Perfect for the gal on the go, these unique rain boots by the Japanese company Amaort are lightweight and extremely packable. They even come with their own bag! Wear them as traditional knee-highs, or scrunch them down for that trendy slouched look. Either way, these wellies are stylish and practical.

I first spotted them in the Roberta Freyman store in NYC but unfortunately they are not sold on their website. So in MKIA style, I scoured the web for a source and finally found them at GetOutsideShoes.com. This nifty Canadian retailer does charge a hefty shipping fee ($25), but with a price tag of only $79, we still think they are a steal.

So bring on the rain!  In these you’ll always be prepared to be both dry and cute.

If you are not familiar with this online fashion powerhouse, wait no longer.  They are the quintessential internet boutique that offers the inventory (over 300 designers) and site sophistication to compete with the big boys (e.g. Neimans, Saks, Bergdorf, etc.) Their ability to showcase the apparel and accessories in a quick, digestible format that feels both high-end and intimate is simply unparalleled.

We recommend subscribing to their mailing list to receive their fabulous “lookbooks.” Talk about fashion inspiration!  These online guides feature trends, runway reports, and individual designers in a unique editorial style that the glossy mags can’t touch. Their emails, which may tempt you to shop (that is the idea), will no doubt keep you educated and if nothing else, help you shop your own closet with an editor’s eye.

They recently introduced free worldwide shipping in 3 days or less (and free returns within the USA.)  Hello customer service!  We love you shopbop.

By now we assume that West Elm is a staple store in your never-ending quest to create the perfect nest. We too are consistently impressed with their one of a kind products and felt their latest collaboration with the local NYC design team, Patch NYC, deserved a shout-out.

Together they created a wonderfully witty collection of pillows, ceramic tableware, and prints that have a homemade charm and sophistication you don’t normally associate with big box retail. I personally love the metallic letterpress renderings and pure white ceramic plates adorned with flowers, birds, butterflies and turtles! Hang the prints where your guests will see them and then give them a feast for their eyes as well as their bellies on the ceramic service-ware.

We also recommend checking out the designers own website patchnyc.com for a cool collection of scarves, pillows, and jewelry.  We had never heard of them until now but we are so glad to add them to our collection of resources for all things fabulous and fun!

For all you nesters, homebodies, and wannabe interior designers, this is the site for you. To use their own words: One Kings Lane offers “designer décor and home essentials, entertaining and travel needs, fantastic gift selections and more” at incredible discounts.

The first site of its kind (think gilt group but for home decor), OKL is the only place on the web selling discounted luxury home goods. Their sales begin daily and last 72 hours.  I’ve bought several things from them in the last three months and the service and quality has been impeccable. Not to mention the prices!

Check out the “Get Inspired” section where you can browse by interior designer and their featured masterpieces to inspire one of your own.  Onekingslane.com

High-end, gently used handbags, guaranteed authentic and available in an online storefront that makes buying consignment feel like a privilege? We didn’t think it existed either. Hello Fashionphile.com! This unique site offers designer handbags (from Gucci to Balenciaga and back) with a guarantee of authenticity as well as the condition of the merchandise. The bags (wallets, scarfs and sunglasses are also offered) are generally all new or gently used.

This is a great site to find that bag that you wanted but is now out of production (be prepared to pay a little above retail in this case). It also makes some brands more affordable (you can find gently used Chanel for under $1ooo). The photos and descriptions are professional as is the service. I recently found this Gucci bag (left) that I have been coveting for over a year and my experience was seamless. My purchase arrived in two days and its everything I hoped it would be!

Need a little cash for that new bag? Let them sell a gently used Louis you are no longer using. They do all the work and take a small commission. Now you can update your collection without breaking the bank!

Zumba is the answer to the boring cardio workout. If you love to dance and, like most of us, need to burn calories you should find your local Zumba class immediately. Easy to learn combinations, great music (a mix of latin, hip hop and pop), and targeted toning moves create a fun, high-energy workout that, thanks to the variety of routines, never gets old. I became a fan two months ago when I discovered it at my local dance studio, Mazi, and now I go once a week for a sweat drenched workout that flies by.

The official Zumba website has a great “find a class” feature that helps you locate your nearest Zumba outlet. If you can’t get to a class you can buy the DVD series available on the site. Take one day off from running, or the elliptical, or whatever you cardio crazies are hooked on and try to dance! After shaking your booty Zumba- style you will feel empowered, we promise.

While out shopping with Melina in Soho one weekend we stopped in Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic where we actually had the pleasure of meeting the gracious Rachel Ashwell herself!  I love her whimsical, romantic style and could buy everything in her store (even the antique ballet shoes that aren’t for sale).  Every time I’m there I load up on more of my favorite candle votives and glassware made by Barreveld International.

I use their signature small votives on my nightstand to hold earrings and misc jewelry and have a few more around my room with tiny tea candles that cast a lovely glow. I use their larger glasses to hold pens and pencils and my myriad assortment of make-up brushes.  I honestly can’t have enough of these and was so happy to finally find them available online at the home furnishing site ElizabethsEmbellishments.com.  And because you can’t buy anything on Rachel Ashwell’s site (Rachel, if you are listening, we ask:  why not?) this is clearly an amazing find!

With a variety of different metallic colors, these precious pieces can turn any room into a beautiful boudoir.  Maybe it’s just the fleur-de-lis symbol but there is something très chic about this collection, which is right up this Francophile’s alley!

Whether you are taking an exotic beach vacation or just chillin at home, you will want to add these ladies to your soundtrack. Both have relatively new albums: Sade’s Soldier of Love was released in February 2010 and Miss Jones’ The Fall in November 2009 .

Soldier of Love possesses the strong, sexy beats and gorgeous vocals that made Sade famous. My two favorite tracks are Soldier of Love and  The Moon and the Sky.  Go to iTunes.com/sade to download.

Norah never lets us down…her latest album has the depth and variety no other songstress can match these days. Try Light As a Feather and  Chasing Pirates as a start. Go to iTunes.com/norahjones to download.

This picture of LL clearly demonstrates what can go wrong when trying out a faux tan. I recently had my very first spray tan and despite what I think were acceptable results, I wish I had some no nonsense, MKIA advice before going under that gun. So here it is, our first ever MKIA “how-to” post, based on my personal experience and some good advice I found online:

Go to a professional. There are two types of spray tan: the kind done in a booth with an automated machine and the kind done by a trained technician. You are essentially spray-painting your entire body for a week so this is something I would not entrust to a machine. A trained expert can make sure you are covered, literally. Go on yelp.com and look up your local spas to find who does it best. Pay attention to the reviews of the technicians themselves and the product the spa/salon uses.

Exfoliate until it hurts! Before your appointment, make sure to shower and use an exfoliant to remove dead skin and smooth out rough patches. Give extra attention to knees, elbows, hands and feet so that the color does not gather in cracks, which can give the appearance of aging skin.

Shave, shower, and moisturize right before your appointment. This should be done the morning of or right before your appointment as you should not shower until the day after you have your treatment. Most salons recommend waiting 8 – 10 hours before showering, but if you want the color to set-in properly, my tech says to wait overnight and then shower. Shaving cannot be done after, at least for a few days, so as not to remove the color. And moisturizing will leave your skin ready to receive the color.

Make sure you have a fresh mani/pedi. A spray-tan is not a perma-tan so remember that it does come off eventually and using chemicals or a scrub (such as during a mani/pedi session) removes color and will leave your skin looking patchy!  My advice would be to get a fresh mani/pedi the day of your spray tan.

Make sure you reach every angle, don’t assume that they will. Here is where I really wish I had that MKIA advice before my first experience. When you receive a “personal air brush tan” you stand in front of the technician wearing not much more than the g-string they give you.  Make sure you move the side straps of the panties around so that you don’t end up with any lines.  Your bathing suits and underwear are not going to be the same shape and you will end up with little lines instead of a smooth, seamless tan, which is what you’re paying for after all.  ALSO, and this is a big one, when the technician is applying the tan to your butt, make sure you lean forward and get under those cheeks!  You stand in different positions and that can cause skin to touch and areas can be missed.  You don’t want to lean over to grab your sunscreen and have your bum outlined with two white streaks!

Wear very loose clothing, that stuff is sticky. No one said beauty was easy.  Spray tanning leaves you feeling sticky and kind of dirty.  You don’t want to ruin any good clothes or wear something that will rub the color off.  So bring loose clothes that you don’t care about to wear after your treatment.

Don’t plan to do anything the day of… As I mentioned, you should not shower until the day after your spray tan.  This will leave you feeling a little sticky and a little darker than you will be after you finally shower.  So if you have an event or are planning a trip, make sure you give yourself a full 24 hours of recovery time before making your first appearance.

Sound like too much effort? Maybe so but the MKIAs agree it’s worthwhile for a special occasion or trip. I went to Miami in the dead of January with a healthy glow (not something you see very often in my otherwise cool Chicago neighborhood). I felt confident in my bikini the minute I arrived and never felt the need to subject my skin to extra sun just to fit in. So get your spray on and keep your skin safe!

Sinks, puddles, and yes, even toilets, are no friend of the girl whose phone goes everywhere with her.  Multitasking can turn into mayhem once you lose your grip and your connection to the world is submerged in water.  Don’t panic.  This month’s Real Simple magazine has got a tip that’s worth repeating and may just save your cell from sudden death.

They claim that a bowl of rice will do the trick.  According to the mag:  ”Dry any visible droplets, pop out the battery, and stick both the phone and the battery in a bowl of rice overnight. The rice will soak up most of the remaining moisture.”   Wow!  Amazing info for every type of MKIA, wether you’re an over ambitious multitasker or just plain clumsy, this kind of tip can keep your day from drowning!  Click here for a link to Real Simple’s explanation.