Click here if you don’t have Spotify (and then get Spotify).

The only thing more important than vodka and coconut everything in the summer is looking decent in a swimsuit, and at just 100(ish) calories per drink, this low-cal vodka cocktail (LCVC) provides ALL OF THAT. Add in refreshing lime and you have the tropics in a tumbler.

I’ve been whipping up this simple sauce since Hangout Fest with Svedka Colada (my obsession) and even taste tested it on a few discerning dudes (it passed with flying colors). But I was recently at a bar that had coconut rum instead of vodka, so I gave that a whirl and chugged loved it just the same! Rum gals, rejoice!

Here’s how to make it:

Mix 1 part coconut vodka or light rum to 2 parts soda (or half and half if you’re heavy-handed like me), then add a teaspoon (or a good squirt) of lime juice. I die for Nellie & Joe’s Key West lime juice and you can find it in most grocery stores. Add fresh lime to garnish and VOILA: Put the Lime in the Coconut COMPLETE! (You can always use fresh-squeezed lime juice if you want the bicep workout, but I just prefer bottled for this cocktail.)

Now drink ‘em both up.

LYLAS,
Ashley

More LCVCs:
The Lean Green
The Dreamsicle

(Because that Friends episode still haunts us ladies who have potential for frizzy situations…)
Summer boosts several beauty benefits like a dewy glow (click HERE to make sure it’s not a sweaty glow), natural highlights, and sun-kissed skin. But one fiasco many females face in the heat is an unwanted flyaway fro. While everyone’s hair is different, we are all prone to full-on frizz or frustrating fuzz with amped up humidity in the air. Was there a flame near your head or did someone just rub a balloon on it? Let’s avoid that question, shall we? Depending how curly, coarse, dry, damaged, or fine your hair is, there are some basic ways to tame that runaway renegade hair halo.

The Wash
It starts with a solid shower routine. A key ingredient to successful taming: Moisture. Sun, salt water, chlorine, and general rough summer play can suck the life out of your hair. Shampoo and condition with products like Alterna Bamboo Smooth Anti-Frizz Shampoo & Conditioner ($22). If you have fine hair, opt for a light moisturizing formula like Nexxus Hydra-Light Weightless Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner ($11). And don’t be scerred to skip days between washes! Take a volumizing dry shampoo like Marc Anthony 2^nd Day Clear Dry Shampoo ($10) to day-old hair to pump up texture and minimize stripping your hair of its natural oils.

The Styling
Make nice with your mane. Beat-up, over-styled, over-heated locks make frizz rear its ugly head…on your pretty head. Give your hair some drank and apply an anti-frizz serum or cream like Blow Pro Weather Girl Pure Anti-frizz Serum ($22) or Josie Maran Argan Oil hair serum ($30) before blowdrying. (And always squeeze and blot the hair dry, not rub.) For finer and/or oiler hair (Wassup, strand sisters!), be cautious with serums as they can make you greasy. Always select lightweight products like Living Proof’s Weightless Styling Spray ($26) or John Frieda’s new Frizz-Ease Sheer Solution ($10) and use a minimal amount. For curly cuties, opt for a product that’ll enhance your natural texture but tame frizz like Aveda’s Be Curly Curl Enhancer ($22) or Bumble and Bumble’s Curl Conscious Calming Cream ($29). For natural, very curly/coarse, and/or unruly hair, turn to Carol’s Daughter for your strand saviors. And always remember two things: 1) When it comes to serum/oil/cream, a little goes a long way, and 2) Go light on your roots or keep it away from that region altogether if you want to skip a day or two of shampooing/styling.

When brushing wet hair, go old school and use a wide-tooth comb. When blowdrying, don’t forget all the knowledge W+P dropped on your regarding the actual dryer and boar bristle brushes. Using a concentrator on the nozzle will give you a smoother blowout, but just remember to keep the dryer moving at all times; holding it on one piece of hair for too long will fry it. If you use a lot of heating tools, try to skip a day between flat-ironing the shiz out of your tresses. As for the finishing touches, you can lightly smooth/spray on an anti-frizz shine spray like John Frieda’s Frizz-Ease Shine Glossing Mist ($6) if you have normal or drier hair (it can weigh down finer or oilier strands). Hairspray can be loaded with alcohol leaving locks dry and frizz-prone, so steer clear or use sparingly.

The Treatments
Once a week (no matter your hair type), apply a deep conditioning treatment like the indulgent Oribe Signature Moisture Masque ($59) or W+P’s favorite Recitals Mud Masque ($36) and leave in for 10 minutes. If you’re soaking up the sun a ton, use a mask like Fekkai Advanced After Sun Daily Mask ($25). This is also great for color-treated hair as it protects hair from UV rays and fading.

In short, there are several ways to tame frizz before, during, and after your wash and style sessions. Everyone’s hair is different, so take it slow when figuring out what’s best for you. Try one product at at time, and either add another step to your routine or switch it out for another product. Stay smooth, my friends.

♥,
Hayden

And hey, you! Don’t forget to check out and download the Pretty In My Pocket app for way more product reviews, expert recommendations, GIVEAWAYS/perks, and overall beauty awesomeness! It will change your beauty game. 

And now we have Miss Utah’s cringe-worthy performance from last night’s Miss USA pageant. Let’s be clear this is MISS, not MISS TEEN, which means that this is a WOMAN, not a young girl.

I have so many thoughts…

1. Nene Leakes is a judge? I mean…what? All I have to say is I wish she would have started off with “So let me axe you this…”

2. I thought pageant chicks had to PRACTICE answering questions. I mean, if you told me that Miss Utah had been a mute her entire life and this was the first time she had ever spoken actual words, I would believe it.

3. I would also believe that she was wasted (her eyes do look a little low). And if that was the case, I’m totally ok with this, because if I had to answer that question after 17 vodka drinks and 4.5 Fireball shots, it would be a very similar situation.

4. Is that a Jonas brother?

5. How the HELL does Guiliana keep it together? I could never.

6. No seriously, Guiliana should win an Oscar for her serious, encouraging nodding and straight-faced “Thank you, Utah” at the end. If only Chelsea Handler had been hosting…

7. In Miss Utah’s defense, they did complicate the question. Why couldn’t they just say, “Look, women are bringing home the bacon in a lot of households, but still make less than dudes in the workplace. What up with that?” She might have understood it better. And I’m sure Nene wanted to axe it like that anyway.

8. Thank God Brent Musburger wasn’t commentating this pageant, because that gal looks like his type. Although I’m sure he was watching at home with a boner.

9. Maybe this is all a publicity stunt to become the next big Internet sensation. Didn’t Miss Teen South Carolina get offered a porn deal? Oh wait, that was Miss Teen Delaware (reppin’ my homestate!).

10. Bottom line: We need to continue to try to strive to figure out how to create education better.

I mean, I guess we can’t argue with that.

LYLAS,
Ashley

I mainly shop Sephora, Woo, and Bloomie’s for my makeup (go ahead, call me a snob), but that’s not to say there aren’t great products on the drugstore shelves, and when I find ‘em, I want to spread the budget beauty gospel!

Guest blogger Hayden mentioned Revlon’s Lip Butters ($6) in a recent post, and maybe it was just the name, but they intrigued me, so when I rushed into CVS recently for some emergency stain remover (don’t ask), I headed over to the Revlon section (I guess I wasn’t in that much of a rush). I spotted them, and after some serious deliberating (apparently I’d forgotten about my emergency), chose the Raspberry Pie hue. I was prepared for it to give me smooth, subtle color.

I was headed somewhere in a rush (as always), so I put it on like lip gloss sans mirror, then was literally shocked when I finally caught a glimpse of myself.

These sly smoothies look like glosses…but act like lipsticks! They’re like that sneaky guy who makes you think you’re casually dating, then all of a sudden introduces you as his girlfriend and you’re all, “WTF, DUDE!?”…..but then you kinda’ like it.

And I am certainly liking these.
They go on easy, give you GREAT color, stay put for a while, and feel smooth the whole time they’re on your lips.

(Kinda’ like that guy…)

LYLAS,
Ashley

From Leigh Hesseltine, I get my impatience, inappropriate sense of humor, fast and aggressive driving, drinking habits, ambition and drive to work for myself, and “above the law” attitude (he may have gotten in trouble with authority growing up more times than I have). He’s made me the person I am today, and I am so thankful my mom pinned him down and they decided to stop partying long enough to have a child (then another one).

Here’s to you, Dad. (Hopefully Mom will show you this blog entry on her iPhone while you’re boozing at the beach today since you’re too old-school for smart phones.) I love you and look up to you so much.

And Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there (except the deadbeats). Enjoy it!

I meeeean…

Ummm….

Don’t get me wrong. Sometimes I REALLY do love it. But sometimes I f*cking hate it.  And I know (almost) everyone who lives there or has ever visited feels the same way, but they’re scared to say it because we’re all supposed to loooooove The Big Apple.

Let’s get real, people.

1. You can’t just get in your car and drive somewhere. Like the grocery store. Or your ex’s house at 3 a.m.

BUT…

You don’t have to worry about DUIs, annoying car insurance payments (no offense, Flo), paying for parking and the inevitable tickets (Park Atlanta, go f*ck yourself) or behind-the-wheel road rage (which is way more intense than backseat-of-a-cab road rage).

2. You will be pressed up against strangers in a germ-filled subway car and sometimes they will smell bad and/or talk to you (or themselves) with halitosis breath and you will want to kill yourself.

BUT…

Then it’s suddenly your stop and you’re like, “Damn, I’m here already?” And you’re OUT.

3. Drinks are more expensive (this one hurts).

BUT…

There are more hot, successful dudes in power suits to buy them for you. $18 cocktail? Psssh, that’s pocket change for those fellas who were just yelling at the NYSE for eight hours straight (who exactly ARE they yelling at, btw?)

4. There’s SO. MUCH. WALKING. and your feet are KILLING you even in your “comfortable” shoes. Waaaah!

BUT…

You’re burning about 9038402983423 times more calories than you usually do in your lazy ass driving city (ahem, Atlanta) and getting skinnier.

Extra skinny points if your Prancercise.

5. You’re probably going to stay with or visit a friend who lives on a 5^th floor walkup (seriously….WHERE are the elevators?) and you may have to carry a suitcase and/or wine bottles and/or something of weight up these five flights whilst wearing heels and want to die (and slap your friend when you get to the top).

BUT…

Again, you’re getting skinnier. Plus a glute workout. So you can drink more wine.

6. You’re peacefully walking along when you get a hot gust of air to the face that smells like sewage mixed with wet dog. Then it happens again five blocks later. And five blocks after that.

BUT…

You can run for cover in the best H&Ms ever…or Barney’s…or an incredible Anthropologie….or an Apple store with all the newest, best shit…or some badass little vintage boutique…or any other possible retailer you can imagine that will be better than any other city because it’s the BEST. SHOPPING. ON. THE. PLANET. (And the stench won’t follow you indoors.)

7. Restaurants are more expensive.

BUT…

Delicious street bananas are a freaking quarter. (Just try to eat them tactfully on the subway.)

Plus, you can get ANY food from pretty much ANY place delivered to your door at ANY time from the touch of your phone. Calling for Domino’s? Pssh, that’s so 2007.

8. Everyone is always in a hurry (you Southern-bred folk just can’t seem to understand this one).

BUT…

There will come a time (or many) when YOU’RE in a hurry and you’ll be glad people have their asses in gear so you don’t have to FREAK THE F*CK OUT.

9. You party way too hard and spend all your money because bars stay open so late, and then you get late-night pizza and don’t end up getting in until 6 a.m. and it takes you days to recover because you’re not 22 anymore.

BUT…

You get to take #NYCsunrise pictures like this and put them on Instagram/Facebook and everyone will like them and think you’re cool. #LikeABoss

10. If you shack out sleep elsewhere, you’ll have to do a walk-of-shame, cab-of-shame, or train-of-shame.

BUT…

No one will even bat an eye because 90% of people in New York City dress in way weirder shit than your last night’s outfit.

Ok, so maybe I do love it…

To visit.

LYLAS,
Ashley

So ladies, let me ask you two questions. 1) Have you ever gotten a professional bra fitting? And 2) Do you own a really nice bra (and I’m not talking Vicki’s Secret $50 special)?

If the answer to one or  both of those questions is no, it’s about time to treat your ta-tas. My first fitting at Intimacy with the company founder and “bra whisperer” Susan Nethero was a game changer and I recommend it to everyone. Here’s how it goes down:

1. You go into a comfy, private fitting room with your friendly bra fit consultant.
2. She checks out your rack (don’t be shy!) and chats with you about your concerns. Any of these ring a boob bell: More comfort, less back fat, more support, straps falling, straps or underwire digging, weight change affecting bra size, more cleavage, less cleavage, finding T-shirt bras, finding sexy bras in a large size, etc? I thought so.
3. She may show you why your current bra isn’t doing you any favors…

#Yikes.

4. Then she goes back out into the brassiere wonderland while you text your boyfriend/husband that you’re trying on sexy underthings (if you have a man and don’t do this, we need to talk), check your Facebook, and/or critique yourself in the mirror (PS, no one notices your crow’s feet but you, so give yourself a break, beautiful).
5. Your new bosom buddy returns with handfuls of gorgeous bras, she’ll put ‘em on you and adjust (and show you how to get the most cleavage), and VOILA! You’ll be in love…and wanting to toss your ODB (ol’ dirty bra) in the trash C-A-N.

Check out the difference. I mean, thanks ODB for making me look pre-puberty flat-chested and just overall not cute. 
In addition to the realization that I needed to do a lingerie inventory and toss those non-flattering f*ckers, I gained a lot of bra knowledge (braledge?), such as: You should buy bras so they fit snugly on the first (loosest) hook. They lose elasticity with time, so as that happens, you’ll tighten them to the next hook(s) so they’ll fit better longer. Also: You should be wearing your bra strap LOWER on your back for the most comfort, less back fat, AND more boost. It’s like a see-saw: The lower the strap in the back, the higher your goods up front. Exhibit A (it’s not me, btw):

That poor woman had been going through life with more rolls than a Panera and all she needed was a new bra…

Another FYI: You might be surprised about your size. I was wearing a 36B and they fit me for a 34C, and crazily enough, that actually is my size (despite what ODB is demonstrating above). Most women wear a too-large band size and too-small cup size, so you feel skinny and big-breasted when they fit you for a smaller band and bigger cup (SCORE). And don’t be alarmed if the cup size is much larger than you thought. Intimacy carries up to a K cup (not to be confused with your Keurig), so there is less variation between the sizes for the most perfect, true fit. Just like all women don’t fit into dress sizes 0, 2, 4, and 6, they don’t all fit into A, B, C, or D cups.

Intimacy’s fancy lines–PrimaDonna, Marie Jo (shown below), Empreinte, Simone Perele, etc.–are all European and made using a very intricate process with more pieces than American-made bras and the highest quality fabrics as well as a “double-coating” of the underwire for way serious comfort.

-
Put one on and you’ll never go back to your Victoria’s Secret numbers (and their underarm fat enhancement). Yes, they may be more expensive, but they’re going to last longer (if you treat them well) and make you feel more confident about your chest region, which for some females, is priceless. Oh, and it’s not all sexy lingerie up in there; you’ll find plenty of pretty T-shirt bras (even lace ones that surprisingly work under tees and tight tanks).

Do I wear all Intimacy bras, you ask? I wish. I need a raise (or a sugar daddy) before that happens. But I do like to treat myself to a fancy-schmancy bra and panty set twice(ish) a year, which will make for a fab collection in the semi-near future.

Intimacy has locations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Miami, New Jersey, New York, Orange County, Philly, San Diego, Scottsdale, and D.C. and the fitting is complimentary. If you don’t have a location near you, I recommend visiting Atlanta (I’ll buy you a drink, duh), finding a specialist in your area with great reviews, or seeing the lovely ladies at Nordstrom. And I’m not knocking Vicki’s because I know they have some fantastic fitters–I’ve just never loved their bras (sorry, ex-boyfriend who bought me one).

So grab the twins and take them to get FIT!

LYLAS,
Ashley

*Psst, we’re doing a giveaway for $100 Intimacy gift cards on the Witty + Pretty Facebook page, so head on over there (make sure you like the page) and enter to win!

Health and fitness expert Cara Weaver (read more about her HERE!) enlightens us on eating and exercise and how to get the most out of our sweat sessions. 

The secret to optimal fat burn and performance during a workout is to EAT, and the right foods at the right time.

Girl myth: “If I just don’t eat then go run 10 miles, I will burn fat like crazy and be super skinny!”

WRONG.

Think of your body like a car’s gas tank. When your “gas tank” is on E, your body starts to break down muscle mass to get you through the rest of the “trip” (read: workout). Instead of burning fat, you’re in danger of breaking down valuable muscle tissue, which ultimately slows down your metabolism. Now I’ve got your attention!

BEFORE A WORKOUT
The most available and preferred source of body fuel for a workout of any kind are carbohydrates (or sugars) and protein (keep reading, because I’m not suggesting you pound three bagels before your next spin class). Complex carbs, fruit, and lean protein are the best choices for overall athletic performance.

And eating at the right time means you’ll have available fuel for a workout. Try one of these small meals/snacks at least an hour before you hit the ground running, kicking, riding, or lifting:

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1. Greek yogurt or coconut milk yogurt (depending on if you are dairy-free or not), a little honey, berries, and ¼ cup of granola or walnuts. Or cottage cheese with berries.

2. Whole grain bread (I liked Ezekiel) or gluten-free toast and nut butter. (Editor’s note: Ashley snacks on high-fiber, low-cal Wasa crackers with almond butter.)

3. Fruit (apple, berries, banana) and eggs cooked any way.

4. A meal replacement bar or shake. I like Vega, Lara Bar, Kind, and Think Thin. And I drink Chuice regularly.

5. A high-fiber cereal like Kashi with almond milk and some blueberries or banana slices.

6. (Healthy) leftovers from the previous meal or night before (grilled chicken or fish, whole wheat pasta, veggies).

If you’re working out late morning, afternoon, or evening, it’s best to eat one to two hours before. But if you’re an early morning sweater, the rules can bend to fit your schedule. Eat something small 30-45 minutes before you work out (banana, one piece of toast, half cup of cereal or yogurt). And if you just can’t stomach food in the morning before your 5 a.m. class/run, make sure you had a substantial dinner the night before to provide your muscles sugar to push you through with flying colors, then follow the post-workout guidelines below.

AFTER A WORKOUT
Eat within two hours after working on your fitness for the most body benefits. Make this a “real” meal if possible (ie. it’s lunch or dinner time), but opt for a snack of fruit, protein shake, or bar if the timing is off. Some great post-sweat eats include:

1. Protein shake (I use Vega with almond milk).

2. Apple and handful of nuts (almonds, walnuts, unsalted cashews) and/or cottage or string cheese.

3. Grilled chicken, salad, and quinoa or rice.

4. Fish, sweet potato, and sautéed spinach.

5. Turkey wrap with lettuce, cheese, tomato, and a side salad.

6. Meal replacement bar (see selections above) or Chuice.

Bottom line: If you want the most out of your workouts, fuel comes first!

Eat, sweat, then do it all again,
Cara

*
Check out Cara’s site for all she offers and take one of her ass-kicking classes at Flywheel Atlanta! 

Well yesterday, my friend Heather was in this situation and luckily, she snapped a photo exclusively for Witty + Pretty. Behold: The MAN(icure) of the Week:
I must know: Who is this salad-eating, iced tea-drinking gentleman and what salon does he go to because that mani is ON POINT? Paired with an Under Armour tee (and is that a bluetooth in his hand?), this is definitely a hot look for summer. And could that polish color be Essie’s “The Girls Are Out” from the latest collection? It just might be…

I’ll admit it. I want to see his toes.

LYLAS,
Ashley

*Psst, if you see any gems like this, feel free to send my way at ashley@wittyandpretty.com! 

Ok, now that he’s gone. This morning, I was on the The Bert Show (Atlanta’s top morning radio show, syndicated in Nashville, D.C., and six other markets) for the Women’s Panel, a no-holds barred session of lady talk, where we answered everything from how often we think about sex to how a guy can (attempt to) get out of the “friend zone” to what makes a man good AND bad in bed. We also may or may not have answered how often we “take care of ourselves” in a week…and everyone answered 100% honestly. I got to be on air with my friends Cara Weaver (yes, W+P’s fitness consultant) and Nikky Williams (you may recognize her from Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids), The Bert Show’s Kristin, plus another lovely lady, Toni Griffin, who is married with five kids and might have just been the freakiest of us all.

I was the “super single” on the panel, so I had to represent my single ladies (put your hands up!) and I hope I did you proud.

Click HERE or the image below to hear the entire bit, broken up in four parts. And the question at the top of each clip is just one of many we discussed, so get in there and listen if you want the real dirt.

Bert himself said it was the best women’s panel they’ve had, probably because we were all wasted and talking way too openly like we do at happy hour (sssh, don’t tell the station).

I’m kidding, we weren’t drunk (that I know of).

Take a listen and let me know what you think! Maybe we’ll be doing it again soon…

LYLAS,
Ashley