I've known my son was going to be in law enforcement from the time he could walk and talk. That's all he's ever wanted and that's kind of your role as parent is to honor who your children really are.

All I can be is myself. I feel comfortable in my own skin, which I think is maybe what translates.

When I say there's a little bit of Erika Jayne in everybody, what I mean by that is: No one is one way all the time. No one is buttoned up all the time and no one is wild all the time. There are different parts to your personality, different layers - and that's really what Erika Jayne is, another layer to a human being.

My mother was a makeup artist for Estee Lauder and she taught me.

I don't enjoy fighting with people. I don't enjoy having conflict.

I grew up a Madonna fan, still am a Madonna fan, and will die a Madonna fan.

The most surprising thing I discovered was how rich of a life I've led. It's easy to forget all the things we experience throughout our human journey.

You have to have Aquaphor, because you don't want a crusty, dry mouth, and this, in my opinion, is the best. It wears well, it's a great base for any type of lip gloss, lipstick, anything like that.

I go to a dermatologist, so I'm under that kind of care because you really can't get this skin without a professional - that's the truth.

I tend to look at the silver lining of things.

Craft and art and discipline in what you do will make you happy.

There are only so many material things you can have before it becomes boring.

I sleep on a Tempur-Pedic mattress, and I have custom-made sheets. They're white with some patterns, and the highest thread count of Egyptian cotton you can get.

I love costume jewelry, because, listen, you can't pick a real jewel every day.

Sometimes people expect you to be something that you're not or want you to be something that is out of your philosophy, yet they claim they are a fan. Like, 'I'm really your fan, but you should get a nose job!' That's not really a fan.

I've dealt with this forever: the younger woman that married the wealthier, older man. I mean, I'm tired of having to justify my 20-year marriage.

The court of public opinion should not matter, but we're all human. And sometimes things sting. But I think you have to be willing to shake it off, and to not fall in love with the applause either.

'Housewives' has shone a light on women of middle age, that you're not out of the game, you're not old, you're not put out to pasture... You're lively, you're doing things, you're aggressive, you're making money, you're recreating yourself.

I was fortunate enough to go to an art school where we had a lot of different ethnicities represented.

I think art and dance is something everyone can relate to.

I have a lot of sapphires in my collection.

No matter what city I'm in, I'm always trying to run down a new Panthere ring.

People see me and assume one thing, and they get to know me and see that there's more there.

My ultimate goal was to make the music that I wanted to make, and give shows. I was never going to get a major label deal - I never wanted a major label deal - so I was really free to express myself.

I think anything you take on you should want to be the best.

As you begin to develop real relationships and bonds it gets harder because sometimes you say things to people and hurt their feelings and you really care about them.

I like fashion. I enjoy playing with it.

I like to describe my style as S&M chic with a little hood-rat appeal.

I don't think anyone should tap you on the shoulder and tell you that it's time to sit down and retire.

I trust my gut a lot.

I'm a big dreamer.

Erika Girardi likes her hair straight with a lot of product, just a really good blow-dry. Erika Jayne likes her hair ropey with a lot of product, really rock star and wild.

As human begins, we all have layers to ourselves, you know?

I've grown up disciplined all my life as a dancer, so I know how to eat and work out.

My breakfast is egg whites, avocado and grilled tomatoes. Lunch is usually some type of chicken and then for dinner... I like to eat. I'll eat pasta even though I'm not supposed to.

The television in my bedroom is always on, so after I get out of the bath and put on my jammies, I sit in bed, curled up in my comforter with Tom, and we watch the news together until we fall asleep.

After dinner, there is no eating until the morning. My mom was really big on that.

You know, I entertain whether I'm on 'Housewives,' or whether I'm on 'Dancing With the Stars,' or whether I'm on 'Young and the Restless.'

Whether I'm performing in a club or onstage as Erika Jayne, whether I'm making records, whether I'm doing TV, I've got to entertain, and I have to take people away from their space and bring them into mine.

I had never, ever thought about being on any 'Real Housewives' show, so it was interesting to actually be on one.

I'm a very guarded person, very controlled person.

I've become rather desensitized to how much sexy I put out.

I lived Tom Girardi's legal life with him first 10 years of our relationship. I went to every legal organization, every event - all of those groups he belonged to and those speeches he gave.

I think that's what makes marriage work - when you allow each other to be strong in their chosen profession; when you support each other and love each other.

I grew up with gay family members, and I went to a performing arts high school. So I grew up in children's theater, musical theater, and all of my life has been around the LGBT community.

You create real friendships through a growth process. It's not just, oh hi, we're friends! That's very childlike. True adult friendships take time, understanding, and it's a plant that needs to be watered and tended to so that it blossoms.

I think as more women see that there are women out there building vibrant and creative and powerful lives and careers in their 40s, 50s, etc., then these older views of ageism will fall away.

I have a great family, and I have a great home, husband, and son. So I think that's probably all anyone ever needs anyway. Everything else is the icing on top of the cake to be quite honest.

I think that I've enjoyed my time on 'Real Housewives.' It's been a great opportunity, and I've had a lot of fun and have been able to see a lot of great things and meet some really cool people.

Both my husband and I come from very modest backgrounds. He's obviously done very well, and I've worked hard all my life and done well, too.