Even though it's the hottest summer on record, and even though a great portion of the world is turning to desert before our eyes (okay maybe that's a little melodramatic but you know what I mean) - even though your hardy impatiens are withering and your trees are dying, there is hope for having a little color and life in your garden. Here is just a short list of the plants that are thriving in my hotter-than-hell Dallas garden, even as others die. They don't require more than one watering session per day, and still stand up straight even through excruciatingly high temps. Pretty, easy, green. Love. If your garden is dying no matter how much you water it, here are five plants that I've had luck with. They're colorful and can take high temps and scorching sun, and do... Read more

Click for a slideshow of a sampling of what The Row has to offer.When Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen started their fashion line, "The Row," there might have been a few snarky bloggers who made fun of them being the latest celebs to attach their names to clothing, but except for the perpetually pessimistic, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are proving once again that no one can box them into any stereotype. These ladies know what they're doing. Just three years after launching their top end clothing line, the Olsens are garnering much deserved respect for being prodigies in both business and style. Fully aware of the need to make a graceful segue into adulthood (unlike many former child stars), the Olsens appreciate the lessons learned from marketing to Tweens, and are using those lessons to move into sophisticated,... Read more

Summer = sun, swimming, gardening, fun, heat, sweat, insects, processed air...yes, that's right. You can't have good without evil. But, despite Eddie Cochran's claim that "there ain't no cure for the summertime blues," thanks to the ever happy and fresh Gerber Daisy, you can feel fresh even when doused with Deep Woods Off. For the rainy summer days, check out this fab Gerber Daisy umbrella, from ThisNext.com! How about wooden clogs decorated with Gerbers? Get these from Endless shoes. Check out this sweet and simple T from CafePress - don't sweat in a boring old thing, sweat in something that will make you smile! If none of the above is your thing, who can resist the real thing. A nice bouquet of Gerbers will make you feel fresh and happy every time you pass by them...here is a beautiful version... Read more

Last week, the NY Times had an article about aging the French way. It outlined how the famous French beauties keep up their appearances, and one of my favorite parts of the article explains the "French women don't get fat" theory. Turns out that they do gain weight, and diet just like the rest of us. They're just raised to start dieting after gaining five pounds, instead of twenty. They also have occasional "procedures" but don't go overboard with implants, trying to look twenty years younger than they actually are, a la Meg Ryan. The article also makes the point that happiness makes the appearance of age fade: "For Frenchwomen, aging seems to be a matter of mind over makeup. If women feel good about themselves, right down to their La Perla 100-euro panties, they look good, too. Françoise Sagan... Read more

YoLadies is planning a contest this summer to cover as many cities as possible, offering one lucky winner in each city a hair cut and style. We aren't offering the full-on makeover, but I'm sure that most women can relate to the way a visit to the salon can make you feel. You feel relaxed, pampered, sexy. In these times, with unemployment, environmental atrocities, and all kinds of bad news from all over the globe, we'd like to team up with stylists who want to help one woman in their community feel like a million bucks - even if (and especially if) she's wondering where her next paycheck will come from. We have two participating salons already - Urban Cartel in Dallas, and Jehr Schiavo in San Francisco. If you are a stylist and would like to participate in our... Read more