The longest day of the year was over a month ago and the city’s starting to fill up again. Yes, summer’s past the halfway point, and it’s time to take advantage of the temperature and Friday hours. What better way to celebrate the remains of the day than a brand new old pair of sunglasses?

A classic shade is the only way to go nowadays, but oversize grandma tortoiseshells are played out, and we all know vintage Ray Ban Wayfarers are, like, so beginning-of-summer. Late summer is all about vintage Ray Ban Clubmasters; a subtle hint of color, a chilled out Sean-Penn-in-Fast-Times vibe, the hip-to-be-square confidence that may or may not come with rocking the same eyewear as Kevin Costner in JFK, and a pedigree that guarantees the shades will survive until next June - not that you’ll be wearing the same old things again, of course.

($132 + shipping at vintage-sunglasses-shop.com)

Just because Sienna Kate Moss Miller Lohan rocks a fancy fedora— is exactly why you shouldn’t.  Don Vivre’s wide-brim portrait hat, instead. A fabulously floppy hat vibes JLo circa P Diddy, until its stiffed in straw, tiered with black licorice crochet, and pinched pretty for an urban cowgirl fit.

A sunblock more boss than Prada’s overpriced SPF, the hat’ll also obscure your face from the pap. Or just nosy neighbors. ‘Cause unlike Lindsay Richie Nicole Lohan, you’d rather really live luxely—privately.

Lounging, lying on the beach barely covered in triple triangles—

You’re already more than half way there.

So go 100% nude with Dior’s La D de Dior bikini.  You’ll vibe like you’re in a Beyonce-worthy b’day suit, only more boss—ruching at the bust and waist creates key curves, and the light shimmers of the metallic fabric make it so public sunlight highlights your not-so-private parts; you’ll look softly stark, set off by hard, gold D-rings between your chest, at your waist.

Best part?  Being less than half-dressed is more than half-off:  from $370, La D de Dior bikini is $149 at eLUXURY.

Looks like I found another costume to go Starbucksing in. 

Summer has officially began, Ladies you can now wear flip flops 24/7. Free people has this Rose Flip Flops that feature a matching leather flower. They look comfortable and ideal for almost all occasions.$68.00. Also if you want to go “gladiator” get this Rinko Kikuchi sandals.  Although they might be a little warm for the summer heat. To be continued……

I’m mentally styling this lazily ladylike lid with my littlest baby doll, baby doll, and my most skyscraper sandals.

All Audrey Hepburn hip with an easily elegant black ribbon cinching a fabulously floppy raffia hat…

It’s so mignon for all those days your K trades up lounging on La La Land’s beaches for hustling hard and girling about downtown.

I abhor my toes. They’re weird and unpretty and I don’t want anyone to ever have to look at them, which is kind of a problem come spring and summer. Because I can’t get with open-toed sandals of any kind, my warm-weather daytime shoe selection tends to be severely limited. And don’t even speak the words “flip flops” to me, or I just might break out in hives or something.

A couple years ago I discovered a pair of darling, open-heel ballet shoes from Rocket Dog, but now they’re faded and falling apart and in desperate need of replacement. My number-one candidate at the moment: The new Flonica shoe from Royal Elastics, in happy chili/medium-orange.

In addition to being so comfy and sporty-cute, the Flonica features a sockliner made with die-cut foam, which wicks away sweat and helps enhance breathability. So much better than clunking around the city in sneakers on a sweaty day, and they might even make sense for strolling the beach.

Why we love bloggers, reason #28937489237498234789237:

With products’ and bloggers’ powers combined, you can get J. Lo’s glow without a billion dollar empire and angering PETA (click here for modern girl’s low down on getting J Lo’s glow).

So that’s not our usual deep reason - they discover amazing things, cut out the marketing hype, democratize style, etc. - for loving bloggers.

It’s summer time.

We want dewy, golden skin.

Right about this time of year, you might be wondering whether the mercury will ever stop rising. I don’t know about you, but when the heat is on, the only thing that really cools me down is a nice, cold beer. Alan at the promisingly-named A Good Beer Blog turns us on to four thirst-quenching microbrew wheat beers from across America that deliver refreshing lightness without sacrificing flavor. Cheers, Alan, for keeping us cool.

Where I am in San Francisco, summer is not such a big deal. It sometimes doesn’t break 60º on foggy days. But I know all too well that the rest of you are broiling under the blazing sun, melting in the humidity, withering in the oppressive heat. Mwaahhaaahaaa!

OK, sorry. If it’s any consolation, many other food bloggers are suffering under the same conditions, even if they are suffering in places like Paris. So when in Paris, do as the, er, Spanish do and whip up some wholesome, ice cold gazpacho. Recipe courtesy Ms. Glaze, who is currently cooking in a three-star restaurant, so you know it’s gotta be good!

At ThisNext, we love products that rock brains and beauty, like this parasol discovered by

shopping blog Rare Bird Finds -

Sure, sunscreen is saving me fom skin cancer, but is it keeping me as pretty as this parasol in the meanwhile?

Traditionally, a Pimm’s Cup is made with ginger ale, a spear of cucumber and, of course, Pimm’s, a mildly spicy, gin-based liqueur. It’s a refreshing and cooling drink, perfect for balmy summer days, especially when croquet is involved. But my mixological lexicon with respect to Pimm’s was limited to that one concoction, until now. Hungry Magazine offers an alternative version of the drink, with lemonade, 7-Up, citrus and cucumber. It’s a more complex rendition, yet none the less refreshing. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to put on my tennis sweater and Docksiders. Has anyone seen my mallet?

Sure, cold beer is the cure for summer heat. But if you’re looking for something more sophisticated, nothing cools like a cucumber cocktail. Liquor Snob steals borrows this refreshing cocktail recipe from the New York Times. With lime and mint, it’s much like a mojito, the “it” drink of a few years back, but the cucumber gives it that extra “aaahhh.” Kind of like spa water. With booze.

The recipe calls for either vodka or gin (specifically Hendricks). If gin’s not your thing, pump up the cucumber power by making your own cucumber vodka infusion. What could be cooler?

Face it: there is just way too much STUFF involved in raising babies. Even before the infant arrives, you will find yourself awash in a sea of cleaning products, clothing, toys, and bedding, all with a shelf-life shorter than your nap time. But there is some quality amid the crap — some carefully selected items that are actually worth keeping. Blogging Babyis always on the prowl for the best-made, best-priced, most valuable materials in a world of dubious choice (hey, sounds like thisnext!). Just two recent examples: advice on how the new spray-on sunscreens are much more efficient and far less difficult to apply (based on an article in teh Wall Street Journal, no less!), and the discovery of a great line of hand-made sheets and crib sets from Holland. Any mother of a young ‘un (or someonw searching out mindful gifts) should bookmark this one.

Reason #1,000,001 not to make sunblock an afterthought on your way to the beach this summer: A new study shows that most “sunscreen does a poor job of protecting you from UVA rays,” says the Outdoor Blog at Getoutdoors.com. To protect yourself against the rays that are most likely to cause skin cancer (not to mention wrinkles), look for water-resistant sunblocks that have an SPF of 30 or higher and contain zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or avobenzone. GoBlog’s recommendation of a return to Zinka might come with tongue firmly planted in cheek, but maybe the recently revamped line’s lavender nosecoat is just what the skin doctor ordered for a very 80s, very sun-safe summer season. If not, bring a ThisNext-style approach to sunscreen-shopping and give the labels a careful read so you can find the smartest product on the drugstore shelf—whether it’s fluorescent orange or not.