Let’s Light the Christmas Tree

Tonight, a longtime holiday tradition continues in New York’s Rockefeller Center with the 76th annual tree lighting ceremony. While New Yorkers like myself know better than to brave the crowds in midtown until well into next year, tourists and tree-lovers alike flock to the landmark to take part in the festivities every year.

Jewelry hounds will be happy to note that the glittering star on top of the 8-ton, 72-foot Norway spruce is a miracle in and of itself. The Swarovski sparkler weighs in at a whopping 550 pounds, is over 9 feet tall and is made of 25,000 glittering crystals. What a way to ‘bling’ in the holiday season!

Tony Bennett, Harry Connick, Jr., Jamie Foxx and Beyonce are among the entertainers scheduled to perform, and Britney Spears is expected to officially ‘light’ the 30,000 energy-efficient LED bulbs that sit on over 5 miles of wire.

Other important guests include a Pascagoula, Mississippi family whose new home was built in part with lumber from last year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, an 84-foot-tall Norway spruce.

Light for the holiday season, and light at the end of the tunnel. A wonderful sentiment and a glittering way to mark the official start of the holiday season.

NBC will air the entire ceremony tonight at 8pm.

Diamonds Rock the VMAs. And a Phoenix Rises From the Ashes

We all waited with bated breath. Will she stumble over her words? Will she attempt to dance? Or (gasp!) sing? Will she no longer have the Miller Lite paunch and the chin acne? Much like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Miss Britney Spears did herself proud at the VMAs on Sunday night. And a nation breathed a sigh of relief.

Stunning in a pair of diamond drop earrings, Brit Brit took home three coveted Moon Men and made nary a misstep as she introduced the show and gave quick, heartfelt acceptance speeches.

Before the show, the red carpet revealed more diamond divas as Pink dolled up in Neil Lane diamond and platinum bangle bracelets, black diamond flower earrings and a diamond Right Hand Ring.

Diamond wrist-wear was the bling of choice for Lauren Conrad. Paris Hilton and model, Bar Rafeli, worked the statement necklace trend and the big earring brigade included Spice Girl, Mel B, Cristina Aguilera, and reality star, Brooke Hogan.

While the fashion impressed, the show itself got mixed reviews. Host, Russel Brand, created controversy over his spat with the Jonas Brothers and their virginal promise rings. What is he going to do? The trio practically threatened to give MTV a Disney make over with their sweet little three-part harmonies and floppy hair cuts. Sorry, America. I ain’t buyin’ it.

Or maybe Russel and I just miss the days when you might see Nirvana’s bassist clubbing himself in the face with his own guitar, or that guy from Rage Against the Machine climbing the set fixtures. I'm just saying...