I Love You Like Un Hermano

It was another roller coaster ride on Bethenny Ever After this week. Again, this is NOT a recap blog, this is an OPINION-based blog. Meaning, I give you MY opinions based on this episode and also take into consideration the entire season. I stand by my opinions, so if you're not cool with that, you might as well stop reading right now. If you are cool with this, you're awesome, so keep reading.

Bethenny, Jason, Brynn, and the Skinnygirl crew goes to Mexico. The trip had its ups and downs, to say the least, so let's discuss.

Ups: 
Brynn. She's a doll, a dream, and a darling little baby girl. So cute.

Hilarious couples massage. The motorboat at the end made everyone's day!

Hermano on the beach trying to scam Bethenny, and her not falling for it at all.

Skinnygirl's gift to Bethenny. That book was so sweet.

Jason's gift to Bethenny. That necklace is EVERYTHING!!!

Jason and Bethenny having quiet, sweet moments together. These are the moments where we see that their love is still strong. Gives us hope that their gonna be ok.

Mariachi birthday dinner. I want that for my birthday every year from now on.

Downs:
Fighting in front of your glammy. Never a good look.

Fighting over lunch. Then fighting over dinner. Really, all the fighting all over the place.

Sidebar: I don't know what it is that's keeping these two from moving forward, but it's really starting to bother me. Bethenny and Jason really need to get on the same page. And fast.

I'm worried sick about next week. The fighting is not over! What did you think of this episode? Tweet me!

I Love Gina

On Monday's Bethenny Ever After, Gina made an appearance, but it was too short if you ask me. Gina brought the laughs, but she also allowed Bethenny to break down and cry, to be real for just a second, and admit that she's not okay. I wish Gina could be on every episode.

The episode had some lighter moments, but things are not okay at this point in the season.

Bethenny and Jason can't seem to find a comfortable balance between their marriage and Skinnygirl. It's a shame, really, because they would be unstoppable together in the business world. But, did Jason sign up to be a business partner? Probably not. In a perfect world, the marriage and the business would totally coincide. This is not a perfect world. I am still very worried about Jason and Bethenny's marriage, and the previews for next week episode don't make me feel any better about it.

I cried right along with Bethenny in the therapy scene. Not because we're in the same place or situation by any means. But because no matter what you do or how much money you make, if you feel like you're always the bad guy, it breaks you down. If you're always the one to be blamed for everything because you're not the person you're supposed to be, it gets exhausting. Bethenny isn't who Jason wants her to be at this point. This is what scares me. This is also what I relate to, not in a relationship, but in life. There are expectations out there that I can never seem to achieve. This is why I cried watching this scene.

Have any of you ever felt this way? Tweet me!

See You Later, Julie!

Sorry for the late blogs this week, I've been a little under the weather and stressed, which I might blog about as well, just to get it out of my head and into the universe. Hopefully it won't be as depressing as it sounds. Anyway, I loved this week's Bethenny Ever After. It gave us some classic Bethenny moments and one big Julie moment I'm sure we're all still recovering from.

First of all, how much do I love the Dry Bar even though I've never stepped foot in one? I really wanted to go when I was in New York in December, but majority ruled in my group, so we didn't get to go. I'm still so bummed about that. I think it's a great idea and an awesome place. I'm definitely going the next chance I get. The Skinnygirl is such a great fit with Dry Bar's fun and flirty atmosphere.

Julie decides to move back to Pittsburgh, which threw me for a loop because as of Monday morning, her Twitter account said she still worked for Bethenny. Sneaky Julie! Now, of course, it says she's in "the 'burgh". I'm assuming that's local jargon. I think it's the best decision for her. She's given three years to an amazing company, she's learned a lot, and she's trained not one, but two, replacements. I say she's good to go. I don't think it'll be the last Skinnygirl sees of her by a long shot, though. I have a feeling Julie will come back in some bigger capacity later on. Just my opinion.

I totally understand why Bethenny was so emotional talking about Julie leaving at therapy. For a while there, Bethenny was really struggling and Julie was always there to tell her how much she believed in her. The story of how they met and started working together is really touching. And I know they'll remain friends for life. In addition to Julie being Brynn's Godmother, I mean.

Now, let's discuss the Nutrition Guy. I can't remember his name but - hello, Hottie! He is so cute ...

One of the funniest moments was Bethenny in the high-end antiques place. That would have been my exact reaction. Holy sh*tballs. I can't see spending $70,000 on a piece of furniture ever. Unless, of course, it comes with some amazing accessories like an invitation to Cher's house or a guest pass into the Watch What Happens Live clubhouse or something to that effect. And not just a one time invite, either, like an ongoing, season ticket holder type pass good for the next twelve months or something. But I digress. It is funny to see how people automatically think Bethenny wants to shell out buku bucks for stuff that's supposed to be in her price range now. Just because she's made a ton of money doesn't mean it's ok in her mind to spend so much on furniture. Especially, like Jason said, when they have a small child and may have more children. I think it's better to wait and buy the fancy stuff in a few years when they have a better idea of what their new home is going to feel like. But I'm sure the designers disagree with me.

The Skinnygirl Shapewear shoot looked like a lot of fun and I love that Bethenny included her crew. They're all different sizes and shapes and it really shows off the versatility and wearability of the shapewear. I really want to try the tops. I need no help in the booty area, thank you very much.

Next week, Gina is back!! And I can't wait!

What did you think of this episode? Tweet me!

Take That, Haters

This week's Bethenny Ever After was full of really important lessons. Like, don't pick the wrong toilet seat. Just kidding, there were some real gems, for real. And who knew bloggers were such a pain in the ass. Oh, wait ... Anyway, let's get into the episode, shall we?

The first lesson: success equals haters, but money equals even more haters. And it's not just fame we're talking about. Bethenny learns that when people know you have money, like serious Forbes-cover money, they can't wait to crush you. However, that's when your true fans and supporters come out in your defense. It's a tug of war and it has to be both frustrating and exhausting. This makes me wonder if I really want the success I think I want. Could I deal with all the hate being thrown at me? Could you?

Dwayne the Driver (aka @DtheDriver) gives our girl Bethenny some sound advice while driving to the toilet store. With each "Ma" that he throws out, he's letting her know that the only reason people are hating on her is because she's doing something special. Amen.

Next lesson: Always give your blogs a sweet ending, a la food blogger, Nick. Nick is looking very trim and slim these days! I love that Bethenny's reference to her book went right over his head. Nick is an amazing writer, and per his Twitter, he's studying improv. I love it. Check out his blog here.

Lesson number three: Cuss during therapy. Bethenny lets some "F" bombs loose in Dr. Amador's office regarding a certain "tow f***" who decided to tell the media the whole boat fiasco was a fake. Like I said last week, if that was a fake, they all deserve Emmys. That sh*t looked real to me. Anyway, Bethenny gets into why she has to keep her plate not just full, but overflowing, and she admits it's because she struggled before. She went through the anxiety of not having anything, so now that she has all this success, she wants to keep doing more and more and more before it goes away. Wouldn't you want to do as much as you could with that much success, too?

Fourth lesson: Bloggers are wrong sometimes. I want to say it was Perez Hilton who had to recant some of his posts about the Forbes cover and how much Skinnygirl actually sold for. But, let's be honest, there were a lot of bloggers running the same story around that time. I'm just glad Bethenny was able to clear her name and maintain her credibility, both of which are super important to her and her fans. And the dinner scene with Bethenny and Jason basking in the glow of being vindicated was so cute. Jason with his scruffy beard telling Bethenny to lose the jacket was priceless.

Lesson number five: Demolition is fun and a stress reliever!

Final lesson of the episode: Doing baby talk in front of anyone outside your circle is not a good look. Ellen straight clowned on Bethenny (in a hilarious and all-in-good-fun way) for trying to make her adorable daughter say "All the boats". Bethenny and Ellen are so much fun together, I can see why they wanted to do business together as well. And I can't wait for Bethenny's talk show.

Next week, Julie makes a "life decision". She still works for Bethenny, so what could it be?

What did you think of this episode? Tweet me!

Self Defense

This week's Bethenny Ever After brought us back to some happier moments - on land! - and also gave us some major mama drama.

First, just to get this out of the way, Bethenny's mother needs to stop. That is all.

Bethenny and Jason work out a few issues in this episode and manage to do so with smiles and laughter, which makes me so happy. The first, their sex life or lack thereof and the correlation that has with their respective bite guards. I love these two when they're being silly. Bite guards, retainers, whatever. Keep that romance alive! Second, the man cave vs the closet. I find it hilarious that the architects and designers all agree the space needs to be used in such a way that it's beneficial for both Bethenny and Jason, but all Jason hears is "no man cave". But, in the end, with some compromising on both parts, (it's not a crime to have a tv in the living room), they both get what they want. Does anyone know if the renovation is done yet?

The funniest scenes are those that feature Team Skinnygirl, of course. You got girls' night our, which I loved,  the self defense class, which was hilarious. And by the way, I'm scared of Dawa now. Then, we have baby CPR - and my new Twitter buddy, Dwayne (@DtheDriver) talking about his kids. Four? Five? It's all good. We know what you mean. And finally, roller skating in the new apartment. How much more fun could you have at work? Awesome!

Speaking of roller skating, I love that Bethenny's best memory is being carefree and soaring over the roller rink floor. Isn't that the best feeling? And she's good at it, too. Of course, she doesn't have many good memories to choose from, but the fact that she's turned all those negative things, which could have kept her down, into this great adventure, is really inspiring.

What did you think of this episode? Tweet me!

My Ship Has Sailed

We finally got to see the infamous boat trip from hell on this week's Bethenny Ever After. It was pretty rough, but I'm glad to see Jason and Bethenny got through it without ripping each other to pieces. The episode picked up where we left off last week, Jason walks away from the dock in a huff after a verbal argument with Bethenny. She says she's going on the trip with or without him and asks him what he's going to do. He gets on the helicopter and I think that was the best decision he could have made. Can you imagine how bad it would have been if he hadn't went on the trip? Regardless of whether the boat would've gone off course or not, it would have symbolized that he's really not invested - or that when things get tough, he can't handle it.

Thankfully, while on the boat, Jason gets some one on one with Dr. Amador, and some revelations actually do happen. Like when Jason says he likes to push Bethenny's buttons because he loves her, Amador quickly replies that that's not why he pushes her buttons at all. He pushes her buttons because he's hurt about something and it's the easiest way to make it known. Very true.

Jason then gets sea sick and can't make dinner for the group as planned. Bethenny steps in and cooks the dinner while checking on Jason frequently. I think Bethenny behaved herself and was really patient with Jason. She didn't snap at him, although one under-the-breath comment did slip out at one point. But hey, she's not a saint, people.

Then, the real trouble starts when the trip is an hour behind schedule and Amador breaks the news that the GPS is broken. Really?! The other couple on the trip is asleep, since they were sleeping in shifts, so Jason and Bethenny are the lucky ones who get to be awake during this crisis. Amador, of course, is completely calm. I loved how Bethenny and Jason were able to discuss some of their issues while this is all going on.

The boat analogy really does apply to not only marriage, but relationships of all kinds. If you focus on the tiny problem right in front of you, you may miss the huge, beautiful bigger picture all around you.

Finally, after many, many hours of waiting, the towing boat arrives. Now this is the next day. Like, there's sunshine and it's not like early morning sunshine. We're talking noon, at least. Once everyone is off the boat, the lessons start to really sink in. Bethenny and Jason look happy to be on dry land - back with Brynn - and you can almost see them look at each other differently.

Let's hope Amador comes through on those discounts for upcoming therapy sessions.

Now, if this was fake, they should all get an Emmy, a Tony, and an Oscar, because it all seemed real to me. Even Amador walking in on Bethenny peeing. Who hasn't had that happen to them? It's horrible!

What did you think of this episode? Tweet me!

Just Talk About It

Bethenny Ever After picks up right where the drama left off last week. There is so much going on - the renovation is still underway, with the contractor butting heads with the design team, Bethenny butting heads with Jason, and Julie having a moment. Oh, and Bethenny's planning the boat trip with the therapist, since Jason apparently finally agreed to go.

The helicopter scene was no friggin' joke. The entire episode was basically leading up to that fight on the tarmac. Here's what I think went down: the birthday weekend Bethenny planned for Jason was amazing. He loved it, and then, suddenly, he didn't. Because his parents weren't there. However, Bethenny states she made it so that Jason would have a couple of days with his parents before the big weekend. Somewhere along the line, someone (his mom? or dad) put a bug in his ear that they should have been at the actual birthday festivities. Long story short, Jason was no longer happy with the arrangements. Ok. I would have probably blown a gasket. We have to remember Bethenny is not a big family get together person, and she doesn't feel the need to have family around all the time. That's why she can go two months without seeing her in-laws and it doesn't phase her. It's not that she doesn't like them, she just doesn't need to be around them all the time. Jason should have clearly stated what he wanted for his birthday and made it happen. Bethenny should have just assisted in making his birthday exactly what he wanted. Period. No more surprises, no more getaways. You get what you get and that's it. 

But of course, it's not about the birthday itself. As they say, it's never about what it's about. The tension was already there, the birthday was just the occasion that brought it out in the open. Jason seems to be frustrated and not exactly thrilled about being merely a consultant on the Skinnygirl brand and the apartment renovation. He wants his career back. And who can blame him? However, after being SO supportive in the beginning, it is a little disappointing that he would just now realize he wants to be more than just Bethenny's husband. And we all know he's so much more than that. He's a successful guy in his own right. I just don't understand why he's being so passive aggressive in some of these scenes. I say, pull back from Skinnygirl and do your own thing. 

The fight before the boat trip is intense. I hate the fact that Bethenny brings it up as their waiting to go on this workshop designed to help them work out their issues. But I have been there. You feel something, you try to hold it in, and the next thing you know, the words are coming out of your mouth. And then, it's out there. You can't take it back. So, she asks for an apology for some pretty hurtful comments from Jason ("you're going to end up alone" - yeah, that one deserves some kind of apology), and she doesn't get one. They have a brief moment of maybe getting it resolved and Bethenny says she does have a problem with people thinking Jason is the perfect husband (because NO ONE is perfect), and Jason says he's done and bolts. We know he comes back because somehow he ends up on the boat with her, but in that moment, he's left. Just like everyone else in her life. It's hard not to think that Bethenny's just repeated the cycle of pushing people away or having people leave her when she needs them the most. 

What I took away from this exchange is that there is no point in trying to communicate with someone who has already shut down completely. Jason was against the boat trip in the first place, then decided to go, then found an excuse to leave. At this point, I would say Jason needs therapy the most out of the two of them. He really needs to learn to open up and be able to see his actions objectively instead of getting defensive. Bethenny's statements weren't terrible and she was telling him how she felt when he said certain things. She said she needed an apology before moving forward. Instead of looking at it from her perspective, he threw his walls up. 

They're apparently doing a lot better now, but incidents like this are wake up calls. Don't let it get any worse. Be open with each other. This is serious. Talk about it NOW. And if you can't talk about it, at least let the other person know that you WILL talk about it once you've calmed down. 

What did you think of this episode? Tweet me!

You're a Hustler

This week on Bethenny Ever After, just like every week, we got some laughs and some tension, some joy and some pain.

I loved the scene with Bethenny and Brynn playing in the sprinklers. I love the joy on both of their faces when they're together. It's just too good.

The tension between Bethenny and Jason is not so good. It's actually terrible. I know couples like this. One is always perceived as the bad guy but in reality that's the one that's getting the most sh*t behind closed doors. Not that Jason is a bad guy, but the constant comments about how he's not involved or not making the decisions is coming across as super passive aggressive (which I can't stand). Bethenny is the one who makes the business decisions because she IS the business. The apartment decisions obviously should be made by both Jason and Bethenny, and I think the design of the apartment reflects that. It's not like Bethenny nixed the man cave in favor of more closet space. It's apparent to me that she does consider Jason, but he may be a little resentful of other things or other decisions and has chosen to throw out little comments instead of really dealing with what he's really upset about. That's what it looks like to me.

The conversation about the boat trip was awful. I know this couple. It's so frustrating when you have the same argument over and over and both parties are spent. I really hope they work it out. They are still together, so that's a good sign, but their communication needs some major work.

Dwayne the chauffeur is hilarious. He's just too funny. I love that he has no filter and Bethenny can't help but "go there" with him because he's so damn funny. I like this guy.

The next episode will center around Jason and Bethenny fighting about his birthday (which I'm assuming we don't see) and some major turmoil before the now infamous boat trip. I can't say I'm excited to see them fight, because I hate to watch them fight. It's like watching friends argue. But, I will say I definitely want to see how they resolve it.

What did you think of this episode? Tweet me!

No One Likes a Unibrow

The second episode of this season of Bethenny Ever After was really fun, but also quite emotional.

Bethenny has a girls' weekend in Montauk with her close girlfriends - including some college buddies. Brynn comes along with Cookie and the other ladies bring their kids as well. The moment at the table where Brynn says "I'm the baby" was so adorable! It was so great to see her just talking away. The look on Bethenny's face was great. Not so great? The pressure to have a second child. I don't know why women think it's ok to say whatever they want to other women. Listen here, sister. Just because we both have lady parts doesn't mean you get to tell me what to do with mine. You wanna have more kids? Great! Go for it. But if I'm not saying I want a kid (or in Bethenny's case, another kid), you really don't need to tell me what I should or shouldn't do. If Bethenny were asking for their advice and SAYING she wants another child, then it would be appropriate for her friends to comment. Otherwise, it's just annoying.

But of course, there were fun times on the girls' weekend. The performer at the bar calling Bethenny Benjamin Franklin was too funny.

I loved Bethenny's lunch with Hoda Kotb. Those two are nothing but laughs. I love it.

Nick the food blogger was great on this episode, too. I haven't gotten "threaded" yet, so I salute Nick for doing it and getting through it. Although at the end, I think I saw a single tear in his eye. No judgement, though! We love you, Nick!

Bethenny's issues with trust really do stem from her relationship with her biological father. She has guilt about wanting to go be with him when she was a teen because it caused friction with her stepfather. Of course, that brings up trust issues in general - and Bethenny says her circle of friends (aka people she trusts) is closed. That's not a bad thing, though. At this point, she is balancing so much, getting to know new friends just isn't a priority. I can't wait to see the boat ride from hell next week. Also, I want to see Jason and Bethenny work through their issues. I hate seeing them not being 100% on the same page.

What did you think of this episode? Tweet me!

Bad Cop

You should know, I am a Bethenny fan. I bought her books and I watch her show. That does not mean that I think she's perfect or that she's right all the time. By the way, neither does she. She'll be the first to say when she messes up or overreacts. Which just makes her more likable. So, the second season of Bethenny Ever After aired this week (her very first spin off was Bethenny Getting Married? which was only one season), and the episode pretty much prepared viewers for a roller coaster season. Like giant, Travel channel special episode, freak me out and give me nightmares type of roller coaster. Let me explain.

In this episode, Bethenny is still working hard on her empire, Skinnygirl, which includes cocktails, fitness dvds, books, cleanses, and most recently a skincare line. Not to mention, trying to buy a new apartment, raising a baby, and going through the ups and downs of the second year of marriage. On the Skinnygirl front, it's go, go, go. Not a moment's rest at all. If it's not a Sangria launch, it's a Health Magazine photo shoot. Brynn is gorgeous and really well behaved, at least from what we saw in the first episode. She is really adorable. And Jason is a typical husband - supportive, loving, and wants more sex.

Bethenny is still the same person we met on the Real Housewives of New York, just more mature, more focused, and a lot more stressed. She's worried about being a good wife and mother. She's worried about her business. She's worried about everything. I'm so glad they're still showing us the therapy sessions. I love them. I think they show real insight into what's going on with Bethenny in a different - and maybe more personal - way than the rest of the show. I think Bethenny uses humor, like a lot of us do, as an armor of sorts, a way to appear stronger than we really are. I think a lot of women out there are just as worried that they're the "bad cop" in the relationship. And no one likes the bad cop.

But, overall, things are going well. Bethenny's got great friends, like one of my all time favorite ladies, Lisa Lampanelli. Their lunch together was one of the funniest scenes ever. And if you don't know Lisa, please do not be offended by her salty humor. She's an insult comic! Google her! And quit being so sensitive. Bethenny also has a great team behind her, Julie, her Coordinator of Chaos, and also, Veronica, a makeup artist and nanny, Jackie the intern, Maggie the intern, Nick the food blogger (hilarious), and Gina the baby nurse (who didn't appear on the first episode but will be on the show, can't wait! Love her!). I'm sure I'm forgetting someone here. Suffice it to say the team is growing just as quickly as the business is.

Some are annoyed with Bethenny's take on fame and celebrity. I see it as someone finally being honest about what it's like being famous. Which is a totally different thing than being successful or rich. Plenty of rich people aren't famous, and vice versa. Bethenny is letting us in on how invasive it can be to live this life - paparazzi, lawsuits, there are two big downsides right there. Also, the toll it takes on your relationship. We're going to see big fights between Jason and Bethenny this season according to previews.

I can't wait to watch the rest of this season. Bethenny, love her or hate her, is an inspiration. She made her dreams come true. But no one ever said it was going to be a fairytale.

What did you think of this episode? Tweet me!