lori Landew, who helped sign Spears to her first record deal, told Forbes, “and it is that intangible quality that always seems to leave her fans, old and new, breathless.”

Where does all the money come from?

In May, Spears inked a $15 million deal to judge “The X Factor.” She is also in talks tosign on for Season 3. As of May 2011, Spears’ “Curious” was one of the top-selling celebrity perfumes of all-time with more than 10 million bottles sold.

Spears, who suffered a very public breakdown in 2008, has certainly solidified her comeback. These days, she focuses on work and avoids the prying eye of the media. “I guess I’ve been under the microscope so long that I don’t even pay attention to the nonsense anymore,” she told Elle magazine for the October issue. ”I gave up getting upset about things people make up about me a long time ago.”

TUNE IN: Free Diabetes Podcast Inspired by Anne Hathaway  with guests: Neva White DNP, CRNP, CDE, Cheryl Marco CDE, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, author Dr. Beverly S. Adler,  Mama Rose Marie and Lorraine from Long Island, NY living with diabetes

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/12/11/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-anne-hathaway

Mr. Divabetic plays his nutrition game, Serve, Taste or Trash! in Central Park

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic rolls out the red tomato carpet at the 68th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in Tucson, AZ, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org 

This is What Anne Hathaway Is Willing to Expose

Anne Hathaway – Diva Inspiration

Divabetic’s December Diva Inspiration, Anne Hathaway isn’t afraid to expose how she feels about being nominated for a Golden Globe as best supporting actress for her role in Les Miserables.

“What a great way to wake up! I couldn’t be happier or more grateful for this news,” “Les Miserables” star and best supporting actress nominee Anne Hathaway said in a statement. “Congratulations to Hugh and everyone who worked on Les Miz for their contribution to the best picture nomination!!!”

In the film,  Anne Hathaway, broken and degraded as Fantine, forced to sell her teeth and her body to feed her child, sings, “I Dreamed a Dream.”  She lost a lot of weight and agreed to have her hair chopped off while filming. But was she sorry after committing to losing all of her hair on-screen?

“I did cut my hair and I’m only sorry when I spend time with Amanda Seyfried [who plays Fantine's grown-up daughter Cosette] whose hair is so beautiful. But I am not sorry. I offered Tom the option of cutting my hair. It was always something that I knew I would be willing to do for a character if it was right,” Hathaway revealed. “It’s such a devastating scene in the book, I thought doing it for real might raise the stakes a bit for a character. As an actor, it was great to be able to authentically communicate a physical transformation.”

Of course, we’ll all be tuning in to the Golden Globes just to see what Anne decides to ‘wear’ as well as what she might decide ‘not to wear’ on the red carpet.

TUNE IN: Free Diabetes Podcast Inspired by Anne Hathaway  with guests: Neva White DNP, CRNP, CDE, Cheryl Marco CDE, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, author Dr. Beverly S. Adler,  Mama Rose Marie and Lorraine from Long Island, NY living with diabetes

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/12/11/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-anne-hathaway

Mr. Divabetic plays his nutrition game, Serve, Taste or Trash! in Central Park

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic rolls out the red tomato carpet at the 68th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in Tucson, AZ, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org 

What’s Jessica Simpson’s Favorite ‘Cheat Day’ Food?

Jessica Simpson knows how to make the most of a cheat day.

The Weight Watchers spokeswoman – expecting baby no. 2 – went all-out at a December 2 birthday lunch for BFF CaCee Cobb, 35.

PHOTOS: Jessica’s first pregnancy

“Jessica ordered a grilled cheese sandwich with onion rings,” a fellow diner at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills tells Us Weekly.

As her friends toasted Cobb with cocktails, the mom to Maxwell, 7 months — who has yet to confirm her pregnancy — waved off her usual white sangria.

“Guess what?” she told her server, with a smile. “I’m drinking ginger ale!”

In anticipation of the baby’s arrival, Simpson, 32, and fiance Eric Johnson, 33, are in nesting mode: A source says they just made an offer on a house in L.A.’s luxe Hidden Hills!

Mr. Divabetic plays his nutrition game, Serve, Taste or Trash! in Central Park

TUNE IN: Free Diabetes Podcast Inspired by Anne Hathaway  with guests: Neva White DNP, CRNP, CDE, Cheryl Marco CDE, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, author Dr. Beverly S. Adler,  Mama Rose Marie and Lorraine from Long Island, NY living with diabetes

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/12/11/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-anne-hathaway

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic rolls out the red tomato carpet at the 68th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in Tucson, AZ, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org 

Is Beyoncé the Best Pepsi Spokesperson Ever?

Beyonce Baffles Us

Superstar Beyoncé has signed a partnership with Pepsi worth an estimated $50 million. The singer will appear in a new commercial for the brand and make other advertising appearances, while Pepsi will invest in her independent artistic ventures

Is Beyoncé Pepsi’s greatest spokesperson ever? The line-up of the past spokespersons include Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Janet Jackson, Christina Aguilera and  Joan Crawford, who was married to PepsiCo’s CEO back in the 1950s and was also a Pepsi advertising executive and part of the company’s board of directors.

Several bloggers have a problem with a celebrity, especially a new mom who is an idol for young people, promoting what we know to be one of the significant players in America’s obesity problem. Soda has been identified by numerous studies as unhealthy, and some even compare its pernicious effects to the hazards of cigarette smoking.

Mr. Divabetic plays his nutrition game, Serve, Taste or Trash! in Central Park

TUNE IN: Free Diabetes Podcast Inspired by Anne Hathaway  with guests: Neva White DNP, CRNP, CDE, Cheryl Marco CDE, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, author Dr. Beverly S. Adler,  Mama Rose Marie and Lorraine from Long Island, NY living with diabetes

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/12/11/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-anne-hathaway

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic rolls out the red tomato carpet at the 68th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in Tucson, AZ, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org