Real Products of New Jersey

So I am slightly completely obsessed with the Real Housewives of New Jersey, which I started watching on season 2.  There is just something about these ladies and their mostly normal, but more privileged lives that I love to watch.  They have BEAUTIFUL homes, wonderful, if not amazing, husbands, and the same problems as the rest of us.

  Lately there has been some drama amongst the ladies about their "agendas".  Melissa Gorga is Teresa Giudice's sister-in-law and she has "suddenly" become a singer.  Teresa is mad and last week on her blog, Jacqueline pointed out all of the things that Teresa herself was trying to sell:

"You say Kathy's is baking, Melissa's is singing, so what was YOUR "get-rich-quick scheme," Teresa? Was it the cookbooks? The TG Fabulicious store? The makeup? The lip gloss? The nail polish? The sauce? The olive oil? The pots and pans? The teeth whitener? The t-shirt line? The Bellini? The wine? The kids' shampoo line? And now you want to come out with a prostitution whore song?"

So I thought I'd do a rundown of the products, or agendas, these ladies really have.  Can you blame them?  Who would share all of that dirty laundry without collecting a paycheck?  It is well-known that Bravo doesn't pay them excessive salaries for their embarrassment.

Teresa Giudice: Cookbook "Skinny Italian", Cookbook "Fabulicious", Fabulicious Store which includes t-shirts and hats (it used to include watches and jewelry as well), and apparently a cosmetic line called TG Fabulicious.  Teresa's husband, Joe, is a former contractor and now owns Giuseppe Homestyle Pizzeria.

Jacqueline Laurita: blk. water, a vitamin-infused black water, she also has allowed her name to be used on her famous "Fertility Bracelet", but the proceeds go to the March of Dimes.  I actually own one! :)

Her daughter, Ashley (aka Ashlee) Holmes, is not technically a housewife but is on the payroll.  She is launching a clothing line using her artwork.

Caroline Manzo: The Brownstone and The Brownstone Pasta Sauces ... there was rumor of a handbag line but I cannot find it.  Her family seems associated with blk. water as well, with sons Chris and Albie promoting it.  Her daughter, Lauren Manzo, also owns a beauty bar within Chateau the Art of Beauty Salon called "FACE by Lauren Manzo".

Melissa Gorga:  This is Teresa's brother Joey's wife.  She just launched a single, called "On Display" and is recording an album.   Her husband owns J Gorga Construction.

Kathy Wakile: This is Teresa's first cousin.  She is apparently launching a dessert catering company.  Her husband has posted pictures of her piping things into glasses on Twitter but that's about all I can find.

  So am I really watching an hour-long infomercial?  I don't feel that way, usually.  For someone that has always wanted to be an entrepreneur, their businesses are inspiring and make me want to launch a product.  I feel that Melissa's singing success, if it happens, will be owed 100% to her participation on this show and her family's wealth (she was able to hire the best producers and professional photographers, etc.). 

  Jacqueline is the most low-key about her businesses, and Caroline is right there with her.  Teresa definitely gets the most press but her business ventures seem a little haphazard.  I personally have not read her cookbooks.  Yet.   I'm dying to know how many calls The Brownstone gets since the show started for events... it does seem like a beautiful, professional facility.