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Summer is slowly (almost too slowly for comfort) taking a bow and bidding us adieu till next year. This is the perfect time to plan that casual BBQ with close friends and family you've been wanting to put together. Too comlicated, you say? We're not all Martha Stewart or Colin Cowie. Maybe you don’t even aspire to be, but a few secret recipes and well-placed items will make even the most impromptu party look Pinterest-worthy. 

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First realize word BBQ conjures up images of backyards, shorts, and paper plates. BBQs are meant to be relaxed- so, relax! With that last exhale out of the way...

Perhaps it has been ingrained into you that a good hostess does not ask her guests to bring anything. Throw that thinking out the window for last minute parties with close friends. When a guest asks, “What can I bring?” Don’t say, “Whatever you want,” or you will end up with ten pounds of potato salad. It's okay to assign tasks! Asking people to bring something usually encourages them to 1) come 2) come on time and  3) show off their culinary skills. But also know your guests! If you have a friend that is notoriously late, don’t assign them to burger duty, but instead ask them to bring a dessert. 

    These are some of my favorites in each category:

    Appetizers- Think refreshing fruit, chips, and dip. I think `       blue corn tortilla chips with pineapple salsa from Trader            Joe's are a great combination and sure to be a hit. 

    Main Dishes- There are so many options when grilling.            Burgers and steaks are classics, but grilled veggies,                chicken for a taco bar or pulled pork sandwiches also make     delicious main dishes.

    Sides-These are usually the simplest to delegate. The            traditional macaroni salad, potato salad, or coleslaw are        always a hit. Green and fruit salads are both refreshing and     perfect for the calorie-conscious.

    Desserts- Another dish easily delegated, dessert is                everyone's favorite and can be as easy or complicated             as you'd like. You can simply pick up ice cream and cake,        or get creative with s'mores- also easily grilled!

    Drinks: Beyond water, lemonade, and beer, try                        experimenting with Sangria and fun mixed drinks! 

If all else fails, treat your guests to this Chili Lime Corn, and you will be a queen among hostesses. But, really. 

Now relax with your guests and enjoy!

XOXO,

Maryann B. 

You've seen it on ballerinas. On the red carpet. At the beach. On your favorite blogger's site. That perfect, glossy bun with no fly-aways sticking out or a lumpy mushroom top caused by a hair tie. But how do you achieve such perfection in a top knot? 

Vanessa and Chris from Salon 25 in Cypress, CA are here to show us how! Check it out! 

Save on one of our new Marie or Susy suits in just three simple steps- here's how! 

1. Starting today until next Saturday, August 11, log onto Pinterest, and “pin” any image of either the Marie or Susy suit from our website to one of your boards. 

2. Come back to this blog post and leave a comment with a link to the pin and your email address (so we can contact you).

3. In exchange, we’ll send you a discount code to be redeemed for 15% off either Marie or Susy.

Happy Pinning!

Actually, we'd love it if the presses kept running, and we're sure Flair would appreciate it, too. We're so privileged to be featured in Flair, a Belgian magazine printed in Dutch, and to share it with all of you! Check it out! Dank je, Flair!

We recently teamed up with Vanessa and Chris of Salon 25 in Cypress, CA to bring you a series of hair tutorials that demystify all your favorite looks, and we're so excited to present you the first of many to come! First up is the beyond gorgeous waterfall braid with beauty waves style worn by Irena during our last photo shoot.

A perfect blend of bouncy curls with a loose waterfall braid, it's a lovely, romantic look for pretty much any occasion from a sunny picnic to a day at the beach. At first, we were positive this was a look best left to the pros...but now, anyone can do it with these few steps and simple tips

Hey, ladies! At long last, we have joined forces with the internet and are launching the official Rey Swimwear blog just for you. Keep coming back every week for a boatload of beach-day DIY tutorials, beauty how-to vlogs, inspired recipes as well as fashion inspiration, and of course the latest scoop on what’s going on behind the scenes here at Rey Swimwear!

We’re also unveiling our shiny, new website! Everything will now be conveniently in one place, and can be viewed from your smart phone as well so you can show off your favorite suit to your gal pals. ;)

To kick off the swimsuit season, we’re also releasing our newest suit, Marie! This retro-inspired number is named after Audrey character in Mayerling, and is every bit as lovely, charming, and sweet as the woman who played her.

As a celebration of our favorite season, all the new ‘round here, and of course, YOU, we’re now offering everyone an opportunity to receive a 10% off promo code. How, you ask?  Simply submit a snapshot of you and your Rey swimsuit on vacay to be featured on the blog!

We all know that girl. The one that’s gone a tiny bit overboard with her anti-aging obsession. The one that doesn’t blink at a $140 Vitamin C serum and is a bit evangelical about her Clarisonic.  The one that has researched the efficacy of the Save My Face pillow.  I am that girl.  I’m also that girl that has excellent skin.

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Here on the site, I plan to bring you the cliff notes of skin care so that you don’t have to spend that time between work meetings researching Phytomer. Let me do the grunt work. My goal is for everyone, regardless of time and fund constraints, to have the skin they deserve. And with that in mind, let’s get to the single most important aspect of skincare.

DIET.

That’s right. You really are what you eat. After 10 years and thousands of dollars, I can tell you without hesitation that your skin’s beauty starts from the inside out. You can use all the La Mer you want, but if your diet is based on Seagram’s and bread…you’re screwed. Everyone, including YOU, Miss Lucky Genes with the size 0 frame, should really take account of their diet.  

For your skin and your major organs it’s important to make sure a majority of your diet is including the following items:  

·      Healthy fats (think avocado, walnuts and salmon)

·      Berries

·      Green tea

·      Sweet potato

·      Red and green vegetables, especially dark leafy greens

It’s hard to change your diet or even to just eat right all the time. To jump-start the effects of eating the right skin foods and mitigate the damage you did at happy hour, dedicate one day a week to juicing, as a time to let your body reset and to make sure you’re up on your vitamins and antioxidants by getting a ton of fruit and vegetable nutrients into your system. I cannot say enough about the benefits of juicing.  If you don’t have a juicer, use your blender and make smoothies. They are just as refreshing while giving you the fiber you miss out on by juicing.

To get you started I’ve listed a few of my favorite recipes. Have fun with it and experiment. Take a trip to the farmer’s market and go bonkers. There’s a world to gain by juicing, including some seriously glowy, smooth, zit-free skin.

The Nanashi Shiso Antioxidant

½ or 1 Shiso Leaf

1 / 4 Pineapple

2 Gala Apples

1 ½ c. Lime Juice

Juice together. Chill. Drink.

Better Than Beyonce AM Smoothie

2 c. Kale

1 c. Parsley

1 Green Apple

1 c. Celery, chopped

1 inch or more ginger

Juice of 1 lemon

2  Ruth's Foods Chia Goodness Original

Blend all ingredients and then let sit, chilling for 10 minutes so the chia seeds can expand. Stir and drink. This recipe is a great breakfast that gives you instant energy, protein and a fresh start on the day.

Super Lemonade

2 handfuls Blackberries

A good glop of Acacia Honey

1 liter Water  

2 tsp. Dried Organic Lavender

Juice of 2-3 Lemons

1 ½ tsp. Fresh Ginger, peeled and grated

Mix all ingredients except lemon in a saucepan. Boil, then reduce heat and let steep 5-8 minutes. With a potato masher, mash the ingredients to extract as much juice as possible. Refrigerate, then add lemon juice.

XOXO

Kelly T.

My name is Maggie and I am a bona fide party girl. I like to throw parties and I like to go to parties. Big parties, small parties, it doesn’t matter. As far as I’m concerned, there is always a reason to celebrate something, and this is my version of Party Etiquette 101.5. 

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I could write scads on party-goer etiquette, from which fork to use and how to properly pass the salt and pepper (I know, who knew there was a proper way to pass salt and pepper?!). I’ll just stick to the basics and what I find most important, from the instant you receive that highly-coveted invitation, to the day after the party, when you are updating your Facebook page with pictures. Show your appreciation and gratitude towards your fabulous hostess with these three simple tips!

Pre-Party

Always RSVP! This is so important. Yes, you may be holding out for that important invite to the Queen’s ball, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. When someone sends you an invite, e-vite, or Facebook event notice, responde si vous plait. There’s nothing worse than having unexpected guests. It can get really awkward when there are not enough chairs, dance partners, or…gasp…food! Even at an event without place settings, your hostess would like to have numbers. Don’t leave her wondering if she should book the dance hall or keep it at her home. Let’s keep our good names and reputations on those guest lists by being courteous and RSVP’ing.

Party Day

Bring a hostess gift of flowers, a bottle of vino, or a pineapple (the international symbol of hospitality).  It does not have to be expensive and over the top.  It’s a small token of appreciation that says, “Thank you for inviting me to your party. I appreciate all of your hard work to make our time here enjoyable.” As someone who has been on the receiving end of a hostess gift, let me tell ya, it’s amazing! 

After Party

Write a thank you note. Thank the hostess for her hospitality and inviting you into her home or wherever the party was held. Keep the positive vibes of the party going. There is nothing better than getting a personal, hand-written note in the mail, as opposed to another stinkin’ bill or junk mail.  It takes 2 minutes out of your busy and important day.  One act of kindness deserves another and besides, it’s good for your health.  Yes, I read that somewhere.

So there you have it!  Party etiquette 101.5…Now conquer the world, you classy people, you.

XOXO

Maggie H.

After weeks of collaboration, feedback, and putting in the final touches, we're ready to unveil an accompaniment video to our Summer 2012 Lookbook. We're so excited to share this behind-the-scenes look at our latest photo shoot, as well as give you a sneak peek at our newest suits, Marie and Susy! 

Shot on the grounds a whimsical historic home in beautiful Old Towne Orange, California, this photo shoot features some fabulous talent whom we were so privileged to work with! Enjoy!