The other day as I was running errands over my lunch break, I caught a few minutes of On-Air with Ryan Seacrest on Z107-7. Ryan and two other women on the show were discussing whether men should still be expected to foot the bill in dating relationships.

They unanimously agreed that the answer is YES. In fact, one of the women said that the thought of a female forking over any money at all on a date made her feel “pukey.”

Really?

This got me thinking about why men have traditionally been expected to pay for everything when it comes to dating.

Back in the day, when courting and dowries gave way to the more modern concept of dating, men undoubtedly still had the upper hand in society. They were expected to develop a stable career or become skilled in a specific trade and held the sole responsibility for supporting themselves and their families. Women, for the most part, were confined to the domestic realm and were often entirely dependent on men for financial support.

In those days, it made sense for the man to pay. He had the money. Done and done.

Today, things are a little different. In modern America, women are educated, have careers, and make money. When a man and a woman go on a date, the woman could very well be just as financially secure as the man, if not more so.

And yet, if a guy doesn’t offer to pick up the tab, he’s a jerk.

Why?

The fact is we haven’t been able to move past the cultural belief that it’s courteous and respectful for a man to pay for a woman on a date. We don’t stop and think about why we expect this or whether it makes sense or not – that’s just how it is. The sky is blue and men pay. Period.

Of course, it’s not always that black and white. Many modern dating couples often go Dutch once they are settled into a stable relationship. But overwhelmingly, if it’s a first date or the early stages of a relationship, the guy’s wallet is the one that takes a hit.

Men paying for women is just part of the overall idea of chivalry, a notion that is becoming more and more antiquated in today’s dating world. And rightfully so.

Yes, I said it: chivalry is dying, and I’m ok with that.

Merriam-Webster defines chivalry in the following ways:

1. mounted men-at-arms
2. gallant or distinguished gentlemen
3. the system, spirit or customs of medieval knighthood
4. the qualities of the ideal knight: chivalrous conduct

Now I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with men being gallant or distinguished. But the rest of those definitions pretty much indicate that being chivalrous means acting like a medieval knight. And anyone who is familiar with the legend of King Arthur knows that medieval knights spent a lot of their time swooping in to save the damsel in distress.

While this was very nice of them, the only reason they even needed to risk their necks for princesses locked away in dungeons or towers was because these women were helpless.

Ladies, in today’s modern world, we are NOT helpless. Most of us are perfectly capable of paying for ourselves and opening our own car doors – we have money and arms, just like men.

Women have come a long way to not being perceived as the inferior gender, and the thing about chivalry is that it enforces the idea that women can’t or don’t want to do things for themselves.

The problem is that only men can be chivalrous – it doesn’t go both ways. If it encompassed both genders and men and women were expected to pull out chairs, open doors, and help each other out equally, then I wouldn’t have a problem with it. But it doesn’t work that way. Believe me, I’ve tested the theory before by trying to hold a restaurant door open for a man. Let’s just say it was awkward.

If chivalry is dying (and I think it is), then I’m all for it. I say we replace the belief that men should be chivalrous with the expectation that men and women demonstrate a mutual and equal respect for each other.

So guys, you can hold the door open for me at Target or step aside and let me walk through the doorway first. I appreciate that. Just don’t look at me funny when I try to do the same thing for you.

Carlie is an Editor for Girls Guide, and also blogs at carliecrash.com. By day she is an educational textbook editor, and she moonlights as a foodie and barfly.  You can email her at carlie [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @carbirwin.

Image credit: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SUtFHL9P4mA/S4VCD_RMzWI/AAAAAAAAABo/U1-EzQ-eahU/s320/lancelot.jpg

I never had any intention or desire to live in New York, much less visit it (despite being in a contest that would have required me to do so…). I just didn’t get the allure. It’s big. It’s dirty. It’s expensive. The people are crabby. It gets really cold. There is concrete everywhere. Why would anyone ever want to live in or visit a place like that? Putting it simply, I [did not] ‘heart’ NY.

And then I went there.

And I realized the city isn’t so bad. Okay, okay, it is actually pretty wonderful.

Don’t get me wrong, I love St. Louis. I am not just settling here or stuck here, I’m staying here. I want to see this city grow; I want to see the Archgrounds get a makeover; I want to eat toasted raviolis til the day I die. That being said, I think there’s a thing or two that St. Louis can learn from The Big Apple…

Let Your Hair Down

I’ve always said that my hair thinks it is living in the 70s, but now I’ve determined that it just thinks it is living in New York. Girls Women in NYC do not have perfectly teased and styled coiffes. They have normal, natural hair. It’s straight; it’s curly; it’s sort of wavy (like mine); but it is not uber-manipulated (like many Missourians think it should be). Oh, and when it is hot, girls women just throw their hair up in buns and ponytails. They aren’t perfect. They aren’t tidy. They are convenient.

My hair is practically unmanageable. I hate blow drying it. I’m no good at ‘updos’. They way my hair turns out, I end up looking lazy or messy. Let’s take a cue from these NYC ladies and just let our hair be.

Walk it Off

Part of the allure  of NYC (for me), is that people are out walking everywhere. I’ll admit, here in St. Louis, I drive. I do not take the Metrolink or ride my bike or walk to the store (shame on me, I know). However, I have friends (you know who you are) who live and play in walking-friendly areas like Soulard that roll their eyes at me when I suggest we walk to a local restaurant or bar or market.

Granted, I know we have better driving (and parking) conditions than NYC, but walking is sometimes fun. I bet if we all walked around our city more, we would (1) cut down on gas and pollution and all that jazz, (2) burn some calories, even if we are headed to a bar to drink them back up and (3) our great city would look a little more lively.

Happy Hour

Something absolutely magical happened to me during my week in NYC: I experienced a real happy hour. Picture this: a pub-esque bar packed with twenty-somethings dressed in their best business casual-wear drinking $3 Bud Lights (which is a good price for NYC, no?)… at 8pm. They had mostly all been there since breaking free of the shackles of their desks at 6pm, joining together to enjoy friends, brews and free popcorn. St. Louis, can we make this happen?

Also note, I got there at 8pm and was still paying happy hour prices. St. Louis, can we make that happen too?

Go it Alone

I like my friends, really I do, but sometimes I really don’t mind grabbing a bite to eat or going shopping or taking a walk by myself. The problem is, here in the Gateway city, when you show up somewhere alone, people look at you funny.

“What is wrong with that girl that she is sitting here, alone, eating brunch. How sad.”

There is nothing wrong with me. I repeat, there is nothing wrong with me. (Wow, that’s fun to say..) In NYC, people do tons of things all by their lonesome. They eat dinner. They go shopping. They ride the subway. Companionship is nice, and necessary, according to Maslow, but sometimes it’s okay to be alone.

What the French?

On my list of food/drinks I eat too much of appreciate: coffee, bread, cheese, wine… So why aren’t their more little cafes in St. Louis? I don’t want Starbucks or Panera. I don’t want over-priced, uber-expensive wine bars. I just want an iced coffee and muffin in the morning and a glass of wine and assorted cheese plate at night. Is that too much to ask?

On Broadway

While I was in New York, I was lucky (and smart) enough to splurge on a ticket to go see Promises Promises on Broadway (it was fantastic, by the way). As I was sitting there, enjoying this fantastic musical, I said to myself, ‘If I lived in NYC, with all these fantastic shows available to me, I would go to the theater all the time!’

You know when the last time I was at the Fox was? Me neither.

Granted, I’m a lover of musical theater. I have season tickets to the Muny. I mooch off my parents’ season tickets to Stages in Kirkwood when I can. I’ve been to a handful of shows at the Fox and the St. Louis Repertory Theater. But what am I waiting for? This coming season, St. Louis is welcoming shows like Shrek, Billy Elliot, State Fair and Romeo and Juliet (among many many others). I’m making a vow (and you should too) to go to more of these shows…. at least I can pretend I’m on Broadway, right?

Hug a Tree

If there was one thing I missed while I was in New York, it was nature. Grass, trees, the sky, stars. They call it the ‘concrete jungle’ for a reason. But on the flip-side, it makes people appreciate places like Bryant Park and Central Park all the more. These little green patches in the city are treated like treasures. Ours? Just overlooked.

A few weeks ago, I spent a Saturday morning taking a stroll through Tower Grove and it was seriously fun (Bonus points: Walking and Nature! Win!). I can almost guarantee that no matter where you live in St. Louis, there is a park nearby. Grab a friend, a blanket, (a bottle of wine, perhaps?) and go there.

Have you ever wanted to live like the other half? The half that is always perfectly coifed and stylish even in a humid rain storm? I’m not sure if I can promise you the hair thing, but here’s a start…

On Friday August 27, Salon Prive will host its first “Girls Night In”. Pamper, primp, go buck wild! The equivalent of a pillow fight in slow motion…just kidding…this Girls Night In is more like a Glamour Magazine ad for you and your friends. With wine and noshes.

From 6pm to 9pm, a girl can get a taste of the good life for only $25. What does this good life look like? Pretty sweet if you ask me. For your duckets, you will get:

$25.00 in free Prive` hair care products for your tresses
A choice of a detailing hair cut or feature foil highlights
AND A mini mani or eye brow arch.

Two services and a swag bag of delight. Oh, and did I mention wine and noshes? You’ll also get a sneak peak of the fall fashions from Paper Dolls boutique in Kirkwood. Let’s get this party started! It should go without saying but reservations are required so get on the celly and RSVP NOW! And no, there will be on nibbly fish as a beauty treatment at this event like you may have read about in a previous Girls Guide post. Ick.

SALON PRIVE`
Girls Night In featuring fashion from Paper Dolls
Friday, August 27th 6PM to 9PM
12420 Olive Blvd. Creve Coeur, Mo. 63141 (314) 469.1110

After an amazing evening of ‘you’ time, you can also take your sassy self on over to the St. Louis Fashion Week Launch Party, Exposure, at Mandarin, beginning at 10pm. RSVP to exposure@alivemag.com. Free cover until 11pm. $5 for the gentleman after 11pm. Sucks to be a guy…

Then I suggest you spend the rest of your fashionista weekend by the pool lounging and leisurely sipping something with bubbles and fizz. Don’t be afraid to hire a few cabana boys to fan you with palm leaves and cocoa butter you down. And have your English butler, Jeeves, fetch you bon bons and spray you with a fine mist of cucumber water if you get overheated. Ahh, the good life.

Image Credit: Future Now

Pamela is a contributing writer for Girls Guide. She is the owner of The Raymond Experience, an events and public relations company, and she moonlights as the Business Commentary eXaminerfor St. Louis. You can email her at raymondcreative [at] yahoo [dot]com, and follow her on Twitter.

Professional Background
Ligaya Figueras has been an independent publishing professional since 2001, splitting her time between freelance journalism and editorial consulting. Ligaya is a columnist for Sauce, St. Louis’ premiere food and dining magazine, and a contributor for Art Calendar, a national business magazine for visual artists. Her byline has also appeared in the publications Vegetarian Times, Better Nutrition, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis Magazine, Missouri Life, and The Writer, among others. As an editorial consultant, Ligaya specializes in business writing, marketing and media relations for creative professionals, specialty service providers, and nonprofit organizations. She currently serves as president of the St. Louis Publishers Association…

When she is not writing, biking or playing soccer, Ligaya can be found tending her vegetable gardens or foraging berries. She lives in St. Louis with her husband and two sons.

Ligaya has been writing for Sauce since Fall 2007. Her monthly columns include “Chef Talk” (a Q&A with an executive chef at a St. Louis fine dining restaurant), “Elixir” (newsy notes from the cocktail world), and “What in the World” (a profile and recipe of an unusual food). Ligaya also writes features for Sauce and contributes to their blog. Sauce blog, Sauce magazine’s blog, gives readers bites of news that are relevant to the dining and drinking scene in St. Louis. The portion that Ligaya is primarily responsible for is called “The Scoop,” which covers breaking news stories such as restaurant openings and closings, chef changeups, and a first look at new menus.

Blogs That Ligaya Reads the Most Relish, Off the Menu, Gutcheck, STL Hops, Serious Eats from the NY Times

Fave Restaurant I don’t have a favorite restaurant. When I dine out, I’m always looking for a great overall experience that, while it must involve good food, also includes a fantastic ambience and in a neighborhood where I can take a stroll afterward. I tend to eat in ‘hoods like The Loop, Central West End, Maplewood, Benton Park, Lafayette Square, Soulard and Downtown. There are fantastic restaurants in all of these places. If forced to name names, I’d say that diners won’t be disappointed at Niche, Sidney Street Café or Monarch. And if don’t mind driving, head west to Stone Soup Cottage in Cottleville.

Sauce blog It is updated daily. Subscribe here for the RSS feed to the blog and other columns on their website. You can follow the on Twitter (@Saucemagazine) and “like” them on Facebook to stay current with what Ligaya and others have to say about the St. Louis restaurant scene.

Pamela is a contributing writer for Girls Guide. She is the owner of The Raymond Experience, an events and public relations company, and she moonlights as the Business Commentary eXaminerfor St. Louis. You can email her at raymondcreative [at] yahoo [dot]com, and follow her on Twitter.

28 restaurants.

3 courses.

$25.

Anyway you do the math, it’s a good deal.

The 6^th annual St. Louis Downtown Restaurant week is happening right now (Aug. 23-29), and foodies from across the bi-state area are flocking downtown to take advantage of special discounted menus at some of the most popular restaurants in St. Louis.

Here’s how it works:

Twenty-eight restaurants in the downtown area (including favorites such as Copia, The Dubliner, Lucas Park, Mango, Mosaic, the list goes on…) are featuring special dinner menus for this week only. For $25, you can select three courses from the Restaurant Week menu – a steal for many of these upscale establishments.

If you’re feeling generous, consider adding an “Extra Helping” donation to Operation Food Search when you pay your bill. One $5 donation provides a meal for an entire hungry family.

Last year’s Downtown Restaurant Week attracted over 19,000 diners. This year is expected to be even more popular, which means making a reservation is probably a good idea.

For a complete list of participating restaurants, menus and to reserve a table, visit http://www.downtownrestaurantweek.net/2010/. Make sure to mention that you will be ordering off of the Restaurant Week menu when you make your reservation.

Bon Appétit!

Carlie is an Editor for Girls Guide, and also blogs at carliecrash.com. By day she is an educational textbook editor, and she moonlights as a foodie and barfly.  You can email her at carlie [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @carbirwin.

Image credit: http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/gutcheck/drw2010.JPG

You can get there by four-thirty if you leave St. Louis by 2pm.

Well on it’s way to becoming a culinary resort of sorts, Overlook Farm in Clarksville Missouri is constantly building relationships with Missouri farmers to put together a menu that’s a dance party for your taste buds, and leaves you with the warm fuzzies because every bite incorporates sustainable practices. Feel-good foodies rejoice!

Proprietor, Nathalie Pettus, owns and operates the two bed and breakfast inns and The Station, the restaurant just a few blocks south of the only four-way stop in town, that comprise Overlook Farm.

Ethan Brandt, whose signature line describes him as “heir apparent” at Overlook Farm, said, “We would say about 80% of our food comes from within Missouri, from our bread to our lamb. We are currently working on a number of projects to make Overlook Farm even more sustainable , including, but not limited to, composting stations at the restaurant, the inns, and all around, rain barrels, and even converting our cars to run on alternative energy sources.” He explained that sustainable practices are central to their role as restauranteurs out of respect for their art and the land.

I was invited by the Overlook Farm crew to enjoy an overnight at their fancy bed and breakfast, and to get my eat on at their restaurant. Never one to deny a dinner invitation, and with the invite arriving in close proximity to the second anniversary of wedding my old ball and chain, I decided to make a romantic little road trip of it- complete with dinner and the B&B’s signature romance package waiting for us in the room. (Three cheers for rose petals, brandy and bubble bath!)

Getting There

The view from the front porch, imagine how great that will look this fall...

After making the one and a half hour journey through the rolling Mississippi River Valley on one of the most scenic drives in the state, we arrived in Clarksville Missouri- population 490. We checked in at The Station, which is the main hub for the farm, restaurant, and inns. While we waited for the room key we explored the gift shop where, among the handmade gifts and floor to ceiling stacks of cooking and gardening guides, my eyes deigned on an adorable silver plated julep cup that has now made it’s home among my travel treasures. A friendly check-in sent us on our way to the grand, brick mansion on the hill that was all ours for the night.

Let me just say, having had shared more than enough awkward breakfasts and conversations with different inn keepers in my time I was overly happy to find that everything operated out of the main restaurant… dreaded B&B morning-after weirdness averted. We truly the mansion to ourselves, save for the mysterious cook who lived in the basement, which sounds really creepy but we didn’t even hear the guy much less meet him. I am pretty sure they don’t keep him in the basement like some weird VC Andrews novel, he is, after all, the chef who whipped up the incredible meals we enjoyed during our stay, so he must be a pretty decent guy.

Each room has it's own gas fireplace!

We got into our room and were completely blown away. I mean, we knew it was going to be nice, but had no idea we were going to be sleeping in a fully restored, plantation era mansion complete with wonderfully preserved antiques, and modern flourishes like marble bathrooms and jacuzzi tubs, a grand pool house, and a southern-style veranda with ceiling fans and wrought iron furniture. Poking your head out onto the front porch of the inn offers a panoramic view of the river bank, and the thick trees that blanket the landscape seriously had me wanting to throw open the doors and hitch up my hoop skirt to run and hug a returning solider.

Since we were there by our lonesome we reached back to our 4-year-old selves and ran around the mansion exploring, gawking, and looking through a really cool album that showed the restoration process, but eventually had to stop ourselves to keep from missing dinner.

The Main Event
After enjoying a glass the bottle of organic wine we freed from the gift shop’s stock, and getting ourselves so fresh and so clean-clean, we made it to dinner.

The restaurant sits just off the river, and boasts gardens and orchards that supply many of the ingredients that inspire their culinary creations. The hot summer night was too sticky and kept us indoors in the The Station’s fine dining room, but we had a great view out onto their patio and courtyard which is surrounded by lush creeping vines and water features. It was definitely an anniversary worthy dining experience, with the best part being (besides being spawn free for the night) that we didn’t have to stuff ourselves into some high fulutin’ air that didn’t quite fit us for our fine dining experience (though we did leave our jeans in the room and opted for a cotton dress and khakis).

I mowed down the salmon special in what may not have been a very delicate and lady-like way, and The Mister enjoyed a steak with quail egg on top (enjoy the gratuitous food pr0n)

The salmon special

The dish that inspired my MIL to tell our daughter we like a quail egg more than her... Maybe...

The evening ended with our bellies full, and a quiet evening on the veranda (and never fear I made sure to call the big old back porch off the main mansion a veranda with a southern twang all.night.long.) sipping Brandy and listening to the rain and bullfrogs. I felt oh so southern, and oh so relaxed.

Break for sleep and none-such.
The next morning we were treated to breakfast at The Station, as the most important meal of the day comes complimentary with your overnight stay. And lawd have mercy, they have the best biscuits and gravy this side of the Mississippi (sorry Mom). I honestly could have eaten those all morning. Everything else was good, but did I mention lawd have mercy?

Frittata, biscuits and gravy, and scrambled eggs with cream cheese... I will never forget you, biscuits and gravy

We finally had a chance to enjoy the gardens while we fueled up for a morning of antiquing and shopping in Clarksville. Honestly, the craftsmen in town are worth the trip alone.

Clarksville’s riverfront boasts a thriving artists community, complete with a very friendly windsor chair maker, glass shop, jewelry shops, and antique treasure hunting.  We did not go home empty handed, however we could have very easily come home with an empty bank account had our senses not gotten the better of us. Many of the shopkeepers make their wares by hand and would be more than happy to indulge you with a story or two about the town’s history or the ins and outs of how they do what they do.

All good things must come to an end, and eventually we had to pack up our treasures and make for St. Louis. BUT- I am plotting my return, so watch out Clarksville and Overlook Farm. Next time I may gather up my girls, and head to Overlook Farm for their Girls Night Inn package which includes a cocktail on arrival, smore’s around the bonfire, a copy of Alive magazine, and complete with wine, chocolates, and cushy robes in the room. Road trip!

**Disclosure: This would be classified as a hella swag. I didn’t receive compensation for this article but my overnight was free, yay! And might I note it was so fun it is well worth paying for a few return visits**

Melody is the Founder and Managing Editor. She is a freelance writer & an interactive media strategist by day. She writes for Girls Guide, STLFamilyLife.com, and on her personal blog, Mrs SmartyPants.com by night. You can email her at melody [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter- @cosmosgirl.

When I read the headline I had to take a second glance.  ”Piranha Pedicures”?  For real? Apparently so.  (I checked some urban legend websites.)

Actually the official name of the beauty practice is, “fish pedicure,” and the procedure is fairly simple. You place your tootsies in a tank of fresh, warm water and let tiny carp fish called garra rufa nibble away.  The fish, no more than two inches long, eat the dead skin, uncovering the new, softer skin prior to the nail-painting part of your pedi…

This foot smoothing technique originated in Turkey.  According to a site that supplies garra rufa fish to spas,  “Patients who have tried all sorts of conservative treatments for skin disorders especially psoriasis have testified that with repeated treatment with the garra rufa fishes in the hot spas of Turkey, their sufferings have alleviated. But of course, these original spas teem with the original garra rufa obtusa toothless nibblers.”

But even these bottom feeders have their share of controversy. It is being reported on the supplier site and other beauty blogs that some spas are using imposter fishes like the Chin Chin Yu instead. (Gara Rufas are expensive, nearly four times the price of Chin Chin fish.) The Chin Chin are from the Cichlid family and resembles the Tilapia (Mmm. Tilapia). While this may mean a lower pedi price and higher profits for spa owners, the Chin Chin develop sharp teeth and can bite even the healthiest skin, and could bite hard enough to cause cuts or wounds.

But what does it feel like? Some participants report a sensation that is slightly uncomfortable. Some say it tickles. Some say the practice is slightly painful. Of course I would guess that this depends upon the type of fish used, and apparently the trick with Chin Chin fish is to only use the babies so it doesn’t hurt.

If you want to check out those Garra Rufa or “doctor fish” before letting them go to town on your tootsies, head to the World Aquarium at City Museum.

According to a site called Doctor Fish Massage,there actually is one salon in St. Louis offering this fishy mani/pedi proceedure. Fish pedicures are also offered at Nail Care and Spa in Swansea, Illinois.

You won’t see this type of treatment in 14 states within the US. According to Amy Lowe of Cosmetic Surgery Bible, “The reasoning behind the ban is that cosmetology regulations state that tools used in pedicures should be sanitized or discarded after use. The fish are too expensive to throw away after each use and as there is no way to sanitize the fish, the method is deemed unsanitary.”

But it does beg the question, “Would you toss the standard pedicure practices in favor of the “piranha” process?

Lisa is a contributor for Girls Guide. She is a freelance writer and the founder of/writer for StLFamilyLife. You can email her at lisadetmerbertrand [at] hotmail [dot]com, and follow her on Twitter.

Photo found on sequenceofsequins.blogspot.com

“Do you want to go to Chesterfield Mall? There’s this new store I can’t wait to check out,” My bargain-hunting friend Dana exclaimed last week. As soon as she enthusiastically delved into what she’d heard about Charming Charlie, I started drooling.

“Its an accessory store. Shoes, purses, belts, all kinds of jewelry. And they divide everything by colors! So you can find things so much easier,”  she added.

We set out to find this magical place. And when we got there? Well, let’s just say the clouds parted and I distinctly heard angels sing, “ahhhhhh!”

Founded in Houston, Texas in 2004, Charming Charlie is a unique fashion accessories boutique designed to help a woman complete her outfit for any occasion. Their selection of goods is overwhelming (in a good way)!  So to help women navigate the fabulous selection of jewelry, belts, purses and scarves, Charming Charlie merchandises by color instead of category. Got a fantastic yellow dress? Simply head on over to the yellow section.

Charming Charlie has three locations in the St. Louis area so far. There’s one within Chesterfield Mall, West County Mall and Lake St. Louis Mall. The chain is really catching on in the Arch city area. In fact, some chicks are incorporating a visit to Charming Charlie into their Girls Night Out plans.

Nancy Klein of Ballwin, Mo was one such chick, ”We went to dinner first, then headed to Charming Charlie’s in Chesterfield Mall.  There were five of us and we spent about an hour and a half in the store.  We had a blast,” she said.

What Nancy think of the store and its wares?

“The prices are very reasonable,” she noted. ” Of course, we all ended up buying something.  I bought a purse, a couple pairs of earrings, a couple of rings, a couple of bracelets, and a Christmas gift for my best friend!”

According to an employee I talked to at Chesterfield, (employees were very friendly and helpful) all three stores have a varied supply of accessories. And they get a host of new merchandise several times a week. So you can easily go into a store in Chesterfield one day in the one in Des Peres later that day and still spot some completely different (and fun) pieces.

As for my visit, I found a black and gold bracelet as well as some matching earrings to wear with a plethora of fun date night outfits. Oh yeah, I also found a silky summer halter that buttons in the back. (I’ve never seen anything like it. And it has such a beautiful, distinctive pattern. I was immediately in love.)

Charming Charlie’s peeps definitely love themselves some social media. Their blog has lots of great posts on seasonal fashion trends as well as some great pieces  like “how to tie a headscarf.”  Or follow them on Twitter - @Charm_Charlie

Lisa is a contributor for Girls Guide. She is a freelance writer and founder of  StLFamilyLife. You can email her at lisadetmerbertrand [at] hotmail [dot]com, and follow her on Twitter @LisaOnTheLoose.

Photo from Etsy Item of the Day.

Congratulations, St. Louis. We’ve officially survived the dog days of summer and it will be September in just a matter of weeks. You know what that means – cooler temps are on the way!

It may not seem like it now, as the 100+ heat index makes doing just about anything outside a hellish experience, but it won’t be long before you feel the need to grab a jacket as you head out for the night. I promise. Just hang in there.

Once the sweet relief of early fall arrives, one of my favorite things to do is head out to the wineries. What’s better than sitting outside, relaxing with friends, listening to live music, and sipping on Missouri wine? Nothing, that’s what.

Of course there is a little bit of planning that goes into a winery trip. Since I’m all ready to race out to Augusta as soon as the high temperature for the day dips below 85 degrees, I’ve taken the liberty of putting together a little summary of things that one may find useful (and fun!) to bring to the wineries.

Really, the only things that are truly essential on a winery trip are having a mouth and the ability to swallow. But there are some things that make the experience a bit more enjoyable. One of those things is set of shatter-proof plastic wine glasses like these on amazon.com. If you’re a wine snob and refuse to drink your wine out of anything not made of glass, then fine. Just don’t expect people to feel sorry for you when an intoxicated winery patron gestures a little too wildly and sends your Reidel crystal flying across the table.

A cute picnic basket is also a must-have for a winery trip. A) Because they are useful and you can carry things in them, and B) because the mere presence of a picnic basket brings the charm and “old-worldliness” of the entire outing to a whole new level. I mean really. How adorable is this retro basket on Etsy? I’m pretty sure I need to have it.

If you’re going to a winery that allows you to bring food like Balducci or Sugar Creek, this hip picnic utensil set from Urban Outfitters might come in handy. For those who like to stand and mingle, these plates with holes on the side provide a place for you to rest your wine glass while you eat. Brilliant!

Other essentials include a corkscrew, napkins and a Tide pen in case someone in your party doesn’t have the foresight not to wear white while drinking red wine.

Speaking of what to wear (or not wear), it’s a proven fact (ok, no it’s not) that sipping wine with your friends is even more enjoyable when you look cute doing it.

If you’re able to make a trip in early fall, a playful sundress like this one from ModCloth will do the trick. It’s fun, flowy and comfortable and would look great with a cardigan for when the sun goes down and that that refreshing breeze develops a bit of a bite. Pair it with some strappy sandals (make sure to wear flats – the hilly winery terrain is no place for heels unless you want to twist your ankle) and bright sunglasses to complete your winery-chic look that says “Look at me! I’m stylish, fun, comfortable and drinking wine! I love life!”

If it’s a little later in the season, you might want to trade the sundress in for some jeans, a cute top and a pretty scarf for a more fall-appropriate look.

Finally, once you’ve packed your picnic basket and planned your cute outfit, the most important thing to remember to bring is a responsible designated driver. You don’t want someone who is anything but alert maneuvering those winding two-lane country roads.

Now all we have to do is wait for some tolerable weather, and we’re all set to head out to the country for a day of fun, sun, wining and dining! I’ll see you there!

Carlie is an Editor for Girls Guide, and also blogs at carliecrash.com. By day she is an educational textbook editor, and she moonlights as a foodie and barfly.  You can email her at carlie [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @carbirwin.

Image credit: http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/missouri/images/s/missouri-wineries.jpg

For me, summer in St. Louis means one thing… Muny time!

I’ve been My mom has been a season ticket holder for something like five or six years, and before that we always used to sit in the free seats (yes, I said free. Didn’t know you could explore this St. Louis treasure without dishin’ out the big bucks? Well, now you do. More on that in a minute…). The Muny has become part of our summer traditions- every Wednesday, we meet for dinner, head to the show, and spend the whole car ride home chatting about what we liked, what we didn’t like, and which singing audience member annoyed us the most.

The Muny season is about to come to a close- this is the last weekend to go see Showboat, the last show of the season!- so I thought it was high time for me to weigh in with my tips and tricks to enjoying your season at the Muny. Use them to your advantage, this season or next…

Dress appropriately

Okay, I get it. To some people, the Muny is the theee-A-tor, but remember, you live in St. Louis. It is a million degrees outside. Gals, throw on a comfy but cute sundress and pull your hair back in a bun or ponytail. Guys, polos and shorts will do the trick. Trust me on this one.

Leave the kids at home

I’m going to get a lot of debate on this one, I just know it. But seriously, the Muny is (usually) no place for children. You are asking your ADHD four-year old to sit in the heat with limited food and bathroom breaks for something like two hours and expect for them not to be a disturbance to fellow patrons? Are you kidding?

On the flipside, kids should be exposed to the theater. My advice? Make sure it is a show they really want to see (and one that is appropriate for them to see… Miss Saigon for five-year olds? Bad choice) and get them pumped beforehand by showing them the movie. My first show at the Muny was Oklahoma, one of my absolute favorite movies when I was a kid (and still now). The Muny has ‘family-friendly’ shows every year, for example Beauty and the Beast, Wizard of Oz, Annie, Peter Pan…

Take your seats

The Muny is huge. (Seriously. It is the biggest,and oldest, outdoor amphitheater in the country!) No matter where you’re sitting, you might be leaning from side to side to see around that big head in front of you. It’s just a fact of life (and a fact of the theee-A-tor). The best thing abut the Muny’s size though is that there really is no bad seat in the house. Every seat gives you a different angle, a different view. And like I mentioned before, the Muny has free seats. That means you can go for absolutely nothing! Genius.

Don’t force it

Got a family member, friend, boyfriend, or husband that doesn’t enjoy musical theater? Don’t ask them to come to the Muny. Simple. It is too hot, too long and too boring for them. Let them stay home in the AC and you can enjoy the show without their complaining.

That being sad, I believe there is a show out there for everyone to enjoy. Which leads me to my next point…

Pick your shows wisely

As I said before, every year, the Muny features at least one family-friendly option. This is usually the big, blockbuster performance that runs two weeks (aka the one they can make the most money off of). The rest of the season will be rounded out with a few classics, a sort of operetta show, and a new, trendy musical. Take this season for example:

Showboat- classic

Sound of Music- classic; family-friendly

Cats- operatic-style

Beauty and the Beast- family-friendly

Titanic- operatic-style

Footloose- new and trendy

Damn Yankees- classic

Every season is different and there will always be a handful of shows you aren’t interested in seeing (for me, it was Cats – because I didn’t like it at all last time it was there- and Sound of Music- because I’ve seen it a gazillion times and I prefer the movie to the stage version), but you’re bound to find one that fits the bill. And don’t be afraid to try new shows! Most of my favorites have been shows I had never seen before (Aida, Annie Get Your Gun, Damn Yankees, My One and Only…)!

The Muny matters

Paul Blake and the rest of the Muny crew spend countless hours bringing these shows to our city every summer. These are not traveling groups like you would see at the Fox… these shows are all unique to the Muny! Produced just for us, just for this stage! The Muny matters to St . Louis. It was part of the 1904 World’s Fair. It is part of historic Forest Park. It is a major player in St. Louis theater tradition. We should be proud of it, and enjoy it!

PS: Make sure you are following The Muny on Facebook and Twitter! They post tons of pictures and information, even in the off season!

Image Credit: Jim Herren Photography

Danielle is an Editor  for Girls Guide. You can check out her personal blogs- Addicted to Television, where she talks about her television obsession; and Another Blog from Danielle, where she posts on anything and everything her heart desires. If you want to give her free stuff she wouldn’t be shy in taking it, so you can email her at danielle [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @daniellesmyname