Editor's Daily Dish Blog

40th anniversary of the first moonwalk (July 21). Neil Armstrong's, not Michael Jackson's.

National Nude Day (July 14).

Also Bastille Day. La coincidence?

BBQs and fireworks (July 4). The one day it's OK to crack a Bud Light at 11 a.m.

For National Cheesecake Day (July 30), the Cheesecake Factory unveils a red-velvet version and donates 25 cents from each slice to a food bank. Chow down—Nude Day already happened.

Fine-arts painter Wayne White's new book, Maybe Now I'll Get the Respect I So Richly Deserve, edited by Todd Oldham (July 1). Buy it, and your cute, arty neighbor will give you the respect you so richly deserve.

Cartier's fabulous new sunglasses line. The only accessory you need on Nude Day.

Nine West's new Vintage America line, inspired by the Gold Rush. Vintage is the new new.

Bath & Body Works's new American Grown body washes, with scents like Washington Apple and Napa Grape. No plans yet for Wisconsin Cheddar.

Major League Baseball's All-Star Game (July 14). If your guy's team wins, you might get to third base.

Jennifer Lopez turns 40 (July 24). And still caliente!

Loose, imperfect finger waves, as seen on the Proenza Schouler runway. Now it will only take you 40 minutes to look low-maintenance.

The Y.E.K. Market Tote ($32; global goodspartners.com), made from Cambodian rice bags, to benefit land-mine survivors. Wow the checkout guy at Whole Foods.

I hope that this trip and this blog serve as the beginning of a conversation: a dialogue about our diverse experiences and our daily lives as women, about our health and our needs, and about our individual and collective dreams for the future.

“History starts now, with you and me.” With this toast began Fashion Gives Back, a one-night fashion show benefit at the Stone Rose Lounge last night in New York City.

Hosted by History Starts Now, an organization with the goal of ending child trafficking, the event featured up-and-coming designer Suzanne Rae’s collection “A Dress For All Seasons.”

Guests sipped cocktails and snacked on appetizers while enjoying the lounge’s breathtaking view of Central Park. Before the show began, History Starts Now shared some statistics with the audience:

• Child trafficking is a booming billion dollar business exploiting children as sales items.

• Wherever drugs are being sold, children are being sold.

• Child trafficking victimizes 2.5 million children worldwide, 300,000 children in the U.S., and 10,000 children in New York City.

• It affects on average, children 12-13 years old.

Co-founders Kristina Lee Grandstaff and Rachael Ann Lechliter then made the toast, which happens to be their motto, and the show began. Since the venue was so intimate, everyone had a front row seat.

Models weaved through the crowd, displaying Rae’s creations, inspired by and made for the progressive and sophisticated modern woman. "Both feminist and feminine, the line explores the multiple juxtapositions of a woman’s being and interprets these abstract ideas into tangible garments." Rae will give a presentation at Fall Fashion Week 2009.

Fashion Gives Back highlighted one of the multi-media approaches History Starts Now uses to inform people of the dangers of child trafficking. The benefit raised consciousness and funds to help the cause.

For more information regarding History Starts Now, visit HistoryStartsNow.info.

Read our interview with Taylor Swift

The highlight of CMA week for many fans was Taylor Swift signing at the Nashville Convention Center Sunday morning. While hundreds camped out 18 hours for a chance to meet her in person, Swift showed her appreciation to each and every fan in line. Introducing herself with a welcoming hug and talking one-on-one before signing everything from a photograph to a fan's guitar, Swift demonstrated just why fans are so receptive to her, signing for well over five hours.

Pictured above is one such fan, Shannon Calley from Birmingham, Alabama who drove three hours and slept outside since 8 p.m. Saturday night to meet Swift. "It was crazy. There were so many people, but I'm so glad I got to meet her," Shannon said. "She is one of the nicest people ever. I'm so happy she got to sign my guitar because I started playing because of her. The fact that she got to sign it is awesome."

Having been writing songs since she was 13, Shannon's excitement after meeting Swift was so contagious that I wished I had met her myself! When asked if there was anything else she had to say about her experience, all she had to say was, "Taylor rocks!" And, after listening to Swift in the press conference Sunday night and watching her perform an energetic live set on LP Field, I couldn't agree more.

Annie Reuter is a freelance writer and music blogger who covers concerts and music festivals around the country. In constant pursuit of the next show to attend and band to interview, Annie keeps up her own music blog, You Sing, I Write, where you can read more on the latest up-and-coming bands.

Photos by Wendy Hu

This past week's annual CMA Music Festival reminded me of why I'm so passionate about music. The energy, the excitement, and the thrill of meeting your favorite musician is an experience everyone can relate to. Despite a few technical snafus (including a fivce hour flight delay due to a failed electrical generator and my laptop crashing while attempting to live blog the festival), the behind-the-scenes access to CMA week and determination to bring you the most intriguing interviews and festival coverage is what kept me going.

Growing up I was a huge music fan, always researching the latest news on my favorite band, in constant hope to one day meet them. CMA makes this dream come true for country music fans. Whether it was waiting in line for an autograph (in Taylor Swift's case hundreds of fans camped out over night) or attending an exclusive fan party where a band debuts new tracks off their upcoming album and takes questions from those in attendance, the CMA Music Festival is unlike any other music festival out there. The entire week is solely dedicated to the fans and thanking them for their continued support. After all, a musician wouldn't be anyone without his fans.

Over the course of four days I interviewed some amazingly talented up-and-coming musicians (David Nail, Jake Owen, Holly Williams) as well as some of country's legends (Martina McBride). Additionally, I learned how to be more aggressive in the nightly press conferences. While I'm more a fan of one-on-one interviews, the first night was a learning experience as press conferences are often a free for all with everyone jumping in and talking over each other. Thursday was definitely an adjustment, but by Friday I was a pro and able to get in many questions to some of country's hottest talent.

I traveled to Nashville with two friends, Wendy and Deana who helped me out with photos and video footage during the festival, so I'm psyched to include their coverage as well within the next few days. Be on the lookout for tons of interviews, photos and trip highlights, including a stop at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Studio B as well as Memphis to visit Elvis Presley's infamous Graceland estate.

Being in Nashville for CMA week really opened up my eyes into the country music realm and I was so glad to be a part of it. Somewhat of a newbie to the genre, what I saw this week were some of the most down-to-earth, appreciative and welcoming people in the business and it's so refreshing to see the stars so receptive and engaging with their fans. I just may have to make a yearly trip to Nashville from now on!

Annie Reuter is a freelance writer and music blogger who covers concerts and music festivals around the country. In constant pursuit of the next show to attend and band to interview, Annie keeps up her own music blog, You Sing, I Write, where you can read more on the latest up-and-coming bands.