Even though I was just in Montauk like 3 days ago, my body is already desperate for a vacation (not entirely because it’s constantly raining here).

I think we all feel that way, and so, to prepare you for your next getaway, we have a fun little web-scavenger hunt contest from Royal Holiday - a positively breathtaking premium vacation club. (Check out their web site for pix of their locations - my favorite is most-assuredly Cozumel.)

One winner will win: Royal holiday branded merchandise (hat, polo shirt, gym bag/duffel, towel) and Flip Cam Ultra!

To have your chance to win, go to the Royal Holiday web site, and answer the following questions

Question #1: What is the first promotion available on the promotions page?

Question #2: According to the “Press Room”, what two awards did Park Royal Cozumel, one of the premiere Royal Holiday resorts, win?

Question #3: How many different countries does Royal Holiday currently have partnership hotels/resorts in?

Question #4: Name 2 of the 9 “main benefits of a Royal Holiday membership” as indicated by the website

Question #5: What are the two new customer service numbers featured on the front page?

The winner has to live in USA, Mexico or Canada! Think about that before entering! Deadline to enter: July 10.

Yesterday was super exciting for me - Starbucks, one of my favorite establishments on earth, invited me and a few other “influencers” to come taste some of their new menu offerings (launched today).

Photo credit: Allison Galland

It’s all part of a nation (world?) wide healthy eating movement, and they are looking to improve the taste of food and focus on real, wholesome ingredients.

The new menu is comprised of simplified recipes and foods like Oregon blueberries, Michigan cherries and Washington apples. Plus, Starbucks is cutting out all artificial flavors, colors and high-fructose corn syrup, as well as artificial preservatives and sweeteners wherever possible in its food.

Some of the new items you can check out, starting today:

Blueberry Streusel Muffin,– with plump, whole Oregon blueberries

Banana Walnut Bread – nearly one-third pure banana

Marshmallow Dream Bar –only 210 calories

Strawberry Banana Vivanno Smoothie - Strawberry puree, a whole banana, whey protein powder, 2% milk and ice - and under 300 calories

Farmer’s Market Salad - – Blue cheese, crunchy almonds, tart dried cranberries and sweet apples piled on a bed of romaine lettuce with all-natural balsamic vinaigrette. 220 calories (300 calories with dressing)

Take it from someone LIVING on the goodie bag that came from the event products….so so so good!

This summer, while focusing on your physical fitness, why not spend some time on your fiscal fitness as well?  Like fitness, when it comes to finances, setting goals is a key to your success.  A recent Women & Co. study found that 93% of affluent women set financial objectives.  To help you define your financial future, download the Women & Co. worksheet, Set and Achieve Your Financial Goals.  Then follow the five simple steps below from Lisa Caputo, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Women & Co., and Linda Descano, CFA^®, President and COO of Women & Co.:

1. Assess Your Health: Gather all important financial statements and review what you own, your assets, and what you owe, your liabilities. Look carefully at how you’re putting your hard-earned cash to work – what you’re earning, spending and saving.  Then set aside some time every few months to file important papers and keep them organized.

1. Know Your Numbers: Your credit score is a key indicator of your financial health. It’s a primary criteria used by lenders to determine your likelihood of defaulting on a loan and that may impact your ability to get many types of loans, including a mortgage.  Request your free annual credit report from each of the 3 major credit bureaus at www.annualcreditreport.com.

1. Set Your Goals: Once you know where you stand today, set goals.  Short-term goals are those you’d like to accomplish within one year (e.g., pay off credit cards); mid-term goals, within 5 years (e.g., make down payment on a new home); and long-term goals, 5 years or more (e.g., save for retirement).  Write these down, using the worksheet from Women & Co. to help you clarify and prioritize your financial goals.

1. Protect Yourself: Maintain appropriate insurance coverage; keep your beneficiary forms for your 401(k), IRA and insurance up-to-date; and put your wishes in writing by executing a will, living will, power of attorney and health care proxy.
2. Conduct Annual Check-ups: Review your finances at least once a year with your financial advisor. Keep in mind that life transitions such as having a child, getting married or divorced, or moving to another state, often bring with them financial, tax and legal implications.

My current handbag-designer crush is Mariana Goschin, the designer behind the gorgeous Carla Mancini hand bags.

We’re going to give away a GORGEOUS navy bag from Carla Mancini’s fall collection - but first, some more info on the designer! Read my exclusive interview below.

When you got started in design, did you know it was handbags that would ultimately be your passion?

I never thought that handbags would become my passion in design. I was always attracted by the bags I had seen in movies. Sophia Lauren had a great bag in one of her movies that I had to replay it so many times, all the clutches that were in the Dallas episodes and many more. As a teenager I was intrigued by this strange desire to know what was in my mother’s friends’ purses, so sometimes I would ask if I can look, and whatever it is that we carry says so much about who we are.

Do you have any style/trend predictions for the season?

I think this fall season is about exotics, animal prints, python prints, and color. Add purple, cobalt, green, red to your outfit, and it just seem to work, brings some excitement to the black and brown that we have seen so many years. There are also a lot of studs and embellishments. We need a mood enhancer for sure, especially in these times.

What trends have you seen lately that you hate?

I can’t say I hate anything. As long as it is tasteful and creative.

Each season, you do a limited run of bags - as your mass appeal grows, do you see this changing?

Of course, we have to keep up with the demand while we make sure that the product will not deteriorate, so there might be things that we have to pass on. The most important thing is to adjust to the economic situation and the consumer demand and bring an affordable luxury product on the market each season.

You mentioned you are inspired by the vintage feel, and Italian culture - what else inspires you?

My friends, the special women in my life, they have been for me the greatest source of inspiration. Their needs and also the excitement on their face when I come up with a new style is priceless. They nurture and believe in what I am doing and it gives me the reason to do better so I never stop trying to impress them. We live in a world that is so demanding, our bags become heavier by day; the iPods, cell phones, wallets, you name it. How is it that we can still look stylish and sexy while we carry all this weight and responsibilities? This is when I get challenged and inspired.

What is it like having a partner when being such a creative soul - does that spur more creativity? Open you to new ideas?

I think having a partner is always easier. A lot of the things I am doing are confronted by his honest opinion. Richard has a refined taste and he will sometimes highlight a small thing that can just trigger my vision. After all, it is important how men perceive us. I might not always like the input but sometimes it is necessary. I had to learn to listen first and react after. It helps to improve my work. I will admit that I am so defensive with my bags. It is like a mother defending her own baby and most of the time I will not compromise.

Why do you choose to still have everything handmade in Los Angeles?

There is a quality about the bags made here. They have a human touch. I don’t know why, but when we produce something overseas, and the workmanship is perfect, sometimes better, it is still not very appealing to me.

I know the work and effort that is behind every bag. The fact that we can create jobs for people that live in the US and especially in my city makes me feel good. They put their energy, their heart and passion in what they are doing and that is reflected in the product. It is not an easy process, but we will continue to grow it as much as it is possible. I wish more of my customers will have this consciousness about how important it is to encourage companies that manufacture in this country and use more and more of our own resources.

Thanks so much to Mariana Goschin for giving us so much insight into the brand!

To have your chance to win, please share your own fall style inspirations! Earn extra entries by re-tweeting this contest (I’m @alywalansky) - Deadline to enter July 15!

So, we have arrived. Not to worry, but there’s a minor TORNADO outside.

That said, we have had a fabulous day so far!

All pix are from Ysolt, since my image uploading is not behaving…

Us in car, caught in majorrrr traffic on the Montauk highway. It appears we were headed to a pretty popular destination!

Check out the view from our room! We have our very own beachfront balcony!

Let’s face it, we’re at a time where money is tight - and people are willing to do all sorts of stuff for some cold hard cash.

Clearly, there are moral limitations. (More on that soon, I had a doozy of an offer recently from a major cable network!), but - within reason - why can’t we use these hard times as a great excuse to get our friends to do stuff for us?

It’s the most brilliant idea ever, PayPal this week launched an initiative called DoStuffForMoney.

Essentially, it’s a fun new way to motivate people to do, well, pretty much whatever you want them to. From menial chores to questionable favors and downright humiliating dares, the power of persuasion is now in your hands, for the price of your choosing!

Seriously, there ain’t nothing like some green to put some power behind your otherwise-annoying-and-obnoxious begging and hinting.

THE POWER!

Whether you want someone to clean your house, do your chores, or run your errands, you may want to try DoStuffForMoney, you can offer another friend a quick $50, and she just might do your laundry and wash your car for you. Then, you just send her the money through paypal! No ATM visits, no stamps wasted on sending checks.

It’s easy to do: Go to www.paypal.com/DoStuffForMoney where you send your chosen friend (we’ll call her..um…ALY) a personalized offer of $50 in exchange for handling all baby shower planning. Choose to send her the offer via Facebook or email. If you choose Facebook, the offer appears on Aly’s Wall; if you choose email, it goes right to her inbox. Aly gets your offer and can choose to accept, decline or ignore you. If you made your offer through Facebook, her decision will be posted on her wall. If Aly decides to help you out, you can pay her instantly using PayPal’s Send Money feature!

I LOVE this idea. I love it so much that I’ve teamed up with PayPal to do a fun giveaway. Five readers will win a $50 paypal gift card - which you can then use to bribe someone you know and love! To enter the contest, tell me what you would try to manipulate…I mean…bribe…I mean…pay your friend to do. Deadline is July 3.

PS: Earn EXTRA ENTRIES by Retweeting this contest on Twitter! My Twitter name is @alywalansky - good luck!

So, a few months ago, I was visiting a friend in New Jersey, and we stopped by the local Cheesecake Factory for lunch.

At first, I faltered…I told my friend I do not LIKE cheesecake. Nothing against that of this establishment, I just don’t like it…at all. And I’m from Brooklyn!

My friend assured me that they, too, were not a cheesecake-lover (something I already knew, but sometimes a girl needs validation) but Cheesecake Factory still rocked…even if you went nowhere near their famous desserts…I, finally, starving, acquiesced.

An hour later, stuffed on avocado egg rolls and the very best Santa Fe salad EVER…I was a newfound fan.

And, so, I believe strongly in paying it forward…and what great timing!

I’ve just been alerted they are having a “Share Your Celebration” contest on their official website, cheesecakefactory.com.

When you enter the “Share Your Celebration” contest,  you enter with a picture of a celebration you have had, and explain how Cheesecake Factory played a part in it (you can see some examples if you go to the page).

After doing that, you can win:

o Trip for 4 to Florida – Airfare, Hotel, Disney Resort Passes and $1,000

o Chance to win a $25 gift card, $500 in gift cards

o Cheesecake for ONE YEAR!!

Note, I am not hosting this contest - so supplicating to me will NOT help you win. However, if you care to invite me on your celebration, I’m sure it’ll make it more entry-worthy!

For those not in the know, iZak is my best friend - otherwise known as my absolutely fabulous MacBook.

He’s getting a little older, and has undergone a lot of abuse (writing nine blogs a day will do that to you) - and I’ve been toying with the idea of getting him a little brother to help take the load off. (Especially since I am in love with the newly released Macbook Pro’s!)

But, despite Apple being superior in every way that is security and protection, I still want to take precautions, and have been toying around on the Stop H*Commerce Resource Center sponsored by McAfee.

This site is FABULOUS! (And it also has a spot on Facebook, which I have just became a fan of - you should too, and friend me while you are at it!)

My favorite aspect - there’s a quiz that you can take to gauge how safe your online shopping habits are. http://us.mcafee.com/en-us/landingpages/quiz_shopping.asp - Being that hacking and identity theft is rampant these days, this is important to be on top of no matter what your computer situation! I have a friend who has been a victim of identity theft three times - trust me - it ain’t fun!

To begin unveiling this new sustainability platform, Lipton recently sponsored the backstage gifting suite at the TONY Awards and made a donation to the Broadway Green Alliance for every celeb who stopped by to give their own “green” tip.

The celebs were gifted with the new Lipton Rainforest Alliance Certified Green Tea as well as a cordless, electric tea kettle, and a reuseable thermal tea container. Here were some of our favorite tips:

Kate Bruton
“Always keep windows closed with AC. Turn off all lights and unplug all wall chargers.”

Brian Stokes Mitchell
“Unless it has been incinerated, every piece of plastic that has ever been made still exists because it does not biodegrade. So next time you think about throwing away that plastic bottle…don’t!”

Gavin Creel
“Save the water. Shower with a friend.”

Neal Patrick Harris
“Support alternative fuel. Hydrogen, electricity, whatever!”

Will Swenson
“Run outside instead of using a treadmill.”

Bret Michaels
“The earth rocks my world…let’s keep it green!”

John Stamos
“Bob Saget and I carpool to work.”

Laura Benanti
“When you brush your teeth, turn off the water; and when you pee, use recycled toilet paper.”

Harry Fierstein
“I buy people’s old crap and fill my house with it. It’s good for the planet and great for conversation.”

Jennifer Mudge
“Never use a paper towel.”

Allison Janney
“Always unplug your cell phone chargers and hairdryers and any other appliances when not in use. They use energy!”

Marcia Gay Harden
“Wash your clothes in cold water - Hot makes no difference and you use less power.”

Rickey Rockett (Poison)
“Going vegetarian helps the environment because less land is cleared to graze cows for slaughter, to wash their urine and feces into the ground.”

Anne Hathaway
“Put a plastic bag in each of your purses. You’ll never be caught out at the grocery store.”

Jessica Lange
“No more plastic bottles ever!”

Carole Pregy (Hair)
“We all shower together!”

Will Ferrel
“I save over 100 gallons of water a year by never…and I mean never flushing the toilet!”

Kristin Chenowith
“For my last CD, I used a cardboard album cover instead of plastic. I’m also going to recycle my dress after tonight.”

———-

These “Green” Tips have been provided courtesy of Lipton Tea from The Lipton SustainabiliTEA Bar
backstage at the 2009 Tony Awards in the Official Lipton Gift Lounge.

Do you have a “green tip”? The best tip will win the same package that these celebs won: Rainforest Alliance Certified Green Tea as well as a cordless, electric tea kettle, and a reuseable thermal tea container! Deadline July 1.

Earn double entries if you mention this contest on Twitter (My name is @alywalansky)!