Pore Perfection

Our skin is made up of zillions of pores. They allow our skin to breath, but they also get clogged with all sorts of ooky stuff that leads to breakouts and blackheads. Some of us may also complain about the size of our pores, since we think that perfect skin comes from pore-less skin. While it's impossible to airbrush or photoshop our skin each day, there are a few things we can do to minimize the appearance of our pores and improve the look of our skin. Here are some things to try:
  • Exfoliate your skin regularly. Use a cleanser with 1% or less of salicylic acid--also called beta hydroxy acid or BHA or something containing less than 5% of lactic glycolic acid--also referred to as alpha hydroxy acids or AHAs. Both of these ingredients stimulate cell turnover and keep pores clean while reducing the amount of oil. Oil-free, clean pores will look smaller and will be much happier than clogged pores!
  • Use an oil-free moisturizer. Again, look for BHAs or AHAs in your products. Also look for products with Vitamin C and retinol, which will firm up your skin and make it look and feel better.
  • Don't forget your sunscreen. Do I really need to remind you about this? No matter where you live or what time of year it is...even if it's going to be an overcast day....be sure to use a sunscreen on your face and neck.
  • Try an at-home mask or peel...again, you need to find products containing BHAs or AHAs, or even NDGAs (which is short for Nordihydroguaiaretic acid...a powerful antioxidant that can prevent blackheads)
There are a lot of pore minimizing products on the market and at all different price points. The key to reducing the size of your pores is to use such products consistently. The products only last as long as you use them!

Angelina On the Cover of OK!

Angelina Jolie is, indeed, pregnant according to OK! Magazine.


Angelina Jolie's loose, flowing Hermes gown piqued curiosity and media speculation at the SAG Awards. And now OK! has confirmed through a source close to Angelina Jolie that she is expecting. "Angie has wanted a second biological baby for some time now ... And the minute she's pregnant, she was glows. She's the type that doesn't want to scream it to everyone but has the quiet, expectant mother glow. Her smile says she's the luckiest woman in the world."


Reports have circulated that Angelina intends on selling the story of her pregnancy to a tabloid magazine, and giving the money to charity.

Rihanna's Got Milk

Rihanna is the new face of the "Got Milk" ads



The sexy songstress is asking everyone to "shut up and drink."

Quote of the Day



"We both want children ... And we both can't wait, and we practice a lot! But nothing yet. I'll let you know." - Eva Longoria Parker talks about her maternal instinct and her bedroom behavior on Good Morning America.
*Image: Splash

Britney Hospitalized Again

Britney Spears was placed under psychiatric hold earlier this month ...


Britney Spears was hospitalized again early this morning and is currently under psychiatric hold. A source told People magazine that she was escorted by police. Spears was brought to UCLA Medical Center for a 72-hour lock-down and evaluation. Pal Sam Lufti told People "She went willingly. It was like something in her heart was telling her she should go. She knew something was wrong."
A source says that Britney was hospitalized because she was "driving around her neighboorhood like a mad-woman ... Britney has been prescribed medication which she retuses to take." Reports that Spears attempted suicide have been rebuffed by Lutfi and friend Alli Sims.

*Splash News

Color Nirvana

Mark your calendars! On February 6th, OPI unveils their new color collection for the Spring/Summer of 2008. After sending us to Russia over the Winter with their amazing, luscious, rich colors (Russian Navy, anyone?!), OPI is seeking inspiration from India.

The Indian Collection promises color nirvana and includes 12 spicy and exotic nail lacquers. Some colors seem pretty and pink, others are richer...there are plenty of reds, deep oranges, and elegant golds. Since it's still Winter, I'm digging the Black Cherry Currant and Royal Rajah Ruby, though Charmed by a Snake looks promising.

Take a peek for yourself:
Colors from left to right, top to bottom:
  • I'm Indi-A Mood for Love
  • Elephantastic Pink
  • Black Cherry Chutney
  • Keys to My Karma
  • Monsooner or Later
  • Moon Over Mumbai
  • Yoga-Ta Get This Blue
  • Get Me to the Taj on Time
  • Curry Up Don't Be Late!
  • Charmed By A Snake*
  • Lunch at the Delhi*
  • Royal Rajah Ruby*
*also available in a coordinating lip color

2008 SAG Awards

With major award shows being cancelled left and right celebs are pulling out all the stops when it comes to any red carpet moment.




Angelina Jolie in Hermes and Brad Pitt in Tom Ford



Ellen Page in Zac Posen


Eva Longoria in Naeem Khan



Glenn Close and her unbelievable upper body in Giorgio Armani

and...



Kate Hudson in Balmain

[Source]

Heath's "Secret Struggles" Revealed in US Weekly


The new US Weekly's cover story features quotes from a "close" source/pal/confidant close to Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams. According to the article, Williams was heartbroken throughout their three year relationship by her boyfriend's abuse of alcohol and drugs, including heroine, cocaine, and unidentified pills.

The article also claims that Williams took Ledger to Promises Treatment Center in California in early 2006, but that he refused to enter, and swore he would change and clean up his act.

Two separate sources also told US Weekly that after their split, Williams insisted that Ledger be drug-tested before his visitations with their 2-year-old daughter Matilda.

Jake Mourns


Jake Gyllenhaal is having a very difficult time dealing with the death of his colleague and best-friend Heath Ledger. Gyllenhaal and Ledger became close pals on the set of their film Brokeback Mountain. Gyllenhaal is also godfather to Ledger's 2-year-old daughter with Michelle Williams, Matilda.


Gyllenhaal has taken time off from the set of his movie Brothers. A source on set says, "He [Gyllenhaal] was there, but he wasn't with us. It was obviously a major trauma ... These guys were very close."

Kate Hudson Says Matthew McConaughey Will Be an Incredible Father


Kate Hudson says that her Fool's Gold co-star Matthew McConaughey will be a great father. "I think because people see Matthew always out doing something whether out dancing in a bar or being on the beach or taking a hike with some crazy bandana on, I think that, like anything they take their image and what they want somebody else to be and then they just run with that," Hudson tells reporters. "Matthew happens to be one of the most loving people I know and his family is important to him."

*WireImage

One Last Look at Sundance

As Sundance wrapped up yesterday, and the celebs began to vacate Park City, here are a few pictures to remember the film festival of '08.


Paris Hilton jams on the drums at the Velvet Relvolver convert, where she played host for the evening at the 944 magazine party at TAO Park City. Hilton also thanked everyone for coming while her hit single, "Stars are Blind" was played by DJ Vice.


Paris was also seen at the Turning Leaf Lounge where a private dinner was held for her, where she invited friends to join her to discuss her new movie, The Hottie and the Nottie. Describing it as a "cute love story," the movie was not at the festival.


Also in attendance was actress and singer Taryn Manning and DJ and record producer Steve Aoki. All the guests enjoyed Turning Leaf wine during the party.


Showing up once again at Sundance, Paris and Nicky Hilton joined together and enjoyed the MySpace Nights at TAO party. With two nights of invite-only concerts, Maroon 5 and 50 Cent both performed, as well as DJ Samantha Ronson who provided music.


Cute couple Reggie Bush and Kim Kardashian enjoyed the events at Sundance as they attended the MySpace Nights at TAO party. Newly pregnant Jessica Alba and fiance Cash Warren were another couple also in attendance as they cuddled and enjoyed the performance by 50 Cent.

*Photo Credit: Steve Browernick/Red Eye Productions

- Erin Dustin

Jennifer Lopez in Labor?


Posts are popping up around the web that Ms. Jennifer Lopez is, indeed, in labor! J. Lo was spotted at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, Long Island. Stay tuned.

Gwen Stefani Is Pregnant!


Gorgeous Gwen Stefani has announced that she and her husband Gavin Rossdale are expecting their second child! The 38-year-old singer-turned designer and Rossdale are parents to 1-year-old Kingston Rossdale.

*Photo: Splash

A Kiss For Your Valentine

I can't believe Valentine's Day is just a few weeks away (that also means my birthday is just a few weeks away--ugh!). So over the coming weeks, I'll be talking about some products to get you ready for a beautiful, kissable Valentine's Day. Today we'll start off with the kissable aspect of things.

Hopefully you all have someone special in your life, or at least someone to share a February 14th smooch with. In order for you to be at your most kissable, you need to make sure you don't have funky breath. Even if your Valentine's Day includes a garlic-filled dinner, you can still have a kissable mouth with French Kiss gum.


This gum was developed by Dr. Harold Katz, aka America's Bad Breath Expert for his celebrity clients. It is designed to reach below the tongue's surface to absorb bad breath odors. By chewing a few pieces, you can feel confident that you have a fresh, kissable mouth 24/7.


What's also great is that it doesn't contain artificial sweeteners like asparatame or saccharin. French Kiss gum is available at www.therabreath.com. Three packs of twelve pieces of gum costs $9.00. Not bad!

Damn! I Knew This Was Going To Happen!

I have been avoiding all those futuristic looking products from GoSMILE. I knew that if I ventured over to that part of Sephora, my pocketbook would be drained, but my teeth would be beautiful.

Well, looks like I was right. I recently tried a sample of GoSMILE's B1 Tooth Whitener and all I have to say is WOW! It was a snap (literally!) to use and provided instant and impressive results.

Here's how it works: the whitening product (a gel) is housed in a capsule called an ampoule. On one end of the ampoule there's a brush (it actually looks more like a pad, but whatever). The ampoule is housed in a cardboard sheath and you just take it out of the sheath to expose the brush, put the sheath back on the wrong way, then squeeze the ampoule until it pops. This releases the gel and fills the brush with the whitening product. All you do now is rub the gel on your teeth in a circular motion. That's it. No strips, no trays, no mess.

The product doesn't taste bad or feel slimy like some whitening products out there. It also does not increase tooth sensitivity, which has been an issue for me with drugstore brand whitening products.

I honestly couldn't believe how quickly and effectively this product worked! I noticed that my teeth were looking a little less than perfectly white, so I was anxious to give GoSMILE a try. With one use, my teeth looked brighter. Wow!

Now, here's the rub. Since this seems like the PERFECT tooth whitening product, it comes at a price. A supply of 20 ampoules will set you back almost $90. Yikes. Still, if you're dying to make a splurgy beauty purchase, I highly recommend GoSMILE's B1 Tooth Whitener.

Beauty Sleep

I must be getting old! Despite a couple of bouts of insomnia (ugh!) when I was in college oh-so many years ago, I used to be able to sleep forever. I would stay up late and get up late and clock in about 10 or more hours of sleep a night . Now as an adult, I'm lucky to get 7 hours.

Even though sleep is very mysterious to most researchers, everyone will tell you that it is essential to keeping your mind and body healthy. Hey, they don't call it beauty sleep for nothing!

For me, Sunday nights are anxiety-filled (I'm usually stressing about what I need to do at work, what I've forgotten to do, whatever) and I have a terrible time falling asleep. What's a girl to do? Here are some tips for getting decent shut-eye without resorting to drugs:
  • Keep the bedroom cool AND dark! Turn your thermostat down to 68 or lower. The cooler temperature has been proven to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Covering up any annoying light sources will also trick your mind and body into nodding off.
  • Don't check the clock in the middle of the night. Ugh! I do this so many times when I can't sleep, and I begin to think of the clock as my constant, glowing enemy, taunting my inability to sleep by clicking off the minutes and hours of my stress-filled state of being awake. It's no wonder sleep experts say checking the clock causes anxiety!
  • Block out disturbances. If you live on a noisy street or have someone noisy in bed next to you, put in a pair of earplugs or turn on some white noise. I've used those thunderstorm and ocean CDs in the past and they seem to work.
  • Go to bed and wake up as close to the same time every day as possible. I find this hard because I like to stay up a little later on the weekend, and because sleeping in on a day off is fun. But I have noticed that when I am consistent about my bed time (and my wake time), I get better quality sleep and have fewer problems falling asleep on my stress-filled Sundays.
  • Don't do anything stimulating in the hour before going to bed. No talking on the phone? No knitting? The only exception to this rule, apparently, is sex. Having sex right before bed has actually been proven to relax people and let them fall asleep easier. Ah, one more reason to get it on! I love it!
Sweet dreams!

Britney's deposition going slow

Britney Spears's deposition is "slow going," and could drag on for multiple sessions, concedes Kevin Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan. Asked if the deposition could last five or more sessions, Kaplan replied, "It wouldn't surprise me." The attorney added, "There are many areas that I have not yet explored." Spears, 26, has been cross examined for a total of one hour over two sessions. (She has been late to both.) As of the second session Monday, Kaplan said he'd only completed "two percent" of his questioning, which Spears must answer while under oath. Spears's first session lasted a mere 14 minutes, and occurred just hours before her infamous Jan. 3 meltdown. The lawyer, who could not reveal specifics, is likely grilling the pop star about past drug and alcohol use, her failure to follow court orders, and anything else that pertains to her parenting. (The questioning lays the groundwork for the Spears-Federline custody trial scheduled for April.) On Thursday, Kaplan also began deposing Spears confidante Sam Lutfi, who had evaded the sit-down for months.

Jessica fights for her man

Jessica Simpson is fighting mad over a recent OK! magazine article claiming she was dumped by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. TMZ.com first reported that Simpson's lawyers had fired off a strongly-worded letter demanding a retraction for an article which claims Romo broke up with the singer because she was high-maintenance. The letter referred to the article as a "smear campaign." Her lawyers insist: "Mr Romo and Ms Simpson have not broken off their romantic relationship." A rep for Simpson confirms that the singer's lawyer sent a letter to OK! but had no additional comment. A source close to Simpson says, "Jess and Tony did not break up. OK!'s story was full of lies."
source

Charlize to be honored by Harvard

Oscars are one thing, but Charlize Theron and Christopher Walken will soon have something equally golden for their mantles: Hasty Pudding pots. The annual Harvard trophies, awarded to those who've made a "lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment," are dispensed by the university's Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the nation's oldest undergraduate drama troupe. The ceremony traditionally involves a parade and male students dressed as women. The recipients last year were Ben Stiller and Scarlett Johansson, preceded in 2006 by Halle Berrry and Richard Gere. This year, Monster Oscar winner Theron, 32, gets her Pudding pot (as the prize is called) Feb. 7; Walken, 64, whose Oscar was for The Deer Hunter and who last year was married to John Travolta (in Hairspray), gets his Feb. 15. Not to be outdone, Harvard Lampoon's "Hastiest Pudding of the Lampoon Award" is being given out on Feb. 6, to Paris Hilton, reports the Associated Press.

Amy Winehouse in rehab

Amy Winehouse has gone to rehab. The singer, 24, entered a drug rehabilitation facility, her record company said Thursday. “Amy decided to enter the facility today after talks with her record label, management, family and doctors," Universal Music Group said in a statement. "She has come to understand that she requires specialist treatment to continue her ongoing recovery from drug addiction." Earlier this week, a video surfaced of the singer apparently using a crack pipe. "Yes, I am worried about her, but this picture doesn't show anything we didn't already know before," her father Mitch told reporters of the footage. Police are still deciding whether any charges should be brought against Winehouse over the video.
source

Tool Time: Detangler Comb

Both my husband and I have long hair (his is actually longer than mine!). One downfall of having lovely, long locks is that it tangles easily, especially when its wet.

The answer to our problems? A detangler comb.

This comb costs next to nothing ($1.50 at Ulta) but does an amazing job of painlessly smoothing out my hair, leaving no ouchy tangles behind. The wide teeth are made of plastic and is ideal for combing wet hair.

At $1.50 you really can't go wrong. I imagine that this would be a great tool to have if you're a mom and have to brush your daughter's hair. I speak from experience here: as a kid I had super-long hair and my mom would rip my tangles out in the most torturous way...I tremble in fear just thinking about it! This little comb would have saved so many tears!

More weird Britney behavior

Britney Spears is no stranger to odd antics, but her behavior on January 7 was particularly bizarre. The “scantily clad” pop star showed up at a Beverly Hills elementary school, saying she was there to pick up someone else’s kids. (She lost custody of her own sons January 4 after being rushed to the hospital. She blew off a custody hearing yesterday.) The singer parked her car outside the school just before 3 p.m. and spent 10 minutes smoking cigarettes and talking to herself while she waited for classes to let out. “She was just rambling and confused,” says the witness, who approached Spears to ask if she was OK. “She said, ‘I’m here to pick up my kids.’ But then she changed her story and said, ‘They aren’t my kids; I have a new attorney, and I came to pick them up for her.’” Adds the witness, “All I could think was, Who in their right mind would let her pick up their kids?” As children began to leave for the day, the star, 26, caused a commotion — “It became the talk of the school. Some of the kids were freaked out,” says a school source. She was directed to a more secure entrance around back. But before getting into her car and driving off (without any children), she chatted up the female witness: “She said, ‘You’re so nice. You should give me your number. I don’t have very many friends.’"

Behind the split

Tracey Edmonds broke up with Eddie Murphy right before they were about to make their Bora Bora wedding legal because Murphy became bossy and physically intimidating, and insisted his mother accompany them on their honeymoon. "That was kind of the last straw," said a friend of the beautiful bride. "She was happy to sign a prenup - she has her own money. She was very accommodating. But then it was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Eddie became very controlling and they got into a huge fight. He started screaming at her and grabbed her. She was scared." The friend added, "She was even willing to change her name to Tracey Murphy, and all the wedding invites and place cards had her labeled as such." A rep for Edmonds declined to comment, while a rep for Murphy said, "We won't comment any further on this." Last week, Murphy said, "After much consideration and discussion, we have jointly decided that we will forgo having a legal ceremony as it is not necessary to define our relationship further . . . we have decided to remain friends." We doubt there's much friendship left.

Change is Good

The start of the new year is now a memory. All those resolutions and plans you made to better yourself are either well under way or have been laughed off as a good idea at a time. Well, if one of your resolutions was to change the way you look, it's never too late.

We've all been there--we have a bad hair day or realize we have the same hairstyle as our high school yearbook photo. Whatever the case maybe, we get the urge to make a drastic change to our hair. If you're feeling that urge, here are some tips to help you out and to make the change as beneficial as possible:
  1. Take an honest assessment of your situation. Sure, you may be dying for pin-straight hair, but if you have naturally thick, curly, and unruly hair, it might just be impossible to get the look you want. If you're not sure about your limitations, talk to your stylist about what is realistic and what may fall flat.
  2. Know what works for your face shape. If you're hoping to get bangs but have a small forehead, you might need to be more flexible with the final outcome.
  3. Rethink your color options. You may want your hair to be some crazy color, but your job in corporate banking may make that an impossibility. Your hair style and color both need to fit your lifestyle and profession, so if you work in a very conservative environment, stick with more natural hair colors. Remember: natural doesn't necessarily mean boring!
  4. Go slow. If you want to go from your natural jet black hair to a Marilyn Monroe-esque platinum, it may take more than one visit to the salon to make it work. Making huge and dramatic changes like this can result in quite a bit of damage to your hair.
Change is good. And essential, I think. If you've had the same haircut for the past 10 years, it may be time to consider updating yourself a bit. You wouldn't walk around in 10 year old shoes...why go out to the world with outdated hair? And what's the worst that can happen? If you hate your new look, it will grow out soon enough!

Statement from Heath's family

Heath Ledger's father Kim has spoken out following the shocking death of the 28-year-old actor Tuesday in New York. According to a statement from the family:

Heath's family confirms the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda. He was found peacefully asleep in his New York apartment by his housekeeper at 3:30 p.m. U.S. time. We would like to thank our friends and everyone around the world for their well wishes and kind thoughts at this time. Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life but few had the pleasure of truly knowing him. He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving and selfless individual who was extremely inspirational to many. Please now respect our families need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately.

Celebrity Nation won't be writing anything further about Ledger's death out of respect for his life and his family's privacy.

In Between Days

Even though I know better, there is one beauty bad habit I have a hard time breaking: I like to wash my hair every day. Oh the shame! I know, I know...washing that often can fade my hair color and strip away the natural oils in my lovely locks. But I love the way my hair feels, looks, and smells when I wash it daily.
Hello, I'm Lydia and I'm a shampoo-aholic!

I'm trying to stop my clean-loving ways and am now (unhappily) washing only every other day. On the non-washed day, my hair feels slightly greasy and doesn't hang well. This is why I prefer the daily cleansing!

However, there MAY be hope for me yet! Several higher end hair companies make so-called dry shampoos that are designed to be used on the in between days. Here are a few to check out--I may just need to make a purchase to give one of these a test run:
  • Pronto Dry Shampoo by Oscar Blandi, $11-$19 (depending on size). This lemon-scented dry shampoo contains all natural ingredients and relies on tapioca to absorb excess oils and products from the hair and scalp, leaving behind more volume and a refreshing scent.
  • Rub Out Dry Cleaner by Ojon, $24. This spray-on dry cleanser promises to leave hair cleansed, light, shiny, and healthy looking. It also won't leave the hair's texture overly dry. Instead it simply removes the toxins and other gunk added to the hair (like pollutants and products).
  • Naturia Dry Shampoo by Rene Furterer, $23. Also a spray-on dry shampoo, this product contains oil-absorbing kaolin clay, silica, rice, and cornstarch. As an added bonus, it includes peppermint oil that will add some refreshing zing while softening hair.
I guess with one of these products, I could go a day or even longer without washing my hair. Perfect for making my hair color last as long as possible!

Oscar noms

And the nominations are:

Best Picture
Atonement
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Best Actor
George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises

Best Actress
Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie, Away from Her
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose
Laura Linney, The Savages
Ellen Page, Juno

Best Supporting Actor
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
Ruby Dee, American Gangster
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton

Best Director
Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Jason Reitman, Juno
Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

Best Original Screenplay
Diablo Cody, Juno
Nancy Oliver, Lars and the Real Girl
Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton
Ratatouille (written by Brad Bird; story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird)
Tamara Jenkins, The Savages

Best Adapted Screenplay
Christopher Hampton, Atonement
Sarah Polley, Away from Her
Ronald Harwood, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

For the complete list, check out People.com

Britney update

Britney Spears and adviser Sam Lutfi arrived at the offices of Kevin Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, at approximately 10:45 a.m. When they left around 1 p.m., Spears looked very upset and walked quickly to her car before speeding off. As part of the deposition in her ongoing custody battle with ex-husband Federline, Spears had to respond to concerns about her ability to serve as a mother to her two sons. When Spears arrived, she parked her Mercedes directly out front of Kaplan's office. She was wearing a short-sleeved off-the-shoulder light purple top, dark jeans, and tan boots. She was heard speaking in a British accent. TMZ has learned Britney Spears' lawyers will go to court tomorrow and ask Commissioner Scott Gordon to allow Spears "monitored visitation in a therapeutic setting." Spears's family and professionals in her life have been planning a "creative way" to get Britney mental help.

Britney's weekend

With pup London in hand, Britney Spears headed to the Millennium Dance Complex in North Hollywood on Sunday night to work on a new routine, owner Robert Baker said. "She is working on the choreography for her song 'Hot as Ice,'" Baker said, "She rehearsed an amazing routine with a chair." The intense dance session wrapped up a characteristically bizarre weekend, during which Spears invited two photographers back to her home for some late-night champagne. "She was very sweet," said one of the photographers, adding that Spears pal Sam Lutfi claimed to have "filed a restraining order" against Adnan Ghalib. Ghalib, the paparazzo who has been by Spears's near-constant companion in recent weeks, shot back, "I am only now becoming aware of what is being said. I hope to be back home in Los Angeles soon and to be in contact with Miss Spears." (The L.A. police and sheriff's departments both said no emergency protective order had been issued.) Spears, 26 – who also dropped by PetCo Sunday afternoon, picking up a birdcage and some dog food – spent nearly three hours working on her moves at Millennium. She emerged at 9:30 p.m. in a white top and Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses, chatting with paparazzi and requesting the presence of Filipe, one of the photographers who had been at her home earlier. "Britney was in an upbeat mood," Baker said, adding that despite the impressive workout, the singer still seemed slightly scatterbrained. "I let her use my personal copy of Blackout. She forgot her own CD."

Kiefer's a free man

Kiefer Sutherland has been released from jail after serving 48 days on a drunken driving charge, according to a police official. The 41-year-old actor reportedly walked out of jail at 12:05 a.m. Monday, hours earlier than had been expected. Officer John said, "(Kiefer) looked like he was glad to be out," and that the actor was wearing a shirt and jeans when he left the facility. Sutherland - the star of Fox television's drama, "24" - has spent his sentence cleaning sheets, pillowcases and blankets on laundry duty, Balian told The Associated Press on Friday. He was granted a request to serve his time in suburban Glendale's city jail rather than in the overcrowded downtown Los Angeles County jail. The trade-off was that he could not shave any time off his sentence for good behaviour or early release because of overcrowding. The actor must also serve five years probation and complete an 18-month alcohol education program and attend weekly therapy sessions for six months.

Mr. Big welcomes son

Sex and the City star Chris Noth and his girlfriend, actress Tara Wilson, have welcomed a baby boy, his rep confirms. Orion Christopher Noth was born Friday and weighed 7 lbs., 10 oz. "I am happy to confirm that Chris Noth and Tara Wilson are the proud parents of a happy and healthy baby boy," his rep tells Us. "Chris and Tara are thrilled and all are doing well." The couple (who co-own the café Once Upon a Tea Cup in Windsor, Ontario) announced the news in November.

Nailed! New Products to Try

I'm a pedicure addict, but I never, ever get manicures. Why? Well, 1) I'm hard on my nails since I type, knit, play Guitar Hero, and do all sorts of things that are rough on manis, and 2) I can paint my nails myself with great success, so why should I bother paying all that money to do something I can do here at home. (The same cannot be said of my ability to paint my toenails!)

Occasionally I'll get in the habit of painting my fingernails once a week (usually on Sunday). And whenever I do paint my nails, I seem to use the lacquers from OPI. They have an amazing amount of colors and they are easy to use. They also seem to be able to withstand my punishment pretty well.

Now there are two new nail products I'm looking forward to trying. I'll have to get these babies and give them a test run...for the benefit of the blog, of course!
  1. Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Hard as Wraps: Sally Hansen is a giant in the world of drugstore brand nail polish. For less than $5, this nylon and acrylic gel bonds to the nails' surface. This does two things: it hardens the nail and it forms a protective shield for the nail color. According to the editors at Allure, they were able to have chip-free, beautifully polished nails for 10 days. Not bad.
  2. Incoco Dry Nail Applique: A few years ago, Avon debuted a nail product that had users wrap the color around the nail. There was no painting, no brushes, no drying time. Now, there's a dry nail "polish" available on at Walgreens. There are six French manicure colors and twenty different shades of reds, pinks, nudes, purples, etc. I'll have to head over to Walgreens to pick some up--I can't wait to see how they work! Plus they're under $8...much cheaper than a salon manicure!

Suri watches American Idol

Perhaps Suri Cruise will be an entertainer after all. Not only is the 21-month-old a fan of the Spice Girls, she also digs American Idol. Mom Katie Holmes — who is getting panned by critics for her latest comedy Mad Money — revealed the scoop on Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS-FM show this morning. When Seacrest said he could hook the Cruise clan up with some tickets, the soft-spoken Holmes said, “I would be very grateful.” Holmes, who made several TV appearances this week, gushed (some more) about Tom Cruise. “I married the biggest movie star in the world,” she said. Holmes said she wants to have another baby, but “not in the immediate future. Long term, of course.” For now she has her hands full with Suri, who is “is growing and talking more. I am constantly surprised and challenged.” Holmes also talked about her friends, the Beckhams. She called Victoria “very sexy.” When asked about her thoughts on David’s good looks, she laughed and said, “He’s such a … nice man. He’s very good at what he does!”

Gwyneth's ailment

Gwyneth Paltrow was taken to New York's Mount Sinai Hospital Monday for "a little gastrointestinal situation," her pal chef Mario Batali confirmed. "It's now been straightened out," he said at the grand opening of The Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas Thursday. "She's [doing] great." In three weeks, he said they're going to Majorca, Spain, and then Valencia, Spain, to shoot a PBS cooking show, set to air in October. The news of Paltrow's hospitalization broke on Monday. "She was slumped over in a wheelchair pushed by [husband] Chris Martin," an eyewitness told Us. "She looked not well." On Tuesday, her rep issued a statement, saying, "She is at home and OK."

Clooney named UN messenger of peace

George Clooney is being honored for his humanitarian work. The actor, who is also an advocate for refugees in Darfur, has been named a United Nations "messenger of peace," it was announced Friday. The actor is being "recognized for focusing public attention on crucial international political and social issues," according to U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas. Clooney, 46, joins Michael Douglas and musician Yo-Yo Ma as previous celebrity U.N. honorees. Clooney and friend Don Cheadle were given the Peace Summit Award by a group of Nobel Laureates Dec. 13 for their work for Darfur. With Cheadle and Brad Pitt, Clooney has raised money for refugees through the "Not On Our Watch" charity and helped draw attention to the crisis in Darfur in western Sudan.
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Britney to host party; media prepare obit

Britney Spears will host a party, The Scandinavian Style Mansion, at a private residence in Beverly Hills on Feb. 16. Spears last hosted the event – at which Scandinavian brands are showcased – on Dec. 1. At that party, she was presented with a birthday cake and bumped into her one-time BFF Paris Hilton. "Britney has said 'yes,' to hosting it," said Claus Hjelmbak, the Danish businessman who founded the event. "I am beyond excited because the experience she gave everyone in December was amazing. She absolutely made my event." Hjelmbak, who was at Spears's side when she and Sam Lutfi went on an early morning shopping spree Jan. 17 at Kitson in L.A., said of the outing: "I know people will say it's weird she was shopping at 2 a.m., but [Kitson] said you guys can always come when you want. I just called the owner and said can we come over and they said 'sure.'" Hjelmbak also has kind words for Lutfi, saying, "He's the most down-to-earth, easy-going guy. He doesn't have a bad bone in his body." As for Adnan Ghalib, he said, "I don't know him." As for online reports claiming Spears has multiple personalities, Hjelmbak, who first met Britney in 2006, says, "I have only seen one person and that's the Britney I first met and seen every time. She's a very sweet person."

The Associated Press began preparing Spears’ obituary within the past month. "We are not wishing it, but if Britney passed away, it’s easily one of the biggest stories in a long time," AP entertainment editor Jesse Washington says. "I think one would agree that Britney seems at risk right now," Washington adds. "Of course, we would never wish any type of misfortune on anybody and hope that we would never have to use it until 50 years from now…but if something were to happen, we would have to be prepared." Washington also says the AP has a "pretty extensive obituary operation," and that staffers are "constantly adding people."

Katie's acting panned by critics

Kate Holmes is getting harsh reactions from critics in her first return to the big screen since wedding Tom Cruise and welcoming daughter Suri. “And the cinematic comeback of the year award goes to…somebody other than Katie Holmes,” says a New York Post critic, who calls her new heist comedy Mad Money, co-starring Queen Latifah and Diane Keaton, “the most cringe-making return since Love Boat: The Next Wave. “Holmes, with Alice Cooper hair and crazy Jim Carrey eyes, looks terrible and acts worse, unless this movie is unintentionally a lobotomy documentary,” the reviewer writes. “Whatever could have happened to her in the last couple of years to zap the talent out of her like this?” The New York Times says Holmes is “the movie’s weakest link.” Variety adds that throughout the film “Holmes is awkwardly upsetting the balance” between Latifah and Keaton.“Their heist is only the pretext for jinks that range from medium high (as played out by Queen Latifah and Diane Keaton) to painfully low (as perpetrated by Katie Holmes, who pops her eyes, scrunches her nose and shakes her booty in lieu of acting),” writes the Wall Street Journal. Holmes, who seems to have changed a lot since her early days based on her talk show appearances this week, also recently got flak for some questionable style moves in NYC.

Lily Allen suffers miscarriage

Lily Allen has had a miscarriage, a source close to the British singer told Reuters on Friday. The 22-year-old, nominated for a Grammy award for best alternative music album, was expecting her first child with Chemical Brothers star Ed Simons. The story was first reported in the Sun tabloid, which said the couple had recently returned from holiday. "They are in a state of shock," the paper quoted an unnamed source as saying. "Lily's entire outlook on life changed after she found out she was pregnant," it added, referring to Allen's reputation as a wild child. "She was looking forward to being a mum and starting a family with Ed. "They are surrounded by friends, and family are offering support. It is a really difficult time for them." Allen scored a big hit with her debut album "Alright, Still..." and plans a follow-up record later this year. She first burst on to the scene with chart-topping single "Smile" in the summer of 2006.

Lindsay headed to the morgue

Lindsay Lohan is entering the next phase of her sentence for misdemeanor drunk driving – and the good news is, she'll be prepared if she's ever up for a role on CSI. After fulfilling several requirements set by her DUI plea agreement – including rehab, community service and 84 minutes spent in jail – Lohan will next have to spend some time in a morgue, her lawyer, Blair Berk, told a judge Thursday at a hearing in a Los Angeles court, the Associated Press reports. In an effort to illustrate the potentially fatal consequences of drinking and driving, she's set to spend two, 4-hour days in a morgue. After that, she'll spend two days working in an emergency room. The actress, 21, reached a plea agreement in August based on charges from two separate DUI incidents, one in May in Beverly Hills and one in July in Santa Monica. Lohan did not attend Thursday's hearing, which was held to gauge her progress in meeting the terms of her deal. Morgue duty will certainly be a comedown from Lohan's usual world of red carpets and events. On Wednesday, she stole the show at the Hollywood premiere for Cloverfield, where she shone in a black Hervé Léger cocktail dress – and stuck to Red Bull and water.

Beauty Product of the Week: L'Oreal Professional Colorist Collection

What is it? According to their website, L'Oreal Professional Colorist Collection shampoo and conditioner is "an at-home maintenance system for color treated or highlighted hair. It is designed to maintain salon fresh color on the mid-lengths and ends of hair. It should be used every other time hair is shampooed. Color-protecting shampoo must be used before the Colorist Collection Shampoo to prepare the hair for optimal color deposit. Follow this alternating pattern from the day of the haircolor service until the next haircolor service." Available in professional salons in many different shades to match your color for less than $20 each per shampoo and conditioner.

What did you think? Right before Christmas, I got my hair cut and colored. And while I am a natural blonde, I do whatever I can to enhance my blonde-ness. As a kid I had uber-blonde, almost white hair. It was so cute. Now as an adult, I know I can't go that blonde, but I do like to be as light as possible. When I was done getting my hair done, I asked my stylist what I should use to keep my blonde blonde. She recommended L'Oreal Professional Colorist in White Violet. This shampoo comes out of the bottle deep purple, but it actually works with my lack of color to avoid the dreaded brassiness that blondes face.

I've been using it every other time I get my hair done, and I can notice a difference. My hair looks brighter, shinier, and move vibrant. It really makes a difference with the tone and shine of my hair, thereby extending the life of my dye job.

The final verdict? I love this product! It comes in 12 different shades for blondes, redheads, and brunettes. If you dye your hair or get highlights, it's worth spending the money on this product to keep your color fresh. If you're spending a ton of money on your color, just spend a little more for a product that will protect and enhance your investment.

Chris Martin in photog scuffle

In a video captured by TMZ.com, Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin can be seen attacking a photographer. In the video Martin and wife Gwyneth Paltrow are seen leaving a hospital. After the photographer snaps a couple shots, Martin jumps on the man, pushes him to the ground and tries to make off with his camera, all while yelling, “Have some respect!” At this point the photographer gets up and struggles to get his equipment back. Martin tries to make an escape in his SUV, but the cameraman can be heard threatening to break the vehicle’s door if the equipment is not returned. There’s no official word on why the famous couple were at the hospital.

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