FAQ

“I’m tired of talking about me…why don’t you talk about me.” – From the movie Beaches

How old are you? 

I was born on October 24, 1959. You do the math.

How old do you feel?

35

Who influenced your love of fashion and style?

My mother and grandmothers. My memories of my maternal grandmother are limited, as she passed away when I was 14. She had a beautiful figure, was athletic, artistic and had a magnificent wardrobe. I actually wear a black strapless gown and velvet coat that belonged to her!

My Mom took it one step further and added drama and flair. Her sense of color and style are impeccable and she never leaves the house without being perfectly put together. It also doesn’t hurt that she is a gorgeous woman.

My paternal grandmother, with whom I was incredibly close until the day she died, was the ultimate “lady.” She took tea every afternoon at 4:00 PM, and taught me how to properly cross my legs (stack crossed and tilted on an angle for length). She had fabulous legs, always wore her skirts at the right length to show them off and instructed me to do the same.

How many cities have you lived in?

Ten.

Winnipeg, (where I was born and raised), Rochester, MN (where my father did his Cardiology residency), San Fransisco (where he completed his residency), Jerusalem, (where I attended the Hebrew University of Jerusalem), East Lansing, MI (where I lasted for one semester of Music Therapy…but was a Spartan at the exact same time as Magic Johnson), Boston, (where I studied voice, acting and dance), Toronto, (where I had to return when my visa expired, but where I later graduated from the School of Nursing at University of Toronto, and met my husband), New York, (where I moved to after performing on Broadway in the revival of “Shenandoah,” and after I got my green card and a manager…all in that order), and Los Angeles, where I currently reside with my husband, our 2 children and a Beagle, who despite her adorable face, is too smart for MY own good!

What are your favorite TV shows?

• Old: Bewitched (that is how I came up with name “Serena” for my daughter…seriously).
• Past Old: Sex In The City
• New: So You Think You Can Dance, Downton Abbey, and Homeland

How many careers have you had?

Three.

1. I have been singing and acting since the age of 4.
2. I was a Psychiatric Nurse from 1987-1992. I worked at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Lenox Hill Hospital and The Regent Hospital in NYC. I really enjoyed my work as a nurse and I do not for one instant regret that I interrupted my performance career trajectory. Nursing opened up a new world for me, and led me to the man of my dreams.
3. Fashion and Lifestyle Blogger….who knew?

Favorite Movies

• The King and I (that’s when I realized that I had to sing and act…I just had to!)
• Gone With The Wind (so dreamy, romantic, historic…need I go on?)
• Young Frankenstein (Mel Brooks at his finest)
• When Harry Met Sally (scarily, I am a lot like Sally)

Favorite Books

• Pride And Prejudice (I am a girlie girl)
• Sister Of My Heart (my best friend gave me this book and after reading it, you will likely give it to yours)
• I Don’t Know How She Does It (I was a young mom when I read it and actually laughed out loud at the hilarious passages).
• A Thousand and One White Women (Historically accurate? I don’t know, but it sure was a good read)
• Sotah: reflects the difficult choices that people make in the name of religion.

Which singers have influenced you musically?

• Barbra Streisand…what Jewish girl who sang didn’t want to be like her?
• Frank Sinatra….iconic, inventive, cool, unmatched by anyone else.
• Ella Fitzgerald… her sweet demeanor is reflected in her singing and that is unique… and her scatting is legendary.
• Mel Torme…first Jazz singer that I fell in love with. He was a genius when it came to musicality and scatting

Who are your Fashion, Beauty and Style Inspirations?

1. Halle Berry (for her perfect taste and natural beauty)
2. Jackie Kennedy (classic, cool and confident…the three C’s of beauty)

Favorite Beauty items you cannot live without?

1. Kiehl’s Lip Balm
2. Creme de La Mer
3. Latisse, eyelash grower

Favorite Foods

That’s easy… bread, salad and ice cream (and its incarnations, gelato and frozen yogurt)

Favorite Day of the Week

Friday

Favorite City

New York City

How many languages do you speak?

Regrettably only 2: English and Hebrew fluently

French: Semi conversationally (that’s a stretch, let’s call it an aspiration)

Favorite Sport to Play

Tennis and more recently skiing

What do you do for exercise and fitness?

I run, bike, “Speedwalk” with my husband (he is 6’2, I am 5’4) and we do the stadium stairs at UCLA on Sundays.

In addition, I work out with a trainer 3 times a week.

Are you naturally thin?

Oh God NO! I was a chubby kid who began dieting (Junior Weight Watchers) at the age of 11. I have always struggled with my weight and body image.

Now I try to eat at least 3 times a day and have infused my diet with protein, which has really made a difference, especially as I am approaching my menopausal years.

I have to indulge myself with something sweet and/or crunchy everyday, so I try to stay in motion. In Los Angeles, where we spend most of our time sitting in our cars, that is difficult; I try to take the parking spot farthest from the store entrance, or park in one garage and walk everywhere that I need to go.

Why are you doing this blog?

I have always been fascinated by fashion. I look at it as a form of art and self expression.

People often ask me who does my hair, what skincare and makeup routine I follow, what recipe I used, how do I maintain or lose weight, what exercise regimen do I adhere to, where do I shop…etc. I want to share what I have learned from others and learn from my readers as well. Everyday should serve as an inspiration for the next. I try to find the humor and irony in various situations and share it with others. Above all, I try not to take myself seriously and often poke fun at myself.

I hope that doing this type of a blog will be fun and interesting. I have no idea what will come of it or where it will lead, but what I DO know is that I am passionate about everything that appears in my blog, and I hope that the content will reflect that.

Why “FabuLesley?”

The word “fabulous” connotes something that is fun, positive and wonderful.

The fact that FabuLesley is a homonym for Fabulously, is a coincidence, but one that I took as a sign!