DIET TREND:
CELEBRITIES DETOX

Now turning to a hot trend that’s having the stars looking and feeling fabulous: detoxing.

Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore just did the Master Cleanse, a popular 10 day detox, which consists of maple syrup, lemon juice, water and cayenne pepper. Nine hours into the cleanse, Kutcher posted on his Twitter, "I want a steak, a beer, and a blow-pop. Hmmm this is gonna be rough."

Anne Hathaway does the LemonAid 48-Hour Detox Diet. Prior to the 2009 Golden Globes, she drank this four times a day for 48 hours.

Gwyneth Paltrow eats smoothies and salads for weeks at a time.

Last summer Leona Lewis did a month-long diet consisting of only vegetables and water.

‘Transformers’ star Megan Fox turns to apple cider vinegar and water, to cleanse her system.

Fergie maintains a regular, healthy diet and only allows herself one bite of dessert.

Jessica Biel who has been voted the world’s sexiest woman still relies on good old exercise to keep healthy.
She describes her workouts as: “Lots of weight training, lots of cardio, lots of running, lean down gain more muscle, lose body fat. I would workout for an hour and a half, doing 45 minutes of cardio and a full hour of weight lifting, then I would go to an hour of martial arts, then an hour of archery, and then I would fall asleep.”

FASHION TREND SETTER:
SANDRA BULLOCK

Who's the woman fashion designers would most like to see wearing their gowns on the red carpet? Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron may be great for publicity, but designers are more concerned about bottom lines than headlines.

Apparently there is no better than Sandra Bullock.

That's the surprise finding of a Wall Street Journal story about stylespot.com, a fashion portal that links red carpet looks to their online retailers.

Sandra Bullock may rarely grace the pages of fashion magazines but she prompts the most click-throughs on stylespot.com.

Star power doesn't sell gowns nearly as much as a star's popular appeal. 

Sandra Bullock's every woman image may fly under Vogue's radar but it inspires actual sales.

BREAKING UP:
DIVORCE STATISTICS

A new finding shows that women are much poorer than men after a marriage breakdown but men are much lonelier, sadder and their mental health is more fragile immediately after the separation.

Within four years, however, men have begun to recover emotionally while women's incomes have gone backwards - women are much poorer financially, men are much poorer socially.

Men's income is almost 20% higher four years after separation, but women's income is 2% lower. Separated men are more likely than women to call themselves ''poor'' and to complain of financial hardship.

A year after divorce, 48% of men who had not found a new partner reported often feeling very lonely compared with 39% of the single women.

Men are much less likely than women to report feeling satisfied with their life in the year after the break-up. Numbers for the men pick up three years later with 42% of men feeling satisfied and 52% for women.

Here's the most shocking news: even four years after a divorce, those who separated were less happy than couples who never divorced.

WEIGHTLOSS TREND:
SEX-FOR-LIFE DIET

Now turning to the diet that's said to improve your sex life. They say there are 10 super sex foods that will help make things better.





1. Eggs
2. Celery
3. Vanilla Ice Cream
4. Brazil Nuts
5. Liver
6. Peaches
7. Blueberries
8. Cereal
9. Steak
10. Chocolate


EGGS
Eggs are said to lower anxiety. A plateful of eggs on the morning of your date, are a good source of B vitamins to keep your mind stress-free with no jitters.

CELERY
Celery has two pheromones to make you more attractive. When you chew a stalk of celery, you release odor molecules into your mouth. They then travel up the back of your throat to your nose. Once there, the pheromones boost your arousal, turning you on and causing your body to send off scents and signals that make you more desirable. Grab the celery from the Bloody Mary and munch away. The pheromones take effect immediately, so you should notice people around you paying more attention to you right away.

VANILLA ICE CREAM
Ice cream is an endurance food with high levels of calcium and phosphorus, two minerals that build muscles' energy reserves and boost your libido. A study conducted at Chicago's Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation found that when men smell the scent of vanilla, it relaxes them, reducing inhibitions.

BRAZIL NUTS, LIVER AND PEACHES
These are all said to help sperm count and quality.

CEREAL
Cereal has lots of thiamin and riboflavin that help use energy efficiently, so no stopping or falling asleep on your date.

CHOCOLATE
A couple of pieces of dark chocolate are great because the cocoa in chocolate contains, stimulants that increase your body's sensitivity—ensuring that your skin registers even the slightest touch or movement against it.

NEW TREND:
SERIAL SANITIZING


Now officially, there is a trend in the US and Canada is 'Serial Sanitizing'. It's now a normal activity because people are still trying to avoid H1N1 and MRSA and C-DIFF etc…Some of the dirtiest places are: door knobs, handles and poles on the subway. The germs are microscopic. You can't see them but they stick on the knob and then the next person comes in, touches the handle, then touches their face. The other bad spots: telephones, computer keyboards, and elevator buttons. The gym is also a bad place. The germs stick to non-porous surfaces like plastic, metal and wood. Flu bugs can last up to two days in certain environments but most last a few hours.

Here are some tips on how to avoid the bug:

1. Don't Touch the First Floor Elevator Button!
In an elevator, the first-floor button harbors the most germs because people touch it more than any other button.

2. Use the First Toilet
Research shows that most people use the middle stall in public bathrooms, so avoid those. More use means they're the dirtiest and have the most germs.

3. Office Coffee Pots Dripping With Disease
Your office coffee pot and mug may have been cleaned with a sponge dripping with germs (more on these later). Hang on to your own mug, and use a dishwasher when it's time to clean it. Another trick: Keep apple cider vinegar in the office and pour a water-cider solution through the coffee machine weekly. It will help kill bacteria.

A team of engineering researchers at the University of Florida found that two minutes of microwaving on full power killed or inactivated more than 99 percent of bacteria, viruses, or parasites, as well as spores, on a kitchen sponge.

4. Your Desk Is Dirtier Than the Toilet
Get this: the typical office desk area has 400 times the amount of bacteria than the average toilet seat. Worst offenders: the office phone, the desk and the keyboard. Use a disinfectant wipe to clean the desktop, computer keyboard, and phone.

5. Scrub your hands!
Scrub with warm water and soap for at least 15 to 20 seconds after using the bathroom; eating, working, or playing outdoors; playing with pets; or coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. Anything less than 15 seconds won't do the job.

Incredibly, 95 percent of people wash their hands after using the bathroom, but only 67 percent really do it. Worse, only 33 percent bother to use soap, and only 16 percent wash their hands long enough to remove germs.

MAGAZINE TREND: CHANGING CLIMATE


The ad climate seems to be improving for the magazine business.

At Hearst Magazine, which makes Oprah, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping and House Beautiful just to name a few -

• Sales for April rose 12% compared to the same period last year
• Ad sales across 13 of Hearst's main titles are already up 17% for May
• Advertisers are spending more on print, especially in beauty and packaged goods
• Predictions are within the overall industry that overall ad spending for magazines will rise this year by 1.9%, to $9.4 billion

ECONOMIC TRENDS:
2010


Now to the latest economic trends for 2010. Here are the experts' predictions for the rest of this year. In addition to these forecasts, other analysts predict some of the following figures:

• The Housing market will increase.
• Consumers will spend 2% more than in 2009.
• Retail sales will increase 3%.
• Foreign exports will rise.

However, according to Gerald Celente, a world trend expert, a big problem remains NAFTA.

INSIDER INFO:
HOW TO BE A MILLIONAIRE/BILLIONAIRE

So do you have what it takes to be a millionaire/billionaire? You're likely very interested in this story. According to Forbes lastest list, the richest man in the world is Brazilian telecom tycoon Carlos Slim Helu. So, What exactly does it take to amass that kind of wealth? Do you have it? There's common denominator of all of those who have gathered huge masses of money. People who are very successful have an incredible sense of optimism, unbounded optimism. They have an insatiable need to win. They don't have the sense of limitations that most people have. There's no limit to their capacity to achieve and keep going. Age and family commitments don't deter them. They say it takes serious guts to abandon the comforts of an office, a two-week paycheck and a decent health care package to start a small business, let alone build an empire. Billionaires have a confidence bordering on arrogance that checks their fear and doubt, even as the bets grow larger and more complicated. Put another way, they have an uncanny ability to shrug off failure. Highly successful entrepreneurs view failure as a way to gather data. That's how they learn. It's part of the process instead of being the end of road.

NEW YORK TIMES TREND: CHARGING FOR ACCESS


Get ready for a new trend when it comes to reading your newspaper. It's starting with the New York Times and may spread. The Times will begin charging for articles on its Web site next year. It's in an effort to find new revenue. Circulation for newspapers keeps declining, magazines are suffering and advertising has been hit very badly. The plan will be built around a metered model, charging readers for access after they have viewed a certain number of articles in a month. The New York Times home delivery print subscribers would continue to have free access.

HOLLYWOOD SPORTS DRINK: COCONUT WATER


Now turning to a big trend with Hollywood celebrities. It's the new hydrating sports drink called 'coconut water'. One of the biggest companies selling it now is Vita Coco. Part owners by Madonna and Demi Moore. Micheal Kerbin is the CEO, and he says he got the idea because he found out that coconut water was huge in Brazil. It's the second highest consumed drink to orange juice. So, he and his friend brought it to North America, and 4 million in sales later, his company was the first to bring it here in its natural state because before it was in tins and processed.

Coconut water is clear liquid inside young coconuts, and can't be confused with coconut milk. As the fruit matures, the coconut water is gradually replaced by the coconut meat and air. A very young coconut has very little meat, and the meat is very tender, almost a gel. Coconut water is so hydrating. It's also used as an intravenous hydration fluid in some developing countries where medical saline is unavailable.

Magazine Trend:
The Online Blitz


In 2009, over 50 consumer magazines closed. Some have turned online to lure more subscribers to their publications. If magazines are to survive today, they have to work those websites. ‘Conde Nast' announced that it wouldn't be printing the 68-year-old Gourmet magazine anymore.

- For some 200 weekly and monthly magazines, "advertising pages" are down 27 per cent this year.

- Advertising revenue, over all, is expected to be 5 billion dollars less, than last year!

- Almost 90 per cent of revenue for magazines comes from ads.

VIBE shut down last summer. BLENDER shut down too, but re-launched on the Internet. Vibe will come back as a printed "quarterly." Esquire Magazine set a trend in using the Internet in a new way to promote the magazine. There was a video of the November 2009 cover shoot of Kate Beckinsale. They had done it with Megan Fox and it was a huge success, the magazine's website got a million and a half people clicking to see it.

Trendsetting:
Billionaires

You'll be glad to know...the richest people in the world have gotten poorer along with everyone.... just how much?

Well, this year, the world's billionaires have an average net worth of $3 billion, down 23% in 12 months. The world now has 793 billionaires, down from 1,125 a year ago. After slipping in recent years, the U.S. is regaining its dominance as the place for wealth.

Americans account for 44%. Bill Gates lost $18 billion but regained his title as the world's richest man. Warren Buffett, last year's No. 1, saw lost $25 billion as shares of Berkshire Hathaway fell nearly 50% in 12 months. Mexican Telecom model Carlos Slim Helú is #3 even after loosing $25 billion. By the way, William Henry "Bill " Gates III (born October 28, 1955) is a business magnate, philanthropist, author, and chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen. He is ranked consistently one of the world's wealthiest people and this is back on top. During his career at Microsoft, Gates held the positions of CEO and chief software architect, and remains the largest individual shareholder with more than 8 percent of the common stock. He has also authored or co-authored several books.

TREND:
AROMATIC SCULPTURES and USB KEYS WITH SCENTS.

Now turning to Home fragrance: and Aromatic alternatives to candles…Hot these days are chic oil sculptures to potpourri “rocks” and even USB plug-ins for your computer, scents for the home are now available in an array of options.

Hollywood is loving DayNa Decker's Luminesse Sculptures ($300-$640; daynadecker.com).

L'Artisan's scented amber balls and new Chez Moi diffuser are decorative alternatives ($75-$500) Potpourri rocks from India Hicks ($30; Crabtree-Evelyn.com) and there are Scented USB drives, which stick right into your computer, ($30-$35; protocoldesign.com )

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE UPDATE:

Turning to shopping trends... Consumer confidence is at its lowest point in history and according to a January 14th report - retail sales were down 2.7 per cent from Wal Mart to Saks - retailers are trying hard to get rid of inventory that's sales are everywhere as you've likely noticed. Meantime....shoppers today are rethinking their habits. and spending. Instead of buying several lower-priced trendy items - shoppers will spend on a single longer-lasting luxury good. Companies like Coach - announced in January that their saleswere down 13 per cent from the same quarter in 2008. So how will the luxury consumer spend in 2009?

Wealthy consumers WILL spend but differently. Exclusivity will be embraced as will quality and dependability and luxury brands will offer discounts now - something never seen before and finally - the days of shopping till you drop - are over.

TRENDSETTING A-LIST ACTRESS:
KATHERINE HEIGEL

The beautiful Katherine Heigel from Greys Anatomy is one of hollywood's A - list, leading actresses today. Her movies do big business. and She has moved her way up the ladder quickly. She says she loves being on such a trendsetting show that abc nighttime quirky shows are huge business now. She is a big proponent of women's rights.

Her mother, years ago, was diagnosed with cancer and she moved her to LA to Malibu. Her mother became her manager.

In 2005, Heigel was cast in what would become her most high-profile role, as intern Dr. Isobel "Izzie" Stevens on Grey's Anatomy.

In 2006, she filmed Knocked Up which was a box office success. She has been on FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World" list twice as of 2007. In 2007, Heigel won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Izzie and in 2008 she was voted the Most Desirable Woman of 2008, according to AskMen.com.

STYLE ICON AND TRENDSETTER: FERGIE


Who is the celebrity who sets trends anytime she shows up somewhere, wears something, or sings about something. She's glamorous and sexy and she's FERGIE from the Black Eyed Peas. People are mesmerized by her. She just married Josh Dumel from the show Las Vegas.

Her real name is Stacy Ann Ferguson, a straight A student in school and is now along with being a singer, is a songwriter, fashion designer, model, and actress. She just launched a new shoe line (she already has a purse line with kipling). The Grammy Award-winning singer signed a contract with Brown Shoe to create her own unique line of footwear bearing her name.

Fergie is partnering with Brown to capture her style and incorporating it into her footwear line.

Her album Duchess in 2006 had 5 Billboard Hot 100 top 5 singles (three of which went to number one) making The Duchess the seventh album from a female artist to spawn five Top 5 hits.

The Duchess, is a mix of pop and R&B songs, including "Glamorous".

Her backstage ritual is eating 2 hours prior to show because she says if she eats closer to the show- she gets sick.

Fergie is an avid user of hypnotherapy, which she used to overcome her crystal meth addiction and uses now to relax.

HOTTEST L.A. HOTEL AND RESTAURANT/ BAR:
"THE BAZAAR" AT THE SLS HOTEL AT BEVERLY HILLS

The hottest food trend this year....bigger than even last year: small portion sizes, tapas style and the absolute hottest place in L.A. to get it is at the world-class: The Bazaar by José Andrés at the new SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills. What a spot!!

A new National Restaurant Association survey of more than 1,600 professional chefs says this small portion plating is the the #1 food trend this year. In Hollywood, everyone's eating tiny dishes. The Bazaar is now my favorite and #1 travel pick for those visisting LA. It's got the most amazing decor, designed by famed designer Philippe Starck. Fantastic! You have to see it, and the food, well, it's out of this world.

Each dish better than the next. Chef Jose' Andres' is behind the menu and is partners with the SBE Hotel Group. Andrés has received numerous distinctions for his culinary expertise. In 2006, the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington named him the Chef of the Year. Andrés hosts his own show in his home country of Spain. President of SBE is the very debonair Arash Azarbarzin who sat down with me recently to talk about this one-of-a-kind undertaking. SBE is known in Hollywood as the leader in cutting edge dining hippest places like the famed KatsuYA sushi, also my favorite sushi spot in town. It also gets my mega vote for inventive sushi and outstanding decor.

Azarbarzin says the dining experience at The Bazaar is also about 'entertainment eye-candy'. "The Bazaar is really like Alice going to Wonderland. This space is really an experience to be seen and savored. SBE is a muti-concept operator synergizing high-end dining, nightlife, a luxury hotel and film production brands. Created by some of the world's most talented minds, SLS has designs and custom furnishings by Starck, and custom-curated retail by Moss and Pascal Humbert-designed uniforms.

"From the moment you walk in, from the design the furniture the little details that Starck and Theresa Fatino put into place, will just wow you! Every sense will be ecstatic when you walk in" says Azarbarzin and I can't echo that more. I have gone several times and each time, I see more and more things that I didn't notice the time before. Here you get everything from nitrogen cocktails, tarot card readings, cotton candy and foie gras sticks to a caricatures drawn of yourself - all for free while dining on weekends. Azarbarzin says people today want everything - the music to be great, the lighting to be just right, the energy and the ambiance along with outstanding food.

The Bazaar houses furniture from all over the world and It's really three restaurants, all filling the hotels lobby.

There's Bar Centro, Pâtisserie, and Rojo y Blanco.

Rojo serves traditional tapas. Blanca has molecular- gastronomy tapas such as liquid olives and avocado tempura. You can also buy eclectic pieces which are all on display in glass cases. Everywhere you walk - you want to stop and look. The chairs are particularlly beautiful - and each one is different. (my favorite is one with antlers) Bar Centro and the one-of-a-kind gorgeous Patisserie can't be missed.

It is all located in the entrance level of the Hotel. What makes this restaurant so fun and unique is the design and concept of the four separate areas which make up The Bazaar. Los Angeles has never had anything like this, nothing as exciting. Food outstanding, service equal to that.

As far as the hotel...

SLS is a new luxury hotel brand by SBE Hotel Group, which is a division of SBE Entertainment, a company headed by Sam Nazarian.

SBE Entertainment acquires and develops projects, ranging from hospitality to night clubs. The SLS brand of hotels was started by SBE to “redefine” the luxury hotel experience. They aim to have their brand be one of the more dominant forces in the upscale hotel market.

The SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills is the first hotel of the SLS brand. It opened fall 2008. SBE contracted with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. to manage the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills. It's a member hotel of The Luxury Collection, which is more than 70 fine hotels around the world. SLS has 297 rooms, a rooftop pool, and fitness center. A notable thing I want to tell you about is: Seven of the 297 rooms are fitness-oriented “lifestyle suites.” with fitness equipment manufactured by Technogym, an Italian-based company specializing in high-end fitness equipment. Technogym has made its Kinesis Personal equipment as well as its trainers available to hotel guests. The starting cost for a room at the SLS at Beverly Hills is around $300/night.

465 S. La Cienega Blvd., L.A.

310-246-5555

thebazaar.com

CELEBRITY SALARIES:
WHO's ON TOP?


Who are the most powerful and the big money makers?

Ok, I've got the rundown.

At the top of the list, you guessed it, the divine Miss O.

She made last year 275 million dollars.

Oprah is the Queen of all media thanks to her show, real estate, movies, dr.Phil, Rachel ray, the oprah TV network launches this year.

Next in line is an athlete celebrity.Tiger Woods.

He made $115 million last year because of golfing, and so many endorsement deals.

Following him another athlete - David Beckham, he made 250 million signing with The Galaxy, then 35 million a year for endorsements with Motorola, Addidas, Pepsi and Coty.

Beyonces husband, record mogul and performer Jay Z. He made 82 million last year His Heart Of The City tour sold out overnight.and he signed a new deal for 150 million with Live Nation, one of the biggest deals in music history.

Speaking of Beyonce...she made 80 million just by last June thanks to her tour and deals with Armani, American Express, Direct TV, L'Oreal, Diamonds perfume and her clothing line House of Deron.

Teen sensation Miley Cyrus came in at 50 million last year, not bad for a 16 year old...thanks to her TV show on Disney, movies, and her tour.

Gwen Stephani came in at 27 million last year due to fashion line and tour and finally Jennifer Lopez comes in at 7 million dollars.

NEW SOFTWARE TO FIND ELECTRONICS THIEVES


As the number of electronics thefts continues to rise, hidden software is helping consumers and corporations get their gadgets back. High-tech, mobile devices dominate Forbes' list of most stolen electronics. You can now find your stolen BlackBerry -- and 'mess' with the thief. GadgetTrak, is a Portland, Ore.-based computer security firm, Its developed software that gives you remote access to a missing gadget. GadgetTrak Mobile Security software is $24.95 per device. You can lock your stolen phone down, recover data and wipe any sensitive information. You can secretly turn on the microphone and spy on the thief. Or you can blast an ear-busting siren that can only be stopped by prying out the battery. According to the FBI's National Crime Information Center, the number of reported phone robberies jumped 33% over the same period, from 60,100 to nearly 80,300. The number of reported laptop thefts increased almost 48% over the last two years, to almost 109,000. In the past three years, theft of iPods and other digital music players went up 91%to more than 17,000. It's so bad that a 2007 study showed iPod robberies bumped up overall crime rates in some major U.S. cities. Get this, according to a tudy felonies increased 18% in New York subways in 2005 - but minus iPod thefts, the amount of subway crime would have actually decreased by 3% for the year. Robberies cost the average major corporation per year: 640 laptops, 1,985 USB memory sticks, 1,075 smart phones and 1,324 other data devices.

Each year up to 800,000 memory devices (laptops, smart phones, memory sticks) are lost or stolen. Dell offers services that not only track and locate stolen or missing computers, but can erase an entire hard drive before the criminals can access sensitive information. A three-year subscription to the Dell ProSupport service costs $99 per computer. Gadget Trak's Search & Destroy program offers similar services at a cost of $69.95 per three-year contract. For about $15 a year, the company licenses location software for external USB devices like iPods, digital cameras, memory sticks and flash drives. Once plugged into a computer, the device sends out a signal pinpointing its location and the thief's IP address. GadgetTrak gets creative when locating Mac laptops: The company's MacTrak program uses the computer's built-in camera to secretly snap pictures of the thief every 30 minutes. The pictures are sent to your personal e-mail or online photo-storage account. The image then can be forwarded to police. If you're goggling: the company is GadgetTRAK. and its Gadget Trak Mobile Security software. spelled 'gadget-trak'

BIRD DROPPING FACIALS:
HOT HOLLYWOOD TREND


It's the bird dropinng facial masque. At Santa Fe's Ten Thousand Waves spa, the Nightingale Cleansing Mask includes a powder composed of "sanitized droppings" from the tiny wonder-birds. The high nitrogen content draws out bacteria from the skin and breaks down dead skin cells more gently than acid peels. Used for centuries by Geisha in Japan, the facial is "an all-natural way to brighten and smooth the skin."

The Nightingale Cleansing Mask, 55 minutes, $115.

Ten Thousand Waves spa, www.tenthousandwaves.com; Santa Fe, N.M., 505-992-5025

VIAGRA FOR YOU HAIR:
HOT TREND


Viagra for your hair: bull-sperm hair lotion

Hari's, a London salon, combines Pedigree Aberdeen Angus bull sperm Katera root from an Iranian plant to form a protein-packed powerhouse that's recommended for anyone who has fine, over-processed hair or frizzy hair. It's said to nourish, protect and revitalize hair.

Hari's Aberdeen Organic Bull Sperm Hair Treatment, about $100. Hari's Salon; London, England, 0207-581-5211.

TOP 7 FITNESS TRENDS


1.Boot Camp-style workouts are still top the American Council on Exercise's list.

Popular because they give you a total-body workout that's varied, fun and challenging.
You burn a lot of calories (up to 600)
You get a great cardiovascular workout,
You strengthen your muscles with high- and low-intensity exercises like pushups, squats and lunges. 
You don't usually get as much muscle fitness benefits in other aerobic exercises.

2. Budget-Friendly Workouts:
With today's struggling economy, more people will cut costs to stay in shape. 
Of the Council on Exercises certified professionals surveyed, 48 percent said gym memberships will go down in 2009 and 52 percent said fewer people will hire personal trainers.

3. Specialty Classes:
Yoga and Pilates will stay strong, but dance-based classes will be all the rage in 2009! 
Zumba combines South American rhythms with cardiovascular exercise. 
And Bollywood, ballroom, Afro-Cuban and other exotic dance styles are getting more popular thanks to shows like Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance.

4. Getting Back to Basics: Even though many exercises and equipment are becoming more advanced and trendy, trainers will continue to focus on basic movements and techniques with their clients again.

5.Technology-Based Fitness:
From iPods to Cardio Cinema to exergaming (i.e., Wii Fit, Expresso Bikes) the latest in technology will continue to infuse itself in all aspects of fitness.  In 2009, look for more interactive video games that have fitness benefits, as well as new inventions to make exercising a more engaging experience.

6. Kettlebells:
The reason for the surge is that it gets back to basic training that requires functional, whole body fitness. The movements work your entire body, especially your core, as you lift and control the kettlebell.

7. Circuit Training:
Studies have shown that interval training that combines strength training and cardio at different intensities is more time-efficient than doing the traditional aerobic and weight training sessions.  

CONSPICIOUS CONSUMPTION IS OUT


As people are questioning and frowning upon conspicuous consumption - large luxury companies such as Gucci and hugely paid celebrities such as Madonna are giving back like never before. At the last New York Fashion Week - Madonna and Gucci raised money with a show to raise money for Unicef and for Malawi - the country where Madonna adopted a child and, she says, lost her heart.

Instead of celebrating the opening of its giant flagship on Fifth Avenue with a big spending party in the three-story store, Gucci chose to underwrite the benefit to "give something back." All profits and pledges went directly to Raising Malawi, Madonna's charity, and to the Unicef Schools for Africa effort. Gucci now supports programs in Malawi and Mozambique for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS..

Madonna, the singer and philanthropist says her signing career has allowed her to give back. She says something very big has changed in her since she began travelling to Africa.Madonna's  aim is to create in Malawi, an academy offering education to girls b 2010.

NEW WEBSITES OF INTEREST


Some hot new websites to tell you about... Makeovermatic can be found at IVILLAGE.com. You upload your photo - and you can check out different looks for yourself.  You can change your hair style, hair color, whiten your teeth, try different eyeshadows and lipsticks, try colored contacts, try on hats, sunglasses. and see how you'd look with different things. Then MARIECLAIRE.com lets you try mainly hair colors and highlights and decide how intense you would want them and WOWoWOW.com is a bunch of blogs from famous celebrities over the age of 40 - sort of like watching the second half of the today show and lades here's a great one for you - POPGADGET.net - its all about the tech world from a woman perspective.

BUZZ WORDS: WHAT'S IN, WHAT'S OUT


Buzz words this year? What's in? What's out? BIG is definitely out. SMALL as you know is in. Conspicuous consumption is out. SIMPLER is in. When it comes to TV shows: complicated shows like Lost are out. Shows that take only one episode to follow are in - like the Mentalist...and Reality shows are in. Twitter is in but kinda out. Slow Blogging is in, that's where you write a blog not every 3 hours - but every few days or every week. People don't have time for the silly play by play of a life anymore. nor do they want it.

GREEN CELEBRITY: ENTOURAGE STAR ADRIEN GRENIER


Entourage star Adrien Grenier continues to set trends as a green conscious celebrity. He drives a Toyota Prius hybrid and is just one of the many celebrities who are very vocal about their environmental activism. Grenier has embarked on a new television series The Green Life - that will illustrate how making small changes in everyday living can be cool and simple. Along with a friend, their new production company, is called "Reconcile" and was derived from the name of Adrian's other company, Reckless Productions - Webster's definition of restoring friendship and harmony; in this case with the earth. He's also following in Leonardo Dicaprio's footsteps and is producing a documentary film about media culture. Adrian says "if everyone just became a little more aware of his or her own personal impact on the earth, real change would ultimately result."

DRESSING ROOMS: GO HIGH TECH


They've been popping up all over Hollywood so get ready for them in your city. These dressing rooms of the future have interactive mirrors, 3D scanners and holographic sales assistants. Bloomingdales, for example, was one of the first retailers to test a social retailing system and a Japanese department store chain, began experimenting with an "intelligent fitting room". 

It gives customers the opportunity to check available sizes and styles of the items they are trying from inside the fitting room. Prada began using the interactive mirrors in its Beverly Hills store last year. The better the retailer makes the trying on experience, the more likely the shopper will buy the item but  retailers have largely ignored dressing rooms. The Internet has revolutionized the way catalog shopping is conducted and shoppers are avoiding fitting rooms altogether. One solution might be installing a responsive mirror in retailer's dressing rooms. Currently when you bring five or six items into the dressing room and try to narrow down your selection. It becomes difficult to remember how you looked in each outfit. The responsive mirror eliminates that by allowing you to simultaneously see pictures of yorself in all the items you try on to help you decide which they want to purchase. Through inventory tagging, the dressing room registers the items shoppers take in to try on and produces video and images of the merchandise.  A touch screen gives shoppers the option to invite friends. Through their personal cellphone or key pad, they can then send an e-mail or text message to friends. By clicking on a url and logging on to a Web site, the friends can see the items being tried on and make comments. The site will also suggest other merchandise in the store. The shopper can then click on one of the recommendations, and make it appear in the mirror superimposed over his image, as though he were trying on the garment. Macy's and J.C. Penney are also exploring versions of the interactive dressing room. Retailers have started to add more realistic lighting that is closer to daylight and increase the size of the rooms to allow more movement and other people to join shoppers in the process and at the Gap and Banana Republic are revamping how shoppers receive service while in the dressing room by installing call buttons and delivery doors where sales assistants can bring items to shoppers.

THE SOFT ADDICTION: ARE YOU A SHOPAHOLIC


Now turning to a growing trend in these tough economic times...being a shopaholic!

Seems people are still shopping even for small things. Judith Wright, author of "The Soft Addiction Solution," says you're not alone if you are one. According to recent studies, as many as 1 out of 12 people (almost as many men as women) are compulsive shoppers. Shopping has become, for many, what's called "a soft addiction". It can rob energy, steal time, numb your feelings, cause tension, and cause bickering in relationships. 

To 'stop' one must address the causes.

Ask yourself these 4 questions:

1.  Do you spend hours roaming the mall or surfing online...then you are most likely dealing with a soft addiction. Wasting hours that could be spent moving you towards your dreams.

2. Do you shop to feel better about yourself, fill up unscheduled time, escape your emotions? Or are you shopping for some clothing that expresses your personal image? Escaping, avoiding boredom, or feeling pulled toward a sale, is a signal that it's a soft addiction.

3. What are you feeling? Do you shop when you're bored, angry, sad?

If so, you may be using shopping as therapy - a way to avoid your feelings and the challenges you are facing. Think about how you feel before, during, and after your spending spree. Before shopping, are you anxious, jittery, bored, angry or afraid? Are you zoned out, numb, or even on a false high while shopping? Afterward, do you feel shameful, high or even forgetful of what you just purchased? Any of these check points can let you know that you've got a problem.

and finally...

4. What are you hoping your shopping will do for you?

If you think new pants will make you more attractive to others or If that new gadget will make you the envy of others, forget it. You are imagining some magical result that you believe shopping will bring you. Whether you shop as a boost for your self-esteem, to bring a sense of newness in your life, or avoid uncomfortable emotions, there are far more satisfying ways to meet those needs. Once you know what they are, they will bring you lasting results.

So....what can one DO about all this?

1. Tell the truth: You need to recognize that there is no quick fix to the habits you've formed over the years.

2. Add activities to meet your deeper needs and fill the voice. For example, if you shop because you're lonely, find new friends to build a stronger network of support. If you have a deeper need to feel excitement and adventure, sign up for a class you enjoy, or take on a new project.

3. The key is exploring what you want in your 'relationships' and ask for support from those around you.

YOU TUBE: STUDIO MOVIES NOW AVAILABLE


One of the biggest trendsetters in the world today is You Tube, the truly revolutionary video sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips. The new trend now is for Hollywood movie studios to use You Tube. Recently you tube reached an agreement with MGM, Lions Gate Entertainment and CBS which will allow the companies to post full-length films and television shows on the site, accompanied by advertisements. The move is intended to create competition with websites such as Hulu, which features material from both NBC and Fox. As you many know, ingenious YouTube was created in February 2005 by three former PayPal employees. In November 2006, it was bought by Google  for $1.65 billion, and is now operated as a subsidiary of Google.

MEN TAKE RISKS: FOR WOMEN


Now let's focus on men and how they flirt with risk these days and why they do. . . Why?? Because studies show - they think it will help them get women.

Men make up 4/5th's of the world's skydivers and 2/3rd's of all rock climbers, and a new study suggests they do it for more than just the thrill. Women are choosier about men than men are about women.

The pressure forces males to work harder to prove their worth to females and out-compete other guys in the running. Social psychologists at Florida State University wondered: Could risk-taking be one of the ways in which men show off their strength, ambition and confidence to potential lovers?

134 undergraduate psychology students took part in an experiment. Psychologists wanted to see whether men would take more risks if they thought there were beautiful women around for them to woo. They showed men pictures of either 10 attractive or 10 unattractive faces.. What they found: Men were much more likely to take risks if they were sexually motivated. Guys who saw attractive faces, but weren't sexually motivated, did not, take more risks.

THE MAN SHOWER


There's a new big trend in the wedding industry today - It's the man shower. "Guys-only" man showers with manly snacks, games and gifts."It seemed like there was a lot of hoopla for the ladies and not too much for the guys, so this is now the trend for male bonding. Men who have grown accustomed to attending co-ed showers with their wives and girlfriends in recent years now find guy-only parties an acceptable rite of passage.

Now note: The man shower is a warm-up to, not a substitute for, the bachelor party. They usually coincide with the bridal shower, and give the husbands, brothers and uncles an opportunity to hang. Highlights of the party include playing football, drinking games and video games where players perform in virtual bands. Men also are recognizing that showers are a great way to acquire tools and other necessities needed to maintain a home. ALSO a trend now with weddings....MALE bridesmaids and FEMALE groomsmen.

HOT TREND: WOMEN RATHER HAVE COMPUTER OVER SEX


So you think men are workaholics?

Nearly one out of 2 women, 46% of them, would rather give up sex for 2 weeks than go without their computer. Far fewer men would go without sex. According to a survey of 21 hundred people - only 30% of men say they'd rather forge sex than the computer. 95% say it's very important to access the internet. 65% rate internet access above other discretionary spending items such as cable TV subscriptions, dining out, shopping for clothing and a health club membership. 61% of women would rather give up watching TV for 2 weeks than give up the internet for 1 week.

SEX TREND: BALANCE OF POWER


We start this weeks show looking at the balance of power between the sexes. When it comes to male dominence in relationships, it depends on the country you live in. In a survey of over 48 countries – individual attitudes to sex vary widely. One reason for this: the higher the number of men relative to women in a particular society, then the less promiscuous the culture. For example: In East Asian countries such as China, Japan and South Korea, where the population is heavily male-biased, there is relatively little interest in uncommitted, casual sex.

Meanwhile, urban areas of the US and Canada, with low ratios of men to women, there is a high level of short-term relationships and divorce."If 'good men' - those who are attractive, faithful, well-resourced, generous - are few, then there is very high competition between women to secure them as long-term mates. This means men can call the shots and what men usually want is casual sex. However, most women want a stable partnership, at least when it comes to having children, and they can demand such a relationship if men substantially out number women, because it's harder for men to move on to new pastures.

It is a kind of sexual marketplace - where - whichever sex is in demand, that's the sex with the power.

PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS: HIRE ONE BEFORE YOU MARRY


Worried about who your next mate might be? You might want to follow the lead of the Chinese. It's a relationship trend that's catching on... In China....The Chinese are increasingly turning to private detectives to check out prospective spouses before they tie the knot. China Daily reports that in some cases parents will also want to make sure that their children will not get any nasty surprises after marriage. The detectives check available financial records, shadow targets following them and sometimes try to socialize with their friends to find out how others view them. When it comes to hiring one, look for experience. Some private investigators have little or no investigative background. There are those who have retired from a law enforcement or military career and decide that being a "private investigator" would be action packed and exciting. They enroll in some Private Detective school and after two months, they become a P.I. Not always qualified. It's important that you know the qualifications and experience of the investigator that will be working on your case. The more experienced the investigator, the greater your desired results will be achieved. You don't want a 20 year old with a video camera conducting surveillance for you. Get someone who does this type of surveillance regularly and has a corproration that flys under the radar.

Former FBI agents and former secret service are the best.

SEX DRIVE UPDATE


We now turn to the subject of low sex drive. No big deal, say most women today a new study shows that only 12% of females with sex problems are bothered by them.

The study, published in December in The Journal Obstetrics and Gynecology of over 31 thousand women, ages 18 to 102, found a whopping 44% reported having sexual problems, the most common being low desire for sex.

The findings mirrored those of many other surveys - but what sets this one apart is that of those women reporting sexual problems TODAY, only 12 percent say they are actually bothered by it.

MAN TURNED ON BY COLOR 'RED'


Now turning to relationship advice for the women out there (guys listen up too) If a woman wants to drive the men wild, she might want to dress in "red". Men rated a woman shown in photographs as more sexually attractive if she was wearing red clothing or if she was shown in an image framed by a red border rather than some other color.

The study confirmed red as the color of romance, as so many Valentine's Day card makers and lipstick sellers have believed for years.

Certain male primates are especially attracted to females of their species displaying red. For example, female baboons and chimpanzees show red coloring when nearing ovulation, sending a sexual signal that the males apparently find absolutely irresistible. In the study - Men were shown a woman, with pictures bordered in red white, gray or green.

When the same picture was framed in RED, the men rated her as more attractive. and…Men were then shown photographs of woman that were identical except that the researchers digitally made her shirt RED in some versions or BLUE in others. And once again, the men strongly favored the woman in red.

How men rated the women in the photographs in terms of likability, intelligence or kindness - did not count - ONLY attractiveness. (Well this is interesting - I love red!) The researchers then had a group of young women rate whether the pictured woman was pretty. Red had no impact on whether women rated other women as pretty.

Gay men and color blind men were excluded from the study.

HOTTEST JOB SECTORS TODAY


Now turning to the fastest growing industries out there today. There are some sectors where more jobs will be created over the next few years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics latest 10 year outlook for job creation. Here they are: consultants. Companies will need outside guidance in decision making. Jobs here will increase to 1.6 million by 2016. Another growth field is: firms that specialize in human resources

As companies consolidate - they transfer their human recourses functions to these specialized organizations. Health care will be the second fastest growing industry, driven by the number of people 65 and older. Jobs in leisure and hospitality will continue to grow as well and EDUCATION is also expanding.

BUSINESS TREND: HAVING THE RIGHT PRESTIGIOUS ADDRESS


Having a great address is a huge trend these days when it comes to your business. Here in Hollywood - you need that Beverly Hills address to make a mark. Tiffany and Harry Winston know the importance. They're on 5th Avenue between 56 and 58th Streets in Manhattan - the most coveted retail stretch in the world. Retailers looking to call this their home - can expect to spend $1,500 a square foot! Many shops there are around 20 thousand square feet. meaning a 30 thousand million bill. The New Bond Street in London and Ginza in Tokyo, the Bahnhofstrasse in Switzerland or the Champs Elysees in Paris are not showing signs of stress these days despite the rough times because the people who shop these stores - still can.

NESTLE: EATABLE BEAUTY PRODUCT


The world's largest food and beverage company has introduced Glowelle, a beauty drink that proclaims to have antiaging properties. has created a new drinkable cosmetic product called Glowelle. Nestle is going after prestige beauty consumers. To reach them, it's decided to begin selling Glowelle at luxury retailer Neiman Marcus where the drink will be sold alongside conventional cosmetics. The product itself is formulated with vitamins, phyto-nutrients and botanical and fruit extracts. The bottled drinks come in two flavors, raspberry jasmine and pomegranate lychee, and are available for $7 a pop at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman department stores. The blends claim to "nourish and hydrate the skin from within and help fight free radicals, known contributors to the signs of aging."

MICHAEL KORS: TRENDSETTING DESIGNER


You've seen the name...the #1 hot trendsetting designer today is Michael Kors.

His top-of-the-line cashmeres and sexy stenographers skirts hang alongside versions of Prada. Sales have jumped by more than 50% in three years. He is one of the most important designers today. The brand owes much of its success to his mix of media savvy and a pragmatic approach to business. He spends time on the selling floor. He knows the sales associates. He knows the merchants. He doesn't operate above it all, he rolls up his sleeves and digs in.

(for audio, click LISTEN and go to Oct 11, 2008 show)

TREND: TASER PARTIES


There is a new trend these days - Taser parties.

Those who believe they could be vitims of crime take part.

The taser is that electric stun gun used by security forces around the world.

Now in Colorado and other US states - it's legal for ordinary people to own them.

It's an Avon type of party, but it's a self defence party.

Tasers are now being marketed as the perfect protection device for females.

DR. MAO: HOLLYWOODS HOLISTIC DOCTOR TO THE STARS


So you want to live a longer, happier life...

There's a book out called " The Secrets of Longevity " from Dr. Maoshing Ni - known as Dr. Mao here in Hollywood. He is the most respected veteran Chinese medicine and accupuncturist doctor who stars lineup to see. He is a 38th generation doctor and THE expert on longevity.

Quote from Jim Carrey: "Undergoing treatments with Dr.Mao at the Tao of Wellness and following nutritional advice has let to a marked change in my physical vitality and my general state of well-being."

From Helen Hunt...."Dr. Mao brings generations of experience, an abundance of knowledge about both Eastern and Western medicine and his own good heart and his remarkable work."

In the book Secrets of Longevity - Dr. Mao spoke to those who've lived to a hundred or more and found some common factors. He has 3 great tips to living to be 100. One is sleep your way to longevity. Dr. Mao was even the topic of an episode of Sex and the City - where Charlotte had to ge into the top clinic for feritility. He has a large celebrity following.

(for audio - click LISTEN and go to Sept 27, 2008 show)

USA today reports...lifestyle habits play a huge role in keeping the body and mind in top shape well into the eighth and ninth decade of life, says Thomas Perls, an aging expert at Boston University School of Medicine and study director.

Many of the centenarians in this study blew the top off the common assumption that old age must be filled with pain and disability.

"I started to slow down in my late 80s," McBurney says. Slowing down for him still includes a daily mile-long walk to his office in Quinter, Kan., where he runs a business that produces about 7,000 pounds of honey each year. He drives a car, works in his garden, and he's still tending about 100 colonies of bees.

Perls found that many of the super-agers in his study had lived well past 90 without the disabling symptoms of heart disease, diabetes or even Alzheimer's. Of course, researchers can offer no guarantee that people who make lifestyle changes will live to age 100. But this study's findings suggest that most people can live well past 65.

Lose weight.

Or if you're at an ideal body weight now, stay there. Extra weight puts a strain on your heart and other crucial body systems and puts people at risk of heart attacks, diabetes, cancer and other diseases that can shorten life, says Robert Butler, director of the International Longevity Center-USA in New York. Most Americans simply eat too much: The experts recommend cutting back on calories, a step that will help trim the waistline and, if drastic enough, might even extend life. New research suggests animals that are fed far fewer calories live longer - about 40% longer.

Learn something new.

Take up ballroom dancing, chess, a language or photography. "Any time you have to work at something new you're probably doing good things for your brain," says Gene Cohen, director of the Center on Aging at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. People who learn new skills or information probably build new brain cells and make connections between existing neurons, he says.

Shape up.

Research suggests that regular exercise can help prevent or delay a laundry list of diseases, including heart disease, colon cancer, diabetes and even Alzheimer's. The experts say most North Americans should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise 5 days a week or more.

And it's never too late to start a fitness program, says Richard Hodes, director of the National Institute on Aging. Even seniors who've never been active before can work up to a fitness routine that will help keep them strong for years to come. Walking, swimming, dancing - even gardening and housework - can help people stay in shape, he says.

And here's one area where people can start to turn back the clock: Research shows most people lose 22% of their muscle mass by age 70, a process that leaves them prone to deadly falls. But Perls says people can reverse that aspect of aging with simple, daily strength exercises.

If you smoke, stop.

In the USA alone, tobacco-related diseases cause more than 400,000 deaths a year. Yet nearly 50 million Americans still smoke.

Socialize.

Go to a party, join a movie club, help out at a church picnic. Research suggests that people who build and maintain friendships and family relationships often are healthier and seem to recover from illness faster, Cohen says. Social connections may ward off depression and seem to boost the body's immune system, which helps fight infection.

Reduce stress.

Take a walk, pray, meditate or have lunch with a friend. Scientists say that people who build stress- busting habits into their daily routine gain a big health benefit. Unhealthy stress puts people at risk of getting sick or developing chronic diseases that can cut life short, Perls says.

Adopt a can-do attitude.

Research shows that people who live to be 100 often take an optimistic approach to life's setbacks.

Super-agers either are born with a happy-go-lucky personality that helps them through the inevitable stress that life brings or they develop coping mechanisms that help them weather upsets like a death or a divorce, Perls says.

Eat a healthy diet.

Diets that include at least 10 servings of fruits and vegetables per day might help prevent age- related damage to cells. Fruits and veggies, the more colorful the better, contain protective substances that might help ward off diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

Most longevity experts recommend cutting down on fatty, salty foods. Go for lean meats, poultry and fish, as well as a wide variety of fresh fruits, veggies and whole grain foods.

Get a good night's sleep.

New research shows that sleep deprivation can lead to memory lapses, depression and immune system problems. Scientists say that sleep deprivation may not be a natural part of aging.

Get regular checkups.

MENOPAUSE PAJAMAS: COOLJAMAZ


There's something new you can buy mom or for a friend...

It's for those who suffer from night sweats.

Pretty inventive : New pajamas on the market called COOL-JAMAZ.

Designed for women experiencing night sweats or hot flashes. They're made of a microblend performance fabric called dri- release, used for athletic wear by Nike and Puma.

They're cool and nice looking. you'd never know they served another purpose. The founders Cathy Schwartz and Carol Pakin of Weston Florida wanted to create a line that wasn't only cool and practical but truly - cool and fashionable. The pjs are being used in hospitals - UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, Massachusetts General in Boston and Sylvester Cancer Center in Miami.

Cooljamaz.com

LA DOGWORKS


So you love your dog? WELL - did you throw him a BARK-MITZVAH yet? LA DOGWORKS Training Academy is a state of the art dog Mecca!

24 hundred square feet of warehouse and indoor dog park now available now for dog birthday parties, sleepovers' and dog pampering never seen before.

Celebrity clients include Jake Gyllenhal, Nicole Ritchie, Joel Madden, Mischa Barton, Minnie Driver, Selma Blair, and Jennifer Hudson.

Here you'll find every possible dog amenity and the best dog care on the planet.

At LA DOGWORKS you'll find: Astro-Turf, known here as the Zen Den.

Here dogs get dog massage, aromatherapy, amnesia free denial hygiene, hydrotherapy (did I mention this is for DOGS) the only underwater treadmill hydrotherapy tank, weight maintenance, dog boarding, holistic dog products and a DOGGIE DEN where they can relax - chill - put their legs up ON COUCHES. The beds are plush. Wait its gets better....There's a plasma TV, and a FETCH mobile car service to pick up and drop off Rover.

Recruiting leading industry professionals to create a pleasant and contemporary aesthetic; LA DOGWORKSS is equipped with ultra-modern technology to ensure the highest level of health and safety for dogs of all shapes and sizes.

Their five-star membership resort, located in the heart of Hollywood, is an American Boarding Kennel Association (ABKA) member, and has required all staff to become certified pet care technicians through the ABKA.

Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, our professionally trained and certified staff will be at your dog's bark and call.

LA DOGWORKS

(323) 461-5151