I just love the new Nicole Richie. She is so inspiring! Nicole and Joel Madden are about to launch an online initiative aimed at helping mothers in the LA and NY area who are struggling to keep up with the costs of raising a family. Through the Richie-Madden Children's Foundation, fans can now donate much needed baby goods and money to these women in need. 

"We take for granted the basic necessities. For some families, it's a serious struggle. This is one way to ease the financial burden, and help new babies have a good start in life. We are only working with companies and products that Joel and I would use. We're checking every product out for safety – and all products are BPA-free."

INO is a big fan of charities specifically geared towards women and women's needs. This sounds like something that I will be contributing to in the near future when we do our End of Year survey... The Obsessies. 

In other news, Ashlee Simpson and Nicole bumped into one another at Barney's while shopping yesterday. What happens when celebrities meet for the first time? Do you introduce yourself? It's obvious you each know who the other is.  Or do you act like you've been friends or at least introduced before? 

Admit it... you woke up this morning curious if she did it again. Oh what? That was just me?? :)

Katie Holmes was once again photographed leaving the rehearsals for her Broadway play, "All my Sons" wearing Tom Cruise's jeans (snicker)... Only this time their rolled and not pegged.

The interesting thing about Katie and her new love of pegged jeans is the fact that everything else she wears: tops, scarves, new cut, all looks fabulous. If you notice,as of late she's also taken a liking to the large button down shirt. Men's chic is in and here to stay.

I'm also going to throw Nicole Richie in the mix because while she isn't doing anything newsworthy, I still like to keep up with what the girl is wearing. Here she is attending driving school.

Photos by WENN

Mommyhood has most certainly slowed down Nicole Richie. We barely get to see this girl nowadays. Our only guarantee is this weekly driving class she is committed to attending in Van Nuys. She's required to participate in as part of her DUI conviction sentence.

Photos by Bauer Griffin

Nicole Richie and Joel Madden were photographed returning to LAX with baby Harlow and it got me thinking. Hubby and I are planning on going overseas in April and the flight is expected to be about 8 hours. We have two children under 3 and I fear that it will be a nightmare!

Have you taken your children on a long flight? Did you survive? Or is it something I need to prepare myself for? 

Photos by Bauer Griffin

This post was originally going to be about celebrities wearing headbands. And then I saw this picture of Madonna and everything I wanted to say exited my brain.

I thought I had it bad lately (6 plus weeks). I haven't been sleeping AT ALL. I'm talking all nighters of me staring at the clock until it's time to get up when I then fall fast asleep. Have a doctor's appointment on Thursday. And believe me - I'm NOT a big doctor visitor. But I know something is wrong enough for me to at least get it checked out. 

But after seeing THIS SHOT - I mean, it isn't that bad after all is it? I still look human (not meaning to sound harsh).  Maybe I just need to drink more sleepytime tea or something. Madonna, on the other hand, needs an intervention. Take a break girl! My goodness. It will all be here tomorrow I promise!

Back to the headbands - Nicole Richie and Lourdes both had one on. See Nicole visiting a friend and Lourdes leaving the Kabbalah center in NYC with her mother and brother below. 

Photos by WENN

Nicole Richie was photographed arriving for traffic school in Los Angeles yesterday wearing her requisite large sunglasses and carrying a cup of coffee. Here's my little secret. I live through my daughter with braids. I don't wear them as I physically can't do them on my own head, so my poor daughter has to endure this fixation I have with the hairstyle. I come to her in the mornings and it's almost like I have acid in my hand instead of a brush. One day I will stop... when she moves out and marries.  :)

Catt Sadler from the Daily 10 sat down with Nicole Richie to talk about her guest-starring role in sitcom “Chuck,” her daughter Harlow, and dealing with paparazzi. Here are a few excerpts:

Regarding her guest-starring role on “Chuck,” 

“I was so excited when I got the part because I've always wanted to act and this is such a great opportunity. It's such a great show, and the best actors, and it's really funny. So I was so excited to do it. I'm really honored to be here.”

Regarding juggling motherhood and work, Richie says:

“Well it's actually been pretty easy coming here because I actually live right near the lot. And so Harlow just comes with me every day and she naps here. And in between takes I go and hang out with her and it's been really easy. The feeding schedule's a little bit difficult but I get used to it and she's loving it and everyone here loves her so it's perfect.”

Regarding the paparazzi, Richie says:

“I really try and not pay attention to it at all. I have my life and my circle of friends and I really just kind of try and always stay present in that, and not focus on all that other stuff 'cause it's all lies. I don't remember the last time I heard anything that was true. So I don't really focus on it, so in my world it doesn't really exist as weird as that sounds.”

TMZ is reporting that Nicole Richie was escorted out of the Hard Rock Cafe in Vegas after an incident occurred between the reality star and another female patron over the weekend. Sources are claiming that Nicole was so "rowdy" that security had to physically remove her from the club.

We're told Nicole was involved in an altercation around 1 AM this morning with a female while in line at the valet outside the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. Sources say Richie was so rowdy she had to be escorted off the property by security!

Nicole's rep issued a statement claiming no altercation occurred and the Hard Rock wouldn't comment. Who to believe...

Hard Rock was mum on the issue.

UPDATE: Nicole's rep sent us this statement: "She was in Vegas but there wasn't an altercation of any kind involving her."

Photos by Bauer Griffin

Becoming a parent changes you. I started to wear my seat belt on a regular basis after I had my daughter because suddenly it wasn't about me anymore. It was about her. I guess everyone goes through that awakening after having a child. Nicole Richie has reached a point in her life where she is able to reflect on her DUIs and regrets that behavior more than she ever imagined.

"We were watching the news once and they happened to be talking about drunk drivers. They started flashing up pictures of little children that had been killed by people driving under the influence.

"At that moment I literally felt like the worst person in the world for even trying to get out of that situation. That was our first real parent moment."

"There's absolutely no way I will do anything like that again. I never took life seriously before. I'm in a completely different place now. I owe my baby my life. I have a responsibility now. I have to really be someone I want my child to look up to. I think it's important for every child to look up to their parent. I want to show her the right path."