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.

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!

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

Then adorn yourself with your own — Zodiac sign that is. Laura James is heralding the comeback of these celestial symbols with her chic, vintage-inspired designs. Her charms come on necklaces or bracelets and both have that cool, inherited look.

Personally, I’m a proud Libran who, as the constellations dictate, is a little vain, very giving, craves attention, loves the finer things in life and is most happy when in a relationship and creating balance.

Buy one for yourself and wear your astrological icon on your sleeve. Or, give a friend one for her birthday…what better way to show your love of her than to celebrate her sign? These would also make a great gift for a new mommy who wants to celebrate her newborn’s stellar significance! After all, this is an ancient science so why not get the stars aligned and wear your birthdays’ influential elements like a badge of honor!

Whatever happened to the simple pleasures in life? Taking a leisurely walk on a sunny day, a home-cooked meal, or a hand-written note? Walks now accelerate into shoving other pedestrians out of your way, home-cooked meals are made in someone else’s foreign kitchen, and hand-written notes are typed and sent through cyber-space.

But it doesn’t always have to be that way.It has now become a lot easier to reinvent the time-honored tradition of the hand-written word with the help of Carrot and Stick Press.

Sure, there are a lot of stationary companies out there, but Carrot and Stick Press’ products caught my eye with their cool collection of colorful journals, placemats, photo, table and folded note cards.  The company was recently founded in 2000 by two dedicated grad students who turned their love of playful prints for every occasion into one they could share (and we’re sure glad that they did!)