DEAR HARRIETTE: I am at my wits' end with my mother-in-law. My husband and I have been married for two years now, and she's still being disrespectful toward me.

My mother-in-law threw my husband a dinner party to celebrate that he was coming back into town after being away on business. I thought it was a sweet gesture; being his wife, I decided that although his mom and I aren't the best of friends, I'd still come to support my husband. We knocked on the front door to come in, and she was completely ecstatic to see him. She was smiling and hugging him, crying over how long he was away, etc. I stepped into the house after him, and her entire mood changed. She rolled her eyes and asked him why he was still with me, as if I was just a random fling that he should've let go months ago. Even though I was offended, I let it slide and continued to greet friends and family. After dinner, she told everyone to gather around to cut the cake. We cut the cake, and I saw that it's pineapple. His mother knows that I'm allergic to pineapple, but that was the flavor she chose for his welcome-home cake? I feel like this woman has it out for me for no reason. Pineapple cake isn't even my husband's favorite flavor!

Do I confront his mom and ask her why she seems to hate me? I don't want to cause any drama -- especially when my husband was finally able to return home. -- Not Welcomed, Marietta, Georgia

DEAR NOT WELCOMED: Talk to your husband. Point out how unhealthy your relationship is with his mother. Ask him to help you build a respectful bond with her. Together, face her. That's your main chance of getting her to make an effort. She has to see that her son chooses you.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My wife is pregnant with our second child. We have agreed that we'd have only two kids, so this is her last pregnancy. She's been insisting on getting pregnancy pillows, new pregnancy clothing and in-womb cognitive development tools for this pregnancy. I don't want her to be uncomfortable during pregnancy, but I think this is spending a lot of cash on things we will never use again. I'd rather just save the money that would be spent on pregnancy jeans and use it on the baby.

We don't have an airtight budget, but I feel like my wife could slow down with buying a million pregnancy things that will be useless in a few months. Should I remind her that there won't be another pregnancy to use this stuff on? -- Last Bun in the Oven, Memphis, Tennessee

DEAR LAST BUN IN THE OVEN: Tread lightly. Pregnant women tend to be highly emotional. Gently introduce the idea that your wife consider resisting the temptation to buy all of the pregnancy items that she wants. Rather than pointing out that she won't have another child, talk to her about the things the baby may need. She does need some clothes that are specific to pregnancy. But the needs for the newborn will be ongoing. She will probably welcome that idea.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I run in the same social circle as my ex. Things between us ended dramatically, but we both got over it and are friends now. Although we broke up a few years ago and dated other people, we are both single at the same time.

Recently, I noticed my ex becoming a little too friendly with me when we are hanging out in a group. He'll let his arm slip lower than it should as we hug goodbye, or he'll make some joke relating to the past. I'm not sure if he is just messing with me or implying he wants what we had again.

I don't really have an interest in starting up our whole love affair again. How do I shut down his flirtation in a way that won't make other people uncomfortable? I just want us to be friends without any strange tension. -- Just Friends, Weehawken, New Jersey

DEAR JUST FRIENDS: Ask to have a private conversation with your ex. You can do this over the phone or in person -- but preferably not when you are in the company of your friends. Tell him that it's nice to see him again, but that you want to clear the air. Tell him that his overtures are sending mixed messages that you do not like. Tell him that you are happy to be his friend, but nothing more. Ask him not to touch you suggestively anymore. Even if he plays dumb about it, just reinforce your request.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been stress eating a lot lately. So many responsibilities are hitting me left and right that I can't help but eat junk food to get away from it all. I feel terrible because I was doing really well with exercising and monitoring what I eat.

Ever since I started eating ice cream and candy again, I've been on a roll. Ice cream and candy quickly turned into cake, cookies and milkshakes. The Smart Pop on my kitchen counter was quickly replaced with barbecue potato chips, and the amount of Haagen-Dazs in my fridge is embarrassing.

How do I get myself to revert back to how I was before? It's become harder and harder to psych myself into eating a salad when I know I have ice cream in the fridge. I don't want to become so overweight that I'm back to square one. I know I should just give up the junk food, but when I get home from a long day, a salad just doesn't excite me. -- Stress Vs. Healthiness, Brooklyn, New York

DEAR STRESS VS. HEALTHINESS: Sugar can be addictive for some people. Right now, you are engaging it in that kind of out-of-control way. Know that you can change. Start by throwing out ALL sweets in your home. If they aren't there, you cannot eat them during your vulnerable moments. If you need help making that choice, invite a friend to help you. Build a support group. Go back to the gym with a buddy. When you are feeling particularly stressed, work out instead of eating.

Make a decision that you want to be healthy, and work hard to choose water over soda, fruit or protein over ice cream and chips. Consider joining Overeaters Anonymous (oa.org) or Weight Watchers to help you meet your goals.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm a woman, and I have a close male friend who is married. Recently, my boyfriend and I have been having a lot of disagreements and, in the heat of an argument, I suggested that we have an open relationship. I didn't really mean it and I've apologized for making that comment, but now, every time I bring up my male friend, my boyfriend gets angry.

I confide in my male friend a lot. We talk every day. I don't want to lose my friendship, but I don't want to lose my relationship either. Help! -- Not Open Relationship, Tampa, Florida

DEAR NOT OPEN RELATIONSHIP: Chances are, your relationship with your "close male friend" felt like a threat to your boyfriend, even before your disagreement. Your boyfriend may perceive you and your friend as sharing a closeness that you and your boyfriend do not have. After you introduced the idea of an open relationship -- a term that normally comes from married people who want to have affairs -- your boyfriend might have naturally thought your sights were set on this man. He would be your obvious choice for a more intimate relationship.

Do you secretly want to cross that line with your good friend? Or does he want to cross the line with you? If you are considering this, are you ready to deal with the fact that your friend is married and, therefore, unavailable? You need to be crystal clear on where you and this guy stand in order to be honest with your boyfriend. Start by being honest with yourself.

Is this friendship worth compromising your relationship, or worse, your integrity should you dare to cross the line? Step back and consider it all before you move forward.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I receive regular messages from a particular Facebook "friend" who seems to use the site mainly for promotion of his work. He bombards my account, and many others, with dozens of images of his work, and it is annoying. I don't want to block him, but I also don't want my page cluttered with his images. How should I handle this? I don't want to hurt his feelings, but I'm tired of deleting his posts. -- Inbox Overflow, Atlanta

DEAR INBOX OVERFLOW: Send a direct message to this "friend" asking him to stop tagging you or otherwise posting all of his designs to your page. You can soften the blow by saying that you appreciate his work and congratulate him on being prolific, but you do not use your Facebook page as a business promotion page and do not want him to use your page in that way, either.

If he does not comply with your request, unfriend and block him. That may seem harsh, but it's the only way to ensure that his posts stop appearing on your page.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)