LA

It's especially fitting that we're spending this week out and about in Louisiana, home to the biggest Mardi Gras celebration in the country! North wasn't lucky enough to make up some crawfishdog gumbo, but I'd still love to deck him out for Fat Tuesday.

My fave dog-friendly part of this holiday is the parade by the Krewe of Barkus — the theme of the sixteenth annual event was "Indiana Bones and the Raiders of the Lost Bark," and took place last weekend in New Orleans. The krewe member pooches are accompanied by a human escort around the French Quarter and to a follow-up "pawty" in Armstrong Park — it looked like so much fun, I couldn't resist sharing pictures of the festive pups when you read more

Can you say that five times fast without giggling? If the name didn't clue you in, Chi-wa-wa Ga-ga specializes in gear for super teacup pooches like Chihuahuas but still stocks treats, toys, and more for pets of all sizes. This French Quarter pet shop also carries original clothing and accessories designed by shop owners Elayne Angel and Justine Roig. Would your teensy pup like a jester hat for Mardi Gras? Does your ferret need a bomber jacket? How about a ladybug backpack of her very own? Get all this and more to pamper a little one . . . and make him the envy of his whole krewe!

Click here to share your own tips with PetSugar's Out and About travel group – and stay tuned as our week of Louisiana continues!

Looks like our favorite controversial British chef, Gordon Ramsay might be opening a Los Angeles restaurant with the Beckhams. As Ramsay told the News of the World:

"We've been friends for a while and have spoken about it. There's always been something in the pipeline."

The restaurant would be Ramsay's second in the US and first on the West Coast. No word on what the menu will be like, but since dear ol' Posh is a vegetarian, she has reportedly insisted upon a wide range of vegetarian options. And something tells me she won't be thrilled if Ramsay drags a deer through this one...

Also, speaking of Ramsay, he's finally caved to government and conservationists and has decided to take endangered bluefin tuna off his restaurant’s menus.

Source: TMZ and Caterer Search

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Ozone pollution, more popularly known as smog, is a big problem. Smog can inflame and damage the lining of the lungs, which can lead to swelling and restricted airways. Inhaling smog is like getting a sunburn on your lungs. This inflammation can lead to shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and chest pain. It can also aggravate asthma and bring on attacks.

According to the American Heart Association, chronic exposure to air pollution has been linked to heart disease and stroke. The EPA says that exposure to smog can also affect your immune system's ability to fight off bacterial infections.

High levels of ozone, the main ingredient in smog, can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, even in the average person. Bad levels of ozone are formed when heat and sunlight warm certain pollutants from cars and smokestacks from buildings.

Since summer is coming up, it's something we really need to watch out for. If you exercise outdoors in a place that's heavily smoggy, you may notice that it's more difficult to catch your breath. So on high alert days, you may want to workout inside.

Want to see which cities have the most smog? Then read more

Did you ever watch Nip/Tuck? I sure did, which is why I was a bit horrified when I heard about the Nip Tuck Workout. Turns out the name is the only real similarity between the show and the diet.

In The Nip Tuck Workout -- Exercise through the Eyes of a Plastic Surgeon ($15.99), Dr. Bruce Nadler has created an exercise program based on the plastic surgical principles of proportion and symmetry. It combines careful ongoing analysis with an individualized exercise prescription all without going under the knife. Sounds funky having a plastic surgeon tell you how to exercise, I know. However, Dr. Nadler is a little different because aside from practicing for 28 years, he is also a personal trainer certified by the American College of Sports Medicine and the International Sports Sciences Association, a competitive body builder and a NPC bodybuilding and figure competition judge. So you could say he knows his stuff.

The program incorporates precise body shaping with core stability training using natural kinesthetic patterns of movement. His medical background allows him to modify the training to adapt to the physical restrictions many people have felt prevented them from exercising.

To learn the first five steps of getting started as well as where to buy the book, read more

Every once and a while something comes around that grabs the attention of Hollywood's hottest A-listers. What is it this time?

Frozen yogurt. Yup, Hollywood is bringing frozen yogurt back (yay). Not one, but two hot spots are attracting quite the following of folks looking for a sweet treat that is actually good for you and not jam packed with calories.

Berri Good Kosher Frozen Yogurt is rich in calcium, but there is so much more. It also claims to "boost immune system, prevents acne and builds clear skin, builds strong bones and teeth, prevents bacteria in intestine and promotes good digestive system." Berri Good is not only Kosher, but also eco-friendly. Among others, Leonardo DiCaprio and girlfriend Bar Rafaeli are serious Berri Good followers. Berri Good says that it's, "Probably the best tasting non fat frozen yogurt in this world." Probably, if Leo eats it, I bet it's more than probably the best.

One ounce of the other yogurt in Tinseltown, pinkberry, has only 25 calories, 0 grams of fat, 35 mg of sodium and 6 grams of carbs. Some of the locations are known for their hour long lines -- Paris Hilton, Hilary Duff, David Hasselhoff and many others have been spotted picking up some yogurt from here. Pinkberry says, "Pinkberry is yogurt, pure and simple."

Anyone tried either? Which do you prefer?

Leo and Bar images courtesy of Celebrity Babylon

Looking for something a little more active to do next Friday night?

Think about joining Friday Night Skate, which is a weekly group that meets every Friday night for a 10 mile skate (at a fairly easy pace), through some of the best streets in Santa Monica and West LA, then once a month through Hollywood including the Sunset Strip. What's more? There is music on the skate, usually in the form of a sound system strapped to one brave skater.

The best part is that you don't have to be an advanced skater to join our group, but you should have some experience. Along the skate, there are lots of cool rest stops which allows everyone to catch their breath and stay together. The last rest stop is usually where the skate dancing takes place (yup, skate dancing). Don't worry if you're not up on your skate dancing skills (I am not sure I would even have any), this is the part where the really talented skaters take stage and put on a good show.

Another cool skating group is Pari Roller, which is an 18.6 mile Friday night skate in Paris. In comparison to LA's skate group, Pari Roller is typically a group of over 5,000 skaters (complete with police escorts). It's a very cool site to see (pictured above).

Don't live near LA or Paris? Find weekly skate groups near you at inline.com.

Fit's Tip: To really impress your skating group, show up with a pair of Land Roller skates.