Unlike many of my friends, I didn’t spend my summer working my butt off at some incredible internship, or traveling around the globe checking out exotic places. I put my seven years of competitive swimming to use and decided to teach people how to swim at a nearby university. Not only did I get to enjoy the gorgeous Miami weather on a daily basis (when we weren’t having torrential downpours) and get to look at the even more gorgeous guys, I learned some very interesting things.

For example, even the cutest little girl’s vomit will be vile when you are covered with it. And, even though the adorable boy you teach can’t be more than 40 pounds, his “accidental” kicks to your lady parts will make you see stars. Every. single. time.

Since I don’t plan on teaching swimming or working with kids in the future, I didn’t anticipate learning anything super important through this job. I figured I’d be in the sun, make some money, and get really pruney fingers now and then. But while I was teaching these little kids how to stay afloat in a large body of water, they were teaching me a much bigger lesson. Read More »

It’s strange, but for some reason spending 45 minutes on the elliptical feels unnatural this time of year. It’s like lying in a tanning bed when you it’s 80 degrees and sunny outside.

Clearly I’ve slightly, OK totally, abandoned my usual workout routine.

The solution? Exploring outdoor activities that will provide me with a sense of adventure as I tone up. Now you may be wondering, “Hmm, is there really anything fun out there that will burn lots of calories?” I felt the same. But the reality is, YES, YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN! Check out these options below.  Read More »

Makeup is supposed to help your look out and enhance beauty, but what happens when you mix makeup with humidity, sweat, and waves? Raccoon eyes, that’s what.  Raccoon eyes aren’t even a good look for raccoons, so they definitely won’t add to your summer style.

Luckily there are tons of waterproof makeup products out there to prevent this problem, whether you’re hanging out in the ocean or laughing-so-hard-you-cry at The Hangover. And here are a few of the very best ones  to keep you from sporting a Hamburgler look this summer. Read More »

While browsing around on the internet (hey, it’s the the only way to spend the day when you’ve still got the spins from the night before), I stumbled across this little tidbit from CNN.com:  apparently peeing in the pool grosses people out AND can be detrimental to your health. Oh, and 17% of people polled still do it.

After countless summers as an essentially aquatic creature in my childhood, I know my way around a pool.  You can always tell which kid has the potential to use your watery paradise as their personal toilet.  And by “which kid,” I mean all kids.  Hell, I’ll admit, I’ve raised the temperature in a pool or two (I was young, okay??).  What I didn’t do was go swimming with diarrhea (grossgrossgrossgross), or drink the pool water (hey, I was peeing in it, why would I drink it??), or do any of the other things that health officials warn against.

In my day, peeing in the pool got you a shrill “ewwwww” from the rest of your playmates, but then you moved on and kept playing Marco Polo or whatevs until the next one of you decided that drying off, running to the bathroom and then trying to pull that wet one-piece back up was far too much work.  Gross? Yes, but apparently not gross enough to keep people from doin’ the in-the-pool-pee-pee.

So, we want do know: do you pee in the pool? Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone.

I’ve mentioned this in recent posts, but I always use my summer vacation as a catalyst for next fall’s budget.  Many of you are saving money by living at home, or earning extra cash by taking on a summer job.  However, when the sun comes out, it’s a lot more tempting to go out and spend money.

You might have said “No” to 1/2 price happy hour during the winter, but now your friends can twist your arm to drink overpriced margaritas at a trendy beach bar.  Cutting costs doesn’t have to mean cutting down on fun, however, and if you play your cards right, you can have a kickass summer and barely spend a dime.

1.  Hang out at the lake.

Big beaches can actually cost a pretty penny, when you factor in overpriced parking costs, expensive surrounding restaurants, and the gas money if it’s a major tourist trap that seems worth a 2- to 3-hour drive.  You can still soak in the sun and go for a dip at your local lake.  If the lake is part of a community park, you might have to pay a couple dollars to park, but that money usually goes towards keeping the park clean.

2.  Go fruit picking.

Check out local farms and farmer’s markets and stock of on all the fresh produce that’s yours for the picking.  Whether you visit a strawberry patch, a blueberry field, or stock up on a harvest of tomatoes, you can spend a few therapeutic hours away from the commotion of our high-tech world, and maintain your bikini bod by eating healthy.  Then, go home and conjure up some gastronomic experiments, such as homemade caprese salad (tomatoes layered with fresh mozzarella and drizzled with balsamic vinegar) or a genuine strawberry daiquiri. Read More »

Guess what’s just surfaced, ladies? Michael Phelps underwear ads!

It seems as though these ads have been out for awhile, but for those of you who are experiencing Phelps mania for the first time, these pics would most likely quell your (secret?) need to see the “fish boy” (as my dad calls him) naked. I mean, he’s not naked, but he’s in boxer briefs. It’s real close.

[Editor's Note: while Phelp's body is admittedly bangin', does anyone else think his face is...well...reminiscent of an elf in this picture? Like, Lord of the Rings style??]

Looks like President Bush has been playing some Olympics drinking games of his own.

The Chinese are mean!

Russia takes a break. Georgia disagrees.

I didn’t think it was possible, but Jake Gyllenhaal is lookin’...ew.

In memory of Isaac Hayes…a song. About the menstrual cycle.

Britney’s back, bitches.

Cheerleading - that sh*t is dangerous!

Where has all the porn for straight women gone?

Gossip Girl has been gone too long; how about a little fix?

It’s time to give tequila another shot (pun intended).

Bored at work? This may be the best game of all time.

I’ll be honest; before the Olympics started last week, I didn’t think much of Michael Phelps. I knew he was some amazing swimmer, but who cares about swimming, anyway? In the U.S. it is all about football, baseball and fried foods, baby. And all those people talking about how super duper sexy he was? Yeah, I just didn’t agree.

But then the games began (and Michael put on a swim cap/Speedo) and I began to see what everyone else was talking about. I mean – this guy was looking good. Really good. Like, “I kinda sorta (read: totally) wanna do him” good. He is pretty much as close to perfect as any man can get.

Don’t agree? Here are 5 Reasons Why I Want to Do The Breast Stroke (see how I made a swimming term into something sexual? Yeah, I’m that good) With Michael Phelps:

He’s Got Moves: Maybe it’s just me, but when I watch Phelps dive off the platform and do that little mermaid move….well, I can only think dirty, naughty things. He knows how to use his body well and I have a feeling that little move would work wonders both in and out of the pool.

He Loves His Mama: There is nothing more attractive than a guy who loves his mother. Not only is that the sweetest thing ever, but it means is going to respect you and treat you well, too. Read More »

With every Olympic games comes a slew of controversy, and this year is no exception. First it was the un-inviting of Joey Cheek. Then it was the American Cyclists who offended the Chinese government by showing up with masks on.

And the problems don’t stop there.

Apparently, Speedo is causing quite a stir.

Their newest high tech design, the Speedo LZR Racer, has become the talk of the world. This is more than just a bathing suit; it is a record breaker. Since its introduction to the pool, 13 world records have been broken. All in the Racer.

Surely, that is no coincidence. The suit (designed with help from NASA) repels water, molds the swimmer’s body into a perfectly aerodynamic shape and even helps a bit with buoyency. Those unable to wear the suit (due to endorsements with other companies) are crying foul: their Racer-wearing opponents have an unfair advantage.

If I were a swimmer, I would be pissed off too. But I am not. I am simply a fan and to me there is a much larger issue here…

The fact that this suit covers up…everything.

Seriously; what the hell happened to the itty bitty Speedos of our past? I know that NO ONE wants to see those on some fat old dude on the beach, but BRING THEM BACK. These swimmers are in the best shape possible. I don’t care about records. I care about abs. And I want to see them.

I am not sure I can even justify watching the swimming competitions now. Sure, I want to see my fellow Wolverine, Michael Phelps, bring home 8 Golds, but I want to see him do it in one of these. Is that too much to ask?

It’s time for the Summer Games. For a select few, that means it’s time to put years of hard work and determination to good use to try to win a medal for their home country. For most of us, however, it means it’s time to sit back and watch people far more athletic then ourselves participate in activities that we haven’t done since childhood — when our parents desperately tried to force us into different sports to see if we had any real ‘physical acumen.’ Pro-tip : We did not.

Here is a list of Olympic Sports most uncomfortable for small children: Read More »