I have come to a not-too-startling conclusion that perfection is overrated especially that oddity known as  the “perfect family”. Who are these people who get along swimmingly with one another and who pass the peas with the perfect smile on their faces? Who are these folks who never have a minor misunderstanding let alone a vein-popping, eardrum splitting argument?  You know who they are: freaks of nature.

Real families are messy. They have their challenges but are willing to stick together and stick it out for the greater good for when its all said and done, they truly love one another.

One such family that keeps it real (pardon the overused term) is the Lamas clan as seen on E!’s Leave It to Lamas (Sundays, 10:30 p.m. Season Finale, November 29). We have Shayne, noted for being the chosen one on the series The Bachelor, a bit ditzy sometimes but always lovable as she tries to be peacemaker while pursuing her own interests. Then there is her brother A.J, a charming, yet somewhat hapless sort, whose strained relationship with their father Lorenzo (yes, that Lorenzo) is at sometimes painful to watch. Finally, there is solid-as-a-rock, half sister Dakota, and loving, and at times kooky, menopausal mom, Michele Smith.

Oh, did I mention that Shayne, A.J. and Dakota live together?

They do and as you might suspect both tension and hilarity ensue. Like the time when AJ barges in on Shayne and her date. Awkward…Get your mind out of the gutter. They were just chatting but it was awkward nonetheless.

Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with little sis Dakota, who seems much wiser, more grounded at 19 than I was at any age.  Although, I could never do it because I’m difficult to live with by my own admission, Dakota has been roomies with her older sis Shayne since she was 15 and living with a brother she says is no problem. For Dakota it’s about being young, having fun and enjoying life — despite the occasional fight or two.

Dakota Pike of E's 'Leave it to Lamas' (photo: Courtesy of E!)

So what is it like having Shayne as a big sister? “Fabulous,” says Dakota, “We’ve always been best friends, except when we were 9 and13 and fought over clothes and toys. As we started growing older, became more like best friends and there no limits with what we share with each other.”

As for Dakota and her brother, they both are “extremely close”. “A.J. has a way of making me laugh and lifting my spirit,” says Dakota.” There is no jealousy between Shayne, or I or A.J. or I”

When Dakota was younger, at times, she was the girly girl that played Barbies with Shayne. At other times, she would be the tomboy, hanging out with A.J. and his “super cute” friends.  To fit in, Dakota would mess up her hair a bit, wear baggy clothes, skateboard and hit a baseball or two. Then after finished hanging with the boys, she would have Shayne do her hair.

It’s because she loves her brother A.J. so much that disputes, hard feelings, between he and his father Lorenzo, who she says is an “amazing person”,  are upsetting. When she looks at A.J., she sees someone who his still young, still learning about life who needs a father to help him work through things.

Dakota, A.J. and Shayne from E!'s "Leave it to Lamas' (photo: Courtesy of E!)

Enough about A.J., Lorenzo and Shayne. What about Dakota?

Dakota has wanted to be a singer since around the age of 12 or 13.  It was on the set of a Jewel music video that she fell love with the craft.  When Dakota told her mother she wanted to sing, she got an “okay honey” but it never went beyond that. About a year ago, an older, more committed Dakota started singing and writing songs in earnest. Six to eight months ago, she began recording. “It’s been a learning experience.” says Dakota who calls her style”pop/rock”, “I’m my biggest critic. I always want to be better.”

Now as for being on a reality series, Dakota says it has been “fun, great” but not a lot has changed in her life. Yes, she is busier with promotions and other possible opportunities. “Doors open for you but the fact is you don’t always have the job,” says Dakota, who other interest lies in acting. “You’ve got to do the work to get it.”

To follow Dakota (@Dakotajpike) on Twitter, click here.

FUN FACTS

She Likes to Get Her Snack On: Dakota has what she calls a “midnight eating thing.” She wakes up about 4 or 5 a.m., goes to the kitchen, grabs something to eat like pizza, donuts, cookies, makes a huge mess in the process and then goes back to bed. Shayne, who calls her”Babycakes”, is usually none too pleased with the mess Dakota’s made.

Favorite singer: It’s Pink, who she calls “amazing”.  Dakota also loves Alicia Keys and Rhianna.

Favorite food: Dakota is s “addicted” to sushi. “It might be full of mercury. But it will be okay,” she chuckles.

A Song that Would Describe Her:  The Fray’s “You Found Me”.  “The song touched me..I was at a certain point in my life two years ago when I found spirituality. I definitely pray. It  gets me through things.”

I’ve been frequently told that I think too much, tend to go overboard on the analysis of all things great and trivial. I torment myself and others with too many, “What does it all mean?”

Why are you looking at me that way?  Okay, I know. You are wondering how I am able to consume copious hours of reality television. The answer: I give brain a mini vacay from thinking with a promise to resume its usual task once the show, or in this most recent case, the movie,  Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, is over.

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, which opened last Friday, starring Nicholas Cage, is quite predictable even in its unpredictability. But if you love your Nick Cage over-the-top and chomping on the scenery like El Chubracabra, this is the film for you.

Directed by Werner Herzog, the film has Cage (Terence McDonagh) as a not-so-great cop gone bad but still doing what he needs to do for the sake of the greater good even it’s bad. Get that?  Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds.

Nicholas Cage and Val Kilmer in 'Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans' (photo: Courtesy of Fanscape)

You see, the story takes place in New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina. The levees have broken. The police station is flooding. In an effort to save a prisoner trapped in a cell in which the water is rising rapidly, Cage dives in. He saves the prisoner but injures his back.  To ease the pain, a doctor prescribes some medication. Cage takes it as well as his own self-prescribed meds. He particularly likes the kind that come in powder form — if you know what I mean. Cage uses rather unconventional means of scoring drugs. I don’t want to reveal anything. Let’s just say he has a gun and a badge and is not afraid to use it.

Although Cage, who was promoted to Lieutenant following the heroic rescue, pursues drugs like it was his job to do so, Cage’s real job is to investigate the drug-related, execution style murder of a Sengalese family.

Eva Mendes in 'Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans' (photo: Courtesy of Fanscape)

The film follows Cage as he attempts to keep it together enough to track down the criminals. Oh, if that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, he takes time to get a little loving and a hit of the good stuff from his high class hooker, addict girlfriend played by Eva Mendes (Frankie Donnenfeld). Mendes’ performance, a take on the hooker with a heart of gold — kind of, sort of — is top of the line B-movie quality…Now, wait a minute, I’m not saying she is bad. Not at all. She gives a good performance in a very limited role.

Xzibit, Nicholas Cage and Cohorts from 'Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans' (photo: Courtesy of Fanscape

Every cop film needs a villain.  Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans has one in rapper turned actor Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner (Big Fate), the drug lord sought in connection with the murders. He is surprisingly good, giving a calm, measured performance in contrast to Cage’s wild man antics.

Another surprise, a rather odd one, is the film’s supporting cast which includes noted actors such as Jennifer Coolidge, Irma P. Hall, Vondie Curtis-Hall, and Val Kilmer as Cage’s partner.  To say that they are underutilized, would be an understatement.  The truth of the matter is that it’s Cage’s film and everyone is there in service to him. Now is not the time for breakout performances.

I’m going to do a bit of thinking right now. I do have to say that I expected a better treatment of New Orleans as backdrop. There was no sense of place or reason why the story needed to take place in this particular location at this particular time.  As it is filmed, New Orleans looks like just another blighted American city, not one so keenly etched into our collective consciousness.

Well, enough of that.

Nick Cage fans. You get your man just like you like him – - bigger than life, wild, with a healthy dose of camp.

Enjoy.

Television’s Project Runway may have ended for the season but the cutting, creating, and sweating by young designers who aspire to produce that breakout collection has not.

One such designer still hard at work is Katie Gallagher. The Ride talked to Katie about her inspirations and Spring/Summer 2010 collection, her first.

The Ride: Would you describe yourself as “fashion designer” and if so, what does that term mean to you? If not, what would you call yourself?

Katie: I guess I would call myself a “fashion designer” for lack of a more appropriate term. I design and create clothing. I think to call myself an “artist” sounds too pretentious.

The Ride: In your bio, you said you were “born between a farm and a forest somewhere.” Where might that be and how has it influenced your work?  (I was born between a rock and a hard place myself)

Katie: I was born in Western PA and lived in Central PA from 7th grade through high school then moved to Providence, RI to attend art school at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design). I’m sure that growing up where I did had some sort of influence on my work and what I do but I don’t have it directly pinpointed to why or how.

Fashion Designer Katie Gallagher

The Ride: And about your creations, how would you describe them?

Katie: My creations are representations of myself and the things I believe in. The Clothing should speak to that: they are about the image I like to see and through that the ideas about fashion that I’d like to project.

From Katie Gallagher's Spring/Summer 2010 Collection

The Ride: Why did you choose to set up shop in NYC?  What is it about the city that makes it the place for you to create?

Katie: I chose to move to NYC after graduating because it is what I know right now. It is where I can source great fabrics and meet the people I need to meet. I don’t believe one can easily design creatively and successfully with all the advantages of NYC anywhere else in the US.

The Ride: I checked out your website and your Spring/Summer 2010 looks. Very dark fabrics. Very badass beytoch. Reminiscent of 70s punk rock. And certainly not what we would associate with the airiness of Spring and Summer.  Am I getting it all wrong?

Katie: I didn’t really like to think of fashion in terms of seasons and color. Since this collection (SS10) was my launch, I wanted it to represent my image: the things I like and the things I like to see. I generally wear the same clothes and the same colors all year round.

From Katie Gallagher's Spring/Summer 2010 Collection

The Ride: Who do you see wearing your fashions?

Katie: I create my designs based on the things I like to wear. I usually wear head to toe black. Sometimes head to toe white. I like a total monochromatic look. I would like to see people with my similar interests wearing my clothes. I never want my clothes to be age specific.

From Katie Gallagher's Spring/Summer 2010 Collection

The Ride: What materials/fabrics do you like to work with?

Katie: Mostly leather and silk and lycra.

The Ride: What art and/or architecture inspires you?

Katie: Right now, the artists I love are Peter Doig and Gerhard Richter. I don’t usually claim to gather inspiration by other artists or their bodies of work. I usually like many different pieces of art by many different people. There are never constant bodies of work that I love.

The Ride: What music inspires you?

Katie: I like sound without voices usually.

The Ride: Since this is your first launch, what were some of the challenges you faced, some of the wonderful surprises if any?

Katie: The biggest challenge I faced by launching this collection and still, is a monetary one. I do everything myself, everything from drawing an initial concept to pressing a finished garment to licking the back of 1000 invites and all forms of PR. The amount of work to do something like this;  is very stressful and definitely requires more than two people — my boyfriend, Nikolay and I produced the entire thing ourselves — pulling it off.

The Ride: Random: What’s your cat’s name? I saw him/her pictured with you on your web site.

Katie: He is a Maine Coon cat named Sveater. It means “sweater” in Russian. I rescued him as an adult cat from an animal shelter in Providence when I was beginning my junior year at RISD.

The Ride: Back to Business: Where can people find your fashions?

Katie: Right now, my SS10 stockists are just a couple: I.T in Hong Kong and EVA here in NYC (available in late January 2010). I am also doing small special orders upon request for individual people here and there.

The Ride: How can/should people ge in touch with you for individual requests?

Katie: Email me! sales@katiegallagher.com

The Ride: And finally, what’s the dream?

Katie: I want to be able to survive by designing my own collections. I don’t ever want to someone else’s employee.

The Ride: Love it! Thanks Katie.

For Katie Gallagher’s web site, click here.

MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew (ABDC) is once again putting out the call for fierce, fabulous, hard-hitting dance crews with 5 – 7 members (ages 18 and older) for season 5 of the highly popular dance show.

Crews interested in possibly joining the ranks of past winners JabbaWockeez, We Are Heroes, Super Cr3w and Quest Crew can attend auditions held in the following remaining cities: Denver, CO (December 4),  Los Angeles, CA (December 5), Boston, MA (December 11) and New York City (December 12).

For more information, check out ABDC on MySpace.

Or follow them on Twitter at @ABDCCasting.

See the flyer below for more details.

No one likes feeling helpless, unable to assist in a time of crisis.

Realistically, we can’t save everyone but, armed with simple knowledge, we can save a life.  Yes, “we” — meaning you and me.

According to the American Heart Association, every day 800 people suffer from sudden cardiac arrest. In other words, their hearts stop beating. Without CPR, they have less than a 10 percent chance of survival. Terrible odds for certain.

But CPR administered to the victims of sudden cardiac arrest can more than double, even triple, their  chances of survival.

I’m going to stop here for a minute so we can have a “let’s get real” moment.  Ready, set, here I go.

Honestly, how many of you would REALLY give CPR to a person you believe is need of immediate attention?  And what would stop you from doing so?

Would it be fear? Tell the truth. Does the thought of giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to anyone, other than an extremely close relative, gives you the creeps?  And do you fear you might be exposed to Swine Flu or some other more permanent malady? Or maybe you think that you can’t do CPR well enough to actually save a life?

Got it. I’m here to tell you that you no longer have an excuse not act..Sorry.

The American Heart Association has teamed up with the Ad Council to create instructional videos and a comprehensive website that demonstrates and promotes Hands-Only CPR.

That’s right. Hands-Only CPR. No mouth-to-mouth. Two steps:  1) You call 9-1-1. 2) You push hard and fast in the center of the victim’s chest until professional help arrives.

Simple, effective and saves lives.

Got an iPhone or iPod Touch, a Blackberry, PalmPre or the Android (Google)?  Well they’ve got an app for that.

Finally, I can tell you that Hands Only CPR movement is important to me because I recently lost a family friend because of sudden cardiac arrest but the truth is my passion stems from the simple fact that every life is precious — the ones that I know and the ones that I will never meet.

I’ve said enough. Watch the videos. Check out the website. Empower yourself to save a life.

Do you often look at someone and think to yourself: Who dressed you?  And do you think that you could do a better job of it?  If you answered yes to both of these questions, you might, I said MIGHT, want to explore becoming a stylist.

Before you quit your job or do something else that might be considered equally as crazy, you might want to check out MTV’s new reality series, Styl’D (Sundays, 10 p.m. Eastern/Pacific). On Styl’D, six junior stylists work with their senior counterparts at the famed Margaret Maldonado Agency (MMA) to create looks for celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Soulja Boy and Ashley Tisdale.  As a reward for their hard work and impeccable fashion sense, one member of the junior crew will be awarded a highly coveted contact with MMA.

Recently, I got a chance to chat with Tara Ahmadi, 23 of Mission Viejo, CA, a contestant on the new MTV series.  Since I am a walking cry for help, I looked forward to asking Tara questions about creating looks, misconceptions about the profession and her personal journey.

Tara Ahamdi of MTV's 'Styl'd' (photo: MTV)

Okay, first question: How do you work with a client to create a signature style?  According to Tara, it’s important not to throw someone out of  his/her comfort zone. “The goal is to elevate them to something more glamorous. Turn the volume up to 11.”

Are you a rapper in need of a style update?  Is the bling bling seeming a bit humdrum?  Tara has the answer. “I’d jazz [the look] up a little with perhaps a leather jacket and some Balenciaga shoes. Make it all little more rad. More hip hop cool.”

But what if this person, who shall remain nameless, (No it’s not a real person, so stop guessing), thinks his style is perfection, no changes necessary, but in reality, it’s so not hot. How does she lead them to the promised land of great fashion?  First thing  you don’t do, is knock their style, said Tara. “The best way is to show them something better…You say, ‘That’s good but why don’t you try something else.’”

Since a stylist’s job is to get his/her client ready for their close up and since that close up can happen in numerous places, do you dress someone differently for still camera versus the motion camera versus the red carpet?  Yes, said Tara. For editorial (still camera), you can “cheat”. You can do things like adjust the lighting. You are still mindful of how textures and fabrics appear on camera but with editorial you have the greatest latitude. Not so with a live motion/video camera.  Everything has to fit perfectly for you can see every bump and bulge. It’s completely unforgiving.  As for the red carpet, Tara said it’s best to stay away from white and prints –  anything that might not photograph well. “You don’t want to come across looking like an optical illusion.”

For those of us who are not stars (and I think that pretty much covers all of us) but still want to look good this Fall, I asked Tara for a must-have.  “I’m know I’m beating a dead horse, but it’s boots.  All different heights of boots — every shape and size. Thigh high boots are good for layering. Also, there is a rock and roll revival. Bring out your inner badass. Leather, studs. [The look is ] very Judas Priest.”

Junior Stylists: Tara, Cody, Brett, Janna, Gary of MTV's "Styl'd" (photo: MTV)

I know what you’re thinking. Yes, I do. You are saying to yourself, “This stylist stuff sounds like a piece of cake. I don’t get it.”.  And you’re right, you clearly don’t get it. One misconception about styling Tara said, is that it’s easy. Even she thought so at one point.  “I thought you sat around smoking cigarettes wearing fancy clothes, telling clients, ‘It looks fabulous dahling’.  And the looks just happened.”  Tara said that the business of dressing others is not a fabulous as one might think. “To get a glamorous result, you have to do a lot of unglamorous things.”

And you have to be tough. “You have to have a thick skin to be in the fashion industry.  Everyone has an opinion. You can’t be the least bit sensitive.”  When asked if the life a of junior stylist is anything like that of celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe’s proteges Taylor and Brad, who in addition to going dressing A-List stars, get to drive Mercedes Benz’s when running errands. Tara said that Styl’D paints a more realistic view. Tara said she and her fellow interns/junior stylists make their own car payments often with no help from Mom and Dad and are more likely to drive Pintos than Mercedes.

MAIN L-R Eric, Jen, Julie, Tara, Cody, Gary, Janna, Brett of MTV's "Styl'd" (photo: MTV)

So are fashionistas born or made? I’d say in Tara’s case, she might have been born with the passion for fashion. (Sorry, I just had to say it; I couldn’t resist). Tara loved fashion for as long as she could remember.  At 12, or perhaps 13, Tara and her best friend starting making their own clothes. “We used to buy vintage dresses. We’d cut them up and sew them smaller because things that I liked weren’t in stores.  For $20, I’d get an outfit from the Salvation Army…All the stuff I made as a kid I still have and I love them.”

It was in high school that Tara discovered designers and fashion magazines such as Vogue.  For her, it was like “opening Pandora’s box”. “Every paycheck goes to saving up for new shoes,” said Tara.  So the breakdown goes like this: 25 percent goes to savings; 25 percent to food and 50 percent to shoes.

Before the visits to Salvation Armani and before the obsession with shoes, there was Barbie, Tara’s first unofficial client. “I begged my mom to buy me outfits for Barbie.”  Tara’s attempt to create looks for Barbie often ended in disaster — bad haircuts, eye or two poked out, and dresses that were way too short. Like I would suspect any budding fashionista would,  Tara always wanted a Bob Mackie special edition Barbie. But seeing what Tara did to the off-the-rack Barbie, her mom said, no way.

When asked if there was a defining moment in her life when she knew that she wanted to be a stylist and that nothing else would do, Tara said that there wasn’t one. Her decision to become a stylist came after the realization that she did not have the talent to become a designer but wanted to remain in the fashion industry. So she decided she would channel her interest in styling into a career. Tara interned with with designer Betsey Johnson but because she wanted to be a stylist, she knew should to seek an internship with one. So she decided to go for the”creme de la creme”, MMA.  She visited website, got called back for the intership and landed a spot on the shot.

And what should we expect from Tara on Styl’D?  Calling herself, “the voice of reason”, she said we will see her going through ups and downs due to the high tension, high stakes environment of styling coupled with the added pressure of having cameras following your every move. But she added, “I don’t know what you should expect. You just have to watch and find out.”

To follow Tara on Twitter, click here

Well, it’s almost Halloween. Ah, Halloween, that precious time of year when people, normally in their right minds, dress up as their favorite characters — real and imagined.  And it’s the time of year when we actively seek to be frightened out of our minds.

Anticipating this need, MTV produced the original movie, it’s first stab at the horror genre, My Super Psycho Sweet 16, which premieres Friday, October 23 at 10 p.m. Eastern/Pacific.

I haven’t seen a horror movie in forever and a day. And I’m not into the whole vampire phenomenon. So, it’s been a while since I’ve seen the indiscriminate spilling of blood and guts.

I know you are nosey…I mean curious…about what goes on in the movie. First, I want to set the proper mood.

Come close to your computer or other device. Turn off the lights…Or should you turn off the lights first and then come close?…Oh, it doesn’t matter.

Here’s the story. This spoiled, mean girl Madison Penrose is planning a blow out, invitation only Sweet 16 bash. And where does Madison want to hold this extravaganza? At some rundown roller rink, The RollerDome, which has been closed for 10 years.

Of course The RollerDome has a creepy history. Flashback to happier times, teens skating. The place is alive and thriving. We see a precious, raven-haired young girl, Skye, and her dad, Charlie Rotter, who manages the place.

As a part of his duties, Charlie must dress up as “Lord of the Rink” (No I’m not making this up) for various events. On this fateful day, Charlie, in full “Lord of the Rink” regalia, must present a birthday cake to obnoxious teen Craig who proceeds to humiliate Charlie by knocking the cake out of his hands. The two get into it. Charlie ends up on the floor. And later, during an after hours visit to the rink, Craig and his girlfriend end up…well, you know.

We also discover that others have incurred Charlie’s wrath. He’s arrested, and in a strange twist of fate, may or may not have died in a fiery police vehicle accident in which several prisoners were burned beyond recognition.

Fast forward to present day. Charlie’s daughter, Skye, is still in town. Now, she’s the high school outcast who just happens to attract the attention of Brigg, Madison’s ex-boyfriend.  Madison and her mean girl cronies find out about this travesty and set about to make Skye’s life unbearable.

Back to Madison’s Sweet 16 party.

Meanie Madison hands out gold-covered invites to her faves including ex-beau, Briggs. Briggs, who was going to take Skye on their first date that day, chooses to attend the party instead. Skye and her buddy, what’s his name, decide to crash Madison’s soiree.

And after that, my dear friends, all hell breaks loose.

Well, that’s all you’re going to get out of me. The fun is in the surprise. (and in the blood and gore for you creepier types).

So did I like it?  Yeah, surprise, surprise, I did. Was it because of the superior acting and intricate storyline? No, but that’s not the point. The movie is supposed to be campy and over-the-top.  Juliana Guill, as Madison, an experienced scream queen having appeared in Friday the 13th, plays the devious, spoiled rich girl with mean-spirited delight. Lauren McKnight as Skye is another horror vet (House of Fear). We empathize with the witty, self-deprecating Skye for we remember the horror that was high school. And then there is Brigg (Chris Zylka of Cougartown). Typical high school jock. Nice guy.We like that he chooses the cool outcast over obnoxious popular girl.  Another fantasy.

And Charlie? He’s the typical slasher. Disgruntled man of few words who believes that violence is the solution to every problem. And revenge is always sweet.

What I did find interesting was that the movie seemed to have its Carrie moments. For those not versed in the horror genre, Carrie is the classic film directed by Brian DePalma, based on the Stephen King novel and starring a very young Sissy Spacek.  My Super Psycho Sweet 16 is no way nearly as dark. And no one gets doused in pig’s blood nor is there a hand reaching from beyond the grave. But there is that big moment that, let’s say, ruins the party for good and a turn of events, or rather a change of heart, we may not have anticipated.

That’s it. No more.

So, horror movies are supposed to make you scream out loud, cover your eyes and cringe with disgust. And the really great ones keep you awake at night, hiding under the covers and fearful of tall, thick foliage that could serve as perfect hiding place. I did scream aloud and cringed more than once. But as for keeping me awake at night, we’ll see about that…

Do you spend many waking hours wondering what hairstyle to wear to a red carpet event?…Well, do you?…Just stop it. You know you don’t and neither do I. But hey, maybe it’s time for the both of us to redo our hairdos.

So what now?

To the rescue is Ellen Marth, PR/Marketing Manager for New York City’s ARROJO Studio, headed by Nick Arrojo, formerly of TLC’s What Not to Wear. Speaking on behalf of the award-winning salon that has fashioned looks for the red carpet and the runway, Ellen dispenses tips on how the rest of us can go from “meh” to marvelous.

The Ride:  Hey there!  Let’s get down to business. How important is having a great hairstyle to ones well being? For me, every day is a bad hair day. I’ve just given up. *cue tiniest violin*

Ellen: I think the importance of hair is so underrated in comparison to your overall look. Fashion is what typically rules the news of the day but remember –  you can change outfits, switch up makeup, but your hair is a constant that changes at a much slower pace than let’s say, the newest trend in boots.  A great hairstyle compliments you and pulls everything together, gives you a signature style. So of course, it is hugely important to your confidence and self-image. A bad hair day every day is intense though — maybe invest in hats? [laughs]

The Ride: Should we pay more attention to how our hair is done?

Ellen: I don’t know if its so much about paying more attention than it is just finding something that works for you on a daily basis so you don’t have to pay as much attention.  Having great hair shouldn’t take a lot of work.  At ARROJO we are supporters of the “wash and wear” aesthetic.  It all starts with a quality, well-executed hair cut (or color).  This is something that is easily styled, versatile and grows out well.  It’s also about embracing the reality of what your hair can and cannot do then sort of editing your expectations from there.

Photo: ARROJO Studio

The Ride: What are some of the very bad things we do to our hair and how should we avoid doing them?

Ellen: Unfortunately just about anything can be bad for your hair, right down to the products you use and the way you use them.  The worst offenses are chemical processes like straightening and bleaching, hot tool use and exposure to the elements.  First step is, lay off the heat styling as much as possible — if your hair is fried, a flat iron probably isn’t going help matters.  Getting a couple products that protect against heat and UV damage is also helpful; ARROJO has some awesome options, wink wink.  For color care, when you’re out in the sun, especially in the summer, wear a hat or scarf around your hair so your color doesn’t fade.  If you do a lot of pool/beach swimming, you should wet your hair down with clean water first –  that way it can’t absorb as much salt or chlorine (think of your hair as a sponge in that way).  Other than that, keeping hair conditioned and moisturized is the key.

Set and Style Spray by ARROJO

The Ride: I’ve had the same hairstyle forever. I want to change but I can’t seem to make myself take the first step. Why are we so resistant to changing our look when it comes to our hair?

Ellen: Everyone has been burned by a bad hairstyle and it’s tough to get over those experiences.  But not everyone is wired to take risks in life, and changing your hair is a part of that.  Your hair is extremely personal; it’s a part of you and an expression of who you are.  Some people just take it more seriously than others. The fear also comes from this idea that long hair equals beauty, that men prefer longer hair.  That is such a shame to me.  Beauty (for me) is about how something makes you feel, not how others perceive you. I wish every woman could experience a positive dramatic hair change at least once; it’s funny how quickly you then realize that IT’S JUST HAIR!

The Ride: Now, on to the fabulousness. Is there a difference between red carpet hair and every day hair?  Okay, let me explain. I watched the Emmys recently and was shocked at some of the not-so-great hair on display. Many stars wore their hair down and in no particular style. I took it as a personal offense. I wanted fabulous and they gave me “meh”.

Ellen: Obviously, we watch the red carpet events because we want to be wowed by the extraordinary, so I understand that “normal” hair can be a let down.  Most celebs have fairly “meh” hair, in my opinion.  Not saying its a bad thing, just the norm. People always ask us who the celeb trend setters are, and it’s like okay, which long layered style shall I choose from this time?  Sure they have gorgeous, healthy hair, but are the styles new and fresh? Not typically. You see someone like Rihanna, taking risks and that’s refreshing. Even if she doesn’t always hit the mark, she’s still evolving her style.  It comes down to a difference of fantasy versus reality and how fantasy hair can inspire everyday looks.  That’s a great way to look at celeb style, by saying – I love this hair, now how can I realistically make it work for me?

The Ride: How do you create a camera ready or red carpet ready look? What are some of the factors you take into consideration?

Ellen: Healthy hair is the most important factor.  If your hair is damaged, it’s going to be the first thing you see – dullness, split ends, frizz.  You also want to consider your styling. Does the hairstyle you want to achieve mesh with your outfit, make up and jewelry?  Your hair should be an equal compliment to those factors.  If you want to make a statement with your ‘do, go for understated styling.  The last thing to think about is how you feel about the look. If you aren’t into it, it will show through more than split ends!  Wear everything, even your hair, with confidence.

Hydro Mist from ARROJO

The Ride: What are some of the challenges of working with celebrities/musicians/artists?

Ellen: Word of mouth is huge in our industry and clients are walking billboards for stylists work, so having a recognizable client can make a career. The hard part is scheduling and short notice of availability, but we have such a large team it usually works out.  Other than that for me, there really isn’t a downside.  It’s a great feeling to build that relationship and help shape someone’s image.  Working with musicians is something we are particularly interested in  — the culture of our salon is so intertwined with music, it’s a great fit for us.  In fact, owner Nick Arrojo was a popular DJ in his hometown of Manchester, UK — so music is a part of all that we do.

The Ride: By the way, what are you thoughts about Bumpits? They seem like the hottest thing since the scruchie.

Ellen: Hilarious.  I mean, what else do you say about the bumpit?  At least the scrunchie is an actual thing, it’s a hair tie.  But like, a bumpit? It’s like one of some weird kitchen utensil that cuts down the time of a task that already didn’t take that long to begin with.

The Ride: What’s the in hairstyle for the Fall/Winter? And by the way, who determines what’s hot and what’s not?

Ellen: Inspirations for trends come from everywhere  but especially fashion, music, art and nature even.  Our stylists look at trend forecasts much like designers do and pull ideas from what’s new in fabrics, textiles, colors, shapes, etc.  Hair can translate so easily into those types of things.  We look at trends as an evolutionary process, taking aspects from last season and tweaking them and pushing them forward.  For instance, ARROJO master stylist Amanda Jenkins worked on a lot of asymmetry last season so to change it up for fall/winter she is doing heavy layers, lots of movement and natural texture.  The hair is a little longer, grown out perhaps, some cuts featuring heavy bangs.  The color inspirations, from ARROJO colorist Abbey Theis, are cool tones — woody and smoky colors, things like dried leaves, fire embers, etc.

Hair, like fashion, should be fun.  Don’t take it so seriously.  Find a stylist you love and ask them what look they think you should go for.  Remember, they are the professional (not you) and it’s their job to make you look amazing.  If you don’t love the outcome, speak up. As long as you communicate, you will not leave unhappy.  And remember, beauty is what you make it.  Go for what you feel good in and wear it well!

For more information about ARROJO Studio, click here.

Sometimes you have to do the difficult, that hard thing you would rather not do.  First, you have to look at it, face it head on, when deep down inside you’d rather ignore it.

On the MTV reality series, Gone Too Far (Mondays, 10 p.m.), young men and women, ages 20-25,  face the demon of addiction with the help of family, an interventionist, a drug treatment center and the late DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) as they attempt the difficult task of becoming and remaining sober.

The late DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) of MTV's 'Gone Too Far" (photo: MTV/Fanscape)

Shot before the sad, untimely and tragically ironic death of DJ AM from a possible drug overdose, the series has a strangely ominous feel. We watch DJ AM, a former addict, who was, at the time, 9 years sober, interact with the family and the user, who in the premiere episode is Amy,  a 23-year-old heroin addict from his native Philadelphia. He dispenses tough love tempered advice mined from personal experience. We see him in scene after scene. We hear the voice overs. Haunting to say the least. We know the end from the beginning . But this is not ABC’s FlashForward, the network’s new sci-fci series about people, who through some strange occurrence, get a sneak peek into the future. This is real life.

With that said, the series is really MTV’s version of A&E’s Intervention, the only difference being DJ AM’s role as host/mentor.

In the premiere episode, Amy’s brother, sister and mother talk to DJ AM about her history of drug abuse, which began after her father died of a heroin overdose. DJ AM shares with Amy that he started getting high in earnest, after his father, an addict himself, died of AIDS when Adam was 19. We also see graphic videos of Amy’s life as a drug addict.

Like in Intervention, Amy is confronted by her family who love her but are fed up with her using and stealing (her brother has resorted to installing a series of locks to protect his belongings). In the presence of DJ AM and with the help of interventionist, BJ Hickman, Amy is given an ultimatum, go immediately to a drug treatment facility in California for 90 days or leave her mother’s residence for good.

After much complaining and scoring one last high, (the logistics of which were arranged while Amy and the interventionist were at the airport) Amy takes off for California.

For the record, I don’t find the similarities to Intervention troubling, only the lives of these young addicts. Using a successful and well established format worked in MTV’s favor.

I could go on but I won’t. The bottom line is: Should you watch?  Answer: It will be painful. It will be difficult. But you should. You must.

To check out the trailer, click here.

How many times in life have you’ve been told to “hang in there”?  And how many times have you actually done it?  What do you mean, you ask?  You know what I mean.  How many times when things have gotten hard, I mean really hard, that you’ve decided to stay the course, to stick it out no matter what?

Chantal Claret of the band Morningwood knows what it’s like to hang tough and navigate life’s rough patches. She and co-founding member bass player Pedro Yanowitz have survived record label drama, band bust ups, and even a 3000 mile separation.

Don’t cue the maudlin music. No need to shed tears darlings. You can file this one under: A set back is a set up for a hellava comeback.

And comeback Morningwood has. The band has been named VH1’s you oughta know artist for the month of October.  Previous artists so honored have included The Fray, Amy Winehouse, James Blunt and Adele. The band is also set to release their latest album, Diamonds & Studs on October 27 whose lead single, “Best of Me,” was the theme song for the VH1 reality show Daisy of Love.

Recently, The Ride chatted with Chantal about music, surviving, and her obsession with bingo.

The Ride: Hey Chantal. Love your music. I’m new to you and your sound. I’d describe it as in-your-face brassy, a bit snarky but still fun.  How would you describe it?

Chantal: I think you are pretty right on, this is the one question I have never really been able to answer, I really cannot narrow down our sound to a few words; I am horrible at it.  Our new record [Diamonds & Studs] mixes a lot of our tastes in music from rock, and pop to hip hop and taiko and opera. That is very exciting to us.

The Ride: How would you describe you?

Chantal: I would describe me pretty much the same way you described our music “in-your-face brassy, a bit snarky but still fun”.

Chantal Claret of Morningwood (photo: Transfer Media Group)

The Ride: How did you get to do the Daisy of Love theme song, “Best of Me”? Which came first the song or the phone call asking you to write the song?

Chantal: The song came first.

The Ride: Apparently, you have no problem having your songs used in commercials and other media. Do you put any restrictions on its use, like “no tampon commercials”?

Chantal: Actually I always joke about how I would love to have one of our songs used in a Tampax commercial because I totally endorse Tampax.  To me, it is an honor when a company that has so much invested in a product or a movie hears one of our songs to help sell their item.  It’s their vision and if our music accompanies that vision that is really cool to me.  The only time I wrestle with whether or not I would do something is when they try and brand me or the band with the product; that is where I am very protective, and I have to 1000000% believe in the product and love the product in order to do it.

Chantal Claret and Pedro Yanowitz of Morningwood (photo: Transfer Media Group)

The Ride: I read that Morningwood had undergone many incarnations. How did you keep going despite so many trials? What’s your motivation? Any mantras? Mine: “I’m not afraid..I was born to do this” – Joan of Arc

Chantal: We have had a lot of trials and tribulations. My motivation is that this is one of the few things I think I am good at; I would have to start from scratch at something else and figure out what I would be doing if I didn’t have this. Believe me, I think that will happen at some point, but I don’t think it is time for that just yet.  As long as other people still want to hear my sing and believe in me, I will keep going. I never want to be one of those musicians who is kicking a dead horse. And my mantra, which is more of a cautionary tale, is “Don’t count on anything happening until it has happened”. That is the one for sure rule I have learned in this business.

The Ride: Has being married changed your approach to music – the sound and/or process? (Hubby is Jimmy Urine of the band Mindless Self Indulgence) And did I read correctly that your husband’s last name is “Urine”? Is it pronounced the normal way or is there some fancy pronunciation?

Chantal: You know what at first I was going to say being married has not changed our sound or process at all, but to be honest I think it has. My husband’s music is so diverse it really gave me the confidence to want to try and put all of my influences into our music. I am very inspired by my husband and the way he works and the music he makes. He has an incredible work ethic and I hope some of that rubs off on me.  His last name is Euringer; Jimmy Urine is his stage name, no fancy pronunciation. It is a jokey sorta name, if you knew the music it would make sense.

The Ride: What does it mean to you to be selected to be VH1’s you oughta know artist for the month of October?

Chantal: It’s such a huge compliment to be a you oughta know artist. I mean only 36 artists a year get that kind of treatment from such a great institution such as VH1 and for them to love our music and believe in us and want to reintroduce us to the world is really wonderful. I am such a huge fan of their channel; it is really the best thing ever.

The Ride: I follow you on Twitter (@chantalclaret). Love reading your tweets. They are fun and real and really fun. Why did you decide to become part of the Twitterverse? How has the experience been?

Chantal: Thanks! I love Twitter. I have always been a computer dork and have always been very ALL ACCESS to fans and whoever wanted to talk to me. Finally, technology has caught up where it is so easy to do it.  This is not new to me, the format of Twitter itself is, but the idea isn’t.

The Ride:  Your Twitter profile says you are avid bingo player. I have a friend who loves bingo. What’s the appeal?

Chantal: Bingo is wonderful. Being a room with 300 old people and staring at sheets of numbers for 6 hours is really great mental exercise and also really relaxing if that makes any sense. I am not a gambler by any means, but this is the closest I get and can still feel okay about losing my money.

The Ride: Any words of wisdom?

Chantal: To quote T.S. Eliot “The only art worth talking about is the art one happens to like.” Oh yeah and buy our record please! Thank you!

The Ride: Thanks so very much Chantal. And I have to say this, “You Rock!”

Morningwood on MySpace, click here.  Chantal Claret on Twitter (@chantalclaret), click here.

Here’s the brand new video from Morningwood