SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Two Legit

Summer is in full-swing, which means everyone is pairing up (love is the air, blah, blah, blah), and twosomes are just popping up all over the place (like Noah's Ark! ha!). Fittingly, some cosmetic companies are getting in the one-is-the-loneliest-number mode and releasing some products that are all about dual capabilities (lip glosses that plump your lips, moisturizers that bronze, etc.). And hey, don't we all love a good match?

That's why I'm sweating Susan Posnick's ColorEyeDefine (pictured above). The pencil features a slanted tip liner on one (pictured above in an electric turquoise color which, FYI, is one of the hottest hues for eyes this summer) and, on the other end, a self-dispensing eye shadow with a sponge applicator (this allows you to smoothly apply the color on your eyelid without running the risk of excess powder shadow getting on your temples, cheeks, etc., and making a big ol' mess). The applicator is extremely soft so it'll feel as gentle as any eyeshadow brush.

Want more reasons to fall in love with this one? Well, the liner tip is retractable, which means you can twist up when necessary and never worry about having to pull out a sharpener. The angled tip makes the application a breeze and makes it easier to achieve your desired look (whether it's a barely visible line of color or a thick streak). The color combinations available are also exciting: there's turquoise/topaz (pictured here), jasper/sandstone (an olive green liner with a beige shadow), jet/moonstone (a charcoal black liner and pearl white shadow), sapphire/amethyst (a darker, more serious blue and a deep, gray-ish purple), amethyst/opal (a mauve-like purple and a soft lilac), bronze/copper, platinum/gold, and smoky quart/rose quartz. Now, these are marriages built to last!

Susan Posnick ColorEyeDefine dual liner, $26. Visit SusanPosnick.com

De La Joya

Weapon of seduction number one: scented candles (okay, fine, so maybe it's number two if you count lingerie). You ain't gotta go all 9 1/2 Weeks with it and start dripping hot wax all over your boo's body (although, if that's your thing, go for it), but every gal knows that candles are key in setting the mood (as is music -- be it Maxwell, Sade, Al Green, or Jill Scott). And sure, you can go and get some cheap tealight candles at your local drugstore, but do you really wanna half-step? That's like doing a striptease with mismatched cotton underwear. Nah, if you wanna make sweet music in your boudoir, you gotta pull out all the stops.

Which brings me to Joya Candle's new Perfume in Porcelain collection, designed by Sarah Cihat.These black candles come in three scents: Sandalwood Striker Lily, Gunpowder Green Tea (pictured above) and Absolute Narcissus. Each candle is hand-poured into a slip cast ceramic case, which is then emblazoned with a subversive image (in this case, a skull). Only 150 pieces are available for each design, and each is numbered and packaged in a luxurious, modern white-and-black box.The Gunpowder Green Tea candle fuses together essential oils and fine fragrances, yielding an earthy and slightly spicy aroma (a result of the clever mix of white mint, Sicilian lemon, calla lily and shiso tea leaves) that's simply divine.

Now, if you're looking for a bold statement piece to liven up your decor, I'd suggest investing in the Fragrance Diffuser Set, pictured here in the Quince and Heliotrope Petals scent. The set comes with this sculptural ceramic vessel, as well as the accompanying reed sticks and scented oil. All you have to do is pour some oil into the container, insert the reed sticks, and carefully flip them over so that the oil-soaked tips are exposed to the air. Your home will smell like a fresh garden/orchard (think iris powder, mango, mandarin orange and teakwood) and you'll have a design accent that's a straight-up conversation piece.

The Perfume in Porcelain collection is available at selected Barneys Co-op locations.

Joya Candle Perfume in Porcelain Gunpowder Green Tea candle, $48; visit Barneys.com.  Quince & Heliotrope Petals Fragrance Diffuser Set, $76; visit Barneys.com. For more information on Joya Candle, visit JoyaCandle.com

Tequila Sunrise

Premium liquor AND a bottle you can keep and display atop your office desk, dining room shelf, or living room table? Now that's genius. Fans of 1800 Silver Tequila will go bonkers over the brand's new Essential Artists campaign, which features limited-edition bottles designed by nine international artists. Each of the bottles has a very unique and distinctive aesthetic; from the sci-fi influenced, comic-book-meets-Mexican-pop-art designs of Mexico City-based illustrator Jorge Alderete to the surreal dreamscapes created by San Francisco-based illustrator Hannah Stouffer, each design is a true collector's item.

Among my favorites is the bottle designed by Atlanta-based graphic artist Dosa Kim (top image). There's a whimsical, magical quality to his work -- from the kaleidoscopic color scheme to the collage-like quality of the images used (if you look closely, you'll notice that those feather-like strokes of color are, in fact, small rodents; they look like rats or raccoons to me, but I'll let y'all decipher this one!). I could try and interpret the design and give y'all some shpeel about the rat race, of the hunter-versus-the-hunted, but really, only Kim knows what message he wanted to convey. I can say, however, that Kim's work often revolves around notions of hope and triumph, which is why he always incorporates his trademark logo, which bears the phrase: "Some of us will find our way home." The logo is, of course, featured on this bottle (it's the stamp on the upper right-hand corner).

Detroit native Chris Dean also created a stand-out design for the Artist Essentials campaign (second image from the top). There's a vintage and even nostalgic feel to his design, which depicts a young woman toiling away with test tubes at a seedy-looking laboratory. We're left to wonder whether there's a cryptic motive behind her little science experiment, which is precisely the type of engagement Dean hopes to get from his audience. Pretty ill, right?

Only 1800 bottles of each design are available (catchy tie-in back to the brand name, right?) and they'll be available in August.

$34.99 each; Visit 1800Tequila.com for more information.

Time After Time

I must confess that I don't normally wear watches. I don't know if it's because I'm a quirky, free-spirited type or if it's just one of those odd idiosyncracies, but something about them makes me feel restrained, like I'm being sucked into the matrix and shackled by this little device (this blasé attitude towards wristwatches is probably the main reason why I'm always running a bit late, but that's another story altogether! lol). So if I do wear a watch, it has to be a dramatic, bold piece, something so artful that I can trick myself into believing it's just another kind of bracelet.

That's why I'm so infatuated by this pastel-hued watch from Nixon's 2008 LTD collection. The one-of-a-kind piece features artwork by actress Joy Bryant (from Get Rich Or Die Tryin'). And no, she didn't just lend her name to this product and allow some other chump to do all the heavy lifting. Bryant actually used paint pens to create her designs on hard rock maple panels, which were then inlaid into the watch's band. If you look closely, you'll see that she incorporated a ticket to a Radiohead concert (guess she's a fan!) into her design. The engraved case's back features her name, along with a serial number (oh, and it comes with a certificate of authenticity so you know it's totally legit!)

The watch is part of Nixon's fifth LTD collection, an initiative that allows music and film icons to design custom pieces, with proceeds going to charity. Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez, Pink and Anthony Kiedis have all joined the cause in the past.

For 2008, Nixon brass recruited such celebrities as Fall Out Boy, Latin rockers Ozomatli, comedian Jack Black, Angels and Airwaves, Motley Crue's Nikki Six, former Beatle Ringo Starr and Tristan Pettyman to serve as guest designers. The proceeds from the sale of these watches will go to two charities: the Grammy Association's MusiCares MAP Fund and the Tony Hawk Foundation.

The collection hits stores in mid August, so mark your calendars! When it comes to copping these, time really is of the essence!

Nixon's 2008 LTD collection will be available at Barneys locations in New York, San Francisco and Las Vegas, as well as at boutiques like Colette and Beams. Prices range from $350 to $3500. Visit NixonNow.com for more information.

Hot to Trot

Allow me to introduce y'all to the grand dame of hair styling products: the Metropolis S-Nano Wet/Dry Ionic Iron (phew! Long name, right? But think about it: royals always have long titles, no?). This fantastic tool takes care of two major styling tasks simultaneously: drying and straightening your hair. That means no breaking out the rollers and sitting under a steaming dryer or tugging away at those strands with a blowdryer (one of my least favorite feats since it requires entirely too much dexterity, coordination and carpel tunnel-inducing wrist turning!) to then pull out a flat iron, wait for the darned thing to heat up, and work it through every tiny strand of hair. Nah, you can now skip the first step altogether (the drying, that is) and make your prep time that much shorter (which means an extra half hour of sleep in the morning!).

Now, you don't want to use this on hair that's dripping wet (it's called electrocution, people!), but it's perfectly safe to use on damp hair — and it really won't damage your hair shaft. I, of course, appointed myself a guinea pig for y'all and, while fearing permanent hair loss, tested this bad boy out for a solid two weeks. Frankly, by the end of the first week, I was ready to get down on bended knee and propose to this beauty. My hair was as healthy as ever, my morning routine was way smoother, and my straightened 'do actually withstood the test of time (and the strains of humidity).

So how does the iron work? Well, ionic power separates water molecule clusters, helping your hair dry faster, while vents along the side of the iron facilitate the safe release of that moisture.The ions also tighten the hair's outer cuticle while infusing the inner cuticle with moisture. The iron's silver micro-fine particles allow the tool to remain clean and odor-free (the silver nano technology has been proven to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria and fungi). Far-infrared heat technology warms the hair up from the inside out, thus protecting your beloved tresses from breakage and thermal damage.

The iron's temperature can be manually adjusted (peep the tiny digital screen on the side, where the temperature is displayed, and the button control arrows along the sides), and goes up to an astounding 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you've got short to medium-length hair, you can conceivably have hair that's completely dry and straighter than Naomi Campbell's weave in less than a half hour. You can't beat that with a bat.

Metropolis S-Nano Wet/Dry Ionic Iron, $265. Visit MetropolisTechnology.com

Chinese Take-Out

Art fanatics can now collect eight different limited-edition, old-school Coca-Cola aluminum cans, each featuring artwork by a celebrated Chinese artist or graphic designer. It's all part of Coca-Cola's WE8 initiative: over the course of eight weeks, eight bottles are released (one per week). And it gets cooler than the polar bears in their Christmas commercials. Since the concept is based on the idea of East meeting West (thus the "WE" bit), each design has its very own accompanying song, composed by the best DJs, singers/songwriters, and musicians in Europe and America. Each song functions as a soundtrack of sorts for that bottle design's overriding theme so that music and art come together, as well as Eastern and Western aesthetics.

The musicians involved include: New York City-based singer Jes, the acclaimed DJ Tiesto, Russian pianist Serge Devant, Jamaican reggae-meets-jazz-meets-soul artist Cezar, and house music DJ Kaskade. In terms of visual artists, the eight featured brainiacs (and their respective themes) are: Xiao Xue (Global Harmony), MeWe (Uplifting Moments), Xin Jing (Healthy World), Wang Xu (Happiness), Chen Shaohua (Active Optimism), Milkxhake (Human Collaboration), Joyn Viscom (Peace on Earth) and Jiang Hua (Individual Perseverance).

This, of course, is an excellent way of building up anticipation for the Summer Olympics in Beijing while also adding a forward-thinking vibe to the Coca-Cola brand. The bottle pictured above was masterminded by graphic designer and curator Jiang Hua. The horizontal red patterns are actually stylized Chinese characters for the word "Coca-Cola." Its soundtrack song, "Be It All," was written by singer-songwriter Jes, who says she was inspired by the maze-like quality of the bottle's design.

To download the music or art, order your very own bottle, or find out more information, visit Coca-Cola.com/We8

Zi-Zi-Zi-Zia

So here's the thing: I loathe the gym. Sure, I'll do a pilates or yoga class here and there but, mostly, I prefer to do that kind of thing in the privacy of my own home, away from all those unforgiving mirrors, the harsh lighting, the uber-competitive Amazonian woman who judge me as I pant for air or struggle to lift some weights. No thank you for all of that mess! The only problem is, well, there are just so many distractions when you're at the crib... You may plan to do some yoga, but then you start thinking, 'Did so-and-so respond to my e-mail?' or 'Is Project Runway on TV tonight?' or 'Hey, I need to go through this stack of mail' or 'I should reorganize this bookshelf.' In other words, it's a procrastination-inducing place. Next thing you know, you're munching on Golden Grahams and watching A Shot of Love With Tila Tequila or some other nonsense. Which would be fine if we were all born with these sinewy figures and lightning fast metabolisms but we all know such is not the case. So what do you do? Well, sure, you try to be more disciplined about working out and you make a point to eat right (lots of fruits and veggies, no late night meals, plenty of water, etc.) And then you get a little crafty and you study up about the latest advances in cosmetology (no nip-tuck necessary).

Now, I’ll keep it gully with y’all — I’ve tried so many firming creams and anti-cellulite this or that and the bottom line is that cellulite is like emotional baggage: you can minimize its appearance and its effects, but you can’t really get rid of it. That being said, there actually are some effective products that can work as quick fixes. So if you’re heading to the beach or you need to slip into an itty-bitty slip dress that shows your every curve, bump and hump, don’t despair. Instead, check out Zia Natural Skincare’s Ultimate Body Firming Treatment. Designed for all skin types, the body firming treatment contains caffeine and gotu cola to help minimize the appearance of cellulite, pink grapefruit and marine algae extracts to detoxify your skin and botanical products like yucca, aloe vera gel, licorice, gingko balboa extract, geranium, frank incense and willow bark to firm and tone. If you integrate this into your daily routine, you’ll actually see your stretch marks fading, your legs, arms and stomach looking buffer (you might actually trick people into thinking you’ve been doing some bicep curls, and your skin looking smooth and healthy.

Zia Natural Skincare Ultimate Body Firming Treatment, $17.99. Visit Drugstore.com

Welcome to the Jungle

First off, my lovely STA readers, I apologize for being MIA. Things got a little hectic for your girl, but I'm happy to report that I've made some pretty big and bold moves to ensure that I can focus on providing y'all with the best online experience -- that means more posts, a wider variety of products, and overall improvements. So thank you for your patience, and I promise that all good things come to those who wait.

But enough with the sappy stuff... We just wanna have some fun up in heerrre, right?

So, check it out, gals. It seems that skate shoes (often snubbed by the major sneaker triumvirate) are now gaining in popularity and prestige. Everyone from Adidas to Reebok is experimenting with silhouettes inspired by traditional skate shoes -- wider shapes, more cushioning along the ankle area, thicker laces, and softer, more resilient (and yes, shock-absorbent) leather. But here's the thing -- when it comes to skate shoes, you have to go straight to the originators: DC Shoes. After all, DC Shoes has mastered the art of crafting kicks for the most avid board bangers out there, but they've also made a smooth transition into the lifestyle realm by streamlining their designs (which means they're roomy without being these wide boats on your feet, like the skate shoes of yore) and boldly experimenting with different fabrics, colorways, prints, and more. Frankly, they take more risks on a design level than some of the major sneaker companies, which is why they've won a place in my heart.

Take these kicks right here: the Manteca 2 Mids in Metallic Anthracite. These killer shoes manage to juxtapose a traditionally preppy fabric (the woven plaid on the side and heel panels) with a vivacious, daring metallic print that conjures up images of rainforests, exotic and untamed animals, lush green plants, and more. On a performance level, they feature: extra padding around the ankle area, very soft leather to protect you from any minor fall, trip and slip, and DC's signature pill pattern sole (which provides excellent ground support). So whether you're skating, running, walking or just posting up on the block, you can be the baddest HBIC out there.

And hey, just 'cause you can't master those aerials and kickflips doesn't mean you have no tricks up your sleeve. Sure, yours may be of the fashion variety, but that doesn't make 'em any less valuable. So, with that said, go get laced up and prepare to step into the concrete jungle.

DC Shoes Manteca 2 Mids in Metallic Anthracite, $70. Visit DCShoes.com for more info.

Boxed In

There's something so cool about a house full of little boxes -- they hide secret treasures (the whole pearl-in-the-oyster phenomenon) but, at the same time, the boxes themselves are so gorgeous that they themselves are cherished finds. It's like when you get a dexterously wrapped present and you don't want to rip the paper up because it's just so gorgeous.

My abuelita always had ceramic, cloisonne and wooden boxes decorating her dresser and lining accent tables in her foyer and living room, and they always added a warmth to the overall decor (so I guess grandma was really on to something). Which brings me to this adorable Suzani Box by Jayson Home & Garden, which features handmade cloisonnes and a pattern that recalls the Byzantine Empire. The box measures 7.25 inches in diameter and 2.25 inches in height, and it's the perfet place to store stud earrings, lockets, rings, and more. Much more than a storage place, this box will light up any tabletop and become a focal point in a room's decor. Talk about a box that goes outside the box.

Suzani Large Box, $295. Visit JaysonHimeAndGarden.com

Paint the Town Red

Every time I look at the design embossed atop this leather bracelet, I think about the sycamore tree in The Alchemist -- maybe it's because of how powerful it feels underneath the words "Revolution," "Evolution" and "Devotion" but, whatever the case, that's always the first thing that pops into my head. It's kind of fitting, actually, given that in Coelho's novel, a young boy dreams of a buried treasure by the foot of a tree and, here, we find a bracelet with a tree design on it and the bracelet itself represents a gift of life. See, this is a limited-edition bracelet designed by Julia Roberts for Emporio Armani's Emporio Armani (Product) Red collection, which donates 40% of proceeds to the Global Fund. Every bracelet, then, represents one more step in the battle against AIDS in Africa.

Perfect for everyday wear, the leather bracelet is 0.75 inches thick and features sterling silver snap closures and tassles. Hey, if the Pretty Woman says it's certified, it must be so, right?

(Product Red) Julia Roberts Bracelet, visit EmporioArmani.com