I don’t know why I’m as excited for Kandi’s engagement as I would be one of my close friends but after the heartbreak one of my favorite “Real Housewives of Atlanta” girls has gone through, I’m happy to see her so happy — and newly blinged out.

We told you a couple of days ago that the singer-songwriter got engaged to her line producer boo thang, Todd Tucker, on New Year’s Eve, and the couple just did a spread for US Magazine showing off the new jewel Miss Bedroom Kandi is now rocking on her ring finger. The two-carat white diamond engagement ring was designed by Gregg Ruth and definitely looks good on Kandi, who can now use that hand to wave goodbye to the “forever single club” she thought she was apart of. And the best part of it all is Kandi’s 10-year-old daughter, Riley, gave Todd her blessing before he proposed at 1:30 am New Year’s Day. We’ll have to see how she feels when Kandi and Todd start popping out those babies in a couple years.

Congrats again!

Source: Getty Images

New Year’s engagement news isn’t quite over yet. We already told you one Atlanta housewife got engaged over the holidays but it turns out there was another proposal on the ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta” set. US Weekly just broke the news that Kandi Burruss and her boo of one year, line producer, Todd Tucker, are getting married!

Tucker, 39, popped the question on New Year’s Day, during a New Year’s celebration with friends at the couple’s home in Atlanta. (Among the party guests was fellow Atlanta Housewife Phaedra Parks, who’s currently expecting her second child with husband Apollo Nida.) After talking it over with Burruss’ daughter, 10-year-old Riley — who gave him her blessing — he got down on one knee and proposed to his love of more than a year with a two-carat diamond sparkler by Gregg Ruth.

The singer-songwriter, 36 — who has been engaged once before, to the late Ashley “A.J.” Jewell – was floored. “I was totally surprised,” she tells Us of the romantic proposal, adding that she even shed a few happy tears.

Awww! The couple reportedly already has a couple of dates in mind for the big day and is muddling over a few details like whether they will air their special ceremony for the world to see. As we all know, Kandi has had a rocky love life. Toward the end of 2008, she starting dating Ashley Jewel, whom she later became engaged to in January 2009. Sadly, on October 22 of that same year he past away from head injuries he sustained during a fight. Speaking on her struggle to find the man to finally settle down with, Kandi told US:

“I used to make jokes with my friends that I [was] part of the Forever Single Club.”

Now that she’s changed her mind about that, she’s also removing herself from the I don’t want anymore kids club, saying:

“That’s what I said before, but now I’m totally different.”

Congrats to one of our favorite housewives!

Shutterstock

With New Year’s still fresh in our minds, self-improvement is important to everyone. But, it’s easy to be dedicated in January. The true test is honoring those resolutions for 365 days. That’s 52 weeks of discipline! Dropping the cash to lock yourself into a year-long commitment and making good habits a part of your daily routine are two easy ways to preserve that “new you” you told all of social media would debut in 2013. Here are nine ideas, some for free and others with a cost incentive, to keep you on track.

Source: NinaSimone.com

It’s a new dawn, a new day, a new life, and a new year. We hope you’re all feeling good! Happy New Year ladies!

They’ve already rung in the new year in Hong Kong. AP Photo/Kin Cheung

We officially ring in the New Year with glasses of champagne, big parties, and perhaps a little naughty behavior. But tomorrow is only January 1. You can’t keep up the party for days on end (unless you can, in which case, invite us and we’ll swing by). But we think the early days of the year should be celebrated as well. After all, the way you bring in the year is the way you’ll spend it.

So we have nine low-cost, fun, yet relaxed ways that you can continue to welcome 2013. These options will clear the mind, bring on the good feelings, and bring the holidays to an end in a great way.

Looking for a little more to add to your holiday plans besides the normal tree trimming, stocking stuffing, and gift giving festivities? With a little planning and a just few dollars, you can experience the holidays in many different ways.

So, put away your wallet, pull out your planner, and gather your friends and family, because with these nine cost-effective holiday plans, you’ll be celebrating the season without breaking the bank.

iStockphoto

Potluck Dinner/Cocktail Party

Nothing says the holidays more than the extra pounds you gain from eating grandma’s favorite Christmas sides. Spare grandma the extra man hours of cooking for the entire family. Gather her and a few friends for a Christmas potluck-style dinner and cocktail party. Not only is a potluck gathering cost-effective for everyone, but it brings a little variety (and maybe even a little competition!) to the dinner table.

Ask guests to cook their best dish (make sure no one doubles up) and have one designated person to serve as bartender. Grandma would be more than happy about saving her time and money this year!

It’s that time of the year when my Twitter timeline and Facebook news feed are both filled with declarations like, “2012 is my year,” or “Can’t wait to leave so many people behind in the New Year.” Unfortunately, many of these same people will find themselves in the same situations come December of 2012.  Just because it’s a new year doesn’t mean you or your situations will automatically change for the better. If you discover you constantly are breaking promises to yourself, even though on the first of January you’re so amped to make a change, it could be because you’re falling victim to the following New Year’s resolution pitfalls: