Cocktail Countdown to '08--Mere Hours to Go!

Since tonight is all about welcoming the future, we thought we would go with a space age cocktail. This one comes to us courtesy of Bubbles Bar at the InterContinental Thalasso Resort & Spa in Bora Bora. We're not sure how it tastes, but it sure looks interesting. Kind of like what we imagine the waters or Bora Bora to look like.

Bubbles Cocktail
Layer a dash of Blue Curacao, 1⁄2 oz Banana Liqueur and 5 oz Champagne into a champagne glass, serve immediately.

Happy New Year, all you Jet Set Girls!

Cocktail Countdown to '08--3 Days to Go!

Mojitos are so '07! Caipirinhas are similar and come from oh-so-sexy Brazil. We like this one from NYC's Matador. It mixes in pomegranate liquor with the traditional sugar cane rum for a fun and flirty buzz. Plus, the red color is as festive as it gets.

Pomegranate Caipirinha
Shake 1.5 oz. ÁGUA LUCA Ultra-Premium Brazilian Rum, 1.5 oz. PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur
and 1/2 oz. Cointreau or Grand Marnier with a splash of lime juice. Serve over ice.

Cocktail Countdown to '08--4 Days to Go!

We're not big Scotch drinkers, but sometimes we wish we were. Our generational friend, Charlotte, always orders a glass, neat, whenever we go out and looks so chic drinking it. This cocktail may convince us to give Scotch a chance, the Cointreau and lemon juice must make it a little, well, less manly--we'll give it a go next time we're at a steakhouse.

The Macallan Classic “10”

Shake 1 oz Macallan 10 Years Old Scotch, 1 oz Cointreau, 1 oz Fresh lemon juice and serve over ice

Cocktail Countdown to '08--5 Days to Go!

Whether you're taking a glamorous girls getaway, ringing in the New Year at a local club or even just staying in (We don't blame you, it ain't called amateur night for nothing!), a fun cocktail can make the night. So, until January 1, we'll be giving you a cocktail a day.

We're leading off with one from NYC's BarFry to remind you to eat a hearty meal before you start boozin' it up hadcore. We like this one because we've never heard of basil in a cocktail before and the prosecco will gear you up for the New Year's Eve bubbly.

BarFry's Passion Fruit Basil Martini
Muddle one lime wedge in a shaker
Clap one piece of basil in hands and drop it into the shaker. (We're not quite sure what clap means, but we're going to guess you fold it or crush it slightly.)
Fill shaker with ice, 1.5 oz of vodka, 2 oz of basil passion fruit juice (made in house), 1/2 oz of sweet vermouth.
Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Top with a dash of prosecco. Clap a piece of basil and put on top as garnish.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a day filled with peace, love and happiness!

Give a Dream

Since it's the day before Christmas, we thought we'd just throw out this one item on our ultimate JSG wish list: a week at a private villa in Mykonos. The one we picked out, Blue Rock, has a gazebo sunken into the sleek lap pool, 5 bedrooms (you're welcome to join us on our fantasy vacation) and numerous terraces. Since we're dreaming big, we're going to add in our desire for a cook for the week and several hot pool boys. The price? It falls into that if you have to ask you can't afford it category, but it's around $15,000 (cook and pool boys not included). But the villa rental group, Living International, does throw in concierge services and airport pickup for free, making it a relative bargain.

We don't usually think so lavishly, but our friend, Heidi, mentioned that she would like to go to Greece to celebrate one of those pesky birthdays with a 5 or 0 on the end. Fortunately, we still have several years til we get there, so if we start saving now, we may just be able to afford it. We have a feeling it would be worth every cent!

And speaking of birthdays, Happy Birthday, Hope!

Give the Gift of Spice

We all have a girlfriend who still wears boxers and old t-shirts to bed. You saw her on your last girls' trip and thought it was time she got intoduced to the post-dorm look. This red Elle McPherson chemise is naughty and nice. She can wear it on your next trip or surprise her significant other with a new look when she gets back home. If you order by this afternoon, Figleaves.com will make sure to get it to her by Christmas.

While you're on line, Figleaves is a great place to stock up on everyone's favorite Hanky Pankys. Because while we love to give, we do like to get a little something, too. Hey, Santa!--we've been really good all year long!

Don't forget to enter our contest to win pair of Aerosole's boots! Today's the last day!

Give a Helping Hand

JSG has been known to overindulge on rare occasion (wink, wink), so we love products or tricks that bring us back from the dead. On that note, here's another must for all the jet set girls on your list: Korres Party Survival Kit, available at Sephora. It bills itself as “Designed to wake up your skin and your senses after a long night out on the town.” Sounds like just what the doctor ordered!
It comes with, among other things, guava shower gel, primrose eye cream, wild rose moisturizer and, get this, Lemon Refreshing Chewing Gum. Kinda wish we had a piece right now! No wonder the NYC store of the Greek cult fave caused a sensation when it opened in Soho last fall. All their products are made with high concentrations of all-natural ingredients and smell heavenly!
If you don't have a Sephora store near you, be sure to order online today to still get upgraded shipping for free for a guaranteed Christmas Eve arrival.

Don't forget to enter our contest to win pair of Aerosole's boots!

Give Back--and Look Cool Doing It

Cozy, comfy and a rock star vibe--that's basically the trifecta for clothes to travel in as far as we're concerned. And just when we thought it couldn't get any better, we found out that these $25 sexy camo thermals actually benefit the Love Hope Strength Foundation, too. LHSF was founded by Mike Peters of The Alarm (frequently called the Welsh version of U2), who is himself a cancer survivor, to aid people battling with cancer around the globe. The group hosts a Mt. Everest climb and concert, which is just a wee bit too hardcore for us (rumor has it margaritas and high altitude don't mix), but more power to 'em.
This top will delight all the rockers/do-gooder jet set girls on your list. We suggest wearing it to brunch with smeared mascara for that morning-after, I-just-hung-out-with- the-band-all-night look that'll leave all your friends guessing. For more about Love Hope Strength Foundation, click here.

Don't forget to enter our contest to win pair of Aerosole's boots!

Give the Gift of Travel

No surprise here, we love to travel. What would JSG put on her wish list? Gift cards from airlines. Jet Blue has them from $10 to $1000. You can purchase them off their website; but we saw them at Safeway today (Southwest and American airlines, too).

In January, Jet Blue begins service from NYC to the Dominican Republic and St. Maarten. Two locations JSG would love to review for you!

We figure you can give your friends bronzer or you can give them a suntan, it just depends on the size of your wallet...

Don't forget to enter our contest to win pair of Aerosole's boots!

Give a Little Bit

There's a word for anyone who's done with her holiday shopping already: show-off. The rest of us need help. This week, we're helping by giving out our best bets.

For the man on your list, your dad, husband, boyfriend, brother: how about this great looking scarf? It'll keep him cozy when your away on your girls' trip. Bonus, Neiman's is offering free gift wrapping and free 2 day shipping with the code NMHURRY.

Happy shopping!

On Your Radar?

We spend so much time (OK--all of it) talking about our girls' getaways, now we want to know about yours! Where do you go when you want to get away from it all and hang with your besties for a few days? Miami? Buenos Aires? Your lakehouse? E-mail us your favorite vacation destination at jetsetgirls@gmail.com by December 21, 2007 and you could win the Aerosole boots shown above*. Be sure to include your name, return email, shoe size and color preference.

Aerosoles really are great for traveling because they are cute and you can actually walk in them. In fact, both members of JSG recently bought two pairs of pumps each on sale!

*Winner will be selected at random. Exact pair of boots may vary depending on availability of a specific size.

Baby, You Can Drive My Car!

As one half of JSG lives in NYC, never drives and is happy to cab it everywhere and the other half lives in the suburbs and spends a quarter of her day behind the wheel, we always debate over the benefits of renting a car. It's not rocket science, but it's worth it if you're in a city that's spread out like L.A. and not in a city like Vegas where taxis and limos run like water (or is that bubbly in Sin City?) and you're going to be buzzed 90 percent of the time anyways.

On last week's trip to Phoenix/Scottsdale, when we realized it was only $10 day to rent a car and--Hello!--$25 a day for the convertible, we didn't have to think twice. Driving with the top down from the airport to the hotel turned into an adventure instead of a queasy ride in the back of a taxi. We also got quite a few stares from our fellow drivers, but that may have been because it was 60 degrees and obvious that we were tourists desperate for sunshine. Regardless, it was so fun--we may just be car rental converts!

Ever Feel Like a Piece of Meat?

Sometimes that's okay! JSG always ends up at a steakhouse on our trips. We're not sure if that's because we're looking for guys or missing our own. Steakhouses are great: the best meal before drinking, the best chance to drink a killer bottle of red, and the best excuse to order potatoes (forget your South Beach diet, even if you're in Miami!).

Here's how we found our last filet: we simply Googled “Phoenix Food Blog” and the first one that was listed was www.FeastinginPhoenix.com. Once we read its tagline, “When Zagat’s Meets Sex and the City” we knew we had found a winner! We sent a cold-call email asking for recommendations for a sexy steakhouse and Seth, the editor of the blog, responded with a few suggestions.

We took his advice and went to Mastros City Hall. It lived up to all expectations—the steaks were delicious, the wine list was long and, as expected, it was filled with men. We opted to eat dinner in the lounge because it had a shorter wait and were psyched to find that it was also a lively place to meet locals. In fact, we enjoyed it so much, lounge dining may become a regular practice on all our girls’ getaways--it's an especially good trick for getting into a restaurant without a resy.

And, while we didn’t get to meet Seth in person, we want to give him and Feasting in Phoenix a special shout out and big thanks for the recommendation! Next time you go on a trip, you may just want to Google a local blogger. And, hey--we're always here for advice, too!

A Secret Shopping Paradise

It used to be hotel gift shops only had over-priced sunblock and playing cards with the hotel logo on them. But now gift shops have established themselves as a destination entirely on their own and have turned into a mini-version of your favorite local boutique. At the Mondrian in Scottsdale, for example, our friend Shawn bought some adorable heart shaped crystal earrings for her daughter and a quality cigar to bring home to her husband (BTW: a great gift for your man to smooth the waters on your return from a girls’ getaway!). So now you can head to the hotel gift shop if you forgot your toothbrush or your fave necklace or handbag!

In fact, the trend of chic hotel gift shops has caught on so much, that the W hotel is opening up a pop-up store in New York City for the holidays—and it’s not even at one of their hotels. It’s open today through Friday from 10 am to 8 pm at 90 West Street. It will have items like jewelry you would actually wear from Alex Woo and Swarovski, Laura Merkin clutches, the sparkly rings shown above and great cashmere blankets that are perfect for traveling or curling up at home. This proves it: The hotel gift shop isn’t just for travelers anymore.

On Our Radar: Instant Gratification

After a long night of dirty dancing, a girl can feel, kinda, you know, restless. But we can’t always plan ahead for these things and we certainly don’t want to deal with getting our toys through security, so it does leave us in a bit of a quandary. That’s why we’re such big fans of the Bryant Park Hotel’s Objects of Pleasure Menu. It’s a room service menu of best selling toys from the Pleasure Chest. Just feign a headache, wait til girls head to the pool, and order in—batteries included.

For more information about the Bryant Park Hotel, click here.

Update: This is fast becoming a trend! We're at the Mondrian in Phoenix/Scottsdale and what did we find in our minibar? A "Mobile Intimacy Kit" complete with "mini personal massager"!

Pull Yourself Together, Girl!

We all love to feel put together on our girls' getaways and a big part of that is our makeup. Since we rarely have our makeup done by a professional, we're on our own most of the time. One way to insure you get the best combination of eye, cheek and even lip colors is to use a palette pre-assembled by your favorite make-up line. They're great to keep in your purse and fit easliy into your carry on. They're also small enough to fit in your evening bag. Bobbi Brown and Stila come out with new palettes for each season; but most companies have gorgeous ones out now for the holidays. While Chanel starts in the $80 dollar range, you can find Benefit palettes for $28.

These make great holiday gifts! JSG loves to give and receive them. For travelers like us these are totally packable.

The "I Love Dior" set pictured has as much as any palette we've seen including bronzing powder, 6 eye shadows, lip gloss, and a JSG favorite Diorshow mascara. Click here to purchase on line.

What to Wear In...

In New York, basic black still rules. It's still the dressiest city in the U.S. as far as we're concerned. Fit and cut are extra important. When traveling to Vegas, pull out your shortest skirts and lowest cut tops and as many sequins as you dare to wear (we never do get to wear them enough). As for Miami--Latin chic is the way to go--and don't be afraid of tight clothes, even if you're not at your ideal weight. The girls down there show what they've got with confidence! We've never quite mastered the LA-look, though we appreciate it. Somehow we can't bring ourselves to wear boots with dresses--60 degrees is not really cold, all you West Coasters!

JSG is taking our first official girls' getaway since starting our website this week--we're headed to Phoenix/Scottsdale and are super-excited. Only question--what to pack? We're thinking something along the lines of this top with jeans. It's sexy and shiny, but not too sparkly and the jeans make it casual enough (we think) Anyone out there got any advice?

We'll be sure to report back!

Happy (Discounted) Holidays!

A fashionista friend of our sent along all these discount codes. We haven't tried them out, so we can't vouch that they'll work, but it's certainly worth a shot! Especially if you can get this adorable cuff bracelet for 20% off at Banana Republic (normally $42)!

Stila cosmetics warehouse sale:
http://www.stilacosmetics.com/special_vws_signup_2007.asp

BANANA REPUBLIC:
Use BRHOLIDAY for 20% off (no minimum) Expires 12/24/07
and stack with
CODE: MYRBRGIFT for an additional 15% off Expires 12/24/07
(Must use a VISA card for this one to work)
Total Savings of 35% off

Gucci
10% off online (NEVER HAPPENS)
http://www.gucci.com/us/holidayshoppingday.html

Sephora.com 20% off (NEVER HAPPENS)
Use code: FF2007

PRINTABLE COUPONS!!!
Victoria's Secret - $10 off!
http://www2.victoriassecret.com/onlineemail/?c=27676_45AF0C6212479C57B3C3A3F6B33F1545&cm_mmc=di-_-071106BRA-_-V01-_-27676&e

Talbots
http://www1.talbots.com/emails/071107_15P_Balance.htm

Bath and Body works
http://f.e.bathandbodyworks.com/i/34/528207786/110507A_cop.html

Illuminations
http://www.illuminations.com/email/2007/1102/regular_1102_07.html

Aldo
http://www.aldoshoes.com/frontEndComponents/specificComponents/vip/coupo
nAldo.cfm?ckey=US

Lord and Taylor
http://www.lordandtaylor.com/common/coupons/lt_110807_coupon.pdf

Barnes and Noble - 25% , 10%
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/email/nonav.asp?PID=20422

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/email/nonav.asp?PID=20007

Linens & Things
http://lnt.imageg.net/graphics/coupon/LNT_email_signup_9%2019%202007.pdf

CVS
http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/promotion?pid=6051&step_nbr=160

Aeropostale
http://p.p0.com/YesConnect/HtmlMessagePreview?a=RB9F5-t2axqh9M4TGXrMv&ms
gVersion=web

H&M
http://www.hmfriendsandfamily.com/

Footaction: 40% off clearance
http://ww2.footaction.com/2007/fae011107a/

Kohls
http://www.desividesimasti.net/coupons/kohlsshoppingpass.gif

Puma- 30% OFF!!!
http://surfacemagazine.cmail2.com/email/278576/images/Puma-Friends-%26-Family.jpg

Nine West
http://usa.visa.com/personal/student/detail/all/detail/NineWest_5_F07/vro_details.jsp?offerName=NineWest_5_F07&offerId=13786&pageId=165

Calvin Klein
https://c37e7b424e-custmedia.vresp.com/f7eaff45f4/f42e8d6cbb/library/COUPON.gif

Dicks Sporting Goods
http://www.shopnorthlake.com/assets/DicksCustomerAppreciation

Sharper Image
http://www.sharperimagesavings.com/beyond/

Banana Republic
http://www.bananarepublic.com/browse/info.do?cid=35127

Best Buy
http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/en_US/images/external/emailpdf/1107
07_nov_ese_coupons.pdf

BURBERRY PRIVATE SALE
http://www.burberryusaonline.com/cat...goryId=2284855
Free shipping for orders over $195.

Restoration Hardware Friends and Family
20% off all non-sale items.
Use Code: H07FAF02

Choosing a hotel for your girls’ getaway

To spend money on your hotel or not? We just spent the weekend at the Mondrian in Scottsdale and the answer to that question is a definite yes! While it’s true you probably won’t spend that much time in your room, we always encourage you to stay at the best hotel you can afford. Not only because we’re suckers for good amenities like Khiels or Aveda goodies in the bathroom, comfy beds with 500 thread cotton sheets and over-sized terry cloth robes. Think of it as an investment. A good hotel offers a number of other benefits like: a hip pool scene (unfortunately the weather in Arizona was a little too cold for that), dependably trendy bars (the Mondrian’s Sky Bar is the place to be in Scottsdale) and great restaurants (again, the Mondrian came through with Asia de Cuba) that you don’t ever have to take a taxi to, not to mention excellent spas (our friend H said she had the best massage ever) and concierges who can helpfully make reservations for you at those tough restaurants to get into (again, the concierges at the Mondrian were another ace in the hole!).

Do you have a favorite place to stay that adds up to this? We'd love to hear about it.

On Our Radar: Let the Good Times Roll!

We love when the mere acts of shopping and eating out help a community. We remember on the first Sex and the City episode post-9/11 how Carrie said it was her patriotic duty to shop downtown. That’s how we felt on our recent trip to New Orleans—we practically wanted to give our money away. As it was, the prices are SO cheap down there, it seemed to us like they were practically giving things away to us—a night at the luxe Windsor Court is only a little more than $200 and this is an Orient Express Hotel we’re talking about; our bill for margaritas and gauc was only $13 (it was happy hour), so for the first time in our lives, we left a 100% tip, and there are plenty of bargains to be found in the boutiques along Magazine Street. At the adorable Ah-Ha boutique, we got a cute, over-sized metallic clutch for only $38, which combined two of our favorite things in one must-have piece.

The bars on Bourbon Street are a little less crowded than they were pre-Katrina and you can walk into Emeril’s NOLA without a reservation, but New Orleans is still a party town. And to echo Carrie’s sentiment—it’s practically your patriotic duty to go.

Don't Drink and Shop!

We know you would never drink and drive, but do you know you’re just as likely to have an accident when you drink and shop? Before you laugh and scoff and think, “That would never happen to me,” let us point out how easy it is to fall into this retail trap:
*In Vegas, there are people whose job it is to conceive of new ways to get you to part with your money—and they’re good at it! Now shopping in Vegas is fabulous and you could spend weeks in the shops at Caesar’s Forum and still not get bored, BUT be particularly vigilant with your cold hard cash and Amex after you’ve had a cocktail or two. That $200 bra at Agent Provacatuer may prove suddenly irresistible.
*These same smart people who work in Vegas are starting to spread their evil talents to other cities: shopping may be the last thing on your mind as you head to Nobu in the Shore Club. But it doesn’t take reservations. You’ve probably been cocktailing before you went out and now you’re stuck with an hour to kill. What’s to do? Shop at Scoop for that sexy $150 tank top you don’t need.
*Stores are offering cocktails to you while you shop, impairing your judgment on the spot. Last time we were at Ted Baker's, we succumbed to a free cosmo while browsing and left with one slinky shirt too many.
If you do shop and drink, follow a few rules:
Set a budget. A $15 tank top that says “Off the Wagon” can be laughed off the next day. A $300+ pair of Lucite stripper shoes cannot.
Always shop with a friend. The more the better. If everyone unanimously agrees that it’s a good purchase, go ahead. If there’s even one nay vote, put that peacock patterned coat back on the rack.
Make sure you can return the item. If it’s your last night, leave your credit cards at home and take only the cash you need.
Remember friends don’t let friends drink and shop!

Cougars in Kenya

We've been hearing a lot about Cougars--women of a certain age--taking vacations to Kenya in hopes of hooking up with young men. The NY Post reported on a 64-year old British woman who showers her temporary, 23-year old Kenyan beau with gifts like sunglasses and fancy dinners. In reality, it's not that much different than an old geezer who picks up a PYT in Vegas and does the same thing, but for some reason it's cast as being so much more unsavory in this case.

We'll reserve our judgment, except to say we hope we're still getting it on when we're in our 60s and beyond (not paying for it, of course) and that we're still making time for girls' getaways--that one's a safe bet!

What do you think about "Cougars on Hunt In Kenya"?

Pack It Up!

While we lust after the T. Anthony Rawhide leather collection--at $1,700 for the makeup case alone (shown above), we can't quite afford it or the valet we imagine required to pack such a piece of art. In the meantime, we'll stick with shopping at stores like Loehman's and Marshalls. This adorable Diane Von Furstenberg bag (shown right) is only $70 at SmartBargains.com, the online outlet for Loehman's. We've had good luck going into the stores as well. Santa, are you listening?

Celeb Spotting

The other night, JSG were at NYC's Socialista. We were hanging out at the bar when hottie Benicio del Toro walked by (he's even sexier in person, if you can believe that!). The girl to our right could barely contain herself and stared at him the whole time, while the two guys to our left started talking about how he's one of our generation's truly great actors. Now with all this attention being paid to him, we assumed our friend saw him too, or at least noticed all the commotion around us and decided we would play it cool. Unfortunately, that was not the case and she missed out on seeing Benicio in all his dark, broody sexiness in person and was angry with us for NOT getting all aflutter and pointing him out.

Would you have fawned over Benicio if you were us? What's your best celeb sighting? Did you play it cool around them?

To find out where rockers stay in NYC click here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello Fellow Jet Set Girls!
We're taking the week off to celebrate Turkey Day and spend time with our families.

Annie will be in New Orleans for the early part of the week then heading over to Waveland, Mississippi, where she will be helping rebuild homes that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Both her parents are from the Gulf Coast (Dad is from New Orleans and Mom hails from Mobile), so the area is near and dear to her heart.

Hope will be entertaining her friends and family at her home on Thanksgiving. Kudos to them for traveling, the furthest being her sister-in-law from San Francisco. She'll have a house full of fun, food and chaos all week- just the way she likes it.

Happy Thanksgiving! We'll be posting again on November 26, so check back then!

XOXO

Hands Free

As you’ve probably read in _____________ (insert the name of your favorite fashion magazine here) the clutch is THE bag of the season. We love them because they’re easy to tuck under our arm leaving one hand free to hold our vodka and soda and the other to flirtatiously touch a guy on the arm or flip our hair back over our shoulder. Plus--they’re flat which makes them super-easy to pack.
We’re digging this faux-patent version from the Gap. It’s as skinny as a runway model, but, thankfully long, so we can don’t have to chose between taking out our cell phone and our lip gloss—both fit! Nothing makes us happier than shiny red one—seriously, red shoes and bags always make us smile. It also comes in white, so fresh and space-agey and a black version that is classic Audrey Hepburn. At $24 a pop, we can afford all three!
Buy it online here.

On Our Radar: The Orginial Jet Set Girl

Thomas Jefferson said Marie Antoinette was "devoted to pleasure and expense." Regardless of whether you think she was a romantic heroine hopelessly misunderstood as interpreted by Sofia Coppola or hopelessly out of touch with the masses a la our current president, or a little of both, Marie Antoinette is a fascinating woman. We'll be on line tomorrow a.m. at the San Francisco Museum for the opening day of Marie Antoinette and her vacation home, the Petit Trianon at Versailles.

Petit Trianon is the home given to Marie Antointette by King Louis and became her personal retreat. (In Sofia's movie, it's also where Kirsten Dunst had an affair with hottie, Jamie Dornan.) Her redesign of the posh home included over the top touches like mirrored blinds, fireplace ornaments of goats eating grapes and chandeliers with Cupid's bow and arrows. The grounds included a Temple of Love, a theater and a Merry-Go-Round. We're starting to see Thomas's point.

This is the first time many of the objets have left France. With the Euro trouncing the dollar, we recommend you see them on this side of the pond while you can--now until February 17.

Did We Mention We're Mad for Metallic?

You've heard us sing the praises of metallic shoes, but in this bling crazy season, we can't get enough of bronze, silver and gold. Think of them as the equal opportunity hues: they go well with just about every other color, every skin tone and every hair color. The sheen and shimmer are guaranteed attention getters, even across a crowded bar, and sequined tops and dresses virtually never wrinkle, so they're great for packing. Take a good look at Beyonce, she's perfected the look.

This month alone we've bought a gold leather jacket and a gold leopard print dress. Let them call you Dancing Queen, you're having the most fun!

Name This Drink

One of our favorite cocktails is vodka (preferably Absolut or Grey Goose), club soda and a splash of cranberry juice. It's not as sweet as straight up vodka and cranberry nor is it as harsh as vodka and club soda alone. While we love this drink, it does get annoying ordering a long mouthful of a cocktail, especially across the bar at a crowded club. And forget getting the bartender to understand that we want just the slightest hint of cran (OK, so we can be the tiniest bit high-maitenance).
We've seen women across the country ordering this very same cocktail and wonder: Isn't there a better way? So let's name the damn thing! Our suggestion is Audra, our very first friend who ordered our now favorite drink. But we're open to suggestions!

What's your favorite potion? Take our poll to the right.

How to Keep Your Hubby/Boyfriend Happy While You're Gone

To be quite honest, we’re still working on this one! But these ideas have helped minimize the damage for us:
1. Talk about expectations. Does he want you to check in everyday? If yes, try to avoid agreeing to call before bedtime. You’re likely to be out till the wee hours and no one wants a call at 4 am saying you’re just turning in, especially if you’re drunk. Which leads us to number 2…
2. Avoid drunk dialing. Don’t call to tell him you miss him, with club music in the background and 23-year old Pablo begging you to go back to the dance floor. Don’t drunk text either. Sadly, we have proved it IS possible to slur in a text (it sure can be hard to hit the right keys after a few mojitos)!
3. Don’t make plans on the first night you’re back. You’ll inevitably be tired and canceling plans will only cause further problems.
4. Be prepared to get down on your knees when you got home. And we don’t mean to beg for forgiveness!

Sample This

If you've ever had a jar of La Mer spill in your makeup bag in your checked suitcase, you know our pain. But what's a girl to do? For the past year (as anyone who has been on a plane well knows) we’ve had to chose between packing all our liquids and checking our suitcase in or jamming all our lipglosses, moisturizers and face washes in a little plastic baggie, so we could carry them on. Since checking your bag can easily add an hour to the flight, we don’t have to tell you it’s preferable not to, unless of course you have 18 pairs of shoes with you.

So—how do you travel and still stay moisturized? We head to the sample counter at our favorite store. Now we can breeze through security and land with all our precious products in tact. Some places that are extremely generous with their FREE minis:
Kiehl’s: At a recent stop at the NYC store, the accommodating sales lady loaded us up with travel-friendly sample sizes of two kinds of face wash. They were in a handy sealed foil packet so we didn’t even have to worry about it leaking at any altitude.
Mario Badescu: They offer everything from face washes to toner to their famous masks in handy miniature size.
Nordstrom's: Almost all counters will kindly give you a small pod full of sample product, easy to slip into your carry on.

Tip: Samples are also handy on the other end, when you realize you forgot your eye gel that erases memories of the night before instantaneously.

On Our Radar: So Hip It Almost Hurts

The new 6 Columbus Hotel in NYC has just about every amenity we would include in our own dream hotel: an awesome sushi restaurant—Blue Ribbon Sushi and Grill, toiletries from scrumptious Fresh, minibar snacks from Dean & DeLuca and Zabars and hotel staffers in uniforms designed by ultra hot Rag & Bone. And did we mention it’s near some kick ass shopping like Intermix, Betsy Johnson and our all-time favorite store for yoga clothes, LuluLemon?
They even have one surprise we haven’t heard of before: pre-loaded Nano’s and in-room docking stations to help you get into the groovy 60’s vibe of the hotel. They’ve put together 5 playlists. Our faves are: Decades, featuring the Clash and Velvet Undergrounds and Discerning Dance Floor-- Scissor Sisters or Loose Joints, anyone? Perfect if you forget your iPod (horrors!) or are looking to mix it up a little bit!

For more info on 6 Columbus click here. It's the sister property to NYC's 60 Thompson and the soon-to-open Thompson Beverly Hills.

Accidents Happen

Our favorite Prescriptives' makeup artist, recently shared one of her top travel tips: If she ever gets a cut or scrape on the road, she uses a dab of Prescriptives Super Line Preventor. Apparently, not only does the creatine in it prevent wrinkles, it also helps heals cuts. So next time we get a knick shaving our legs in the shower or trip over a shell on the beach or stumble in our stilettos, we know just what to do!

Buy it online here.

Got any other double use products?

Who do you dress for?

Victoria's Secret sent us their holiday fashion catalog. As we sat wide eyed flipping through pages, we wondered, "who would wear these over the top clothes?!?!?" (See picture at left for evidence!) We went so far as to show a couple of particularly racy tops to our sig other. No surprise--he thought they were H-O-T. He also pointed out that we had plenty of clothes that look similar to these. Now, he's right, there is a corner of our closet reserved for "going out" tops--mostly spaghetti straps, strapless, off the shoulder, gold and silver sparkly things. But we pride ourselves in picking out the classy, sexy outfit, over the trashy whore look.

Here's the question: is all our effort to look subtly sexy lost on the other gender? We think yes. A man doesn't recognize the quality of the fabric or the design. What he does notice is just how low the top goes and how much it shows. Truly, we all have a friend that has figured out what a man wants and gives it to them. We giggle at what she wears; but envy her courage in doing so. The rest of us, we dress for our girlfriends as much as for men.

Take our poll (right) and tell us what you think is sexy.

Get outta of town quick!

We’ve made a few early am getaways and generally recommend them. If you’re flight is at 6 am, that means you can stay out partying that night til 4 am or so--then all that’s left for you to do is grab your bag, hop a taxi and pass out on the plane. It’s much better than a 10 am flight which gives you an hour or two to sleep, which is one million times worse than if you had no sleep at all.
A few words of caution:
1. Pack before you go out for the night. Amateur mistake not to. You’ll always forget something if you do it when you’re buzzed and running late (because who can tell time when she’s drunk?).
2. Call to see if your flight is still leaving. True story: last time we flew home from Vegas our 6:15 a.m. flight was canceled. We had to wait four hours at the McCarren airport for the next flight. Drunk. Alone. Tired. It wasn’t pretty. And according to NY Mag, it's likely to happen again, at least if you're flying to NYC.
3. Try to buy smart snacks/a meal at the airport. Because you know when you’re hungover, you know there’s nothing like a greasy breakfast to make you feel better. Even if you’re not hungry, buy a bagel or muffin for the flight. Trust us. Yet another true story: on a flight from Miami to LA we woke up from our alcohol-induced slumber after a night at the Delano to find the only snacks we had purchased were Peanut M&M's and Crispy M&M's (We ate the Peanut ones--more protein, natch!)

Got any early am travel advice to share?

Our Must-Have Hair Product

We couldn’t live without Bumble & Bumble Hair Powder—pretty much all the time, but especially when we’re on vacation. We always like our blowouts to last as long as possible and with this secret weapon we can usually eek out an extra 2-3 days. It not only absorbs oil, it adds volume when your hair has gone a little limp and since it comes in 5 colors, it helps cover your roots in a pinch. Concentrate the spray on the roots, which are the most greasy, move your hair around when you’re spraying so it doesn’t get all clumped in one area and rub it in a bit with your fingers when you're done to blend it in. It gives a sexy bed-head-y look.
A few words of caution: It’s a powder, so it does make your hair a bit rough to the touch. And when you see your color come running off once you do wash it, don’t freak. It’s just the product washing out.

On Our Radar: Girls' Night In D.C.

We face the following dilemma: a group of close friends wants to get together for a night away from home; but not everyone wants to go out. Here's a fun alternative offered up by our favorite hotel group, Kimpton. At the chic and artsy, Hotel Palomar, in D.C.'s Dupont Circle, they have a girls' night in- pajamas and poker event. They set you up in a suite, give you chocolates and other goodies, and martinis from their own hip Urbana Restaurant and Wine Bar. Then they bring in a poker table and teach you Texas Hold 'Em. Useful information for that next trip out to Vegas.

Just in case a couple of you want to slip out for some action, the Palomar hosts a complimentary wine reception nightly. If you want to explore further, the Palomar is near two of D.C.'s best nightlife areas: Dupont Circle and Georgetown. Just make sure not to wake the others when you sneak out!

To learn more about their packages, click here.

Where the Guys Eat

While you and your friends may love the sound of the newest tapas bar that serves tiny plates of lemon-scented hummus and raspberry-mango mojitos, forget about going there if you want a side of eyecandy with your meal. The only guys who will be at Small Plate du Jour will be the ones who were dragged there by their girlfriends!
Instead, opt for a steakhouse to find your choicest cuts. Guys love steakhouses, because, as our hedge fund manager friend, Bobby tells us, “It’ where men go to feel and act like men.” And we all know that when men are in their element, they’re happier, which means they’re flirtier and sometimes even more generous. Example: When we went to Craftsteak at the MGM Grand in Vegas for a friend’s bachelorette party, a gent sent over bottles of wine for the table!

Still Need a Costume?

Hey--we all procrastinate from time to time, so we're not going to give you a hard time! But instead of resorting to wearing last year's costume and praying no one will notice (they will!) or drawing some lame cat whiskers on your face with a black eyeliner, check out the MAC website for some real makeup magic. Their last minute ideas look anything but. Our favorites are Crackin' Up--wear it with a torn baby doll dress from last season and you'll look like an antique doll gone astray or Zombie Chick--just add that blank Pamela Anderson stare guys love.


The website tells you what products you'll need so you can DIY. Or go to the store for some professional help.

Happy Halloween!

Got a great costume idea you're willing to share? We would love to hear it!

What We're Reading Now

As if the sight of the pool boy isn’t enough to get us all hot and bothered, we picked up Juicy Mangos a collection of dirty short stories edited by JSG’s good friend, Michelle Herrera Mulligan—she wrote one, too! It’s the perfect vacation read: a true a page turner with lots of scenes that make our toes curl up in ecstasy AND statements about love that are thought-provoking and give us lots to talk about with the girls over dinner. Plus since they’re short stories, we can actually finish one before it’s time to reapply our sunblock!

To buy it online, click here.

The Go-With Anything Jewelry

We advise you to travel with as little jewelry as possible since the more you have the more you are likely to lose. We’re still crying over a bird of phoenix turquoise necklace that our mom gave us when we were 15 that we left in Miami.
We love these Rebecca Norman skinny gold bangles: they’re chic, sexy, go with any outfit—day or night—and are guaranteed attention getters. In fact, every trip we take, our friends always fight over who gets to wear them!

To buy them online, click here.

On Our Radar: Taolloween!

Going to Vegas always involves some sort of dress up: short skirts, gold lame and sequins. But Tao Nightclub at the Venetian has two great parties coming up to celebrate our spookiest--and often naughtiest--national holiday. Saturday night is their Insanity Ball where you can win $5,000 for best costume: easily enough to cover the cost of your trip. Taolloween night on Wednesday promises to be Vegas' sexiest Halloween Bash with Guest DJ Temptress (read porn star) Tera Patrick. Don't show up before midnight and don't come without a costume. It IS the one night (or in this case the two nights) you can get away with looking trampier than Britney Spears--hey that's a good costume idea right there! After all, last time we were there we ran into K-Fed; maybe you'll have better luck!

Check back next week for last minute costume ideas!

Check out Kiki's website for more information at www.myspace.com/sneakykiki

Hair of the Dog?

As much as JSG wishes we could promise to eradicate your hangover all together on your girls’ getaway, the only thing we know that will 100% do that is to drink less the night before (Which is as annoying as our dermatologist telling us that the secret to the fountain of youth is staying out of the sun!) Instead, through our combined years of drinking, here’s what we’ve learned can help ease the pain.
1. Gatorade. We prefer classic green since it’s taste is the least offensive .
2. Emer’gen-C. Mix with water and drink down to get more than your day’s supply of Vitamin C as well as a host of other sutff that’s good for you.
3. Miso soup. It’s salty, has a little bit of protein and goes down oh-so-good!
4. Sitting in the steam room. It’s a low-impact way to sweat out all the booze.
5. Bloody Mary. Make that two.

Any other suggestions? We want to hear them!

At Your Service

It may cost a little extra, but one great advantage to staying at a hip hotel is the concierge service. Don't be shy about calling on the concierge for help--that's what he/she is there for. A concierge knows the newest restaurants, the best nightclubs, or the trendiest boutiques. A truly great concierge knows the maitre-d's and the bouncers and can often get you on that all-imporant "list." You can even call a concierge ahead of your stay and ask for help with dinner reservations, spa appointments or finding tickets to a sold out concert. We stayed at the Sagamore Hotel in South Beach recently, but for two nights, Tuesday and Wednesday. Now, any club is hot on a Saturday, in fact the Sagamore itself throws a great party on Friday and Saturday; but it's trickier to find the models and their entourage on a weeknight. Chief concierge, Madeleine Kelly, put us on the list at the Delano (oh, yes, this oldie-but-goody is hot again). We bypassed the long line of want-to-bes outside and went right in. What a party! One last thought: you may still have to pay the cover; but at least you saved time waiting in line.

Not staying at a hotel with a concierge? Our friend Danny, who travels a lot for work, told us this neat trick: He calls the local Prada store and asks the sales associate for recommendations. Try it! It really works!

The Secret to Making Blowouts Last

We love to get blowouts before our weekends away—as any woman well knows, once your hair looks hot, getting ready is a quick makeup application and cute dress away (sometimes easier said than done, but that’s for another post). The hard part is getting the blowout to last all weekend long--though days at the pool or beach and nights dancing. Corinna, a stylist at one of our favorite salons--the AKS Salon in New York shared her trick—it really works!
Before getting in the shower, roll the top part of your hair in three medium-sized Velcro rollers from the front back and put on the shower cap that the hotel so kindly provided you with. The steam will actually be your friend and work to revive your hairstyle. Put on your makeup, spritz with spray before unrolling and you’re GTG. Thanks, Corinna!

Got your own secret to making a blowout last? We want to know!

It's Not Vegas, But...

On Friday we told you we were headed down to Atlantic City. And, well, it's not Vegas, but AC is getting there. The crowd at Mur.Mur on Saturday night at the Borgata was young (primarily under 30), attractive and fun. The club was full, but not so packed we couldn't walk without spilling our drinks. Everyone we talked to was either from Jersey or Philly--we actually kinda missed the Eurotrash. DJ AM was awesome as usual. He knows how to read a crowd and definitely works hard for his money. We stayed out dancing til the wee hours of the morning.

Would we tell our friends from New York to go? Definitely--with one caveat. We took the Greyhound bus from NYC. While it was fine on the way down, the bus on the ride back was crowded, stinky and loud. It left us wondering: Couldn't AC do a Jitney service a la the Hamptons? We would have gladly paid a few bucks more for a bus that left on time and a more civilized experience. But if you want to gamble, stay up all night dancing and wear something a little more risque than you might in your hometown without the time, expense or hassle of a flight to Vegas, A.C. is worthy of a night or two.

UPDATE: We just learned Amtrak is introducing direct train service from NYC to AC by early '08. Roundtrip tickets are expected to cost between about $105 and $165. All aboard!

To make a reservation at the Borgata, click here.