I’m a big fan of vintage shopping and antiquing and had been making plans to shop the famed Rose Bowl in Pasadena for months when lo and behold my hair stylist friend extraordinaire, Theodore Leaf  (www.theodoreleaf.com) and I learned that Eddie Ross (www.eddieross.com) was coming to town to lead a group through the masses of flea market finds.  We were both fans of Eddie’s work on Bravo’s Top Design and I’m always a fan of a preppy guy. So we signed up for the “walk along.”  There were about 15 of us and with coffee in hand and my tote bag empty and ready to fill with negotiated bargains we headed off into the rows of booths and tables filled with silverware, glassware, fabrics, knick-knacks and furniture.  Eddie would stop at a variety of outdoor booths and give the lo down on how to re-do furniture to update it, give advice on how to determine the worth of an object and what’s good stuff from the “trash.”  Let’s be honest it shouldn’t all be someone’s trash is another’s treasure, some of it is just junk.  Theodore, his boyfriend Matt and I had so much fun—how could we not?  A warm, sunny day, Eddie and his main man Jaithan to escort us through the finds of The Rose Bowl plus he gave us some nifty ideas on hostess gifts and table settings. It was a relaxed atmosphere and we met many other gals and guys to socialize with along the way.

Eddie suggested and Theodore literally translated into a hostess gift a small jar of olives with the antique fork and personalized ribbon for me the next time he came to dinner. I added my version of a spoon with a colorful ribbon and lavendar honey.

Anything can work just by taking antique silverware and pair with cheese, olives, jam, or chocolate sauce and tie with a ribbon and small note.

I took his suggestions and created my own small, but charming gifts for my next dinner outings at friends’ homes.

Besides, silverware and vintage cloth napkins I also bargained for this camel saddle (walked away only paying $25) that with new leather became a cool footrest in my living room.

Leave Your Husband Out Of It

by Marcello (our guest guy writer)

Q. I’ve gained weight since I got married, and sometimes it makes me feel very unsexy. My husband still thinks I’m sexy and loves making love to me, but I have a strange feeling that he’s ‘just being nice’ and would rather have me thinner. I’ve heard that you should never say “I feel fat” to a man because then he might start thinking you are. I try not to talk about my weight gain and get upset about it around him, but sometimes I can’t help it—in a way I feel like I have to acknowledge it. Any advice?
–Voluptuous plus, Chicago, IL

A. It sounds as though the only one getting hurt here is you. You’re the one who’s upset. You’re the one with all the hidden fears. What if you took your husband’s answer at face value – that he still thinks you’re sexy? You’re left with what’s really at issue: you don’t like the way you look.

If your weight gain makes you feel “very unsexy” then what’s stopping you from taking up exercise and losing that weight? You seem to be craving change, so don’t use your husband as a reason (or an excuse) to do or not do something.

Your husband sounds like a great guy. If I were him I would want to know what you’re really feeling. You don’t need his approval to feel better about yourself, but you can enlist his support. If the goal is to create a sexier, slimmer (and most importantly) a more self-aware you – he’d be a fool not to find a way to help.

Like a Magician But Cooler

Host of Cupcake Wars on Food Network
“Rachael Ray” Show Buddy/Correspondent – (over 20 appearances)
Disney’s “Suite Life on Deck”
MTV’s Room 401
Host/Creator Turning Tricks (Lifeskool network)

1. Someone once dared me _
Someone once dared me to do magic naked. I’m all for it, but where would I hide the rabbit?

2. My most unexpected moment in entertainment _
During college I was doing a show for an uber-devout Christian summer camp. My illusions must have been top-notch that day, because they stopped my show half-way through. Apparently the preacher feared my magic was the work of the devil…I took it as a compliment.

3. Hot on the trail of Houdini, what’s your next plan to marvel us?
I can’t wait to find out myself! I’m just happy to be doing what I dreamed of doing when I was a kid. Best job ever!

4. Now that you have your street cred, whom do you admire in your arena?
I’ve always been a huge Steve Martin fan. He’s a living legend, his early comedy is timeless, and he too started as a magician….definitely a career to emulate!

5. Lost on an island—five things I’d want (not need)
1.) A Frisbee
2.) Someone to play Frisbee with
3.) A deck of cards
4.) My iPhone (with power source & 3G tower of course)
5.) A boat.

6. My best kiss happened …
My best smooch has to be the asses I kissed in order to get on the Rachael Ray Show.

7. Something most people don’t know about me …
I sometimes do a trick in my show where it appears that I swallow a long balloon sword. I don’t actually swallow it, but it really looks like I do. Well, unfortunately one time it didn’t really go as planned…and I had to actually swallow the balloon. While everything came out okay (excuse the vile pun), it did open my eyes to a potential career as a narcotics mule.

Justin lives up to his recent title of “Entertainer of the Year 2009″ from Campus Activities Magazine. (That’s three years in a row…btw)

Justin has toured with musician Jason Mraz as the host & ringmaster of “Music, Magic, and Make Peace”. The groundbreaking tour was a neo-vaudeville, earth-friendly, circus-on-wheels.

Check him out at www.justinkredible.com
And look to You Tube, www.youtube.com/watch

Choose a celebrity chef to base the meal and theme of the night. Make up a menu by choosing recipes from his/her cookbook or find their recipes online at sites like www.foodnetwork.com. Call his/her restaurant and ask for a suggestion from the chef or even a quote to add to the menu that you will display on the table. Or pull fun facts from his/her cookbooks.

Q. When do I need to buy maternity clothes?

Alison: That is one of the first questions many women ask after discovering they are pregnant. Many moms-to-be can wear their normal clothes throughout their first trimester. If this is not your first pregnancy, you may need maternity clothes earlier.

If you unbutton the top button of your jeans or pants when you sit down, it is time for maternity pants. You can start out by purchasing a Bella Band to allow you to wear your regular pants or jeans longer. If your tummy is starting to peek out of the bottom of your tops, it is time for a longer top. It is important to remember that buying comfortable clothes sooner rather than later will make buying new clothes worth your money.

You can also follow in the footsteps of celebrities such as Nicole Richie. She opts for non-maternity empire-waist dresses, stretchy skirts and jersey tops. With today’s styles, you could easily get away with buying non-maternity tops and dresses. I would suggest, however, splurging on maternity jeans, pants and a couple of maternity shirts.

Not to do
Being a fashionable mom-to-be is easier than you think. All it requires is that you listen to your inner fashionista and avoid these top 5 fashion mistakes.

1. Forgetting your personal style: Don’t start wearing tailored maternity dresses if your pre-pregnancy wardrobe consisted of jeans and flowy tops. Find maternity clothes that are the style you love, but cut to fit your pregnant body.

2. Waiting too long to buy maternity clothes: You will be more comfortable and get more bang for your buck if you buy clothes that fit well before you start popping out of them.

3. Buying all your maternity clothes at once: It is impossible to tell exactly how your body will look at Week 28 when you are at Week 12. Buy a few pieces as your body changes, but hold off on buying everything at once (especially with maternity bras).

4. Wearing large “tent-like” dresses : Avoid the tent look through buying clothes that fit and gently hug your growing bump. Look for details like an empire-waist with a tie back or side-shirring to give your body form and style.

5. Not pampering yourself: You will feel more put together and sexy if you indulge yourself a little and get a pedicure and a fabulous haircut.

Rather than buying a full set of teacups at once, get them one at a time choosing a common theme (in my case I chose all white). They will have different shapes and patterns, which is fun and will keep a tea party from looking too formal.  Thanks to my friend Tricia for the tip. I love a little whimsy.

Motivator, Exercise Guru Extraordinaire, Inspiration to countless men and women, gracious guy and a little bit wacky, Richard Simmons is a must meet in Los Angeles.

I took Richards class after a friend and her husband took it on a whim. We all know him from the countless times we’ve seen him on TV, his books, his DVDs, but what I hadn’t known was that he was merely 15 minutes from my doorstep. And once I saw the photos they took with him, I knew I had to meet the icon and see what all the sweat was about. He wears the dazzling tanks and striped shorts and arrives to a packed class full of men and women of all sizes.  And it appears there’s always visiting some Parisians. Richard is global.

After just a few classes, it’s easy to see why Richard draws such an adoring crowd.  He makes you laugh, he makes you sweat and then he makes you laugh some more. And while you shake your ass and kick your legs for the 500th time  while singing along to Michael Jackson or an old Broadway tune he motivates you to take better care of yourself.  So friends, if you haven’t visited his studio, Slimmons in Beverly Hills, it’s time to put pedal to the metal. Here’s a snippet of some private time I got with Richard.

What brought you to LA to start up the exercise craze?
I moved from New Orleans in the 70’s. I worked as a waiter at night and during the day I took lots of classes like Pilates, yoga, tap and jazz. I never saw fat people. I had originally lost my weight through dieting so this was new to me, but I felt something was missing. One day I passed this building, Wilson’s House of Suede and it was up for sale. I had $25,000 saved and decided to go for it. I put up flyers in the neighborhood and soon people were coming for classes. And 38 years later, it’s still going strong.

Did you ever think you’d reach icon status?
This is my job, my crusade. I look forward not left and right.  This is my fun and my hobby. Isn’t it great that I can combine my hobby and exercise?

You have such a strong following of all kinds of people—the rich dames of Beverly Hills, heavy and slender men and women, gay and straight, all kinds in such a welcoming environment. What keeps it going?
It’s friendly, good music and before you know it an hour has passed and you see yourself in the mirror and you look better.

Why records in class?
I’ve been collecting records for over 38 years. I started going to Tower Records and several other places and I’d sit on the floor of the studio and listen to them to find the right songs for class. A good mix.  I now have a huge record room. I do go to iTunes and MasterBeat as well. It’s about anything that will put a spell on people so they don’t think about their credit card bills or any worries. Old and new music that will give people energy and forget about the 500 leg lifts. You just come in here and let the disco ball spin and have fun.

What do you love about living in LA?
I live a pretty recluse life. I don’t go out much, but I do sneak out to farmer’s markets once in awhile. I have my own garden as well.  I do love movies and seeing them on a TV is not the same as the big screen so about four times a year I treat myself and go out to the movies.

I love, love dogs. I used to have eight Dalmations and now I’m down to one. My 14 yr old Dalmation, Hattie. Whenever I’m in town I take Hattie for a drive and let her put her face to the wind outside the window.

And I love to cook.

You’re deserted on an island, what five things could keep you satisfied?
1. My 14 yr old Dalmation, Hattie.

2. TV. I love my Nurse Jackie, Anderson Cooper and plenty more.

3. LA Times. I’ll live on the island, but I need my newspaper delivered everyday.

4. A garden I can tend to so I can eat healthy.

5. Harmonica—No, I’m kidding.   But I would need my pillows. I’ve had the same pillows for 62 years ever since my mother put them in my crib as a baby. I don’t know what’s in those pillows now, but I sleep on them every night and take them on my travels. They are flat, but this afro of mine has slept on them every night.

What are your favorite talk shows to appear on?
I love Ellen. I knew her when she was starting out. She and I are both from New Orleans; same with Hoda Kotb. I love Fox, CNN, Neil Cavuto all for different reasons. Recently my TV appearances have been about getting people to vote for their congressman and making people aware of the Fit Kids Bill.  It goes in front of the Senate for a vote soon.  I want exercise back in school.

I love to go on shows particularly when they let me get the audience involved in exercising and dancing.  I love Letterman’s humor, he and I have had a love/hate relationship for the last 20 years.

After a sweaty hour with Richard!

Q. I am 5’6″ and weigh 135. I have had two children with one being a c-section and I have a small “pouch” left from the surgery. I do not like the way it looks in the current clothing I have. Do you have any advice on cute tops and shorts/pants that will cover the pouch and not make me look like I am pregnant again? I wear about a size 8.
-Belly Banish

Alison: You want to look for pants and shorts that aren’t on the down low, meaning: skip low-rise styles. Jeans and pants that sit on your waist will give you a slimmer appearance. Look for bottoms that have a little Lycra to give you room to breathe while helping to slim. Check out Not Your Daughter’s Jeans, they have an endless variety that will slim your tummy. Don’t let the name throw you, these are not “mom jeans ”, these are stylish bottoms that will give you good tummy tuck control.

Don’t forget about the infinite intimate apparel options that can help flatten your tummy so you can still wear what you want on the outside. Look at choices from Spanx, Barely There and Donna Karan The Body Perfect Collection which you can find at barenecessities.com and figleaves.com . Also, check out our style recipe Underneath It All for more slimming ideas.

As for tops, empire-waisted tops can hide a tummy, but be aware that too much extra fabric can also billow out and make you look pregnant. Look for tops that have a bit of stretch again and be sure the tops are long enough to cover your stomach fully without rising up.

For an outdoor BBQ head to the grill for dessert. Grill fruit and offer various dipping sauces that are warm and cold from chocolates and caramels to fruit sauces and whip cream.

Itching, aching for a little vay-k as in I need a vacation, get me out of here and make sure a margarita is included? Well, call up your man or nudge him and remove the remote if he’s right next to you. And if he’s not budging, then call your girlfriends a la Thelma and Louise style. It’s time to pack a bag, toss it in the trunk and head out on the highway. Whether it’s the heat of Palm Springs or a jam-packed weekend in Montauk these are the stylish essentials that work on either coast or in between with your friends at the family lake house.

These are my faves for a fun filled weekend in outfits that are hassle free and eye catching. Are you ready to go?

A sexy and yet relaxed looking tank that will go with pants, skirts and shorts. When you want to dress it up later, tuck it into a pencil skirt, add a wide belt at your waist and heels.

Saks.com, $83

Shorts, you can roll up and cuffed or wear long. I prefer a slightly longer inseam, especially when sitting at a restaurant so the chair doesn’t leave any funky marks on my legs.

Shopbop.com, $88

Skip the ordinary white tee and choose one with details like stripes or ruffles. I got this in the mail and immediately paired it with cuffed chambray pants and wedge sandals for movie date night with my hubby.

J. Crew, $39.50

Relaxed fit linen pants for lounging. These can work with wedges and a cute tee for going to the movies or be those comfy pants for the car ride to Palm Springs.

Shopbop.com, $155

I found this swimsuit while shopping on TheFind.com; it was offered at several online retailers and boutiques and lucky me it was on sale at Saks Fifth Avenue. So easy to scope out an item on sale on the site. I haven’t worn a one piece in years, but this is both sexy and flirty so it’s mine. And I like that if the sun breaks through my 70 SPF barrier I won’t have strap lines.

Saks.com, $164, now on sale for 114.80

I like a cover up that works triple duty. It’s a dress the first night, it’s a long skirt paired with a tank for lunch and it’s a cover up when I’m pool or beach bound.

Bloomies.com, $68

A wedge with height and a neutral color so it will go with everything.

Piperlime.com, $134.50