Scandal, Thursdays at 10 p.m. on ABC

Gasp! Quinn returns to Gideon’s apartment to find him gasping for breath and clinging to life.  Shaken, she naturally calls Olivia-not the police- for help.  Over at the White House, Billy is shaking too.  He was ruthless before but now he’s a murderer and he’s trying to come up with a plan.  In the Oval office, Cyrus is holding another scolding session with President Grant about last week’s late night visit to Olivia’s house.

Gideon couldn’t hold on, so now Olivia has assembled her team in his living room.  They decide (Olivia decides) to go the illegal route, which is to clean up the murder scene.  Why?  Well, because Quinn isn’t really Quinn and the only way to protect her identity is to not have her linked to a crime scene.  The team doesn’t take the news lightly.  As if they all don’t have a secret, shady past the team , they gripe about the fact that Quinn is a mystery to them and something about risking going to prison for destroying evidence.  Olivia stands firm: Quinn is now their client.

Desperation has it’s benefits, because Billy has come up with a plan that will allow him to get away with murder and still take down the President.  He interrupts a press conference to announce his resignation effective immediately.  He admits everything that Gideon was going to tell, admitting to his affair with Amanda and the pregnancy. After quoting some scriptures (yeah, he went there) he spoke of how “shocked” he was to find out about Amanda’s affair with the president.  If only he had gone this route 24 hours ago he could have avoided adding murder to his list of skills.

So while the press is going crazy over the scandal du jour, things are falling apart from the inside out.  The district attorney confronts Olivia’s team about scrubbing a crime scene.  He knows.  Following Stephen’s advice, Quinn pays Harrison a dollar and voila! She officially has counsel.  They aren’t about to let the D.A. take them down like that.  The president confronts the VP on how her “boy” Billy could pull a stunt like this and she not know of it.  She let’s him know, she wants no part of Billy or him.

While her team is fending off the district attorney, defending Quinn, and avoiding jail, Olivia has a meeting in the men’s room. She let’s Billy know that she knows he is a murderer.  He doesn’t deny it.  He knows some “angel” cleaned up the crime scene. She wasn’t expecting him to know about that.  So she plays the next card.  She tells the D.A. the truth about Billy and he believes every word.  But reminds her that since she scrubbed the scene and broke the law, he has nothing and will do nothing.

She’s got to get justice for Gideon and Amanda.  Since the D.A. won’t help, she goes to her team.  She makes Huck promise not to kill Billy, but ask that he makes sure he gets his.  It’s not long before Huck finds his assassin friend and explains they’ll need a suicide note or something sad.  Wow!

So while the Cyrus, Olivia and the president try to come up with a plan, the First Lady is way ahead of them.  This time, Olivia is the one confronted. The First Lady, makes it clear that she has done her job, smiling and being supportive, but that she’s disappointed in Olivia.  Not because she hasn’t been devoted to her husband’s success but because she let that girl get into his pants.

Yes, she knows about the President and Olivia.  And as far as she’s concerned, Olivia fell down on the job as a mistress, so she’s taking the reigns. The plan is, she’ll say it was her on the tape, an intimate moment between husband and wife.  Oh, and she’ll get pregnant to solidify the family image. A wife’s work is never done.

But there’s one last loose end: the vice president.  The President needs her to get on board with her public support.  But Langston isn’t having it.  She gets on her moral high ground with her strong conservative convictions.  That’s when the president backs down, he asks how her 13 year-old daughter is doing and how it must have been hard on her and her husband giving permission for that abortion she had last year.  Then he offers a quote of his own:  He who is without sin, cast the first stone.  Finally, the real zinger is, Billy killed Gideon, but it was Cyrus who ordered the hit on Amanda.

Congratulations to Shonda Rhimes and the cast! Scandal has been picked up for another season.

Scandal airs on Thursdays at 10 p.m on ABC

Last week’s episode picked up with the President standing in Olivia’s living room. The attraction between them is magnetic. Rewind to two years ago to see how it all began.  The president was a governor on the campaign trail.  Sally Langston, was kicking his butt in the polls.  Olivia stands, wearing a buttoned up jacket, denim, boots and a hair barrette, to tell him that the reason he’s losing is because the public thinks things are “icy” with his wife.

He tells Cyrus to fire Olivia Pope.  Olivia over hears him and delivers a soliloquy on her dedication to the campaign and how he was lucky to have her.  He agrees, “You’re right.  I would be lucky to have you.” The pheromones and sparks are undeniable. He wanted to get rid of her because he knew he wanted to have her. They immediately began trying to resist the chemistry between them.

Meanwhile, Mellie, the governor’s wife, is willing to do whatever it takes to help her husband win the election, even if it means talking to him. Which results in a gain at the polls, but doesn’t secure the women’s vote.  But that’s not the scandal.  Not then, not now.  The scandal then was that the future first lady, was accused of having an affair.  Pictures surfaced that linked her to Paul Mosely, who once had a career that involved toe sucking techniques amongst other things.

Being the supportive wife that she is, Mellie breaks down at a press conference.  She tearfully admits that she had a miscarriage but couldn’t allow their personal loss stand in the way of her husband’s campaign.  Just as the governor was falling for it, she hugs him and whispers, “That ought to take care of it.”   And it did.  He secured the women’s vote!

Back on the trail, you could feel the heat between governor Grant and Olivia.  Instead of going into her own room late one night, she and Grant go to his room together. They fumble through their first kiss before he whispers, “take off your clothes.”  We see the full interlude, including the flashing light at the bottom of the bed.  Someone was listening.  The sex tape from two years ago wasn’t Amanda, it was Olivia!

Back to the present.  Gideon, Quinn’s boyfriend/crappy reporter gets a visit from Billy, former campaign manager for Sally Langston and friend of Olivia Pope (remember, he tried to warn Olivia about Cyrus a few episodes ago).  Gideon accuses Billy of having had an affair with Amanda.  Billy berates Gideon for his stupidity. Then he admits he was the source that delivered the sex tape, the log of Amanda’s visits with the President, and that he set the whole thing up.

Gideon isn’t phased by the attacks on his intellect.  He informs Billy that he knows Amanda was pregnant by him and can prove it.  Desperate, Billy grabs a pair of scissors and stabs Gideon, leaving him gasping in a pool of blood.  I didn’t see that coming. Now that’s conflict resolution for you.

Tomorrow night is the season finale. Will you be watching?  Scandal airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on ABC.

A Cafe and A Volcano!

The one thing that I missed while in Costa Rica, was that I couldn’t get my Scandal fix. When you’re in the middle of the jungle, some things just have to wait.  So while I was M.I.A. in Costa Rica, Amanda Tanner was M.I.A. in D.C.   Olivia Pope was trying to find out who, what, where with Amanda, and her associates Harrison and Quinn are looking for the “why” behind a plane crash, that included a well known senator as a passenger.

Olivia enters the district attorney’s office, charcoal jacket, gold bracelet, and her signature Prada handbag, to enlists his support in finding Amanda.  In the meantime, Huck the suit-less, gladiator on the team is hot on the trail of a personal acquaintance, an assassin, that he believes is connected to Tanner’s disappearance. After some subdued posturing and taunting about Huck’s name, he refuses to cooperate.

The pilot was a woman.  Not just any woman-a woman with a past that includes AA meetings.  Words like panic, pms, and sober hover over the investigation.  Her husband doesn’t waiver that his wife was sober, competent, and innocent.  And he wasn’t the only man standing up for the woman he loved.

Amanda Turner’s father filed a missing person’s report, but it’s too late, Amanda is dead. While Olivia is reeling from that news and Amanda’s father in her office, she gets a call from the Kryptonite King himself, President Grant.  He assures her he had nothing to do with Amanda’s death.  She doesn’t doubt him, but she doesn’t give in either.  ”If you didn’t kill him, we both know who did.  If you let a pit bull off the leash he mauls a baby, no one blames the dog.  You let Cyrus off his leash, that’s on you.”  Dial tone.

The investigation continues for the plane crash and luckily Olivia’s team finds the one flight attendant who called out.  She confirms that the pilot was as dry as day old bread and never missed an AA meeting, just like her husband said.  Olivia holds a press conference to beat the airlines to delivering the news. While the pilot’s husband is grieving over his wife and her missing body, Olivia taps Huck to go back into black ops mode and find Amanda Tanner.

At the oval office, the President is testing Cyrus, questioning him on how he feels about hearing the news that Amanda Tanner is dead.  Cyrus shows no sorrow and makes no apology for it.  Meanwhile, he has a casual political conversation with the First Lady, in which he expresses his dislike for going to political extremes.  The First Lady makes the comment, “there isn’t a person in this building who isn’t willing to go to extremes for you.”  That woman is dangerous.

Meanwhile, Stephen interviews one of the airline mechanics and makes a startling discovery.  Harrison continues reviewing the black box until he hears the faint lines he needs to confirm that panic didn’t cause the crash, there was something wrong with the plane.  Huck visits his friend Charles with duct tape and a drill.  That’ll teach Charles to make fun of some one’s name.

The report that confirms the plane had mechanical issues is found, as is Amanda Turner’s body.  After an emotional evening, Olivia is at home alone when she hears a knock at the door.  Guess who?  It’s Mr. President.

Scandal Airs Thursdays on ABC at 10 p.m.

The Next Great Adventure

I’ve got enough to worry about with traveler’s checks, cash, passport and getting my hair products through customs.  The last thing I need is the stress of keeping up with a towel that cost more than some mortgages. It made packing the simpler things so much easier and my luggage made it in at under 50 pounds. Stay tuned!

Scandal airs on Thursdays at 10 p.m on ABC

A knock in the middle of the night, a bottle of Cereza, a pregnancy test, and an army. That’s how Enemy Of The State, last night’s episode of Scandal, kicked off.  Who wouldn’t need a glass of wine in the middle of the night when you’re representing the woman who was having an affair with the same married man you were having an affair with?  But there’s no time for glass number two.  It’s off to the office to meet with a dictator whose wife and daughter have been kidnapped.  Impeccably dressed and fluent in Spanish, Olivia takes the case.

She visits former mentor Cyrus’ home to discuss the indiscretions of the president. “Did he take precautions?”  Cyrus asks, ‘Did he take them with you.’ Then he warns her, “We’re not friends anymore. Don’t come here again.”  Now that the welcome mat has been officially rolled up for Olivia, she meets with Amanda  who has officially come undone.  She turns down an offer of $10 million with, “I’m not going away…I want him to burn for this.”  Olivia needs a minute and so do I. This was a consensual relationship and she was aware that there was a first lady, not Olivia and any other side chicks, but definitely a first lady.

Back at the White House, Cyrus has hired an outside team to investigate Olivia and her staff.  The results? Abbi was married to the son of a governor who beat her black and blue, before being rescued by Olivia.  Harrison worked for a private investment company that went down for insider trading.  He was represented pro bono by Olivia. Huck was CIA, and they still have his back. Or maybe he has enough info on them that they don’t want him investigated.  Quinn, the new hire, didn’t even exist until 2008. And Olivia Pope-clean as a whistle. They don’t know Olivia had an affair with the President and Cyrus intends to keep it that way.

At a women’s shelter across town, the dictator’s wife seems relieved.  That was no kidnapping, it was an escape route. She doesn’t love him anymore, he’s not the man he used to be. We’ve all been there. Olivia returns her to her husband trying to play it like she worked things out with the kidnappers.  After being called out by her staff, she tries to help the wife escape only to watch the dictator their daughter from her arms.  Quick on her feet, Olivia reminds him that if he takes the kids, his wife will get a book deal and be the face of scorned wives international, and a hero to millions.  That changes things.  He returns the kids and works out visitation. Who says tyrants are unreasonable?

A similar conversation takes place at the Oval Office.  Cyrus tells the President he should resign or he’ll be impeached and end up with a book deal that no one will read, sex tape leaked, wife gone, and interviewing with Barbara Walters.  The President decides to ask the first lady (without confessing, of course) how she would feel if all of this ended one day.  Her mouth said “what’s wrong” but her expression read, “As if…”   Once the President realizes his wife will not support the downsizing of his dreams or power he goes back to Cyrus with a few scenarios of his own.  The ooh, ahhs on that sex tape could be anybody.  He’s not resigning.

Cyrus scurries over to Olivia’s office to declare war on Olivia Pope.  While Olivia prepares her staff for what’s next, Amanda gets an unexpected visitor.  A ninja puts some Jackie Chan moves on Amanda and carries her out of her apartment caveman style. Turns out she goes away quite easily.

Scandal airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on ABC.  What did you think of this week’s episode?

Scandal, Thursdays at 10 p.m. on ABC

The plot thickens and the critics circle. In this week’s episode of Scandal, Hell Hath No Fury, the scandal du jour involves a spoiled 27-year-old on trial for rape. He’s the son of one of Olivia’s friends, a judge.   He’s so concerned about these charges that he sleeps late and wakes up with jokes.  Back at the white house, the President is having trouble getting shut-eye.  Convinced that Starbucks wasn’t going to get him through the day, the First Lady forces a sleep-in.

Meanwhile, Golden Boy has never actually said he’s innocent of these rape charges. Instead, he wants to increase the dollar amount of the offer, since the first one was rejected. He makes the mistake of saying “they always take the money in the end.” This isn’t his first turn as “the accused.” While Olivia and her associates work on that, there are new developments in the ongoing scandal.

A mysterious package arrives for the President.  It’s an audio file of the President and Amanda involved in a Marvin Gaye moment.  Of course, Silas declares it black mail. Not just from Amanda, but Olivia as well. Amanda is clueless and Olivia would need a sick day if she heard that tape.  I’ve got money it’s one of these ambitious reporters or (gasp!) the first lady.

While Stephen confronts Olivia that representing Amanda is a conflict of interest, she receives a call inviting her to a states dinner at the white house. Olivia arrives in a white gown. Innocently enough the First Lady encourages the president to dance with Olivia.  Completely oblivious, they comply.  As if on queue the orchestra strikes up a romantic AMC classic song. With his wife just ten feet away, he asks Olivia to meet him at their spot in ten minutes.

Olivia begins making her way to the rendezvous point only to be intercepted by Silas, who doesn’t hesitate to share his thoughts on her affair with the president.  Olivia responds, “You want to be careful with how you speak to me because I might forget that we are friends.”  But Silas doesn’t scare easily.  ”What he told you he loved you? You’re going to meet him at your spot? You’re being played…”  Olivia doesn’t have time to gain her composure before Silas has her escorted off of the property. But he’s not done. He tells the president that Olivia was playing him.

The truth comes to light.  Olivia reaches out to the judge a.k.a. Enabling Mother and has a real conversation about how not to get played.  Mom agrees and Mr. Silver Spoons is arrested.  And finally, the President has an ‘aha’ moment and asks the first lady why she invited Olivia to the states dinner.   She puts on a stepford wife smile that suggests she knows more than she’s letting on. You don’t think her and Silas are in this thing together, do you? Nah!  Olivia pressures Amanda for proof of her affair with the President.  It’s not the audio, the cute dog, or a blue dress.  Amanda’s pregnant!  I don’t care what Robert Bianco says, this is getting good!

What did you think of tonight’s episode?  What do you think of Scandal?

Jennifer Lopez for Vogue, Shape Issue

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Scandal, Thursdays on ABC

If you missed Scandal last night, here’s the recap.  This week Olivia Pope and associates are representing Washington D.C.’s finest madame.  In fact, only Quinn, the eager and impressionable new-hire, is the only one unaware of who this woman is.  In true-to-life fashion, she’s been exposed by one of her girls and is now on the hook, not for justice but for the list that holds the names of her clients.  Not wanting to jeopardize her dual role of devoted grandma, she’s holding out and looking to Pope to keep her only ace.  Just when we were convinced that Olivia only goes after the bad guys.

Meanwhile, Quinn is at the hospital watching over the President’s aide-turned-mistress, who is recovering from her suicide attempt.  She happens to meet a tall, handsome stranger who seems to take an interest in Quinn and her hospitalized “friend”.  But this guy isn’t interested in a date.   He asks one question too many, and even Quinn can see through him.  He’s with a little known news outlet and he’s gotten wind that an aide attempted suicide the day after quitting her job at the White House.  Coincidence?  He thinks not.  After Quinn shoos him away, she realizes that he’s not the only one who’s left.  The mistress has not only awakened, but has dipped out of the hospital.

The next time we catch up with Pope, she’s being served papers.   She’s got to produce the madame’s list of clients in two hours.  The madame is adamant about not kissing and telling.  One of Pope’s fellow good guys, Stephen, tries to persuade the madame.   After all, his name is on the list and he makes it clear, that he’s willing to air his dirty little secret as well.  Mind you this is a secret from the public and the fiancé he proposed to at the end of last weeks premiere episode.  All of his co-workers know.  Pope particularly doesn’t care.  She makes it clear they all have their secrets.

The bombshell in this situation is that one of the clients on this list has been hand picked by the President and is about to be appointed to the Supreme Court.  He maintains his innocence with indignation at the allegations.  They want him to step aside.  He tells Olivia & Co. to take a hike.  While Olivia is trying to avoid exposing a man who her gut tells her is innocent.  She finds out that the mistress has gotten away from Quinn.  Of course she’s at the only logical place she’d go-her apartment.  Which has a lovely pastel pink hallway, I might add.  I digress.  Anyway, the mistress has summoned some courage from her hospital stay and tells Olivia, “you made me want to die.  Leave me alone.”  Well Olivia doesn’t take orders and is quite good at blocking a door slam.  It’s then that the aide demands an apology from Olivia, very softly, of course.  Olivia gives the apology, and gives Quinn more step-by-step instructions.

Back at the office, a light bulb goes off for Olivia when Abby goes on a bit too long about why a good-looking guy with wavy hair like Stephen, would use the Madame’s services.  Olivia’s gut was right.  The judge’s name wasn’t on the list because of what he’d done.  He was on the list because of what his wife did.  Turns out she used to work for the Madame.  That’s right, he turned a hooker into a house wife.  And while he was in school, she had paid the way-even for Georgetown.  She had told him that she had a part-time job working the night shift, kind of.  I always thought a judge was supposed to ask questions.  Oh well.  Before the credits rolled we were left wondering if the judge would forgive his pretty woman.  Of course, the President tried to lay a few player moves on pope, which she tearfully resisted.

Next week we can look forward to more wardrobe changes and a plot that thickens.  Scandal airs on Thursdays at 10 p.m. on ABC.

Try adding lemon to your skincare routine

My quest for a skin brightener has halted.  At least for the moment anyway.  I mentioned before that I had found some products that showed promise (yes, results). However, I soon discovered the power of a natural ingredient-lemons!  Yes, it turns out that if you add a little lemon juice to your facial cleanser, you will notice a much brighter complexion.  It’s like waking up your skin.  And we could all use a little pick me up here and there.

Over time, your skin can get that dull look.  That definitely means you need to exfoliate.  Still, you might notice that your skin, may just not look alert, bright.  Most cosmetic counters have a skin brightening cream to wake up your complexion.   But before you invest that, try lemon juice.  Hello!  It works.  I tried it initially with a little baking soda. Just one squeeze of lemon, cleansed and rinsed.  Not only did it feel invigorating but I noticed a difference immediately.

Now here’s the rub: lemon juice delivers all over brightness.  So if you have hyper pigmentation issues, you would have to spot treat.

It doesn’t smooth your skin or change texture.  So if you have resurfacing issues, you’ll still need another  product.

The great thing about this is that a lemon cost all of $0.99.  Some have experienced a slight sting (I didn’t), so just see what your results are.

The thing is, it is a natural product and like other products that you put on your skin, it’s going to keep working.  So I would suggest that you be diligent about using sun screen and try it just a few times a week.

Have you integrated natural ingredients into your skin care routine?  Let me know.