Eva Longoria-Parker Travels in Style and Comfort

Here's one we haven't tried yet: the maxi dress as travel wear. Thanks to Instyle for spotting this trend. Maxi dresses are totally comfortable, not binding at all, look great with your fave cardigan, and double as chic once you get to your destination. We're loving that Eva Longoria-Parker brought her own pillow on board.

Jessica Simpson went with a brighter, "hey look at me" print. As if she goes anywhere without causing a commotion!

For more celeb travel styles, check out InStyle on-line.

Delta Doubles its Bag Fees

Delta airlines will start charging $50 to check a second bag on all tickets purchased on or after August 5, according to MSNBC.com. That's up from $25. Talk about inflation! All the more reason to be a smart packer!

Personal Bouncers

We took a stroll down memory lane as we read the hilarious "Security Breach" in the August issue of W. It's a primer of proper bodyguard etiquette and includes these tips:
1. Be important
2. Your bodyguard is not your friend.
3. Mind your manners
4. Know the dress code.

JSG has one more to add: Don't be too stringent about who can talk to you or you'll end up dancing alone.

We learned this the hard way a few years back at Light in Vegas. We were there for a friend's bachelorette and a bunch of us got a table, which came complete with our own security guard. Right off the bat, we were breaking W's rule #1--a $500 of Grey Goose Vodka does not an important person make.

The night started off well enough--we were ushered through the velvet ropes past the hundred person deep line. Our booth had an overview of the dance floor and the drinks were flowing. We started talking to a gent wearing sunglasses over the side of the banquette. Despite the fact he was wearing sunglasses in a night club, we invited him into our cordoned off area. After a while, the conversation turned down a dark alley and he got way out of line. We couldn't get rid of him fast enough. Eventually, sensing our discomfort, one of our ballsier friends asked him to leave.

When our personal bouncer, Chuck, got wind of this, he told us if anything like that were to happen again, let him know and he would take care of it for us. That's his job, after all. Wow! A big man to get rid of loser guys--what a dream!

That was, until we let the power go to our head. As guys approached our banquette, we just had to give Chuck a slight shake of our head and he would tell the guy to scram. Well, do this a few times and no guy is going to come talk to you, no matter how self important you are. We ended up having to leave our little booth in the sky to go trolling for guys around the club.

The lesson: Security is important for politicos and Angelina and Brad. Not so important for D-listers or a group of capable women in a club!

By the way, the Light Nightclub at the Bellagio is now closed. It was remodeled and is now called The Bank. It's only been open two months. If you go, let us know how it is!

Bobbi Brown Metallics and Free Gifts

Bobbi Brown's collection of metallic eye shadows are available now as individuals ranging from pastel to bold. We're loving Brown Stone, a silvery beige brown (picture above), as an everyday lid color with more pop. You can combine a number of these into Bobbi's custom palettes holding 3, 4, or 6 pans.

With a $100 order on the Bobbi Brown website, you'll receive a complimentary full size Gunmetal gel liner and mini fine eye liner brush with the code METAL and...
The Crystal Lip Gloss (above) 7 ml sample size, which is great alone or over lipstick. Free shipping on orders over $75. Hurry the Gunmetal giveaway is valid only from today through 7/31/2008.

Cute Dog Carriers

Last week, reader Leah Jill Leah issued us the following challenge:

Every time I fly, I take my dog, Lulu (Toy poodle/bischon) with me. This counts as 1 personal item (even though its $100.00 each way). I would like to be able to not check any bags when I fly home for Christmas this year. What do you feel is the best bag setup for me? I like my products and organization and to be airline approved. Oh and lets not forget Lulu and I must be cutie patooie :)

We did some searching and came up with the following options.



We love this Kwigy.Bo bag because it has inside and outside pockets. Try keeping your ID and airline ticket in the outside pockets so they're within easy reach and you don't have to disturb Lulu. And that camo will wear well, matches a lot and is pretty darn cute.



This Creature Couture bag is roomy enough for your belongings and your pooch. It fits under your seat and has all those pockets to keep you organized, too. Available at PetLife.com.

Since you're traveling over the holidays, you should consider shipping your presents ahead of time, too. It will save room and a whole lot of hassle as you go through security. The only time we screwed up the liquid restrictions was when we had a bottle of Tocca body lotion in our bag that was a Christmas gift.

Let us know how we did. Full disclosure, we don't travel with pets.

FHI Heat Platform SE Styling Iron and Brushes

We love our summer beach-y hair (it's the easiest way to go in the humidity); but we still like to smooth out our locks occasionally. It's a hard habit to break. Even when we're wearing a sexy beach pony, we'll use a flat iron to smooth out the front pieces of our hair so that the crown of our hair isn't too frizzy and curly when pulled back. We've had the same flat iron going on 8 years and while it's held up well, we were curious what else is out there. We've been using the FHI Heat Platform SE (JSG edit) and brushes for three weeks now. The styling iron is well balanced and sized, not too heavy or bulky. We like most that the edges are rounded which prevents your hair from snagging and lets you style your hair under or flip it out smoothly. When you pull the iron through your hair there aren't snags or creases from sharp edges.

The brushes are very light weight, which was disconcerting when we first picked them up. How could something this lightweight be quality? After using each (the paddle for apres shower and detangling and the round for blow drying), we can assure you that they are. The round brush works especially well because the boar bristles help grab your hair and smooth it out. The lightweight brushes also kept the weight of our carry on down on our trip to San Francisco. The only problem we've had is keeping track of them in the house, everyone wants a brush for themselves.

You can find FHI products at Ulta stores, FHI's website (where you can also learn more about the technology), and select salons.

Carasol Parasols Discount

As any of our regular readers know, we're big proponents of sunscreen--mostly because we plan on saying we're 29 for as long as we can, but also because, as everyone knows, burns are unpleasant and unhealthy. That's why we're in love with this modern take on an old-fashioned concept: the Parasol.

Carasol Parasols was founded by Carol. She was given a gift of a parasol by an aunt who lives in Japan. She was initially self-concious about carrying a parasol around NYC, but got over it when she realized the sun-protection benefits. Once she started carrying it, women would stop her on the street to ask her where they could buy one and hence the idea of Carasol Parasols was born.

Each parasol blocks out 85%-99% of UV rays depending on the fabric. We see these parasols as a chic way to protect yourself while shopping, strolling on the beach or lunching with friends.

Best of all, from now until August 15, JSG readers get a 10% discount online at Carasol UV Parasols website using the code: JETSET08.

Coupons Texted to Your Phone in New York City

We're already addicted to the new 8coupons.com service, which we just read about it today in the NYPost--a boon for tourists and locals alike. It feautres some incredible discounts like 8-cents for a serving of Mac & Cheese at Supermac on July 29th, 20 percent off your tab at Zenith (a poor girl's version of Zen Palate), discounts for the upcoming Fringe Festival (off-off-off-off Broadway plays that are hit or miss, but always worth the effort) and Fuerzabruta (the water-filled show from the creators of De La Guarda, shown above).

Some of the options are a little questionable, like a $950 Persian kitten (Please rescue a kitten, folks and save the cash!); half-priced Botox (we're fans, but your results will only be as good as the person injecting you. Anywhere that advertises for half is a major red flag to us) or discounted glass tobacco pipes (um..what do you use those for?).

We love the thought behind the site:
We call ourselves 8coupons, but secretly, we want to be more than just coupons. We want to empower local businesses in our neighborhoods so that they have the opportunity to be discovered. We want to encourage you to check out that Cuban restaurant in the East Village, or the new sushi restaurant that just opened around the corner. We want to make it easy for you to explore, discover, and take full advantage of living in the greatest city in the world, one neighborhood at a time.

What's most brilliant about the site is that you can have the coupons texted directly to your phone. You don't have to remember to bring a coupon or print it out. We predict this is the wave of coupon futures!

NARS Lipstick: Two Shades for Summer

We read a lot about gloss this time of year, for good reason, no one wants a $30 tube of lipstick to melt in her purse. Here's a couple of colors from Nars that are worth wearing (and protecting from the heat) this summer: Nouba and Masai. Both have a bronze base, Nouba has more ginger undertones, Masai is more rose quartz. We found they had staying power without drying out your lips, complements of Vitamin E. They're particularly flattering with a tan face (self-tanner, please) and give you a sultry Sofia Loren Italian goddess look. Pair it with a sexy cat eye and you'll be ready for the Riviera!



If you're on the lookout for fall lip colors, check out Senorita, a "sheer shimmering cherry blossom." (pictured above)



Nars is currently offering free 3-day shipping on orders over $60.

On Our Radar: Hula Girl Getaway

We love the idea of jetting to Hawaii with a couple of our closest friends and spending a few days soaking in the tropics.

The Fairmont Orchid, located on the northwestern coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, is offering a Hula Girls Package which includes daily hula lessons, two rooms for the price of one, breakfast, snorkeling gear and surfing lessons.

While you're there don't miss the Spa Without Walls which has 10 spa hale (huts) nestled within the waterfalls, streams and lily ponds and oceanfront massage cabanas.

Hawaii makes for a long trip for Eastcoaters; but wouldn't this be a dream bachelorette getaway? For more information, go to the Fairmont Orchid website.

Aloha!

Call Voice Mail Directly

The NY Post featured a story yesterday "Dial-a-Breakup Made Easy" about a number you can call that will put you directly into the person's you are calling voice mail. Here's how it works: You dial 267-SLY-DIAL then dial the cell number you are calling at the prompt. You'll listen to a short ad, then be put into the other person's voice mail. Now the story suggests this is a good way to breakup with a person, which we would NEVER do! Having been broken up with over voice mail, we can tell you first hand it's a really crappy and wimpy way to end things.

However, we see this coming in handy when you need to take a mental health day at the beach and don't want to speak directly with your boss or if you want to check in at home while you're away and don't want the drama of speaking to your SO directly.

Amanda Seyfried's Hair in Mama Mia

If you can't beat the humidity, may as well have it work for you and go for the full on beach-y look, whether you're on vacation or stuck in the city. For tips, we checked in with the fabulous and talented Edris of NYC's Edris Salon. Being a island lady herself (she hails from St. Vincent and now lives on the island of Manhattan, which is about as steamy as any Carribbean Isle these days), Edris has more than a few tricks up her elegant sleeves.

Her secret weapon? Aloe vera. She uses it in place of gel, because it dries soft. To get beachy waves like Amanda Seyfried's, Edris recommends a leave-in conditioner, followed by a dab of aloe finger-combed through wet hair (the amount depends on the thickness of your hair and the length). Then braid your hair. The key--Edris made us stop typing notes into our Blackberry to make sure we were listening and watching, so we know this step is important--is to braid the hair flat and close to your head. She says this eliminates frizz because it flattens the shaft. She braids hair in five sections, three in the center from the forehead to the nape of your neck and one on each side.

Need somewhere to wear that beach-y hair? How about the island where Mamma Mia was filmed?

Fish Pedicure: Hope's First Hand Experience

Okay, it's done. Hope's been to Yvonne Salon to have a school of little fish nibble at her feet. Sounds creepy, right? She thought so too, especially when they went after the tender skin between her toes or congregated under the bridge of her foot. If you ever swam in a lake as a kid and had a blue gill nip at you, it's like that times ten.


It was a family affair: once Hope's girls got wind of the fish pedicure, they had to try it out. That's their feet sharing a tank. They giggled at how ticklish it was and enjoyed themselves immensely. Apparently, they didn't see the fish poop floating around.

We expected the salon to smell like a pet store; but it didn't, it was spotless. The three women in charge were friendly and informative. Shannon explained how Yvonne had learned about the garra rufa fish (or doctor fish) from a client. From Turkey originally, they're used in Asia to treat skin ailments like psoriasis and eczema, as well as in spas for manis and pedis. Yvonne traveled to China where she learned about the fish biz (she even experienced the full body tank) and brought the fish home. She's looking to open a couple of more stores in the D.C. area, as well as open franchises, and supply other spas with fish. By the never ending telephone ring, we'd say she's onto something hot.



The results are mixed: while our feet look great and feel smoother than ever; we still feel squeamish. It's doubtful we'd return, though it's worth a try if you're adventurous. We'd try anything for a good pedicure. And tonight, no sushi for us.

A Peek Inside the StoreAdore Girls Carry On

We've looked inside Annie's and Hope's carry ons, now we're peeking inside the carry ons of StoreAdore.com founders Christina Miller (left) and Meredith Barnett (right). Here's what they have to say:

With Store Adore currently covering boutique shopping in New York, Washington, DC, Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Philadelphia (newly launched!), we are constantly jetting from one city to the next in order to keep our booties on the ground regarding the shopping scene. (We know Annie and Hope can relate.)



After too many lost luggage experiences – not to mention the ridiculous new airline policies ($25 per bag? Come on!) – we’ve pretty much abandoned the idea of checking our bags. We’ve got carry-on bag packing down to a science. In fact, we now permanently keep our beauty products in Ziploc bags. Here’s what you’ll find in our carry-on bags:


1. The origami wrap from Lilla P is one of the most genius clothing items we’ve encountered. You can wear it over and over again in an infinite number of ways—a shawl, a layering top, a cardigan, a tunic—so versatile and casually chic. Store Adore shoppers can score them for 20% off. Click here for the code.


2. A pair of cute lightweight flip flops packs easily and is good for plodding around hotel rooms (especially for germaphobes like Cristina!), giving swollen feet a break on the plane, and wearing out to dinner if you’re lucky enough to be traveling somewhere warm. We like these by from Pedro Garcia at Los Angeles-based boutique Heist where Store Adore shoppers get 25% off. Click here for the code.


3. Travel can be a nightmare for your skin: Airplanes are notoriously drying, and more time outside means additional sun exposure. This lip gloss from Nuxe is an all-in-one: a pretty pink shade, SPF 15, and an uber-moisturizer.




4. We seem to travel with three to five lingerie bags each. We use them for dirty clothes, socks, bras, and underwear. This one from celebrity trend resource Intuition is meant for swimsuits, but we use it for everything. Store Adore shoppers get 20% off here.

5. The best kind of jewelry for travel is the kind that you don’t have to remove. Meredith just bought this bracelet from Covet (using my Store Adore 20% discount!) and I’ve yet to take it off. The leather just gets softer the more you wear it, and I love the chic meets glam appeal. No need to stuff my carry-on even more!

6. A roomy totebag functions as a handbag, a laptop bag, and a carry-on. This Hayden Harnett bag (shown top) weighs practically nothing. It has a padded pocket for laptops, can be worn under your arm, and also expands so that if you shop while you travel (and who doesn’t?) you have room for all your goods. Look for an exclusive Store Adore discount on Hayden Harnett soon.

Click here for a complete list of StoreAdore discounts.

Update: We just read in WWD that Hayden Harnett is slated to create a line for Target in spring 2009. Love it!

Dual Shower Head at the Westin

Given that we're about to become first time home owners, we're paying more attention to all those little details in a hotel room that we used to overlook, like the Westin Heavenly Shower Head. We've experienced all kinds of showers--spa showers that shoot at you from all sides (we plan on installing one in our dream home); overhead rain showers (soothing, but a bitch for keeping your blowout safe) and outdoor showers (a must for our dream beach house). We liked this dual shower head so much because it hits your upper and lower body at the same time, which really keeps you warm, especially important in San Francisco in July! You can buy the shower head online, along with the famous Westin Bed.

Fish Pedicure

Have you heard about this yet? These poor fish were imported from China for the sole (ha!) purpose of nibbling the calluses off your feet- the new "fish pedicure." JSG's Hope is equally disgusted and curious about the idea, so in the interest of beauty has decided to be a guinea pig for you. (That and Anne is making her do it!) Check back tomorrow for the review.

Bobbi Brown Makeover in San Francisco

JSG's Anne and Hope love to get their makeup done while on vacation- especially if it's as convenient as the Saks was, next door to our hotel in Union Square. Convincing ShallowGal to come along was another thing. She hemmed and hawed and wouldn't get out of bed until the very last minute. (Peer pressure works wonders!) When all was said and done, she looked awesome, see for yourself that's her on the right.

We were fortunate to get three appointments together before the BlogHer party on Saturday night. The lovely Dominique at the Bobbi Brown counter at Saks kept us laughing the whole time. Hope bought the new Heather Mauve lipstick for fall (works awesome with her new Mauve Face Palette) and Anne bought the lip gloss in Buff. Amy went home with gel liner in Mahogany Ink. All products are available on Bobbi Brown's website.

Click here to see a video of Bobbi discussing her new mauve collection.

Traveling with TripIt.com

On our trip to San Fran for BlogHer we tried out TripIt.com's free itinerary service to keep track of our flights and hotel. Here's what we learned:
•It was very handy to have the flights and hotel arrangements on one easy to print form. TripIt keeps track of all the confirmation numbers, so no need to search for them at every turn.
•One of the features we love is that it automatically tells you the weather in your destination city. Perhaps if we had taken it more seriously or better understood what 65 degrees feels like in the middle of July, we wouldn't have frozen our butts off in San Fran over the weekend. (The Italian woman who took our photo was surprised that we weren't cold given how lightly we were dressed. We assured her we were freezing!)
•It helps if everyone participate (Ahem, Hope!) and it helps to remember that you've actually done it. We did call each other to ask info about our flights and the hotel, only to remember it was easily accessible to all online.

Ojon Rub Out Dry Cleanser

We gave the Ojon Rub-Out Dry Cleanser a run this weekend and we were impressed how effective it was. This helped our blow out last that we had done before leaving for our trip and it was a hit with both members of JSG. Add this to our secrets for making a blowout last.



Here's how we used it: flip your head over and spray the Ojon towards your roots (it's totally cool and refreshing), then use your fingers to massage it into your scalp, next flip your head back and brush it through. Afterwards, your hair will have more body than before, no greasy shine, and will smell fresh too. You can find Ojon products at Sephora.

Botkier for Target is Here!

Back in March we told you that Botkier was doing a bargain-priced line for Target. Listen up ladies: It's in stores and online now.



Here are our two favorite pieces. Annie likes the gold hobo bag since it's roomie and she hasn't gotten over her metallic addiction.


Hope has moved on to her purple/pink/fuschia phase and also has a thing for tassels so this clutch is her top pick.

(Editor's note) After checking the bags out first hand, JSG Hope chose the gold tote: it's the perfect size for a lap top and mags on the airplane. This picture does not do it justice! It has great looking metal brackets, the handles are twisted and the color is better in person. Also, of all the designer makes for Target, the texture of the Botkier and the liner are by FAR the most appealing. Happy shopping friends!

BlogHer Girls' Weekend

We've arrived in Hope's favorite city, San Francisco, along with 1,000 other wacky women bloggers. We spent the afternoon in the Richmond, first eating tons of dim sum at Tom Kiang, then taking a strenuous stroll through the Presidio where we took a gratuitous shot with our pal ShallowGal in front of the Golden Gate. Love ourselves a landmark! More to come...

Better Photos of Kimora Lee Simmon's for J.C. Penney's

We were able to track down some better photos of Kimora Lee Simmons and her line for J.C. Penney's, Fabulosity.


Here's Kimora with that elusive hottie Djimon Hounsou and equally stunning Gabrielle Union.

Another piece from her Fabulousity line. We would like it save for the gold decal on the front.

And the band everyone adored.

Photos courtesy of Getty.

Kimora Lee Simmons for J.C. Penney's

Tuesday night we went to the showing of Kimora Lee Simmons line for J.C. Penney's at the Hiro Ballroom. The event was fun--the DJ was rocking, the bubbly was flowing, the crowd was friendly and cute (we especially loved meeting Drew from MyItThings). We hardly noticed that Kimora showed up an hour late-Ha! Pulling another page out of Marc Jacob's playbook, she started the show with the Brooklyn High Marching Band (we may be making that name up.). The clothes were sexy scholastic--not our thing, but it is a juniors line.

Our apologies, but our pictures are pretty bad. We need to figure out how to improve the speed of our camera and you had the shorter of the two JSG girls working for you Tuesday night, which made picture taking even more challenging.


Kimora Lee Simmons, Miss Fabulousity herself. When someone asked to see her diamond ring, she joked that she's hoping for another one. Are you listening Djimon Hounsou?


The band was high energy and totally adorable.


Here's one of the models we were able to get. We actually kinda like her dress.


Not so sure about this sparkly pink top.



The models lined up on the stairs and danced while waiting for the grande finale walk through.


Here's the woman who was in front of me. Now do you see why our pictures suck? =)
We were lucky enough to get a peek at Djimon Hounsou on our way out and are happy to report he's even dreamier in person. We tried to take a photo, but you can guess how that went...

Rooftop Lounge mad46 Opening

We've been looking for more rooftop bars and someone must have heard. The Roosevelt Hotel, on the corner of Madison Ave. and 46th St. is opening a new rooftop lounge, mad46. Perched on the 19th floor with views of Mid-town Manhattan, mad46 is catering to the happy hour crowd pre-Metro North ride. We're loving the sound of the Rooftop Mojito and the Poached Jumbo Shrimp with Absolut infused cocktail sauce. Come meet us for a cocktail!

A Peek Inside Hope's Carry On Bag

Last week Annie showed you what's inside her carry on, now it's Hope's turn. Tomorrow we're leaving for San Francisco (and though she hasn't started packing yet), here's what will be in Hope's carry on:

A trip to Sephora is always in order before a girls' trip. We picked up the Ojon Rub-Out Dry Cleanser in the handy 2 oz. travel size. Since our flight leaves at 7 a.m. (why do we do this to ourselves!) we won't have time to coif before leaving and by the time we land our hair will need some pick up. The TSA website says aerosols are permitted in limited quantities for personal care. We'll let you know if it doesn't get through security.The new Bobbi Brown Mauve Face Palette: thanks to Julia at All About the Pretty for the heads up on this one. We love a good makeup set especially for travel and the Mauve Face Palette has 3 great eye colors, a blush, and 3 lip shades. Sorry, but we're not waiting until fall to use it!

Something groovy, like John Legend, for the iPod to relax.

Easy reading: especially love to scour shopping mags like Lucky and In Style, and the latest Travel and Leisure (of course), plus a stack of catalogs are fun, even if they're heavy to carry on the plane they can be tossed before getting off.

A Blackberry (off line): to go through all those emails you've been meaning to read and respond to but haven't had the time. Also, use it to jot down ideas that otherwise end up lost on scraps of paper at the bottom of your purse.

Put it all in this eco-friendly Stella McCartney for LeSportsac Bowling Bag (at the top): love the retro orange and brown with gold hardware. It's 50% off at LeSportsac.com.

More About Sunscreen Dos and Don'ts

A few weeks back, we told you about our turning into the SPF police. Our crusade is never ending! This weekend during our NYC Staycation, we tried out the Kiehl's UV Protective Suncare, which has Mexoryl to protect against those pesky aging UVA rays. We give it a thumbs up! We didn't burn during two consecutive days of lying out on Manhattan's Pier 83. Remember, Kiehl's gives generous samples in their stores, so pick up a few before your next weekend getaway.

Have questions about applying your SPF properly? Check out Annie's Everyday Health story on Suncare Dos and Don'ts featuring tips from the fab Dr. Doris Day.

Musts for Checking In

We can’t wait to get to San Fran for BlogHer and check into our hotel, the Westin St. Francis. We’ve stayed there before and know it’s a pretty fab hotel with a killer location, but we know from experience there are a few things we must do when checking in.

First off: Get extra keys made—at least 2 per girl. When you’re rushing out the door, late for your 8:30 dinner ressie this will prove unbelievably handy. Those key cards are also notoriously easy to deactivate, so this saves you from having to traipse back to reception for a new key. Next, double check everyone's name is on the reservation. There was a time in Miami when one of us couldn't get in the room because she didn't have a key or her name on the reservation.

If we’re not in a rush, we always let the bell hop help us with our bags. He knows the inside scoop on the hotel (i.e. if the bar is worth going to, if there are celebs under the same roof). Equally valuable, he knows the layout of your room, including the all important secret to adjusting the thermostat, which we inevitably need to know when we’re burrowed under the covers at 3 am in a 65 degree room. Always let him get you ice—unlimited ice is one of our small loves about hotel life. And don’t forget to tip—the old standard is $1-$2 per bag.

What’s the first thing you do when you get to your room? We hope you didn’t say unpack, because you’ll want to scope it out first and decide if you really want to be in that room for the weekend, week, whatever. Do you like the view? Can you hear the elevator? Is the room down a long dark hallway? Even if you think the problem is minor and will only bother you a little, request a room change immediately. Trust us on this one. The “minor” problem will be multiplied by 60,000 by day two. Call down and politely describe the problem and request a room change. If the hotel is booked, and you’re stuck where you are, ask for a discount. This is what we did on our trip to the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne. Our “Ocean View” room had a view of a black asphalt parking lot. With one phone call, management agreed to cut our rate—in half! Turns out we didn’t hate the view that much.

Annie's picks for Sephora's Beauty and the Blog

Last week we shared Hope's fave Sephora products, this week, it's Annie's turn! Read her picks from everyone's favorite beauty emporium here.

Kate Moss + Longchamp + Café de Flore=A Winning Combo

Back in the day, we went to Paris every year to fill our lust for mocha macarons, walks along the Seine, nights at the Buddha Bar (when it was still cool) and café society. We bought a new Longchamp bag on every trip. Mind you, this was back in early 2000, when the euro was new and the dollar still bought you something. We loved the sleek styling, colorful leather and playful fabrics--still do.

This shot from the Fall advertising campaign makes our heart ache. Shot at Café de Flore by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, Kate Moss looks so gorgeously chic with her blonde bangs that perfectly cover her eyes and her chapeau noir. That bag is to die for, too. The Cosmo tote bag comes in a gorgeous platinum leather and the size is perfect for sulking around Paris. Too bad it will set you back $1,065. Damn that euro!

Starting on Tuesday, click on Longchamp.com to get a behind the scenes looking at the photo shoot. If we can't go to Paris, at least we can visit it on our laptop.

Happy Bastille Day!

Photo courtesy of WWD.

Gap's Fall Looks in Glamour

We were flipping through August issue of Glamour magazine yesterday as we sunned ourselves (with SPF 30) on a Manhattan Pier. One story in particular caught our eye, "The New Rules of Casual Chic" otherwise known as 6-pages devoted exclusively to Gap. It feels pretty similar to the brouhaha over Bazaar and Gwyneth Paltrow and the other faces of Sensuous from a few weeks back, if you ask us. Just as in that instance, there's no Gap advertising in this issue, but color us shocked if September doesn't turn up a few pages.

While many of the pieces are winners--we're seriously thinking about the above bag that folds over into a clutch, making it a natural for packing--typically when a mag features a designer, they'll at least mix it up or accessorize with pieces from other brands--like if Lucky features Milla Jovovich, the story will have clothes from Jovovich Hawk and other lines. Couldn't Glamour have even thrown in some Banana or Old Navy? Whatevs--we did enjoy the Q&A with new designer Patrick Robinson and the sneak peek at the Pierre Hardy shoes that aren't available online yet.

Private Jets and Beach Reads

We're on a reading kick these days--something about the ability to finish a book in one or two sittings is totally irresistible. Another book we've knocked out recently is Plum Sykes' Bergdorf Blondes (2004). (It was published a few years back so we were able to score it off the bargain table.) We totally recommend it as a witty, fashionable way to lose an afternoon. Her lead character, AKA Moi, has a complete obsession with PJs (private jets). And in Candace Bushnell's 4 Blondes (A book we read when it came out in 2002 and didn't love), lead character Janey Wilcox trades sexual favors for a helicopter ride to the Hamptons.

Surely Plum and Candace deserved shout outs in today's NYTime's story, "Hey, Big Spender, Flying My Way?"

Summer Reading List

We've been making our way through our summer reading list. Both members of JSG have laughed our way through Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea

by Chelsea Handler. She has some pretty crazy scenarios involving a gay dog, a promiscuous little person and a girls' trip to London that we can't do justice. Here's a quick snippet about travel that cracked us up and is now our motto if a friend ever asks us to drop them off at the airport:

"People in their thirties need to know that if they can't afford a taxi, then they don't deserve to go on a trip."

Chelsea, couldn't agree more! Go and buy the book today. There's a reason it has been on the NYTimes bestseller list for 11 weeks!

On Our Radar: BlogHer Conference in San Francisco

Next week you'll find us in San Francisco for the annual BlogHer conference. We're not quite sure what to expect. We're going because our friend Erika at Makeup Bag said she had a fab time there last year hanging out with the political and mommy bloggers that we don't usually cross paths with. (Save for our friend Shallow Gal who is going with us.) And really, we don't need much of an excuse (or any) to take a girls' trip!

What we do know--one half of JSG will have her first Virgin experience. And in our spare time (Ha!) we hope to catch the Frieda Khalo exhibit and stop by the Louis Vuitton maison to check out the Teresita Fernández installation.

If you're at the conference, be sure to say hi! We'll be the ones giving away the pink pens.

Gossip Girls' Summer Vacation

We couldn't resist this slide show of Gossip Girl's filming in the Hamptons, courtesy of People.com. Looks like Blair and Serena know how to do a girls' trip up right! It offers a few clues as to what is going to happen next season, which starts on September 1. Though all we really care about is if Dan and Serena are going to get back together--they are the cutest couple ever!

The slide show was far more entertaining than the NYTime's story, "Forget Gossip, Girl; the Buzz is About the Clothes," which was published Tuesday. Haven't we all known that for the past 10 months? Way to be on top of the trends, Gray Lady.

Prevent Pre-Travel Breakouts

Between packing, squeezing in a pre-trip beauty routine of spray tanning, waxing and mani/pedis, making sure our hubby knows where and when the kids have to be at swim practice, lacrosse, etc., and actually getting to the airport, pre-trip breakouts are almost inevitable for us. With a trip to San Fran coming up next week, we decided, this time around, we’re going to be pro-active and try to put an end to traveler’s acne.

We checked in with Elena Arboleda, Head Aesthetician and Salon Manager at Mario Badescu Skin Care, for her advice.

For Oily Skin:

Lift dirt and oil, detoxify and tighten pores with a deep cleansing mask like Mario Badescu’s Orange Tonic Mask three times during the week leading up to the trip.

Also in the week leading up to the trip apply a thin layer of Mario Badescu’s Anti Acne Serum before moisturizer in the evening. The Anti Acne Serum is unique in that hydrates while fighting and preventing breakouts with salicylic acid. (NOTE: JSG LOVE this product. Our skin is on the dry side, yet this is gentle enough even for us.)

In Flight:

During the flight again apply the Anti Acne Serum followed by Herbal Hydrating Serum. The Herbal Hydrating Serum is formulated without oils but will hydrate and soften skin. This may also be used on cuticles during the flight to prevent them from drying out and splitting during your trip.

For Dry skin not prone to breakouts:

Make sure to use a hydrating mask during the week before your flight. Mario Badescu’s Enzyme Revitalizing mask is great because besides hydrating it also contains antioxidants and dissolves dead skin cells that can lead to the dull complexion that is common to frequent fliers.

Mario Badescu has this classic formulation which is officially called Hydro Emollient Cream but is just as well known as the “In Flight Cream.” It was formulated specifically for the needs of frequent fliers and got its nickname from all of the flight attendants that would come in to pick it up while they were in New York. The cream is very rich and contains seaweed, which is an anti-inflammatory, collagen and antioxidants to help protect the skin. This one is also great as a hand and cuticle cream while in flight.

Thanks, Elena! We’ll let you know how it goes! All products are available at MarioBadescu.com

Mamma Mia in Greece

Unlike that other movie everyone is talking about this summer, Mamma Mia was filmed on location on an actual Greek Island. Was it Myknonos? Santorini? Rhodes? No. No. And no. The NYPost's Michael Riedel helpfully told us today that it was filmed on the before unheard of island of Skopelos. The island is so small, it doesn't even have an airport! They aren't shy about promoting their connection with the flick--the website has directions to the beach, church and house of Meryl Streep.

We haven't seen the film yet, which opens on July 18, but our friend Samara Finn was lucky enough to go to a screening. Her review:
As expected since it’s a musical, it was a bit funny when one second the actors are acting and then suddenly they break into singing and dancing. But, when they did sing and dance, I wished I could have gotten up to join. Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan were really good in the movie. couldn’t take my eyes of Pierce and his signing was quite enjoyable.

I totally left wanting to go to Greece. It looked SOOOOO beautiful.

Hanky Panky Online

As devoted fans, we were excited to hear about the new Hanky Panky website. We've been wearing their low rise thongs for a couple of years now--they eliminate the trashy "whale tale" when we're wearing our fave Joe's Jeans. The website, while gorge and a lot of fun (we love the striptease pen on the home page), is a total tease. You see, you can only look at the offerings, not touch. (It's not an e-commerce site.) It does refer you to stores in your area where the lingerie line is sold, but that doesn't help when you're trying to find one specific racy cami. For now, stick with sites like Figleaves (which has the featured rose garden cami on sale for $29.50) and Shopbop.

Sephora's Beauty and the Blog

We were thrilled to be asked to guest blog on Sephora's Beauty and the Blog-- an insider's guide to makeup and beauty trends. Check out Hope's top 5 summer products. Topping her list is fresh's line of Sugar Lemon products.

Simplysoles: Great Offer on Great Selection

What would you do if you couldn't find a great selection of shoes nearby? Kassie Rempel founded her own company. The DC based CPA and mother of two started the catalog and on-line boutique, Simplysoles, which is stocked full of designer shoes like Tory Burch, Tibi, and Chie Mihara.

JSG's Hope has picked out the Siana by Delman (pictured above). She loves the gold thread above the toes and the mirrored heel screams, "Let's hit the dance floor!" This shoe would work with your sexiest dress or your favorite skinny, white jeans.

These sandals by Bettye Muller (above) would work great with a sundress and the green is so fresh.

Use the discount code "Jetsetter" and receive free ground shipping and 10% OFF the store through 7/31/08.

Happy shopping!

Jennifer Lopez: the Perfect Vacation Dress

How great is JLo looking just four months from having twins? She's in Europe now with hubby Mark Anthony and scoring high points in all her pop shots. We love the dress she wearing and think it would make a great dress for our next girls trip--cross our fingers, to Costa Rica (see below). The white is extra crisp with her tan, it's flattering and sexy, and looks great with her Sam Edelman gladiators. We also love her slicked back hair- she's always rocked this look.

We're still working on finding out who designed the dress, but we can tell you that her shoes are at Nordstroms — and they cost less than $100!

Win a Trip to Costa Rica from Travel Channel

We've been dying to go to Costa Rica, so much so that we've got a stack of travel books about it on our bedside. Here's our chance (and yours!) to win a 5 day/4 night trip to a Costa Rican all-inclusive resort complements of the Travel Channel. It includes a trip to a volcano and a tour through the jungle canopy. We just entered, now it's your turn!

How many calories are in that latte?

New York City’s ban of trans fatty acids has been in effect a week now, and it is affecting us in a way we never would have guessed. Along with trans fats, chain restaurants are now required to list calorie counts on the menu. So now when we go into our favorite neighborhood Starbucks, we can see exactly how many calories are in everything they serve—you don’t have to search for the number, it’s right there listed in the case next to that pumpkin bread (380 calories); classic coffee cake (430 calories) or blueberry scone (480 calories). That black forest ham, egg and cheddar on an English Muffin sounds like a veritable calorie bargain (380 calories) or try a bagel with no cream cheese for plain bagel (330 cal). Who woulda thunk?

We’ve never even come close to having an eating disorder, but this could put us in a tailspin. Who wants a 400 calorie snack? Those numbers are making us think twice about what we put in our mouth and then some (JSG are normal sized girls.).
The good news is that we hardly ever eat the food at Starbucks, unless we’re at the airport. Looks like we’ll be doing a better job of packing those healthy snacks in our carry on. We always love apples and nuts. And we’ll never assume pumpkin (a healthy, nutritious veggie on its own) anything has less calories than a ham sandwich.
And that lattte? Hope’s tall skinny one logs in at 100 calories while Annie’s full fat latte has 180. If we paired it with a baked good, we would have one-third of our recommended daily calories. Excuse us while we go throw up our lunch!

Update to Swimsuit Sale

Last week we told you about our unsuccessful swimsuit shopping outing--our second attempt was a success! On Thursday afternoon, we faced holiday traffic on the Beltway to drive to Tyson's Corner at Bloomingdale's, which was touting its 40 percent off sale. Which would have been worthwhile, had they had more than five swimsuits there--not so much.

From there we walked through the mall to Nordstrom's, but none of its suits were on sale yet--we're not about to pay full price in July!

Next we got back in our car to drive to Saks at Tysons II. First off, we saw the Shoshana coverup that we hadn't been able to get out of our mind since Monday and decided that we had to have it. It wasn't the smartest $122 we've ever spent, but it sure is cute!

We bought the above suit. It won our approval because it's A) Marc Jacobs. We didn't even know he made suits B) Like all Marc's clothes, it straddles the line between cute and sexy perfectly. C) The color is flat out gorge. D) Unlike Saks in NYC, the Saks at Tyson's is not overrun with European tourists, so shopping was far more pleasant. E) It was $109.

Gwyneth Paltrow at Bloomingdales on Tuesday, July 8

We're not the type to stalk celebs, at least not with the same energy and gusto we would search for, say, a pair of Jimmy Choos on sale. But this invite landed in our in box and we're seriously tempted to go--and we don't even like perfume very much. It may just be worth to spend the $60-whatever on the new Estee Lauder Sensuous to see Gwyneth Paltrow in person at the NYC Bloomingdales. She has been our style icon for years now--we grew our hair out after seeing her in Great Expectations (which had some seriously underrated outfits, btw). Could she possibly be as gorgeous in person? More? Could some of her ultimate chicness rub off on us if she shook our hand?

Not to mention that Carolyn Murphy, Hilary Rhoda and Elizabeth Hurley are thrown in with the deal! No wonder Bazaar devoted the entire July issue to these ladies!

Here's the deets: buy a bottle of the new Sensuous perfume and you can meet the four ladies who will sign your bottle--no personal items allowed. Get there early!

On Our Radar: Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Birthday America! We hope all JSG readers eat some good burgers, crab cakes, ribs, pie a la mode or whatever else they serve in your neck of the woods, catch some fireworks and enjoy your days off with your girlfriends!

The photo above is courtesy of Epicurious.com. For the recipe and dozens of other burger ideas, click here.

Miami Spa Month

Should you find yourself in Miami for Fashion Week Swim, July 18-21, or any other time in July for that matter, be sure to take advantage of the first annual Miami Spa Month. Twenty local spas are offering treatments for $99, including two of JSG's all-time faves: The Spa at the Mandarin Oriental, which offers the most decadent treatments ever, and the Ritz Carlton Spa in SoBe (treatment room pictured above), which uses the exclusive Prada skincare products. Sign us up! For more info, click here.

David Beckham: Is He Worth It?

JSG's Hope took her two girls to see arguably the hottest man on the planet right now, David Beckham, and his team the LA Galaxy play the DC United. These girls have spent so much time this summer fawning over the Jonas Brothers, Hope felt it was her duty to show them something else. (We value music just as highly as athletics in our fam; but the Jonas Brothers are way over hyped.)

We know that Beckham makes more money than all the other players on the field combined, and probably doesn't have near the talent as many of them (though he made one great pass). But here's what he does well: when he comes in town he fills the stadium and gets the home team to vehemently back their own (he absorbed the FU Beckham chants with a smile on his face). We sat in the middle of the America's best fan group, the Barra Brava, (that's them below) next to the drum corp and behind the giant waving flags, where everyone stands on their chairs for the entire game chanting "Vamos United!" The United won 4 to 1.

Is Beckham worth the $84 we paid for three tickets? Oh yeah, especially when he took his shirt off.

Meanwhile, in NYC, JSG's Annie was learning the value of soccer on her own. Her SO dragged her kicking and screaming to watch the Germany-Spain Euro Cup match last Sunday. Not being a fan of soccer and annoyed by the fact that the bar's satellite was out and she missed A-Rod's near win in the 9th, she managed to make it through by trying to figure out which team had the hottest players (a tie).

Somme Institute: 5-Step Facial Care

The JSG make no qualms about shopping high and low end. We search the travel size aisle at Target before a girls' trip for toothpaste, apricot scrub, and face masks. But we also love to pack a spa quality face care system like this one from Somme Institute. It contains the same products they use in the signature Vitamin Infusion Facial at the Mandarin Oriental spas around the world and it's in a TSA worthy kit.

Unique to Somme is MDT5 (science talk: Molecular Dispersion Technology) which carries the products to the deepest layers of the skin. The 3 most important components of the system are the Transport pads (think Stridex for the JSG that exfoliate with alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids), the Serum (with Vitamin C and MDT5 to reduce fine lines and brown spots), and the A-Bomb cream (with vitamins A and E and MDT5). The set also includes a cleanser, the eye cream, and the Defense Day Moisturizer with SPF 30.

We've spent the past six weeks testing the 5 steps (plus a bonus eye cream). Our skin is as smooth and soft as it's been in the last 5 years. Miraculously, we never had a breakout while using Somme, not even the time of month when we always get a few spots. We were disappointed when the Transport pads ran out which was our clue that we need to move on to another product trial. This is one set we'd recommend highly and search out for ourselves.

Order the Mobile system now on Beauty.com and get free shipping and 3 free samples. Products also available on SommeInstitute.com.

Swimwear Solutions: Malia Mills Discount

We told you on Monday about our on-going search for the perfect bikini. Our current two-piece is an emerald green Malia Mills string bikini, which we still love, even if it is 2-years old (Yes, it has been that long since we bought a new suit!) It's definitely time for an upgrade, and with this $50 discount, courtesy of StoreAdore.com, it's not quite as painful on our wallet! And as the line is known for its wide range of sizes, from 30A-40DD, there's a good chance it won't be painful to find a suit we like. Click here for the deets.

A Peek Inside Our Carry On Bag

We're launching a new feature today, where we look inside the carry ons of our favorite jet-setters. JSG's Annie's, who is headed to our Nation's Capital tomorrow via the Acela kicks it off. (Does that make it a "Ride on" bag?)


*Mario Badescu Facial Spray for a refreshing, hydrating boost!

*Travel-Size Aquaphor: It doubles as lip balm and moisturizer. A must in these liquid-deprived days.

* Snacks like almonds, apples, and maybe some Peanut M&M’s.

* iPod: Goes without saying, but if you’re a nervous flier or want to sleep, make a special playlist of mellow music for the flight. Josh Groban's Closer makes me sleep like a baby without fail!

*Xanax or other sedative of choice. It makes everything about the flight more bearable, from being number 13 in line for take off, to the crying tot behind you who won’t stop kicking your seat, to watching some lame movie like Nim's Island.

*And our travel bag of choice has been a Lululemon bag for a few years now, similar to the one pictured above. It's roomy, sturdy (so you don't mind putting under the seat in front of you or cramming it in the overhead) and has lots of pockets. It's also big enough to fit a lap top so that you can blog on the road!

Sephora by OPI: A Preview of Fall's Hottest Nail Color

We set aside our coral and hot pink polishes for a moment in favor of what is destined to become fall's hottest nail polish color: Gray. More specifically, Metro Chic from the brand new Sephora by OPI collection. All the editors at last week's breakfast to introduce the line chose this deep mauve-y gray and it looked beautiful on every skin tone--from our paleness to deep tans. It's a fresh option to navy, chocolate and black.

The two beauty powerhouses teamed together to create the line. Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI artistic director, says she had American women in mind when she created the 54 shades. "Sephora by OPI allows this woman to find the highest quality products for her nails and hands at the same place that she shops for all of her fine beauty products," says Suzi. The line also includes base and top coats, drying drops, moisturizer and cuticle oil.

Best of all, the polishes are DBP, formaldehyde and Toulene free. We had our nails done on Thursday and we're happy to report, 5 days later: No chips!

The polishes will be available in Sephora stores and online at Sephora.com in August. That's Metro Chic and Run With It below.