AirTran has Wi-Fi and Internetiquette

As of today, AirTran has Wi-Fi on its entire fleet. Now you can do a little shopping, catch up on emails, update your Facebook page and tweet to your hearts content while cruising above the clouds.

AirTran also released its guide to Internetiquette: "A guide to keeping everyone in line while they're on line." We give AirTran kudos for thinking ahead of the curve and possibly helping us avoid uncomfortable situations. For example: the bathroom is not your personal conference room; know what's in your photo gallery (family photos yes, Vegas pictures, no); and flight attendants are not tech support.

Happy surfing in the skies!

Harry Potter and Unicorn Tapestries

Yes, we were one of those crazy people who waited in line for hours last night to catch the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. What excited us the most, however, was not the Quidditch Game, the fight scene at the end or even our fellow Harry Potter-acs who dressed up in costume for the show (our favorite was an elfin Dobby). No, for us, it was what appeared to be a replica of the Unicorn in Captivity tapestry hanging in the halls of Hogwarts.



What's so special about this tapestry? The real one hangs in the Cloisters, the branch of the Metroplitan Museum in northern Manhattan that also happens to be our next door neighbor. The one shown in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is the final of seven tapestries that displays the hunt and eventual capture of the unicorn. According to the New Yorker, the unicorn was a symbol of Christianity, immortality, wisdom, lovers and marriage. It adds an interesting layer to this film in particular, which (and we don't think we're spoiling anything here, since almost everyone has read the book) culminates with the murder of Dumbeldore.

If you ever make the trek to the Cloisters, call us! We'll meet you for a picnic after.

Help Legalize Cachaca

We learned a lot about booze over the weekend in New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail--sometimes more than we cared to, but that's a story for another day. We were more than happy to be educated about the plight of Cachaca, the key ingredient of one of our favorite cocktails, the caipirinha.

Turns out, Cachaca is forced to label itself, "Brazilian Rum", even though it has been around longer than rum. Read the official statement below:

In 1744, the Portuguese Crown declared that the production, distribution, and sale of Cachaça, Brazil’s noble spirit, would be illegal in the Portuguese Colony of Brazil. Fortunately for us all, the Brazilians rebelled and the virtues of Cachaça won.

Here we are 265 years later, and Brazil’s noble spirit, Cachaça, is still being tortured. Cachaça was invented nearly five hundred years ago in Brazil, in the early 1500’s, 100 years before its Caribbean cousin, Rum. In many countries, such as here in the United States, Cachaça is recognized officially as Brazilian Rum. Not Cachaça. This we do not understand, as Cachaça is not Rum. Cachaça is made from Fresh Cane Juice and Cachaça can only come from Brazil. As the Third Most Consumed Spirit, in the world, and the key ingredient to Brazil’s National Cocktail, the Caipirinha, we believe Cachaça deserves to be recognized as just that: Cachaça, and not Brazilian Rum.



Cachaca supporters have been staging "protests" around the country, like the one shown above from New Orleans on Saturday. This protest involved a jazz band and free shots of Cachaca, making it easy to get behind the cause.

While we missed June 12, International Legalize Cachaca Day, there's still time to sign the Legalize Cachaca petition.

Review DDF Advanced Protocol With Turmeric

We've been testing out the new DDF Advanced Protocol with Tumeric for two weeks now. While it's too early to see any anti-aging results, we can tell you we already HEART the DDF Advanced Micro-Exfoliation Cleanser. It leaves our skin feeling truly clean and fresh, without drying it out. In addition to turmeric, which the entire line features and is clinically proven to firm and tighten skin, the cleanser contains rice bran for exfoliation. And unlike other exfoliating products we've tried, this one doesn't irritate our skin or leave us flaky. It's especially wonderful to use after a hot, humid day to wash away all the grime.

All the products in the line do have a slight turmeric scent--it's more medicinal than anything else. On top of which, it's a huge improvement over the yeast-y smell of our other favorite skincare line, so it doesn't bother us in the least. At $46, the DDF Advanced Micro-Exfoliation Cleanser is a little pricey, but you don't need a toner after you use it.

Available at Sephora.

Summer Book Club: Seven Daughters Winemaker's Blends

We wish we had come up with Seven Daughters' motto "Who says sophistication can't be fun?" before they did; because that's what we're all about! This relatively new vintner from Northern California blends seven different grapes for both its white and red varieties. What caught our attention is their push to promote a girls' night in. Yes, we're more likely to write about a good night out; but we spend just as much time with our girlfriends at home over a good bottle of red.

Visit the Seven Daughters website, www.7daughters.com, for ideas on starting a book club, selecting books and themes for book series, and for finding out more about the Seven Daughters' story.

We're partial to the Seven Daughters Red Winemaker's Blend which combines Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, Carignane, and Sangiovese. Sure we would drink one of these wines individually; but they've done a good job of blending them to showcase each great character. We shared a bottle and a lot of laughs with our sis-in-law when she was in town last week.

Both the Red and White Seven Daughters Winemaker's Blends are $14.99 and available at wine shops and restaurants nationwide. Visit Seven Daughters to find a retailer near you.

Lingerie: MySkins Nude Lingerie

Whether you're wearing black, white or a bright print, we think nude is the best shade for your undergarments. While we do wear black bras regularly, it's been years since we've worn a white bra; most days you'll find us in nude.

MySkins is a new line of nude lingerie which comes in 20 different shades to match practically any woman's skin tone.

We tested their system ourselves and are very pleased with the outcome. MySkins will send you a skin tone chart, which we opted for; or you can print a chart from your computer. Next you find the closest shade to match your skin. We were #17 Almond. Once you find your tone, you can order one of their three bras from their website. Ours is the t-shirt bra: one piece of molded, seamless material from the cups, to the straps, to the back. Check out the picture below where you can see how the seamless sides prevent lumps and bumps made by tight elastic. The hidden underwire gives good support and comfort. We've worn the bra for a couple of weeks and it's held up well through the many washings.


MySkins also offers three different panties, in the same shades and seamless material. We have no less than five pairs of white jeans in our closet that we rotate constantly throughout the summer. Great fitting nude panties are a must to avoid awful panty lines and muffin tops.


You can find MySkins on line, www.myskins.com. The bras are $48 and the panties are $12.

Privé Concept Vert Rejuvenating Pure Shampoo and Conditioner

I bought Privé's new Rejuvenating Pure Shampoo and Conditioner after my Keratin treatment in May. My stylist recommended the Privé products because their ingredients are organic and paraben and sulfate free and therefore better for your hair especially if it's processed. The packaging is environmentally friendly, made from recycled materials, and cleverly designed. The bottles are half as big as competitors because the contents are under pressure and dispensed as a foam: 40 uses per bottle which is the size of an average can of mousse. When the bottles are empty you can return them to your salon to be refilled and recycled.

The shampoo and conditioner smell great and the shampoo does a competent job of cleaning my hair of all those products with only one wash. The conditioner is light and doesn't weigh my hair down. Given that my hair is dry I prefer a deeper conditioner and have been using a weekly hair masque in addition to the Concept Vert. One word of warning, even if you have long hair like mine, don't be tempted to use too much shampoo or conditioner at time. Only a quarter size amount of foam is necessary as it grows and foams up much more than my regular products.

I would recommend the Privé Concept Vert Rejuvenating Pure Shampoo and Conditioner to any of my friends that love quality products, lean green (as we all should) or have had color or other treatments to the their hair. You can find Privé at salons or learn more on line at www.priveproducts.com. The shampoo is $28 and the conditioner is $30.