Erin McCarthy’s Vegas Vampires series is adorable. I love a good vampire tale, and there are a lot out there (MaryJanice Davidson’s Undead series, Susan Sizemore’s Primes series, and Jennifer Armintrout’s Blood Ties series are all good examples), but I also love Vegas, and this is a snazzy combination of the two.

Set in Sin City, the stories follow sisters Alexis and Brittany Baldizzi, vampire president Ethan Carrick, his campaign manager Seamus, and a host of other characters, both good and bad. There’s a shy stripper, a brainwashed assassin, a ditzy secretary, and an immortal baby to round out the cast. Full of snappy dialogue, steamy scenes, and a host of ridiculous problems (what do you do when the woman you love gets smashed by a car? Make her a vampire, of course!), these are entertaining and amusing and I look forward to the next one, Sucker Bet, which lands in December.

The June 2007 issue of Health magazine has some snazzy cocktail recipes to beat the heat and ring in the 4th. Not only are they all lower in calories than regular cocktails, they put a refreshing spin on drinks with new flavors. My favorite part: none of the drinks use sugary mixes or artificial sweeteners (yuck.)

For recipes for the Pom-rita (modified margarita), Simple Blueberry Summer Cooler (modified screwdriver), and the Strawberry Kiss (modified strawberry daiquiri), click here.

Or you can try my favorite (homemade!) tropical smoothie recipe, which is pretty healthy, virgin, and easy to adjust.

You need:

• pineapple chunks (fresh or frozen)
• mango chunks (fresh or frozen)
• 1 small ripe banana (sliced)
• strawberry slices (fresh or frozen)
• 1 navel orange
• shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
• vanilla soymilk or almond milk
• ice cubes

It works best with a combination of fresh and frozen fruit, which helps to keep it cool and frothy. The amounts for the fruit vary depending on personal preferences, and use the soymilk to get it to the consistency that you like. Place all the ingredients in a blender and whip it up. You can use more shredded coconut on top, and can garnish with a fruit slice or maraschino cherry. Because this recipe doesn’t use additional sweeteners, this is not an overly sweet drink. It is crisp, refreshing, and very filling. Yum!

I was shopping with my friend at Kohl’s the other day, and was surprised to find a line of clothing by Elle. Along with the popular fashion magazine, the line is a division of Lagardere Active Media Licensing, which apparently signed an exclusive deal with Kohl’s and launched the clothes this spring.

When I was there the selection was pretty limited; I only saw a handful of shirts. I did however, snag this cute, cropped trapeze jacket. It’s much more adorable in person, and takes a tank top and jeans from a casual outfit to a chic ensemble. I’m hoping they will expand the collection, because I’d love to see what else Elle can come up with. I have a feeling the clothes will be trendy, but with classic enough to last through a few seasons.

For the details on this fab collaboration (faboration?) click here.

As you may have noticed, I’m very interested in health and fitness. I’ve toyed with the idea of becoming a trainer or registered dietitian, but I never really pursued it (especially because you have to have a Master’s to be an R.D.). But then I found this. The American Fitness Professionals and Associates website offers a certification as a Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. It sounds really cool; they suggest all sorts of job options and they send you everything, as well as the testing material. It isn’t cheap, but I think it would pay for itself shortly. If I’m not going to pursue librarianship as my career (and it’s possible that I might be moving soon, thereby giving up my job), then this is certainly worth considering.

This show is my new addiction. It airs on E!, but since I don’t have cable I have to netflix it. I’m watching Season 1, and Season 2 comes out next month, although netflix doesn’t have it yet. Anyway, the basic premise of the show is that it is an inside peek at what it’s like to live in the Playboy Mansion, particularly from the viewpoints of Hef’s three girlfriends, Holly, Bridget, and Kendra. This seems like the kind of show that would be total fluff, and it is, but it’s good fluff. The girls aren’t bimbos, and are actually quite articulate and well-spoken (Kendra’s kind of a doofus, but it’s funny). Although it seems weird that these three beautiful women are all dating the same 80-year-old guy, it actually kind of makes sense when you watch it. Holly is the number one girlfriend (she’s quick to point out that while she enjoys being number one, the hierarchy was in place before she got there). She says Hef is her soul mate and she gets to share his bedroom (she also calls him “Puffin” all the time). Bridget and Kendra have their own rooms in the same hall, and other than the fact that they all have to share, each has what seems like a normal relationship with Hef (as normal as it can be anyway, since he’s pretty much their grandfathers’ age). But Hef comes off as charming and chivalrous, although he is totally in charge, and the girls live the high life: shopping, pool parties, and tons of blond extensions. The first season celebrates Kendra’s 20th birthday, The Midsummer Night’s Dream party, a wild birthday in Vegas, and the girls’ first Playboy spread, not to mention the nine dogs and one cat that live at the mansion. It’s tacky in a good way, and although the DVD features lots of boob shots, it’s not pornographic. In fact, there’s absolutely no sex on the show; the girls won’t even discuss it. It’s just good, goofy fun. The Girls Next Door makes me giggle and want to wear pink. I might even invest in some Playboy earrings.

Also, Bridget is connected to the Blonde Mafia clothing line, which makes this adorable hoodie. It has horns. I want it.