Woo hoo, holiday weekend here we come! We promised some ideas for a rollicking 4th of July play list (the background of your rocking 4th of July party, of course). So we’ve gathered some of our favorite summer party tunes from the obvious (if you don’t play something from the Beach Boys you’ll be hauled away) to the one hit wonder that played constantly during my first summer away from home (shout out to Ocean City, Maryland!) We’re starting you off with fifteen picks of up-tempo, crowd-pleasing tunes that sing (sometimes literally) summer to us:
4th of July - X For obvious reasons! And also because X rules.
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson Your guests may be tired of talking about Michael Jackson, but they won’t be tired of his music – besides this disco classic can always be heard again.
Holiday - Madonna Just a happy, boppy summer song from my youth!
Gin and Juice - Snoop Dogg & Dat Nigga Daz Now, for a fun change of pace – this song is played at every LA barbeque I’ve ever attended.
Our Lips Are Sealed - The Go-Go’s When I asked Eric for his opinion on this mix, he replied “anything from Beauty and the Beat” before I could finish my question.
Wouldn’t It Be Nice - The Beach Boys Another gimme; you can’t have a proper outdoor celebration without at least one BB song.
Buffalo Stance - Neneh Cherry This was the hit of the summer during my years at the aforementioned OC, MD. Still sounds great today and you’ll be surprised how many people adore it.
Moving to L.A. - Art Brut Not quite as well known, but a totally fun, party tune (and a pick from Stef) which will have you ready to ride a motorcycle, shirtless down Sunset Blvd shirtless in no time. (Well, at least the guys – ladies, a tank top will suffice!)
Lovely Day - Bill Withers Because it is a lovely day! And this song will make it even lovelier.
Summer Nights - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John Get ready to hear some singing from your guests! You can never go wrong with anything from the Grease soundtrack.
Hot Fun In the Summertime - Sly & The Family Stone If, like me, you spend time imagining how your party will go and visualize it like scenes from a movie, this is the song that should be playing in the background
The Boys of Summer - Don Henley Honestly, I just started to appreciate this song recently. Maybe I’m getting old, but for this summer at least, it’s sounding pretty good!
Over and Over - Hot Chip From an album released in May 06, this band always reminds Stef of hot days in the desert (with a Party Palmer to ward off the heat)
Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm I have no excuse; I just always enjoyed this MJ cover!
Let Me Blow Ya Mind - Eve & Gwen Stefani Another L.A. summer soirée staple – always well received and will have people swaying and singing by the first chorus.
So, what am I missing? Share your all time favorite summer songs in the comments!
Filed in: eat, drink, be merry, read, watch, listen
vedaPURE is one of those companies that inspires me to make healthier choices in my beauty routine. Every aspect makes me believe in it. Why? Take the name, veda - the Sanskrit word for knowledge. Or the founder, Natalie Geary - a pediatrician and graduate of Harvard College and Johns Hopkins who integrates natural and ayurvedic principles into a modern approach. She developed the line for her patients seeking “simply natural and honestly pure skincare.” But mostly, take a look at the products themselves. They are loaded with healthy ingredients specifically chosen for their individual benefits and the desired result (as you’ll see on their detailed ingredient list.)
Their lines cover every member of the family; vedaBABY is 8 products to gently care for your lil’ bundle of joy, vedaDUDE has 4 products for the man of the house and even a vedaRX division that naturally deals with everything from decongestion to dry scalp relief.
We got to sample from the vedaMAMA line; 10 products to cover every woman’s needs. We received Purify, a detoxifying body cream. It’s a rich and fragrant cream that contains a detoxifying essential oil blend to gently remove the impurities while you sleep (which you then wash away in the morning shower). Key ingredients such as Green Tea Extract, Jojoba, Mango Butter and Rosemary Extract reinvigorates and restores elasticity and provide the essential elements for healthy skin. My thoughts? The smell is intoxicatingly fresh and I felt it takes your skin to a new level of softness.
Review Team, what did you think? Did vedaMAMA Purify leave you feeling like a natural woman?
Loading …
(And good news…I found this normally $75 cream for $34 at Babyearth.com)
Filed in: beauty & fashion, reviews
What do you get when you combine a fashion insider with a love of heels (but, of course!) and an entrepreneur with a genius idea? You get the talented Tina Aldatz. And lucky you, you also get Foot Petals. If you’re a woman, chances are you probably already know what Foot Petals are. If by some chance you don’t, know this; they are tiny little pieces of heaven that are here to make your feet feel better and therefore, make your life better. Sound dramatic? Anybody who’s ever suffered a night in a pair of uncomfortable shoes knows how serious I am!
Tina is passionate about her products. Foot Petals was started in 2001 when she noticed there was something lacking in the marketplace for stylish women that enjoy wearing high heels, but still want to be comfortable. Since then, she has even became a Certified Pedorthist (an individual trained in the modification of footwear and orthotics) to further her knowledge and produce even more advanced products. She’ll share this know-how with you too. Check out her website for tons of information, including her Guide to the Perfect Fit and Foot Petals adorable Blog (called The Shoe Whisperer!) But I think my favorite feature on the site is her Tips for Budding Entrepreneurs. I really appreciate when a successful woman wants to try to help others, rather than hoard all her wisdom and experience for herself. Put that on top of truly wanting you to feel better on your feet, and you’ve got one wonderful woman! We were honored to speak to her, but tried desperately not to be jealous of her bedroom. Read on…
wht: When and why did you develop Foot Petals?
Tina: The short answer is…I just wanted them for me! The deeper answer is twofold. First, as a child, I suffered from severe burns on my feet after accidentally walking over hot coals that were buried in the sand at the beach. This actually happens to hundreds of children every year and Foot Petals is helping to benefit burn victims with sales of our Lavender scented Killer Kushionz (check out how cute they are in the above photo ~wht). Secondly, I grew up in California and worked in the fashion industry. I later moved to New York and actually had to walk and look good at the same time. My feet suffered and I was constantly trying products that were either useless or ugly.
Why do you think every woman should own at least one of your products?
Because every woman wears shoes! Our feet are already the hardest working part of our body…our feet don’t have to suffer to be beautiful.
Read more of our interview with Tina…
Filed in: beauty & fashion
For any good paint job, prepping is key. You need to prime and you need to invest in quality brushes. It’s the same for walls as it is for your face. Personally, I happen to hate painting walls. But my face? A whole different story. I look forward to painting it every day! And Laura Geller
thinks there’s even one more trick that woman can borrow from painting 101. For a truly flawless job, before priming, she also recommends a good spackle. And I’m telling you, if Laura Geller recommends something, we should listen!
You see, Laura is one of the queen’s of QVC. In fact, her line is the second best selling cosmetic line at QVC and has just celebrated its ten-year anniversary of being on the channel. It’s easy to see why; she’s both extremely likable and knowledgeable. Millions of women trust in her for simple, multi-functional, easy-to-use beauty solutions. Purchasing a product from her line comes with the added bonus of pretty much knowing, this product works. Our review team was lucky to get to try two spackles from her line of five formulas.
Read more, including ratings and reviews…
Filed in: beauty & fashion, reviews
You just have to make it through one more work week until the big 4th of July celebration weekend - and we all know you’re cutting out early on Friday, if you bother to go in to the office. Are you ready for summer’s best and biggest holiday? We’ve gathered some last minute Independence Day ideas and inspirations, so you can celebrate with a bang!
First up, the perfect outfit. Show your independence by putting a modern twist on the traditional red, white and blue with the Rose Water Maxi Dress from ModCloth. This floor length, halter-top dress can take you from afternoon barbeque to twilight fireworks to late night dancing and more! Like all ModCloth offerings, the dress offers solid quality at a decent price and the unique style, cut and color guarantees the dress will stand out in the crowd!
If the maxi is dress is not your style, here’s another option. We think a white tank top or summery blouse paired with either the Bluebell Skirt
or Uptown Shorts
and a pair of red Converse
kicks would make a smashing alternative!
Next up, the food and drink. From cocktails to burgers to cold salads we’ve already shared our absolute favorite summertime specialties on the site. I can’t think of a better occasion to break out the wht signature drink, the Party Palmer then this weekend. This refreshing and delicious mix of two summer staples (ice tea and lemonade) with a healthy splash of vodka (that’s the party) is always a hit.
Read more 4th of July ideas & inspirations…
Filed in: beauty & fashion, eat, drink, be merry, etsy finds
I’ll admit, I am guilty of some passive aggressive note writing in my time. And like all of those on the hilarious gem of a site Passive Aggressive Notes, they stem from when I had to share my space with someone, either a roommate or a co worker. These days if I need something done, I just yell directly (sorry Hub!) No need to pussyfoot around issues anymore.
My notes, like many on the site, always had to do with cleaning, or more properly put, the lack of. Dishes were a constant theme. I once had a roommate who never did them. Or only did them when she needed them, then left them overflowing in the sink until the next time. I can’t tell you how many times I left her notes about how “we” needed to try to clean up better after ourselves. Reasons ranged from cockroaches to company. It all came to an abrupt end when I carried a sink full of dirty, greasy dishes into her room and left them on her bed with the shining star in my passive aggressive note hall of fame “Here, I’m sick of looking at these. Why don’t you look at them for awhile!” (oh, how I wish I would have kept that.)
Passive Aggressive Notes compiles “painfully polite and hilariously hostile writings from shared spaces around the world.” I can spend hours marveling over the site. As mentioned, cleanliness is a very popular theme, with the microwave (damn you Deborah!) and random hairs being a real sore spot to a lot of passive aggressive note writers. Stealing is another hot topic, with the theft of the Hot Pocket apparently on the rise (they are quite delicious).
One thing to keep in mind if you need to write a note of your own. Use ALL CAPS. It helps the person to know that you really mean it. Also, whenever possible, underline key points, preferably with a different color. And for a true passive aggressive masterpiece, add hearts.
Filed in: potluck, whole lot of web love
My friends, I have spied the most beautiful pair of heels in all the land - Christian Louboutin’s new jeweled platform slingbacks. That’s right bitches, I said jeweled. Sorry, there’s no need to swear. But I’ll tell you, these shoes have me all worked up! I mean, look at them. Those are multi-colored jewels all over them. They’ve got Louboutin’s signature red sole, contrasting that gorgeous blue metallic leather. They’re covered platforms, they’ve got a peep toe, they’re made in Italy, for crying out loud! Yes Italy, the one in Europe. Now if someone can just send me $2,830, I’ll be all set. Or just the shoes themselves, that would work too. I wear an 8. Mailing address is on our contact page. Thanks in advance!
Filed in: beauty & fashion, weekly love lists
Why do we save our best things for company? The fine china, the nice linens, the “guest” soap, and for me-my best candles. In a way, I guess it’s sweet, you want your guests to experience your finest. But looking at it another way, do you not think you deserve to use your best? Why do you get the chipped plates, the fraying towels, the “plain” soap and the meadow fresh grocery store candle that smells nothing like any meadow you’ve ever been in?
With this thought in mind, I opened my package from DayNa Decker. I withdrew my candle from it’s gorgeous white flower on shiny white box. I fought every urge to hide this in the back of my candle cabinet as I took my first sniff of Leila, from their Botanika line. It’s citrus nectar infused with white florals, dashed with amber musk. I gazed upon the hand blown, thick green glass vessel with it’s EcoWood wick visible through the translucent botanical wax and got cold feet. “This really is a company candle” I thought, it’s just too beautiful. I read the literature enclosed and learned the EcoWood wick not only emitted a teardrop shaped flame, but a crackling sound as it burned. Like your own mini fireplace. Before I could even think twice, I grabbed the matches and lit. Wow, fragrance filled the air. Not cloying fragrance, the perfect, pure fragrance. As the wick crackled away, I read more about this amazing candle company…
The Los Angeles based company is the epitome of chic. Former Ford model Dayna (she’s the beauty in most of the collateral) comes from a family of entrepreneurs from the design and wellness industries. Creativity and savvy business sense are in her genes. It’s no wonder these candles are so gorgeous. The design background laying the foundation for what looks good, the wellness industry furthering knowledge about what makes people feel good. And her jet setting model years adding to the seductive luxury and decadent sophistication that every piece carries. But somehow, no matter how beautiful and special her candles are (and my god, I have never had such a beautiful and special candle), I don’t think she meant these as things to be tucked away for only special occasions. Why not bring a bit of glamour into every day life? So, that’s why I sit here, candle blazing, letting the luxurious scent engulf me that I say “damn it, I deserve this!”
And you do too…it’s up to you to check out her store and see just how deserving you are!
Filed in: home & living
I’m sure most of you have heard about a little San Francisco based company named Benefit
. Founded by twin sisters, Jean and Jane Ford back in 1976, the company has some of the best packaging and products out there–it’s a perfect blend of function and whimsy and has a really fabulous retro vibe. We recently were lucky enough to get to try their Erase Paste concealer and their Hello Flawless powder (check out Goodbye Foundation!) and now we’re beyond lucky to get to try their latest offering, Smokin’ Eyes
.
I don’t know about you, but eye makeup intimidates me. I see all of the different applicators and tools and colors and my palms sweat. This anxiety gets worse when I plan on doing a smoky eye. I have almond shaped eyes and the crease in my lid is a little low, so getting a precise application is difficult. If I use my crease as a guide, it looks like I’m channeling my inner Alice Cooper. Not a good look for me, I assure you. In any case, you get my drift-smoky eyes intimidate the heck out of me.
When I received Benefit’s Smokin’ Eyes palette to test, for whatever reason, a sense of calm overtook me. Everything I need to make a smoky eye and perfect eyebrows to frame them is in this palette. You can tell that great care was taken in planning this set. Upon close inspection, you see that the brushes are high quality, not your standard palette fare. The compartment holding the tweezers is even magnetic (we all flipped at this! ~wht), so the dainty pair enclosed is secure. In short, this latest offering from Benefit is genius! The Smokin’ Eyes palette contains a pale pink highlight shadow, a pewter base shade (it’s a perfect marriage between grey and brown), a charcoal shadow/liner, a black eye liner pencil, brow zings wax in light, eye bright, a double-ended brush with a fluff eye shadow brush on one end and hard, angled brush on the other, the tiniest, most precise tweezers ever, and step-by-step instructions. The instructions are very easy to follow and have diagrams to guide you in your makeup application. Dare I say, this palette is fool-proof! Yes, that is a challenge!
Read more, including ratings and reviews…
Filed in: beauty & fashion, reviews
The thermometer keeps going up, the sun is shining and my mind is falling into that lazy, summer induced lull. Maybe after so many years of school, my brain is programmed to switch off for a few months during the midst of summer. There’s no way I’m starting on Team of Rivals
even thought it’s next on my list. Sorry, Abe but I’ll tackle this book in the fall. Right now, it’s time for some easy, breezy and dare I say it, a little trashy summer reading.
This state of mind lead me to pick up the just released Lauren Conrad novel, L.A. Candy.
I had planned on giving you guys a fun review of the goods but the best I can muster is “meh.” I mean, it’s not completely terrible. The writing was a tiny bit better then I expected. But as far as the fun stuff – juicy, behind the scenes gossip pulled from her Hills experience, or wild Hollywood parties or anything remotely sexy – you’re not going to get it here. It’s light and easy enough to read poolside while sipping your third pina colada, but you won’t get a lot of joy out off it.
My shame at actually purchasing this book (I am way too old for the books demographics) made me read this book only at home and I still turned the cover inside out! (Just in case my roommate saw it – I’d never live it down). All for a book that failed to leave any real impression on me.
Honestly, I find this happens with a lot of poolside books. Call me a book snob, but a lot of the beachy books, leave me cold. Chick lit can be fun, but I always feel a little silly carrying the latest hit novel around. Fun and sassy and sexy is great, but most chick lit rehashes the same old stories (girl meets boy she hates, then magically realizes she loves him, with a B story or two revolving around a mix of the following: a crappy job with a mean boss, a great job with a crappy boss, a sassy, married best friend, her best gay, a meddling mother, and some sort of wacky misunderstanding and everything tied up in a bow at the end.
So, if you’re looking for summer great summer time reads with just a little bit of substance, I’ve got some recommendations:
Story of My Life
- Everything you want in a novel following the young, pretty, rich and spoiled; backstabbing friends and family, coke fueled parties, late nights at clubs, a little bit of sex and lots of drama. Written by critic’s darling Jay McInerney, you’ll be reading a modern classic, while enjoying a dishy, sordid tale.
More Hard Partying reads by “respected” novelists:
The Great Gatsby
The Rules of Attraction
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
View the rest of our Beach Books and see suggestions from our readers…
Filed in: read, watch, listen
(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)
