Because her name is Janis and my name is Janice

Color Dipped Hair

Let’s face it guys, there are some days when having a job in corporate America, well, it just really cramps my style. While I do enjoy the steady paycheck, and the lack of manual labor from my job, the Monday through Friday, 9-6 professionalism can get to be too much.

First there’s the lack of being able to get outside and do stuff during the day, and not just for fun purposes. Going to the bank and the doctor’s office gets to be a real pain in the butt. Then there’s the whole formal attire part of it forcing my toes into pumps when they’d really rather be wiggling free in flip flops. I’m pretty lucky where I work, and they let me wear my nose ring. But can I get a witness on all you out there with tatts and piercings you have to cover up in the office?

I miss the days when I could color my hair any way I want without the fear of being judged “unprofessional.” Pink highlights during the summertime: I miss you. Let’s spend some time looking at the lovely ombre hair trend that’s going on right now, and sigh about having jewel toned tips.

What trend do you wish was office acceptable?

Talib Kweli in Red Hook Park

You know summer is official when NYC starts providing awesome concerts in parks scattered around the 5 boroughs for free. Tonight SummerStage presents Talib Kweli in Red Hook Park at 7pm. I’ve seen him perform before, and he is out of control good. He’s collaborated with Mos Def, Kanye, and Mary J. Blige. Both Jay-Z, and 50 Cent count themselves among his fans. His talent is immense, and you can witness it live for only the $2.25 it takes to get you there on the subway. I know I’ll be in the audience. Will you?

Summer Fashions

Today is officially the first day of summer. What could make a more perfect summer outfit than a straw tote, sheer lace top, and some canvas espadrilles?

These items are on my summer MUST list.

Mar Y Sol's "Nantucket" tote in Ocean and Apple

Bebe's "Lucia" Sheer Lace Top

Life: Curated's "Dawn" Cork Wedges

What's on your list of have-to-have items for this season?

Summer Solstice Salutation

Tomorrow is the first official day of summer. Can I get a YAY? 

To celebrate, go take a free yoga class in Times Square, and get zen with thousands of other sun seekers enjoying the longest day of the year. The event runs from 7:30am-7:30pm rain or shine, and it’s free! Sign up for one of three classes here. The whole idea is to find peace in the center of one of the busiest places in the city. If you can meditate there, you can meditate anywhere.

Words of Wisdom

Hangover Helper

We all have our hangover cures for when the warm summer evenings lure us into having that extra margarita. Mine happens to be a couple advil, and a healthy portion of cheese fries combined with a diet pepsi (not coke, not diet coke, not coke zero, not regular pepsi-I’ll accept diet wild cherry if you’ve got it).

Something in my body tells me: eat salty food and drink some caffeine. I always thought it’s because it was smart enough to know I need to retain some water, and wake up a bit. But now we know for sure why, you crave caffeine and it’s not just to battle that I didn’t get enough sleep and now I’m at work feeling.

When your body metabolizes alcohol (acetate), it leads to an increase in adenosine in the brain. This spike is what leads to your hangover headache. As it turns out, anti-inflammatory drugs (read: ibuprofen), combined with caffeine (read: diet pepsi) block the effects of adenosine on the brain. Just a little food for thought to help you through your Saturday morning.

How to Be a Good Wedding Guest

It’s officially wedding season. You can pick it out by its tell-tale signals: all of your weekends from now until labor day are booked up with showers, bachelorette parties, and the main event. Your friends may call you in tears over which napkin color goes best with their plates, or because the fabric of the bridesmaid dresses clashes with their gowns. Arguments spring up between people who never fought before in their lives. Why? Because while attending weddings is Awesome (with a capital A), well, planning that shiz is STRESSFUL.

It’s only the biggest day of the bride’s life, and she obviously wants it to be perfect.

So, friends, let’s cut girlfriend a little slack if she has a couple emotional breakdowns, and as an invitee, try to be a good guest and not add to the D-R-A-M-A. It’s one of the few occasions left in life where there are indeed rules of etiquette, and it’s expected that you follow them. It makes a big event where all eyes are on you less harrowing when you know people will behave a certain way.

Here’s what you should do to make sure you’re contributing to the celebration, not taking away from it, straight from the mouth of Milli Martini Bratten, editor in chief of Brides magazine via the pages of Allure.

•  RSVP Immediately: Don’t wait until the day before the wedding to phone and say you’re coming.
• Don’t bend the rules: If it doesn’t say “and guest” on your invite that gives you two options: fly solo, or do not attend. End of story.
  
•  Be early: If the bride is walking down the aisle when you arrive (we’ve all been there!), wait until she finishes her procession and slip in the side. Shoot for 45 minutes before the ceremony next time.
• Be Colorful: Wearing white is a no-no, and wearing black is a little blah. This is not a funeral, put on a flowery dress!
• Upload Later: Try not to play paparazzi and leak photos of the bride with her finger up her nose before she can post the perfectly lit professional numbers that only capture flattering angles.
•  Exit politely: Read: don’t leave during a toast or any other special event (bouquet tossing)-try to make your exit after the cake is cut.

Now go enjoy the season!

Liquid Palisade

If you’re like me (or anyone who's not a superhuman), you have a pretty tricky time of it when you try to paint the nails on your non-dominant hand. For me, (I’m a southpaw) my left hand is always messy from coloring outside the lines so to speak because I just can’t keep that little brush on my little nails. As a girl who loves nail polish and paints her nails a few times a week, this issue has plagued me for years.

Now Kiesque has invented the painter’s tape of nail polish. It’s a light purple gel called Liquid Palisade that when you paint it along the edges of your skin before polishing, protects skin from absorbing lacquer. Simply peel off the gel when you’re finished for your salon perfect mani or pedi. 

AND if you’ve been dying for those adorable half moon nails that every runway sported, paint the gel onto a solid color of polish to create a removable line to paint up to. When you take off the gel, it won’t damage the color underneath. You’ve officially discovered your perfect French manicure.

Comprehensive Guide to Summer Fun

For all of you who have been waiting on pins and needles for the Vanity Fair Summer Guide 2011 aka the most comprehensive guide to summer fun in NYC, well, there isn’t going to be one this year. But don’t despair! This warm weather standby is not gone for good, but has simply been reincarnated as the Book Report Summer Guide.

Former Vanity Fair Special Events Manager Jessica Latham has left VF for the greener pastures of Book Report, and took her glorious events handbook with her. She teamed up with fellow staffer Annabel Linquist to detail the best outdoor dining, drinking, and events (movies, festivals, concerts, polo matches) happening all over the city.

Also in there? Your best burger joints for when you’re craving bbq, but don’t have any outdoor space to put a grill besides your fire escape. You'll find the 10 hottest places to see and be seen this summer, a summer playlist, and some odds and ends including great salons, good coffee, refreshing desserts and other staff favorites.

Overwhelmed by all the sheer awesomeness of it all? My recommendation is to start up a special google calendar for all your summer events--you can invite friends to things you think they'd like and set up alerts so that you don't miss a minute of the sandal wearing, fruity cocktail drinking, outdoor fun.

Hello Hello

 Today I am embarking for the wonderful world of Bonnaroo, where the only places that matter are Centeroo and my tent. Where the only foods I will consume will be cooked on a mini grill or served deliciously from a vendor. Where the only thing I will wear are flowy dresses and a smile. That's right, I'll be listening to music for 4 whole days. But you know what else? There's no outlets or internet, so I'll be entering communication silence. Catch you all next week!

Sunday

Summer Sundaes

What is it about summer that makes everyone crave an ooey gooey sundae? Delicious ice cream covered with warm fudge, whipped cream, chopped nuts, some sprinkles and topped off with a maraschino cherry. Maybe it’s because ice cream tastes so much better when its starting to melt around the edges. Maybe it’s because of all the stands peddling the stuff that only open during summer months. Or maybe it’s for the pure refreshment of swallowing cold to take some of the heat out of your sweating body. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but this time of year its hard to resist every Mr. Softee I pass, while visions of milkshakes and cherry dips float through my head.

Groupon Now

Over the long weekend, I was chatting with a friend about living in NYC (read: the most expensive place ever) on a young professional’s salary (read: not exactly rolling in the dough). We were talking about how its practically impossible to survive and still have fun without cutting financial corners here and there, and knowing about secret little bargains that will save you money. Buying your non-perishables in bulk at Costco, shopping at stores like Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx, knowing the best happy hours deals—all of these things that save you $5 or $10 bucks at a time add up to living the life you want all within your budget.

Now Groupon has come out with a new way to save money. It’s called Groupon Now, and it’s particularly rad for people with iPhones and blackberries. I still live in the dark ages and have a regular old cell phone, but for those of you on the cutting edge, well-it’s pretty awesome. You go to the website, put in your current zip code (in NYC, it changes by the part of town you’re in), select a category and it pulls up deals happening RIGHT NOW in your area. You can choose from several activities: eat something, have fun, get pampered, go shopping, go out, exercise, take a class, get flowers, take care of myself, or treat my kid. Then groupon picks deals accordingly.

It takes the guesswork out of finding savings, and gets you a coupon for just about anything you’re in the mood for at the moment. Drinking? Well, it has drink specials. Eating? Discounted food. Gone are the days of waiting around for the semi-annual sale at Victoria’s Secret or the Labor Day savings at Macy’s to get your shopping highs. With Groupon Now, you can get the thrill of getting just about anything on sale, instantaneously.

Beats by Dr. Dre

I don't know if you've noticed, but everyone (and I mean everyone) seems to have these headphones. They're Beats by Dr. Dre, and like pregnant women in the summer time, they just keep popping up on the subways sitting in the seat I wish I had. They're easy to spot because they come in a plethora of bright colors and have the signature b on the ear. Once my friend pointed them out to me, I see them everywhere.

What I want to know, is: are they really that good? Or are you just buying them because Dre, the ultimate father of gangsta rap, is so cool that you had to have something he endorsed? Are they just tiding you over until he puts out a new album? Someone fill me in.