Katy Perry Movie: A Part of Me

A Teenage Dream
Katy Perry has gone from singing in churches, to selling out world tours, to starring in her very own biographical 3D movie. A Part of Me shares behind the scenes footage from Katy's Teenage Dream world tour, including her dazzling performances and candid interviews.

In the movie, we see the popstar at her most exposed. Yet, she is still real and relatable. In one scene, she is caught minutes before she goes on stage, hysterically crying from the pressure of the show and the pending divorce of her marriage to Russell Brand.

Through tears and laughter she reveals her true self to her fans, coming across as a normal, fun girl living in a magical popstar bubble.

Check out when and where you can see the movie.

Samantha’s Summer Read: A Charmed Life

Makes you see the gems in your life
My Charmed Life by Beth Bernstein is a lovely summer read. The book is about the author herself and the loss of her mother who was her best friend, and who taught her how to love, overcome life’s biggest obstacles and... how to accessorize.

As a young girl, Beth watched as every piece of jewelry her mother wore was connected to a sentimental memory, of both life’s triumphs and it's challenges. Beth tells the story of her own romances and the jewelry she received from the many men who could not commit to her. The story takes the reader on a journey of glittering hilarity and hope, showing Beth’s personal highs and lows, until she realizes the best gems in life are the people who have always been there for you.

This novel will be perfect for a summers day or evening by the fireplace, and will leave you feeling positive and warm about your own journey in life.

What Are You Doing On The Fourth?

Happy 4th of July! 
If you are looking to get away with your loved one this Independence Day, why not head to Washington to celebrate the holiday at a huge party. The W Hotel is hosting ‘Boom with aView’, from the roof terrace, with performances from cover band BurntSienna and a spectacular view of the city and the National Fireworks Display. 

You could also head to ‘Red, White and Boom’, to dance the night away at Kastles Stadium on the Southwest Waterfront Wharf with dancing to DJ Ricky Schramm, Drew Dixon Line, Yacht Rock Revue and the Morrison Brothers Band and an open bar. Great Meadow will be a great family spot where there will be pony rides, face-painting and clowns all day for the kids, and then a fireworks display and live music kicking off at dusk. Tickets to these events and many other events for you and your loved ones to enjoy, can be purchased here.

If you are staying in the city, Pier83 (West 42nd St, 8th Ave) is having a Rooftop Party – with a BBQ, a bar and a perfect viewing platform for the Macy’s Firework Display over the Hudson River. Tickets for this can be bought here. And tickets for the Freedom Fest Party at Pier 81, which also offers food and a cash bar, can be bought here.

The performers at Macy’s holiday show this year are Katy Perry and Kenny Chesney and the fireworks show can be watched for free on 12th Ave, between 24th and 49th street. From New York there are also boat trips, dinner and luxury firework cruises to go on with your honey; check them out here.

Relationship Ponder: Do You Like Your Man's Friends?

3's a crowd
The new comedy movie ‘Ted’, starring SethMacFarlane and Mark Wahlberg will be released this Friday, June 29th. The movie tells the story of a man whose best friend is Ted, the Teddy Bear, and about the terrible and silly implications this friendship has on his relationship with gorgeous girlfriend, Mila Kunis.

Although your man’s best friend may not be as extreme as a teddy bear, best friends can still get in the way of your relationship. The best way to handle this situation is to try to be accepting, just as you would expect your man to do if he didn’t love your best friend. Unless your man’s best friend is actually a stuffed toy and then you have permission to say something!  Check out the NYC movie showtimes here. 

Comedy Flick Pick: That’s My Boy

That's my Boy
That’s My Boy, starring Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg and Leighton Meester was released in movie theatres last week. This light-hearted movie that has a few inappropriate jokes and scenes will keep you and your date laughing the whole way through. Gossip Girl’s Meester looks gorgeous, particularly in a Vera Wang wedding gown, and Sandler and Samberg keep the jokes flowing.

Perhaps catch a drink or dinner after the movie and talk through some of the many jokes and controversial twists in the story; this will provide an instant and fun conversation ice breakers for your date. Enjoy!

Get Romantic With An Anywhere Fireplace


When you are trying to create romance under the stars this summer, remember that ambiance is the key to setting the mood. These days, I am recommending a personal fireplace to do this. 

Check out all my great summer offers at Open Sky. 

Summer Nights At The Movies

Enjoy a romantic movie with your loved one
The best and most romantic way to see a movie is under the stars, cuddled up on a blanket, with your date. And lucky for you, between June and August, Bryant Park shows classic films, out on the grass. You can see some of your all time favorite movies, like The Wizard of Oz, and Roman Holiday, here this summer. Also, on Wednesdays in July, the Hudson River Piers hosts Riverflicks 2012  where you can watch a free movie while seeing a lit up view of the river. And don’t forget the Central Park Film Festival runs for a week in August showing movies in Rumsey Playfield. Grab a blanket and enjoy the movies!

Engaged At 19: Is She Too Young?

The newly engaged couple
Miley Cyrus and The Hunger Games star, Liam Hemsworth announced their engagement today. Hemsworth, who is also young at only 22, popped the question on May 31st with a 3.5 carat Neil Lane diamond ring. 

They met on the set of The Last Song three years ago and have been dating on and off since. Cyrus shot to fame at a very young age and she said he was her ‘first serious boyfriend’.
On the set of The Last Song

They follow a long list of couples in Hollywood who have got engaged around this age. Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Simpson and LeAnn Rimes got married in their early twenties and all found themselves divorced years later.

Do you think the former Disney star is too young to make such a big commitment?

A Summer Dating Thought: A Romantic Picnic

Lovely summer picnic
The best dates are those where you  are really connecting with someone when you aren’t really doing anything and just spending time together.  Take a picnic, for example, you can sit in a pretty park with no other distractions and really get to know each other better. The best thing about a picnic is that it is just the two of you on your picnic blanket with food and drinks to share and no pesky waiter to interrupt your tranquility. 
Sunny day in Hudson River Park

If you don’t feel like cooking, Perfect Picnic NYC is a great alternative.. This company offers you the choice of  European and American style picnics, to be delivered to wherever you are having your picnic (a park, apartment or on a rooftop). And for location choices, don’t discount Central Park because you have been there so many times, it is still one of the most romantic places in the city with all it nooks and crannies for private little interludes. Hudson Park along the Hudson River spans for miles and beautiful this time a year. Go ahead and grab a blanket!

Spring Make-Up Pick: MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation


MAC studio fix fluid foundation nourishes and hydrates the skin and offers medium/full coverage, which you may want in Spring, when you're waiting on your summer tan to appear.

It is available in 33 different shades, meaning no matter what skin tone you have, you should be able to find a match. The foundation is also SPF 15, protecting your skin from the sun, meaning you can wear it throughout the summer months, instead of wearing oily sun lotions. Drop into MAC to get your foundation matched perfectly to you.

Love On TV: Love In The Wild

If you are looking for a guilty pleasure this summer, go ahead and check out Love in the Wild . It is part Survivor, part Bachelor Pad and part Amazing Race with sexy host, Jenny McCarthy. It's not surprising that romance brews and hormones rage when these sexy singles as out in the Wild (check out the fitness trainer and the yoga instructor.) Good watercooler conversation...

Samantha's Spring Movie Pick: What To Expect When You're Expecting


See how women handle pregnancy
If you are looking for a great movie with a romantic twist to catch this month, check out What to Expect When you are Expecting. This funny and heartwarming movie has a great cast list including, Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Matthew Morrison, Chace Crawford and J.Todd Smith. Through this story of five interconnected couples, the movie gives a real but hilarious portrayal of what goes on during the months before a woman gives birth.

And see how men handle it...
The funny and emotional storylines are bound to make you cry, so if you are ready to show your date your sensitive side, this movie is perfect for you.
It is released tomorrow, so pick a time and go check it out…

How to prepare for Summer Dating: Flirty Dresses

Summer is just around the corner, so it's time to get cracking to prepare to get back out there to date. This means go purchase some flirty feminine bright colored dresses, go update those highlights in your hair and dust off those wedges. Even if you are not a dress girl, you can become one during the summertime. And keep in mind that men LOVE color, so grab a purple, green or yellow dress. If you are hung up on wearing black, pick a floral print dress with black and some other colors. Believe me, more men will notice you!

A Summer Read: Beautiful Ruins

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter is a perfect summer read to enjoy on the beach or in the park on a warm day. The book opens in 1962, where an Italian innkeeper spots a beautiful, young, woman approaching him, on a boat. Through the introduction of unforgettable characters, and a story that spans fifty years, Walters tells the story of the innkeeper, searching for his long lost love, the beautiful woman he saw years before. 

The book continues to the modern day, and places its characters everywhere from the set of Cleopatra, to an arts festival in Scotland. This story of love and hope will keep you entertained from beginning to end.

One Year Anniversary For William And Katherine

William and Kate enjoy their romantic
first  kiss on the balcony of the Palace
On April 29th 2011,  Prince William married his long-term girlfriend, Katherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London. Billions of people, all over the world, stayed up late or got up super early, to watch as the English prince finally kissed his bride, who he had been dating for 8 years.

After a year of representing the Royal family worldwide, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have made it to their one-year anniversary. 

 But how will the royal couple celebrate such a special occasion? Hopefully with some pregnancy news! 

Sizzling Couple: One Year On

The Happy Couple

 Jennifer Aniston spent years being unlucky-in-love after the breakdown of her marriage to Brad Pitt, however now, she seems to have found a lasting relationship. The actress and her boyfriend, Justin Theroux have been going strong for over a year now, and there are constant reports that they are looking to move in together, and to get married.

Do you think Justin and Jennifer make a great couple? Do you think she has finally found her next hubby?

A Romantic Countryside Restaurant: Cucina

It’s nice to get out of the city sometimes and explore the countryside, and its even better if you find somewhere nice to stop for lunch. Cucina is in Woodstock, which I know is famous for its hippies, but this restaurant is casually sophisticated and bucks the trend of the town. It serves Italian food in a renovated farmhouse with exposed beams. The sandwiches and appetizers are great if you are just looking for a light bite, and their pizzas are delish if you are having a full meal. 

The restaurant is open every night of the week and for brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Check out the rustic and romantic atmosphere at Cucina this spring!
Perfect for dinner in the countryside

Sizzling Couple Pick: Sizzle Or Fizzle?

The hot, new couple
After a very public marriage ending in an even more public divorce in 2011, Kim Kardashian seems to have found love again, with Kanye West. The two, who have been friends for years, were seen holding hands and going to the trendy restaurant Catch in the Meatpacking District, earlier this month. The new couple, have also been spotted going for lunch at various boites in the city.

In West’s popular hit, ‘Way Too Cold’ he raps, ‘I admit I fell in love with Kim…Round time she fell in love with him’, which suggests he has liked the ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ starlet for awhile.

Do you think Kim and Kanye will sizzle or fizzle? Do you think they are well suited? Or do you think Kim has rushed into another high profile relationship without taking the time to think if he's really the right match for her?

Would You Like To Get Engaged On TV?


Fifty couples got engaged at the same time, live on TV, on CBS’s The Talk last month. All the couples were brought onto the show to talk about their relationships and how they met. Then all the men, at once, bent down on one knee to surprise their partners with beautiful DeMarco sparklers. Check out the video at http://tinyurl.com/c5q4hyd.

A Romantic Movie Date: Titanic Is Back In 3D

Jack and Rose on the 'Ship of Dreams'
If you are looking for a romantic movie date this Spring, look no further than the re-release of James Cameron's 1997 movie, Titanic. Cuddle up to your date while you watch the love that blossom between Jack and Rose while they voyage on the ‘unsinkable’ Ship of Dreams. Watching Jack fight for Rose, until she admits her own feelings for him, will make you remember watching it for the first time 15 years ago. The 3D movie is being released in April, to mark the unfortunate 100th anniversary of the ship's sinking.

The dramatic and emotional parts of the movie seem even more real in 3D, giving you an excuse to hold onto your dates arm throughout the entire movie.