Community

In celebration of Barbie’s 50th Anniversary, Mattel is honoring supermodel Heidi Klum with a doll version of the German beauty and Project Runway host.

While the mini-Heidi version wont be released until September as part of Barbie’s Blonde Ambition Collection, doll collectors and Barbie fans get a sneak peek with the image shown here.

Summer’s here and while we all know to apply (and reapply) sunscreen, now is a good time to share a few more reminders on the best ways to keep skin safe. Below, some skin-saving tips courtesy of renowned dermatologist Dr. Vermén M. Verallo-Rowell:

•    DO use a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB light

•    DO apply more sunscreen than you think you need (at least 1 oz. for the entire body)

•    DO apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to going outside (ingredients need time to bind to the skin)

•    DO reapply sunscreen every two hours when exposed to the sun (and every one hour while swimming)

•    DO wear a wide brim hat and sunglasses to further protect the face, head, ears and neck and prevent early signs of aging

•    DON’T use sunscreen past its expiration date. Treat it as any other over the counter drug

•   DON’T forget your lips! Use a product with at least SPF 30 UVA & UVB protection

•    DON’T spend extended periods of time in the sun during the hours of 10 AM – 2 PM

Last week we lost a beloved TV star and Hollywood golden girl. Not only was Farrah Fawcett a gifted actress in television, stage and films, the Charlie’s Angels star was a fashion and style icon.

Fashion sites Style.com, Refinery 29, Stylelist have all noted the impact Fawcett has made over the past few decades and we love flipping through the sideshows and seeing her gorgeous hair and seventies style evolve over the years.

I recently was told about the CD Playing for Change and I now cannot stop listening to it!

Creator Mark Johnson started this project four years ago in the streets of Santa Monica, California recording street musician Roger Ridley perform the song, Stand By Me.  According to Mark, Playing for Change is a “multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music”.

Over the last four years, Mark and his team have traveled around the world to places as far away as Kathmandu and Cape Town to New Orleans and Dublin, where Bono sang for the album, and recorded street musicians performing the same songs.  They then masterfully combined the recordings to create unique and soulful renditions of some of your favorite songs since none of the musicians actually played together.  The videos are incredible, too.

Go to PlayingForChange.com to download the CD and watch the videos, $13.98.

- Melissa

Thanks to USA TODAY, choosing our beach reads has gotten a whole lot easier. The good people over there have compiled a summer book calendar, complete with release date, brief synopsis and link to buy.

With so many page-turners to choose from, it’s a shame summer isn’t longer, but Tomato Rhapsody, Rocket Men, and Heroic Measures are all on our list.

Channeling Ariel from The Little Mermaid, Paris Hilton makes a splash with her new advertising campaign for her upcoming fragrance, Siren.

“Siren is all about being sexy in a playful way. I feel irresistible as a mermaid,” Paris said. “What girl doesn’t want to have fun being a fantasy creature that men can’t resist?”

According to WWD, the scent has “top notes of juicy mandarin, apricot nectar, and frangipani, with a heart of honeysuckle, coconut orchid and water lily. The drydown consists of vanilla beans, sandalwood and creamy musk.”

Siren by Paris Hilton Collection will arrive in stores in July, with a 1.7 oz. eau de parfum spray starting at $45 a bottle and body lotion at $28.

As anyone who ever got sucked into marathons of Newlyweds can attest, Jessica Simpson has made her mark in reality television. But according to People.com, Simpson is gearing up to star in a new documentary-style series, The Price of Beauty, in which the singer/actress explores the impact of beauty in our culture and what constitutes true beauty. Shooting starts next month and the series is slated to air on VH1 in 2010. Read more in the press release here.

In celebration of its 125th anniversary, BVLGARI has teamed up with the Save the Children Federation and created three special jewels where $60 of each sale goes directly toward Save the Children’s “Rewrite the Future” campaign.

The latest jewel to be released is a sterling silver pendant necklace in honor of Bulgari’s founder, Sotirio Bulgari.  The necklace features Save the Children’s engraved logo along with the name “S. Bulgari”, so treat yourself knowing that you will be looking fabulous AND giving back!  How great is that?

Buy the pendant now at BVLGARI.com, $290.

Save yourself a trip to the mall and get the dad in your life something he really wants: options! We just discovered a new shopping site called GiveAnything.com where gift recipients can choose from over 300 online vendors to spend their virtual gift certificate. The best part is the gift card is ready for spending upon purchase and you can even send out an e-card announcing your gift. So whether Dad chooses to spend his gift card on sports equipment or gourmet goodies, the choice will be his.