This week we wanted to bring you a soundtrack that will get your summer started off right. Our only requirements for this list were happy beats and lighthearted lyrics so we combed the latest releases to find some great selections for your listening pleasure. The result is a super-fun roundup of female voices and electronic instruments that are sure keep you grooving all summer long. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Shiny Toy Guns – Major Tom

We’re taking you back to the 80s with this sparkling new cover of the classic “Major Tom” (originally recorded in the mid-80s by Peter Schilling, it was a retelling of David Bowie’s classic 1969 song “Space Oddity”.) The chorus and dance-worthy beats conjure up images of sublime space travel. itunes.com/shinytoyguns

Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream

This is summer in a song. The only male vocalists on our playlist, these two Aussies are a hypnotic duo, as displayed in this retro disco/futuristic pop track. Just listen, we promise you will enjoy.  itunes.com/empireofthesun

Tamar Kaprelian – A New Day

The requisite chic song, we first heard this one on the season finale of The Hills when LC drove off into the sunset and said goodbye (or so they claim) to reality TV and hello to a life with a little less paparazzi. Well, maybe. Like the show’s original theme song, this one’s got staying power.  itunes.com/tamarkaprelian

Santigold – Shove It

Not a new song, but Santigold is new to MKIA and we want to make sure we share the good stuff with all of you. Santigold is the poo so take a big whiff and check out her entire debut album (released last year) before her next one hits. (The proof ? She toured with Coldplay and Jay-Z sampled Shove It on his hit “Brooklyn Go Hard.”) Her punk/reggae style is so unique we want to make sure she’s on your radar. Get to know her…the tracks L.E.S Artistes and Starstruck are equally down-load worthy.  itunes.com/santigold

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero

Soaring, pulsating, and full of energy is the only way to describe the first single of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ synth-showered third album, Its Blitz! You won’t listen to this one sitting-down. itunes.com/yeahyeahyeahs

Vistoso Bosses – Delirious

After some serious sass we wanted to end with a little sweet. If you want to remember what it’s like to have a teenage crush (in the summer), turn on this song. A sleeper that will most likely be the bubbly jam of the summer…download it now before everyone’s playing it.  itunes.com/vistosobosses

I hate, HATE thong underwear. I’ve never understood why women wear them at all much less exclusively. In my opinion – comfort is paramount and women’s suffrage should have ended with the girdle!

I know what you are all thinking…what about panty lines? Well, finally we can have it all ladies. Commandos are like the second skin of underwear – they are so light and seamless that you can toss that dental floss currently riding up your bum and trade it in for some super-comfy hiphuggers. Don’t worry, these are no granny panties – Commandos are both comfortable and sexy with a great cut that shows off your assets.

For those of you who just can’t quite quit the thong, Commandos come in a variety of styles and will certainly be the most comfortable version of a thong you will ever wear. At $26 – $29 each, these can be a little pricey for the everyday so I found the next best thing is the Victoria’s Secret Very Sexy Hiphugger (they have thongs too!) which are about 2 for $30 and can be found in most of the stores. You can buy Commando at Barenecessities.com and at Neimanmarcus.com. So get comfortable ladies and go commando!

Ever feel like your apartment or house needs a change? Just a little something to shake things up a bit without doing anything too drastic (or expensive!)? Well you can follow in Frances’ footsteps who changes her couch pillows and bedding every few months! These types of small adjustments are refreshing and can really change the look of your place!

One of our favorite sites for affordable pillows that has a broad selection is Pillowsandthrows.com. They have everything from bright, Moroccan style prints to peaceful and sophisticated solid neutrals. It’s definitely a one-stop-online-shop for anyone craving a pillow-fix.

Minor adjustments to your home’s decor can make a major impact so knock yourself out (while getting more bang for your buck!) and try something new!

Calypso St Barth is far from a new discovery, but that doesn’t mean the fragrance and clothing boutique doesn’t deserve a shout out!

Bouncing from Hampton to Hampton over the holiday weekend, Calypso stores were everywhere- and rightly so! Owner, Christiane Celle, who grew up in the south of France, was inspired to design the affordable, bohemian-chic line while vacationing on the beaches of St. Barths.

Just walking into their store is a serene escape as one is instantaneously transported to carefree vacation days on white, sandy beaches and tranquil turquoise water.

Personally, I love their colorful and flowy dresses that are great as fun beach cover-ups or simply sexy when paired with heels and jewelry for a night out.

Their stores are definitely worth the trip considering they have more of a selection than their website.

You don’t have to be in NYC to shop this boutique gallery offering a curated selection of open-edition (unlimited) fine art prints at very reasonable prices. Only in your wildest dreams have you conjured up images like the ones you’ll find here. The artists represented have diverse backgrounds from traditional fine arts to the comic culture but they all share a common thread in their imaginative and whimsical imagery.

The website alone is worth the visit, with creative transitional graphics that look more like a Tim Burton cartoon. Works are available at three price points (including tax): $20 alone, $40 matted, $80 framed. At these prices you can afford to create a fantasy land in your own home!

charmingwall.com

Here in the Northeast, it’s finally warm outside again and for me that means an excuse to get more regular pedicures and splurge on some fun seasonal nail polishes. Every spring/summer, I usually invest in a few great polishes that I can rotate and keep on hand throughout the season. I like buying my own polish instead of using the nail salon’s so I can touch up whatever color I am wearing wherever I am…being on the beach or just walking around in flip flops can cause premature chipping. Using your own polish is also more hygienic.

A good friend of mine is addicted to nail polish, no matter what the season, and has great taste so I asked for her help to pick some of this summers’ best colors that will last us through Labor Day! With names like “Lacquered Up,” “Flirty Fuchsia,” and “Gold Get ‘Em,” who could resist such fun footwear flare? Click on the links below to buy our picks online or find them in your local retailers…

Essie Spring Collection 2009: Lacquerd Up

Essie Neon Collection: Flirty Fuchsia

Revlon: Gold Get’Em 900

The questionable weather ahead does not change the fact that Memorial Day weekend is fast approaching– and I couldn’t be more excited. Rain or shine, I have already dusted off my bright summer dresses, cleaned my aviators of scratches, and gotten myself a much needed pedicure (with Melina’s polish picks, of course!). All I need now is a fashionable beach blanket that won’t make me look like I’m five years old again and still making sand castles.

Good thing I found Scoop’s double-sided beach towel that not only is eye-catching as a terry-cloth blanket or towel, it functions as a wrap as well! So now, when my warm and sunny dreams of laying out and getting a tan this weekend are dashed by 60 degree weather, I can cuddle up in this over-sized pareo. Not only can you be the most stylish person on the beach, you can be the warmest too.  These genius creations are sold at Scoop stores or online at libastyle.com.

No one can ever guess my ethnicity. I get everything from Mexican to Moroccan—and every other country populated with dark-haired people in between. Other than when I am “randomly” checked (and sometimes detained) at the airport going through security, I actually like my Mediterranean/Middle Eastern look and often play it up with exotic accents.

That’s why I’m a huge fan of Amarita Singh’s accessory collection. Best known for her bold take on global jewelry designs, Amrita provides a colorful and cultural spin on all of her pieces as she infuses the old with the new. Her Bollywood Collection, my personal favorite, boasts gold stackable bangles, chain necklaces, and twinkling chandelier earrings. With these kinds of ethnic embellishments, here’s to hoping for an Indian Summer!

If you are anything like me, you are a highly social gal but not a natural hostess.And the idea of organizing and creating a party, much less one with a theme, is curiously daunting. I love the idea of throwing parties; I just don’t ever seem to know where to start. With numerous friends getting married and having babies, I have a lot of reasons to celebrate but no source to help me compose these various events.

Socialcouture.com answered my party-throwing prayers. An on-line store for home entertaining products and services that provides you with the whole package – from party décor and tabletop ideas, to the napkins your guests will use. Their pre-packaged parties make it easy to throw a festive fete with little effort from you other than the choice of occasion. Whether you are celebrating Cinco De Mayo, a baby shower, bridal shower, or a child’s birthday, they have a your party planned.

In addition to their “parties in a box”, socialcouture.com sells individual products and offers abundant tips for the eager entertainer including food and recipes, complete menus and etiquette. They also have a great blog with creative ideas and products that will be helpful to even the most haute hostess!

Feeling bloated? Fatigued? I was. Did you eat too many cookies this winter? I did.

A few weeks ago I was feeling bad enough to follow the herd and research the health fad I’d been hearing so much about: the cleanse. I went straight to the source – a trusted colleague that I knew had done at least one before. With much enthusiasm she recommended the Blueprint Cleanse.

Her endorsement was clear: “the juice tastes great and you don’t feel hungry.” Thankfully, she was right. I started my 3-day cleanse last Monday and by Thursday morning my bloat was gone and I felt lighter and more energetic. Consisting entirely of fresh squeezed juices, your diet for the duration of your cleanse is only liquid which allows your digestive system to rest and your body to heal itself.

The juice, as promised, was delicious and tasted very fresh. As for being hungry, well I can’t say that I wasn’t but my stomach did not feel empty and I certainly was not starving. Depending on your current nutritional lifestyle, there are varying levels of intensity and length available. I chose the 3-day Foundation Cleanse because I already lead a somewhat healthy lifestyle and wanted to commit to a multiple-day regime but wasn’t sure I could last five (or more) full days without solid food.

Even my husband, who is normally a hungry guy, cleansed for two days. He liked the juice and never complained of intolerable hunger. The program is not cheap but it’s so simple and convenient that you will forget about the cost and focus on what you’re doing for your body. I am not a joiner and certainly don’t do fad diets but I give this my full endorsement. With little effort and minimal inconvenience, I felt refreshed and, yes, even cleansed.