A Bicycle Built For....

These steamy days of summer make us long for those carefree hours as kids where we just rode our bikes all over town with only the strict instructions to mind our manners and be back home when the lights came on.

There are a few bikes out there helping us reclaim that sentiment, and we recommend hopping aboard and taking a spin, by yourself or with the kids.  Coast and feel the wind in your hair - and don't forget to stop at the local budding entrepreneur's lemonade stand.

The Torker is a fabulously functional take on the grown-up tricycle.  You're not winning the Tour de France for sure on this one, but it's a great (and eco-friendly) way to make it to the beach and back with all your gear, and never turn the ignition.

Channel a little Flower Power with Nirve's Sunflower Cruiser:

Ride down to the local ice cream stand on this one from Chubby's Cruisers - you pretty much have to order the Mint Chip.

And we LOVE that Lilly has launched a bike.  Add a basket to the front and you are ready for a spin around the Vineyard or Nantucket.  Toodle-loo!

Dad's Day Roundup

Father's Day has snuck up on me this year.  You too?  I for one marvel at the accomplishments, generosity and spirit of the two dads in my life, my father and my husband.  Here are a few LM ways to show them the love.

The best things in life can't be bought.  It's also a reality that sometimes even the most wildly organized among us fail to produce a winning gift in time for the big day.  In this case, we suggest the beloved voucher.  Consider it your husband's get-out-of-jail-free card to sleep late, play golf, fish, ride or do whatever makes him smile.  Please note, you cannot grimace, moan, or make any other derogatory gesture when he actually redeems it.

For needlepoint belts that won't require you to sew a stitch, look no further than Tucker Blair.

If seersucker and bourbon make you swoon, Southern Proper captures the endless charm of the well-tailored gentleman.  The Hound Dog Gent Tie and the Trout Beau Tie caught my eye.  Don't take my word for it.  Check out the entire collection to see what suits daddy dear.

And now for my absolute favorite shopping spot for men, Vineyard Vines.  How adorable are these margarita-themed swim trunks?  If your guy won't do pink (mine won't.....boo hoo!), they also come in blue.

This year I opted to encourage my husband's new-found interest in grilling since our move to the burbs.  Naturally (and quite selfishly) I am vitally invested in nurturing this hobby.  To get the grill on, turn to Williams-Sonoma Gifts for the Griller.  By the way, I waddled my very pregnant self to the store to try every single one of the BBQ Sauces and they were all amazing!

If your goal is to make dad cry, look no further than Snapfish, Shutterfly, or one of the host of other online photo sites.  These websites make it turn-key to create a sweet memory book of the year--pictures of dads with children, grandchildren.  Their reaction makes the time investment worth every minute.  I'm no techie and it took me about two hours.

With x's and o's and a Happy Father's Day!

Run Baby Run

A Guest Posting from one of our favorite Lipstick Money Ladies, Tara Cameron, a great runner, mom, friend, and fabulous all-around lady!

Memorial Day marks the beginning of Summer, glorious Summer.  With sunnier days upon us, it is so fun to head outside to get some exercise.  Running outdoors is my most favorite thing to do, but I also love swimming in an outdoor pool or the ocean, playing tennis or lacrosse with my kids or horseback riding.

All of these fun outdoor activities require physical preparation so we can stay healthy and uninjured!

Here are just a few things to remember as you head outside for some cardio:


1.  Stretch, stretch, stretch - before and after you exercise.  Our bodies need to get warmed up and stretched in order to prevent sudden strains or injury.  Try a FOAM roller, if you haven't already.  They are excellent for stretching and releasing any built up lactic acid in your muscles.  You can buy one for $18 at Power Systems.

2.  Hydrate.  You need more than your daily 8 glasses of water in the summer heat.  Drink water before and after outdoor activity.  Flavor it with a single dose of the new Crystal Light Pure line or Iced Tea if you get bored with the taste.  Gatorade and Propel are decent options but have chemicals and additives, so if you can, stick with ice cold H2O!

3.  Take a daily supplement.  I like Metagenics Wellness Essentials for Women.  They come in a 30-day supply of daily "AM" and "PM" doses.  It is a comprehensive vitamin and can be purchased through a nutritionist, chiropractor or doctor - as well as some places online.

4.  Buy some jolly workout clothes to motivate you!  I like the Nike running skorts because they are feminine yet sporty.  The Nike tennis skorts come in a variety of jazzy colors - such as this one.  They also have some new running shorts with compression shorts built in that look fun yet functional.  Of course Lululemon and Athleta have cute workout gear as well.

5.  If it is too hot to go outside, try out the TRX system (core suspension straps).  These straps are excellent for their versatility as you can do a variety of workouts with them.  Focus on stabilizing your core while challenging every muscle group to build stronger, leaner muscles.  You can find them at TRX Training.  A set of dumbells are another great multifunctional tool to build core and joint stability - start off with 3-pound hand dumbells.  You can find some great simple routines at Self Magazine's site.

6.  If you do get injured or need some medical attention, seek out an Active Release Therapy practitioner in your area.  ART providers utilize highly developed skills and anatomical knowledge, in conjunction with symptom patterns and functional testing, to locate scar tissue on and in between muscles and nerves.  A precise hand or thumb contact is applied to the problem area and the patient is directed to move the region of the body through a specific range of motion.  I have had a recurring tendonitis and IT band pain and my ART doctor used a variety of modalities to eliminate my knee and IT band pain.  These include: a hands-on contact to break up any scar tissue, lasers to reduce edema in the knee area and chiropractic adjustments to ensure my running gait was proper, to prevent further injury.  It worked for me after 8 visits and most insurance policies cover this type of physical therapy.  (Be sure to see your doctor though as this isn't medical advice - just one running girl's experience!).

Have fun and enjoy a great summer!!  xoxox

Clutch One

In our humble opinion, the clutch deserves a little more love.  By day it provides a go-to refuge in whatever enormous bag you likely tote.  Then it seamlessly slips into evening attire once the sun goes down.  Here are a few we adore that won't break the bank.

The Jackson Clutch by Kage is beyond groovy.  If you're in the mood for something discreet opt for the white snakeskin version, and if you want to shout it out, checkout this sparkle.  Either one can be monogrammed.

DVF has done it again with these kicky bags in a range of materials from woven rattan to snakeskin embossed with animal prints.  The gold coral clasp seals the deal.

First spotted at this year's Edgewood Fair, Sarah Oliver handbags are hand-knit by a gaggle of retirees knows as the "Purlette's."  If the word "knit bag" conjures up images of some arts-and-crafts experiment gone awry, think again.  These bags are chic!  The brooches are removable so buy an extra brooch or add your own.

And because you know we're suckers for all things pink, we had to include the Eugenie courtesy of Marc Jacobs.  It screams summer fun.

Feel like a burst of sunshine while carrying this stunner from Kate Spade.  The lemon drop yellow is beyond happy and the pineapple topper makes us crave fruity cocktails.

Happy Mother's Day

"Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever."
~ Anonymous

Thanks to our wonderful moms who are always close at heart.  To all you moms out there, keep up the good work.  It's not in vain.  Happy Mother's Day!

xo The Lipstick Ladies

Monogram Me

At Lipstick Money, you know we have a thing for monograms.  We've made mention of it in many a post, so we thought we'd share some of our favorite monogrammed items.  We'd love it if you'd share some of yours!

Lipstick Shades - (hey great name) has fab iPhone covers, custom cutting boards, and super fun melamine plates.  Monogrammed daily happiness - we're crazy for things that put sunshine into the day, no matter the weather outside.

Queen Bea Studios makes delicious bags - both the straw handbags she's known for, as well as some useful and stylish totes.  We adore the new ones this season made of sturdy canvas with fun seatbelt handles that come in a myriad of colors and monogram choices.

Classic with a twist - monogram your own Polo shirt, handsome on the kids as well (and your other half - although perhaps not all at once unless it's team croquet).

It's all your own footwear with personalized sandals from Stephen Bonanno at the Pink Monogram.  Go out on a limb and choose some bright contrasts for the base and whippet trim for summer.

Have a cocktail at the beach in style with a Tervis Tumbler - also a great gift.

And don't forget to pass it on to the next generation with the must-have diaper cover set:

Delicious Read

It can be beyond tough to come up with a fresh and inspiring gift idea.  Tastebook to the rescue.  If you haven't yet tuned into Tastebook, it's a fabulous website that makes it easy to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind cookbooks, perfect for Mother's Day, showers, or family reunions.  You get to be the author, editor and designer, selecting the recipes, photography and cover.  Add your own favorite recipes or choose from the over 100,000 recipes from the top chefs, cookbook authors and some of the best recipe websites:  from the New York Times, Cooking Light and Food & Wine, to Epicurious, the Mayo Clinic and many more.  Now through April 5th, Tastebook is offering 25% off on orders of $30 or more.  Enter save25 at checkout.  They also have a great recipe app - perfect for deciding what to feed your family while you're on the go.

Bon Appetit!

TASTEBOOK