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.

Anyone who knows me (or has been a loyal MKIA reader) can attest to the fact that I hold a dear place in my heart for the city of Paris after living abroad there. This basically means that I am absolutely and undeniably obsessed. I have turned every dorm room, house and apartment bedroom that I have ever lived in into a shrine to the City of Lights.

That being said, I wish I had known about Brocade Home, a Parisian treasure trove, before decorating my most recent bedroom. With shimmery and ornate wallpaper, luminous chandeliers, and intricately carved mirrors—any room can become Marie Antoinette’s Parisian boudoir.

It is avec mon plaisir to present you with some of my personal picks from the site that showcase just how timeless Parisian décor can be. With romantic and feminine pieces like these, maybe you too will fall in love with this modernized twist on decadent 18th century style from my favorite city in the world. Allons-y!

A twinkling, traditional chandelier will be the perfect accent for bedding that is fit for a (French) queen!  These sparkling frames or small, decorative plates could be great gifts (even if you just send them to yourself!)  This opulent and iridescent wallpaper is très chic—especially with one of these gorgeously elaborate mirrors