LuAnn On Combining Families & Memorial Day

When it comes to etiquette, manners and overall good behavior, even celebrities need help navigating the rough waters of stardom! It’s a good thing Countess LuAnn de Lesseps of the Real Housewives of New York is joining forces with OK! to school them on the right thing to do! In a rough situation, we just ask, “What Would the Countess Do?” This week the Countess discusses a royal diss and firming up for summer. 

Any tips on combining families — whether it’s becoming a step-mom to your new husband’s kids, or dealing with your children having a new stepparent?

Today’s families often include children from past marriages and relationships and the blending process can be challenging. The best advice I can give to new stepparents is to relax and not force yourself on your spouse’s kids. Never criticize their birth parent or expect that they will love you. Instead, be happy if you can establish a harmonious and trusting relationship built on friendship.

Tip: Your stepchildren will come to respect and admire you if you give them time to adjust to their new situation.

How to throw a classy Memorial Day party that’s fun for kids as well as the adults — any tips to keep it elegant without feeling stuffy?

Memorial Day is one of my favorite holidays and I love to have friends over to BBQ. If you are inviting kids to your party, have activities for them like badminton, swimming, croquet or volleyball and make sure that you serve kid friendly foods and drinks. For the adults, I serve fun cocktails, like mojitos and watermelon martinis and I always have chilled salads and grilled chicken or steak.

Tip: When serving dinner outside, keep it simple and keep it chilled! Use non-breakable plates and glasses in fun, festive colors.

Credit: OK! Magazine

New York Housewives Want To Make You Sweat

The stars of Real Housewives of New York City get plenty of exercise shopping, pointing fingers, flipping their hair and catfighting. But sometimes, they've got to do a little bit more to really feel the burn.

Out promoting NBCUniversal's Healthy Step-a-Thon in Times Square, Kelly Bensimon, Jill Zarin, Ramona Singer, Alex McCord, Cindy Barshop and Countess LuAnn de Lesseps opened up about the workout and diet routines they follow to maintain their—love 'em or hate 'em—toned and slim selves.

"I do work out a lot compared to some people," LuAnn says, describing her Pilates-tennis-crosstraining routine.

And whether it's Ramona's attempt to work out in heels, Jill promoting her new line of shapewear or Cindy showing off her Jimmy Choo sneakers and emphasizing the importance of spray tans (instead of real ones) and drinking lots of water, all of the regimens sound about right for the Housewife in question.

"If I walk home, that'll be the best exercise ever, but I'll probably take a car service," laughed Jill.

"It's definitely bikini time, so it's not just about being fit, it's about looking hot," Kelly admitted.

Credit: E! Online (Natalie Finn)

Photos by Wire Image

Coutness LuAnn Attends 'Paws For Style' Event

Countess LuAnn de Lesseps attends the 11th annual Paws for Style fashion show benefiting the Humane Society of New York at Ink 48 Hotel on May 23, 2011 in New York City.

Credit: Wire Image

LuAnn de Lesseps: amNewYork Welcome Party

Countess LuAnn de Lesseps attends a welcome party for new columnists at The Chelsea Room on May 18, 2011 in New York City.

Credit: Wire Image

NY Housewives At A Beach Bum Tanning Event

Sonja Morgan, Countess Luann de Lesseps and Jill Zarin attend the Mobile Spray Tan Unit launch at Beach Bum Tanning Salon on May 18, 2011 in New York City.

Credit: Wire Image

LuAnn Keynote Speaker At NYU Nursing School

Countess LuAnn de Lesseps was the keynote speaker at the NYU College of Nursing graduation today and she credited her nursing degree to the success she achieved as a model.

“I worked part time as a nurse when I was scouted to model, and I am convinced I got many of my jobs because I was not just a waitress,’ LuAnn told Radar Online after her speech.

“Think about it, the people hiring would rather go on the plane to Aspen with a nurse than with someone who was just waiting tables.”

Known for her role on the hit show, the Real Housewives of New York, the Countess said she found her love of nursing when she was a teenager.

“I worked in a home for the elderly when I was only 14 years old, my job was to wash dishes in the back but I would chat with everyone there and I just fell in love with the elderly.”

Credit: Radar Online

LuAnn On Disappointments, Swimsuit Season

When it comes to etiquette, manners and overall good behavior, even celebrities need help navigating the rough waters of stardom! It’s a good thing Countess LuAnn de Lesseps of the Real Housewives of New York is joining forces with OK! to school them on the right thing to do! In a rough situation, we just ask, “What Would the Countess Do?” This week the Countess discusses a royal diss and firming up for summer.

 

Sarah Ferguson wasn’t invited to the royal wedding — although her daughters with Prince Andrew were there — and she told Oprah the slight upset her. How would you deal with such a public disappointment?
Sarah Ferguson’s disappointment at being excluded from the Royal Wedding was understandable since she remains close to her ex and I’m sure she would have loved to be with her daughters on such a special occasion. Maybe sharing her feelings with Oprah helped her move past the royal snubbing? I guess the royal family has trouble forgiving and forgetting.

Tip: Avoid the spotlight when dealing with disappointment.

Do you have any tips for ladies trying to firm up to look their summer bikini best? How do you handle shopping for swimsuits — probably one of women’s most dreaded shopping trips?
With summer right around the corner, the best way to get your body bikini ready is to combine cardio and toning exercises like running or walking and Pilates or yoga. Also, eating lean meats, fruits and vegetables and limiting carbohydrates is key if you are going to lose fat and build muscle. Since we all are built differently, one bikini does not fit all. I suggest that you consider your body shape and age when choosing a swimsuit. Many suits come in separates that can accentuate what is positive about your body.

Tip: A square peg cannot fit into a round hole (or a string bikini)!

Credit: OK! Magazine

The NY Housewives Cast Could Be Replaced

Look out Jill, Ramona, LuAnn, and Alex -- according to a new report, you're all on the chopping block.

Bravo executives were so overwhelmed with the success of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills -- their season finale was the highest-rated episodes in Housewives history -- they're looking at revamping the NYC franchise with all super-wealthy women with over-the-top lifestyles.

Producers believe that the hotel-sized mansions, stretch limos, diamonds, private jets, and record-setting divorce settlements that are part of the Bev Hills housewives' world, that made the show so appealing. They think the NYC show would perform better with that same feel.

So if you have Adrienne Maloof of Camille Grammer-size bank accounts, live in Manhattan, and have always wanted to be on reality TV, you may be in luck, reports The New York Post.

"We're always casting for new housewives in every city," a Bravo rep conceded to The Post. Would the cable net do a wholesale housecleaning and start the NYC show over with an entirely new cast? "We've never done that before," is all the rep would say.

Credit: Radar Online