Samantha’s Summer Read: A Charmed Life

Makes you see the gems in your life
My Charmed Life by Beth Bernstein is a lovely summer read. The book is about the author herself and the loss of her mother who was her best friend, and who taught her how to love, overcome life’s biggest obstacles and... how to accessorize.

As a young girl, Beth watched as every piece of jewelry her mother wore was connected to a sentimental memory, of both life’s triumphs and it's challenges. Beth tells the story of her own romances and the jewelry she received from the many men who could not commit to her. The story takes the reader on a journey of glittering hilarity and hope, showing Beth’s personal highs and lows, until she realizes the best gems in life are the people who have always been there for you.

This novel will be perfect for a summers day or evening by the fireplace, and will leave you feeling positive and warm about your own journey in life.

What Are You Doing On The Fourth?

Happy 4th of July! 
If you are looking to get away with your loved one this Independence Day, why not head to Washington to celebrate the holiday at a huge party. The W Hotel is hosting ‘Boom with aView’, from the roof terrace, with performances from cover band BurntSienna and a spectacular view of the city and the National Fireworks Display. 

You could also head to ‘Red, White and Boom’, to dance the night away at Kastles Stadium on the Southwest Waterfront Wharf with dancing to DJ Ricky Schramm, Drew Dixon Line, Yacht Rock Revue and the Morrison Brothers Band and an open bar. Great Meadow will be a great family spot where there will be pony rides, face-painting and clowns all day for the kids, and then a fireworks display and live music kicking off at dusk. Tickets to these events and many other events for you and your loved ones to enjoy, can be purchased here.

If you are staying in the city, Pier83 (West 42nd St, 8th Ave) is having a Rooftop Party – with a BBQ, a bar and a perfect viewing platform for the Macy’s Firework Display over the Hudson River. Tickets for this can be bought here. And tickets for the Freedom Fest Party at Pier 81, which also offers food and a cash bar, can be bought here.

The performers at Macy’s holiday show this year are Katy Perry and Kenny Chesney and the fireworks show can be watched for free on 12th Ave, between 24th and 49th street. From New York there are also boat trips, dinner and luxury firework cruises to go on with your honey; check them out here.

Relationship Ponder: Do You Like Your Man's Friends?

3's a crowd
The new comedy movie ‘Ted’, starring SethMacFarlane and Mark Wahlberg will be released this Friday, June 29th. The movie tells the story of a man whose best friend is Ted, the Teddy Bear, and about the terrible and silly implications this friendship has on his relationship with gorgeous girlfriend, Mila Kunis.

Although your man’s best friend may not be as extreme as a teddy bear, best friends can still get in the way of your relationship. The best way to handle this situation is to try to be accepting, just as you would expect your man to do if he didn’t love your best friend. Unless your man’s best friend is actually a stuffed toy and then you have permission to say something!  Check out the NYC movie showtimes here. 

Comedy Flick Pick: That’s My Boy

That's my Boy
That’s My Boy, starring Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg and Leighton Meester was released in movie theatres last week. This light-hearted movie that has a few inappropriate jokes and scenes will keep you and your date laughing the whole way through. Gossip Girl’s Meester looks gorgeous, particularly in a Vera Wang wedding gown, and Sandler and Samberg keep the jokes flowing.

Perhaps catch a drink or dinner after the movie and talk through some of the many jokes and controversial twists in the story; this will provide an instant and fun conversation ice breakers for your date. Enjoy!

Get Romantic With An Anywhere Fireplace


When you are trying to create romance under the stars this summer, remember that ambiance is the key to setting the mood. These days, I am recommending a personal fireplace to do this. 

Check out all my great summer offers at Open Sky. 

Summer Nights At The Movies

Enjoy a romantic movie with your loved one
The best and most romantic way to see a movie is under the stars, cuddled up on a blanket, with your date. And lucky for you, between June and August, Bryant Park shows classic films, out on the grass. You can see some of your all time favorite movies, like The Wizard of Oz, and Roman Holiday, here this summer. Also, on Wednesdays in July, the Hudson River Piers hosts Riverflicks 2012  where you can watch a free movie while seeing a lit up view of the river. And don’t forget the Central Park Film Festival runs for a week in August showing movies in Rumsey Playfield. Grab a blanket and enjoy the movies!

A Summer Dating Thought: A Romantic Picnic

Lovely summer picnic
The best dates are those where you  are really connecting with someone when you aren’t really doing anything and just spending time together.  Take a picnic, for example, you can sit in a pretty park with no other distractions and really get to know each other better. The best thing about a picnic is that it is just the two of you on your picnic blanket with food and drinks to share and no pesky waiter to interrupt your tranquility. 
Sunny day in Hudson River Park

If you don’t feel like cooking, Perfect Picnic NYC is a great alternative.. This company offers you the choice of  European and American style picnics, to be delivered to wherever you are having your picnic (a park, apartment or on a rooftop). And for location choices, don’t discount Central Park because you have been there so many times, it is still one of the most romantic places in the city with all it nooks and crannies for private little interludes. Hudson Park along the Hudson River spans for miles and beautiful this time a year. Go ahead and grab a blanket!

Spring Make-Up Pick: MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation


MAC studio fix fluid foundation nourishes and hydrates the skin and offers medium/full coverage, which you may want in Spring, when you're waiting on your summer tan to appear.

It is available in 33 different shades, meaning no matter what skin tone you have, you should be able to find a match. The foundation is also SPF 15, protecting your skin from the sun, meaning you can wear it throughout the summer months, instead of wearing oily sun lotions. Drop into MAC to get your foundation matched perfectly to you.

Love On TV: Love In The Wild

If you are looking for a guilty pleasure this summer, go ahead and check out Love in the Wild . It is part Survivor, part Bachelor Pad and part Amazing Race with sexy host, Jenny McCarthy. It's not surprising that romance brews and hormones rage when these sexy singles as out in the Wild (check out the fitness trainer and the yoga instructor.) Good watercooler conversation...

Samantha's Spring Movie Pick: What To Expect When You're Expecting


See how women handle pregnancy
If you are looking for a great movie with a romantic twist to catch this month, check out What to Expect When you are Expecting. This funny and heartwarming movie has a great cast list including, Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Matthew Morrison, Chace Crawford and J.Todd Smith. Through this story of five interconnected couples, the movie gives a real but hilarious portrayal of what goes on during the months before a woman gives birth.

And see how men handle it...
The funny and emotional storylines are bound to make you cry, so if you are ready to show your date your sensitive side, this movie is perfect for you.
It is released tomorrow, so pick a time and go check it out…

How to prepare for Summer Dating: Flirty Dresses

Summer is just around the corner, so it's time to get cracking to prepare to get back out there to date. This means go purchase some flirty feminine bright colored dresses, go update those highlights in your hair and dust off those wedges. Even if you are not a dress girl, you can become one during the summertime. And keep in mind that men LOVE color, so grab a purple, green or yellow dress. If you are hung up on wearing black, pick a floral print dress with black and some other colors. Believe me, more men will notice you!

A Summer Read: Beautiful Ruins

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter is a perfect summer read to enjoy on the beach or in the park on a warm day. The book opens in 1962, where an Italian innkeeper spots a beautiful, young, woman approaching him, on a boat. Through the introduction of unforgettable characters, and a story that spans fifty years, Walters tells the story of the innkeeper, searching for his long lost love, the beautiful woman he saw years before. 

The book continues to the modern day, and places its characters everywhere from the set of Cleopatra, to an arts festival in Scotland. This story of love and hope will keep you entertained from beginning to end.

Sizzling Couple Pick: Sizzle Or Fizzle?

The hot, new couple
After a very public marriage ending in an even more public divorce in 2011, Kim Kardashian seems to have found love again, with Kanye West. The two, who have been friends for years, were seen holding hands and going to the trendy restaurant Catch in the Meatpacking District, earlier this month. The new couple, have also been spotted going for lunch at various boites in the city.

In West’s popular hit, ‘Way Too Cold’ he raps, ‘I admit I fell in love with Kim…Round time she fell in love with him’, which suggests he has liked the ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ starlet for awhile.

Do you think Kim and Kanye will sizzle or fizzle? Do you think they are well suited? Or do you think Kim has rushed into another high profile relationship without taking the time to think if he's really the right match for her?

A Romantic Movie Date: Titanic Is Back In 3D

Jack and Rose on the 'Ship of Dreams'
If you are looking for a romantic movie date this Spring, look no further than the re-release of James Cameron's 1997 movie, Titanic. Cuddle up to your date while you watch the love that blossom between Jack and Rose while they voyage on the ‘unsinkable’ Ship of Dreams. Watching Jack fight for Rose, until she admits her own feelings for him, will make you remember watching it for the first time 15 years ago. The 3D movie is being released in April, to mark the unfortunate 100th anniversary of the ship's sinking.

The dramatic and emotional parts of the movie seem even more real in 3D, giving you an excuse to hold onto your dates arm throughout the entire movie.

Spring Style Pick: Bright Colored Wedges

Stylish Dolce Vita Wedges 
Not only are wedges very comfortable, they are also very stylish and totally in season for spring and summer. They are the perfect shoes for Spring, because they can be worn with jeans, skirts and shorts, so even if the sun isn’t shining, you can still wear them. Also, a peep-toe style, gives you the perfect excuse to start getting ready for the warm weather and get a pedicure. 

Bright colored wedges are fun, and will stand out, whatever you’re wearing. Black and nude styles are perfect for the office, and they will match almost anything. And guys are very attracted to women who seem tall but who are also wearing sexy shoes. Coming into stores in a variety of styles you can guarantee you’ll get a pair to match almost any outfit. Dolce Vita have a great selection of bright, stylish and practical pairs. Go grab a pair of wedges, and walk comfortably into summer!

Samantha's Dating Ponder-How Do You Know When Your Relationship is Exclusive?


There comes a crossroads in every relationship when it is time to make things exclusive; just you and your partner. How do you make that move though? It is a bold and often scary step, especially for men, to commit to just one relationship. In order to set the record straight with out any awkwardness, you need to communicate with each other. It may happen one day when one of you plans it out or it may just be a sudden urge you feel when you look at someone and realize you really care about them and don't want them seeing anyone else. Be careful not to assume that just because you have stopped seeing other people does not mean that your partner has stopped seeing other people, which is why the exclusivity of your relationship needs to be communicated. Don't rush it; if things have been going well for a month or two, then  go ahead and bring it up when you feel comfortable. If talked about too soon, you may ruin whatever budding relationship is forming and scare your partner away. As long as you communicate and take things nice and easy, you will avoid any awkward conversations and get what you really want out of your new relationship.

Samantha's Dating Ponder-How Would You Define Dating?


Often times I will hear people say "I used to date him/her, " but what do they mean by this phrase? Did they go on a few dates with that person a long time ago or were they actually  "boyfriend/girlfriend"? How do you define dating? Many people seem to think that if they went on a few dates with someone, they dated them and then if they were more serious and spent more concentrated time, they were boyfriend, girlfriend. However, to me, I think that if you went out a few times with someone then you went "on a few dates with them" and if you dated someone that means you had "something" real with them, they were a special someone to you. I guess it's semantics but I would find it odd if a guy with whom I went on one date told people we dated. Don't you agree? What's your definition of dating??

Samantha's Product Pick-Replace your wallet


The Callet

We've all done it before, shoving our cash and cards in the back of our phone case to the point where the case doesn't even fit on your phone anymore. But now, you can have your whole life in your hand, without the annoyance of a bulging phone. The Callet is a phone cover and wallet, all in one! It has been strategically engineered to take up a minimal amount of space when you're out on the town so you don't have to carry around such a bulky phone. The specially designed slots are perfect for your cash and credit cards and come in different colors for both iPhone and Blackberry models. So pick up this product, it is perfect the gym, shopping or a night out!

Samantha's Product Pick-Blast that Blemish!


Peter Thomas Roth Acne Spot and Blemish Treatment

You come home from work and start getting ready for your hot date. You finally find the perfect outfit and head to the mirror to apply your make-up when BAM, there is one blemish staring at you in the face. So, you immediately start stressing and picking away at the blemish, only making it worse. Instead, take a breather and put on Peter Thomas Roth's spot treatment cream. The unique treatment is formulated with the perfect ingredients to act fast and zap away that zit. It is perfect for use as a spot treatment for a single blemish or can be used to treat larger problem areas. Either way, this product should work very quickly, leaving you ready and stress-free for your hot date!

Samantha's Product Pick-- Hair Quick Fix

Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo

Expert stylists say it is not healthy to wash your hair everyday but sometimes, your hair just needs a little something something! Don't you always seem to have the greasiest hair after a long day of work before your hot date? And of course, there is no time to shower and restyle your hair before hitting the town. Your quick fix? Dry Shampoo. I have tried many but Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo is definitely my favorite. You get the most product for your money and it can be found in almost any drug store for as cheap as $5! Next time you find yourself stressing before a night out, don't fret. Just make sure to pick up the can made specifically for your hair type and your hair will look rejuvenated and voluminous in no time at all!