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Overcast much? Sure is here in NYC. But the sun stops for no cloud, my friends! It’s always our job to be smart about sun protection. But really… SPF, UVA, UVB, sunscreen, sunblock… what’s what?!? We admit — it can sound like a complicated business. Thing is, it’s not. And NYC dermatologist Dr. Doris Day was kind enough to break it all down for us, so we can break it all down for you…

What to know? “Not all sunscreens are created equal.” Why use a product that meets FDA standards when you could use one that exceeds them? That’s Neutrogena’s Helioplex ® Technology. Their latest beach defense sunscreen has an SPF 30 lotion & SPF 70 sunscreen, with protection against UVA and UVB rays.

AOP Translation: Neutrogena’s Helioplex ® Technology is the best protection from premature aging and skin cancer, period.

How to use it? Apply… and reapply. Every two hours (more often if you take a dip or break some sweat). An ounce covers a whole body. So if you and three friends spend a day outside, at the end of the day, that bottle should be empty. Do the math.

AOP Translation: Reapply.

When to retreat? Midday, the sun is strongest. Hit the shade, wear a hat, get yourself some brand new sunnies for those peepers. UV rays can damage your eyes, too.

AOP Translation: Make it fun! We don’t need an excuse to get all fashionable with our melanoma protection, so when Dr. Day pointed us to The Eye Browser.com, we went for it! Upload your smiling, sun-screened face, then virtually browse and try on the latest sunglass styles ahead of your shopping trip!

Dr. Day’s Translation: Look for UVA and UVB protection– tint doesn’t count!

AOP Translation: Thank you, Dr. Day!

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Ladies, you know we gotta get our social on, amirite? When better than Memorial Day weekend to start thinking about hosting summertime soirees that go down in Instagramable history! It’s a simple recipe…

A Cheers!-y Cocktail
Refreshing, puuurdy to look at, and no blender required! Bacardi Classic Cocktails just unleashed a scrumptious sipper — guilt-free 95 calorie Light Strawberry Daiquiri that’s ready to pour right over tall glass of ice. Snazz it up with some lime wedges and starfruit… Viola! Instant yum that looks as good as it tastes!

A No-Fuss App
Wheat Thins Lime. Genius. All the crunch and 100% whole grain of the original, but these little limited editions are infused with lime. I don’t have to tell you that a dash of lime zest is THE flavor that’s going to matchy-match with just about any summer cocktail… Guests can snap up a handful and get to socializing!

Grill-able Gourmets
Who turns down waffle fries and onion rings? Exactly. Alexia gourmet frozen sides are an easy, seasoned (sea salt, pepper, garlic, onion!) way to tide guests over pre-burger. Roll out some tin foil and pop em right on your grill!

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Table Matters
Keep it pretty, girls! Give your table some color and dimension — flowers, cones, tiered platters.

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It is just a typically Monday morning, grabbing a much needed coffee, begrudgingly shuffling down the streets of New York to work… oh and hanging with Glee star JANE LYNCH!

Yes that’s right, the actress/comedian just so happened to be in Times Square (poster board presentation intact) to spread the message of the “virtue” of a morning meal as well as sharing belVita Breakfast Biscuits (more affectionately dubbed by the celeb “these babies”) to passersby like myself.

And it turns out “These babies” are super tasty and that Jane is nothing like her constantly conniving, berating and straight up EVIL Glee character, Sue Sylvester. The new Broadway star now appearing in Annie as Miss Hannigan (once again the antagonist) is actually as sweet as can be, smiling non-stop, snapping pics with fans and of course being ABSOLUTELY hysterical! “We love you, Miss Hannigan”, Sue, Jane, whatever!

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Ritzy Bryan, vocalist and guitarist for Welsh alt-rock group The Joy Formidable, told us that she and her band-mates might fear one thing… That’s “the fear of things just being kind of bland…”

Well, Ritzy, fear not! The Joy Formidable are anything but bland. Look at the facts: Ritzy and bassist Rhydian started as school mates. From North Wales to London to Portland, Maine, JF keep all over the map. Their latest full-length, Wolf’s Law, is named for a scientific theory addressing the body’s adaptation to bone stress (brainy mouthful, indeed!). Despite the rock edge to their sound, Ritzy swears by “pumping” 80s dance music. And newest member (and Zappa enthusiast) Matthew James Thomas joined on drums by answering an ad that was not a call for a drummer.

And above all of it, their focus is “the merit, the soul and the songwriting.” Which is more than reason to catch them performing those songs they wrote “in a little cabin in the woods” as they embark on a major Summer Festival tour. (Hey, local readers… Catch them here in the states come September!)

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If there’s one season for looking superfine head to toe, it’s summertime. The beach! Short shorts! Strappy from sandals to tops!

The go-to cocktail? SPF and antioxidants. The challenge? Getting it to stay put. Enter Skinceuticals Sport UV Defense SPF 50. It’s all about active use — won’t wipe off, rub off, or float off into the ocean or pool for up to 80 minutes! Non-comedogenic, alcohol-free, paraben-free… it’s the stuff of collagen armor.

You can still show up on the sands bronze-tastic without rays raiding your bod — Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Lotion gets you tan and moisturized with zero exposure, and it evens out your stem’s skin tone, meaning farewell freckles! And veins? Vanished.

With your skin’s on show, go easy on the make-up, girls. New York Color APPLEICIOUS Glossy Lip Balms primp your pout with sheer color while natural wonders like vitamin E, shea butter, jojoba oil and avocado oil soften and condition. Pick from ten delicious Apple-combo scents, swipe it on, and you’re good to go!

And at the end of the day, restore your skin’s pH level with Sebamed face and body wash. It’s 100% soap and paraben free, and packed with amino acids and vitamins. Which means heavy hydration.

When you’re not soaking up the warm, take Skinceuticals up on a free skincare check. The “Prevent. Protect. Get Checked” program is available to all — find your nearest doctor, and do something sweet for your skin!

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Scottish indie outfit Frightened Rabbit’s most recent studio album, Pedestrian Verse, sees lyricist-lead vocalist-rhythm guitarist Scott Hutchison hopping out of his comfort zone for a less “inward looking” record that “looks slightly more at a wider section of society.” And he does so with a newfound knack for storytelling in favor of relaying personal experience.Translation: “Something completely new is happening.” Several albums in, and it sounds like the rabbit isn’t as frightened as he used to be.

Scott Hutchison

Scott told us he makes no apologies for defying genre (“It’s just honest and I think we’re doing it for the right reasons.” YES!), and counts their folk-tinged edges as steeped in natural Scottish tradition. Something else he dropped without sorrys? What to expect on their “ongoing, neverending” tour. Like, a “half old, half new” setlist, and “tons of sweat…  can’t help that.” Oh, true!

Listen to Backyard Skulls if you haven’t — it’s phenom.

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We caught up with brother-sister duo Halestorm as they get set to embark on their biggest world tour yet, and this hard rock pair is going places (all 50 states and Europe, to be precise!) Lizzy and Arejay are about to hit the road on a bit of a perma-tour, so good thing they’re no strangers to a live show, having honed their chops at ages 10 and 13 when they “played their very first show, it was a talent show contest.” 

Since then, they’ve been on a steady gust, just barely hopping off the bus to record their second full length for Atlantic (The Strange Case Of…), noting “if we spent more time to overthink it, we would have beaten around the bush and not have gotten as much done as we did.” And how much DID they get done? “Love Bites (So Do I)” won them their first Grammy win (Best Hard Rock /  Metal Performance), that’s how much.