Nicole's rep denies pregnancy

Nicole Kidman is not pregnant, her Australian press representative has said. Kidman's expecting a baby was first reported by the U.K.'s Daily Mail, which said The Hours Oscar winner, 40, had told friends and family members over Christmas that she and her husband of 18 months, Keith Urban, were expecting their first child together. But the Melbourne Herald Sun quotes Kidman's Australian publicist as denying the Mail's story. "It is incorrect," the spokeswoman tells the paper. "She must have had about 30 babies by now." As for Kidman, says the rep, "She's in Australia making a film" – director Baz Luhrman's epic Australia, costarring Hugh Jackman – "and her family are in Australia. She's happily ensconced away somewhere having a few days break. It's the silly season. As far as we're concerned, it's another rumor out of London." Still, a friend of Kidman's tells the Herald Sun it is "conceivable" that the actress is nearly three months pregnant. "She did have a small baby bump a month ago, so it would be reasonable that she'd now be three months and telling her friends and family," the unnamed friend is quoted as saying. Kidman and former husband Tom Cruise adopted two children during their 1990-2001 marriage: Isabella, now 14, and Connor, 12.

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Britney to be deposed soon

After a year of legal starts and stops, Kevin Federline's lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan is ready to move forward with his client's custody battle. "Britney Spears will have her deposition early this year," Kaplan told press outside Mr. Chow's restaurant in Beverly Hills late Saturday night. "We've got a lot to talk about." Spears, 26, missed her initial deposition appearance on Dec. 12, prompting Kaplan to request an emergency hearing and to delay their next court date from January to February. Though Spears cited physical illness and anxiety for her absence, Kaplan said, "She was, in fact, out later that day and night. It's not fourth grade where you get a doctor's note and it's all okay." The attorney expressed hope that Spears will appear this time around so further measures, such as pursuing her in contempt of court or delaying the deposition once again, will not be necessary. "Kevin isn't interested, nor am I, in punishing her," says Kaplan. "We just want to get information necessary to proceed further. I hoping remedies which include continuing hearings are all theoretical." As for tabloid rumors that Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, will also undergo drug testing, he says, "I haven't even heard about that, and I don't think that is true." In fact, he says, the boys have been enjoying a wonderful holiday season. "It was a good Christmas for all," Kaplan confirms. "They were great. Kevin had all of his kids and it was a big, wonderful family setting. He was really happy, and the kids were happy." As 2008 beckons, Federline, 29, will be ringing in the New Year in Las Vegas. As for how Kaplan envisions the future, his wish is simple: "I hope we will prevail."

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Michelle Branch pregnant again?

Singer Michelle Branch has something wonderful to crow about. An insider told Page Six the 24-year-old songstress is expecting her second baby with her husband, bassist Teddy Landau, 43. The couple was married in 2004, and they had their first baby, daughter Owen Isabelle, the following year. Branch's music manager did not return calls for comment.

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Star party plans

Where your favorite celebs will be partying Monday night to ring in the new year:

MIAMI
Shore Club: Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz, with a performance by Eve
Mansion: Kim Kardashian
Setai: Jennifer Hudson
The Raleigh Hotel: Mandy Moore, Chace Crawford, Kristen Bell, Dax Shepard, Elisha Cuthbert, Jeremy Piven, Samantha Ronson
Opium Garden: Nick Cannon
Hotel Victor: Adrian Grenier
Sagamore Hotel: Shannon Elizabeth

NEW YORK CITY
Tenjune: Ryan Seacrest
Times Square: Carson Daly, Lenny Kravitz, Alicia Keys, Miley Cyrus, Carrie Underwood, Joel Madden, Ryan Seacrest
Hammerstein Ballroom: Slash, Velvet Revolver
MTV Party, Times Square: Tila Tequila

LAS VEGAS
LAX: Paris and Nicky Hilton, DJ AM, Criss Angel
Tangerine: Kevin Federline
Tao: Mariah Carey
Pure: Rick Salomon and Pamela Anderson
Body English, Hard Rock Hotel: Backstreet Boys
Prive, Planet Hollywood Resort: Avril Lavigne
Moon, The Palms: Jaime Pressley
Rain, The Palms: Dave Navarro

LOS ANGELES
Les Deux: Travis Barker
Playboy Mansion: The Girls Next Door's Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson
House Parties: Kate Walsh and Scarlett Johansson
Party For The Cause to benefit AIDS research, Woodland Hills, California: Vanessa Williams
San Diego's McClellan-Palomar Airport: Lauren Conrad and Audrina Patridge

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Jimmy Fallons weds

Former Saturday Night Live regular Jimmy Fallon and girlfriend Nancy Juvonen, a Hollywood producer who worked on Fallon's 2005 romantic comedy Fever Pitch, were married Saturday on Necker Island in the Caribbean, a publicist announced. Fallon, 33, and Juvonen, 40, had "family and close friends in attendance" at the ceremony, according to the statement from representative Ina Treciokas, the Associated Press reports. No further details were released. The proposal took place in New Hampshire last August "on the dock at sunset at the Junoven family home in Wolfeboro on Lake Winnipesaukee, where On Golden Pond was filmed," according to a friend of the pair. "He presented her with a one-of-a-kind ring designed by Neil Lane," the friend added. It is a first marriage for both.

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Mischa avoids press

Party-hosting duties for DUI suspect Mischa Barton have been put on ice. Her management team - which has been tirelessly working to control the press since "The O.C." star was busted in LA early Thursday morning for drunken driving and possession of narcotics - pulled her from hosting tonight's opening of Cathouse in Las Vegas. "Mischa can't give interviews on the red carpet or deal with the press right now," said a Vegas source, "so they told her she can't do the event." The club was searching for celebrities available at the last minute but was still looking last night.

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Is Nicole expecting?

Nicole Kidman is pregnant, according to the Daily Mail. The Golden Compass actress, 40, told friends and family over the Christmas holiday that she and husband Keith Urban, 40, are expecting, the UK newspaper reported. Kidman and the country singer have been married since June 2006. There are no details on when the baby is due. She has two adopted children with ex-husband Tom Cruise – Isabella, 15, and Connor, 12 – but their relationship is strained. "They call me Mom," Cruise's new wife, Katie Holmes, said recently. Kidman has talked openly about wanting another baby. "I'm yearning to have one," she told Vanity Fair in September. "I think I would be very sad if I wasn't able to have a baby. Keith knows I want one, and he has been getting there slowly." In an interview in February on Oprah's Oscar Special, Russell Crowe asked the actress if she planned on getting pregnant. "I hope so," she replied. When Crowe remarked that he'd like to see Kidman "walking around barefoot and pregnant," the actress agreed – "I'd like to see that, too." Kidman told Vogue last year: "I always thought I'd eventually live on a Fijian island. I love the idea of being in a sarong, with hair down to my bum and kids following my around and hanging out." After her split from Cruise in 2001, Kidman admitted she'd suffered an ectopic pregnancy that resulted in miscarriage at one point in their 10-year marriage. "From the minute Tom and I were married, I wanted to have babies. And we lost a baby early on, so that was really very traumatic," she told Vanity Fair. Three months into their marriage, Urban checked himself into the Betty Ford clinic for three months to treat alcohol addiction. "We had to dig really deep," Kidman has said. Kidman begins an eight-week shoot for The Reader in Berlin next month, but after that has no movie projects lined up, the Daily Mail reported.

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Rebecca De Mornay offically charged with DUI

Actress Rebecca De Mornay has been formally charged with DUI after being arrested two months ago. The "John from Cincinnati" star was charged Thursday with two counts stemming from her October arrest -- one for driving under the influence and one for driving with a blood alcohol level above .08 percent, according to news reports. She tested at .09 percent following the arrest. The 48-year-old star of "Risky Business" and "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle" was pulled over in Beverly Hills on Oct. 30 for a traffic violation. Officers smelled alcohol on her breath and gave her a field sobriety test, which she failed. She also failed a breath test, which led to the second count. De Mornay is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, although she won't necessarily have to be in court.

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Heidi Klum sued

Heidi Klum's next project could be in the courtroom. Van Cleef & Arpels filed suit against the Project Runway host in Manhattan's federal court last week, claiming that her jewelry line ripped off their clover design. The papers claim that the designs created by Heidi Klum GmbH and Mouawad USA are so similar to Van Cleef & Arpels's vintage Alhambra line, they create "confusion in the marketplace." (The suit also cites an Oct. 21 New York Times article, which states "Heidi Klum appropriated the clover design for jewelry she designs for Mouawad.") The luxury jewelry house is suing Klum, 34, for copyright infringement and asks for damages in excess of $25,000. Designer Pascal Mouawad, head of Mouawad USA, dismisses the claim, saying: "We believe this claim has no merit. It's clear that shapes like clovers, hearts, crosses, etc, are universal symbols and are commonly used in jewelry." He adds, "Heidi has been wearing her pieces on Project Runway and we've seen them become quite popular. The clover has always been in fashion and you can see that many other luxury jewelry houses have their own interpretations of this wonderful shape such as Louis Vuitton and Chopard."

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Madonna to debut film in Berlin

Madonna's debut movie as a director will have its world premiere at the annual Berlin film festival in February. "Filth and Wisdom," starring Eugene Hutz, Richard E. Grant and Stephen Graham, will screen in the Panorama section, outside the main competition, a festival statement said Thursday. Organizers didn't specify whether the 49-year-old singer will come to Berlin to present the movie. The event, which runs from Feb. 7-17, is the first of the year's major European film festivals.

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Mischa's New Year's gig still on

Mischa Barton is still set to host a New Year’s bash in Las Vegas this weekend. “We are aware of Mischa Barton's incident last night, but at present she is still expected to host the CatHouse Grand Opening at Luxor Las Vegas on December 29th,” a rep for the lounge said in a statement. “ We will let you know if anything changes." The O.C. alum, 21, was arrested at 3 a.m. yesterday morning after police spotted her weaving between two lanes of traffic in West Hollywood. She was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana, according to a Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy Sgt.
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Sean and Robin Wright Penn split

Sean Penn and wife Robin Wright Penn are divorcing, their rep, Mara Buxbaum, confirms. No other details were immediately available. The couple, who've been married 11 years, have two children together, Hopper Jack, 14, and Dylan Frances, 16. Penn, 47, and Wright, 41, began dating in the early '90s and married in 1996. They also have starred together in several films, including 1998's Hurlyburly and 1997's She's So Lovely, directed by Nick Cassavetes. "Marriage ain't easy, but it's great most of the time," Penn told Entertainment Weekly in 1997. "I love Robin. I've always loved her." In the same article, Cassavetes was asked about working with the couple. "The beginning and the end of every day is how Sean and Robin are getting along," he said. "If they have a bad morning, Sean's broken up about it." Penn's most recent film, Into the Wild, which he directed, is drawing awards buzz, with four SAG Award nominations and two Golden Globe nods.

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Jessica Alba engaged

Mom-to-be Jessica Alba was spotted over the Christmas holiday with a rock on her left ring finger – and the rumors are true: she and boyfriend Cash Warren are engaged, her rep confirms. "I can confirm that they are engaged," said publicist Brad Cafarelli. Earlier this month, the couple announced that they are expecting a baby. Alba, 26, has been dating Warren, 28, since the fall of 2004, after they met on the set of her movie, The Fantastic Four, on which Warren was a director's assistant. Alba has also starred in Sin City and the recent Awake.
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Update on Mischa's DUI

Mischa Barton was arrested in West Hollywood early Thursday morning, authorities confirm. The former star of The O.C., 21, was pulled over at 2:46 a.m. after her vehicle was seen straddling two lanes of traffic and she failed to signal when making a turn, according to an L.A. County Sheriff Department statement released Thursday. She was arrested for DUI and driving without a valid license. "During Ms. Barton's detention, it was determined that she was an unlicensed driver and was driving while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage," according to police. "Ms. Barton was arrested and transported to West Hollywood Sheriff's station where the booking process was completed without incident." The investigation is ongoing. Shortly after 10 a.m., a West Hollywood deputy said: "Ms. Barton has been released from sheriff's custody after she posted $10,000 bail." Initially, police also said she'd been arrested for possession of illegal narcotics, but no more details were available. Barton is currently scheduled to host the opening of the new Las Vegas restaurant and lounge, CatHouse, over the weekend. A representative for Barton did not immediately return a request for comment.

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Brangelina's fast food Christmas

The Brangelina brood had a finger lickin’ good Christmas in New Orleans. Days before the holiday, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, were spotted strolling hand in hand as they shopped at Harry’s Corner and Santa’s Quarter in their French Quarter neighborhood. Later, Jolie took daughter Shiloh, 19 months, on a walk around town, letting her munch on Lay’s Chips and Cracker Jacks. The actress — who has admitted, “I’m not much of a cook” – proved that point when she and Pitt (in a white Nissan minivan) went through a McDonald’s drive-thru and picked up Happy Meals for their kids on Christmas Day. The day after Christmas, the family – sans Shiloh – hit the AMC Palace Theater to take in the family flick The Water Horse. And on the way home? They hit up another fast food restaurant: KFC.

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Leo and Bar: back on

Despite their brief break in October, Leonardo DiCaprio, 33, and Bar Refaeli, 22, were spotted holding hands at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills on Dec. 20. Are they back on? "They were never really 'off,'" a DiCaprio source says. "It was always a distance thing. Leo was making a movie in Morocco [this year], and Bar had her modeling career." Refaeli's mom, Zipi, says: "Bar is working all over the world. Says the DiCaprio pal, "It's a struggle to make a relationship like theirs work, but yes, they're together."

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Lindsay denies drinking before 2005 crash

Lindsay Lohan says she was sober before a 2005 car crash near Beverly Hills. The 21-year-old actress is being sued for negligence over the accident in which her Mercedes-Benz hit a van and injured the driver, Raymundo Ortega. Ortega, a busboy, alleges Lohan had been drinking at The Ivy restaurant before the crash even though she was underage at the time. Ortega is seeking at least $200,000 in damages from Lohan and the restaurant. But in a Dec. 15 declaration, Lohan stated: "I did not consume an alcoholic beverage or any type of medication or drug" either before or during her restaurant visit. A call to Lohan lawyer David Ozeran wasn't immediately returned Wednesday. Lohan's declaration was filed Friday in Superior Court by lawyers for The Ivy along with other documents, including a declaration by the waiter who served Lohan. The server, Adam Novicki, said Lohan didn't order alcohol. Alonzo Howell, a Los Angeles police officer who was providing security for The Ivy that day, also said he didn't see Lohan drinking. Lohan has countersued Ortega, citing a California Highway Patrol report that said he was at fault for the crash because he made an illegal U-turn. Lohan served 84 minutes in jail last month after pleading guilty to misdemeanour drunken driving and cocaine charges unrelated to the 2005 crash.

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Brendan Fraser splits from wife

Brendan Fraser announced Wednesday that he and his wife of nine-years, Afton, are ending their marriage. "They continue to maintain a close and caring friendship," a publicist for the 39-year-old Canadian-born actor said in a statement. The couple wed in 1998 and have three children.

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Paris's inheritance goes to charity

Paris Hilton's future bank account has just taken an enormous hit – on account of her grandfather. Barron Hilton, the 80-year-old son of the founder of the worldwide hotel chain that carries the family name, has earmarked 97 percent of his vast fortune – nearly $2.3 billion – to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, to help the homeless with housing, find safe water in developing countries and assist other good causes around the world, it has been announced. To Barron's heirs – who include Paris – will go the remaining three percent: some $69 million, which is said to be taxable. According to calculations by New York's Daily News, Paris, who once foresaw a $100 million inheritance, is now likely looking at $5 million. In a statement, Barron Hilton said that his father, Conrad, had set the example and bequeathed 97 percent of his money to the charitable foundation, which the elder Hilton founded in 1944, "and I am proud to follow my father's example." Hilton has eight children and numerous grandchildren in addition to the 26-year-old celebrated Beverly Hills socialite.

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Mischa Barton arrested for DUI

Mischa Barton has been arrested for DUI, possession of illegal narcotics and driving without a valid license. The former "O.C." star was pulled over early this morning around 3:00 AM as she was driving in West Hollywood, Calif., and is still in custody, being held on $10,000 bail. More to come as story develops...

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Fergie and Josh Duhamel engaged

After 3 years of dating, Fergie and Josh Duhamel are engaged, his rep confirms. "Fergie called a lot of her girlfriends today to tell them the news," a source close to the singer said. "She said they don't know what kind of wedding they want yet, but that she is the happiest girl on earth." The Las Vegas star's rep would say only that they got engaged "recently," but not on Christmas. TMZ.com first reported the engagement news Wednesday. Fergie was seen sporting a diamond ring on her all-important digit back in November, during the American Music Awards, but her rep denied the engagement rumors then.

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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

I would like to extend warm wishes to all of my readers and fellow bloggers for a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. I am taking the next few days off to spend with my family. I'll be back very soon. Take care over the holidays and I look forward to lots more fun together in 2008!!

xo

Anna

Britney's date with a paparazzo

Britney Spears is taking her love for paparazzi attention to a new level! Spears reportedly spent early Sunday morning in a Beverly Hills hotel room with a paparazzi photographer who regularly covers the troubled pop star. According to reports, the pair was holed up in Spears' room at the Peninsula Hotel until the wee hours of Sunday. The photographer, whose first name is Adnan, departed the hotel at 6 a.m. Sources say Spears left at around 9 a.m. and returned to her nearby home off Mulholland Drive. But when contacted, the photographer denied any romance, saying, "We are just friends. She was just a little upset, pretty much about everything." According to Splash News Online, Spears' "wild date" began Saturday night with the photographer, who works for the Finalpixx photo agency, handing Spears his business card at a gas station after he heard she "liked" him. Soon after getting his card, Spears contacted him and, after meeting up, the pair was later spotted holding hands at a supermarket. "After discussing the possibility of him coming into her house she said that her house was too dirty and that she would rather go to a hotel," Splash reports. "So they changed cars and she went back to her house to freshen up while Adnan parked down the road and waited for her. She then came out in her car and they both drove to an L.A. hotel." As of Sunday afternoon, a source says Spears was at her Beverly Hills home with her two children, Sean Preston and Jayden James.

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Katherine Heigl ties the knot

With a light snow falling outside, Katherine Heigl exchanged vows with musician Josh Kelley in scenic Park City, Utah. The private reception was witnessed by Grey's Anatomy costars T.R. Knight – who said it was "incredible and beautiful" – and Sandra Oh, as well as Private Practice star Kate Walsh and new husband Alex Young. Taking place in a small, private tent at the Stein Eriksen Lodge, the nuptuals lasted about 30 minutes in an area decked out in white flowers and white candles. A walkway from the tent to the nearby reception was lined with white candles, illuminating the fresh snow. The ceremony was officiated by Unitarian minister Tom Goldsmith. Heigl walked down the aisle to an acoustic song written by Kelley and performed by a cello and guitar players. According to a source, the bride and groom wrote their own vows. The bridesmaids wore red. The two met in 2005 when Heigl, 29, appeared in a video for Kelley's song "Only You." Kelley, 27, an Augusta, Ga., native, said in November that he was excited about marrying the actress. "It's about showing someone you love that you're actually capable of the ultimate commitment," he said. "We're madly in love and she makes me excited to become married and to have a family and spend my life with someone. We're fairly opposite but we also share a lot of the same values." The couple spent the week before their wedding making last minute preparations. On Wednesday, they spent the day running errands in Los Feliz, Calif. and Heigl got her nails done at Fancy Nails. While there, she happily posed for photos before deciding on fire engine red polish for the big day. Afterwards, the two lunched at French bistro Figaro with Heigl's mom Nancy and Grey's costar T.R. Knight. On Friday, they met with Rev. Goldsmith at his church in Salt Lake. "Two friends were with them," says a source. "Katherine and Josh seemed happy and relaxed." Guests for the wedding began arriving in Salt Lake on Thursday and prior to the ceremony, Heigl enjoyed a "really feminine and small" bridal shower with 15 friends. A rehearsal took place on Saturday. The actress recently told Vanity Fair that she had no misgivings about marriage. "It's a crapshoot. The odds are really bad, especially in this town," the actress says. "But I have a lot of faith in Josh, and I wanted to have that one day when I stand in front of my friends and my family and honor him and how important he is in my life."

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Michelle reports to jail

Actress Michelle Rodriguez began a 180-day jail term in Los Angeles on Sunday for probation violation, the second Hollywood celebrity after Kiefer Sutherland to face a Christmas incarceration. According to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept. records, the former "Lost" star checked in to Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, south of downtown Los Angeles, under her given name, Mayte. Michelle is her middle name. Rodriguez must serve the full stretch in the overcrowded jail, where sentences for minor crimes are often cut short. In November, actress Lindsay Lohan served 84 minutes of a 1-day sentence, while reality TV starlet Nicole Richie was released 80 minutes into her 4-day term in August. A judge sentenced Rodriguez in October for violating her probation on previous drunken-driving and hit-and-run offenses, and specified that she not be granted work furlough, early release or home confinement. Rodriguez admitted failing to complete community service obligations. She was also found to have consumed alcohol on at least three occasions while wearing a monitoring bracelet around her ankle, in violation of a probation requirement that she refrain from drinking for 90 days. The probation violation stems from a 2004 plea of no contest -- the equivalent of guilty -- to three traffic offenses in Los Angeles, including hit-and-run and drunken driving violations. She was previously sentenced to 60 days in jail for a probation violation in May 2006, but was released after just four hours and 20 minutes due to overcrowding. Rodriguez rose to fame in 2000, playing a feisty pugilist in the indie film "Girlfight." She went on to star in such movies as "The Fast and the Furious" and "Blue Crush." Her "Lost" character, police officer Ana-Lucia Cortez, was killed off after about two dozen episodes. Sutherland, the star of the action series "24," began a 48-day term in another Los Angeles-area jail on December 5 for drunken driving.

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And The Winner Is...

Entry 19 - Alison & Gail's Christmas

Congratulations Alison & Gail - you have won the Absolutely Beautiful Christmas competition!!! Thank you to everyone who entered the competition and also the other 2 finalists Felicity & Nancy congratulations to you too. Thank you also for all of the votes we received. It really was so wonderful to have such a big response to this special Christmas competition!!! I can't wait to see which cushion Alison & Gail select as their prize. I'll be sure to post the cushion once they have made their decision!!

Merry Christmas!!!
XO
Anna

Nicole and Joel find the meaning of Christmas

In their first major charitable outreach since announcing the launch earlier this month of the Richie-Madden Children's Foundation, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden on Saturday hosted a holiday party for children and families from L.A. homeless programs. More than 200 children and their family members enjoyed a "winter wonderland" on the Paramount Studios lot featuring teddy bears, cookies, cupcakes, face-painting, clowns, holiday music, Santa Claus and his elves. Children, selected from the L.A. homeless program Beyond Shelter, were able to choose from a teddy bear mountain of 500 "Cuddle Cub" stuffed bears. "It was a no-brainer for us to pull this party together for them for the holidays," Richie, who is pregnant with her first child, said. "We want to do much more to address the homeless issue, especially where it puts children at risk. But for now, we can at least try to help them have a merry Christmas by giving them teddy bears and getting them fitted for shoes. That's something we can do right now, today."

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Jessica avoids jinx

Jessica Simpson knows when she's not wanted. The starlet was an apparent no-show at Saturday's Dallas Cowboys game against the Carolina Panthers in Simpson's native Texas – a week after fans criticized her presence as a distraction to her boyfriend and Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Romo, 27, had a great game this time, rebounding from his Dec. 16 performance, when Simpson, in a pink Cowboys jersey, watched from a luxury box. After the 20-13 win over the Panthers, Romo told reporters that Simpson, 27, was indeed watching the game – and even hinted that she may have been in attendance. "I know she saw all of that tonight," Romo said after the game, when asked if Simpson had seen fans wearing masks of her face. "She was at the game tonight, so I don't know." He added, "I don't talk about my personal life." After Romo endured the worst game of his professional career last week, fans of opposing teams started the website RuinRomo.com, which offers a Simpson mask that visitors can download, print and wear to games in an effort to jinx the star quarterback. This week, Romo told the NFL Network that Simpson was bothered by the negative attention. "I don't care how the perception is of me," Romo said. "But it hurts me when it hurts people that are close to me... That's part of being in the public eye."

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Two More Sleeps...

Whilst browsing around blogland today I came across this beautiful Christmas image on Modern Country blog which I had to share. I have loved seeing everyone's Christmas inspiration around the world and the way in which others celebrate and prepare for Christmas in their home. We have been counting down the days in our home with Harry announcing this morning that there are only 2 more sleeps to go!! Don't forget I will be announcing the winner of my Christmas competition tomorrow night (Christmas Eve) at 8.00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time. Voting will close tomorrow night at 6.00pm Aust. EST so please do cast your vote for one of our finalists below.

Brit's mom's book still in the works

Lynne Spears' second book, Pop Culture Mom: A Real Story of Fame in a Tabloid World, is still in the works despite earlier reports that it had been shelved, the same week that Jamie Lynn announced she was pregnant at age 16. "It is her memoir, not a parenting book," Lindsey Nobles, a rep for publisher Thomas Nelson, said Friday. As for when the book is due, Nobles says, “We don’t know. We don’t have a new publication date. It is still in the process of being written.” Meanwhile, the company – which publishes Christian books – has released a statement supporting Lynne in light of Jamie Lynn's pregnancy scandal. "Lynne's remarkable story will provide a window into the real-life world of fame and worldly success, including the terrible toll it extracts from those who aspire to it," Michael Hyatt, the president of Thomas Nelson said. "Though the book has been delayed, we believe God is at work." "The story is still being written, and we are confident in His ability to turn ashes into beauty."

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Teri Polo welcomes daughter

Teri Polo and her musician boyfriend Jamie Wollam welcomed a baby girl Thursday. Daughter Bayley was born at 3:02 p.m. in Los Angeles and weighed 7 lbs., a rep for the actress says. This was the first child for Polo, 38, and Wollam together. They also each have a son from previous marriages: Polo has Griffin, 5, and Wollam has Carter, 9. Polo, best known for playing Ben Stiller's fiancée in Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers, announced her pregnancy last fall, saying: "It's my favorite role – being a mom." Polo and Wollam have been together since 2004 after they met on the set of a music video for his former band, Avion.

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Britney is "still shocked"

Things are even more hectic than usual for Britney Spears. On Thursday, after spending a cozy afternoon at her Beverly Hills home with sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, the singer scheduled – then canceled – a session at Millennium Dance Complex. "She wanted to try out a new dance routine," says a source. But, in the wake of her 16-year-old sister's surprise pregnancy announcement, the studio was swarmed by hoards of photographers. When Spears, 26 – who had been kept in the dark about the baby news until the story broke on Tuesday – saw the crowd, "she freaked out and just kept driving," says the source, who was on the scene. "Britney said that she doesn't want to deal with the media because she is still shocked [about Jamie Lynn's pregnancy news]," adds the source. "She feels that she needs peace and quiet." Spears, however, was friendly with the photogs during a shopping trip with her assistant. The duo stopped by Carl's Junior, and, although Hollywood offers plenty of great shops, Spears hit a souvenir store where she picked up (and posed with) a Tinkerbell t-shirt and a pink bedazzled onesie.

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No shotgun wedding for Jessica

Jessica Alba is expecting a baby, but don't expect the actress to look like it if she gets married! Us Weekly reports in its new issue that Alba, 26, and boyfriend Cash Warren, 28, who split July 22 only to reunite in late August, currently don't have plans for a wedding. In fact, a source said, "She doesn't want to be pregnant in a dress!" But a wedding was on Alba's to-do list just before she broke up with Warren. "She wanted to get married, but Cash wasn't ready," says a source. Nuptials or not, Alba's family is looking forward to her having a baby. "We're all thrilled for them," Alba's brother Josh said.

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A Beautiful Gesture

Recently I have been enamored by the work of illustrator and decorative designer Patricia van Essche. Introduced to me by fellow blogger and friend Ronda from the fantastic blog All The Best, Patricia has very generously painted a few of my vignettes above and also a beautiful Birthday gift - she painted me at my 30th Birthday back in October this year. Patricia has certainly had a wonderful career thus far working for 15 years in New York as a designer and design director for Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein & Liz Claiborne. These days Patricia offers a wide range of design services through her business PVE Design. I am looking forward to asking her to paint a few more things for me in the new year for Black & Spiro. Thank you for these beautiful paintings Patricia - you are certainly one very talented and generous woman and I am one very lucky person to be receiving such a beautiful and thoughtful gift!!

Angelina disturbed by weight scrutiny

Angelina Jolie admits she got too skinny this year but says she was bothered by all the negative scrutiny. Jolie, 32 — who says she lost weight while grieving over her mother's passing in January — opened up in the new issue of Grazia magazine. “The thing that’s disturbing is that instead of people saying, ‘This looks like a person that’s actually dealing with something, probably from emotions,’ they say, ‘Does she fit into skinny jeans and look thin?’” Jolie said. “I want people to understand who I am as a person is not somebody that’s trying to look thin, but just trying to work through a very difficult year,” she said. Jolie said she got through her death of her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, thanks to the support of her beau Brad Pitt. “He is just a great friend and when my mother passed, he was so great,” she said. “He sat with me and held [my mother’s] hand. After she passed away he spent the night asking me and my brother about our mother and got us to tell funny stories about her. “He focused on all the love and joy we were fortunate enough to have had,” Jolie said. “He was extraordinary.”

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Tom's kids call Katie "Mom"

Katie Holmes gushes that husband Tom Cruise is a "great father and husband" and says his two children with ex-wife Nicole Kidman are "incredible, really smart and kind." "They call me 'Mom'," Holmes says in this week's Parade Magazine of Cruise's first two children, Isabella, who turns 15 this month, and Connor, 12. (Ouch - their mom Nicole Kidman recently revealed that they don't even call her mom.) The 29-year-old actress says she's looking forward to spending the holidays cooking and skiing in Telluride, Colo., with Cruise, their baby daughter Suri, and both sides of the big family. "Last year was Suri's first Christmas. It was so spectacular to share the holidays with her," she says. "It really meant the world to me. To be able to create a tradition for your children is one of the best gifts you can have." Her one-year marriage to Cruise, she says, is another gift. "Oh, we have so much fun," she says. "Tom has introduced me to so many new experiences. I have done things I never thought I would do, like climbing mountains and flying in the P-51. That's what is so inspiring about being with him – constant thrills and joy." After taking a two-year hiatus from her acting career, Holmes stars in the upcoming film Mad Money with Diane Keaton and Queen Latifah. She says the three of them had a blast: "We got our morning female talk in the trailer every day." She tells Parade that Tom was very excited for her to do the movie, and that he loved hearing all the stories. He has a great understanding of "the female bond" because he has three sisters, she says. "He was raised by a single mother and has two daughters," she explains.

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SAG Award noms announced

The Screen Actors Guild, which represents film and television actors, on Thursday nominated the performers in grim crime thriller No Country for Old Men and western 3:10 to Yuma for best ensemble cast in a movie. Joining them on the list for SAG's top award were the casts of musical Hairspray, crime drama American Gangster and wilderness tale Into the Wild. In the category for best film actor in a drama, SAG nominated George Clooney for his role as a troubled attorney in Michael Clayton, Daniel Day-Lewis in oil prospecting drama There Will Be Blood, Ryan Gosling for heartwarming comedy Lars and the Real Girl, Emile Hirsch in Into the Wild and Viggo Mortensen for crime thriller Eastern Promises. Film actress nominations went to Cate Blanchett for drama Elizabeth: The Golden Age," Julie Christie in Alzheimer's tale Away from Her, French actress Marion Cotillard for her role as singer Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose, Angelina Jolie as the wife of slain journalist Daniel Pearl for A Mighty Heart, and Ellen Page in teen pregnancy comedy, Juno. The Screen Actors Guild Awards, which will be given out on January 27 in Los Angeles, often indicate who will be nominated for the film industry's top honors, the Oscars, because actors make up the largest group of Academy Award voters. But unlike the Oscars, which are given out by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, SAG also hands out awards in TV categories. The top TV award is best cast in a drama and that grouping featured familiar names like The Sopranos, Boston Legal, Grey's Anatomy, The Closer and cable TV newcomer, Mad Men. The nominees for best ensemble cast in a TV comedy also featured a list of programs that have been nominated for past Hollywood awards, including 30 Rock, Desperate Housewives, Entourage, The Office and Ugly Betty.

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Brad's next project

Brad Pitt may be climbing into Terrence Malick's Tree of Life, replacing Heath Ledger in the gestating drama. According to Variety, Pitt is in talks to join the River Road-financed project, which will also feature Sean Penn. Ledger had been attached to the lead role as recently as late October and the trade paper gives no indications as to what happened to the Brokeback Mountain star's participation. Nobody knows much of anything about the Malick-scripted drama except that production would begin this spring. Ledger was circling a leading role originally earmarked for Colin Farrell. Penn's role in the project would only be a supporting turn (no contracts have been signed), especially since he'll be playing the title character in Gus Van Sant's Harvey Milk. The trade paper says that although Pitt was expected to collect a $20 million against gross paycheck for State of Play, which he exited last month, he'd only receive a fraction of that for "Tree of Life." Pitt has finished work on The Curious Incident of Benjamin Button and Burn After Reading, both set for release next year.

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VOTE TODAY

Today is the last day to vote for the 3 finalists in my Absolutely Beautiful Christmas Competition so please cast your vote for your favourite entry TODAY. I will be announcing the 3 finalists tonight at 8.00pm Australian Eastern Standard time. Thanks everyone who has voted so far!

Lily Allen announces pregnancy

British singer Lily Allen is pregnant with her first child, her rep confirms. The 22-year-old "Smile" singer has been dating the Chemical Brothers' Ed Simons, 37, since September. "As the pregnancy is at a very, very early stage, the couple ask that you respect their privacy," her rep said in a statement. "The couple will be making no further comment but they are obviously both thrilled by the news." Allen, whose 2006 debut album, Alright, Still, sold nearly 2 million copies, recently talked about her desire to step out of the limelight and start a family. "Maybe I could retire at 25. I'm only going to do one more album, she told Britain's Sunday Times in November. "It's a great job, but it doesn't leave time for what's important. Like having a family," she added. "I'd like to live in the country and have a walled garden, and chickens and pigs." Despite the pregnancy news – first reported by Britain's The Sun – Allen's rep said, "Lily's new album will be released as planned next year."

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Britney found out the same way you did

Britney Spears found out about her 16-year-old sister's pregnancy the same time everybody else did, a family friend says. "This is going to kill her," the friend says. "In the end, she'll be supportive, but this is a big shock." Another source says there's no rift between them, but that Jamie Lynn's advisors have tried to keep her apart from her 26-year-old sister. "Britney doesn't have to listen to anyone now but her sister still does so who knows what people are telling her," says the source. "She has her career now too. Things have been put on hold for Lynne Spears's book about raising her famous daughters Britney and Jamie Lynn, the publisher confirms. "The book is delayed indefinitely. It's delayed, not cancelled," says a spokeswoman for Thomas Nelson, which publishes inspirational books and Bibles. It had been scheduled for a spring 2008 release and was put on hold last week, says the rep. On Tuesday, news hit that 16-year-old Jamie Lynn is pregnant with her boyfriend's child. Publishers' Weekly described the book as "Lynne Spears's personal story of raising high-profile children while coming from a low-profile Louisiana community." The publisher declined to comment on whether the focus of the book would change in light of the pregnancy announcement. "We are standing behind Lynn at this time and understand that she needs time with her family – we support that," says the spokeswoman.

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Britney's teenage sister is pregnant

Britney Spears's 16-year-old sister Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant, Nickelodeon confirmed Tuesday. "We respect Jamie Lynn's decision to take responsibility in this sensitive and personal situation. We know this is a very difficult time for her and her family, and our primary concern right now is for Jamie Lynn's well being," says the network, which carries her series Zoey 101. A rep for Spears was not immediately available for comment. The network statement follows internet reports that Spears's mother had confirmed the pregnancy to OK! magazine. Spears, a high school junior who is 10 years younger than Britney, had until now escaped much of the attention about her personal life that has surrounded her sister. Jamie Lynn stars as a schoolgirl at the fictitious Pacific Coast Academy in Zoey 101, finishing its third season next month as one of Nickelodeon's highest-rated shows. She recently told the Associated Press that didn't have a serious boyfriend. "I kind of just keep my options open," she said. "I have a bunch of friends that I always hang out with, a bunch of guy friends." She added that her priority was to focus on her real-life schoolwork before considering any additional TV series or film roles. "I'm going to try to graduate before I do anything else," she told AP.

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Amy Winehouse arrested

Amy Winehouse was arrested Tuesday in London on suspicion of attempting to interfere with a court case involving her husband, her rep says. "I can confirm that she did go in voluntarily to be interviewed and was placed under arrest, as is common practice in the U.K., before being questioned," her rep said. "She hasn't been charged with anything." Blake Fielder-Civil, 25, is charged with conspiracy involving alleged witness tampering in his upcoming assault trial. He will spend the holidays in jail as he awaits a January 18 hearing. A source denied a recent News of the World report that Winehouse, 24, and Fielder-Civil, 25, have a suicide pact if they both are sentenced behind bars for a long time. "That is an old story that keeps being regurgitated and changed around for each story and is absolutely not true," the source said.

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No politics in Brad's future

There will be no “Senator” title in Brad Pitt’s future. Despite the Hollywood heartthrob's dedication to Make It Right, a program Pitt launched to build 150 homes in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, worth $150,000 each, he told Newsweek he is quite happy to stay on the other side of politics. “Not a chance,” Pitt said. “[That’s] the same reason I won’t direct. I don’t think it’s my place. Besides, you can create acts of social disobedience from the outside.” When asked if he thought it was the government’s job to rebuild the houses his organization is focusing on, Pitt said he was glad Make It Right help to put the focus on the continuing troubles of New Orleans for the election season. “It certainly illuminated that a certain portion of society is not being looked after. I think it should be one of the major issues of the upcoming campaign,” he said. “This is a proving ground for so many issues: education, health reform, poverty level, unemployment [and] violence that comes from these conditions.” Despite Pitt’s well-documented love of architecture, the actor is sticking to helping out on aspects other than the design board for the project. “We didn’t want to stifle these minds in any way,” he said. “We put forth the criteria that the housing would have to be sustainable, affordable, safe and beautiful. This has been one of the age-old challenges in architecture: how do you find aesthetics with affordability?” In other Pitt news, the actor said his plans for the holidays are minimal – he’ll be spending it with his family. Just don’t expect any Jolie-Pitt caroling. “I wouldn’t say we have real singing talent in our family,” he said.

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Ali Larter engaged

Heroes star Ali Larter and her longtime boyfriend, actor Hayes MacArthur, got engaged over the weekend. "It's true," says a rep for the actress. "They're thrilled." This will be the first marriage for both. No wedding date has been set. Larter, 31, has made it clear she has been more than ready for a proposal from MacArthur, who recently appeared in The Game Plan. "I told my boyfriend after three weeks that I wanted to marry him and that we could do it tomorrow," Larter recently said. "I look forward to that time when I'm home with babies." And in August, Larter she was madly in love, adding that MacArthur has "brought light to my life. I feel lucky every morning when I wake up and see him."

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