Summer, summer, summer-time (ooh, summertime)

Hola ladies,

Girls, I have had an extremely literary couple of weeks. It seems that everywhere I turn, gorgeous, talented, charismatic ladies are writing fantastic books...and throwing equally entertaining book PARTIES. And as every published author knows, half of the pleasure in turning in your book is planning the soiree...(what do I wear? what do I write? which will read better in pictures, the paris-hilton-over-the-shoulder stance or the halle-berry-butt-first pose?). Ahh yes, I remember THE ACCIDENTAL DIVA party fondly. I was wearing blood-red Viktor & Rolf stilettoes and a fluffy Tracey Feith minidress that I can no longer pull past my thighs. My friend Lyah Beth Leflore, co-author of THE COSMOPOLITAN GIRLS, has fabulous thighs. She also had a fabulous party at The Harlem Tea Room to celebrate her new chick lit tome, LAST NIGHT A DJ SAVED MY LIFE (a totally delicious read, it's about a fancy Manhattan party promoter who falls in love at one of her glittering, celebrity-studded events--so sexy!). The party was teeming with eclectic publishing personalities, including her agent,Marie Brown, aka the Godmommy of the Black Literati (that's her in the photo in-between me and her client-of-the-hour, Lyah). When I was just a wee, terrified suburban twenty-one-year old getting her feet wet as an editorial assistant, clutching my purse to my chest as I walked home from the subway because I lived in "the hood," Marie took me under her wing. Back then, her Soho offices were mecca to a slew of journalists, performance artists, bestselling novelists, book editors, music reporters. We'd hang out there after work, get wasted, and talk, talk, talk. Some of us fell in love, some fought bitterly, and some are best friends to this day. It was like the Paris Cafe Society of the twenties, but with less alcoholics (actually, that's not even true). If any of you are thinking of writing a novel--submit to Marie, she'll take care of you. This woman discovered Terry McMillan, okay?

Across the city, at a sneaky little lounge in Union Square, my mentor and the most legendary magazine editor in the history of mascara, Lucky's beauty director,Jean Godfrey June, was hosting a party for FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE: MY IMPROBABLE LIFE IN MAGAZINES AND MAKEUP. Now, Jean and I go waaay back. She hired me at Elle to be her beauty assistant, and proceeded to pass on to me all the secrets that made her the most lauded--and most awkwardly imitated--beauty writer in the biz. The most important secret? Lazy, cliche'd beauty writing is for losers! For example, instead of saying something inane, like, "Pucker up with this pout-prettifying rosy gloss," she forced me to be creative, clever, REAL, ie: "This rosy gloss--the exact shade of the crushed rose petals thrown at your bossy cousin's wedding--makes lips look so insanely luscious that Melanie Griffith will instantly demand to know your plastic surgeon's number." See the diff? Basically, anytime you think to yourself, "that Tia, she sure knows her way around a lip liner!" know that you're actually thanking MIss JGJ! She's so major that, four years later, when she asked me to return from my Spanish sabbatical to work with her at Lucky, I dropped my paella to the floor and booked the next ticket. This woman is the ultimate beauty diva, and her memoir about her life at the tippy-top of the industry is a hilarious, insidery, must-read for any and all makeup junkies...especially if you're considering a career in beauty!

Flipping the script dramatically, I've gotta say that I'm DESTROYED to hear that the Bliss Resurfacing Peel was a tad too intense for some of my SYB's. It's all my fault (waaah). It totallly worked for me and my girls, but maybe my skin's not as sensitive? If you're breaking out or getting really dry, STOP using it. Waaah! So bummed. Speaking of bummed, it's time for TIA'S WEEKLY...WHY? My question this week is, why is every grown-ass woman I know (meaning, let's say, twenty-seven-and-up) ridiculously obsessed with silly, teenyboppery shows like "Laguna Beach," "So You Think You Can Dance," and "My Super-Sweet Sixteen?" If anyone knows the answer, please let me know. It's a sickness. We are women with mortgages to pay, several degrees, and in some cases, little bambinas to feed. We should not be counting down the days till "Making The Band: 3" returns. If anyone can explain this phenomenon to mama, please drop me a comment--I think the whole Bliss Peel thing proves that I don't have all the answers :-)

And FINALLY, on to what counts! After some PAIN-STAKINGLY careful editing, I've assembled the most delicous, most urgently spectactular beauty offerings for summer '06!! I get all tingly just thinking about this stuff! Enjoy...

xoxo,
tia

TIA'S TOP FIVE GREATEST HITS OF SUMMER '06:

1.) YSL HORIZON PALETTE-FOR THE EYES ($55): Why? Just LOOK at it. Inspired from one of the 2006 Yves Saint Laurent collection fabrics, this relentlessly chic palette combines all the hottest summertime eye shades--bronze, golden-yellow, turquoise and navy--in one vibrant mosaic. The eyeshadows are out-with-the-girls sexy, but I just kind of get a high just whipping out the compact.

2.) CREATIVE NAIL DESIGN POLISH IN TROPINKAL ($5.95): Yesterday, while I was on air doing the "Wake Up With Cosmo" show, I gave myself the most heart-stoppingly summery mani/pedi with this shade. See the vivid, juicy fuschia blob to the left? The polish is just as intense on your nails...and last night at dinner I was stopped three times by girls just wanting a second glance at my almost-flourescent tootsies. Very why-am-I-stuck-in-rainy-Brooklyn-instead-of-San-Tropez.

3.) DIOR SUNSHINE BLUSH IN SUNSET FIESTA ($41): A tad pricy for blush, but sooo necesssary (and, I mean, it's DIOR, dammit!). For an instant sunny flush, swirl your brush over this bronze, watermelon, peach, and pale rosy-gold combo--the orangey shades wake up brown skin, and the gold shimmer gives a sexy, twinkly glow. Quite possibly my favorite new summer staple.

4.) LANCOME STAR BRONZER GLOSSY LIP NECTAR ($18): The best part about this gloss isn't the sparkly, shiny, looks-good-alone-or-over-lipstick finish...it's the fact that it's infused with special moisturizing ingredients that repair super-chapped, dry lips. Chic and functional (kind of like those Spanx girdles everyone's wearing).

5.) ELIZABETH ARDEN GREEN TEA HONEY DROPS BODY CREAM ($15): Storytime: The night of the famous Northeastern blackout two summers ago, Elizabeth Arden was hosting an event at the Four Season, where beauty editors were invited to spend the night (plus a guest!). Of course, Adam was my plus-one. And of course, I assumed that the event was canceled due to the blackout, and I set off on a HELLISH, four-hour walk home from midtown Manhattan. Meanwhile, Adam spent a luxurious night at the Four Seasons, pretending to be worried about where I was...but in reality, slathering his body with the Green Tea products stocked in the bathroom (the bastard). Ever since that night, he's been OBSESSED with this body cream, and now I am too. The cool, minty-sweet scent is so clean, so summery, and its blended with drops of real honey to smooth rough skin. If you love it, try the shower gel, bath soak, fragrance, and shampoo, too--so luxe!