10 Questions with Bethenny Frankel

Bethenny Frankel is a best-selling author, TV personality, creator of all things Skinnygirl and just an all around cool chick. But she is also human and understands the struggles to find time to be the healthiest person you can be. This perhaps makes Frankel the most trusted personality when seeking out health and lifestyle tips from a celebrity.

Frankel is in the midst of doing the most brilliant thing she can do for her fans and SheKnows was lucky enough to get the scoop straight from the straight shooter's mouth. Frankel is taking all the tips and tricks she's learned from her own challenges in life and bringing them to the public in a cross country tour fabulously named, Skinnygirl Night Out: Bethenny Hits the Road. Check out SheKnows' exclusive interview with Frankel as she gives readers insight into the tour and reveals some tips for keeping on track and living healthy.

Skinnygirl Night Out: Bethenny hits the road

SheKnows: Happy New Year to you! How were your holidays with Jason and Bryn?

Bethenny Frankel: The holidays, the snow, the cute outfits and all the presents make the whole experience such a joy. Suffice it to say that Bryn enjoyed it, but we really loved every minute of it.

SheKnows: You're hitting the road on your tour Skinnygirl Night Out: Bethenny Hits the Road. What can guests expect from the event? What will we take away from the evening?

Bethenny Frankel: This evening will consist of gossip, lots of talk about weight loss and body image, how I got to where I am today and lots of questions and answers. There will be lots to take away. This will be an emotional evening with lots of laughter.

SheKnows: You are instantly relatable to every woman struggling for time to treat themselves and their bodies right because you actually practice what you preach. Was that a part of why you wanted to do Skinnygirl Night Out: Bethenny Hits the Road? To share your experiences beyond your books and what we know of you on television?

Bethenny Frankel: Doing these tours is when I realize exactly why I do everything else that I do. This is my chance to have a dialogue with my fans that reaches far beyond my newsletter, Facebook and Twitter conversations that have limitations. This is when I really get to go deep with my fans -- laugh, love and provide some lifelong advice that will make life so much easier. We beat ourselves up when we should be taking care of ourselves. I'm still working on this but will go through this with you.

SheKnows: You have a slew of amazing recipes and drinks on your website. Let's be honest, I've wanted to walk into a bar with my own bottle of the Skinnygirl Margarita or show up to a restaurant eating your sweet potato souffle. Do you have a favorite recipe or is it something new everyday?

Bethenny Frankel: It is something new every day. I never make the same recipe twice because I never have exactly the same ingredients-leftover items in my refrigerator. Plus I always want to change it so you can do the same.

SheKnows: Can you give those of us who made resolutions to exercise more in the new year some tips on making it happen? What's the key to consistent exercise?

Bethenny Frankel: This is easy. The key to exercise is being honest with yourself and truthfully doing what you can when you can. If you're exhausted then sleep, but if you have a whole free day, take an hour-long walk, rollerblade, go swimming. Do what you like, and if you miss a few days, go back to it like a good old friend who understands.

Bethenny Frankel dishes her pooch Cookie!

SheKnows: We're not going to lie -- you're pretty fabulous with your wardrobe. Are there a few staple pieces every woman should have in her closet?

Bethenny Frankel: Good tank top, great pair of jeans, black leggings, turtleneck, open cardigan sweater, boots, flats, black heels, black bag, sunglasses you like.

SheKnows: What can the average woman with little time do to spice up her life? How do you keep your own life fresh, especially in your marriage with Jason Hoppy, being so busy?

Bethenny Frankel: You have to suck it up. You may not want to put makeup on or lingerie but your husband doesn't want to sit at the mall. That's marriage.

SheKnows: How is Cookie doing? Cookie's almost become her own character.

Bethenny Frankel: Cookie is like Lindsay Lohan: She is beautiful, misunderstood, frisky and often in trouble. However, she has a great heart and she is the love of my life. She was my first and only family until I met my husband.

SheKnows: You have a new book coming out soon, Place of Yes. What was the process that went into preparing the book? How will this differ from your other best-sellers?

Bethenny Frankel: This was painstaking. I burned the whole book in the BBQ after a year's work. It is the most all encompassing, compelling piece of my life that really shows you how to get there and exactly how to apply it to your life. Most difficult work project thus far. Greatest work accomplishment.

SheKnows: You know we have to talk about Skating with the Stars. I am a huge reality buff and when you were introduced as part of the cast, I about flipped. What in the world does someone do to get ready for a show like that?

Bethenny Frankel: Women take on too much. I preach following through and commitment (which is essential) but when we've gone over the limit, it is mentally and physically unhealthy. We need to know when to stop. That was an invaluable experience and I pushed myself to the end, but it truly was excruciating for me. I had taken on too much. That said, I did it to show women that you need to push it and plow through your fears. Look how far you can go.