Kyle Howard loved Lauren Conrad — but apparently not The Hills.

After the uber-private couple of three years announced the end of their relationship last Friday, insiders explain in the new Us Weekly (out now) that Conrad’s reality roots irked the former My Boys actor. “He saw the relationship as distracting from his goal of being the next Robert De Niro,” a source close to the My Boys alum tells Us. “He wasn’t supportive of her career.”

Howard, 33, was usually a no-show at his 25-year-old girlfriend’s business-related events — and similarly avoided time with Conrad’s friends. “All of her friends can count on one hand the amount of times they’ve seen him,” sniffs the insider.

“Lauren is heartbroken” by the breakup, the pal adds. “She wants to be married and have kids.”

Source: usmagazine.com

Time to give Lo a call!

Lauren Conrad and Kyle Howard are over, Us Weekly confirms. Dating since 2008, Conrad kept her relationship with the My Boys actor, 33, away from MTV’s cameras. “By the time I had met Kyle, I had already perfected my ‘double life,’” she explained to Seventeen last year. “There was my TV life and my real life.”

In January, rumors were rampant that the 25-year-old fashionista and her beau were engaged. “This is totally false,” her rep told Us. According to Twitter, Conrad took solace in nature after her breakup. “Epp,” she wrote. “Second day in a row I have almost stepped on a snake while hiking.”

Who should Lauren date next?

Source: usmagazine.com

Check out Lauren’s latest post for her Forbes.com posted on June 23, 2011 below:

When a portion of your life is highlighted in the media, people have difficulty seeing the rest. In my case, becoming a designer wasn’t always the central focus of Laguna Beach and The Hills but it’s been my lifelong dream.

Many of you are probably wondering why you should take a person like me seriously as an entrepreneur. For me, it’s pretty clear: I run two clothing lines, two web sites and a book franchise on top of directly managing my brand and endorsement deals. I’ve made a career out of allowing cameras to capture my personal life but that doesn’t make me “just another reality star” looking to start a clothing line. People often forget that I am a person who was documented for more than six years while pursuing a dream to make it in the fashion industry. The friends, the drama, the adventures, unfolded around that.

Sharing my life publicly has given me the opportunity to pursue my ambitions while providing brand recognition, consumer trust and personal resonance. But a successful enterprise can’t just run on fame. Like any businesswoman, I think about long-term business plans, social media, brand strategy and how best to connect with my fans. Though I’m in the early stages of being a fashion entrepreneur, I’ve quickly learned a thing or two about staying true to my brand, creating my own path and turning setbacks into windows of opportunity.

Protect Your Brand

Understanding and safeguarding your brand is invaluable. My situation is unusual because I am my brand and every decision I make affects it. Case in point: When I first started working with Kohl’s I knew was teaming up with a well-oiled machine—Kohl’s knows their customer and they know what she likes. Because of this, I was designing a clothing line within certain parameters, stifling the creative process. It became frustrating.

For example, I like to wear a lot of chiffon, which is a sheer, lightweight fabric. I wanted to design a couple of chiffon blouses, but Kohl’s research said that customers wouldn’t buy a see-through top. We had the option to line the top with a non-transparent fabric, but that would have increased costs and gone over the target price point. Instead of accepting that the customer might not understand how to wear the piece, we decided we would educate her. We made tags with styling tips that read, “I love lightweight tops. I layer mine over a camisole and pair it with jeans.” Our solution ensured the clothing would perform well in stores while staying congruent with my brand. I asked Kohl’s to trust my knowledge about my fans and they were ultimately open to hearing my point of view. Their emphasis on collaboration has made for a great, healthy partnership.

When it comes to brand integrity, I’ve also learned that you don’t have to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself. Be selective. If I decided tomorrow that I wanted to become a singer simply because I could, it wouldn’t make any sense and people would have trouble supporting it. Be honest with yourself and stay true to your interests—your fans will follow and will respect you for sticking to your guns.

Stay Connected

Staying in touch with my fans, the people whom my businesses cater to, is integral to what I do. I like to use social media as a way of reaching out and maintaining relationships. Whether it’s a Twitpic of a dinner I’ve made (yes, I do cook!) or a blog about affordable ways to decorate your apartment, I share my ever-growing list of interests online.

After recognizing the power of social media, I launched two websites just a few months ago: LaurenConrad.com and TheBeautyDepartment.com. LaurenConrad.com is a fully functioning social networking community where people can create their own profile pages, participate in the forums, make friends with like-minded tastemakers and stay up-to-date on my musings with my daily blog. It’s a place where I can directly connect with my fans and reach out to a formerly scattered online audience (spread across Facebook, Twitter, etc.) in just one place. Connectivity is key—everything I post on my website is syndicated to Facebook and Twitter and vice versa.

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Lauren Conrad is a rare breed of reality celebrity. She doesn’t sing, she doesn’t dance, she doesn’t throw her curves in our face or bowl us over with a splashy personality. So how do you explain the screaming crowds, endless magazine covers and 1.8 million Twitter followers? Simple. She seems like one of us—almost.

We’ve watched the 25-year-old All-American beauty break up with cheating boyfriends and navigate the travails of high school on her hometown stage of MTV’s Laguna Beach. Then we followed Lauren to L.A., top down on the BMW convertible with Natasha Bedingfield blaring, to accompany her through internships, college heartbreak and best-friend drama in The Hills. Now, she’s set her sights on the business world and Forbes Lifestyle has invited her to document the journey.

When I got on the phone with Lauren a few weeks ago, she talked to me while weaving through L.A. traffic on her way to a photo shoot—not a suggested practice but a reality of the day-to-day demands of running two fashion lines, two websites and a successful novel series (L.A. Candy was a New York Times bestseller). Just the night before, she had turned in the manuscript for her fifth novel before making a fresh-faced appearance on Chelsea Lately. Not bad for a 36-hour stretch.

Lauren’s jump from celebrity to entrepreneur puts her on the same trajectory as many a bright-eyed instant cover girl, but whether she can channel her persona into an enduring commercial tour de force remains to be seen. All considered, she’s off to a good start. LC Lauren Conrad, an exclusive women’s apparel line for Kohl’s, has burgeoned from placement in 300 stores to 1,000 in one year. Specialty clothing line Paper Crown, set to debut this summer, has already been courted by the likes of Fred Segal, Planet Blue and Nordstrom.

Starting Thursday, follow Lauren as she takes us on a four-month exploration of the fashion business, inner workings of a celebrity web site, the publishing industry and watch for beauty/style tips from the powerbroker herself.

But first, a message from Lauren.

Source: forbes.com

Were you nervous to first put paper crown out there into the world knowing it was a self funded project?
Yes, very! When you venture out on your own with a project like this there is no one else to point a finger at if it doesn’t perform. That being said, I have really enjoyed the freedom it has allowed me in making both business and creative decisions. When it comes down to it, this is really a passion project. I’m able to do something I love with people I love and I feel so fortunate. If people respond to the line that’s just icing on the cake.

What is your favorite casual look for a sunny summer day?
Warm sunny days are my favorite to dress for. I usually opt for something flowy, whether it be a summer dress or a light weight blouse. I am also a fan of cut off denim shorts. Not too short or too tight, just cute and comfortable.

What is it like to be considered a role model to some many young girls out there?
Both nerve wracking and flattering. It is such a compliment to be told that you are looked up to, but with that comes responsibility. I have always lived my life the way I wanted and tried not to let others affect my decisions. That said, I do try to be aware of how my choices effect other people. I think it’s all about finding a balance.

You have a great figure. Are you a keen healthy eater and exercise girl?
Well thank you! Like any girl I have to work to stay healthy. As I become more and more busy a lot more of my health depends on my diet.I used to be able to eat whatever I wanted (within reason) because I was working out almost everyday. These days that just isn’t a reality for me. Some days I just can’t make it to the gym or find the time to go for a hike. Because of this I have really taken an interest in the food I put into my body. I read books and research the things that I should and should not be eating (there is some scary stuff out there!)So I try my best to eat clean avoiding processed foods or foods with ingredients that I can’t pronounce. I have also grown to love cooking which helps. I buy organic and know exactly what is going into my meals.

You said that you like to read/research food & good recipes, what are some good resources to look at?
I get most of my recipes online. One of my favorite sites is www.allrecipes.com. I love any site what has comments and reviews. Others who have already attempted the dish can give you tips or suggestions on what to change.

How do you decide when to take a fashion risk and when to play it safe?
To be honest I take most of my fashion risks when I know people won’t take note. A night out bar hopping with your girls (dive bars, not clubs) is a perfect night to test drive a new look. On the carpet I tend to play it safe most of the time. The press can be brutal but your friends are much kinder.

What are your favorite nail polishes for summer?
Last summer was all about brights, but this summer I am gravitating towards muted colors. I am loving colors like soft pinks, mint greens and pale blues. So pretty!

What’s the funniest moment you had with a best friend that makes you laugh just thinking about it?
I had a few candles lit in my room one day when something on my table caught on fire. All of a sudden there were flames in the middle of my room. I yelled for my roommate and we didn’t know what to do so we just started running around screaming. Then I ran to get a towel and wet it to put out the flames. At the same time Maura, my roommate ran to get a pitcher of water. I quickly smothered the fire and just after I had put it out, Maura came running in an threw water all over my room. Luckily nothing was damaged and we laughed for so long afterwards.

What’s the best piece of advice youve ever been given?
My father told me that if you do something you love then you’ll never work a day in your life.

What is your advice for young aspiring business women?
My advice is to get as much experience in the industry as possible. Whatever field you are interested in, take every opportunity you can to learn. School is great to teach you fundamentals, but there are limitations to what you can learn from a text book. Internships don’t usually come with a paycheck, but the experience is priceless.

What is the sweetest thing a fan has done when they met you?
I have so many wonderful stories of amazing things people have done for me. One that stands out is a young lady who has come to multiple signings and makes me these beautiful boxes that hold photos.

What is your favorite hair style?
My favorite way to wear my hair is down in loose curls. It’s low maintenance and appropriate for most occasions. See http://www.thebeautydepatment.com/ for a tutorial on how I do my everyday curl.

What are three things a girl should have in her wardrobe?
1- A basic black pump
2- A well fitting Little Black Dress
3- A perfect pair of jeans

What are your top 5 staples for the summer?
1- Missoni Bikinis
2- White Camisole Top
3- Cutoff Jean Shorts
4- Striped Sweater
5- Paper Crown Floral Dress

What is your favorite part about your job?
My favorite thing about my jobs is I get to see my thoughts and ideas develop into something tangible. Whether it is a silk dress or a hard cover book. I have the opportunity to dream something up one day and see someone walking down the street wearing it another. It really is a gratifying feeling.

When it comes to skincare during the summer, what do you do to keep your skin healthy?
Nothing too crazy. I wear sunscreen under my make up year round, but I am definitely a bit more cautious during long summer days. I also make a point to moisturize more.

What is your best personal style advice?
Don’t let trends dictate what you buy. Cater them to your personal style. It’s important to be an individual and look good while doing it. Put your own twist on trends and don’t be afraid to skip the ones that simply aren’t for you.

What’s your favorite trend of this season?
My favorite trend right now is this romantic 70’s vibe. Belled denim over chunky heels makes legs look a mile long and I love all the soft pretty blouses. The vintage florals and pretty color palettes are taking over my summer wardrobe.

I love your style! Who are your favorite shoe designers?
Thanks! I would say most of my shoes are Christian Louboutin, Miu Miu, or YSL. I prefer a higher heel with a hidden platform for comfort and all three have mastered it. When I am looking for a deal on cute shoes I look to Topshop or Aldo.

What’s the best vacation you’ve ever been on?
My favorite vacation I have ever been on was to Bali in Indonesia. I went for two weeks and stayed in lots of different places there. It was such a different type of trip for me. I saw things I had never seen before and did things I had never done. I really felt like I was being exposed to something new. It was so beautiful and peaceful. I can’t wait to go back.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Happy I stopped trying to predict what would happen next a while ago, but my hope is that I will be loved and doing something that makes me happy.

Source: luckymag.tumblr.com