The rumors of Madonna’s “affair of the heart” with Major League All-star Alex Rodriquez have been in the forefront as of late.

But Madge’s ex and father of her daughter, Carlos Leon, tells press that despite the scandal, things remain drama free with their daughter Lourdes Leon.

“She’s at that point where she can call me and say, ‘Hey Dad, what’s up? What time are you going to get me?’” he says of his 11-year-old. “It’s really cool. We talk every day.” (For the record, he says of Madonna’s alleged affair: “Trust me, that’s a lie. I know for a fact, she wouldn’t do that.”)

Leon, who is an actor and a personal trainer, stresses the importance of keeping Lourdes (or Lola as he refers to her as) grounded.

“Look at me and the way I live: I ride my bicycle, I walk, I don’t have a driver,” says Leon. “That’s how I keep her grounded. Her mom does a good job too – she’s not that person that everyone thinks. She’s very laid back and cool.”

As far as discipline goes, Leon says he likes to leave the majority of that up to mommy. “It’s hard for me to be the tough guy with my daughter, maybe I should work on the discipline stuff, but I could leave her mother to do that!”

Keeping an active post pregnancy lifestyle, Nicole Richie was spotted out for a yoga session in Woodland Hills on Wednesday (July 23).

Wearing a black tanktop teamed with a scarf, some skimpy torn denim shorts and flip-flops, the former Simple Life star quickly hopped out of her chauffeured SUV before scurrying inside for her workout session.

In related news, tabloid reports are now claiming that Miss Richie “has been ordered to switch her daughter to bottle feeding because she is losing too much weight.”

“Doctors are said to be concerned that she’s become too skinny since giving birth to Harlow Winter, 6 months,” an insider informed the Daily Star, adding that “breastfeeding burns vast amounts of calories, which seems to be been taking its toll on Nicole.”

Looking her usual perky self, Jessica Simpson was spotted leaving the Ritz Carlton Hotel in New York City on Thursday morning (July 24).

Wearing a blindingly bright candy apple red dress, the “Dukes Of Hazzard” hottie hopped into an awaiting SUV - heading over to the Steiner Studios.

As previously reported by Gossip Girls, Miss Simpson is in the Big Apple to take part in a very special ad campaign to kick off the holiday shopping season for Macy’s department stores.

Reportedly, Jess will be joining Martha Stewart, Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfiger, and a host of other celebrities/designers on a full-scale replica of a Macy’s floor built on a Brooklyn set.

Taking full advantage of his time in Los Angeles, Cristiano Ronaldo has been making his rounds over the past week or so.  And yesterday he got yet another taste of what celebrity can get you in the US.

As previously reported by the Gossip Girls, the Manchester United stud enjoyed a morning shopping spree at Christian Audigier’s Ed Hardy store, picking up a few items before heading out.

Then he was off to Malibu for a relaxing afternoon in the sun at a private beach house.  Mr. Ronaldo was spotted in his bathing suit sans crutches, a sign that his recent ankle surgery is healing quite nicely.

Cristiano was joined at the Malibu beach house by a gaggle of hotties, including his alleged new girlfriend Letizia Filippi.  One report claimed that the 30-year-old model snagged the soccer hunk with a “gaze that melted him like an icicle in the sun”.

After cleaning up and getting dressed, Ronaldo indulged his appetite for LA night life with a trip to Eva Longoria’s Beso restaurant, followed by a visit to the Villa Lounge for drinks and partying.
 

With the active lifestyle he maintains, it’s no wonder Matthew McConaughey is such a hottie.  And yesterday the new daddy was spotted catching some serious waves on his surfboard.

The “Dazed and Confused” actor grabbed a guy pal and headed out to Malibu for some quality time in the ocean as the paparazzi looked on.  And when they finished up, Matthew looked pleased that he’d conquered the waves.

The “Fool’s Gold” stud also spent some time with his uber-buff female personal trainer, getting in plenty of cardiovascular activity with a lengthy jog around town.

McConaughey recently told OK! magazine about the whole experience of his son Levi being born.  “We found a great rhythm. Contractions started kicking in. I sat there with her, right between her legs. We got tribal on it, we danced to it! I was DJ-ing this Brazilian music.”

He continued, “I have it all chronicled.  Becoming a dad is something I’ve dreamed of doing since I was 10. Becoming a father felt very, very natural. We were jamming! She was sweating. No painkiller, let’s go. She just clicked into that gear that only a woman has at a time like this. We’d been up for 40-something hours, and we went from dead tired to a really steadfast, ‘Let’s handle this… let’s stay in the rhythm. Don’t let the contraction be more than you.’”

Back on June 19th, she checked herself into an Arizona rehab facility for treatment of anxiety and depression.  And four weeks later, Heather Locklear feels like a new woman.

The “Melrose Place” starlet is said to be doing well following a month under doctors’ care during which she received therapeutic spa treatments, did a bit of horseback riding, and spent quality time alone.  She also received two visits from boyfriend Jack Wagner.

A close friend told press, “Heather’s feeling really great.  And she looks beautiful, just radiant.  She told a really funny story and she laughed from her core.  That’s when I knew she was going to be fine. I think that’s the best part of all – it’s so nice to hear her laugh.”

And most of all, Heather is happy to be “back home with Ava,” her daughter with ex Richie Sambora.  Ava spent the time with her father, and is now reunited with Locklear.

When it comes to spending some serious cash, Kim Kardashian knows exactly what she’s doing.  And the reality TV princess was spotted out and about in Beverly Hills yesterday doing some shopping.

The “Disaster Movie” babe looked sexy in a black and white top with black stretch pants, black flip flops, and a black Chanel bag as she paid visits to XIV Karats in Beverly Hills and Victoria’s Secret and MAC cosmetics on Robertson Boulevard.

And for all of you “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” fans out there, there’s good news - the show has been picked up for a third season.  According to the Hollywood Reporter, “E! Entertainment Television has picked up “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” for a third season.

The reality series follows the lives of Los Angeles socialite Kim Kardashian and her siblings along with mom Kris and stepfather Bruce Jenner. E! has ordered 10 episodes for Season 3, which will debut in the first quarter.”

On her official blog, Kim revealed that they’re already tossing around ideas for the new season, including the creation of her new perfume, her experience on Jimmy Kimmel, and of course Khloe’s jail fiasco.

She’s been lying pretty low lately, ever since her gig Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip got cancelled.  But Amanda Peet is back, and she stopped by the Late Show yesterday to chat up David Letterman.

The “A Lot Like Love” babe was spotted outside the Ed Sullivan Theatre greeting fans, signing autographs and posing for pictures, looking sexy in a white and grey lace-overlay dress with a pair of black strappy heels.

Peet was promoting her new flick “The X Files: I Want to Believe,” slated to hit theatres this Friday, July 25th and also starring the usual suspects, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson.

And she was recently embattled due to a snide remark in an interview that read, “Parents who don’t vaccinate their children are parasites.” She has since issued an apology, saying, “I believe in my heart that my use of the word ‘parasites’ was mean and divisive.  I completely understand why it offended some parents, and in particular, parents of children with autism who feel that vaccines caused their illness. For this I am truly sorry.”

With the 2008 Presidential Election creeping up quickly, Rosario Dawson is doing whatever it takes to get young latinos out to the polls with her non-profit Voto Latino organization.

The “Rent” actress was spotted at the “Crash the Parties 08” campaign yesterday in Washington DC doing her thing and looking beautiful in a sleeveless white dress with black and white heels.

She told press, “We’re targeting the Latin youth vote.  There’s 18 million [people who] are eligible. But we are not showing that up in votes. So our numbers aren’t counting. When you actually … work with local organizations – that makes the biggest impact, and that’s what I want to be a part of.”

The Josie and the Pussycats babe continued, “The reason why I co-founded Voto Latino is because of my mom.  It’s because of my grandmother. It’s because I was raised to do it yourself. You want that to be better? You do it yourself.”

In addition to seeing her on her own Voto Latino tour, you can also see Rosario on the big screen as she has two movies hitting theaters this fall - Eagle Eye with Shia LaBeouf (September 26) and Seven Pounds with Will Smith (December 12).

Fulfilling her weekly obligation, Nicole Richie was spotted arriving for her every Wednesday traffic school class in Los Angeles earlier today (July 23).

The former Simple Life star attends the regular classes as a result of her past DUI conviction and reportedly has over a year left before completing her court-ordered penalty.

In related news, recent rumors tell that Miss Richie may soon have another child on the way (if that’s not already the case).

An insider told Star magazine: “Nicole is dying to have a sibling for Harlow who is close in age. She doesn’t want them to be more than two years apart, so that they can be best friends forever.”