News

Set your DVR and Tivo! This evening, 11:00PM EST Jill Zarin will be interviewed on a very special 30m episode of Watch What Happens by Andy Cohen. Jill will be the only guest. This is a Bravo first! Jill will answer questions and turn the tables on Andy and ask why she was fired. Don't miss this interview!

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Dear Friends and Family,

I've had four amazing years on The Real Housewives of New York City. I'm grateful for the experiences and friendships I've made on the show. I've certainly learned a lot about myself and others. The show has decided to take a different direction and unfortunately I will not be a part of Season five. I have received literally thousands of tweets, emails and Facebook comments from fans all over the world, from Australia to Alaska, and that has meant the world to me. More than you could ever know.

For all the people who have supported me and wished me well, you can see me on a new show that will be announced soon. I will also be making personal appearances around the country promoting my new line of shapewear and leggings called SKWEEZ COUTURE. For more information continue to visit jillzarin.com and follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

As my husband Bobby always tells me "When one door closes, many will open."

Love and Kisses
Jill
XOXO

Let me hear what you have to say about part 2. To receive my exclusive extended blog, sign up for my newsletter.

Hello everyone. I hope you all enjoyed watching Part 1 of the Reunion. I had a great time watching it with Cindy Barshop and some friends. Firstly, I would like to say that I love hearing from all of you who write me. I have been very fortunate to be flooded with emails from you but it is getting a little difficult to manage them all. So please, instead of emailing me, leave your comments on JillZarin.com. I will see them all more easily and timely. If you have an autograph request, a recipe, a travel tip, or want to share something that is of a personal nature please email me at jill@jillzarin.com and my assistant will handle accordingly.

Thank you all for all the nice compliments last night on how I looked! I very much appreciate them. Many of you asked how I get my hair so straight. Blow dry and then flat iron. Simple. The amazing necklace I wore is from Carolina Amato.

I normally don't like writing blogs that contain very little positivity. Throughout the season I know our blogs can get very catty toward each other but I always try to add the nice things as well. Bobby and I always say peace and love is the most important thing. I try really hard to stay on that path. When it comes to blogging about a Housewives reunion, unfortunately it's just not going to be filled with pleasantries. Bravo gets us together at the end of each season to talk about the controversies that went on throughout the season and the ensuing months. Needless to say there's not a lot of positivity to write about, so all I can give you is my honest opinion on a few of the situations discussed.

When Ramona and Alex set me up early in the season at the wedding I reacted to what they did and called Alex a name. But what did they expect? They did it to get a reaction. The only thing I regret is the language I used. Remember, this was before we made our truce. Alex used this to retract our truce. In the five months since we burned that paper I did not talk behind her back. Every chance she got, she took a shot at me. The things she said about me on camera this season were before she knew what I said about her at the wedding. Everything she said was after we had a so-called truce. I'm an honest person. When I made the truce with her I meant it and I kept it. Yet I watch the show and I hear her telling Simon that she never really liked me, etc... Also in her and Simon's blogs this season, they never missed a chance to take a shot at me. So why forgive Sonja who never gave an apology, yet break our truce? Alex said something to the extent of "real friends fight and make up." If that was the case and Alex wanted to be my real friend she would have let that go like she did with Sonja. She realized she couldn't fight with everyone and still stay on the show so she chose Sonja's friendship. That's her choice, but she never should have led me to believe that she wanted to be my friend. It's obvious that she was playing on both sides of the fence. She was looking for a reason to fight with me and used something I said under my breath once over four months of filming against me.

It takes both people to make a friendship work. When Simon threatened me, I could have done the same thing she did but I chose peace over pettiness. I wish Alex would have done the same. The truth is I did like Simon and Alex when I met them and I would have much preferred to spend the past four years building a friendship instead of tearing each other part. Sadly, I was not surprised to hear Alex condones aggressive behavior from her husband toward her friends or women in general. It was obvious all season as she never stepped up and spoke to Simon about the things he was doing and saying to any of the Housewives.

Did you happen to notice Ramona's body language when she doesn't want to talk about something? When it was brought up about Mario confronting me recently, Ramona just wanted to skip it instead of apologizing for Mario's inexcusable behavior. Andy wouldn't let it go. This was a party held by a mutual friend of ours and there is also another mutual friend of ours who was witness to Mario shoving me with his hand and getting in my face and saying "I want to talk to you." Ramona needed to acknowledge that it happened and ask her husband to apologize. She at least admitted that she didn't see the incident which is different than what she said in the press after it happened. We all got choose what we say in our intros this season and it's interesting to note how Ramona wanted to present herself. "If people can't handle the truth it's really not my problem." This reinforces her pattern of hurting peoples feelings and not caring about what people think and feel. We all say things sometimes in anger and I'm as guilty as the next person but at least I'm adult enough to apologize.

I honestly got very upset that Ramona continued to bring up Luann's children. Before season one we all agreed, no kids, keep the drama between us. Ramona crossed the line and went as low as she could go. Ramona has no boundaries for the emotional damage she causes. She can give it but she can't take it. For the past two seasons she has relentlessly talked about Luann's marriage. Yet when I commented (what I thought was a private conversation, as you can see the camera didn't see me only heard me) she thought it was the worst thing ever. She can dish it out but can't take it. It's obvious how uncomfortable she made Luann. Ramona wouldn't let it go, she kept hammering her and I couldn't take it. Someone had to stand up and say "enough" and I literally did. I walked off the set. Ramona should check her own house before throwing stones.

I want to take a moment to get something straight regarding Bethenny. Ramona continues to say that she tried to help Bethenny and me make up. What she's not saying is that the day Luann and I went to her house it was 9am and we thought we were going to help her clean out her closet. I had no idea that Bethenny was going to show up, but Ramona made sure that Bethenny knew that I would be there. Ramona knows that I do not do well with surprises in stressful situations. It was the wrong time to get my mind ready. The island was her chance to make things right and yet Ramona threw me out. Despite Ramona and Alex's efforts to keep us apart I am happy to say that Bethenny and I have since been in contact. Who knows what the future will bring.

I want to end by saying this. The blondes continue to think that just because they say things it makes them true. In answer to that philosophy I have this to say, "You stop lying about me and I'll stop telling the truth about you."

Until next week.

Love,
Jill XO

Hello everyone. Bobby and I just came back from a fabulous trip to London. We went to visit our friends Robbie and Ayda Williams and to see Robbie and his band, Take That play two incredible shows at Wembley Stadium. I can't even begin to tell you what a great time we had. The British people were amazing and they love Americans. While there we did a lot of tourist type activities, including visiting Windsor Castle, sightseeing and of course we shopped at Harrods. I also ate so much fish and chips I almost had to swim the Atlantic Ocean to get back home!
We flew Virgin America Upper Class and it was fabulous. They no longer have spa services, but they did provide us with access to their Upper Class Lounge at Heathrow. Also, when you fly in Upper Class you go through a private security line for boarding so there's no wait. Here's a travel tip for you. If you are buying duty free make sure you do it at least an hour and half before your flight is scheduled to depart. I waited too long to make my purchases and the duty free was closed to my flight. Apparently they have one person who brings everything that people have purchased to the plane and once he has left he cannot come back. Duty free is then closed to the flight.
When I got home I filmed an episode of Iron Chef America on Food Network where I am a guest judge. It was so much fun. I can't tell you much else at the moment as the episode won't air for awhile. I will tell you though that I am on my way to being an official foodie.
On tonight's episode you see me having a brain scan. I was actually surprised to find out that my memory is above average. In hindsight, I guess I do have a pretty good memory. I just lack focus sometimes and that causes me to forget things. This is something I constantly have to work on. While I was having the brain scan I kept asking Sonja questions about why she didn't want to be in Luann's video. It wasn't important if she wasn't in the video, but I could sense she wasn't being honest. Luann and Sonja have been friends for over ten years. It was important to Luann and sometimes you have to do things for other people. Even if she just went to Atlantic City to show her support for Luann it would have been better than not going. Bobby took the day off and drove two and a half hours to be there. Cindy came down later in the day and even though she wasn't in the video, she was there for Luann. It's a shame that Bravo chose not to show that.
I'll leave it up to you to decide whether Ramona's argument about parenting styles with Luann was valid considering the scenes Ramona has done over the past four years. The hotel scene with Mario, turtle time, just to name a few. I have my opinion and I'm sure you have yours. My daughter was not embarrassed to see me in an evening gown, sitting in the back of a limo or lounging by a pool in a robe. After all, it's not like I was in lingerie rubbing my husband's feet.
My jaw dropped when I heard Simon refer to Luann as Countess with the O removed. See you next Tuesday? OMG! What a horrible thing to say about your cast mate and friend of the last four years. Once again we see Alex defending the indefensible when she gave in and agreed about the boys being able to drink when they are seventeen years old. I also hope Alex was kidding when she said the word "class" was forbidden in her household. Why would "class" be forbidden but yet Countess without the O is acceptable?
It was a nice to see Ramona sharing a moment connecting with Avery doing something she enjoys. The Hip Hop dancing looked like a lot of fun and it was nice that Alex and Sonja joined in.
I thought it was great to see Alex and Simon having a party in support of the arts. What a great thing to do. I saw the hurt look in Simon's eyes when Mario made that comment about Brooklyn. Alex and Simon were trying so hard to impress their friends by hosting the art exhibit in their home. Even Ramona was embarrassed.
We had such a good time making Luann's video in Atlantic City. It was much more work than I expected but still fun. I wish Luann nothing but the best with her music career. I would like to thank Jersey Murray who was the stylist for the video. You saw him on the episode. He did such a great job. He just started his own agency blackicemanagement.com. I wish him great success. You can also follow him on Twitter @stylebyjersey.
I wanted to give a mention to Patti Dvorak who was helping me paint my apartment a few episodes ago. She is GIFTED and available to travel all over the world. Please check her out at http://pattidvorak.com.  
One more episode to go! Please send me any healthy, summer recipes you would like me to share with everyone or any other ideas you may have for this newsletter. You can write to me at Jill@JillZarin.com.
Love,
Jill

Hi Everyone,

As you read this I am in London with our friends Robbie and Ayda Williams for his European tour with Take That. We are going to two sold out concerts this weekend at Wembley Stadium. We have a weekend planned with horseback riding, spa treatments and lots of great food. I will post photos in my next newsletter.

Tuesday we rang the opening bell at NASDAQ! I was surrounded by family and friends and it was an amazing thrill. It was in honor of my acting debut on White Collar which aired Tuesday night. It was the thrill of a lifetime and I hope to do it again one day. (It will be sooner than you think!)

We spent a great 4th of July weekend in the Hamptons with Kelly and her girls. Ally was with us too. We went shopping, had a bonfire, played miniature golf and I even played a little tennis with Sea. She has huge potential and I loved playing with her! I started doing pilates again, which works miracles for me. My parents are coming next week and I can't wait to just relax with them at the beach club. I really miss them.

I can't believe it is week 14 already. It seems like this season is flying by. Two more episodes to go and we are on to the reunion. This weeks episode was fun for me to watch. Allyson is in college and I miss her terribly. She decided to transfer this fall and will be attending school in the south. It will be fun to visit her there this fall! We are so proud of her. She continues to follow her passion and just returned from working with children in Africa. Allyson is an incredible person and I love her more and more everyday.

When we were having lunch, I nearly died when she told me she wanted to be a "sex columnist!" I would support anything Ally does, but a "sex columnist" !!! Maybe she was teasing me to see my reaction? Shopping with Ally is very special as well. As she has grown into a young woman, I value these times more and more.

What did you think about Luann teaching Victoria how to drive? I remember only a few seasons back Bobby and I were teaching Ally how to drive. Time flies.

Did you all enjoy seeing Chris March on the episode? He is a sweetheart and his new show Mad Fashion will debut on Bravo, August 2 at 10:30pm. Be sure to tune in.

I absolutely loved being in the studio with Luann and Chris and hearing Chic C'est La Vie for the first time. It is a fun song and I hope Luann does great with it.

I want to end all of this bickering about mean tweets etc. Bobby doesn't care when the girls go at it because, well, that's what we all signed up for. He does object to a man/husband attacking me in any way, (on the show or off). He doesn't think men should get involved in the fights. He thinks men need to be men and stay out of it.

Bobby and I both talked to Simon about our relationship and hope we can finally move to a more positive place. I decided to not publish anything or talk anymore about the hate, and move on to more positive and interesting things that we are all doing. I believe Simon feels the same and would like to just move forward. Honestly? It is so juvenile.

I have been busy working on expanding Jill Zarin products and wait until you see what is coming! I get so much feedback from each and everyone of you and I am developing products you have asked for. I can't wait to share what they are!

I want to close by thanking all of you for watching White Collar this week. I just received word that this weeks ratings were outstanding! "White Collar delivers season highs, ranking as one of the top cable telecasts of the day." How incredible is that!!

Have a GREAT weekend!! See you next week!

Love,
Jill XO

Hi everyone!

It is 100 degrees outside! It is August? I am really loving my time off and trying to reconnect with friends I haven't seen all winter. Last weekend Bobby's sister Zina and her husband came to visit us from Florida. We had a great time and went to a few BBQ's in the Hamptons. I went back to the city to see my friend Irina Dvorovenko in Lady of Camellias at the MET. I cried. It was a love story and Irina really brings all of her soul to each performance. We went backstage afterwards and she let me touch her stomach. She had just drank some water and it felt like an alien was trying to escape. She had danced intensely for 3 hours and her body was still recovering. I posted some photos on Twitter and Facebook. If you get a chance to be in NY on June 27th, she and her husband Maxim will dance Swan Lake. I can't wait to see them dance together!

This weekend I am hosting some of my girlfriends from Harpo/Oprah who were so generous and invited me and my family to see one of Oprah's final shows. They have never been to the Hamptons so I am obsessing over what to show them. I have spent the last week finalizing packaging for Skweez Couture. I can't decide which colors to go with and I hope I don't make any mistakes. I am going to Las Vegas this week for a trade show and then back to the Hamptons. Allyson comes home this weekend from Africa. I will post some of her photos in next weeks newsletter.

We very recently hit 50,000 newsletter subscribers. Thank you all so much. That 50,000th person was Debbie Clark from New Hampshire. She will be getting a phone call from yours truly!  Thank you all so much. The next goal is 55,000 and that person will receive a call as well.

I really wish I believed Ramona's feelings about our talk. I, along with many of you, thought it was an act and she has continued to lie about me in her blogs which shows the kind of person she really is. She hits below the belt and thinks it's ok. I can't listen to her continue to say she sometimes puts her foot in her mouth and thinks that it is alright to do so. Only to then throw stones at me if I say something she doesn't like. I really don't know what to do about our relationship at this point. I guess we'll see what happens at the reunion.

I don't see the chemistry between Alex and Ramona and I think that is also an act. More so on Ramona's part. I guarantee after the show ends, Ramona never sees Alex again. Sound familiar? You never see Bethenny tweet or talk about her "best friends" from last year, do you? I am real. If I want to be friends with you, it doesn't matter if there is a reality show or not, I will make an effort off camera. I see and/or speak to Cindy, Luann, Kelly and Sonja outside of the show. In my heart, we are friends. After Ramona and I "talked" it was was comforting to be able to have real friends to go to. Upon watching the episode I was amazed at Ramona's ability to turn on and off the water works virtually at will.

The scene when Alex walked in on Luann was so funny. Alex said Ramona was vulnerable and sad giving us the image of her crying upstairs and all the while Ramona and Sonja were laughing and sneaking out of the house. Ramona's pain over our fight didn't last long did it? Alex is desperately trying to insert herself into scenes and sometimes things don't make any sense. Her stomping into the room with full drama just didn't work. It came across as a bad entrance in a play. Just as Kelly said about Alex being Alexa again on stage at Northwestern. I actually feel sorry for her.

The exchanges between Alex and Kelly seemed like a role reversal of Scary Island. I know I have tried to have a relationship with Alex so when we film it is real. A producer told me about the fight while I was getting my poodle hair done and I had two choices. One was to go back to my room and shower the hair out, the other was to walk into the scene and help her. I chose the latter. At that point I was really trying to be nice to Alex and see if we could have a friendship. I know she felt better after I walked over. I know I did the right thing.

The trip to Morocco was truly amazing, from the Riad, the Souk, the camel ride to the tent in the desert, just to name a few. I want to thank Luann for being the hostess. I know we're not the easiest group! It was also nice to meet up with my dear friend Brad in such an amazing place. In midst of all the drama I have special memories that will live in my heart forever. I hope that all of you enjoyed watching these episodes and seeing the beauty and mystery of this exotic country.

I've included some of my personal photos from Morocco in this newsletter. I hope you have enjoyed seeing them.

Have a great weekend!

Love,

Jill
XO

Be the 50,000 person to sign up for the Jill Zarin newsletter and Jill will email you and set up a personal phone call with you as a thank you! It's that easy! We are fast approaching #50,000 so sign up now here on jillzarin.com.

Each week Jill sends out an exclusive newsletter with her extended Real Housewives Of New York blog. Be the first to see Jill's thoughts on each episode! The newsletter also includes recipes, private videos and pictures etc that are exclusive to the newsletter.

Sign up and see what you have been missing out on!

Episode 6...here we go!
Cindy invited me over to see her apartment for us get to know each other. After all, we are going to spending a lot of time together! I knew she was friends with Ramona so I was a little nervous but I knew when I first met her she was my kind of girl. We both come from Long Island, both Jewish, and we are the same age. 
I had just come back from Australia and was really shocked at the stories everyone told me when I came home. No wonder soap operas are being replaced by reality shows. You couldn't make this stuff up.
When Cindy said "Ramona's core is not good" it validated a lot of the feelings I have had over the years. We have a lot of friends in common. Cindy said "we have our ups and lows" (she meant downs) but we accept Ramona for who she is. What the heck does that mean? Why would anyone accept someone who makes so many condescending remarks and offers little respect to anyone? Cindy said "her core is not good." Is she right? I always try to find the good in people. I let a lot of things go with regards to Ramona and years have passed. Maybe it's time to take a serious look at our friendship. Ramona invited us to a wine tasting party this week. Even though Bobby had to come home from work a little early to make it, we showed up. Am a just a glutton for punishment? 
Side comment..how cute are Cindy's little girls? I am available for babysitting! 
Chris March, from Project Runway, totally outdid himself. He is so talented. Chris call me! 
I have been to the costume store shown in the episode many times for many costumes but NOT the one I wore on Halloween two years ago on the show. I paid under $100 for the entire costume from FRANCO. (available at Halloween stores) If I rented something at this costume rental place it would have been around $350. I was really sick that day but didn't want to disappoint Sonja. I was on cold medicine so I was acting very silly! We tried on so many costumes, I was exhausted. Luann looks so beautiful in everything but the Scarlett O'Hara costume was perfect.
Meeting Cindy's ex boyfriend/baby daddy for the first time was interesting. I don't know what I expected but I wouldn't have picked him out of the "lineup." I see Cindy with a wall street banker (yin and yang theory). One thing I do know? These babies were the most wanted children in the world. Even though her situation is not traditional, if it works for Cindy, I am happy.
When Sonja is getting ready for the party, we hear her talking about her divorce putting stress on her financially. This is a premonition of what will come. When Sonja said "I don't have a man around the house", I wanted to add she has many and they are all so cute! I loved the car she was in! How fun would it be to be driven around in that all day!
Cipriani is a fabulous event space in NYC that is often used for charity events. They also have an exclusive wine cellar that I had heard about and was very excited. Sonja talks about her fabulous parties and when she said it was a masquerade ball I imagined a long table with waiters behind each chair lifting a silver plate cover at the same time. I actually went to one of those at MOMA last year and had created a fantasy in my head. Bobby and I brought three friends. Two were potential dates for Kelly. Ryan is the gorgeous one in the mask when I walk in. (I know, hard to tell with mask on!) A little inside info? Ryan is staring on Bravo's NYC version of Million Dollar Listing!
Ramona was a little "tweaked" when she arrived. Everyone really went all out with their costumes. I have to admit I was a little disappointed. I expected this elaborate dinner and all we were offered were hors d'oeuvre and drinks. Where was dinner? I told Bobby not to eat lunch because we were going to a big fancy party. Maybe it should have been called a masquerade cocktail party instead of a ball. 
When Sonja bent down and I saw her tushie...I died! I immediately put my hand over it. My first reaction was she honestly left it at home. I asked Kelly and Cindy and they both thought she did it on purpose. I said no way! She would never want to show it on TV. never! Then when I saw this episode, did she say she left it home on purpose?
Alex and I were in a good place that night. Though we aren't meant to be the best of friends, I am still hopeful we can all get along.
Going with Cindy to the dentist was one of my favorite scenes ever! In our book Secrets Of A Jewish Mother we have an entire chapter dedicated to Beauty and Health. We give advice on how to find everything like the best Doctor to the dreaded word "exercise"!
Was the scene with Jennifer and Ramona staged? Ramona looked so shocked by the words the bride was saying as if they hadn't discussed it a thousand times. They both make me sick. I thought the bride and I were friends. After all, she asked me to recommend her to be a Housewife and get an audition which I did. I never thought in a million years the two of them would set me up. Ramona did it last year with Bethenny at her house and now with Alex at the wedding. Different circumstances but the same goal. To catch me off guard, press my buttons and get a reaction. Then when she gets a reaction, she blames and criticizes me for reacting. She openly admitted to enjoying doing this to me the morning of the wedding in episode one. Why didn't Jennifer tell me in advance that she invited Alex? She knew how I felt about her at the time and it should have been my decision if I wanted to go. Jennifer has told mutual friends that she felt used by Ramona. People left early and couldn't believe they weren't told there would be a film crew there. It didn't say anything on the invitation. People had to hide away from the eight cameras all over the yard. The music had to be turned off or worse, play Bravo house music due to clearance issues. It was embarrassing. I kept apologizing to people as if I brought the cameras. I didn't. Ramona did. Remember at Ramona's house she said "why tell Jill? That would ruin the fun?" So why is she so surprised if I was mad at Jennifer?
I had just came back from Australia and the party was my first time seeing Ramona since the wedding. My friend Vince drove me and I came to support Ramona as I always have in the past. I was having a nice conversation with some of the guests when Ramona had to pull me away and attack me. The bride was across the room. Again, Ramona is mad at me over something someone else said I said. I said, "bring her over"! I had NOTHING to hide. Whatever I said I meant. Details not important. He said, she said, all I know is Ramona invited me to her party to make a scene so her party wouldn't get cut from editing. That's how it works. If you have a lot of housewives and fight at your party, it is a virtual guarantee to make final editing. I showed up to Ramona's party to help her and once again, she uses me. But this time, I was calm. She was wired and acting insane. Everyone had been talking about her attacking Howie at Cindy's Birthday party and a lot of other things regarding Ramona.
Ramona refused to bring Jennifer over to talk to me to my face but she didn't expect me to see her on the way out. I spoke to Jennifer and it is what it is. We both remember it differently and will never agree as to what happened. But Ramona? She says I should talk to her face, I say "fine lets have lunch" and she says " I'll think about it"? She didn't expect me to be so calm. She thought if she pushed my buttons again I would react. I have changed. I listened to her "complaints" and offered to meet her alone for lunch to talk about it. I asked her a few times for lunch and and you will see what happens.
By the time she "balled me out" and embarrassed herself in front of all her guests, I was really hurt. I realized once again that no matter how hard I try to "show up" and be supportive for certain people, it will never be enough. If I was really bad mouthing her behind her back for years do you think it would have taken her this long to confront me? Are you kidding. Ramona has no self control and even if she wanted to hold it in, she couldn't. Ramona is a drama queen. He said, she said. Enough said. 
I think I will take my toys and go home.
 
Love,
Jill XO