The Conversation

I am really enjoying an alternative talk show on the Lifetime channel called The Conversation featuring high profile female celebrities who have interesting stories and experiences to share.

Each week British host (and photographer) Amanda De Cadenet curls up on people’s couches and has a honest and open conversation about “what women talk about” with inspiring and funny guests, it almost feels like you are listening in on a private chit-chat amongst friends. As Amanda puts it; “it’s basically the universal language of women.”

You can catch the first three episodes through The Conversation Website, and be sure to watch the first show when Amanda sat down with Jane Fonda, Gwyneth Paltrow, Zoe Saldana and Sarah Silverman to discuss topics like relationships, grief, postpartum depression, sex, body issues and more. 

Produced by De Cadenet and Demi Moore (who is working behind the camera more than in front these days). The Conversation has a list of impressive guests including Lady GaGa, Alicia Keys, Rita Wilson Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and funny lady Melissa McCarthy etc.

Check it out every Thursdays at 11.00pm/10.00 pm central or visit Lifetime to check your local listings.

Follow The Conversation on Twitter , Facebook & Tumblr

Tori Spelling

One lady that defines the “mompreneur” title is Tori Spelling. In yesteryear she was Donna Martin from 90210, but now she is a bestselling author with four books under her belt and a new one launching next week, a jewelry designer, a craft designer, the owner of a home and lifestyle store in LA called "Inventori"  and the star of the Oxygen reality show Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood

Tori's family with baby Hattie in US Weekly

She is a creative woman with great taste and attention to detail which can be seen in her beautiful website called "ediTORIal" It features style tips for the home (Dwell) and your closet (Style), party ideas (Entertain), recipes (Eat), creative projects (Craft), lifestyle articles (Live), parenting tips (Raise), relationship advice (Love), and updates on all her businesses ventures (Launch).

"Dwell" Interior decor on 'ediTORIal" website

Most of the stories featured on the ediTORIal website have a personal angle, for example she will show how she cooked a particular meal with family snapshots alongside the recipes, or a picTORIal from a recent family holiday or vacation.

Tori's family on 'ediTORIal' website

One of my favorite aspects of the show Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood is the various parties she organizes for her children, friends and charities. The parties usually have a theme such as a children’s “Hello Kitty” or “Ghostbuster” party or a “Vintage Bunny” baby shower. Now Tori is sharing her expertise in a new book about party planning called “CelebraTORI” out April 3rd (pre-order on Amazon.com). 

Tori's new party planning book 'CelebraTORI"

She will be doing a book tour in LA and New York, unfortunately no San Francisco date, but my friends and I loved meeting her and her gay husband Mehran when she was promoting her “Uncharted TerriTORI” book. She was very charming and personal by taking the time to engage with everyone who stood outside in line on a foggy day. I also got a kick out of her taking particular interest in the bright yellow necklace I was wearing that day!

Meeting Tori Spelling in San Francisco

When you see Tori organizing a party or wedding on TV, she is running around multi-tasking the goodie bags, overseeing the dessert table and making flower arrangements, it is clear that Tori Spelling is the one in control and fanatic about detail. She is also an avid crafter who wants to make arts and crafts cool. To help get in touch with your inner-crafter, Tori will be the host and executive producer of a new TLC show called "Craft Wars" airing on June 26^th. The show will feature craft enthusiasts competing against each other in two rounds of challenges with Tori as their mentor.

Tori will host "Craft Wars" TV show

Tori Spelling also launched a new craft and stationary line on HSN last month which featured tasteful graphics in beautiful color palettes. The line included a stationary thoughts card kit, a stamp, block and card kit, a memory book kit and a craft clutch bag for your tools and materials.

Tori's new stationary & craft line on HSN

On top of all that, last week Tori announced that she is pregnant with her fourth child after only giving birth to her daughter last year. How does she find the time and energy to pursue all these creative ventures and run a family? Who knows, but we enjoy watching and following her inspirational triumphs along the way!

Style Inspiration this Week

It has been a while since I have featured my “Mommy Treats” on this blog so I thought I would share some things I am enjoying at the moment!

Read: Ali in Wonderland

Ali in Wonderland book

Funny lady Ali Wentworth first caught my eye when she used to appear on Oprah’s Friday Live shows, I used to enjoy her funny stories and sharp delivery so I was intrigued when Gwyneth Paltrow recommended her new memoir “Ali in Wonderland” (Amazon) on her GOOP website.

Ali comes from a family who socialized in Washington’s political social circle, with an aspirational mother who was First Lady to Nancy Reagan’s social secretary and appeared to be a mother who could juggle with grace (I’d like to know her secret!). 

She is also married to Good Morning America presenter George Stephanopoulos, who seems a bit square to me but never the less; she is very witty and has written an entertaining book, I look forward to the audio version!

Home: Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters tea cup

From Ali in Wonderland to Alice in Wonderland, and what better way to enjoy a good book but curled up on the couch with a hot cuppa! 

Fashion store Urban Outfitters has a fantastic home décor section on their website called "Apartment" that features great chevron duvet sets, funky chairs, rugs, brightly colored book shelves and cute accessories like this Alice in Wonderland tea cup.

I love my tea and collect teapots and tea cups (I’m such a British stereotype) so will be adding this one to my collection!

Style: Colored Jeans

I don’t get to have many fashion moments any more, I used to work in the fashion industry (but made to mostly wear black) and used to get to dress up regularly, but now I am a mom I only get to do so on rare date nights or much needed girl’s night outs. But I love the colored jeans trend at the moment especially red jeans which compliment my love of navy nautical stripes and grey sweaters. I was inspired by this picture from Style Me Pretty blog through Pinterest:

I found some red jeans from Almost Famous brand found at Tillys  (Northgate Mall or Vintage Oaks) which also come in a fabulous cobalt blue. I also love anything sunshine yellow this season, and most of my friends know I have been on the hunt for yellow cardigans or sweaters for some time, so love these yellow jeans seen on Lookbook.nu blog!

Yellow jeans on Lookbook.nu blog

Celebrity: Gwyneth Paltrow at the Oscars

Lastly, talking of fashion moments, I loved some of the dresses on the red carpet at the Oscars last Sunday, especially Gwyneth who looked stunning in this Tom Ford white dress with matching cape that was a fashion risk which she pulled off with class.

Gwyneth in Tom Ford at the Oscars

I also loved Cameron Diaz’s cream Gucci gown (well done Rachel Zoe) with her sexy new hair cut! 

Cameron Diaz in Gucci at the Oscars