Teresa Giudice may best be known for her feisty and fabulous lifestyle on The Real Housewives of New Jersey. But family feuds and table-flipping aside, she’s not just another catty housewife. As a mom-of-four, author, and all-out domestic diva, she’s taking “happy wife, happy life” to a whole new level.

Now the mom-who-does-it-all is dishing to Celebuzz about her Mother’s Day plans (that always include cooking, of course), if baby No. 5 is in her future, and if she’s leaving all the drama in the past for season 5.

Mother’s Day is coming up. Tell us what a typical Mother’s Day like at the Giudices.

I am grateful to be a mother and Mother’s Day makes me feel so special. Every year my whole family gets together for a celebration. Joe, Gia, Gabriella, Milania and Audriana always surprise me with something. My favorite things are the drawings and handmade cards. Joe makes them with the girls and I look forward to them every year.

What will you do this year?

This year we will be doing a big family BBQ and I can’t wait.

As you may have heard (and read) reports have run rampant that you and Joe want to expand the family. So can you tell us the truth and set the record straight — is baby No. 5 in your future?

Joe always said he wanted a boy, but I have my hands full right now. Never say never!

Your newest family-style recipes were recently highlighted on Plated.com. The grilled steak pizzaiola with penne and chicken breast stuffed with artichoke and fontina look devine.

My dishes are from my new cookbook, Fabulicious!: On the Grill. Now that the weather is warming up it is the perfect time to start grilling because it takes the heat out of the kitchen!

Are these the Giudice family favorites?

It is so hard to pick a favorite because we love all of the recipes. Joe and I love to cook for the girls, they get big smiles on their faces when daddy and mommy start the grill because they know something good is cooking up.

You have written some amazing bestsellers and are known as the mom-who-does-it-all. Are we going to see cookbook No. 5?

I hope so! I love to cook and sharing my recipes brings me a lot of joy, so as long as people want more I will continue to share. The most important time for my family is at the dinner table. We call it ‘happy time’ because nobody is allowed to be unhappy at the dinner table, we can only be grateful. Joe and I have found that happy time is the perfect way to end the day at the dinner table and if people can enjoy my recipes with their family, I hope the food brings a little extra joy to their happy time.

You’re not only a cooking expert, but you’re a wife and mother who deals with many of the same issues as many of your fans who adore you. Have you thought about writing a memoir or another type of book about your life and lessons learned?

I haven’t thought about writing a book about life lessons. I think my fans relate to me because I’m not perfect, nobody is. I believe that life is a journey, some days are good and some days are bad, but there is never a day when I think I have all the answers. I admire my fans, they are the ones that I look up to because they are some of the strongest people I know.

Your birthday is coming up on May 18 — are there any special plans for the big day? 

Joe and the girls always surprise me on my birthday. I don’t know what they have planned this year but I am grateful for everything and the most important thing to me is spending quality time with my family and friends.

RHONJ’s Season 5 is around the corner and sure to be just as exciting as ever. What can fans expect this time around?

I wish I could tell you all about it, but I can’t say anything right now. All I can say is expect the unexpected.

There are rumors circulating that you’ve reconciled with your sister-in-law Melissa Gorga. Can you tell us how that relationship is evolving?

You have to tune in to the show to see how things evolve with Melissa. I owe it to the viewers to not give it away!

Fans and viewers are so intrigued with your life. As someone who has been on the show from the beginning, are you sick of all the drama? What else do you want people to see other than the family and legal drama?

I’m not going to complain because that would be insulting to people that are also dealing with bigger issues. We all have problems in life and I try to focus on the positive. I try to live in the moment now and not worry about the past or dwell on the future, just enjoy the moment and be grateful for what we have.

Will we see a different Teresa next season?

I think the show is different every season because we are all experiencing life, and the amazing thing about The Real Housewives of New Jersey is that it focuses on family. I think people are invested in our family and Caroline Manzo’s family because they know that even though we all fight hard, we also love hard. We are passionate people because our love is so strong.

Teresa Giudice is opening up her heart — and flexing her muscles — for a good cause.

On Sunday, the Real Housewives of New Jersey star will host a fundraiser and workout session in Fairfield, NJ all in the name of the NephCure Foundation, a charity the 40-year-old has supported since competing on the fifth season of Celebrity Apprentice.

Giudice recently spoke to Celebuzz about NephCure and Matthew Levine, the young boy whose kidney disease has inspired the TV star to lend a helping hand.

“I have four daughters and I could never imagine what Matthew, his mother Dana and sister Sydney go through everyday,” she said. “This is why I have chosen to help the NephCure Foundation. I will go anywhere at anytime to raise awareness and funds to help find a cure for Matthew and others with FSGS [focal segmental glomerulosclerosis] and nephrotic syndrome. I want to help find a cure for these two devastating kidney diseases that destroy kidney’s lives and families in its path.”

Sunday’s event, held at the Get Fit Health and Fitness Center, will start with a meet and greet with Giudice at 10 AM, followed by a 90-minute workout session with the star and her trainer Nicole Greco Peepas.

“After I met Matthew and his family I knew I wanted to help . . . when Celebrity Apprentice asked me on the show I knew that anything I could get would go to help him,” Giudice said.

Although she was fired in task 13, Giudice donated her earnings of $70,000 to NephCure.

“I’m asking all my family, friends, and fans to please come out and support a great cause to help Matthew. You can get fit, have fun and donate to help such a special little boy.”

For more information, check out the NephCure Foundation website.

What ever happened to brotherly love?

New Jersey house husbands – and brothers-in-law – Joe Gorga and Joe Giudice got into a nasty brawl last week while on a retreat in Lake George, New York, Celebuzz has learned exclusively.

“Joe Gorga charged at Joe Giudice, and Joe Giudice put him in a chokehold,” a source said.

“It all started when Melissa and Joe Gorga were in a room with some other people, and they were arguing with Teresa,” a second insider added. “Teresa called for her husband, and when he came into the room, Joe Gorga charged at him.”

The second source added that Teresa’s burly husband used his fists first — and Bravo caught all the wrestling action on camera for the group’s hit show, The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

“Joe Gorga got behind Joe Giudice and had him in a bear-hug — but not the affectionate kind,” said the insider. “Joe Giudice punched Joe Gorga in the side, twice. Teresa was there, but she left the room mid-fight.”

The melee is nothing new for the feisty Italian family, whose ongoing bickering on RHONJ has gone from an infamous Christening gone wrong in 2010 to season 4’s Strippergate, and a whole lot in between.

So what caused the family feud?

“Nothing specific — it’s everything. It’s them being them, all the back-and-forth,” said the second insider. “There wasn’t one thing in particular. It’s their history.”

Fortunately, the air was cleared soon after the fight ended.

“They were civil afterward,” said the source. “One minute they’re arguing, the next minute they’re nice and family again.”

But the family feuding hasn’t been taken quite as lightly by other RHONJ castmates: Caroline Manzo left Lake George after only one day, while Jacqueline Laurita decided not to go at all. Kathy Wakile and husband Rich, meanwhile, toughed it out.

A Bravo spokesperson had no comment.

Do you think the RHONJ stars will ever work out their problems? And which side are you on: Team Gorga or Team Giudice? Let us know in the comments section.

Which reality shows had everyone buzzing in 2012? Showbiz Tonight’s AJ Hammer counts down the top 5 buzziest reality shows, exclusively for Celebuzz.

#5 – Celebrity Apprentice – America got a kick out of watching a bunch of celebrities turn on each other — for charity, of course. Once all of the bickering was over and everyone was fired, it was former late night talk show host, Arsenio Hall, who Donald Trump hired as the Celebrity Apprentice.

#4 – Kardashian’s Take Over E! – Whether it was Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom in Dallas or Kanye West switching up Kim Kardashian‘s style, the Kardashian’s continued to rack up viewers. The season finale of Keeping Up with the Kardashian’s broke ratings records for E!, setting us up for more Kardashian shenanigans in 2013.

#3 – Real Housewives of New Jersey – You just gotta love the endlessly classy ladies of RHONJ, especially Teresa in all of her glory.

#2 – Jersey Shore – Admit it, you’re going to miss the Jersey Shore gang. 2012 marked the final season of the boozy adventures in Seaside Heights. Now, that we’ve watched Snooki become a mom, there’s no way this show could get any more shocking.

#1 – Honey Boo Boo – TLC’s Here Comes Honey Boo Boo had everyone marveling at the pint-sized Georgia beauty queen. How big was Honey Boo Boo this year? She was spoofed on Saturday Night Live and ratings for the hit show rivaled those of the Presidential Conventions.

Which was your favorite reality show to watch in 2012? Are you a fan of Honey Boo Boo? Leave us a comment below.

Tune in to Showbiz Tonight Mon. – Thurs. at 11pm ET/PT on HLN. And be sure to check back every week for AJ Hammer’s countdown of the top 5 buzzmakers right here on Celebuzz.

Real Housewives of New Jersey star Melissa Gorga is not ready to make nice with her sister-in-law and co-star Teresa Giudice.

“Maybe time heals all wounds, but for now, we need a break,” Gorga told Celebuzz at MTV’s Restore the Shore fundraising event last Thursday night. But the family feud hasn’t been easy for Gorga and her husband Joe.

“It’s hard for all of us,” she added. “There’s only so much we can do. We tried, and we tried so many times. At some point, you just have to step back.”

Gorga and Giudice had a very public falling out last year — it aired during the Season 4 finale of the hit Bravo show — when 40-year-old Giudice allegedly orchestrated a plan to publicly humiliate the mother-of-three by accusing her of being a stripper.

“I felt like I was accused of a lot of things, like somebody was trying to hurt my character,” Gorga said. “I don’t like that. I don’t respect that. I would never do that to someone.”

So what’s to come in the fifth season of Real Housewives of New Jersey? Rumors of former cast member Danielle Staub’s return to the series have been circulating online, but Gorga kept mum.

“Who knows what’s to come!” she said.

Real Housewives of New Jersey stars Melissa Gorga and husband Joe are some of the more than eight million people without power in the wake of megastorm Sandy, which battered the East Coast on Monday night.

The reality television couple and their three children — Antonia, 7, Gino, 5, and two-year-old Joey — remain bunkered at the family’s $3.8 million mansion in Montville, N.J.

“Melissa is going out of her mind,” Joe told Celebuzz in an exclusive interview. “We have no heat, no hot water, but I’m keeping her warm. That’s what’s important.”

He added that no-one in their geographical area has power, though the couple does have a generator.

“One lamp is on and after a few hours we turn it all off. We have no cable and we have moved all our food into one freezer,” Joe said.

Melissa took to Twitter earlier this week and posted a photo of Joe, the brother of fellow RHONJ star Teresa Guidice, with a chainsaw in hand as he helped the recovery process.

“We had a tree hit the house and we have damaged gutters and stucco… we actually had three trees fall on our site,” he said.

While the Montville home emerged relatively unscathed, the same cannot be said for the family’s beachside vacation house on the Jersey Shore.

In its tear of destruction, Sandy left parts of New Jersey’s beloved shore in tatters, with beaches swept away and the famous boardwalk and amusement park almost completely destroyed.

“We actually went down to the Shore to see Melissa’s family and they’re okay,” Joe said.

“Everyone’s healthy and no one’s gotten hurt… but we haven’t seen it [our Shore home] yet, because the area is still flooded.”

As for how sister Teresa, a fellow N.J. resident, is coping after Sandy’s destruction, Gorga said: “I believe Teresa is doing okay… My parents are there and they have electricity.”

The Gorga and Guidices are estranged in the wake of last season’s ”Strippergate” scandal.

It’s Teresa Giudice against the world on Bravo’s three-part Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion.

“It’s crazy,” fellow housewife Melissa Gorga told Celebuzz. “The reunion is off the wall. Things you think would never get said, are said. The finale has nothing on the reunion.”

While Gorga says that reuniting with her estranged sister-in-law for the first time in a year was “difficult,” she was more concerned with her friend and castmate Jacqueline Laurita. The RHONJ star recently revealed that her three-year-old son Nicholas has autism.

What did Gorga have to say about Laurita? 

“Jacqueline is going through a tough time publicly right now,” said Gorga. “A lot of people didn’t know that’s why she had zero tolerance level for Teresa. This petty nonsense for her was just irrelevant.”

“I did see her go through a lot,” the reality star continued. “I would call her, and I would hear it in her voice. I felt bad for her, that she had deal with little ridiculous things, back and forth. I felt for her. She had to get through a whole season, knowing what she knew and not wanting anyone to find out.”

As for the other cast members — Caroline Manzo and Kathy Wakile – Gorga says that their relationship couldn’t be stronger.

“We’ve never had problems with each other,” she said. “We like each other a lot. We support each other.”

Meanwhile, things with Giudice couldn’t be worse. During Part 1 of the Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion special, host Andy Cohen asks if Giudice has seen the other housewives since the Posche fashion show last year, to which she replies, “No,” she hasn’t — except for Gorga at her daughter’s birthday party.

However, as Gorga previously told Celebuzz, “It wasn’t a pleasant time.” While Gorga remains hopeful that they can be a family again, she also admits that she’s not ready to reconnect with her estranged sister-in-law just yet.

“I think we just need more time,” she said.

However, she does worry for Giudice, who displayed some very erratic behavior at the reunion.

“I think we all have a little concern for her,” she said. “Obviously, the behavior is becoming a little wacky and we are all seeing it. And there’s no denying it. I think we’re all concerned about it.”

Bravo’s Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion continues on Sun., Oct. 7 at 10 PM ET. Watch our interview with Gorga below. 

Love her or hate her, Teresa Giudice is one of reality TV’s most talked-about personalities. This season on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Guidice’s erratic behavior left viewers split. However, her fellow Real Housewives all agreed on one thing: They want nothing to do with her.

The tension from the explosive season finale finally boiled over in The Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion special, which left Giudice emotionally distraught.

“I said to myself I wasn’t going get upset, but I couldn’t help it,” she told In Touch. “After the taping was done, I broke down. I started crying and I couldn’t stop.”

What else did Giudice have to say? 

“I’m not conniving and manipulative,” said Giudice, referring to her estranged sister-in-law and castmate, Melissa Gorga.

However, Gorga feels differently. “I’m still so mad,” Gorga admitted to Celebuzz during an exclusive sit-down interview.

During the show’s heated finale, tensions boiled over when Giudice pulled Gorga aside at the Porsche fashion show to ask how she knew Angelo Vrohidis, a man who claimed Gorga once danced for him at an Elizabeth, N.J. strip club titled Lookers Gentlemen’s Club.

Gorga denied Vrohidis’ accusations and later discovered that Giudice had more to do with the man’s accusations that she had originally let on, which is the reason why, more than a year later, the two are still on non-speaking terms.

However, instead of taking some of the blame for her family’s friction, Giudice is pointing fingers at the reality cameras. ”We’ve never gone without speaking until we were on a reality show together,” said Giudice. “This is exactly what I didn’t want.”

Hear Gorga’s side of the story, below.

Real Housewives of New Jersey star Melissa Gorga is not ready to make nice with her sister-in-law and costar Teresa Giudice.

“I’m still so mad,” Gorga admitted to Celebuzz during an exclusive sit-down interview.

The two had a very public falling out last year — it aired during the season finale of the hit Bravo show on Sunday night — when 40-year-old Giudice allegedly orchestrated a plan to publicly humiliate the mother-of-three by accusing her of being a stripper.

Though the debacle — which the media has infamously dubbed “Stripper-Gate” — happened over a year ago, Gorga said the betrayal feels as fresh as ever.

“The craziness of it all eats you up inside when you watch it again,” she said, of the incident which involved Giudice pal’s Kim DePaola at her Posche Fashion Show.

What else did Gorga say about the feud?

During the show’s heated finale, tensions boiled over when Guidice pulled Gorga aside at the Porsche fashion show to ask how she knew Angelo Vrohidis, a man who claimed Gorga once danced for him at an Elizabeth, N.J. strip club titled Lookers Gentlemen’s Club.

Gorga denied Vrohidis’ accusations and later discovered that Giudice had more to do with the man’s accusations that she had originally let on.

“We were really upset,” said Gorga. “We were floored. Everything was perfect, so why is someone causing a commotion and why did they put this plan together to do this to me? I don’t know. I didn’t do anything to hurt her.”

“I haven’t done anything to hurt Kim D. So it was kind of shocking that they ambushed my like [that] and tried to expose me, or so they thought. They really didn’t expose anything.”

However, Giudice maintains her innocence, claiming that she had never met the strip club owner before the fashion show.

“I never believed Melissa was a stripper, but it just seems like a coinkie-dink,” Giudice said during the episode, after Gorga swore on her children she had never stripped.

“I know Teresa. I know her a lot better than everyone else does for an hour a week,” Gorga responded to Celebuzz. “Why didn’t she call me? Why didn’t she call me when she was at that hair salon? And why isn’t she made at Kim D… The guy Angelo was caught on the mic saying, ‘Teresa and Kim wanted me to do this.’”

Since filming the finale, Gorga has only seen Giudice twice; the reality star said that her and her husband attended her niece Gia’s birthday party, but “it wasn’t a pleasant time.”

The reality star also told Celebuzz that she’s most saddened by the thought of her young children – Antonia, Gino, and Joey — being raised without their cousins.

“It’s hard for them because if the moms aren’t seeing each other, then the kids aren’t seeing each other,” Gorga said.

“It stinks. That’s the part that makes me so upset because it was so good. Why would she throw a punch like this? It’s because she’s being selfish.”

While Gorga remains hopeful that they can be a family again, she also admits that she’s not ready to reconnect with her estranged sister-in-law.

“I think we just need more time,” she said.

However, she does worry for Giudice.

“I think we all have a little concern for her,” she said. “Obviously, the behavior is becoming a little wacky and we are all seeing it. And there’s no denying it. I think we’re all concerned about it.”

Tune in for the explosive Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion Sun., Sept. 30 at 10 PM ET on Bravo.

For now, watch our exclusive one-on-one interview with Gorga in the video above.

Though the stars of the Real Housewives of New Jersey are more accustomed to baring their claws, Melissa Gorga is praising Lauren Manzo, who made headlines last month for losing 30 pounds after undergoing lap band surgery.

“I think it’s amazing and she looks incredible,” Gorga told Celebuzz. “She tried really hard to lose the weight naturally, but through genetics or whatever, it was difficult for her.”

Gorga explained that the daughter of Caroline Manzo — who once topped the scales at 185 pounds — had a lot of support regarding the drastic weight-loss decision.

“Her family supported her and she did it,” the housewife said. “She looks amazing. Good for her.”

Lauren spoke exclusively to Celebuzz about how she has gained confidence because of her new bod. “I feel a little bit more comfortable now,” she dished, adding that she still wants to lose 30 to 35 more pounds.

“Prior to surgery, I’d never worn a two-piece in my life — I have now been wearing them, but I still keep my cover-up on.”

To see more of Lauren’s slimmed-down figure, click through the gallery — and tune into the Real Housewives of New Jersey every Sunday at 10 p.m. on Bravo.

Viewers watching the Sunday, June 24 episode of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New Jersey may have witnessed a brief reprieve in the bitter family feud between stars Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga but the drama is far from over — offscreen.

The two haven’t spoken since September 2011 after Teresa declared that her younger brother Joe, Melissa’s husband of eight years, was the “the meanest brother ever,” during an episode of the hit BRAVO reality show.

Gorga opened up to Celebuzz about their bitter relationship, adding that “everything is going to come out.”

Despite reports, Gorga claims she never attempted to take down her sister-in-law and that Giudice should get over the fact that she’s now one of her fellow castmembers.

“When there is an issue, I approach it and hit it head on. I speak the truth. If I do something wrong then I own it,” Gorga told Celebuzz at Life & Style‘s 2012 Summer Style Awards bash at Dream Hotel’s rooftop.

Speaking about the family feud playing out on TV, Gorga loosely explained: “Everything is going to come out. No matter what you do, it comes back to bite you in the butt.”

Earlier this month, the Housewives stars’ battle came to a head, when they made separate taped appearances on The View. Giudice appeared on the couch first and quickly went on the offensive, accusing Gorga and Kathy Wakile, Teresa’s cousin, of joining the cast of the show behind her back.

Despite the embattled headlines, Gorga would like to move on and end the drama.

“I’m trying to steer clear of a lot of the nonsense. I have a beautiful life and have so much to be thankful for,” Gorga said, adding that she is “hopeful” that the family will reconcile one day.

What do you think about the Housewives drama? Who’s side are you on? Tell us in the comments, below.

Though there was plenty of drama on last night’s episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, there was even more unfolding over the weekend as filming got underway on the show’s upcoming fourth season.

Of course, those with normal lives try to relax and stay away from the Internet on weekends. So, just in case you’re one of the lucky ones who fall under this bracket, Celebuzz is here to catch you up with a timeline of The Real Housewives’ latest scandal, in which castmember Melissa Gorga has been accused of being stripper in an apparent set-up by her co-star (not to mention sister-in-law) Teresa Giudice. Oh, and Jacqueline Laurita might have quit the show.

Are the rumors true? Below, get a rundown of every accusation and denial between Wednesday and this morning.

9/28 - New Jersey castmember Jacqueline Laurita posts a number of feverish Tweets, confirming she did not attend the season 3 reunion. She also implies that she has quit the show. “I can’t be part of the Charade anymore. It’s unsettling. It’s disturbing & against what I stand for. I’m a REAL housewife.”

9/28 - Jacqueline calms down, tweeting, “Ok,I’m pulling back.I’m not going there.I was impulsive.It’s behind & beneath me.Too Unimportant.My life is good now.”

9/28 - Jacqueline’s co-star, Teresa Guidice, tweets: “The rumors are getting ridiculous. Let’s get this straight: I LOVE my WHOLE family. Would never do anything to hurt them.”

9/30 - The Huffington Post publishes a report alleging that Melissa was ambushed by the boss from “the strip club she used to work at” while cameras were rolling at a fashion event earlier in the week. A distraught Melissa allegedly hid from her alleged past, leaving Teresa to listen to the boss’ side of the story. (Teresa eventually told the boss to leave, according to the report.)

9/30 – Melissa publishes a post on her blog in which she claims the rumors that she was once a stripper are “100 percent not true.” She adds: “I did bartend for a few weeks at a bikini bar while I was in college. My outfit was a tank top, shorts and sneakers. SORRY, no bubbies there.” She then takes it a step further by accusing “someone” of “desperately” trying to “knock me down and prove that I have something to hide, but then tries to cover it up by putting the blame on production.” (In the initial report by The Huffington Post, an insider claimed that producers made Teresa talk to the former boss so that he could get his side of the story on camera, to which Bravo denied.)

9/30 - Melissa’s former manager, Larry Guarino of Lookers Gentleman’s Club, defends Gorga’s blog post, telling US Weekly, “She was a bartender for a couple of months years ago, it was such a short time. Lookers was really upscale then too; it wasn’t like she was bartending in some hole in the wall.” In that same report, a source confirms Teresa was in on the set-up.

10/2 - On Twitter, Jacqueline alleges that Teresa plotted the whole thing. “Teresa told me that ‘rumor’ about Melissa when she first started the show,” she tweeted. “She wanted her out then. She plotted it. She played dumb on camera and even defended Melissa.” According to US Weekly, she added, “There is even a lot more to the story that will eventually come out. She’s no good and yes…she has stabbed me in the back plenty of times. I’m not so forgiving anymore.”

Well, there you have it, Housewives fans. Whose side are you on? Do you believe Melissa and Jacqueline or Teresa? Sound off in the comments below.

Quicker than you can say “allegedly,” Real Housewives of New Jersey newcomer Melissa Gorga — as well as some fellow castmates — are fighting back against a report that Melissa had previously worked as a stripper long before her Housewives days.

The initial report on The Huffington Post claimed that Gorga was set up during an episode of RHONJ, during which her former boss from “the strip club she used to work at” randomly showed up at a fashion show, causing Gorga to hide so as to not expose her past. Gorga, however, says that the report is wholly inaccurate, saying on her blog:

As everyone knows we are filming season 4 so there is not too much I can confirm, but there is one thing that I would like to clarify…the accusation that I was once a dancer at a strip club. This is 100% NOT TRUE. I did bartend for a few weeks at a bikini bar while I was in college. My outfit was a tank top, shorts and sneakers. SORRY, no bubbies there.

She goes on to say that people have “a better chance at seeing some nudity on the episode this Sunday.”

Her former boss at Lookers, Larry Guarino, backed up Gorga’s claims, telling Us: “She was a bartender for a couple of months years ago, it was such a short time … Lookers was really upscale then too; it wasn’t like she was bartending in some hole in the wall.”

Gorga then goes on to point a finger at Teresa Giudice, who the initial report says tried to intervene at the fashion show which the incident stemmed from. Melissa, who has had very public issues with Giudice on the show, says that “someone desperately wants to knock me down and prove that I have something to hide, but then tries to cover it up by putting the blame on production.”

While Teresa has stayed mum on Twitter in reaction to the drama, Gorga’s castmate Jacqueline Laurita has not been having an easy time with the massive blow-up. She said this week: “I can’t be part of the Charade anymore.It’s unsettling. It’s disturbing & against what I stand for. I’m a REAL housewife.” Later, after the emotions settled, she calmed down and wrote: “I’m pulling back.I’m not going there.I was impulsive.It’s behind & beneath me.Too Unimportant.My life is good now.”

The ongoing family feud on The Real Housewives of New Jersey took a turn for the worst when Ashlee Holmes finally pushed her mom Jacqueline Laurita too far — inevitably leading to Ashlee getting kicked out of the house because of the 20-year-old’s alleged partying and attitude. Now Ashlee is going on the record in an exclusive blog post for Celebuzz to clear up all the rumors on what really went down behind-the-scenes on last night’s dramatic episode. You can also follow Ashlee’s blog on Buzznet.

BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING, I WANT TO CLEAR UP ONE THING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT THING TO ME. On last night’s episode during a scene where I was fighting with my mom, I asked her why she was talking to me like I was a “r****d”. I want to make it CLEAR, that I HONESTLY NEVER say that word. EVER. When I heard it come out of my mouth on the show, I even surprised myself. I swear, my jaw actually dropped when I watched the episode for the first time. You can ask any of my friends, I honestly never say that word. I was disgusted with myself for saying that in that tone, and I don’t even know why it came out.

In NO WAY did I intentionally mean to offend anyone. I know that word can be EXTREMELY hurtful to both someone who has special needs and their loved ones as well. I have worked with special needs adults before, and to be honest, a lot of them are more intelligent than most people I know. They are loving, honest and real. I am so disgusted with myself for saying that word, and there is NO EXCUSE. All I can do is apologize.

Now, originally I was going to recap everything from the past season (mainly the past two episodes), but I’m not going to do that. There isn’t a point explaining the past. The person I was then is not who I am now. A lot of time has gone by, and the people at home don’t see everything. Despite what you all may think, you see a VERY small fraction of what we actually film.

There was a lot going on in my personal life at the time both on AND OFF camera. I was dealing with a break up (even though it was my choice to end it.) It was still hard to deal with. I had started hanging out with a guy who quickly became one of my best friends, but he didn’t want a girlfriend. We acted as if we were a couple though, so our friendship was a little like a roller coaster at that time. That was obviously a little confusing and hard to handle. During my break up with Derek, I really discovered what NYC nightlife was like. So, I started going out ALL THE TIME. I was rarely ever home.

I was dealing with all of my problems with my parents. I didn’t feel like i fit in at all. I didn’t feel fully accepted. I just didn’t want to be home or around anyone. Any time I was around, it would always end negatively. I’m still going through some of those issues with them. We are family though, and I do love them. I’m definitely the black sheep in my family. It can be pretty hard to handle at times. They don’t get me a lot of the tim. On top of all that, I was feeling guilt. I felt bad that I wasn’t there for C.J. and Nick. Here I am with all these other brothers in Texas, and I wasn’t even spending time with the brothers I lived with. I just didn’t want to be home though. I didn’t want a job because I didn’t want to waste time doing something that I didn’t want to do, and I had no idea what I wanted to do. I have so many interests that I couldn’t pick just one thing. I would go out all the time because when I was out with my friends, I could forget about all of my problems. I obviously now know that that isn’t a good way to handle problems. Although I would still enjoy myself when I would be out with my friends, it was making my depression that much worse when I wasn’t out. My anxiety level was through the roof. I was going nowhere with that routine. I still LOVE to go out with my friends, just because that’s the kind of personality I have. I just know now to do everything in MODERATION.

The past few episodes have been rough. Mainly because it was filmed a while ago. At this stage in my life, I feel like I grow and learn something each week. Imagine how I feel after about 8 months? Yes, I still make mistakes. I still do things that others feel I shouldn’t do I’m sure. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. The past two weeks especially were hard for me to watch because I really saw how I hurt my mom. I don’t regret it though, because even though my mom and I have repaired things since, it just helped me open my eyes THAT much more, and same goes for my mom. Our communication bridge totally opened up and we were able to improve our relationship that much more. So, even though it hurt to watch, it was still helpful. The only annoying part is all of the hate mail I’ve been receiving. I’ve received death threats, people telling me to kill myself, people saying they’re going to do ___ if they ever see me, comments about my weight, style, my looks in general. When you’re getting these messages by the thousands, it’s VERY hard not to read some of it. It’s even HARDER not to let it get to you. “Reality” television can be hard to handle. You definitely need thick skin. I was down about some of the comments I was receiving for a while. Luckily I have the most amazing family, friends &fans in my life. They helped me realize that people are going to hate no matter what I do. The Kardashians are probably the most well known celebrity personalities at the moment, and even they have people saying terrible things to them that they have to deal with every day. Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Lady Gaga, THE PRESIDENT, the girl in your science class etc.. EVERYONE has haters, some people that just say negative things just for the sake of being negative. What really matters are the people in your life that love you. Honestly, sometimes all you need is yourself to love you. I have my insecurities, and flaws. I’m still learning that I need to think before I speak. I’m learning better ways to deal with my problems. I’m growing. It takes time. The difference is I’m living all of my flaws out not only in the public eye, but after the footage has been though the editing room. It sucks sometimes. You just need to have confidence in yourself, and know that as long as YOU are happy with YOU. That’s all that matters. Here I am getting upset about a comment from someone who’s hiding behind a computer screen. People who go out of their way to send hateful words to someone they don’t know just shows their own insecurities. CLEARLY they aren’t happy with their life because they feel the need to tear other people down to attempt to make themselves feel better. It’s sad. My fans and loved ones are definitely the ones that keep me going through times like this. I hope you all continue to stand by me, and grow with me. I know that have a lot more work to do, but the great thing about that is that I’m still young. All of the problems that I have right now are pretty typical for my age. Bottom line, If you aren’t happy about something, change it. Follow your bliss.

Anyway, looking back on life and this past season and seeing my attitude, I’m not at all proud of how I acted. I hate how I’ve come across on television so far. I am ashamed of myself. SOOOOO MUCH has changed since filming season 3. A lot has been resolved as far as my issues with my mother and my mother’s issues with me. We misunderstood each other. We finally have everything out in the open now and things couldn’t be better between us. (Well, we’re DEFINITELY getting there at least lol) I have the MOST AMAZING parents I could ever ask for. My mom is the strongest woman I know. She has so much strength and courage. I bow down to her for being able to do all that she has done. If I had a kid right now, I don’t even know where I would be. I am just figuring out how to take care of myself, let alone take care of and raise a child. Even on days that my mom and I ‘hate’ each other, I couldn’t ask for a better mom. I wouldn’t trade her for any other mom out there. She is definitely one VERY special woman. We are so much the same person that I think we’ve helped each other grow as women. She is my world. My daddy, I give credit to because he’s taken responsibility for his mistakes, and he’s owned up to all of them. He has definitely made up for the short time that he wasn’t around as much. He has been an amazing father, and I wouldn’t trade him for ANY other dad. He’s funny, smart, artistic, loving, and mine. The lucky thing is that I get the privilege of having TWO AMAZING DADS. My step dad I do not in any way think of as my “step” dad. I honestly feel like I have two biological dads. I know… it sounds weird. Haha! My step dad has known me practically my whole life. He knows me so well. He stepped up and took care of me when I didn’t fully have the support I needed. He didn’t have to do any of that. Yeah, it hurts me that we don’t have the warm bubbly relationship that I would like, but I know now that a HUGE part of that is because of me. I also know that he’s hurting because he doesn’t have that sort of relationship with me anymore either. I know that we will be close like that again eventually. I know I need to prove myself to him. I know that he’s hurt for how I’ve treated him over the years. What makes me respect him so much more is that even when I did act out, and hurt him and my mother, that he STILL took care of me. He STILL would give me AMAZING advice, and always had my best interest at heart. It took me a while to see all of this, but now that I do I KNOW that THAT is real love. Looking back on everything and knowing all that I do now, I truly appreciate everything my parents have done for me. Each one of my parents are so wonderful. I realize now how blessed I am. There are people out there who have lost their parents, and some that never even got to meet theirs. I am sooooo grateful for what I have. [These are just my parents, imagine how I feel about my grandparents, and the INCREDIBLE aunts, and uncles I was blessed with. They have helped me through this whole growing process, and I love them all. I am so thankful that they’re so forgiving and patient with me.

Where am I now? Well, Tomorrow I move to LA. I will be staying with a friend, and then I will be moving into my own apartment on September 3rd. Before you say ANYTHING- NO, MY PARENTS AREN’T PAYING FOR ANY OF THIS. This move is funded by me 100%. I am very proud of myself for finally following through with something that I want to do. I love the apartment that I bought. It may only be 425 square feet, but it’s MY 425 square feet. Haha! It’s small, but just enough for me. I am very excited and equally terrified about this move. There are so many things I didn’t realize went into owning your own place. It’s actually pretty funny. I was laughing about it with my mom. I was like, “I need to buy a can opener? I didn’t realize it was a luxury to have one of those. Oh, a spatula? Batteries? etc…” Such random stuff, but you need it all! Insanity. Anyway, I am hoping I will continue to grow as a person from this move. I recently changed my name legally from ‘Ashley’ to ‘Ashlee’ for reasons that I will later explain. Make fun of me for it if you want. LOL! I’m anxious to get to LA just to finally be there. I have some good friends out there, and it will be a nice change of scenery. I have A LOT of big things planned for myself. I have an internship waiting there for me with Buzznet & Celebuzz. I recently formed my own LLC. I’m currently working on my own clothing line that I hope to launch by 2012. I am working on building my own website, that will also be up and running soon. I am also writing a book. I think the content of the book is going to surprise a lot of people, no one REALLY knows me the way they think they do. There is A LOT more that I’ve wanted to share with you all. I’m going to have to save it for my book. I am very excited to get all of this done and share it with you all. I’m anxious for the experience of it all. I am young, my company is just a baby. I hope one day to look back on this and think “that was only the beginning…”

Until then, I just wanted to thank you all sooooooo much for your support and words of encouragement. You guys are awesome! I couldn’t have made it through these rough episodes without you guys! As I said, I still have a lot to learn and improve. I honestly feel that you never stop learning or growing as a person as you age. I do feel like I am in a much better place now. I’ve had some time to clear my mind, and really figure out what it is I want to do with my life, and think things through I feel like I am absolutely on the right path now, and I can’t wait to see where it’s going to lead me. Stay tuned….. xxo Ash

Another one of the Real Housewives is attempting to break into the music world; this time it is New Jersey’s Melissa Gorga, who released her new single, “On Display”, to On-Air with Ryan Seacrest today. Gorga told the host, “I just think that everyone is going to be pleasantly surprised. It’s good, I like it. That was my first, as they go on they get better and better and better.”

The lyrics talk about living life in the spotlight and how people want her to fail, especially the chorus of: “On display, each and every day, everybody is waiting on me to fall, everybody is waiting on me to crawl, but they can keep on waiting on me.” Gorga has showed her toughness, both mentally and physically, on the Real Housewives of New Jersey, so these words come as no surprise to anybody who has seen her in action. Listen to the song above and let us know what you think!

She is not the first housewife to release a song and try to transfer from TV to music, as Atlanta’s Kim Zolciak released the infamous “Tardy for the Party” and its follow-up, “Google Me”, as well as Countess LuAnn of the New York series and her “hit”, “Money Can’t Buy You Class.” Even controversial Jersey housewife Danielle Staub took a shot at the singing gig when she performed an original song called “Real Close” on Watch What Happens Live.

Compared to these songs, we think Melissa’s is definitely one of the best, but only time will tell if she can start a legitimate music career, which none of her previous Housewives counterparts have been able to do. For more on the Real Housewives series and the ladies’ attempts at cranking out a hit song, follow Celebuzz on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr!

There are many perks that come with being a 90′s baby. While the technology wasn’t half as advanced as it is post millennium, the decade was definitely twice as fun!

Ashlee Holmes, daughter of Jacqueline Laurita on Real Housewives of New Jersey, decided to pay homage to her favorite era by posting some super fun pics that really showcase what 90′s fashion is all about.

After Nickelodeon made the decision to re-air their most iconic shows of the 90′s era on late night Nick, Ashlee posted her photos on her Buzznet blog saying:

“In the spirit of 1990s Nickelodeon being back on the air.. here are a few random pictures of me from the glory days lol…..”

Make sure to check out this gallery and feast your eyes on Ashlee as a tiny tot. Jacqueline who also makes an appearance in a few of these gems! Here’s to the 90′s — the fashion, the fun, and the amazing shows that we all remember!

Teresa Giudice may be glad that self-proclaimed villainess Danielle Staub has been forced out of The Real Housewives of New Jersey but that doesn’t mean that she isn’t afraid to stir up drama.

According to TMZ, Teresa is currently embroiled in hardball negotiations with Bravo executives over her return to the show. Teresa is allegedly asking for double her salary from last season, which was $3,000 per episode. That’s salary peanuts compared to other reality stars like Jersey Shore‘s The Situation and Snooki who are both reportedly pulling in $30,000 per episode for their third season.

Teresa has a good reason to ask for more money: she is currently bankrupt with $11 million in debt. However, Teresa has enjoyed some new success from her cookbook, Skinny Italian, which has become a bestseller in the past year.

The Jersey mom may be demanding more money but that doesn’t mean that Bravo is willing to cough up the cash. The network is reportedly eyeballing replacements and executives allegedly “angered” Teresa in September when they approached Teresa’s extended family to join the show.

Bravo has had no qualms about replacing Real Housewives cast members in the past: both the Orange County and Atlanta versions of the show have seen multiple rotations of “housewives.”

Do you think Teresa deserves a pay raise? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Jersey Shore got GTL’d (gutted, torn-up and lampooned) by South Park last night, and man oh man did they take the fist-pumping gel hounds to task. You’ll never be able to look at Snooki the same after watching the video in this article.

The basis of the episode is that Jerseyites invade South Park is record numbers, causing the natives to become unsettled and fight back. When outmatched and outnumbered, they employ the help of an unlikely enemy: Al Qaeda. Randy Marsh convinces Osama Bin Laden that while America and his terrorist organization may have their differences, both should unite to fight against the evil that is Jersey — and the monster that is “a Snooki.”

The Jersey-centric episode ripped apart the sterotypical Garden State families that have been flooding the reality genre of late, and it didn’t stop with the MTV crew. The Real Housewives of New Jersey also got hit  pretty hard, as Danielle Staub and Teresa Giudice took the brunt of South Park’s animated blow.

Watch out Real Housewives of New Jersey: Ramona Singer is proving that the Jersey girls aren’t the only ones with a boatload of behind-the-scenes drama.

The Real Housewives of New York star reportedly punched a producer while taping a scene for her hit Bravo show. According to Us Weekly, the star was “furious” and she “lost her mind” while filming.

“[Ramona] was furious and felt like the producers were ganging up on her,” a source tells Us, “She got herself worked up over filming this scene and one thing led to another, and she punched a producer.”

The source adds that the cast and crew were supposed to be filming in Ramona’s NYC apartment all day but had to cut things short once Ramona decked the crew member.

The RHONY cast is currently in their first month of filming for their upcoming fourth season. Ramona has been with the show all four seasons. On the show, Ramona has earned a reputation as a firecracker, but never to the point of violence.

What do you think of Ramona’s alleged punch-out? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Danielle Staub may have just left The Real Housewives of New Jersey, but that doesn’t mean that her career in dunzo.

In fact, the reality villainess is up to a lot these days now that she is no longer getting into public fights with the likes of Teresa Giudice and Caroline Manzo. Celebuzz spoke exclusively with Danielle about her life, the likelihood of her ever repairing her relationship with the rest of the cast and what we can look for in the years ahead.

The incredibly watchable Danielle is currently in talks with TV executives to land her first solo reality show. “We’re in negotiations and that is about all the information I can give out right now,” Danielle said. “[Once we are signed] I will have my PR team go ahead and call all the powers that be to let them know where Danielle Staub can be found.”

“It’s going to be incredible, I’m very, very excited,” Staub exclaimed. “[The show] is really what goes on in my life, not anything that has really been seen so far … It’s time for the world to get to know Danielle and the people in my life.”

Fans of RHONJ will know that Danielle is not the type of camera-shy reality star that backs away from letting people see her real life: “I have never hid anything so I think it’s going to be welcomed by all my fans and friends that have been hanging in there and watching with the rest of the world as I became the number one reality star.”

“There’s a great need for people to see what really goes on in my life,” Danielle continued, “and that’s what this show is about and that’s why there’s offers on the table.”

Meanwhile, Danielle has no problem with her villain image. In fact, she wholeheartedly embraces it: “I am the villain of reality television, so I’ll be keepin’ it real [on my new show].”

“If you look up that villains that there are there’s Alexis from Dallas…I mean, come on, those are some sexy women right there that I get to cluster myself in with,” says Danielle, “I’m the villain of reality television and I’ll own it.”

Check out Danielle keeping it sexy on season two of RHONJ.

Aside from her new solo reality show, Danielle has also been named the new host of Social, which is a Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous-style show for WealthTV. “Robin Leach will be passing the torch to me, literally,” says Danielle, “I’m going to Vegas to tape with him.”

As for other shows that Danielle would like to appear on, the 48-year-old star has set her sights on Celebrity Apprentice: “I would love to do The [Celebrity] Apprentice,” says Danielle, “I think I have a lot that I could bring to the table and they do love the drama so I could definitely bring them some of that.”

It would likely be hard for Donald Trump to say “you’re fired” to Danielle!

With so many offers pouring in for the reality star, would it be possible that she would consider doing her own reality dating show? “Oh sure, why not?” says Danielle, “Maybe that’s where I’ll find my true partner [...] it hasn’t worked out so well for [Rock of Love's] Brett Michaels, but he had a lot of fun.”

“I could use that kind of fun,” Danielle continued, “I’ll try anything once, twice if I like it.”

Danielle was reportedly romantically involved with her music partner, Lori Michaels. Watch the two sing a romantic duet together below.

Danielle Staub And Lori Michaels Sing On WWHL
Uploaded by TheDlisted. – Check out other Film & TV videos.

While everything is looking up for Danielle, she still isn’t ready to mend her broken relationship with her RHONJ cast mates: “I have no desire to do that,” says Danielle when asked if she would want to speak to her ex-cast mates again. “I don’t think people realize how real [the show] really was,” says Danielle, who likened her treatment by her other cast mates like being “ganged up on like Mean Girls.”

Want more Danielle? Buy her new book, The Naked Truth, and head on over to iTunes to buy her latest single, “Cry.”

Do you think Danielle is a reality villain? Share your thoughts in the comments below.