Chopper Style

Blade launched last summer as a helicopter service between NYC and the Hamptons but I finally tried it for myself for Fourth of July weekend and it didn't disappoint! 

I wanted something comfortable yet chic for the chopper, so I wore my Sachin and Babi Mazal maxi dress (available here). Not only was it beautiful, but it made for a fun photo op in front of the heli with the blades whirring and the breeze blowing.

From the great customer service to the amazing views from above and zero traffic, it was a memorable way to kick off the holiday weekend and it only took about 35 minutes as opposed to the usual 3+ hours by car. Here's a highlight video below from my journey so you get an idea of what it's like (sorry it's not full screen, realized I should have held my phone horizontal instead of the way you'd think):

Note to nervous fliers: it was a super smooth ride and my fellow passengers (including a puppy!) couldn't have been nicer. For more ways to get to Hamptons on any budget, check out my Travel + Leisure story and if you'd like to try Blade for yourself, download the app and enter promo code CristinaG1 to get $100 off your first flight. Happy travels and happy summer to all!

Follow me on Instagram and Snapchat @cristinablairgibson and on Twitter @cristinagibson

Globetrotting and Girl Time

I've been on a major hiatus from the blog due to my crazy work and travel schedule this year, but I'm back with some updates. I've had two destination bachelorette parties in Nicaragua and Santa Barbara, where we rode horses on the beach and went wine tasting in the valley.

I also had work trips to Palm Springs and Miami, so it felt like I hadn't gotten to see some of my friends here in NYC very much. That's why I was psyched when SheKnows hosted a special screening of Hot Pursuit, in theaters today. I gathered some of my NYC girlfriends for a fun movie night.

I always love a night at the movies, but this was especially awesome since they had a popcorn bar, candy bar and an open bar with specialty themed cocktails.

The movie stars Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara as a modern day Thelma and Louise and is the perfect girls' night out for your BFFs.

Thanks to SheKnows for hosting such a great event and my friends for joining me! Next Sunday, May 17, I'll be on Fox & Friends for a fun segment so set your DVR or tune in you're up that early on the weekend.

Follow me on Instagram @cristinablairgibson and Twitter @cristinagibson

Montauk to Mexico: My Summer So Far

I can't believe we're more than halfway through summer and it's already August, but I guess time really does fly when you're having fun. Last weekend, our Montauk house officially ended. We had a great time with an amazing crew at 64 Grant Drive. Here are some highlights from my summer so far:

Beautiful beach days

Family dinners...and having the blondest house in the Hamptons, hands down

Our housemate and resident deejay Kyle doing ridiculous living room workouts

Sundays at Surf Lodge. Surf is fun any night but Sundays have the best crowd and best performers and you can even bring your dog. I'm proud to say I didn't miss a Surf Lodge Sunday all season! 

Trying yoga on a paddleboard for the first time. It was such a fun workout! We did it at PaddleDiva in East Hampton and I wrote a story about it for SheKnows.

Getting to borrow a Jaguar F-Type for 4th of July weekend...such a sweet ride!

Seeing so many stunning sunsets

Getting to spend quality time with friends, both new and old

Going boating and being out on the water...nothing like it

Although our Montauk house is over, luckily, the boating adventures continue. Katie and I are off to Mexico in two weeks to take a Sunseeker on the Sea of Cortez. The Hamptons have been a blast but I'm looking forward to exploring some new places.

Despite what it may look like on Instagram, I've actually worked a lot this summer on things other than my tan. In addition to my daily articles for Cambio and weekly stories for SheKnows, I did a Fourth of July segment for Fox News featuring festive cocktails, snacks and games to play at your celebration.

You can see the whole segment here and I even got a shout out from Diddy himself since I used his Ciroc vodka in the cocktails, which I was pretty excited about!

@foxandfriends and @cristinagibson share @ciroc sangria cocktails for July 4th. Check it out at: http://t.co/1S7Wejsfw9
— Diddy (@iamdiddy) July 2, 2014

 I also wrote my first story for Hamptons magazine about the renovation of Gurney's Inn. The property is so beautiful and the new restaurant, Seawater Grille, serves delicious food. It's the perfect place to stay if you're visiting Montauk.

I also started writing for Yahoo! Travel, which has been really fun since I've always been a huge travel enthusiast. One of my stories for them was even picked up by the New York Post, and it was a big thrill to see my byline there unexpectedly. 

It's been such an amazing summer so far but I have the feeling the best is yet to come. I hope that your summer is going spectacular as well and that you're making the most of the season. Enjoy the great weather, take some time to relax and make lots of magical memories. Until next time, cheers!

Follow me on Twitter @cristinagibson and Instagram @cristinablairgibson

All Set for Sundance!

Happy 2013! One of my New Year's resolutions is to update this bad boy more. I'm currently en route to Park City, UT today for the Sundance film festival. I've gone once before during my E! days when I lived in LA but this time, we have a huge crew from all over the country and our very own house complete with a hot tub, sauna and steam room, so I'm pretty excited.

But before I caught my flight (which was supposed to be yesterday, long story), I caught up with Nikki Reed, who was in NYC for Gillette's Kiss and Tell event. The Twilight actress was super sweet and told me all about the special gift Kristen Stewart gave her from the set and what she loves most about being married to her hubby Paul McDonald. Check out the first part from our interview here!

I'll be working for SheKnows.com and Vibe TV/Blackbook magazine at Sundance, and one of my assignments for SheKnows includes interviewing James Franco about Kink, the BDSM porn documentary he produced. Seriously. Fifty Shades of Franco, anyone? I have the screener in my carry-on but something tells me it's probably not appropriate to watch in public on the plane ride to Salt Lake City.

It should be an interesting trip...check back for more updates!
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