GARDENING: Spring at Rogers Gardens, Newport Beach

Rogers Gardens, located in Newport Beach, California is a high end nursery with an extensive gift shop (see last post)
With gray skies and a winter storm threatening,
we took an hour or two before the rain came to wander through the gardens


enjoying a glimpse of spring - coming soon Rogers Gardens has extensive grounds .  It's meandering paths lead to plant specific areas, bordered by mature Source URL: http://costumesgirl.blogspot.com/2011/03/
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Casey Abrams was saved

If you want to see Casey Abrams live on Tour, get your American Idols Live tickets for the 2011 tour now!



Casey Abrams and Ryan Seacrest after the Judge's save

All three judges Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez unanimously agreed that Casey Abrams, the contestant who received the least number of votes after the top 11 performance night deserved to be saved and given a chance to sing another week. Casey shared the bottom three with fellow contestants, Thia Megia and Stefano Langone. Online American Idol expert were predicting an Haley Reinhart elimination I guess they got it completely wrong this time and it's for the better because I still don't understand why so many people on the internet dislike her and even the judges give her a hard time. These same experts however correctly predicted that Thia and Stefano would both be in the bottom three.




Now you see why some people think he's scary

Casey Abrams has had health issued that caused him to be hospitalized not once but twice during the season, he even missed a show. Casey is also known for being called "sexy" by Jennifer Lopez and for his growling!

Casey Abrams suffers from ulcerative colitis. Many idol fans seem to dislike Casey because of his appearance, he has a seemingly unkept beard.

While I don't agree with the judges I can understand the appeal for Casey.Source URL: http://costumesgirl.blogspot.com/2011/03/
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FLORAL DESIGN: Rogers Gardens, Newport Beach

Rogers Gardens held their Spring event and the kick off of their wedding and floral studio this past weekend.
For you who are not familiar with South Orange County, Rogers Gardens is a high-end nursery and gift shop located near Fashion Island in Newport Beach, California.  The grounds are beautiful with mature plantings and pristine specimens for sale.

  The gift shop is as you would expect a Source URL: http://costumesgirl.blogspot.com/2011/03/
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Cirque du Soleil with Carly Smithson

Is it me or was that Carly Smithson in the audience on the top 12 night and Ryan Seacrest did not even acknowledge her. It seems to me that Ryan Seacrest totally snubbed Carly Smithson that night.





Carly Smithson was a contestant on American Idol season 7, she finished in 6th position.

In an interview last year Carly said that she not only keeps in touch with other season 7 contestants but she also regularly meets with Brooke White for lunch, they are best friends now. She even went to one of David Cook's concerts in Palm Springs and went on stage with him to sing Barracuda.


We Are the Fallen and Cirque du Soleil
A year after appearing on the show Carly joined Evanescence co-founder Ben Moody with John LeCompt and rock Gray to form the band "We Are the Fallen". They released their first album "Tear the World Down" in May 2010. The album includes the song "Bury Me Alive" that Carly co-wrote.



Last December Carly Smithson joined the Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, as a singer. She is still a member of her band, We Are The Fallen but only works with the group when the Cirque does not have performances. They are already working on their next album.

Watch the Bury Me Alive video by We Are the Fallen

Photo Credits Douglas Sonders and FoxSource URL: http://costumesgirl.blogspot.com/2011/03/
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Stefano Langone Bio

If you want to see Stefano Langone live on Tour, get your American Idols Live tickets for the 2011 tour now!

Stefano Langone is a 21 year old pianist who auditioned in San Francisco for American Idol season 10. The judges were unanimous in sending him to Hollywood. He made it to the top 24 but was unable to secure a spot in the top 10. Luckily the judges chose him a a group of other contestants who didn't make it to the top 10 to sing for a chance to be a while card pick. Three were selected, Naima Adedapo, Ashton Johson and Stefano Langone.




Stefano Langone was in a near-fatal car accident. When the firefighter found him he first thought that Langone was dead.

Like Jennifer Lopez I think Stefano has star quality, the only thing I have against him is the fact that he does not look right into the camera the way Paul McDonald does.


The DUI scandal
In 2010 Stefano Langone was arrested for a DUI. He was caught by a Washington State Patrol Trooper while speeding and changing lanes without signaling. Langone subsequently failed standard field sobriety tests and a breath test. Stefano was then arrested and taken into custody.




His DUI is even more scandalous when you consider the fact that during his audition Stefano told an inspiring story about how he almost lost his life in a car crash caused by a drunk driver the year before. That accident left Stefano with several fractures.

Watch Stefano's San Francisco audition, he's singing "I Heard it through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye.
Source URL: http://costumesgirl.blogspot.com/2011/03/
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Karen Rodriguez Bio

After being in the bottom three twice Karen Rodriguez was sent home on American Idol top 12 result night. Other bottom 3 dwellers were Naima Adedapo and Haley Reinhart. Once again the judges decided not to use their save to keep her on the show after Karen sang for her life and begged them for another chance. But her rendition of Hero by Mariah Carey just wasn't enough. Karen Rodriguez is a 21 year old student from New York.




Karen Rodriguez initially auditioned for American Idol season 10 on MySpace then she came to Los Angeles to audition for the Judges for a chance to make it to Hollywood. She blew them away and received a gold ticket.

She wanted to be the first Latina American Idol. Selena is her idol and she sang her songs in the competition. Personally I did not enjoy her Spanglish version of songs. Do not get me wrong I like latin music and there are a number of latino singers among my favorite artists but it is American Idol and most people probably don't understand what she's saying when she's singing in Spanish.

Karen is very talented as all her fellow top 12 contestants are but at this stage in the competition talent is not enough, she really needed to wow the audience and the judges in order to stay unfortunately she has failed to do that.

In her MySpace audition she sang "You Give Good Love" by Whitney Houston.

Watch Karen Rodriguez' audition video below


Watch Karen Rodriguez sing Hero in this video


Photo from Getty Images.Source URL: http://costumesgirl.blogspot.com/2011/03/
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HOME DECOR: My Happy Place

Design makes me happy.Can't help it, just does.
I have an archive of photosbecause a picture is worth 1,000 wordsand its easier to show people what you meanthan try to describe it
So, while I was thumbing through photosI found a few that took me straight to my happy placefor various reasons
just had to share a few with you
I'm happy whenever I have photos of family and familiar places around Source URL: http://costumesgirl.blogspot.com/2011/03/
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Scott Dangerfield might be back for season 11

That is unless he tries out for X-Factor instead...

In the mean time, and according to TMZ,



Scott Dangerfield decided to quit the show because he had obligations to his students. Remember, Scott Dangerfield is a student teacher. He told TMz "The kids are depending on me".

During his auditon the judges were impressed by him and for the viewers he will be remembered as the guy caught with lipstick on his lips and admitted to kissing a girl while in the audition line.

Here is the video of Scott Dangerfield in season 10
Source URL: http://costumesgirl.blogspot.com/2011/03/
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Casey Abrams - American Idol Season 10 Top 13

Casey Abrams was at the hospital during the Top 13 election results. Thankfully for him he was safe which should bring him comfort while he is suffering from severe stomach pains again. Casey was hospitalized once before while on the show, right before the guys Top 12 performance. He received a blood transfusion and made it back in time to perform an secure his spot on the top 10. Casey Abrams is 20 years old and a very talented musician.



Watch Casey's Top 13 performance video, he sand With a Little Help from my Friends, the Joe Croker version


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Pia Toscano - American Idol Season 10 Top 13

Pia Toscano is a 22 year old makeup artist from Queens, New York. She had tried out for American Idol previously, in season 6 when she made it all the way to the top 40 before being cut, and then again for season 7. After her performance in the top 13 some believe she has successfully positioned herself as a contender for season 10. Even Adam Lambert, the runner up for season 8 is a fan.



Watch the video of Pia Toscano singing All By Myself by Celine Dion.


Photo from starcasm.netSource URL: http://costumesgirl.blogspot.com/2011/03/
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Thia Megia - American Idol Season 10 Top 13

If you want to see Thia Megia live on Tour, get your American Idols Live tickets for the 2011 tour now!

Thia Megia is one of the youngest contestants to make it to the top 13 this season. She was a quarter finalist on the season 4 of America's Got Talent. She's a 16 year old Pinay - Philippino girl- from California. She sang "Smile" by Michael Jackson, on the top 13 performance show.




Watch Thia Megia's version of Smile in the video below


Photo from FoxSource URL: http://costumesgirl.blogspot.com/2011/03/
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Ashton Jones - American Idol Season 10 Top 13

Ashton Jones is a 24 year old Gospel, Soul and R&B singer from Nashville, who made it to the top 13 on American Idol season 10.



After the top 24 performance she did not make it to the top 10. She had to sing for a chance to be a wild card pick. It worked as she made it to the top 13 as a wild card. On the top 13 performance night Ashton sang When You Tell Me That You Love Me by Diana Ross. Many fans of the show think that Ashton should not have gotten that spot has other singers, in their opinion, were better. Ashton Jones won the Best R&B Female for Hip Hop in the Ville Awards in 2009, in Nashville. Ashton has already released an album,"Introducing Ashton Jones".

Watch Ashton Jones' top 13 performance, When You Tell Me That You Love Me.



Photo from examiner.comSource URL: http://costumesgirl.blogspot.com/2011/03/
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WALL COLOR: VALSPAR 'POWER IN COLOR' GIVEAWAY

You may have seen her on HGTV's "Ask Genevieve". I remember her on Trading Spaces - way back when she first started with that design network.



Genevieve Gorder

I just received this information that I thought I'd pass on to my readers - from Valspar Paint

GENEVIEVE GORDER SAYS “SPRING FORWARD!” WITH THE VALSPAR ‘POWER IN COLOR’ GIVEAWAY: THOUSANDS OF PAINT SAMPLES OFFERED FOR FREE


Gorder Source URL: http://costumesgirl.blogspot.com/2011/03/
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HOME DECOR: The Power of a Rug

A CHANGE IS GOOD
I recently took advantage of a Pottery Barn sale and changed out my old, tired 8x10 patterned rug for a tightly woven solid colored jute rug of the same size. 

It was a new look for the room and gave it new life.  My husband is still getting used to it - keeps asking me if I love it - I assure him I do. 

Change comes slowly for men like my husband, but he has learned to trustSource URL: http://costumesgirl.blogspot.com/2011/03/
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