Girl Talk

After a chilly spring and a cool early summer, the heat has finally kicked into high gear around here. It’s been 90 degrees and humid for days now. That’s pretty hot for us Yankees up in Michigan. That means I’ve been spending a lot of time in the pool with my son, and a lot of [...]

Girl Talk, aka DJ and remixer Greg Gillis, is one of my favorite musical artists. His remixes of chart topping hits are the ultimate in running music. Feed The Animals (2008) is the latest album, which had its web release just a couple weeks ago. Listening helped me make it through my first distance run [...]

Isso mesmo: 300 músicas, ou ao menos parte delas em um cd com 14 faixas.Impossível?Não para o "Girl Talk".E a melhor parte da notícia? Fazendo a linha "Nine Inch Nails" e "Radiohead" você paga o quanto quiser e somente se quiser pagar para baixar esse preciosíssimo álbum, que é o segundo trabalho de Gregg Gillis.Feed the Animals é uma grande mistura, um meshup com o melhor da música. Vai

Yesterday, I watched a lecture on music from Evelyn Glennie, a world renowned deaf percussionist. In it, she talks about listening to what is NOT in the music she is reading in front of her. Rather than simply playing back that which is in front of her, she separates the technician from the interpreter. It’s difficult [...]

Ariella Cushion Ring $48.00 Available at: nordstrom.comThe time has come to banish drab and dreary colors to the back of the closet. It's summertime and that means the time is right to brighten up your wardrobe with candy colors. With choices that rival the fabulous 64-color Crayola box of our childhood, summer's palette can be overwhelming. So, what is the color of summer? I asked the Stiletto

Girl Talk, where are you taking us? First you promise us a pay-what-you-want Feed The Animals LP sometime this summer on Illegal Art, next you’re putting out your vinyl on Wham City and turning your MySpace page into its own private cult, with a new track that compliments the close encounters/apocalyptic motif: your insignia burning [...]

If beauty products are the icing on the cake, must-have beauty tools are the flour in the cake batter. You know, the stuff that holds it all together. So what beauty tools are makeup bag must-haves? Here's what the Stiletto Jungle girls had to say: Tweezerman Petite Tweezer Set $25.00 Available at: sephora.com"As I browsed tweezers at Sephora recently, I noticed that they cost much more (

If beauty products are the icing on the cake, must-have beauty tools are the flour in the cake batter. You know, the stuff that holds it all together. So what beauty tools are makeup bag must-haves? Here's what the Stiletto Jungle girls had to say: Tweezerman Petite Tweezer Set $25.00 Available at: sephora.com"As I browsed tweezers at Sephora recently, I noticed that they cost much more (

I am the first one to engage in girl talk, but I am also the first one to walk away from gossip. I hate it. So what's the difference?Girl talk is when you are talking with friends and the content stays there. The purpose of girl talk can be sharing, venting, or clarifying.Gossip is talking about someone else's business. The intent is usually malicious. It's usually half truths or lies because that

With the warm weather comes fun, flirty wardrobe options. Spare tanks; sporty tube tops; sultry strapless dresses. The options are fabulous, but the mechanics can get a little tricky. For all but the most boyish figures, these fashion choices require sporting the dreaded strapless bra. Few underpinnings inspire negative feelings like the strapless bra. Strapless bras slip, or bind, or twist. I

AminoGenesis Tripeptinon Capsules $71.10 (was $79-- save 10%!) Available at: amazon.comThe worst part of getting older? That's easy: watching your face head for the floor. Sagging, wrinkling, and gobs of loose skin. Really, there's tons of fun to be had. Wouldn't it be nice if there really was such a thing as a face lift in a bottle? Fat chance. But there are many new products on the market

True Religion "Bobby" Cutoff Short $172.00 Available at: nordstrom.comWith warm weather comes an age old fashion question: is it ok for a fashionista to wear shorts in public? Let me clarify. We're not talking about to the gym or on your family fun day at Disneyland. We're talking about lunch with the girls, cocktails with the cool kids, shopping in the boutique-y part of town, or even to work.

China Glaze Nail Polish $6.00 - $6.50 Available at: amazon.comToday may have been a little chillier than I would like, but this past weekend definitely made a statement: spring is here. Well, at least here in California. And, with warm weather comes the desire-- no, the need-- to get your pretty little toes in tip top shape. If you have received a pedicure anytime in, say, the last 15 years,

Have I ever mentioned that I love Kristen Bell? No, really, I do. Check out this fun video between her and Kristin V (now Dos Santos) from E! I love it. If you wanna comment on the video, make sure to do it over at Kristin’s E! post.

Songwriter CriStyle and Chilli I had the opportunity to meet up with Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas at Signature Sound Studios in Atlanta the other day and we had a very interesting conversation about relationships. As you may know, her new record “Dumb Dumb Dumb” leaked online the other day, so of course I had to find out [...]

Clean & Clear In-Shower Facial $6.99 Available at: drugstore.com I've always thought that getting regular facials would be one of the best luxuries. Not only is it a thoroughly refreshing experience, your face glows for weeks afterwards. But, with a million priorities competing for our hard earned dollars, it's hard to justify throwing down up to a couple hundred dollars per facial on a regular

One of my favorite parts about covering the shopping scene is giving a little publicity to some of the truly standout new designers. Now, I have to admit, we don't cover indie designers often. There's a reason for that: I have no interest in indulging mediocre talent. But, I can be persuaded to give a newbie a chance. That's exactly what happened with Elizabeth Anderson, a new jewelry designer.

Cotton Short Trenchcoat $148.00 Available at: bananarepublic.comSpring has sprung and that means it's time to start thinking about those must-have items that will be gracing your closet when the heat is really on. Sure, the fashion glossies are all about fisherman sandals perched on mile-high heels, super bright colors, and painterly prints, but what will real-world fashionistas be rocking this

Dreaming Tommy Hilfiger 1.7oz.$45.00Available at: boscovs.comIt seems like there is a new fragrance hitting the shelves every other week. Trying to figure out which new scents are actually worth the effort of a test run could practically be a full-time job. Who has time for that? Well, we can't try every fragrance for you, but you can cross one new scent off of your pre-investigation list. We turned three members of the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk Panel loose with the brand new Dreaming Tommy Hilfiger fragrance and scented lotion, and asked them to come back a week later with their honest opinion of this new scent. The new Dreaming Tommy Hilfiger is a feminine scent featuring notes of Peach, Freesia, Tuberose, White Hibiscus, White Woods, and Orris (which is derived from the Iris plant). So

Era il 2002, e questo era il primo singolo del CD 3D, che rappresentò uno dei momenti più tragici della musica, visto che prima del completamento dell’album morì in un tragico incidente... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

It has been one of the sweetest and most unexpected blessings of my life that my parents and maternal grandmother now live in the same city I do. My parents moved here this past summer, and my grandmother, widowed for several years, moved in the fall. We all live within...

Lancome "Modele Sourcils"Brow Groomer$21.00Available at: nordstrom.comIf there is one facial feature that can completely transform your look, it's the brows. Even if you haven't yet experienced it for yourself, you know its true. I bet you've even seen it in action. Maybe on the pages of Allure? Or perhaps on What Not To Wear? Carmindy is famous for her WNTW brow makeovers. So, have you become a master of your own brows?Eager to see what a few real world women think about the prospect of brow grooming and enhancement, I asked the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel to spill their daily brow enhancement routine. From minimalist, to maximum impact, here's how they get their brows on."I absolutely love filling in my brows. I used to think it was a pain, but then I learned how to do it from a frie

Commandos Multi-Pack$10.00Available at: gocommandos.comPop quiz: what's the quickest way to ruin a fabulous look? I nominate the dreaded VPL. Yes, visible panty line has sent many a look plummeting head long into disaster-ville. And, just when you think you have VPL conquered, here comes the thong line. You know, that tell-tale ridge that runs from mid-butt to lower hip, letting the world know you are sporting a thong. What's a girl to do?In an effort to eliminate VPL once and for all, I called upon the intrepid fashionistas of the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel to dish their secrets for banishing visible panty line. So ladies, um, VPL anyone?Very Sexy V-String$18.00Available at: victoriassecret.com"Ugh the panty line – it ruins a hot look in a split second," says 23-year-old Jules, a S

Venus Clothing & SwimwearSure, we wax poetic about $1000 handbags and $400 shoes, but Stiletto Jungle girls love finding fab fashions at reasonable prices just as much as the next person. I'm always on the lookout for a new source of stylish, yet affordable, clothes. But, when well-known swimwear purveyor Venus approached me with news of their newest line of clothing, I was actually kind of perplexed. I've known about Venus swimsuits for a while, but never knew they did clothes as well. I couldn't help but wonder, what kind of clothing could a company known for swimwear really turn out? Perhaps sensing my disbelief, the people behind Venus's newest line of clothing offered to let our Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel give their goods a test drive. Armed with nothing more than the address for the Venus online store, the Girl Talk panel set out to shop, select, and try out Venus clothing. The results?Babydoll Print Top$29.00 (was $39-- save 26%!)Available at: venus.com"I feel that

Ahh, there's nothing like winter weather to get you feeling all scaly and dry. Add a love of tanning-- whether it be traditional, bed, or sunless-- to the mix and you are just asking for nasty, flaky skin. Every woman I know is searching for the next big thing in moisturizers right now, and ladies who love to tan are searching at a double frantic pace. When I heard about Sun Sauce-- the latest venture from the same super popular tanning lotion maker responsible for Hoss Sauce, Rebel Sun, and Outlaw Tanning-- I was instantly interested.Sun Sauce makes three lines of products: Skin Care, Sunless Tanning, and Tanning. All Sun Sauce products are infused with a proprietary blend of Monoi Oil and Kukui Nut Oil, plus moisturizing Shea Butter, Sweet Almond Oil and Jojoba Oil and soothing Aloe Vera, Tea Tree Oil, and Hemp Seed Oil. The goal? Deep moisture replenishing, no matter if you are a tanner, a sunless tanner, or au natural. Ready to put Sun Sauce to the test, I dished out samples of th

Pro Silk Hair CareIs it just me, or is every woman in a constant struggle for better hair? With so many hair care products to choose from, a woman could try a different product every day for the rest of her life and still not hit on the right combination of cleansing, conditioning, treating, and styling to make her hair just right. Top that off with the crazy prices some hair care lines are charging-- I spent almost $50 on a tiny tub of conditioner yesterday!-- the whole process is too much to bear. I take every chance I get to ask other women what they use on their tresses, and every chance to have the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panelists test drive new hair care products and share their thoughts with all of you.Up this week, the Pro Silk hair care line. I turned Pearl, Kim, and Tina loose with Pro Silk shampoo, conditioner, serum, and straightening combs and asked them to come back with the details of their Pro Silk test drive."The Pro Silk products were pretty decent," starts Pearl,

Bond No. 9Andy Warhol Silver Factory$230.00Available at: saks.comTis the season for life's little luxuries. No better time for super upscale New York perfumerie Bond No. 9 to release their latest fragrance. December 1 marked the debut of Andy Warhol Silver Factory, the first in what will be a series of partnerships between Bond No. 9 and the Andy Warhol Foundation.Silver Factory is a scent that is not for the flower lovers among you. The scent is a blend of "incense, wood resin and syrupy seductive amber with a heart of jasmine, iris and violet and a handful of cedarwood." I think it sounds delicious. For the Pop Art lovers, the iconic bottle is inspired by Warhol's Campbell Soup Can silkscreen painting of 1965. Are you loving it already? I am. But, I wanted to call in a few second opinions. I distributed samples of this posh new perfume to the members of the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel and sent them on their way. "This was my absolute favorite and I will be wearing it my next ni

Bond No. 9Andy Warhol Silver Factory$230.00Available at: saks.comTis the season for life's little luxuries. No better time for super upscale New York perfumerie Bond No. 9 to release their latest fragrance. December 1 marked the debut of Andy Warhol Silver Factory, the first in what will be a series of partnerships between Bond No. 9 and the Andy Warhol Foundation.Silver Factory is a scent that is not for the flower lovers among you. The scent is a blend of "incense, wood resin and syrupy seductive amber with a heart of jasmine, iris and violet and a handful of cedarwood." I think it sounds delicious. For the Pop Art lovers, the iconic bottle is inspired by Warhol's Campbell Soup Can silkscreen painting of 1965. Are you loving it already? I am. But, I wanted to call in a few second opinions. I distributed samples of this posh new perfume to the members of the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel and sent them on their way. "This was my absolute favorite and I will be wearing it my next ni

Beauty and accessory gadgets I've done, but fashion gadgets? When I heard about My Hip-T, a new fashion gadget designed to both create layers without bulk and eliminate peekaboo panties when pairing tees with low-rise pants, I was intrigued. This could be interesting. A brand new category of apparel designed to solve a real problem, but with style. There really was only one thing to do. I turned to the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel to get their opinion of this hot new fashion gadget. Michelle, Pearl, and Jennifer each gave My Hip-T the full day test. Did My Hip-T sink or swim?White Hip-T$19.95Available at: myhip-t.com"I LOVED IT!" says Michelle, a 41-year-old Orange County, California, nurse. "There's no way I could ever live with out it now that I've tried it. I wore it on Thanksgiving with a very low cut pair of jeans that I love, but wouldn't have dared wear unless I was going out to a club. The My Hip-T worked great. I didn't show off any sexy thong over dinner and it seem t

Aliza Darik Shoe ClipsHere at Stiletto Jungle we get requests to do product reviews on a daily basis. I'll be the first to say that some of the products we see do not meet our high standards, and when I first heard about Aliza Darik Shoe Clips I was pretty sure they would be one of those products we pass on. When I think shoe clips, I picture those truly fug creations that kids and grandmas wore in the '80s. You know what I'm talking about: polyester satin rosettes and such. Boy, did I have Aliza Darik wrong!Aliza Darik makes what can only be characterized as couture shoe clips. Seriously gorgeous. Like jewels for your shoes. I fell in love with the pictures I saw on the Aliza Darik website and immediately agreed to give their shoe clips a try. Girl Talk panelists Kim and Tina volunteered to test drive Aliza Darik shoes clips with me. The results? Impressive.Modern Crystal Shoe Clips$46.00Available at: alizadarik.com"The shoe clips were wonderful for more than one reason," starts Ki

Every week the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel gives the straight story on their favorite beauty products. We cover it all: from conditioner to foot scrub, lip gloss to mascara, and everything in between. We've easily name dropped a hundred different beauty labels... or more. With so much beautiful water under the bridge, it was time to ask the big question. Of all the beauty labels you use, what's your number one favorite?MAC Lustreglass$14.00Available at: Nordstrom.comGiven the range of beauty brands the Girl Talk ladies have dished about, I was expecting a different fave label from each of the girls. Boy was I wrong! Seems that when it gets right down to it, only one label stands head and shoulders above the rest."I looked into my makeup drawer and realized that the most of one particular brand I have is MAC," explains Po, a 28-year-old attorney from Ceres, California. "I love their lipsticks, blush, and Belightful powder. What I like about MAC is that their products seem to be ve

Picture it. It's happy hour. You are at that little hole in the wall just downstairs from your office, brand new Kooba handbag tossed nonchalantly over your shoulder. Sure, you got it 40% off because you read Stiletto Jungle every day (hint, hint), but it still cost the better part of your entire monthly clothing budget. You are ready for your cold cocktail and free nachos. One problem: where do you put your purse?Your options are limited. Do you carry it with you, slung over your shoulder for the next three hours? Do you sit it right in the middle of the table like the prissy girl you pretend not to be? Do you sit your new handbag acquisition on the sticky floor? Nope. None of this is going to work. It's time for a new option. Meet the Purse Sitter.These simple looking hooks are designed to keep your precious handbags up off the floor and safely tucked right under the table or bar while you are out and about. No more dirty, trampled handbags. Sounds perfect! But, do these hooks do t

It's no secret that I adore the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel. These seven fabulous women take time out each and every week to spill their best fashion and beauty secrets, road test the hottest new products, and generally guide Stiletto Jungle in the right direction. No matter how busy life gets, these ladies always come through with a great Girl Talk article each and every Wednesday.Wet n Wild Lip Gloss$1.99Available at: Walgreens.comBut, sometimes life gets to be a bit much, even for our indestructible Girl Talk panel. Last week, as we were planning this today's article on lip glosses, we had no idea what this week would have in store. Our Girl Talk panel has been hard hit by the southern California fire storm, with some of our panelists being subject to mandatory evacuations and others hosting friends and family who have been evacuated. It speaks highly of the commitment of our panel that we even have a column for you this week. Much love goes out to all of our panelists as they

Frutels Gummy Vitamins$24.95Available at: frutels.comI am a firm believer that the single best thing we can do for our outside is to take really good care of our insides. In my case, my obsessive whole-grain-flax-seed-fresh-fruit-antioxident infested diet pretty much drives my entire family and most of my friends completely crazy. What can I say, I'm addicted to healthfulness.Needless to say, when I heard about a new gummy vitamin designed to nourish our insides in order to combat acne and skin blemishes on the outside, I was ready to jump on the bandwagon. The recipe for better skin in a jiffy includes a range of vitamins from C to zinc-- literally-- and nutrients such as inositol and choline. Let's be real, I'm neither doctor nor nutritionist, so I can't comment on the ingredients. The only real question left for me? Would the gummies really deliver on their promise of better skin in just two weeks? I put the test out to the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel: if you are plagued by

The cold weather is coming fast now... at least for those of us on the left coast. While the east coast is baking in above-normal fall temps, us bay area kids are bracing for our first big fall rainstorm. It's no wonder my mind has been on preparing for the inevitable winter ahead.Bonacure Mositure Conditioner$15.00Available at: CosmeticMall.comOver the past couple of weeks we've covered two of the most important cold weather skincare obstacles: relief for painfully chapped lips and moisture for itchy, dry skin. This week, we're going to round out our cold weather skincare prep with every woman's worst enemy: the bad hair day. Specifically, the dry, brittle hair that results from the evil combination of dry air, office heating systems, and random rain storms. Ick. Once again I called upon the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel to spill their winter haircare secrets."Everyone who has known me for a while knows I have very curly hair. I have been straightening it for years now and, in o

There's nothing like the changing of the seasons to remind you to take better care of your skin. During the balmy days of summer it's easy to forget how fragile our skin really is. But, sure enough, as soon as the first chill of fall comes around we remember in a hurry that we really should be pampering our precious epidermis. It's that first dry, scaly itch that clues us in to the fact that it's time to break out the super moisturizer.Philosophy Amazing Grace$34.00Available at: Nordstrom.comTruthfully, I'm still using my "summer" moisturizer. But, I know that it's nearly time to switch over to a heavy duty cream. The question is which cream to try out first. In an effort to get some skin pampering inspiration I called in the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel to share their favorite lotions and potions for keeping their skin soft and happy during the colder months. So, what say you ladies?"Sephora knows what they are doing by giving you free samples," starts Pearl, a 29-year-old LA

I'm a sucker for a cute new fashion product. When I saw the Bosom Button on the site of fellow blogette StyleBakery I fell in love. These adorable "buttons," which are really pretty little Swarovski crystals perched on pins, are designed as a fashionable way to keep low cut shirts and gaping button-down blouses from getting out of hand. If I had a bosom that in any way required assistance staying lodged within my shirt I'd snap up a Bosom Button in a hurry.Bosom Button$12.00Available at: Amazon.comSadly, my chest fits just fine in XS tops of all types. But, I still adore the idea behind Bosom Button. Determined to give the Bosom Button a try anyway, at least vicariously, I handed out Bosom Buttons to the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel's resident "va-va-voom" girls to see what they thought about my fashion find."How did you know that I was just wrestling with my uber cute silk wrap top this weekend?" asks Pearl, a 29-year-old LA-based music industry maven. "Literally, I was in a str

The funny thing about the weather here in the San Francisco bay area is that just when it really starts to feel like summer, it's fall. I'm not even kidding. It finally got up to the 80s a few weeks ago. We're expecting our first big rain storm tomorrow. So much for summer. Truthfully, I don't need a rainstorm to tell me that the seasons are changing. My body knows that the air is getting colder and drier. I can feel it in my lips.Kiehl's Lip Balm #1$5.50Available at: Nordstrom.comWithout fail, the minute the weather changes for the colder my lips become a flaky, nasty, sore, chapped mess. Ugh. I need some serious lip therapy. I know you feel me on this. Faced with the reality that winter is mere months away, I called in reinforcements to assess the lip balm preparedness situation. What balms are best for keeping your lips soft and supple all winter long? I asked the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel to weigh in on the issue. So ladies, what say you?"Now this is an easy one... the o

Bond No. 9 is the perfume of New York, known for its super upscale neighborhood-inspired scents. Saks Fifth Avenue is the heart of New York style, located smack in the middle of iconic 5th Avenue. So, what happens when the two collide? The first time ever that a specialty store has commissioned a perfumery to design a scent, that's what.This Saturday, September 1, marks the launch of Bond No. 9 Saks Fifth Avenue for Her. According to Bond No. 9, "Saks Fifth Avenue for Her signals the return of the classic gardenia eau de parfum, given a chic contemporary twist with the addition of sparkling jasmine and vetiver, along with smooth vanilla. This all-white bouquet captures the fashion-forward essence of 21st century Saks, while at the same time expressing the eclectic downtown spirit of NoHo-based Bond No. 9." Sounds heavenly, right?Bond No. 9 Saks Fifth Avenue$125.00 - $185.00Available at: SaksFifthAvenue.comHere at Stiletto Jungle, we were excited enough just to hear about this hot new

Have you ever had one of those mornings where you wake up and realize that happy hour has left your skin less than happy? It's ok. You don't need confess right here and now. I have a sneaking suspicion that many of you out there know exactly what I'm talking about. There's nothing quite like the look of hungover skin in the morning. So, what do you do when you have to fake being wide awake, alert, and totally sober when... well... you're just not?Evian Water Spray$9.00 - 16.50Available at: CosmeticMall.comAfter five years of undergrad, three years of law school, and fairly stressful legal career, I have a few tricks up my sleeve. But, the older I get, the more rabbits I have to pull out of a hat to repair what that fourth martini hath wrought. In search of new tricks before Labor Day festivities kick in, I called upon the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel to confess how they rescue their hungover skin. So, ladies, how do you fake the happy, healthy, wide awake look the morning after

This is part 2 of a 2-part Special Girl Talk series focusing on the best bras. Part one ran on Tuesday, July 31.On Tuesday we took a good long look at the best bras for daytime wear and came up with a few real winners. A great bra can certainly make your day a little more uplifting, but a great nighttime bra can change your entire outlook. You know what I'm talking about. Lifting, pushing, cleavage creating, curve enhancing. The best nighttime bras will make you feel like you just stepped out of the pages of Maxim magazine. It's for that very reason that few women will ever divulge their best evening bra tricks. Good thing I know a few fabulous fashionistas who are willing to part with their best kept secrets. So, ladies, spill it. How do you get your fabulous nighttime curves?Very Sexy 100-Way Convertible Bra$49.50 - $52.50Available at: VictoriasSecret.com"I love the Victoria's Secret Very Sexy bra," divulges Kim, a 23-year-old La Jolla, California, native with enviable curves. "It

This is part 1 of a 2-part Special Girl Talk series focusing on the best bras. Part two will run on Thursday, August 2.There are few universal truths in the world of fashion; one woman's obsession is another woman's "eh, whatever." Of the few truths that seem to survive across the spectrum of women, the eternal search for a better bra is right up there. No matter how much a woman loves her current fave bra, she's always convinced that there must be a better one available. Something that will fit just a little better, make her just a little more perky, give her just a few more curves. In the interest of finding the best of the best of bras I put out a challenge to the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk Panel: think long and hard, search your lingerie drawer, and then put your best bra forward.Calvin Klein Perfectly Fit Push-Up$39.99Available at: Figleaves.comFirst up, the best of the day bras. What's important to look for in a day bra? How about an excellent fit; a seamless look under even t

Dwelling on boy trouble, party snubs could lead to depression, study saysNEW YORK - Girls who discuss their problems extensively with friends may be at increased risk of developing depression and anxiety symptoms, a new study suggests.The study, which followed 813 children and teenagers for 6 months, found that girls who devoted much time to talking about their problems with friends were more likely to develop depression or anxiety compared with those who did not.Researchers suspect that such “co-rumination” causes some girls to dwell on fleeting problems like boy trouble and party snubs, leading to persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness or worry.On top of this, girls who spend time hashing out their problems may leave little room for positive activities that could make them feel better, according to Dr. Amanda J. Rose, an associate professor of psychological sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia.“Talking about problems in moderation definitely is healthy,” Ros

When it comes to making high heels comfortable, we're all looking for miracles. Even the most adept high heel wearing diva wishes that her heels were just a smidge more comfy at the end of the day. Needless to say, when I heard about Insolia-- the new high heel insert being billed as a modern day shoe miracle-- I was curious. Had science finally found a way to make uber high heels wearable?From bottom left: Hannah,Pearl, and Stephanie's "test"shoe picks.I had to find out for myself. And I needed reinforcements. Given that I wear an average of 2 inches of heel all day every day, I called in second and third opinion in the form of Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panelists Pearl and Hannah-- two opinionated ladies who wear heels only when absolutely necessary. We set out to give Insolia a good once over.Here are the details on Insolia. First, what it isn't. Insolia isn't a cushion or insole, it's not for flats, and it's certainly not for men's shoes. Actually, it looks kind of like a lit

To celebrate its 11th anniversary, BPM is hosting an Earth-friendly “BPM Goes Green” event on July 19 at Avalon, presented by Ford Escape Hybrid. Performances by Girl Talk (who we have been anxiously waiting for since Coachella - yay!!!), Moving Units and notable DJs Collette, Jason Bentley and others are not to be missed.To attend this free event and honor 11 years of BPM, RSVP BPMMagazine.net/BPM11Photo Cred: keenlyobserved

The skies were gray and pouring down rain as I made my way home from work this afternoon. Luckily I was listening to Girl Talk's utterly fantastic mash-up album Night Ripper to cheer me up. It then struck me that I didn't include this album in my best of 2006 posts nor have I ever posted about it. Shame on me.Most of you probably know and love this album, and if you don't, you should. On this (his third full-length) Girl Talk's Gregg Gillis takes hundreds of samples and smashes them into one another with reckless abandon. A few of the artists sampled on Night Ripper include:2 Live Crew, 2PAC, 50 Cent, 69 Boyz, Abba, Paula Abdul, Aerosmith, Amerie, Annie, Arrested Development, David Banner, Rob Base, Bel Biv Devoe, George Benson, Better Than Ezra, Beyoncé, Black Box, The Black Crowes, Black Eyed Peas, Black Rob, Black Sheep, Boredoms, Boston, Bow Wow, Boyz II Men, The Breeders, Chris Brown, James Brown, Bun B, Busta Rhymes, Calloway, Candyman, Mariah Carey, Cassidy, Chicago, C

If you saw my shower right now you'd laugh. It looks more like a beauty supply store than a functional shower. At this moment I have in rotation three body washes (Dove, Olay, Avon), two bar soaps (Dove, Clinique), three exfoliating scrubs (Hemp, Clinique, Lamisilk for the toes), and two different scrubbing apparatuses (gloves, pouf). The sad thing is that this is me on a "low supply" day-- I just moved and, consequently, reduced my inventory. When I shower, I like to have options.Olay Complete Body Wash$5.24Available at: Amazon.comWhat may surprise you about my crazy shower product fixation is that the majority of the products I stock on a regular basis are not ultra-pricey luxury goods, but fabulous drugstore finds that I don't think twice about slathering on by the pile. So, am I the only fashionista who has found true love in the drugstore body wash aisle? I called upon the trusty Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel to ditch the facade of fabulousness and dish on what they really use

Of all of the makeup and skincare goodies I use on a regular basis, the one thing I refuse to do without is my Clinique SuperDefense Moisturizer. I talk about it all of the time. I have a loyalty to this moisturizer that is beyond words. It makes my skin glow, protects me from sun damage, and visibly improves my skin texture. It's my must-have.Olay Age Defying Daily Renewal Cream$10.16Available at: Amazon.comI wondered if other women have a similar loyalty to their moisturizers, so I decided I would put the question out to the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel and see what they thought about their face lotions. But, as is often the case, the story I thought I was working on wasn't the real story at all. I was expecting the fabulous Girl Talk ladies to return with the names of all sorts of hip, trendy lotions only available in the poshest department stores and beauty emporiums. I was so wrong.I found the real story when three Girl Talk panelists who have radically different lives, and w

Ok, yeah, this was pretty much the craziest experience of my life. Sadly, I didn't have my camera at this show. I really didn't want to risk it. So, any pictures you see here are from other shows. Also, these pictures really don't do the experience any justice. As nuts as they might look, they just don't compare to the real thing. If CC or Girl Talk come to your town (or any other town anywhere near you), go. You won't regret it.From Pitchfork: Named for She-Ra's palace (and not the Atari video game), Toronto duo Crystal Castles have remixes (Klaxons, Goodbooks, Bloc Party, etc) scattered across MySpace like a field of dead soldiers. Not bad for a band who, according to an interview, formed by accident, chose a name at random, hate performing, and never practice. Last year the pair (who go by Alice and Ethin only) released a limited edition EP on Merok Records, which begins with the track "Alice Practice", a song constructed, literally, from Alice testing out the band's new m

I have recently discovered that I have a small obsession with achieving perfectly glowing skin. My makeup bag and skin care shelf are both filled to the brim with every type of self tanner, bronzer, and highlighting potion known to man. I just can't quit my quest to get the just right glow. The question is: am I alone in my quest? And, if I'm not, is there some ingenious product out there that I don't know about yet?Nars Monoi Body Glow II$59.00Available at: Beauty.comI put the question to the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel. How do you faux glow? The answers I got were mighty surprising. From no glow to a list of glow-inducing products that rivals my own in length. So, ladies, lay it on me."Umm, ok, so I'm brown already... don't think I have any need for a faux glow. I got the real thing, baby!" offers Pearl, a 29-year-old music industry diva with naturally cafe-colored skin. "I don't really use any highlighters or shimmer lotions [either], so I think I'm going to have to sit t

Secrets of the Beauty Insiders$11.97 (was $14.95-- save 25%!)Available at: Amazon.comHave you ever met one of those women who is a sucker for self-help books? Uber-obsessive. Always trying to improve upon herself. You know the type. I'm kind of like that, only my obsession is beauty and fashion manuals of all types. I've read so many that I've become completely jaded. When I got word that yet another beauty manual was headed our way, this one penned by beauty writer and fellow blogette Nada Manley, I knew I couldn't trust myself to be impartial. I love a good beauty trick like a stockbroker loves barely legal insider tips. But what about the everywoman? What would the average girl about town think about a book devoted to telling her how to make herself just a little bit more beautiful? I decided to turn over Nada's new book to the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel to see what they thought about the usefulness of this beauty how-to.Here's the lowdown on the book in question. Secrets

With hundreds of thousands of beauty products on the market, why is it that we can never find the "just right" product that we are searching for? No matter how fabulous the product, there's always something that could be improved upon to make it just right for us. The color needs to be a bit darker. The scent needs to be a touch less floral. The texture needs to be thicker. Sometimes a girl just needs to take matters into her own hands.Benefit Moonbeam$22.00Available at: Macys.comI've been re-mixing beauty products since college and after lots of experimentation I have a few product re-mixes that I swear by. A few of drops of Benefit Moonbeam highlighter (left) mixed into a quarter-sized dollop of Clinique SuperDefense SPF 25 Moisturizer creates a foundation-free glow like nothing else. Equal parts Sebastian Potion 9 hair treatment (below right) and Sebastian Laminiates Gel makes for a super-straight blowout with glassy shine. I can't live without my customized beauty products. Do o

With the "nip slip" rapidly taking over for the "crotch shot" as the paparazzi photo op du jour amongst the attention-addicted young Hollywood set, it was only a matter of time until the beauty industry caught up with our need to preserve our modesty while sporting clothing prone to wardrobe malfunctions. Enter the Nippie. This new fashion-accessory-meets-wardrobe-tool molds a mix of fabric and adheasive into a range of shapes. The purpose? To cover our important bits should our clothing decide to go the "nip slip" route and to keep us otherwise undercover when sporting shirts sans bra. Hmph. Interesting.Nippies Majorca Collection$15.00Available at: Bristols6.comI wasn't sure what to think of Nippies when they first hit the market. Would they work? Are they necessary? And, most importantly, are they really a modesty-enhancing device or just a modern-day pastie? I called in the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel, a group of modern, real-world women who aren't afraid to give their two cen

The top that gapes open at the most inopportune moment. The bra strap that just refuses to stay under your shirt where it belongs. The plunging v-neck that plunges just a fraction of an inch too far. We've all been there. It's so frustrating. It isn't like you're trying to pull off a J.Lo-esque cut-to-there Versace gown, you just want to be able to wear your fave halter top without flashing the goods. It's not too much to ask for, right?Stylin' Tape$15.00Available at: Bristols6.comAs Ms. Lopez taught us back in 2000, sometimes you need a little help to keep your fab frocks from slipping out of place. Enter double sided fabric-to-skin tape. Back in the day, models and other in the know types kept toupee tape on hand to wrangle difficult fabrics. These days, there's a wide range of sticky products on the market designed to help us everyday fashionistas avoid "wardrobe malfunctions." I've used a few myself, but I was curious what the average "real world" woman would think about ta

They say you can tell a lot about a person by their shoes. Is that really true? I've never thought much about what my shoes were saying about me; I just wear whatever tickles my fancy and matches my outfit. Then I was asked an interesting question by the always zany Kristopher Dukes during a recent interview: "If you were a stiletto, you'd be a _____?" Hmm. That question took some thought. In fact, I had to take a pass and go back and answer that one last. My final pick? A pair of saucy Gucci platform pumps. Like me, they are tall, impractical, and completely irresistible.My chance encounter with the existential shoe question got me thinking. Are shoes really a reflection of our inner fashionista? I knew one way to get to the bottom of this. I called in the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel, a group of sassy real-world women who have no problem baring their inner fashionista. My question to them: "If you were a shoe, what would you be?"Havaianas Classic Flip Flop$12.99Available at: Til

I always wanted to have a "signature scent." A perfume that was just so "me" that it would be my fragrance calling card. I had heard about women stumbling upon their signature scent by chance, but I had to enlist expert help to find my just right perfume. After years of trying one scent after another, I finally broke down and spilled my fragrance woes to the perfume department manager at my local Nordstrom.Versace Crystal Noir$41.62 - $70.00Available at: FragranceX.com;CosmeticMall.comI let him have it with my seemingly impossible list of perfume requirements: I hate most florals. They fit with neither my personality nor my sensitive nostrils. That being said, I do enjoy orchid, stargazer lily, and gardenia in very small doses. I love spicy oriental scents, but detest musk (the most common scent in oriental fragrances). I want my perfume to be fairly unique. That is, I don't want to smell like the latest issue of Vogue or like every third woman walking down the street. Finally, I want

We all know that we are supposed to wear sunscreen each and every day, from head to toe... but we don't. What's the deal with that? Somehow I manage to moisturize from top to toe every day, but I just can't bear slathering on sunscreen in the same comprehensive manner. So, why don't we all sport the SPF on a daily basis? Might it be because sunscreen is horribly thick and goopy? Or because it smells like a medicine chest? Or because sunscreen is just not nearly as exciting as picking from amongst our collection of pampering lotions? There are a ton of reasons, none of which sit well with my dermatologist. In the interest of keeping skin cancer and nasty wrinkles away, I've been searching for a quick fix to my sunscreen adversion for a while.Tropical Honey Sunscreen$15.00 (was $16-- save 6%!)Available at: ShadySun.comWhen I heard about a brand new aromatherapy sunscreen hitting the shelves this summer, I was naturally intrigued. SunEssence Aromatherapy Sunscreen bills itself as a n

If eyes are the windows to the soul, does that mean that lashes are the curtains of your inner essence? Ok, maybe that's a little overdramatic, but you see where I'm going. Long, luscious eyelashes make you look awake even when you're not, show off your pretty peepers, and serve as one seriously effective flirtation tool. Is it any wonder that women spend so much time and money making their lashes just right? Or that so few women are forthcoming with their lash improvement routines? Hmm...Dior Diorshow Mascara$23.00Available at: Amazon.comLuckily I know a few women who are ready and willing to share their best beauty secrets. I called in the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel to dish on how they get their lashes in top form. So, ladies, what are your lush lash secrets?"One word: Dior," says Michelle, a 40-year-old Huntington Beach nurse. "I hate to admit the [amount of] money I've spent on mascaras I've thrown in the trash after one use. Then I decided to spluge and try Dior Diorshow

If you are anything like me, your beauty product drawer (or shelf... or closet...) is littered with products that sounded great at the time, but just didn't make the cut as a daily must-use. I am constantly trying out the "next big thing" in beauty but, when it gets right down to it, I rely on the same handful of core products to get me through the day. The tried and true products that work perfectly every time and that I honestly feel like I can't live without. I have long suspected that most women have the same sort of core "must-have products" that they use day in and day out. Being the naturally curious type, and being always on the lookout for some undiscovered beauty product gem, I pay close attention to what other women consider a "must-have." When we started the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk Panel my first first question to the ladies was "what are your absolute must-have beauty prodcuts?" Here's what the Girl Talk ladies have to say about what beauty products keep them going.Ki

Ever feel like you're in a constant battle with your hair? You're not alone. The majority of the women I talk to say the same thing. The 'do goes left when you want it to go right. You spend an hour curling every inch of hair just to have it go flat 10 minutes after you walk out the door. It's a different version of the same story no matter who you ask. So, how is it that some women appear to have perfectly done hair?Bumble & Bumble Straight$32.99Available at: CosmeticMallI called in the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk Panel, real-world women with astonishingly fab hair, to find out how they deal with their natural hair texture-- either battling against it or working with it-- in order to achieve a good hair day. It looks like the secret to good hair is finding the "just right" product and using it well."I have curly hair and I love to straighten it all the time-- to get the look I don't naturally have!" divulges Kim, a 23-year-old from La Jolla, California. "I love Bumble & Bum

Let's be honest, ladies. It would be great if we were all Hollywood starlets or pampered heiresses with huge beauty budgets, but we're living in the real world here. I'd love to luxuriate in a tub of $1600 moisturizer or indulge in a few $50 a pop eyeshadows... if it wasn't for those pesky student loan payments! The best of jobs can't fund our luxury beauty fixations when we've got little things like rent, mortgages, bills, and families to tend to. When high-end beauty cravings compete with the rent for our hard-earned cash, what wins out?Nars EyeShadow$21.00Available at: Amazon.comI've been dying to ask some real-world women which luxury beauty products are really worth their after-tax pennies. I called on the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk Panel, real-world women with real-world jobs, to confess their splurge-worthy luxury beauty products. So, ladies, what do you splurge on?"I really love Dermalogica's Pre-Cleanse," says Po, a 28-year-old attorney in Ceres, California. "It costs a

The month of March means that spring has sprung. It's time to start packing away winter coats and fluffy sweaters in favor of skirts, dresses, and sleeveless tops. If you are anything like me, as soon as you start shedding layers of clothing you start wishing you could shed a few layers of skin in the process. For most of us, months of winter weather have left our skin in a neglected state. Scaly, dry, pale, and ugly are the adjectives that spring to mind. Now the spring is here, how do we get our skin back in "bareable" condition in a hurry?I turned to the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk panel for answers. These "real world" women weighed in on the products they turn to to get their skin in tip top shape. The verdict on turning your winter-ravaged skin into a rosy spring glow? All you need is a little pampering and some great bath and body products.Scrub up! The first step to getting your skin in shape for spring is a rich, moisturizing bath or shower and some gentle exfoliation.Cetaphil S

Recently, while reading a magazine article on the proper way to apply the three different types of concealer "every woman needs," I had a thought. The PG version was something along the lines of: "Are you joking? There has got to be an easier way to do this!" Seriously, in the real world, do women really use three different concealers every day?!? I had to get to the bottom of this issue. I called in the Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk Panel to spill about how they really deal with facial imperfections. These real-world cuties gave me hope-- looking hot does not require the entire cosmetics counter!Lancome Dual Finish Powder$34.50Available at: Macys.com"I definitely don't use a concealer," offers Pearl in a rather point-blank manner. "I think after all these years of exfoliating, going to the dermatologist, and taking pills or doing voodoo treatments, I am finally seeing my skin clear up a little. Thus, I want to enjoy it and not go out with a face all schlacked up with make up."Sounds like

How often do you find yourself in this situation: you have exactly 5 minutes to get ready, but your face looks more like it needs 5 hours of help. When you only have time to use one or two products in an attempt to revive your tired look, which items do trust to make you look like a million in under 30 seconds? I turned to our Stiletto Jungle Girl Talk Panel to see what these lovely ladies count on for quick fix beauty.Eau Thermale Avene Thermal Water Spray$28.00Available at: FrenchCosmeticsForLess"When I've been to the tanning salon and my skin is all dehydrated, or I've spent a night out on the town with my husband and our son has a 7:00 a.m. baseball game, Eau Thermale Avene Thermal Water Spray (left) really makes my skin instantly refreshed and hydrated," offers Michelle, a 40-year-old nurse from Huntington Beach, California. "It's truly awesome."Some of our other Girl Talk panelists weren't so forthcoming with their quick fix beauty secrets. When I put this week's question to

Adventures in the Stiletto Jungle is here for you! That's why we're constantly working to come up with new ideas about how to get you, our fabulous readers, the news you can use when it comes to fashion and beauty shopping. So, what's next for Stiletto Jungle? A panel of lovely "real world" ladies sharing their personal fashion and beauty tips, tricks, and must haves each and every week. Pretty fab, right?"Expert" opinions are great, but our favorite fashion and beauty ideas have always come from our girlfriends. From teenage slumber parties, to college coffee shop gab fests, to chats in the pre-school carpool line-- the time spent dishing with the girls has always resulted in the best advice. That's why we created the "Girl Talk" panel. Check back each Wednesday for a new "Girl Talk" article on a stylish topic relevant to the way real women live. It's time to meet the amazing Stiletto Jungle "Girl Talk" panelists. To kick things off right, they have each shared their top fashion

Sorry, No review available... Track Lists 01. Once Again 02. That's My DJ 03. Hold Up 04. Too Deep 05. Smash Your Head 06. Minute By Minute 07. Ask About Me 08. Summer Smoke 09. Friday Night 10. Hand Clap 11. Give And Go 12. BOunce That 13. Warm It Up 14. Double Pump 15. Overtime 16. Peak Out