To celebrate our nation's birth, we have decided on a subject who can easily be considered everone's All-American: Tom Brady. He plays football (very American) for the New England Patriots (Patriots are also American).

Also pretty American?

A wet t-shirt.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY, AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, FROM THE GOLIGHTLY GIRLS!

We did a little survey, and we have some information for you about the state of bachelorette parties today. You may never have another chance to use that penis straw, and that's probably a good thing.

We found that an overwhelming 88% of respondents are looking for more upscale options when it comes to bachelorette party themes, leaving the days of strippers and raunchy accessories behind. A moment of silence for the penis straw, please.

More than 70-percent of survey respondents claimed that splitting the check was a huge headache, and thankfully Holiday Golightly has Divvy It Up to help with that!

Want more percentages? We thought so! 61% of respondents reported they prefer a bachelorette weekend away with a mix of activities, as opposed to one wild night out in their own town - and more than half (57%) are willing to pay up to $400 for said getaway. Of those invited to bachelorette events this year, a notable 66% indicated the weakened economy may somewhat impact their bachelorette plans, but another 21% were ready to open their wallets no matter what. We prefer to hang out with the 21%. Weakened economy, schmeakened economy.

Economy aside, in terms of planning a bachelorette party, respondents cited the scheduling headache that accompanies organizing a big group as the biggest hang-up (37%), followed by dividing and collecting funds (32%) and selecting activities (19%). Seriously girls. Call us.

We have been dragging our feet and lollygagging, in an effort NOT to keep up with the Kardashians, but it's no use. They're on E! every hour, on the hour, and cannot be avoided.

And speaking of "avoided", what should always be avoided is the baseball cap/giant hoop earring combination. I used to wear this in the early 90s, and I'm pretty sure it didn't even look good then.

Photo: Photobucket

Much as it pains me to feature Ms. Kardashian in our little weekly travel fashion forum, as she is more of a celebutante than celebrity, she is photographed ad nauseum. And she is at an airport. And we are talking "travel ensembles" here.

If one of your girlfriends is planning a wedding, try to talk her into having the ceremony out of town. Destination weddings are becoming more and more popular, and if you're invited, that's an automatic vacation!

Top 10 Destination Weddings

1. Hawaii - Aloha, mahalo, melekeleke maka. These are all fun to say, and you'll get to repeat them frequently at the wedding in Hawaii.

2. Jamaica - who doesn't get that "One Love, One Heart" song, with the kettle drums, stuck in their heads when thinking of Jamaica. "Let's get together, and feel alright" - that's a great wedding theme!

3. Mexico - another destination with a great theme song. James Taylor's "Mexico" can be the first dance at the reception. Right after we play the piñata game.

4.Tahiti - sure, it's kind of far away, but what better way to avoid having those pesky "distant relatives", and colleagues of your parents usurping all your fun wedding time? Plus, those overwater bungalows are fantastic.

 
5. St. Lucia - often described as a "small, lush, tropical gem", which is precisely how the groom should refer to his new bride.

6. Italy -arguably the most romantic country in the world, where a glass of wine with breakfast is considered perfectly normal. Cheers to the happy couple!

7. Greece - one of my friends got married in Greece. Greece is stunningly picturesque and exotic and very high on my list of "places to visit". I wasn't invited - she said it was "just family". We're no longer friends.

8. Aruba - Aruba just sounds sexy, doesn't it? I mean, you just can't be frantic, stressed or uptight in Aruba. And frantic, stressed and uptight do not make for a sexy wedding anyway.

9. U.S. Virgin Islands - the perfect place for a white wedding. Ha ha ha. Please stop me.

 
10. Bermuda - if you want your wedding relaxed and casual, there really is no better place than an island that has a pair of shorts named after it. Plus it has beautiful, sunny, sandy beaches.

The majority of these were beach destinations, but all of them are definitely romantic, and we would be happy to attend any wedding in any of these spots. Just send us an invitation.

If you've ever tried shopping for "travel clothing", you will be familiar with shapeless drawstring pants, boxy t-shirts, and big floppy hats. They don't scream "AMERICAN TOURIST" quite as loudly as a baseball hat and Nikes, but we feel there are still more attractive options. Whether packing for a girlfriend getaway, or any other type of trip, these are a few pieces you can take with you, wherever you're going.

We've combed the official travel gear sites, and picked our favorites that will allow you to wear travel clothing, and still look travel-chic.

Travel clothes need to be versatile enough to be dressed up or down. This tank is stretchy and comfy enough to wear on a day touring ancient Roman ruins, but can also be dressed up for a nice dinner overlooking the Aegean:

Wrap Tank Travel Tank - at ProTravelGear

Every girl needs a good LBD, and one with a built-in bra is like gold when you're traveling:

Little Black Halter Dress - TravelSmith

When traveling, there are no two words you want to hear more than "wrinkle free clothing":

Wrinkle Free Shirt - Magellans

Don't forget to add a little color to the travel wardrobe. This is a great cover-up:

Lost River Knit Shawl - Magellans

Don't you dare buy those Crocs. The comfort is not enough to offset the ugly. These sandals are adorable, and Sofft makes fantastically comfortable shoes.

Women's Sofft Roma Sandal - at TravelSmith

So now you're all set to travel, but don't forget to leave room in your suitcase for the clothes you'll buy on your trip!

Remember when I said that I didn't want to watch "Lipstick Jungle" because it was too close to "Sex & the City", but just not as funny? I take it back. I now want to watch it ALL the time.

Robert Buckley plays Kim Raver's boytoy, and you're never too old to play with toys.

Photo: ViewImages

He is also currently filming a movie, with Heather Locklear, called "Flirting with 40". I love that he is not allowing himself to be typecast as cougar-bait...wait a minute.

Oh, who cares. He should really only take roles that require nudity.

Photo: xanga.com

HAPPY FRIDAY AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, FROM THE GOLIGHTLY GIRLS!

Just when you thought being a bridesmaid couldn't get any more thankless, a survey of 1000 women (by You & Your Wedding) showed that 20% of the respondents wanted their bridesmaids to sign a contract for bridesmaid duties. A bridesmaid pre-nup.

Now, we are not anti-bride, but having a signed contract just takes any fun, that may have been involved in bridesmaids-ness, out of the equation (I have similar feelings about an actual pre-nuptial agreement, but that is another blog post).

The bridesmaid pre-nup includes stipulations that the bridesmaid will not make any "radical changes" to her appearance. You know, "radical changes" like becoming pregnant. If there was ever a time to shriek "OMG!", this would be it.

The bridesmaids are really in it:

For better or worse (except not better, because they had to sign a contract)...

For richer or poorer (except not richer, after all the expenses like shower gifts and the required dress and shoes)...

In sickness and in health (except not "in health" - the bride is clearly sick, and you are in big trouble if you gain weight or cut your hair)...

Nearly half of the brides surveyed said they would "axe" any attendant that violated the terms of their deal.

"So, I know we've been best friends since 1st grade...and I know you have held my hair when I was puking after too many Goldschlager shots...and I know that we pinky swore that we'd be best friends forever...but that new haircut will not be long enough to put into a French twist like all the other bridesmaids, so if you could just sit this one out...that'd be great, thaaaaaanks."

It's official. These weddings have completed the metamorphosis into Three Ring Circuses, and the meaning of the ceremony has been completely buried under 10 tons of crepe de chine and cabbage roses, and ivory parchment paper bearing the calligraphic script "Bridesmaid Pre-Nup Agreement" at the top of the perfectly curled page.

I'm getting married in VEGAS! Who's with me?

Jessica Alba is in the new Mike Myers' movie "The Love Guru", which we have not heard good things about...yet... We want it to be good! The premise is so funny! Okay, but back to Jessica Alba.

She did admit, on the Ellen Show, that in real life she was pretty slobby, but this airport ensemble doesn't look all that bad. See? It's always a good idea to be up-front about potential slobbiness, so that anything other than said slobbiness looks like you're a fashion superstar.

Photo: Dean M/MO/Bauer-Griffin

So, she is wearing some leggings - normally kind of scary, but she has paired them with a sassy striped, appropriately-lengthed tunic that renders the leggings bearable, rather than obscene. She will definitely be comfy on the flight. The coat is nice, and that giant chocolate-brown leather bag, paired with her sunglasses subtlely whispers "I'm famous and have money".

Playing dress-up is always fun, and there's no better excuse for it than a Bachelorette party. Whether you decide to take your theme out on the town, or keep it to a private girlfriend gathering, the photos will be hilarious and memorable. And probably embarrassing.

1) Slumber Party - jammies, bra-freezing, light as a feather-stiff as a board, M&Ms for breakfast. Being 10 again is awesome.

2) Cowgirls Gone Wild - giddyup! Grab your hats & boots & fake pistols and get ready to round up a good time!

3) Ball & Chain - marriage is a commitment! It should be taken seriously! Have all the girls dress as prisoners in orange jumpsuits, or the old-timey black & white stripes.

4) Toga - this is good for the lazy bachelorette. Or the Roman bachelorette. Throw a sheet on and go!

5) We're All Brides - everyone wears white/bridal-ish gowns. This will help everyone identify with the bride and what she's preparing for. This will also confuse everyone in the bars, and you'll all end up drinking for free.

6) Golf - if you've seen the movie "The Wedding Date" (with Debra Messing), you'll have an idea of how eccentric golf outfits can get. Bar golf is a great bachelorette party activity - no irons required.

7) Wig Out - save time doing your hair - everyone wears a wig to the Bachelorette party!

8) 80s Roller Skating - you will have a great time with your girlfriends, and get a little exercise too. Depending on how often you can "crack-the-whip". Crimp your hair, bust out the leg warmers and you're ready to roll.

9) Vegas Karaoke - have everyone dress up as her favorite Vegas singer (or just "singer"), and either rent a karaoke machine, or head to a karaoke bar. This bachelorette party has no room for self-consciousness. Who brought the video camera?

10) Tea Party - The tea party is the most refined option here. Just put on your garden party dresses and white gloves, and spend the afternoon bonding over tiny sandwiches. We didn't say you couldn't have mimosas and bellinis!

With drinks, without drinks, the Bachelorette party is all about soaking up your girlfriend-time. Make it special and just enjoy it!

Okay, if you're really imposing a shopping embargo, that means you aren't permitted to purchase anything. We recommend a small concession, as full-on embargos are just sad. Accessories are a great way to add a little somethin'-somethin' to your wardrobe.

Think of yourself as a Christmas tree that needs decorating. But try to avoid the garish garland. Rings, scarves, bracelets, earrings, sunglasses - you know, accessories!

Red Seed, Bead & Shell Bracelet - $119 at VivaTerra

All of the above are reasonably-priced options, but we should always have at least one unreasonably-priced option to covet. Enter Nancy Gonzalez:

And if none of the above accessories appeal to you, go ahead and buy yourself a new dress. Embargos were meant to eventually be lifted.