Raise your hand if you have an exciting Memorial Day weekend trip planned! I'm headed to Mexico for the week--it also happens to coincide with my birthday so my hubby and I decided to splurge a bit. (That's us in Turks & Caicos, right) Getting ready for the first beach trip of the season is a challenge, between squeezing in waxing appointments, pedicure appointments and the like.  That's why I wrote--and will be glad to have--these two beach vacation stories:

Clothes to pack for a beach weekend getaway

Beauty products to pack for a beach weekend getaway

Happy travels!

If you like Piperlime as much as I do, you'll be thrilled to hear that the online store is opening it's first retail store in New York City later this year. The 4,000 square foot store will be at 121 Wooster Street in SoHo. "Our customers have been asking for a place where they can experience Piperlime in person, and New York is the perfect location for this," said Jennifer Gosselin, senior vice president and general manager of Piperlime. "Since introducing Piperlime in 2006, we've built a loyal following of fashion-involved women looking for a mix of the best styles from the brands they love and the new ones they discover. Our SoHo location will offer an edited assortment, giving customers the right amount of everything in a refreshing setting," she said.

Fall can't get here soon enough!

The other week I had the chance to learn about Mally's 24/7 Professional Gel Nail System available on QVC. For anyone who like the looks of pretty polished nails, but doesn't have time to deal with chips and cracks or the hassle of going to the salon for a gel or a Shellac mani, this system is the perfect answer. And at $150 it is one of the better values out there.

The system includes:

• 3 polish colors
• Base coat and top coat
• Cuticle oil
• Various nail tools
• LED drying lamp
• Gel polish remover
• and a How To DVD

It works the same way as a gel mani at a salon, without any of the hassle of having to make an appointment and leave your home. It's the thing for a busy woman on the go.

It's available on QVC.

Nicole Richie, already a Fashion Star and QVC designer, is expanding her designing empire with a limited edition collection to launch at Macy's next fall. The Macy's Impulse Capsule Collection has previously featured Karl Lagerfeld and Alberta Ferretti. "I am thrilled to have this opportunity to work with Macy's and create a collection that channels the individual artist in all of us," said the House of Harlow 1960 designer. The collection will include maxi skirts and crop tops, all for under $149 and launches in September.