Summer’s in full swing, and New Hampshire’s ski resorts promise to bring fun, adventure and relaxation all year-round, whether you want an adventure or a relaxing getaway. Taste award-winning cuisine, take in the spectacular views, explore your wild side and experience how the state’s best ski spots turn into summer destinations!

Relaxing isn't difficult at Attitash, with its hotel spa and this spectacular view.

Attitash

Located in Bartlett, Attitash offers something for everyone. Take a 2,800 foot ride down the Nor’Easter Mountain Coaster or slide down North America’s longest Alpine Slides, splash around at the water park, enjoy the scenery on horseback, relax in the heated outdoor pool and get a massage at the Attitash Grand Summit Hotel spa or shop ’til you drop at the over 200 tax-free factory outlet stores nearby.

Route 302, Bartlett
603-374-2368
www.attitash.com

The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel

Named one of America’s 10 best family resorts by Family Life magazine, the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel sits on 15,000 acres in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Savor award-winning cuisine or take a culinary class to learn for yourself. Don’t forget to hone your palate at a wine tasting. Enjoy the weather and spend time outside fishing, golfing, white water kayaking and rafting, mountain biking, hiking or on a garden tour. If you prefer air conditioning, play billiards, dance at the nightclub, listen to a lecture or go shopping. There are even supervised activities for the kids (age 5 and up) if you want some romantic alone time!

Route 26, Dixville Notch
800- 255-0600 (U.S. and Canada); 800-255-0800 (NH)
www.thebalsams.com

Black Mountain

Those looking for a rustic experience will find plenty to do at Black Mountain. Take in the gorgeous views on horseback (or a pony ride–we won’t judge) and go on an overnight horseback excursion to a cozy cabin and a campfire; they’ll even provide the s’mores! Take the kids canoeing, kayaking, tubing or fishing and climb the nearby Jackson Falls.

Route 16B, Jackson
603-3834490
www.blackmt.com

Enjoy a game of golf or explore the Adventure Center at Bretton Woods.

Bretton Woods

Adventure seekers will fit right in at the Bretton Woods Adventure Center, which offers a 3-hour guided good time through zip-lines, platforms and sky bridges. Bretton Woods, part of the Omni Mount Washington Resort, also offers climbing walls for experienced and inexperienced climbers alike. Take a romantic lift for the view or take a lift to a mountain biking destination. Play golf or tennis, go swimming or horseback riding, or enjoy the resort’s 25,000 square foot spa. The kids (ages 4 to 12) will be kept entertained with arts and craft, hiking, sports and more at the Omni Kids’ Club.

99 Ski Area Rd., Bretton Woods
800- 258-0330 or 603-278-1000 (NH)
www.brettonwoods.com

Cannon Mountain

Walk through the flume gorge or check out the Old Man of the Mountain museum at Cannon Mountain.

Cannon Mountain offers a uniquely “New Hampshire” experience, with a tramway climbing 2,180 vertical feet to the summit of the mountain, where you can take in a breathtaking view of four states and Canada. Go camping, bike riding, kayaking, or canoeing and walk through the spectacular Flume Gorge. Check out the remnants of the Old Man of the Mountain (may he rest in peace) and visit the Old Man Museum and the New England Ski Museum.

Franconia Notch Parkway, Franconia
603-823-8800
www.cannonmt.com

Ride the mountain coaster or tackle the new adventure park at Cranmore Mountain Resort.

Cranmore Mountain Resort

Fun-seekers will not be disappointed at Cranmore, with its mountain coaster and brand new adventure park, which features a giant swing, tubing, mini golf, a bungy trampoline, bouncy houses and an 18-hole disc golf course. The mountain’s Aerial Adventure Course offers rope courses, zip-lines and air bridges.

1 Skimobile Rd., North Conway
603-356-5544
www.cranmore.com

Eastman Cross Country Center

At Eastman, golfers can practice at the driving range or play the 18-hole championship golf course where the NH Golf Association Men’s State Am Championship took place in 2010. You can get creative and paint, enjoy a wine tasting, do some gardening, go hiking, play tennis at one of the 14 courts, go sailing on the lake or sunbathe at one of the six beaches.

Exit 13 off I-89, Grantham
603-863-4500
www.eastmannh.org

Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center

Wilderness lovers can take in the gorgeous mountain scenery, the fields of wildflowers and the wildlife at the Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center, located at the base of the historic Mount Washington Auto Road. Get active outdoors and go mountain biking, Nordic walking, running, canoeing or whitewater kayaking, and you might even spot a bear or a moose!

Route 16, Pinkham Notch
603-466-2333
www.greatglentrails.com

Gunstock Mountain Resort

This is the summer to go to Gunstock, which recently unveiled new attractions and an expanded campground. Have a blast on the Aerial Treetops Adventure Course, mountain Segway tours with he fancy new Segway X2, and the ZipTour, which boasts the longest zip lines in the continental United States. There’s also a skate park, mini-golf and climbing walls, not to mention mountain biking, kayaking and horseback riding.

719 Cherry Valley Rd. (Route 11A), Gilford
800-GUNSTOCK or 603-293-4341
www.gunstock.com

Loon Mountain

Zip-lines, climbing walls, Segway tours, horseback riding and “lost gold” treasure hunting for the kids are just a few of the activities Loon Mountain offers. Be sure  to take the Gondola Skyride to the summit, where you can take in the view at the observation tower, go on a nature walk and check out the glacial caves (hint: you just might find treasure there)!

Route 112, Lincoln
800-229-LOON
www.loonmtn.com

Mount Sunapee Resort

Hike to Sunapee’s summit or take an aerial sky ride to the top and enjoy the scenery. While you can’t take a dip in Lake Solitude, a pristine glacial lake preserved for wildlife, it sure is pretty to look at. Don’t miss the 78th Annual League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair from August 6 to 14, with over 200 booths, demonstrations, workshops, tours, seminars and live music.

Route 103, Newbury
603-763-3500
www.mountsunapee.com

Take the kids to family-friendly--and family-owned--Purity Spring Resort.

Purity Spring Resort

Family-friendly (and family-owned since the early 1900s) Purity Spring Resort, 1,000 acres between the Lakes Region and the White Mountains, offers activities for all ages, including waterskiing, kayaking, hiking, biking, tennis, archery, a rock climbing wall, basketball courts, arts and crafts and nature walks. There’s also an indoor pool and hot tub, a fitness center and four beaches. Don’t miss the lobster bake every Thursday evening or the breakfast cookout every Monday morning.

Route 153, East Madison
800-373-3754
www.purityspring.com

 Ragged Mountain

This ski destination becomes a golfer’s paradise in the summer, with an 18-hold championship golf course with views of the mountain and holes “designed to test the golfer’s ability and placement.” Feeling competitive? Then enter one of the golf tournaments at Ragged this summer.

Route 104, Ragged Mountain Road, Danbury
603-768-3600
www.raggedmountainresort.com

Sunset Hill House

At Sunset Hill House, named “Editor’s Choice” by Yankee Magazine, play golf at the state’s longest operating 9-hole course, explore the trails and spot moose or deer, take a dip in the heated mountainside pool and have “New Hampshire’s Very Best Spectacular Meal,” raves New Hampshire Magazine, in the dining room.

Sunset Hill Road, Sugar Hill
603-823-5522
www.sunsethillhouse.com

Waterville Valley Resort

Guests at Waterville Valley won’t run out of things to do, from golf, tennis, chairlift rides, mountain biking, skateboarding, boating, swimming and even indoor ice skating. Summertime here also offers live concerts and day camp for kids and teens ages 4 to 16.

1 Ski Area Rd., Waterville Valley
800-GO-VALLEY
www.waterville.com

Wildcat Mountain

Take in the gorgeous views of the Tuckerman Ravine and Mount Washington on Wildcat’s ZipRider and the gondola skyride. Play alpine disk golf at the new 9-hole course, fish in a pond stocked with trout, have a picnic, see the Thompson Brook Falls or walk along the Appalachian Trail.

Route 16, Pinkham Notch
603-466-3326 or 888-SKI-WILD
www.skiwildcat.com

CORK, Ireland — It’s summer in Ireland (or what constitutes summer in Ireland) and it has roused our irrepressible instinct for superstition. For all our desire to become one of the smart economies, we are still ultra superstitious. We flail about the streets to avoid stepping on cracks or under ladders. The sight of a flock of magpies triggers frantic bouts of counting (one for sorrow, two for joy, and so on). Umbrellas left open indoors is an antecedent to hysteria. We don’t even talk about shattered mirrors.

Having recently rolled through the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, our minds are now secretly ticking forward to July 15: St. Swithin’s Day. We know nothing about this Swithin character except that if it rains on the date named in his honor, we are, essentially, fooked. The saying goes that if it rains on St. Swithin’s Day, we’re doomed to another 40 days of rain. Weather is a serious matter to Irish people and it occupies a space of utter mysticism in our minds. We all know the kind of monsoon event that Irish summers can be and we believe, deep down, that low pressure and all its symptoms are the result of some portentous force having a laugh at our expense. Be honest, you blame Rihanna for summer 2007. I know I do. Swithin’s Day looms as large on our horizon as Budget Day, and every fine day between now and then will be ruthlessly enjoyed.

About a month ago the country was overcome with a week’s worth of sunshine. Boyfriend and I stared at Evelyn Cusack’s smiling face as she waved her arm over the multitude of cartoon suns that hovered across the map of Ireland. That was all it took.

A few photons of light energy breaking through the clouds set in motion a form of migration to rival that of the Antarctic penguins and the red crabs of Christmas Island.

It is a phenomenon that we all participate in. Tartan-patterned flasks that have been passed from one attic to another for generations are unearthed and dusted off. Bread is buttered, filled, and foiled. Wardrobes are plundered in search of swimwear that has not been worn for years. Rugs and towels are rolled up. Cars are loaded as though in preparation for the apocalypse. And then, following a comprehensive check-list, there is a hemorrhaging of people from our urban centers to our blue-flag coastlines. For me, it was Garretstown in west Cork, but the routine is the same everywhere.

The second the handbrake is yanked, you stumble from the car, ninja-stripping across the car park in a frantic clamber for your own square of sand. It is as though you have discovered and claimed el mundo nuevo. You drop your cooler box, your backpacks, your rugs, your newspaper—everything except the bucket and spade that you secretly, desperately, wanted to bring but couldn’t. Now that you have cordoned off your own zone, you begin the process of factoring up. It’s not really that you’re pale in that cool Scandinavian way and you want to preserve it. In fact, you’re more… grey in that malnourished Irish way, but you still can’t ignore the internal “you’ll get skin cancer” caveat that your parents barked at you as a kid. And anyway, nothing says summer quite like the scent of UVA protection and a stranger’s second-hand cigarette smoke (which is inescapable on blustery Irish beaches).

You sit down on to your rug with all the grace of a subsiding structure and wait out the obligatory 30 minutes for your skin to absorb the sun cream. To pass the time, you whip out the newspaper. Supplements, crosswords, and Sudokus were invented for just such an event. There is no free wifi here. No means for your devices. This is a time for the wholesome art of reading, of informing yourself on national and international issues that you feign to understand, and for some slightly academic entertainment.

You open the first page and the whole thing lifts like a kite into the air. From that moment, you engage in a ferocious wrestling competition with your broadsheet publication (tabloids are less susceptible to breezes, and in any case, are no great loss). You haul its wilting pages back and pin it down to the rug with your body. This is an improvement but it still does not permit page turning and the sand is now blowing into your eyes. You content yourself with the cover page even though you read that part in the car on the journey over. You glimpse the upper right corners of subsequent pages, grasping a word here or there, headers, page numbers. Fascinating stuff. You stick at it mindlessly for a while until you estimate that you are, probably, UVA’d.

Buoyed by the warmth of the sun, you rise to your feet and march towards the water. It could be childhood memories or it could be sunstroke, but either way you have shrugged off those adolescent insecurities that once had you creeping awkwardly, surreptitiously to water’s edge. You know you are not perfect. No amount of recessionary jogging, Junior C championship training, or mechanical erosion has been able to shift that stubborn cellulite. Your legs are bruised and potholed after last week’s league encounter with that beast of a corner-back, but you don’t care. Your blindingly white skin is crying out for vitamin D, having been deprived of it for the best part of a decade. The water is inexplicably appealing, as though its salty tang is calling to the fish buried deep in your evolved genes. However, this is as far as the allure goes.

Your body nearly spasms when it laps coldly around your ankles and it takes every fiber of muscle to swallow back a whimper. You lurch forward a step or two, perhaps even hallucinate icebergs on the horizon. The gentle swell of water that washes a little further up your legs towards your knees is confirmation. That’s deep enough thanks. This is the Atlantic Ocean after all and I think I’ve been brave enough for one day. You retreat quickly, stumble back to the rug, and grab a towel to stave off frostbite. You might engage in some very athletic bat-ball, flinging yourself lithely across the unforgiving terrain, grunting with the effort and the feel of those sea-shells biting into your feet. After some competitive rallying and your body temperature now normalizing, the time comes to plunder the cooler box.

Those ham sandwiches, naturally salted with some rogue sand, are ever so tasty after your exploits at sea. The rice crispie cakes too. It all goes down a treat with some tea from a tartan patterned flask. You tackle the dog-eared edge of your side of the rug, weigh it down with a nice stone-formation, and lie back. You sling Boyfriend’s t-shirt over your face as reprieve from the glare of the sun and nod off for a short while, twitching softly at the occasional nose-diving fly. It is 19 degrees Celsius, which is pretty perfect for our delicate Irish blood. Any lower and you’ll be reaching for the fleece you bought for 20 cent in Penney’s; higher, you might actually pass out.

You rest your eyes for an hour or so, then gather up your belongings and trudge back to the car. Your hair is suitably wind-swept. You have a salt line on your shins and sand between your toes. You feel the right amount of plantar fasciitis underfoot — just enough to know you have spent the day in flip-flops.

It was, perhaps, not the success you had hoped for, yet you leave with the proof of the coast in your bones. You join the queue of traffic and begin the slow process of transfusing the cities again. Tomorrow you might need to wear a scarf and come July 15, you may need to purchase a boat, but today was as good as any. Yes, the summer is here.

Rihanna's bright red 'do makes a statement. (Media Credit/J. Strauss, WireImage)

There’s a hot new look for the hottest season: red hair. Although just two percent of the population are said to be natural redheads, one look at the TV and the latest magazine covers proves that many more want to be!

Some celebrities, such as Rihanna and Paramore’s Haley Williams, are choosing very bright “look at me!” shades of red that add extra oomph to their larger-than-life rock star attitudes. More recently, we’ve also seen “Gossip Girl’s” Blake Lively and aptly-named Scarlett Johansson take on subtler red shades in preparation for upcoming roles. Natural blonde Drew Barrymore also recently went red.

Yahoo.com reports that many of the most recognizable fiery-haired celebrities are not natural redheads, citing Lucille Ball, “Mad Men’s” Christina Hendricks, “Sex and the City’s” Cynthia Nixon, and “Will & Grace’s” Debra Messing; they’ve all been faking it for years, and many of us couldn’t picture them in any other shade. Blast spoke with in-home beautician Arielle Ferguson from Salem, Mass., for tips on how the everyday woman can successfully pull off the trend.

Blake Lively looks sultry and smokin' hot with red hair. (Media Credit/Mazur, WireImage)

First, consider your skin tone. “If you have a golden tone, try a deep auburn red to make you hair really stand out,” says Ferguson.  “An olive complexion works well with a darker shade like a burgundy. If you have a pale skin tone, stay away from bright reds, instead opting for a coppery shade.”

Different hair colors will absorb the red tint differently, so it’s best to ask your stylist how to get your desired look. For instance, naturally lighter hair may turn orange if handled aggressively, and naturally darker shades may first need to be chemically lightened to achieve the right look.

Ferguson advises, “Bring pictures of the color you want to help your stylist get a sense of what you’re looking for in terms of the brightness or intensity of the color.”

If you have to do it at home, start with a semi-permanent shade until you’re sure you’ve gotten it right; red is the hardest color to apply and hardest to remove, celebrity stylist Tracey Cunningham told Yahoo.com. You should also use a shampoo and conditioner formulated to preserve your color and prevent fading. Root touch-ups will likely need to be done every several weeks, but lighter shades may need the entire head recolored every couple of months, Cunningham adds.

Drew Barrymore's dark locks are sophisticated. (Media Credit/David Livingston, WireImage)

So what makeup goes with your new shade and what color clothes should you wear?  ”Try earthy colors on your eyes,” says Ferguson. “Or, for a nighttime look, use red lipstick to make your mouth pop and swipe a brown or black liner on your eyes.”

Beauty and fashion advice website Greatest Look suggests avoiding purples or pinks in your wardrobe that can clash with your hair, but it’s a matter of personal preference. If you really love a clashing color, Greatest Look suggests accessorizing in that color or simply wearing it as far away from your face as possible. Green also offsets red in the color wheel, so search for a shade of green that works; the lighter your hair, the lighter the green in your clothing should be. Knowing your color “season” can also point you in the right direction.

But when it comes to red hair, the most important accessory is you! Work your confidence to show off your bold new look, because blondes don’t have all the fun anymore!

In distracting us from the loss of our regular season favorites, summer television in the past has usually been seen as a filler; Mediocre material with a short lifespan. This summer appears to be peeling that label off of its forehead with several great shows pouring in from an array of networks. USA’s Suits is undoubtedly going to be one of the forerunners in this movement.

The show stands on a leg of its own being not exactly a legal drama but not always a comedy either. Its characters fall in the USA “characters welcome” line, housing the personality, confidence, and charm that we suspect from the network and pulling through with an extra air of whit and vulnerability.

Suits follows the newly formed partnership of successful, and rightfully arrogant Harvey Spector (Gabriel Macht) and the genius Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) who accidentally drops himself into Harvey’s office while on the run from the police with a brief case of weed.

What first seems like an unlikely pairing proves to be a hilariously clever meeting of the minds. Harvey and Mike are a duo sent from the banter gods to fill our summers with the perfect combination of arrogance, quick-whit, heart, and bromance.

If there is anything that is equally as awesome as the charming actors Suits can brag, it’s the women who support them. Harvey’s boss Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) is fierce and snappy. She provides the perfect give and take that Harvey needs and is a definite compliment to his snark. Meghan Markle is also no exception to the confidence we already have in this show and its talent. Her character, Rachel Zane, is the well-written, beautiful, smart, give the guys a run for their money, paralegal that every good law firm, and television show should have.

The show takes an initial storyline that may not be entirely realistic and fills it with characters and situations that are surely true to life. We hear Mike call his grandmother “grammy” and discover that the reality of the show doesn’t come from the genius who never went to law school stepping into a thousand dollar suit, but from the attorney who might actually care about people, and his junior associate who just doesn’t want to let himself or his grandmother down.

We could say that we only hope that Suits will follow through with the promise that the premiere packed but we are, in fact, sure that it will. It is impossible for the characters –their storylines as well as their chemistry- to go anywhere but up.

The itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny bikini is keeping its place in backs of closets and bottoms of drawers this summer season as the 1950s Hollywood glamor becomes the style investment. The full-coverage, high-waisted, "sturdier" bathing suit is a must have as this year’s top beach look. It democratizes beauty, looking chic and flirty on any body type or any woman.

The flattering fifties silhouette encompasses high-waisted bottoms, skirted-briefs or halter neck types, or as one-pieces, which are great to accentuate the length of legs. Body types that are heavy about the waist and thighs should go with simpler styles, rather than giddy frills or lace, while those who are shorter should co with high-leg cut styles.

This season, designs are mad for fifties inspired designs, such as classical polka-dots or gingham prints in reds, blacks or whites. Ruffles, frills and fringes in subtle touches are coquettish and add to the feminine hour-glass form the bathing suits emphasize.

But the style is wide-ranging: from simply cut and demure, to single block bold colors, or delicate prints. The Marilyn Monroe look is catching eyes and starting trends because gone are the days when women felt the need to look sexy in something skimpy. Women today are sexy; and they are savvy, too. They are jet-setting, company-owning, ambitious and fearless. Why attract with skin, when smarts are just as alluring? The figure of the fifties-style bathing suit is a stunning and powerful statement, while the prints, the details, the embellishments (and of course, a smile), add only charm.

The retro look may be a throw-back to your mother or grandmother’s beach bunny days, but this season’s twists and turns on the style have it completely updated for the modern-day Gidget. All she needs is a set of pearls around her neck and a bottle of sunscreen.

Students in fashion design schools around the Boston area are already ahead of everyone else in catching onto this trend. From MassArt, come three graduating seniors: Janet Khuu, Alex Palmisanoa, and Rain Delisle.

Janet Khuu

Janet Khuu describes the fifties-style bathing suits as "cute, fun, form-fitting." She constructed the bathing suit over a series of days, taking inspirations from Lolita. The red and lime-green apple-print dress is a lower-cut leg one-piece, with frills at the bottom, a large bow tied across the front. She was attracted to the close-fitting and full-coverage style because of her own personal philosophy of mixing and matching.

Currently at MassArt, the future for Khuu is unclear, "but I don want to sell my designs and someday own my own boutique," she said. Her muses include anime, Asian and British-punk fashions from designers like Anne Sui, h.Naoto, Vivienee Westwood, and Rei Kawakubo (who she would someday like to work with).

In her own designs, Khuu utilizes a lot of cottons, wools, and lace, again, mixing and matching and just having "fun with it."

Her answer to how she finds the fashion industry? "Busy, but not as bad as people make it to be."

Alex Palmisanoa

Alex Palmisanoa tends to like the more retro-looking. Her favorite models include celebrities like Gwen Stefani or Marilyn Monroe types who have the classic blonde bombshell beauty. So the Hollywood glamour look which is hitting the beaches this summer was a perfect match for this designer’s style.

"The shapes and colors are really cute and just a lot of fun," Palmisanoa described the current trend. "It can be a flattering look for a lot of women, as a lot of us are on the curvy side. I also think that women like to bring a little fantasy into their lives."

The bathing suit is a red and black one-piece with leopard print accents (a print which is popular this season, especially over in Europe). "I thought the colors and the leopard pattern would be great for a more vixen-looking pin up," the designer said.

The bathing suit took two to three weeks of construction. Lining up the color-blocking became a challenge for Palmisanoa because "the smallest mistake could really interfere with its symmetry." The bust area also took the most construction as Palmisanoa tried to place where the bra cups would lie and how to shape the neckline correctly.

In her usual fashion designs, Palmisanoa is attracted to denim and wools because of their versatility, drawing much of her inspiration from fine art and historical costumes. She has interned in several Boston-area costume shops, including the Boston Ballet, CostumeWorks, Inc., Plimoth Plantation, as well as working as an assistant for the production of Voyeurs de Venus at the BCA, TJX, and Elie Tahari in New York.

Rain Delisle

"It’s titled When I was your age…" designer Rain Delisle said, describing her 50s-inspired bathing suit, "Because I want it to feel like a memory from the past by a woman who still lives today, but is made for a modern woman."

The wine and gold lycra suit has a detachable skirt "which makes it feel a little more modern," and is worn with a hand-dyed, vintage lace cover-up.

The piece took a week of construction: from original design to fabric shopping to finished product. It was inspired by fifties nostalgia, but also of the retrospective of women then and where they are now. The pin-up style initially got Delisle interested in fashion when she was younger. "The pin-up woman is fearless and totally comfortable with herself. She expresses herself through fashion," the designer said, "and isn’t that the kind of woman any designer would want to dress?"

The style is coming back, because in Delisle’s opinion, it has a sense of playfulness and humor that has been lacking in the fashion industry lately. The retro-style bathing suit uses a variety of rusching, paneling, and longer lines with lower-cut legs to be universally flattering. It’s an easy adoptable look to fit as a key in any wardrobe.

In her own fashions, Delisle is attracted to voluminous shapes, curved lines, asymmetrical closures, pattern-mixing, and brass hardware. She’s attracted to fabrics like thin wale corduroy and playing with the directions of stripes, plaids and cotton velveteen. Denims and twills make for heavier-weight fabrics, but Delisle also likes to use leather if it is recycled from another garment.

She draws from muses like photographs of bands and women from the sixties and seventies. "Everyone had such a definite sense of personal style then," the designer noted, especially in menswear.

Reconstruction and recycling is also motivates the designer, who likes to take new twists on vintage-inspired ideas. "I like to take something old and irrelevant and change it to make it new and relevant again. I think that’s an important factor in design today."

Fashion and music are huge to Delisle, who loves designers like Postlapsaria, Stormcloud brings Rainbows and I’m Your Present (who do handmade and recycled/upcylced pieces), Walter Van Beirendonk, Christian Joy and musicians from the Gorillaz to Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head to the Velvet Underground.

She had interned with Christian Joy last summer in Brooklyn, making stage costumes for Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. "Seeing Karen performing on stage wearing what you worked on and saw in the process of being designed and handmade was the most indescribable and rewarding experience." The intern is what led her to be interested in independent fashion and one-of-the-kind, handmade clothing. She wants to combine her first two loves: music and fashion, together, dressing musicians and performers.

Sammi Yang

For Lasell College fashion designer, Sammi Yang, the fifties-cut bathing exudes elegance and class. As she mentioned, "delicate details are particularly what attracts when I’m designing." She typically uses chiffon and cotton fabric, fragile laces and beads, and classic, cute buttons.

Yang did not always think she would be a designer, although she always dreamed of doing something in the fashion industry. "I didn’t realize that I like designing and creating fashion until I set foot in Lasell."

Yang is originally from China and may go back when she graduates in four years. "Shanghai is said to be the most fashionable city in China. Most fashion brands are scoped out there."

To create the fifties-styled swimsuit, she created the pattern baised on the Maillot sloper. She spent only two days making the tailored black and white suit with gold button detail "because my schedule is really tight!"

She channeled inspiration from Vera Wang and the classic little black dress, as well as the fifties idea of detachable straps. "I think the fifties pin-up style is very sexy and classic style in my eyes." She envisioned, "the pin-up vintage girl in some caf© in a 1950′s movie," much in tune with icons like Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face or Jean-Luc Godard.

In Yang’s opinion, the bathing suit shape accentuates the body to show their curves in a more flattering light. More and more designers chose this style, Yang points out, because it fits the more natural and normal shapely body instead of an idealistically skinny one.

"Fashion is attitude and class," Yang said, "so I think the style will come back."

Ah, summertime: refreshing cocktails, days at the beach, s’mores over a campfire…and hair so frizzy it looks like you’ve been electrocuted? Let’s face it: we wait all year for this season, but it isn’t without its own beauty woes. And these days, who has the money to spend on fancy products? The good news: you don’t need Angelina Jolie’s bank account, hair stylist or dermatologist to be gorgeous this summer. We’re spilling the dirt on beauty steals you didn’t even know you already had. Blast is sharing some alternate uses for products already in your cabinet, and the best news? They work!

• Is the hot weather giving you greasy hair? Are you camping and unable to shower? Forget shelling out the big bucks on trendy dry shampoos; some baby powder or cornstarch works just fine. Just sprinkle a little on your roots, leave it there for a couple of minutes to soak up the oil, rub it out with your fingers and voila!
• Is the humidity turning your hair into a frizzy mess? Have no fear,‚  just head to your kitchen. Rub a few drops of olive oil together in your hands and lightly pat onto dry or damp hair. If your hair tends to be greasy, apply it to the ends of your hair only to smooth any split ends. It may sound gross, but mayonnaise also works wonders on dry, frizzy hair. Apply a small amount of it as you would conditioner, cover your head with a shower cap and leave it on for up to 30 minutes, rinse it out and then shampoo. Or try mixing 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1 quart of water and pour it through your hair in the shower in lieu of your regular conditioner, then rinse it out. Do this once a week. Depending on your hair length and your preference, you may have to experiment with the ratio. Another super easy and totally free fix is to simply end your shower with a quick rinse of cool water, which will seal the hairs’ cuticles and leave your mane smooth, shiny and manageable.
• Summer’s heat and humidity can wreak havoc on acne-prone skin. But there’s no need to shell out lots of dough on expensive skincare products or subject your skin to harsh chemicals, perfumes, dyes and preservatives. There are a plethora of homemade skincare options – so many that we couldn’t list them all. But don’t worry, we chose from some of our favorites. Do you have oatmeal and baking soda in your pantry? Grind 2 teaspoons of oatmeal (a coffee grinder will work just fine), mix it with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and slowly add water to make a paste. Gently rub the paste onto your face and rinse well. Or raid your medicine cabinet and take out some aspirin, which is a natural source of salicylic acid, a popular ingredient in acne products. Crush 3-5 tablets (un-coated plain white pills) and mix the powder with water to form a paste. Gently rub the paste onto your skin and leave it on until dry. Now rinse and enjoy your new smooth skin. Feeling a little adventurous? Add a couple squirts of honey to the aspirin powder and then add the water to form a paste. After cleansing, always splash your face with cold water to close the pores.
• Does your skin get super oily in the summer? Try a homemade toner. You’ll have to experiment with the recipe, but start off with 2/3 part water to 1/3 part apple cider vinegar (ACV). If your skin can handle it, eventually move up to a 50/50 concoction. We recommend using distilled or filtered water. Shake the mix well, soak a cotton ball with it, and apply it to the face each night after cleansing. ACV is packed with vitamins and minerals and is, among many things, known to help regulate oil production. If you’ve got some tea tree oil or want to shell out some bucks to buy some, add a few drops to the toner for an added bacteria-killing benefit. Warning: this toner does not smell good. But if you want clear, radiant skin, get over it!
• Make sure your legs are bikini ready by exfoliating for a closer shave, a more even tan and fewer ingrown hairs. The aspirin mask mentioned above does wonders at sloughing off dead skin and eradicating those pesky ingrowns. Great alternatives to store-bought body scrubs (can you believe Fresh sells one made with brown sugar for $65?!) are ridiculously simple. Mix 1 cup of granulated sugar or brown sugar and 1/2 cup of oil – any vegetable oil will do. Sea salt and Epsom salts are wonderful at exfoliating the skin, and can be used all over the body; just mix 1/2 cup of the salts with 1/2 cup of vegetable, olive, or baby oil, or simply scrub your skin with some salts mixed with a little water.
• Got dry legs? Exfoliate them, of course! Also, try using hair conditioner as a substitute for shaving cream.
• Hot summer days equal embarrassing sweat and odor. Forget expensive “clinical strength” antiperspirants that contain aluminum (yuck!) and stick to the basics: Rubbing baking soda or cornstarch onto dry armpits should do the trick. If sweaty, stinky feet are a problem, brew a strong batch of black tea, let it cool, and soak your feet in it for 20-30 minutes. The pore-closing tannins in black tea will solve your problem. Or take Cosmopolitan magazine’s advice and do this routine every night for two weeks: soak a cloth in some strong black tea, allow it to cool, and put it on each armpit for five minutes. If excess sweating has caused some BO and your deodorant just isn’t cutting it, soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to your armpits. Don’t worry, the vinegary smell will disappear within a few minutes.
• Spent too long sunbathing and now you’re paying for it with a sunburn? Don’t distress! As long as your burn isn’t blistering or oozing, try some of these remedies. Apply a cloth soaked in apple cider vinegar to the affected areas, and then apply a moisturizer, preferably one containing aloe and/or vitamin e, since ACV is drying. Add Epsom salts or oatmeal to your bathwater and relax. Soak a cloth in a mixture of warm (not hot!) water and dissolved baking soda and apply it to your skin. Got a cucumber? It’s not just for salads and soothing your eyes; rub your skin with its cool slices. This one is strange, but it works: soak a cloth in cool milk and apply it to your skin, leaving it on for about 20 minutes, then rinse. Plain yogurt can also do wonders. Apply it to the burn, leave it on for about 10 minutes and rinse with cool water. Another, less strange, solution is to make some tea (any kind will do), drink it, relax and apply the cooled tea bags to your burn.
• It’s no mystery that chlorine wreaks havoc on your hair. But why spend money on clarifying shampoo when you can use what you already have? Once again apple cider vinegar earns a gold star: rinse your hair with it in the shower to remove product and chemical build-up. Baking soda also offers a solution: mix 1 tablespoon or so of it with your shampoo in your hand, suds as usual, leave it on for a few minutes, rinse and enjoy chlorine-free locks. Another awesome tip? Before swimming, wet your hair and apply your conditioner to it but do not rinse it out; this will prevent the chlorine from penetrating your hair. After swimming, be sure to shampoo and condition as usual.

So, Blast readers, got your own summer beauty solutions? Comment below and help your fellow readers with cabinet-raiding, beautifying, cheap summer tips. And please, if you have adverse reactions to any of the recipes above, discontinue your use of them and see a doctor.

Summer is a sexy time of year. Literally. We’re not just talking about the skimpy clothing and glistening tanned bodies, we’re talking SEX. According to psychologist Diana Kirschner, Ph.D., author of “Love in 90 Days,” we have more sex in the summer than during any other time of the year.

Why? Because we’ve been programmed to, thanks to–wait for it–school. “We were raised in the rhythm of a school calendar for…the first 20 years of our lives,” said Kirschner, who has appeared on top TV shows including “Oprah” and “Today.” “Summertime meant party time — which means we are conditioned to relax, let loose, and have more fun in the summer, (including) sex.”

The mindset induced by this calendar doesn’t evaporate after high school or college graduation; it translates into the adult world, too. Instead of spending most of the year fretting over lame stuff like class and homework, adults get suited up and head to the office. For us, summer means sipping cold margaritas, parties on the weekends, and taking much-needed vacations to the Cape.

“As summer approaches,” said Kirschner. “people begin to relax and (go to the) beach and pool parties. People are…more open. The sexy summer clothes come on. More flesh is exposed, and this is…seductive.”

For adults who are overworked and stressed out, summer vacations not only provide a much-needed escape, but more time for sex. And for parents who haven’t had time alone together since 1995, shipping the kids off to summer camp gives them the prime opportunity to do the wild thing and make up for lost time. (Ignore the fact that you spent six summers at camp; we’re sure your parents were outside gardening most of the time.)

And just as skimpy clothes and cocktails by the pool bring a smile to your face, warm weather and sunny skies can cheer you up. Longer days pump up the amount of serotonin and dopamine in your brain, leaving you glowing with happiness and desire. What’s more, seeing the sunshine is a godsend to those afflicted with winter Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) who spend the colder, darker months depressed, anxious, lethargic, withdrawn, and, predictably, with little to zero interest in sex. Symptoms of the less-common summer SAD include poor appetite, anxiety, insomnia, and — surprise! — an increased sex drive.

But don’t get too, um, excited. We’ve got some bad news. There’s something else that rises in the summer: the rate of infidelity. So should you be worried when you catch your guy staring at that skanky girl’s cleavage or when you notice your girl eying that jerk’s rock-hard abs? Maybe. Sometimes a glance is just a glance, but it’s easy for your “other brain” to do the thinking when the world becomes a tempting candy shop and everywhere you look you see girls dressed like cheap hookers who’ll do anything you ask for a hit of crack. But we digress.

Guys, listen up. According to infidelity expert Ruth Houston, author of “Is He Cheating on You? 829 Telltale Signs,” you are the ones doing the summer cheating. After all, it’s men who are known to cheat more often than women (or at least more men than women admit to cheating when taking part in research studies). Houston explains that the different reasons why men and women cheat have a lot to do with why men are the ones committing the summer affairs. Men tend to cheat for sexual satisfaction–and hello, summertime equals horniness-inducing visual stimulation overload. Women, on the other hand, tend to cheat for emotional satisfaction, and short-term hot and sweaty summer flings just don’t cut it. But there’s one exception: Women in their early 20s and below seem to stray for the sex, too, and they’re cheating nearly as often as men, according to researchers.

But eye candy isn’t just to blame, says Houston, who explains that this hot season provides numerous prime opportunities for taken men to cheat — and get away with it. Accordingly, there are three types of men who cheat in the summer:

1. The Recreational Cheater, who sees infidelity as a summer sport.
2. The Seasonal Cheater, who is faithful throughout the year but has a fling when his wife or girlfriend is away.
3. The Opportunistic Cheater, who will cheat if the opportunity presents itself and he doesn’t fear getting caught. For example he and the guys went on a camping and OMG, he couldn’t have predicted that a group of hot twenty-somethings would camp out next to him and enjoy skinnydipping in the lake! Jackpot!

Now we at Blast are well aware that there are exceptions to every rule; we know that many of you are genuinely good guys. But some of you — and you know who you are — are sneaky bastards jumping at the chance to “go fishing with the guys.” You know what we’re getting at here. Summertime makes it easy for cheaters to lie and leave their other halves completely clueless.

“Some men plan for their summer cheating, and it’s easy for them to do because it’s difficult to be detected, and the opportunities are there,” Houston elaborates. “If he has a business trip, he’ll say, ‘You don’t want to come; there will be lots of meetings and it’ll be boring for you,’ when really there often is a lot she could do while he’s in a meeting.”

And you should be wary of business trips. Very wary, said Houston. “Lots of workplace affairs start as emotional affairs and are consummated on business trips. Everything’s on the company’s expense: the hotel, the fancy meals, the drinks. Everything falls into place.”

Is your guy insisting on sending you on the trip of a lifetime (without him, of course)? If so, it could be a red alert. There may be a reason he doesn’t want to go with you: another woman.

“A man might send his wife on her dream vacation and say, ‘Oh honey, I’ll treat you to a spa trip this summer’ or ‘I know you’ve always wanted to go to Paris.’ What wife is going to say no?” Conversely, when young women have summer flings, Houston explained, they are usually spontaneous and are often when she’s on a trip with the girls. There isn’t the planning.

Houston shared a couple of stories from distressed clients who learned the hard way that their men were having summer affairs. Take “Slimeball,” who told his girlfriend he was going on a rafting trip with the guys. While he was away, his girlfriend bumped into one of his best buds, who knew nothing about the “trip.” Turns out her boyfriend was the only one of the guys who left town.

Or how about “Scumbag,” who said he was going fishing with his friends. But what happened when a neighbor asked to borrow something from the shed? The embarrassed wife discovered all of his fishing gear. The kicker? The loser had the nerve to bring back some fish when he returned.

In the fall, Houston is bombarded with clients who found out about their guys’ summer affairs. And the worst part? Some men get attached to the mistress and don’t want to let the affair go when summer is over. This, Houston said, is why you shouldn’t ignore that gut feeling. “You’re taking a chance when you look the other way.”

And Houston, who is no stranger to receiving angry comments from men who read her articles, would know. Before becoming an author and infidelity expert, she was cheated on by her first husband. Now happily remarried for nearly a decade to a man who went through the same thing, she hopes that her research will help mend marriages and relationships that have been scarred by infidelity.

So what should you do if you suspect or find out that your guy is cheating in the summer? “Never confront him unless you have proof,” warned Houston. “If all of a sudden he talks about going on separate vacations and he never has before, that’s a red flag. There are resorts and cruises where the husband can fish and the wife can go to the spa, and there are activities for the kids. You can all get away and do whatever you want. If he says, ‘I need to get away.’ Well you can all get away together. If he says he’s going to your vacation house and you suspect something, pop in and see how he reacts.

“If something is odd, just be alert,” she said. “Don’t go around peeking and sneaking, but be aware. You know your man’s behavior, and if he’s doing something out of character, then be alert, don’t just look the other way. Not every summer affair ends after summer. And if he gets away with it, he’ll try next year, or continue the affair throughout the year, and that’s a situation you don’t want to get yourself into.”

So the moral of the story? Make sure you shave your legs and buy your condoms because it’s summertime, which means it’s sex time. And please, don’t be a statistic: if you’re attached, keep it in your pants — unless you’re with your sweetie, then you can whip it out!

First the rain, then the humidity. The summer has not been good enough to enjoy the great outdoors, and it hasn’t been a great summer to enjoy Boston’s restaurants outside. With better weather finally arriving, your chance to try a menu that will even have you eating peas, and loving it, is here too, courtesy of the Radius Restaurant Group.

The folks at Radius and Via Matta restaurants — co-owned by Boston’s successful restaurant business trio: Chef Michael Schlow, Christopher Myers and Esti Parsons — created special dishes that include the little green and round veggie. However, the chefs knew exactly how to serve it so that nobody would throw fits over eating this legume.

The Swordfish with fresh beans, cippolini agro dolce and pea greens, served at lunch only at Via Matta, 79 Park Plaza, is unique and delicious. The fish is grilled with fresh rosemary, thyme and chili flakes, while the fresh, green beans and yellow wax beans, with cippolini are roasted with sherry vinegar and honey. The mixture of bitter and sweet plays very well with the fish without overwhelming the palette. As if the dish were not good enough already, visitors take pleasure in knowing that the pea greens are a locally grown product from Eva’s Garden in Dartmouth, Mass.

If you’re looking for dinner, Radius’ Spring Dug Parsnip Soup is the dish to try. The parsnips for the soup are peeled and cooked down in milk with just a touch of butter and a sachet of thyme and black peppercorns. Afterwards this is pureed and seasoned with salt and a little sherry vinegar.

There is a warm salad in the bowl consisting of blanched English peas and a dice of roasted parsnip dressed with champagne vinegar and chives. Under the salad is a nest of Eva’s Garden pea greens and on top of these are crispy parsnips that are julienned and fried. In the bowl there is also s quenelle of English pea ice cream. The parsnip soup is poured over ingredients in bowl tableside. The presentation, and the taste, will impress you equally.

The ideas for such dishes come from Matthew Audette, Radius’ chef de cuisine, who provides delicious, high-spirited and inventive cuisine. Audette has appreciated food since childhood, growing up in Douglas, where butchering Thanksgiving turkeys was a family tradition. Raised on a farm, with produce grown and eaten fresh everyday, the chef never entered a grocery store until he was into his teens. His degree from Johnson and Wales, together with an appreciation for organic, fresh, ingredients made Audette into a skilled chef.

All-together a local chef, using local ingredients, makes for a great local restaurant menu. Make sure you get a reservation and also remember to try both restaurants for cocktail hour. Both places have a high-end atmosphere and affordable drink lists. Visit www.radiusrestaurant.com or www.viamattarestaurant.com for more details and contact information.

There is nothing more synonymous with summer than cookouts, barbecues and outdoor grilling. Call it what you will, but it is an American staple of summertime socialization and entertainment. From summer’s kickoff on Memorial Day Weekend to it’s sad farewell with Labor Day Weekend, families and friends meet and party around barbecues. Award-winning and best-selling cookbook author Julie Biuso’s new effort “Sizzle, sensational barbecue food,” is sure to become this summer’s guide to flavor and innovative barbecue.

Biuso,‚ ‚ a native from New Zealand, got‚ ”Sizzle” published in the U.S.‚ ‚ in April 2008 and‚ ‚ it was named the “best barbecue book in the history of the awards,” by the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. From the very first paragraphs of the Introduction it is easy to see why. ‚ Readers are thrown into reminiscences of childhood Auckland picnics and the bold grilling flavors of New Zealand. This cookbook is filled with simple, yet creative, recipes to fit any grilling desires; from seafood and poultry to delicious fruit combinations for a well-rounded meal.

The book is broken down into various sections‚ beginning‚ with, what else, Beginnings. The appetizers and other small plates listed are the perfect way to start any meal. From Zucchini & corn fritters (p.15) to Bruschetta with chick pea pate & sugared tomatoes (p.26) each dish has a thorough and simple instruction guide and ingredient list. Additionally, beneath each recipe name there is a great tip regarding the dish, offering different options to the home cook based on flavor preference or giving a helpful hint on a cooking method.

One great example is the Seared scallops with chili pepper dressing (p.31). “Cutting a criss-cross patter on the scallops makes them open much like blooming flowers, letting them absorb more dressing as they cook, but this step is optional.” These little cheat sheet-type blurbs are a great teaching tool for home cooks to implement while grilling recipes from Sizzle, not to mention in all of their future cooking endeavors.

On to the Main Events dishes. Seared lamb with cumin rub (p.39) is a wonderful homage to Middle Eastern flavors and cooking techniques. Additionally, on the same page there is a recipe for a simple beet salad made refreshing thanks to lemon juice and finely grated lemon zest. There are numerous dishes utilizing the flavors from the Middle East, along with Italy and Southeast Asia. Sticky chicken satay (p.54) is a play on a Thai favorite and seasoned with fresh ginger, lemon juice, runny honey, coriander and black pepper. With a comprehensive ingredient list for each recipe there isn’t one meal a home cook could find intimidating. Burgers, steaks, various sandwiches, such as the Eggplant toasties (p.52), round out the Main Events section with enough variety in flavor and proteins to suit any palette.

There is a separate Seafood section with flavorful offerings including Coconut fish cakes (p.80) and Whole fish with cilantro (p.82). But what really caught my attention was the Sides section beginning on p.90. I have to say, sides definitely can make or break any great barbecue adventure, and the choices here are endless. Colin’s breakfast tomatoes (p.92) are a wonderful way to utilize your grill in a manner you would never have thought of. Simply grilling vine-ripened large tomato halves seasoned with superfine granulated sugar, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper along with fresh basil, thyme and some butter, makes for a tasty and unique side serving.

Sizzle boasts many more sections including Salads, Sauces & Salsas, and Sweet Endings. Making this cookbook the perfect go-to manual for simple but flavorful and exotic grilling options for this summer. Along with a Barbecue Know-How section in the back of the books and step-by-step instructions, Biuso’s latest is a delicious foray into New Zealand grilling.

In every season what is seemingly old becomes new again. ‚ However for Spring 2009, this is especially true.‚  As if designers anticipated the hard times ahead, the clothes seem to have regressed to times of the American cultural stimulus.‚  The Regan-esque working woman silhouette of the 1980′s has returned with a more structured modern fitting.‚  Even day-glo, splatter painting, acid wash, and ruffled blouses have made multiple appearances by an array of designers. ‚ We’re in a fashion era of true sobriety where clothes seem to have lost that air of fantasy, and purpose is of the most importance.‚ 

This spring is a season of contrasts that reflect the change taking place within our nation.‚  Designs range from organic and flowy to rigid and architectural, romantic to athletic, wild and patterned, to chic color-blocked and sensible. ‚ Some fashion houses have even gone green. ‚ Designers such as Marc Jacobs and Betsey Johnson are not only just downsizing their shows and events this season due to the declining economic climate, but are also incorporating eco-conscious prints and material.‚ 

Patterns and textures are slowly gravitating back towards our truest roots.‚  Some designs focusing on tribal prints, animal patterns, and colors both vivid and natural.‚  Materials include organic cottons created using fair priced foreign labor. ‚ Altogether, trends this spring are challenging and exciting, but don’t fret, always feel the confidence to try anything at least once.‚  Invest in affordable pieces at stores such as H&M, J. Crew and Banana Republic.‚  When you think spring trends, don’t shy away,and ‚ in the words of Obama say, “Yes we can!”

Let’s break this down slow and steady, top to bottom, so that no one is to be left behind. We can start simple with the dresses of spring, which, in this season, come in all shapes and sizes. ‚ Designers play with geometry and fun new patterns.‚  Polka dots, stripes, checks or crisscross details run rampant through the collections of Oscar De La Renta, Philip Lim and Michael Kor, among others. ‚ The shift dress is always classic, however if you try out some strong futuristic cuts, via Calvin Klein, you are sure to be ahead of the fashion curve, for these looks are daring and not for any commoner.‚ 

Usually in the spring seasons we see an array of florals, lace, ruffles, and bows; all things bright, sparkly, young and pretty. ‚ Well, designers have shied away from the predictable use of these accents and kept the bows and flowers grounded to adorn your feet. A contrasting image is seen in this season’s trend for outerwear too.

Whether it is fitted, bulky, oversized, structured, military or draped, futuristic fits and sculpted sleeves are all the rage.‚  Several years ago the soldier style jackets were back in action, now thanks to designers such as Alexander McQueen, whose ode to her royal highness weighed heavy in every collection, they’re back with young punky twists.‚  Think metallic’s, beading and lots and lots of sequins.‚  If you want to stay on trend without breaking the bank, stick to fitted preppy cut jackets that can be dressed up or down with the properly added accessories.‚  Jackets can be paired with blouses. Whether they have ruffled details, are loose and draped, made out of transparent silks or are covered in ethnic prints, this wardrobe staple will soften any look.

For accessories, everything from bags to shoes comes in an array of metals, studs, fringe, leather, raffia, silk, jewels, crystals and even the always classic, stripper lucite. ‚ If you’re investing in one bag this season, make it a clutch, what do you need to lug around all summer anyway?‚  Lip-gloss, keys, cell-phone and you’re good to go. ‚ 

Unlike most fashion this season, the shoes are less than practical.‚  The fabulous creations of Dior, Prada, Gucci, YSL and far too many more to name, mix all sorts of metals, animal skins and small adornments that will leave you in awe.‚  However, the click-clacking down the Nina Ricci runway was even wilder than something Dr. Suess could imagine, so ladies, please don’t go there.‚  In sticking to sensible, salacious footwear, think of strappy sky-high wedges and stilettos.‚  Nine West has made some especially affordable and sensuous sling-backs that will sexify any outfit.‚  Hopefully we won’t see the models teetering off the runway as an omen for the state of the economy.‚  Happy spring cleaning and deal hunting ladies.

With everyone from Anne Hathaway to Eva Longoria, it seems that hair buns are the latest look to be gracing the fashion runways for summer and fall. Celebrities and runway models are sporting their buns everywhere, and not necessarily the ones made of steel.

Our pal Nick Penna, Jr. of SalonCapri, told us this is a versatile look that can be dressed up or down. He told Blast the steps to realizing this hot-off-the styling chair look. Go ahead and get cooking.

Penna explained that the key to mastering this look is to create a well-defined part. “I’d suggest a side part to draw more attention to your face. A part in the middle of your hair can sometimes appear too harsh, depending on the shape of your face,” the “Best of Boston” stylist said. Use a lightweight styling pomade or texturizer to smooth the hair along your part and create a sleek finish.

To achieve a wavier look like Reese Witherspoon’s for example, skip on the styling pomade and wait until the look is complete to use a finishing spray. Penna suggests Shu Uemura’s Liquid Fabric Texturizing Spray as an easy-to-manage product.

Sweep your hair back into a low ponytail and secure it with an elastic that best matches your hair color. This should be a tight ponytail and it should be securely fastened at the base of your neck. With a firm grip, pull the end of the ponytail clockwise around the elastic, making sure to smooth the hair as it is being wrapped.

After the circular shape of the bun has been created, begin to pin the loose ends with bobby pins. Secure as necessary. “You want your bun to feel secure and cleanly wrapped without flyaways and extra strands of hair sticking out,” added Penna.

To finish the style, use a flexible finishing spray. Don’t be afraid to spray the bun, part and sides of your hair to ensure a sleek look. If you’re aiming for a messier approach, use your fingers to further add texture to your waves and then finish by spraying. If you add sexy smokey eyes you are ready to sport the do with sexy heals and a classy dress. ‚ With innocent light makeup and pink lips you can wear the colorful spring palettes seen in a lot of runways this season to take over the arm weather.

When we hear of a miracle diet pill that will promise to make us look like Heidi Klum by summer, we buy it. We also, no doubt, failed miserably at achieving those results! Why? Because nobody can look like Heidi Klum, unless, you’re Heidi Klum.

Well one small town smarty has come up with the next best thing to fighting the fat before summer, and it has nothing to do with fad diets and harsh diet pills. Casey Kurutz, of New Castle, Pa., and founder of SlimPerfect has created swimwear and active wear (that can conveniently be used as both) that I have deemed this year’s “Slim-suit.”

So how does one woman come to change the swimsuit nightmares we all have and turn them into a dream come true?

Kurutz bathing suit dreams came to life in 2007 when she told her family she was going to design a new swimsuit and active-wear line. She had struggled enough with pool-side anxiety, and decided to do something about it. “I could not find any swimwear on the market that flattered my figure and made me feel as confident as I did in other areas of my life,” says Kurutz. “My family was skeptical at first until they saw the line in person but they knew there was a need for what I was creating.”

With two young children and another full time business that she runs, you wouldn’t think that in one year’s time she would be on her feet and selling swimsuits, but she is.

So here’s the skinny on SlimPerfect’s slimming collection of swimwear. They have skirts, skorts, bikini tops, dresses, sleeved dresses, tankinis, sleeved tankinis and capris. That was a mouth full. I think many women will feel empowered knowing they can go out and participate in activities they once felt self conscience doing, like playing with their kids at the beach or pool. We all have body flaws, and SlimPerfect seems to have a solution for all of them. Just mix and match the pieces that suit you.

SlimPerfect’s swim and active wear promises to provide great coverage including tummy, thigh and buttock tamers, sleeved pieces and removable molded gel-filled bra cups (great for those who feel a little cheated in the chest.)

Kurutz has also thought of something most swimwear companies haven’t even considered, women who have had mastectomies. With removable molded gel-filled bra cups, you can remove the side that you don’t need or replace it with your own prosthesis. Talk about “awareness” of an issue that is truly stressful for a woman.

Some of the suits also have sewn-in pockets that are great for keys, phones, or even the baby’s binky. How many times have you been hanging out at the sandbar and lost the keys to the boat? Perfect solution here.

All pieces can be worn as swimwear or active-wear with sizes ranging from 8 – 18. And even more thrilling to hear, they are made in the USA.‚ Kurutz‚ really did think of everything.

We all deserve to stop having pity parties when we really should be enjoying the warm weather months with friends and family. Besides that, ‚ a‚ slim-suit‚ sounds much better than a swimsuit so go ahead and check one out.

“Donkey,” the sophomore album by Brazilian critical darlings CSS, kicks off with the line, “Oh my God, it’s so hot.”

It’s a fitting observation, since “Donkey,” which was released on July 25th,  is a quintessential summer record. Judging from their music, life for the members of CSS is a nonstop party. But what else would you expect from a group hailing from Sao Paulo, where the average winter temperature is 71 degrees? “Donkey” transports the listener into their world, even if it is for just 40 minutes.

In 11 concise tracks, with none surpassing the four-minute mark, the album provides the ideal soundtrack for a day at the beach, backyard barbecue, or any number of summer activities that involve dancing, drinking and overall indulgence. There’s nary a ballad in sight, and mononymous 24-year-old lead singer Lovefoxxx (nee Luisa Matsushita) gleefully chants lyrics like, “I’m gonna jump onto the table / And dance my ass off ‘til I die.”

Those sentiments and others come courtesy of bassist/vocalist Adrian Cintra, the band’s sole male member and chief songwriter, who also produced “Donkey.” (The other three members are keyboardists/guitarists Ana Rezende dos Anjos, Carolina Parra and Luiza Sa).

CSS has gained a steady international following thanks to its widely-hailed debut, and performances with artists including Gwen Stefani and Ladytron. Casual U.S. listeners may be familiar with the band thanks to the song “Music is My Hot, Hot Sex,” which was featured in an iPod Touch ad last year (but may be mistakenly thought of by some as being titled “Music is My Boyfriend”).

Their acronym stands for “Cansei de Ser Sexy,” which means “Tired of Being Sexy” in Portuguese. (The band borrowed their name from a phrase Beyonce once allegedly used to describe herself.)

Lovefoxxx, a pop icon in Europe and South America who is engaged to Simon Taylor-Davis of the group Klaxons, sings all the songs on “Donkey” in her non-native English. But her Portuguese accent adds a special flavor to lines like “Kiss you in the photo booth / Duct tape you in my roof.”

Opener “Jager Yoga” includes delightfully nonsensical phrases like “Desperate Living, Hairspray / Baltimore with Tanqueray / Live your life John Waters’ way.” “Let’s Reggae All Night” makes it hard to resist the urge to do just that, as Lovefoxxx suggests, “If you are my friend, we can drink in the afternoon / That’s cool.” Even on the more serious “Rat is Dead (Rage),” the band’s having much more fun than should be allowed on a song about an abusive relationship.

On the “I Love the ‘80s” sounding “Move,” complete with syncopated hand claps, Lovefoxxx repeats, “You’d better get your move on.” It’s an invitation that, throughout “Donkey,” is impossible to ignore.

West Bridgewater, Mass.,-based metrostyle has released some of the upcoming bathing suit trends for summer, 2008.

Tankinis, which were so huge last year, are still popular, while geometric shapes and mix-and-match skirt or brief bottoms are looking popular this season.

Halters and swim dresses are popular. Halters get rid of some of your back tan lines, while the dresses offer a more modest approach.

metrostyle has a lot of high-cut bottoms that they’re showing off. I don’t think this trend will hold up. It gives a high tan line that’s above the waist and gives younger women an aged look. It’s not very flattering, but it’s gaining popularity among some women.

Our friends at Ujena are coming out with some sexy halters, especially their belted leopard bikini ($79) and a startlingly sexy ruffled polka dot thong set ($69).

Metallics are also looking to have a big year — shiny silver and gold will dazzle with the beach sun.

Bikinis are hot; there’s no way around it. This year, the bikini is going to take over the beaches, the pools and the runways.

The first thing to get is a bikini that’s full of vibrant color. No one will be able to miss you, even if you’re off at a distance.

To pump up the sex appeal, add animal print and you have the start of a fire. The prints are fun, and they really add that animal attraction into the mix. To send your look into temperatures that rival the sun’s, add a to-die-for cut.

Many of the suits for this season have plunging neck lines, cute clasps, belts and other details that will make everyone turn and look at you. When you step out of the building in which you got dressed, the walls will talk about how hot you made the room. The boy cut bottom is the most popular for the season, but the thong is still holding on.

I would be remiss if I didn’t give you the necessary facts for proper bathing suit selection.

A good bathing suit should be lined. If you really plan on getting wet, make sure that the material is not so thin that you show all too well what the bathing suit is supposed to cover. Light colors are more likely to reveal your goods when they’re soaked.

The right cut and fit are more important than anything. If the bottom is sagging, and you’ve got a grandma butt, there is nothing that you can do to fix it (you may also lose it if you get in the water anyway). Getting a cut that’s sexy is fine, but just make sure that falling out of the top is not in your future.

If water or activity is in the future for your suit, get something that is secure. Sexy is nice, but if the suit comes off before you’re ready, it will be very embarrassing. There are several products that are available to make clothing more secure–like bikini tape–but they are not guaranteed. Make sure that you and your suit are sure.

Having more than one bathing suit is always a good choice. Something that’s good for the water may not be your first choice to lay around in. The truth is, being prepared and being aware of your options are truly the keys to always looking your best.

Tankinis are worth taking a look at if you’re really getting into the water and exposing yourself to the weather and the sun. Protect yourself; if something unexpected happens, your suit will be a little more substantive and can protect you just a little more.

The tankinis are really hot this year, as well. They emit a more sophisticated look than a bikini does, but it’s still sexy. This is a great choice if you are staying at a hotel that may be work-related. You’ll want to enjoy the pool, but want to keep it somewhat professional. This is the perfect option.

So this season, think about what you really plan to use that suit for, and make a wise choice that will not leave you embarrassed and naked. Happy Sunning!