Life is good for the ladies of the Real Housewives! Fancy parties, exorbitant vacations, glamorous cover shoots, fabulous/drunken weddings -- how could life get any better?

Here's what's going on in our favorite privileged ladies' universe lately.

Lovely Bravo Ladies
Our favorite ladies of the Real Housewives franchise earned the cover spot on this week's issue of The Hollywood Reporter. Under the headline, "The Guiltiest Pleasure on Television," Atlanta's NeNe Leakes, New York's Ramona Singer, Orange County's Vicki Gunvalson, Beverly Hills' Kyle Richards, and New Jersey's Caroline Manzo make up the housewives "all-stars" that are the reasons for the shows' popularity. The article goes in-depth about the origin of the franchise, as well as its continued success on Bravo, plus profiles on the ladies along with some of the real and sometimes tragic issues they've faced. You can watch the charming video of the photo shoot here.

Off the Show but Not Shutting Up
Former Real Housewives of New York star Jill Zarin continues to run her mouth about being fired from the franchise that made her famous somewhat relevant, although she still maintains that she wasn't fired over a contract dispute.

"I was upset because I was told to put my life on hold," Jill told THR. "I committed four years of my life to the show. [Andy Cohen] said they wanted the series to go in a different direction and that last season ended very dark--which I find ironic because they could have controlled that. I filmed many happy scenes that the network canned."

Jill also expressed that in her opinion, she didn't make the money she felt she deserved, and that she should still be making money off of royalties from her greatest contribution: Bethenny. "I didn't just help make the show popular; I cast it. I brought in Bethenny Frankel," she said. "And I don't get a percentage of anything she spins off."

Jac Attack
Jacqueline Laurita of The Real Housewives of New Jersey has had a rough couple of months. After not attending the season three reunion because of unknown personal problems that had to do with filming season four, she's warded off stripper rumors and been slapped with a lawsuit. Now, she is setting the record straight about her leaving the show.

"Fact! No, I have not quit the show, and no, I have not been fired," she tweeted. "Season 5 is a mystery. Guess you will just have to... Watch What Happens! XO!"

Good one Jacqueline. And we will be watching, but don't think it's just to catch your terrible puns.

Walk it Off
Kim Zolciak of Real Housewives of Atlanta is opening up about how she lost nearly 50 pounds of her baby weight in the past six months.

"It was a lot of water weight," she told Ok Magazine. "I ate a ton. I ate everything I wanted but I walked four miles every day so I had an 18-minute delivery because of it."

Kim says she still has more weight to lose, but she isn't worried because she is comfortable with her "not stick-skinny, size four figure." Only in the housewives universe is size four not considered skinny. Sigh.

See a preview for next week's episode of Kim working off baby weight with Sheree!

Gina Pusateri
Contributing Writer

(Image courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter)