How #vamping makes me smarter

So my new word of the week is #vamping. The New York Times says my teens are doing it (although I swear they are not). I do it occasionally. My husband never does it. Ever.

No, #vamping is not the '90's definition of being a little ostentatious, but rather pulling an all-nighter hanging out on-line and, in my case, ending up somewhere very, very distant from where I started. As I was reading the NY Times article about what teens are doing, I realized that not much has changed since when I was a teen. I felt the need to read the article since I have 2 teens so I need to know what they are up to in case I'm missing something when I'm busy, uh... #vamping. But I'm not. It's the same idea of "get off the phone" except now they need to stop texting, or "stop reading and go to bed" which hasn't changed, except add that kids now need to stop watching videos, tv, Snapchatting, scrolling through Instagram, etc.

The difference: life is digital, but isn't it somewhat similar?  But what I didn't realize until I started writing this, was that I do learn some things when I #vamp late at night, which I'm sharing below with you. Maybe they are actually learning something of value too. A mom can only hope.

• I am guilty of #5, and thought I was being considerate! 5 Things Not to Say (or Do) at the Farmer's Market via The Kitchn
• I can do my dry-cleaning at home (not with Dryel) with this cool machine!
• I now know why my phone battery is draining so quickly! Facebook is at it again... but this quick fix in my settings solves it
• I can organize my home with 10 cheap, easy hacks. via Real Simple
• That stunning guy who landed in jail for gang related charges (you know, blue eyes?) actually got an agent via Racked
• Ellen is starting a lifestyle brand with Chris Burch backing her. Yes, that Ellen. Yes, that Chris Burch of C. Wonder. via WWD
• These mod horsebit boots are everywhere in every incarnation (python, calf hair, tall ankle boot, bootie, knee boot....). I see '60's.

So that's where my brain goes... from healthy to practical to ridiculous to, you guessed it, shopping.

How about you... do you ever #vamp or just get distracted while browsing?

xo ~kim

A fierce makeover show is about to be B.O.R.N.

The better you know me, the more you know I love my reality tv. Classy reality tv, which I do not believe is an oxymoron, is my favorite - you know the kind you watch and think: I should get in shape and run a 10K next week, or learn to sew so I can whip up a dress made out of crushed soda cans and hula hoops, or start a wedding cake business. The reality tv that makes me think, "why am I sitting on this couch when I could be doing something useful?" And something I've always wanted to be was a stylist. Combine fashion, giving my opinion, and making people look better? Count me in!! So a show about a bunch of lovable couple of guys and a gal living my dream is going to be high on my list, especially when it's premiering on the new network, FYI (FYI = for your imagination, innovation, and inspiration). My kind of network.

And B.O.R.N. to Style is my kind of show!  B.O.R.N. to Style premieres Tuesday, 7/15 @10p EST, on FYI Network. I'm hoping Chloe even has a chance to stop by the B.O.R.N. shop in Harlem while in NYC and meet Jonathan Bodrick, the storeowner and a definite fashion maven, or any of the other stylists: Brandon Hood, JJ Langan, Kristen Brown, Terry Artis or Devin Stokes.  I can't wait to see who ends up being my favorite, but Jonathan has some standout style -- that's him in the front with the gold sneakers and the hat that would make Pharrell happy. And did I mention that this show looks like it is all about happy and inspirational? Check it out:

How about you... any tv shows you are catching up on this summer or any recommendations for me? Will you be watching B.O.R.N. to Style? Even the tagline to "B.O.R.N. to Style: Your Makeover Needs a Makeover" has me excited!

xo ~kim

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by FYI Network through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about B.O.R.N. to Style, all opinions are my own.

NYC Coffee Shops

If you follow us on Instagram (which if you aren’t then you totes should @popcosmo) then you know that I’m basically taking a coffee shop tour of NYC. I frequently find myself going to coffee shop after coffee shop if I have a few minutes to kill or need to charge up my phone. The good news is that there are loads of trendy coffee shops here. Loads. Like one on every few corners. When I met up with blog friends Sloane and Gracey for our photo excursion we stumbled upon one called Blue Stone Lane Coffee. It. Was. Amazing.

Just walking into the coffee shop we knew we would have our Instgrams covered for the rest of the summer. There were just so many pretty little details and the shop was huge! Funny story though, I don’t drink caffeine and I ordered an iced decaf latte. Apparently in New York if you don’t drink caffeine then you are an alien that should be shunned because almost every single barista in the place was making fun of me. They were nice enough to actually serve me a decaf latte though, so points for them.

If you ever find yourself in New York City, or in the West Village specifically, then you must visit Blue Stone Lane! It’s gorgeous and everything you could ever want in a coffee shop.

xox ~chloe

 Do you have any trendy coffee shop recommendations for me while I’m here?

Humans of New York: my 1 degree of separation

I know New York is all I’ve been talking about lately, and this post is no different, but I just wanted to pop in a tell y’all a little story. But first of all, for those of you wondering, my internship is going so well. Like I can’t wait to go to work in the mornings fun. I’ve been busy taking product pictures, editing product pictures, organizing, and, of course, steaming drapes, pillowcases, etc. But it’s all fun and I really feel like my hard work is helping the company so I'm contributing too.

via HONY

Anyway, I’ve been walking home from work on most days (which is about 30-ish blocks). I absolutely love walking because it’s so fun to be a part of the New York City rush, plus I really love people watching while I’m walking. A few days ago I was walking through Times Square (with thousands of people) and I saw this dude with a huge mohawk wearing all black clothes. We were walking together for a while and even though he looked super dark and at first honestly kind of intimidating, he was dancing to the music from his iPod and he just seemed like an overall nice person because he smiled and chatted with anyone who remarked on his hair. He was so interesting because of the juxtaposition between his outfit and hair vs. the personality he was emitting.

On my "wish list" this summer is to see Brandon from Humans of New York. I envy how he is able to show another side of people that we normally would never be able to see or even understand. While I haven’t seen Brandon yet, I was browsing Humans of New York last night and I came across the mohawk dude’s picture. Turns out, I saw the mohawk dude the exact same day that his picture was taken and featured. I was SO excited when I saw his photograph and learned a little more about his story. So instead of trying to figure out my 6 degrees of separation, I now have 1 degree of separation since I was walking side by side with the mohawk dude. Well, at least that's how I see it. How cool is that?

They say New York is huge, but I’m learning that it really is just a tiny island.

xox, chloe

Do you read and like Humans of New York?

10 Reasons to Love Denver

Ok, so I just got here... and Chloe isn't even here yet. But seriously, Denver is like a puppy: it just begs to be loved. You can't see it or experience it without falling in love with it. My newbie impressions have me madly in love with my new town and may explain why, despite a less than stellar move, I haven't lost my patience yet. I haven't yet had a chance to explore new dining or take any excursions, so I'm surprised how easily I was able to jot these down and come up with my top 10 reasons to love Denver (so far):

1. It's always sunny. Well, almost, except for an afternoon sun shower or when it hails. But then it's sunny and dry again right away.

2. Despite the sun, it's not too hot. But if it is, just find a shady spot and you can actually cool off. Why? because...

3. There's no humidity. My Alabama family needs to visit to experience this.

4. Everyone is happy and friendly. I'm serious. I haven't met a rude person yet. I know I will (I'm not naive and we ALL have bad days, but the ratio of rude to polite is strikingly low).

5. Everyone is attractive. Not that I'm looking, but beauty comes from within + everyone is happy => everyone is beautiful, right?

6. If you don't believe #5 then trust me when I say that everyone is fit. 'Cause they are. Well, I think the state average is, at my guesstimate, probably at 90%. But it must be newcomers like me who make up that 10% and I will be changing my fit party soon.

7. People don't talk about biking to work or for pleasure... they just do it! My son and I joined goodnessknows for Bike to Work Day and had a blast and even made 2 new friends: Kerrigan and Suzanne. Denver B-cycles are everywhere in Denver and people use them. The ride we took at 6:30 this morning to celebrate #BiketoWorkDay was packed with us and commuters. And thanks to goodnessknows, a new snack bar, I had a very healthy treat... chocolate, cranberries and almonds. Yum!

Olympic Skier Bobby Brown Photo by Jack Dempsey/Invision for goodnessknows/AP Images

8. Everyone is outdoors either gardening, biking, running, drinking coffee.... Well, why not?! You don't sweat, you aren't hot, and...

9. I haven't seen a mosquito. Not one.

10. And my main reason to love Denver: my hair is frizz-free. I can not over-emphasize the importance of this having grown up in Alabama and fighting frizz my entire life. Welcome to hair-freedom.

Denver is bliss and there are certainly more than 10 reasons to love Denver, so if you know Colorado better than I do, tell me what you like about the area and I'll can be sure to explore it!

xo ~kim

Take a break with Ok Go

First of all, I'm sorry (it's Kim, here). I've been absent - it's been weeks since I've checked in - and I apologize for not keeping up with y'all. I've got a fabulous excuse though: packing up our Louisville home, saying goodbyes to family and friends, driving cross-country, waiting forever for internet hookup, and now slowly, while not so surely as I stare down boxes daring them to unpack & organize themselves, settling into our home in Denver. All while Chloe is enjoying her glam lifestyle in New York at Dormify (lucky gal).

But I took a break tonight to watch Almost Royal on BBC America (hysterical), catch up on some emails, and be entertained with my son by videos on YouTube. The stunning creativity of OK Go once again caught my eye and I just had to share it with you. Be prepared to be amazed... and keep in mind this was shot in a single take. Just... whoa! Once again, OK Go simply astounds with their visuals, so enjoy!

And if you are in or around the Denver area, let me know! Hope you are having a nice summer and we'll be back soon with our regular blogging schedule... promise!

xo ~kim