Farrah Abraham with daughter Sophia

These days Farrah Abraham is a pseudo reality television star with a cute as a button daughter and a figure to die for. She is often spotted parading around the beaches of Miami and she’s a staple in the celebrity weeklies, but there’s more to Abraham’s picture than what is skin deep or splashed throughout the celebrity weeklies.

Farrah Abraham is a young single mother trying to find her way without the father of her daughter and navigating a contentious relationship with her parents. In her recently released memoir, My Teenage Dream Ended, Abraham recounts the detailed story of falling in love with her high school sweetheart, Derek Underwood, watching it all fall to pieces, discovering she was pregnant (despite the use of birth control pills), and learning that the love of her life had been killed in a car crash while she was seven months pregnent with their daughter.

My Teenage Dream Ended chronicles the journey of a happy-go-lucky and popular teenage girl living in middle America who had to shift her life overnight with the overwhelming anxieties and uncertainties of teen pregnancy, teenage motherhood, a tumultuous homelife, the crushing loss of her child’s father and working to make ends meet and finish school for her daughter.

In her memoir, Abraham leaves nothing out as she admits to an unhealthy sex-fueled relationship with the late Derek Underwood (Sophia’s father), panic over an unplanned pregnancy, contemplating an abortion, the ultimate decision to have her baby, violent fights at home with her parents, working menial jobs to make ends meet, dealing with postpartum body issues, illicet drug use, and finally finding some peace and balance as a young single mother.

My Teenage Dream Ended by Farrah Abraham goes behind the glossy MTV footage, red carpet appearances and weekly magazine stories. The book uncovers, in Abraham’s own words, the everyday realities of being a single teen mom, and ultimately a young single adult mom. There is a lot more to Farrah’s story than we see from her tan complexion sparkling smile on television.

The book is brave, revealing, griddy, emotional and worth the read, whether you are a teenager dealing with similar issues or a thirty-something adult like me who loves a fearless memoir chock full of the details that most of us shy away from.

I recommend My Teenage Dream Ended by Farrah Abraham. Speaking as a parent, this memoir gives insight into the mind of a teenager and sheds light on the importance of open and constructive communication between adults and adolescents. It is also a story of overcoming devastating loss and picking up the pieces.

Kudos Farrah!

Heidi Klum and Seal to Divorce

We didn’t want to believe it at first, but alas, supermodel Heidi Klum and her husband of eight years, Seal, have officially announced their separation. Of all of the celebrity couples to split over the past year, this one came as a sucker punch to us. Seal and Heidi Klum always appeared to have a beautiful love story, topped off by four adorable children, Leni, Henry, Johan and little Lou. It seemed Heidi and Seal were continuously renewing their wedding vows, throwing lavish costume parties each Halloween. The couple also couldn’t stop recounting the story of how they met at the Mercer Hotel in New York when Heidi was already (gasp!) four months pregnent with little Leni from a previous relationship. Seal took on the couple’s first born child as his own, adopting Leni after her birth. Heidi even recently, legally changed her last name to Samual, Seal’s legal sir name.

Sure Heidi travels the globe promoting and filming her Project Runway franchise and Seal is currently on the road promoting his latest album, Soul 2, but these two should be used to juggling romance, family and hectic work schedules. So what exactly went wrong in Heidi Klum and Seal’s marriage?

Well, according to TMZ who usually does enough dumpster diving to actually get the real story, Heidi Klum has decided to divorce Seal, “largely because she has had it with his volcanic temper.” This is an interesting scoop, reason being, a few years back TMZ actually caught evidence of said temper with their video cameras when Seal and Heidi were waiting for the valet to bring their car around to the curb outside a Los Angeles restaurant. I happened to be flipping channels when I stopped and watched Seal’s less than graceful display of anger towards the paparazzi. Seal was shouting insults at a photographer, calling him names and declaring that he and his kind “ruin people’s lives” with their constant and unrelenting tabloid coverage. Heidi Klum was standing silent and looked embarrased by her hubby’s over the top display of disapproval towards the paps. When the famous couples’ car finally pulled up (an Audi convertable) Heidi quickly jumped into the driver’s seat, looking a bit upset, and Seal got into the passengers seat as the two sped off. We’re guessing an argument ensued back at casa Klum-Samuel.

Everyone knows the paprazzi are invasive and obnoxious but Seal played right into their camera-clad hands by throwing a temper tantrum in front of their video cameras, and no doubt, Heidi was peeved!

The TMZ story also goes on to blame Heidi’s exploding career for the rift that caused the separation. “She has become a mega-entrepreneur and extremely rich, and that professional evolution has created a distance between them,” according to TMZ. Money and success causes famous couple’s to “grow apart.” Kinda sad.

According to TMZ Heidi and Seal are still currently residing under the same roof, though that will change “very soon.”

Babies on Board for Kayte and Kelsey

In another publically crushing blow to Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, Camille Grammar, ex-husband Kelsey Grammar made a shocking public announcement backstage on Sunday night, after his Golden Globes win. Kelsey Grammar announced to the press room backstage at the Golden Globes ceremony that he and his new wife, Kayte Walsh, are expecting twins.

Grammar’s jilted ex-wife, Camille, had allegedly heard this startling news, along with her two children with Kelsey Grammar, at the same time as the rest of the world did, during Grammar’s backstage announcement at the Globes.

According to AOL HuffPost, Camille and her two children were not aware that Kelsey and his wife Kayte were expecting twins until they heard the news through the media, leaving his two children with Camille in total shock that they were not given a heads up by their famous father. A source tells HuffPost, “Camille and the children had no idea. They found out about it from the media. Once again, selfish Kelsey decided to do what’s best for him with no concern for his current children. He needs to stop talking about his private life in public. It’s very hurtful for the children he already has.”

On the flip side, a jubilent, Kelsey Grammar happily told backstage reporters this his new bride is “extraordinary.” Kelsey went on to say, “[Kayte is] one of the most loving, amazing, warm human beings I’ve ever met. She’s funny and serious all at the same time. She’s an amazing person and I think she’ll blow [the kids] away.”

As for Kelsey and ex-Camille, the two are still embroiled in a bitter custody dispute over the ex couples’ two young children. Kelsey took a digg at Camille recently when he told Pierce Morgan that pulling his Hollywood strings to get his ex-wife Camille a gig in the Real Housewives franchise was his “parting gift” to his allegedly attention-hungry ex-wife who he claims “always wanted to be famous.” During his appearance on Pierce Morgan Kelsey added that he felt Camille thought she was married to his iconic alter-ego, Frasier Crane, and not the real Kelsey, during their marriage. Ouch!

Is Kelsey making big announcements about his private life as a public relations ploy to promote his new show?

Hard Times

What exactly is going on with Heather Locklear? The past five years have not been kind to Heather Locklear. The former all-American golden girl has seen her fair share of grief and trouble since her separation and divorce from Bon Jovi guitarist, Richie Sambora, in 2007. Locklear watched in horror as her former friend, Denise Richards, and her ex-husband Richie Sambora fell for each other, creating a media feud of epic proportions, and straining her relationship with her rocker ex (also the father of Locklear’s daughter, Ava Sambora).

Rumors of drug and alcohol abuse followed, as well as a DUI after the actress was allegedly booked for driving under the influence of a controlled substance in Montecito, California. Things seemed to be looking up for Heather when she and her former Melrose Place co-star, Jack Wagner, began a longterm relationship, with Locklear’s daughter, Ava, giving her approval of the couple. Wagner and Locklear announced their engagement, but Locklear broke off her engagement to Jack Wagner a few months ago, ultimately ending that near-miss union.

Perhaps it was Denise Richards’ reunion with Richie Sambora that sent Heather Locklear over the edge once again, culminating in a panicked 911 call by Locklear’s sister. After paramedics arrived on the scene they determined that Locklear was indeed a threat to herself, and she was admitted into the hospital for observation, overnight.

According to Eonline.com, “The 50-year-old was taken from her home in Westlake Village to the facility after her sister placed a frantic 911 call saying she feared her famous sibling might harm herself. Paramedics responded and determined on sight that the actress did indeed require some medical evaluation.”

Now released and back home, Locklear’s family released a statement letting fans know “she is doing well,” and “is in no danger.”

Locklear is resting at her home with family. Her family also expressed that “they’re looking forward to her getting very, very well again and bringing her home.”

Debra Messing, New Age Separation?

According to E! News, Will & Grace star, Debra Messing and her husband, Daniel Zelman, quietly separated earlier this year, but have been residing under the same roof for the benefit of their seven year old son, Roman. Messing and Zelman met twenty years ago when both were students at NYU and have been together ever since. The couple got married in 2000 and had a son together, Roman, 7, four years later.

According to the report by E! News, “They have been a couple for 20 years, and the nature of their relationship simply changed over time.”

In a joint statement from their publicist, the couple explained that they will live under the same roof, both sharing a home with their son, temporarily and will slowly ease their son into a new living arrangement.

It’s refreshing to see that this couple is putting the emotional well being of their son above their own immediate desire to move on, physically.

This news story was brought to you by Allison Dawn PR

JLo's Battle for Custody of Twins

Original August 2011 reports announcing Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony’s divorce insisted that the pair had come to amicable agreements on all aspects of their split, including a fully ironed out custody arrangement which would grant JLo full custody of the pair’s twins, Max and Emme, 3.

All of that changed when Marc Anthony caught a glimpse of his soon-to-be ex-wife frolicking on the beach in Hawaii with her new fling, 24 year old back up dancer, Casper Smart. To add insult to injury for Marc Anthony, there were even paparazzi photos snapped of Casper Smart twirling and flipping around Lopez and Anthony’s daughter, Emme. According to the new issue of US Weekly Magazine, on newsstands now, Marc Anthony hit the roof when he saw these photos of Smart with his kids, and he is even more disturbed by Smart’s less than stellar driving record (Casper Smart has had scrapes with the law that include illegal drag racing and driving with a suspended license).

Now the Latin crooner is prepared to go to battle with JLo for joint custody of Max and Emme, and he feels he is justified in renegging on their original custody arrangement.

While an article on AOL Music claims that an “insider’ insisted “[Marc] wants to make Jennifer suffer because she’s having fun with someone new, and he knows this will hurt her on the deepest level.” Other sources claim what seems much more obvious and logical, that Anthony has serious doubts about Jennifer Lopez’s parental judgement, and he is genuinely concerned for the well being of his twins.

The new US Weekly article asserts, “J.Lo is worried how the custody battle could effect the twins negatively. [She's] ready to smash him if he tries anything. It’s getting vicious.”

Good parenting aside, many feel that Jennifer Lopez’s involvement with a back up dancer who is half her age, and her judgement in bringing him around her two kids, is having a negative affect on her newly crafted image as the comeback diva. There has been a major online backlash with reader comments that paint Lopez as immature, unwise and foolish. Do you think Jennifer’s open relationship with 24 year old Casper Smart is hurting her public relations efforts and her image?

After 10 years of marriage and multiple incidence of alleged adultery on Kobe Bryant’s part, Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Laine Bryant, has finally filed for divorce from the LA Lakers great, citing “Irreconcilable Differences.” Married when Vanessa Laine Bryant was only 18, Vanessa’s marriage to Kobe Bryant was frought with some controversy from the start, when Kobe’s parents boycotted the young couples’ wedding, because they were young, and reportedly because Vanessa Laine Bryant was not African American (Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, is half Irish and half Mexican).

In 2003 Kobe Bryant was charged with the rape of a Colorado hotel employee, which he vehemently denied, though he did admit to adultery. At the time, Kobe’s wife Vanessa stood by her seemingly repentant husband at a famous 2003 press conference. Vanessa also put out a public statement on the incident, stating, “I know that my husband has made a mistake, the mistake of adultery. He and I will have to deal with that within our marriage, and we will do so.”

At the time, a desperate Kobe Bryant infamously bought his wife a $4 million ring, and many cynics wondered what Vanessa Bryant’s true intentions were in remaining in the marriage. It is documented that in 2000, when Vanessa’s parents filed for bankruptcy, Kobe Bryant gifted Vanessa’s parents with $500,000 to get the couple back on their feet, financially.

During the couple’s ten year marriage, they had two daughters, Natalia Diamante Bryant, who was born the same year that Kobe’s rape charge surfaced, and Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, born in 2006. But with rumors of infidelity swirling around Kobe Bryant for years, at some point enough was enough for his wife, Vanessa.

According to a TMZ investigation, “[Kobe Bryant] cheated multiple times with multiple partners on his wife of more than a decade, events that led to Vanessa Bryant’s surprise divorce filing in an Orange County, Calif. court Friday, [December 16, 2011].”

According to the same TMZ story, Kobe’s wife Vanessa was aware of multiple affairs over the years with multiple women, but it was Kobe Bryant’s most recent sexual indescretion that finally pushed Kobe’s wife Vanessa to file for divorce. According to multiple reports, Vanessa is still very much in love with Kobe Bryant, but, “can’t stand his infidelities anymore.” Apparentely she hung in there for years and tried to turn a blind eye, as Kobe Bryant did as he pleased.

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant do not have a prenuptial agreemment, and in light of Kobe Bryant’s multiple infidelities, Vanessa Laine Bryant is likely to get half of Kobe’s financial empire, and this story will grow legs as we can assume women will begin to come out of the woodwork to make their status as Kobe Bryant’s other women, known.

The Bryant’s joint plea for “privacy” will not be granted by the media anytime soon.

separate lives?

According to the new issue of Star Magazine, on newsstands now, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have been secretly separated for months, and unable to work through their issues, will file for divorce.

When news broke last month that Will and Jada were at the breaking point and Jada had a wondering eye for Marc Anthony, the couple vehemently denied any trouble in their marriage, claiming that accusations of infidelity were absurd and untrue. With the cancellation of Jada Pinkett’s Smith’s television show, HawthoRNe (in which she co-starred with Marc Anthony) and the stress that launching their childrens’ film careers has put on their marriage, things allegedly began to unravel.

Jada Pinkett Smith, herself, admits to some serious on-set tension when the Smith family was in Beijing, China filming their son Jaden’s star-turn in the remake of The Karate Kid. Pinkett-Smith recalled an intense argument that took place between her and Will when their son Jaden was exhausted with a fever during filming. Will wanted Jaden to keep shooting for the day and Jada wanted her overworked son to go get some rest. Will Smith’s relentless, perfectionist attitude has been well documented, even by the movie star, himself.

Now, in this week’s Star Magazine cover story, sources close to the couple insist that Will and Jada have been sleeping in separate bedrooms for months, and things really came to a head when Will walked out on Jada recently after a blow-up fight that has become commonplace in the Smith household.

One insider states, “Will and Jada are finished. They’re still keeping up appearances because they worry divorce could hurt their careers.” Indeed, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have been married for 14 years (practically a golden anniversary by Hollywood standards) and in many circles, particularly among the African American community, Will and Jada are Hollywood’s golden couple. The announcement of Will and Jada’s divorce would be devastating to the public, and especially to Will and Jada’s fans.

The Star Magazine article also describes the A-list pair as “putting on a good front” in public, but “fighting like cats and dogs” behind closed doors with Will allegedly barely speaking to Jada.

Do you think Will and Jada’s marriage can be saved, or is it too little too late?

By Marni Galison, President of Sunday at Noon Matchmaking Service

In the midst of the current holiday shopping season there are hoards of fabulous single women across the country heading to Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, and so on, to do their holiday shopping. Many are thinking: “Wouldn’t this golf shirt make a perfect gift, or this shaving kit, or this device from The Sharper Image (though I have no clue what it does)?” But, alas, these holiday gifts get left on the shelves as all of these wonderful unattached women continue their holiday shopping for Aunt Myrna’s favorite perfume or cousin Carrie’s hat and scarf set. While the joy of spending time with family members during the holiday season is certainly fulfilling, for some of our lovely holiday shoppers, a sense of frustration looms this time of year as they hear their friends recounting what adorable holiday gifts they purchased for their significant others, or where their boyfriends are taking them for New Year’s Eve; or even more bittersweet, announcing their engagements.

As a professional matchmaker, I know hundreds of quality single women who are so ready to meet the right partner but feel extremely frustrated that he has not come along yet. But maybe, just maybe, he has come along and they just didn’t recognize him? And so this holiday season I would like to offer one piece of advice that, if followed, might very well lead to holiday shopping for that special someone when next December rolls around: adopt the two date rule.

If you are single (and want to change that status), I urge you to make just one New Year’s resolution for 2012: adopt the “two date rule” for any and every quality guy who you had a nice time with, even if you didn’t feel that instant attraction. Even if you wish he were a little funnier, a little edgier, a little chattier, a little taller … you get the point. I am not saying enforce this rule for every date. If the guy is slovenly, rude to wait-staff, or completely inconsiderate then you’re off the hook. But if you actually had a nice time but just didn’t feel those “fireworks” on date #1, why not get to know Mister Nice Guy just a little bit more instead of immediately writing him off? On a second date, people are less nervous, and are more comfortable opening up and showing what they are really about. You might not feel any differently after date two, but at least you know that you gave the guy a chance and will have made your decision based on more reliable information (and think about how many undeserving guys you have granted far more than just two dates!).

Of course, I know some readers are thinking: “I’m not going on a second date with someone I am not attracted to because I’m not looking to waste my time or anyone else’s.” But if the issue is investment of time and you are at a point where you are sincerely looking to find a true life partner and have a family, what do you have to lose by investing another hour or two to see if this quality person has potential? As a matchmaker I have this conversation with my clients on occasion and it goes something like this: “He was a really nice guy, obviously smart, great job, loves his family, but there were just no fireworks. I don’t think it is worth a second date.”

Some clients will assert that they are very decisive, know the type of guy they connect with and don’t need two dates to gather additional information. Thus, if they don’t feel an instant attraction, they are convinced that the guy is “not their type.” Sometimes I am inclined to defer to new clients after I hear this, as it sounds logical, and, after all, they know themselves best. But then I inevitably go back to the same questions – what does it mean to say you didn’t feel “fireworks?”

Were you lacking that “where have you been all of my life? You seem perfect!” feeling? Or a “I just can’t wait to rip all of your clothes off!” sensation? Do either of these feelings represent true chemistry and compatibility, or simply infatuation and lust? I ask my readers to think of all the times they felt those “fireworks” on date #1. Maybe it led to date two or three and then you learned that the guy was a jerk, a player, or maybe he no longer felt fireworks with you. We have all experienced the guy who was sending flowers after date one, inviting himself to family functions after date two, only to disappear after date three. Ok, maybe the fireworks on date #1 led to a two year relationship that was great in the beginning but just felt wrong over time. Clearly, in the foregoing circumstances the first date fireworks did not equate to a sign from the universe that you had found Mr. Right.

I am not discounting initial instincts when it comes to dating, but rather, encouraging people not think that anything short of a Hollywood storyline means that a great guy is not “the one.” As a matchmaker, I have seen too much not to advocate for the “two date rule.” In fact, there is a great book that would convert any woman to the “two date rule” called, He’s Just Not Your Type (And That’s A Good Thing) by Andrea Syrtash.

Recently, I heard on a television program that research of married couples showed that many of the men polled knew on the first date that they wanted to marry their wives, whereas it took the women at least six dates to arrive at the same conclusion about their husbands. Perhaps there is some flexibility in this statistic, but the general premise is telling. Most of the time, when women return from a first date gushing about instant fireworks, proclaiming that they can’t stop thinking about the guy and that they are envisioning their wedding day, that spells trouble! Single women who are looking for love will very often feel this instant attraction and run with it, going all in, before really getting to know the person and what they’re about.

We all know that fireworks make for a great show but tend to end with a loud bang and leave you with nothing but smoke. A small ember that builds into a great fire is a beautiful way for a lasting love affair to grow and thrive. So why not let yourself be pleasantly surprised with a flame that builds steadily over time? After all, the holiday season is a magical time of year and with an open mind and heart, truly anything is possible.

Marni Galison is a successful Manhattan-based matchmaker who interacts with countless single professionals across the country. As the founder and CEO of Sunday at Noon, a personalized matchmaking and upscale events company, Marni brings a fun, informative and thought provoking touch to her matchmaking. Marni is also the host of the weekly radio program, “Love in the the Afternoon with Marni Galison” and the well-regarded Sunday at Noon Blog. For more information, please visit: www.sundayatnoon.com

This story is brought to you by Allison Dawn PR