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A Huge Bedazzled Elephant

Caroline gives her thoughts on all The Brownstone drama.

By Caroline Manzo

How to Watch

Watch The Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 14 premiere May 5th at 8/9c on Bravo and stream next day on Peacock.

So here we are, Episode 2. Time flies when you're having fun, right? I would have to imagine that most of you feel this week's episode was pretty tame in comparison to our premiere. To that I say, "Thank God for tiny miracles!"  

OK, let's get started. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, seeing yourself as others see you is a gift. It may not be the best gift at times, but nevertheless it's still a gift. As I watched myself having the conversation with Teresa as she explained the events of the christening, I saw myself being very abrupt in my delivery. I don't really have an excuse for it, it was what it was. Maybe I was PMS-ing, who knows. The bottom line is I didn't like what I saw, however good my intentions were.

I do have to admit that hearing Teresa say she didn't need my advice was a little hurtful. If nothing else I've always tried to have her back and have a very real understanding of the burden she's been carrying over the past couple of years. I've tried to be as supportive as I could. I was only trying to help, if Teresa felt I was overstepping my boundaries, I apologize.

On a lighter note, look at my LaLa Lauren! First before I forget -- I almost passed out when I saw the footage from a couple of years ago of Albert and me. Oh my, how we've changed! For the better I hope! I love the evolution of Lauren; she went from a timid little girl with no direction to a very secure young lady that knows what she wants out of life. She's a force to be reckoned with for sure! Watch her journey, you'll be inspired as you see her navigate her way through life's twists and turns. I'm proud of my girl. Xoxo!

I'm going to skip all of the other in between stuff and go right to the fashion show at The Brownstone. Two things had me worried that night. First was the crowd. It was huge. I worried that we were oversold and the room would be too crowded and people would start to complain. Thank God my honey handled it, there's nothing worse than an angry mob of tackily dressed women! The food was great, the service fantastic, and the fashion show went off without a hitch. Again, thank God for tiny miracles!

I have to admit that the whole aura of the night was bizarre. Here we had a group of women together for the first time after a major incident acting as if nothing happened. I don’t know about you, but to me there was a huge bedazzled elephant in the room. VERY uncomfortable. Hence my second worry.

I must admit that Melissa rocked that runway; she walked it like she owned it, like she was meant to be there. Good for her. Jacqueline was adorable, so very Jacqueline in her walk, her vibe was fantastic. I felt bad when Teresa walked, because she seemed uncomfortable in her own skin. I think we all can agree that Teresa is not ashamed to put it out there, and that night she wasn't her "fabulicious" self. I'm glad she walked, and I'm glad the crowd responded well to Teresa and Melissa both.

Now the part you've all been waiting for -- the conversation between Teresa and Kathy. I only know one thing; here we have a group of women that have a time bomb within each of them ready to explode. For the life of me I don't know why Kathy chose to have a conversation with Teresa that evening. Why? Why would you bring up such a sensitive subject in a public place? Let's not forget that the christening fiasco was only a week before. No one had reached out to anyone prior to that evening at The Brownstone to discuss the events of the christening, and I felt that the fashion show was neither the time nor the place to have that conversation. I didn't know what Kathy said to Teresa to set her off at the time, but I knew one thing -- not in my house. My husband works entirely too hard, and I wasn't about to let a spectacle go down under his roof. I was mortified as I watched Teresa's mother go after Kathy followed by Joe Giudice's mother as well. I can't imagine for even a minute what they were thinking. Heartbreaking.

Bottom line is this; what happened between Kathy and Teresa in that room is none of my business. You can bet your last dollar that if the incident would have been allowed to escalate, that's all those 500+ women in the room would have talked about. Forget about the great fashion show Posche put on. Forget about the good food and time spent with friends. It would have been all about the fight at The Brownstone. I couldn't allow that to happen, my husband does not deserve that.

I'm sure each and every one of you out there has had family issues. I know I have, and there's a process. First you fight, then you stew over it, then you talk it through and eventually make up. Let's wish this family a peaceful resolve.   

Thanks again for watching! I appreciate every single one of you!

Xoxo,

C.

 

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