Alyssa Milano's Line of Cute Sports Clothes

We love sports, the games, the fans, the excitement…but we don’t always love how the jerseys are oversized and generic. We really like Alyssa Milano’s new line for fans, allowing you to show your love for your team without looking like a clone who is one step away from face-painting. At Fandalia, you can buy tops, hoodies, jackets and pants all made to fit your taste and your size. They feature teams from the MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, and NCAA. The Fandalia website is very user-friendly, and allows you to view each item according to team to see how it will look when you order. Now you can look and feel sexier while cheering on your favorite player and team.

Homer Simpson GPS

One of the greatest inventions for road trips to a new state or for those, like us, who can get lost in our own backyard, is GPS. We’ve had many a vacation where we simply couldn’t have found our way without it. The new TomTom Homer Simpson GPS uses everyone's favorite cartoon character's voice as the guide. Homer will not just tell you to make a left or exit off the highway. He says things like “Woo hoo! You have reached your destination and you can hold your head up high, because you are a genius!"

We think we would love listening to Homer for the first 5 minutes, then want to throw it out the window. Now, if they could come up with a GPS using Johnny Depp's voice or Hugh Jackman's--that we could get behind!

Caribbean Island: Barbados and Grand Cayman the Food and Hotel

Yesterday I told you about the general differences of Grand Cayman and Barbados. Now, here's an overview of the food, nightlife and hotels.

Barbados and Grand Cayman are about on par when it comes to food. While Bajans are quick to tell you that Barbados is the only island with its own Zagat's guide (it's given away for free at the airport, restaurants and most hotels), I wasn't blown away anywhere I ate. There's a lot of fried flying fish, which is tasty in small quantities. Sadly, I didn't have the chance to eat at Oistins (below), the outdoor market that's hopping on Friday nights with people and dancing. If you go, stop by Uncle George's fried fish stand (that's him, above), which is rumored to be the best.



Overall, most of the food I ate was over-sauced. I often wished I was eating a simple piece of grilled fish, rather than a piece of grilled fish topped with orange pesto sauce on coconut-flavored rice. My favorite meal of the trip was at Restaurant at Southsea (below. That's not my photo--it was raining when we went there) where I had a yummy grilled lobster. The prices for food on both Barbados and Grand Cayman are pretty similar--about $25-30 for an entree. We didn't have any meal that compared to Eric Ripert's Blue in Grand Cayman--in food quality or cost, but I hear a meal at The Cliff comes closest.


When it comes to nightlife, Barbados has more of it than Grand Cayman. St. Lawrence Gap is lined with clubs and pubs and is reportedly Rihanna's favorite haunt when she's in town. My group opted to skip the club when we were told we had to pay a cover charge (Hell-o! We were four women and they wouldn't cut us a deal.) for a quieter pub, where we could drink our Banks beers in peace on a patio. That said, I had a good deal more fun in Grand Cayman, but I think that's because I was with my good friends, who I could have fun with in the back of a pick up truck.



Now the biggie--the hotel. I was excited to stay at a small hotel, after staying at the 300+ room Ritz Carlton in Grand Cayman. That excitement soon waned when I arrived at Mango Bay (that's my room above). My biggest issue with the hotel was the mosquito colony that lived in my shower. That's followed closely by the aggressive birds who flew into the dining room and felt at home on the buffet at the all-you-can-eat breakfast and lunch buffets. (Ever since a pigeon wing once touched my head, I have a sever aversion to any creature that flies. They don't always miss.) I could go on, but I'll limit myself to three complaints. Complaint #3: The hotel was overrun with pasty Brits and their much younger girlfriends enjoying the all-inclusive resort. The small beach was so crowded on our last day that you had to bob and weave through the umbrellas.

To Mango Bay's credit, my room did have a stellar view of the beach. Unfortunately, there was a steel drum band playing every night to entertain those Brits and the majority of the rooms surround the pool.



We did have the opportunity to visit The Crane, which has one of the most stunning beach views I've ever seen. It was the first hotel on the island, and has since grown into a multi-building compound with shops and three restaurants.


The Crane is on the east side of the island and the Atlanic is notably rougher than the Caribbean. The Crane has a number of suites and penthouses that would be ideal home bases for a girls' trip--all have kitchens or kitchenettes. If you can swing a penthouse, it's worth it, if only so you can bathe in the outdoor tub.


I've also heard good things The Hotel, a chic 34-room hotel and JSG's friend, Carolyn, did enjoy her stay at the Fairmont.

So, with all that being said, I would probably pick Barbados to go back to, especially given that American flys there non-stop from JFK, Jet Blue starts flying there non-stop from JFK this fall and Air Jamaica is flying there non-stop twice weekly through the summer. But more than anything, this reinforced that who you travel with is more important than where you go!

Eco-Friendly Sunglasses

We always love when we can multi-task and with the new Modo for Jennifer Creel sunglasses, we can look good, prevent crows' feet and save the world all at once. The sexy shades, available exclusively at Bergrdof Goodman's, have bamboo frames and come in wood packaging. Moreover, for each pair sold, Jennifer has committed to plant a tree, according to WWD. Our pick is the Virginia shades, shown above.

W Hotel South Beach Opening July 2nd

We can't wait to hit South Beach, especially because the W South Beach is opening this Thursday, July 2nd. The brand new digs on Collins Ave. sport four bars, a couple of infinity pools, a Bliss spa and the delicious Mr. Chow. What else could a girl ask for? Well, try this fabulous package:

The Heat of Haute includes a bar crawl (ya know where you have a cocktail at each place?) through the Lobby (above), Solea, WET, and Wall; the Little Black Book of Party Games; Dessert at Mr. Chow; Bliss Hot Salt Scrub; Sunblock application at WET (one of the two pools); a DJ lesson at Wall; a 30 minute jet ski ride; and an upgrade to a Spectacular Room.



Patience is not our forte; but we'll have to wait for Mr. Chow (pictured above) which opens August 15th, 2009 and the Bliss Spa which opens December 15th, 2009.

Stay tuned this week for our sneak peek at the new W Hotel opening in Washington, D.C.

Caribbean Island: Barbados and Grand Cayman

After being ridiculously fortunate enough to visit not one, but two Caribbean islands this month, one of the questions I've been asked a lot is which island I liked better, Grand Cayman or Barbados. It's hard to compare the two islands, because the trips were so different: I went to Grand Cayman with my girlfriends and stayed in swank hotel and was in Barbados on a press trip with a mix of folks, including the delightful Barbara (above left, with me) and stayed in a not so great hotel. But here goes:

From what I experienced, Barbados is a bigger (166 square miles to Grand Cayman's 76), prettier island with more going on culturally. It has a long history as a producer of sugar cane and rum, notably Mount Gay Rum. Virtually everywhere you go, you're offered a cup of rum punch, no matter what time of day it is. I suggest you drink it--I never was a rum punch fan, up until this trip, but it's tasty stuff when done the Bajan way.


That history transfers over into many sweet little homes and museums. My favorite was the St. Nicholas Abbey (above), one of the oldest surviving sugar plantations on the island, dating back to 1650. Be sure to visit the loo to sit on an original Thomas Crapper.



And, being a native Virginian, I appreciated the George Washington House, perhaps more than others. George visited the island with his older brother Lawrence, who was suffering from tuberculosis. By all accounts, the young George was molded by his trip here, learning about the military, agriculture and perhaps having his own Thomas Jefferson moment with the local ladies, if the unintentionally amusing, over-acted film shown at the house is to be believed.



While I'm not a fan of gardens in general (I joke that living in NYC, the only thing I know less about than plants, is cars), a trip to Hunte's Gardens is well worth the detour. One of the commenters on the garden's website put it best: "It is like entering a dream, a fairy tale. Before you know, your heart is filled with joy, and you almost expect to see a flying fairy behind next bend of the path." I couldn't put it better. I would only add to it that one should be sure to leave plenty of time to visit the well appointed home and chat with the adorable Anthony Hunte and ask him to share his stories about everything from growing up on the island to entertaining Helen Mirren. That's me and Anthony, below. We hit it off pretty well, as the photo attests.


Is it worth skipping a day at the beach to check out these sites? I say yes, if only to see more of the island than you would from your cabana. I would also recommend it on day 3 or 4 of your trip when maybe you've had a little too much sun. You will need to rent a car or hire a driver to get to St. Nicholas Abbey, George Washington House or Hunte's Gardens, so be sure to figure that into your budget.

Check back tomorrow to learn more about nightlife, restaurants and hotels in Barbados.

Win a Vacation

Do you need a vacation as badly as we do? Enter to win Home Away's Summer Vacation contest where the grand prize is a $10,000 Home Away rental. You can chose to stay at any number of dream homes like the the 7 bedroom oceanfront home in Honolulu shown above. To enter, share with the world why you need a vacation via an essay, photos or a video. If you do enter, shoot us an email and we'll help campaign for you! But hurry, because entries are only accepted through July 2.

Speaking of campaigning, let's all join in with Home Away to lobby Congress to declare August 7 National Vacation Day. August is like March--one of those endless months without a single holiday. We could use that day off! Sign the Save Our Summer petition on Home Away.

4th of July Deals - Last Minute 4th of July Deals

The other night at dinner, our friends were plotting their last minute 4th of July vacation plans. No, they're not out of luck, planning a trip a week before the big day. In fact, there has never been a better time to be a procrastinator. There are still plenty of 4th of July deals to be had. A few of our favorites:

Looking for a Caribbean vacation? The U.S. Virgin Islands (St. John, St. Croix and St. Thomas) has an ongoing Sizzlin Sampler Promotion, that includes: a fourth night free at participating hotels, $300 air credit, plus various coupons for dining and attractions. Our pick is St. John (below).



Barbados is still surprisingly affordable. As of today, you could get airfare from NYC and three nights hotel from $772 a person from STS Vacation. (We make no guarantees on the hotel, but, hey, it's still the beach!)


Want to stay in the country? Thanks to Miami and Beaches on Twitter for alerting us to the following two specials:

At the Mondrian South Beach, (below), the Sunset Lounge Package gets you a night at the hotel, a bottle of Champagne or vodka at the hotel's Sunset Lounge and 20 percent off spa treatments at Aqua. Prices start at $235 a night, and rooms are still available over the Fourth.




Miami and Beaches tweeted about a $175/night July 4 package at Viceroy Miami (below), but we couldn't find it online, though they do have plenty of rooms available starting at $195 and a third night free special going on. Our advice: Call them.


We grew up in D.C. so maybe we're biased; but the best place to watch fireworks is the National Mall (as long as you're cool with a crowd). The Kimpton Hotels is offering a "party like it's 1776" deal at their D.C. area hotels including the new Hotel Lorien in Alexandria and the Hotel Palomar in DuPont Circle (pool pictured below). Beginning the July 4th weekend if you stay two nights you can get the third night for only $17.76. All of their hotels whether in D.C., Arlington or Alexandria will give you a great view of the show.

Web Snob Roundup 6-26-09

JSG is super honored to join the exclusive group of Web Snob round ups! We'll be sharing weekly links from these kick a** blogs every Friday. Enjoy!

Stiletto Jungle found cream eyeshadow the really doesn't crease.

All About the Pretty gives us what's in her Beach Bag this week.

Enter All Lacquered Up's giveaway and you could win bottles of Chanel Cosmic Violine and Mica Rose nail polish.

Allie is Wired has crazy celebrity teeth transformations.

Bag Bliss suggests a money-saving idea: How to Host Your Own Clothes Swap Party

Bag Snob exclusive: Speedy Sequin from Louis Vuitton, Snob or Slob?

Beauty Snob Falls for Bobbi Brown Fall Nudes collection!

Coquette dishes on UK's vending machine flats from Rollasole to save your tired clubbing stiletto-wearing feet.

Fashion Pulse Daily
Fashion Pulse Daily picks itscanvas favorites for June, ranging from hats to bags and shoes!

I'm Not Obsessed has to ask... do you think the shirt Kristin Cavallari wore while shopping is really worth $115?!

Check out Second City Style's recent 'He Said/She Said' about the recent ripped denim trend.

Shopping and Info loves the Chanel nautical stripe worn by Claudia Schiffer and Sienna Miller.

Going away for the weekend? Find out what to pack at StyleBakery.com

Stylehive has rounded up our favorite bright and colorful pairs of sunglasses, perfect for the brighter days ahead..

The Beauty Stop reports on the to-be-released Twilight Beauty Makeup from the makers of DuWop.

The Daily Obsession brings you the chicest finds under $50.

The Fashion Bomb compiles a fashion tribute to the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

The Jet Set Girls visit the Barbie Suite at the Palms Las Vegas.

The Shoe Goddess is completely enamored with these super hot Giuseppe Zanotti platform boots!

TheMakeupGirl visits the >Ritz Carlton Spa in Marina Del Rey and has the best massage ever....

V-Style discovers an unexpected skin care product in extra virgin olive oil.

eye4style gets glossy at Dashing Diva..

Twilight Baseball Vacation

Calling all Twilight fans: It's a little late, but if you're a serious fan, you can find a way to make the Twilight Fan Trip that starts on Monday as surely as Edward is cold and Jacob is hot. Included in the trip is a tour of Forks, La Push, the Quilete Tribal Nation and Seattle and Portland. You even get to have dinner at Bella Italia, where Edward told Bella the truth about being a vampire. The highlight of the trip is the July 4th Vampire Baseball day to benefit Make-A-Wish with the Portland Beavers where Victoria (aka Rachelle Lefevre) will throw out the first pitch. It looks like Peter Facinelli and Ashley Greene will be there, too. Wonder if they'll glow in the sun!

All this for $1599 per person. We would prefer a Sex And the City inspired Mexican trip, ourselves!

Bungalow Hotel New Jersey - On Our Radar - Bungalow Hotel

Looking for a one-tank of gas trip from NYC or Philly? We're hoping to drive ourselves on down to the new Bungalow Hotel in Long Branch, New Jersey later this summer. We get the sense that it is to the Jersey Shore what the Surf Lodge is to Montauk, which means the hotel is destined to have its fair share of lovers and haters. But as with Surf Lodge, we're going to go out on a limb and say we're probably in the fan camp.


The 24 room Bungalow Hotel has a beach-goes-chic vibe with white linens and walls accented with kitschy accents like cowhide chairs and "Vive La France" wall art. The lobby features a 1940's pool table, a foosball table and a fireplace that is sure to be very romantic in the off season.


At night time, head up to roof top bar, Avenue Nuit. The action centers around the pool and fireplace; you'll find us lounging on one of beds. The website promises the club is fashioned after the "festive party paradies of St. Tropez". Sounds like a tall order to live up to, but we love them for trying!

Rates start at $229 plus taxes midweek. It seems slightly pricey, but at least we don't have to buy a plane ticket to get there.

Atlantic City more your speed? Check out the Chelsea in Atlantic City.

Origins Gloomaway Grapefruit Body-Buffing Cleanser

We've had a tough week, so receiving a sample of Origins Gloomaway Grapefruit Body-Buffing Cleanser was particularly timely. Origins brought back this line which includes their body souffle, bath bar, bubble bath and bubble gum. The Gloomaway line combines grapefruit essential oils, field mint, and sweet orange to lift your spirits and refresh your body.

We're partial to a scrub during the summer: to prep our skin for self-tanner and to slough off the dry skin we get from sun and salt water. The Origins Gloomaway was especially effective on our dry heels we've got from wearing flip flops everyday.

The collection is available July 2009 at Origins stores and Origins.com.

Top Secret Video - Sneak Peek

When Yuli from MyItThings emailed and asked me to be part of her top secret video project for the Style Coalition, I jumped at the chance to be involved, even when she said it involved being photographed sans makeup. Had I known it involved being photographed without shoes, I may have turned her down. Kidding!



In all seriousness, the video focuses on a message I care deeply about. It will be released in the next week or so and I can't wait to share it with you! In the meantime, here are my before and after photos, proving that it does take a village for me to look good! Thanks to the team at DEX New York, including Naomi who did my hair (that's him, below) and John Henry who did my makeup, and Thomas Cantley for the photos.



Here's my finished look. Proves that hair, makeup and a rockin' Tory Burch dress will make just about anyone look good!



Stay tuned for the video and check out Second City Style for more fashion blogger makeovers.

Megan Fox - Get Megan Fox's Look from the Transformers Premier

Want to look like Megan Fox? Who doesn’t! For the LA premiere of her new movie, Transformers, Renato Campora for Frederic Fekkai created beautiful beach-y waves. He started with the Fekkai Summer Hair Marine Beach Waves to create surf-sexy texture. Renato then blow-dried her hair with the a round brush, then used a one inch curling iron to keep Megan's hair from looking to messy and give her style a modern and fresh feeling. Next, Renato pulled the top and the sides of her hair back and secured it with bobby pins. Then he used a long rubber band that goes around the head to create the hair bump in back to give the look just the right amount of height. He finished by spritzing Megan's hair with Fekkai Glossing Sheer Shine Mist and Sheer Hold Hair Spray to hold her style in place.

Fekkai products are available at Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Fekkai.com.

Beach Jewelry - Sand Jewelry DISCOUNT

Time was when we didn't bother with accessorizing at the beach. Seriously, who wants to worry about losing an expensive piece? But now we take a cue from the Beckhams and glam it up a little. Now, we're not suggesting you layer on the lariats and the chunky bracelets and pair them with a blinged out watch, but a small piece of beach appropriate jewelry turns even the plainest bikini into a fashion statement.

We're loving the very affordable pieces from Sand Jewelry. Designer Therese Nguyen was inspired by the ocean, and most of her pieces are in the ridiculously affordable $30 range, with a few pearl piece topping out at $150. We love this Black Fire Ring for $32:


and these Orange Pulp Earrings for $48:


We're super excited to be able to offer JSG readers a 20 percent discount on all Sand Jewelry purchases through September 1, 2009. Simply use the code: JETSET20 at checkout.

Check out Annie's in her favorite piece of Sand jewelry here. It's her ring in the second photo down.

Barbie Suite at the Palms Las Vegas

Raise your hand if you didn't want to live in Barbie's Malibu Dream house as a little girl? Well dreams do come true, and this time it's not at Disney World, though it is in Disney World for grown ups. The Palms Resort in Las Vegas recently opened the Barbie Suite, designed by Jonathan Adler in honor of her 50th. (Don't worry, Barbie, you don't look a day over 29!)


The suite is furnished with pink and black furniture, a mirror framed by a starburst of 65 Barbies and Barbie-approved wall paper.


There's even a 2-way fireplace and a hot tub for when Ken comes to visit, in addition to the bed with a pink headboard.


If we lived apart from our SO, we would insist on having a replica of this corseted chair.


When you go, don't forget to stop by the pool to indulge in one of the poolside spa treatments.

The Barbie Suite may just knock the Caesar's Palace Villa from the Hangover out of our top must stay room in Vegas!

For more pictures of the Barbie Suite, become a fan on Facebook.

Product Review - L'Oreal Paris's Newest Cosmetic Launch

We have been using L’Oreal Paris’s new Hip Color Presso Lip Gloss and Hip Kohl Eyeliner for the past few days. Here is what we think:

The lip gloss is great. It comes in a little, portable applicator with two colors. You squeeze one or both tubes in order to get your desired color. The gloss is not at all sticky, and the color combinations work well together if you decide to wear both at once. It adds a perfect amount of gloss and shine while smelling delicious.

The eyeliner is very chalky and does not adhere to the skin well. After applying it, we had to wipe away little particles which smudged all over. This is very bad if you are in a rush to do your makeup. Plus, the black comes out grayish, which does not translate to eyes that pop.

Carry On Bags: Cute New Carry On Bags

We're always on the look out for covetable carry on bags for our weekend getaways. Here are a rainbow of options on our wish list:

Lululemon Jet Running Tote Here's a little secret: Workout bags make great carry ons. They tend to have lots of pockets and compartments and are washable and roomy enough for the weekend. This one is no exception.


Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Bag Let's face it, getting to the airport to catch the plane and flying are stressful enough. A bright coral bag like this one is an instant pick me up. We love the roomy outside pocket for our ticket and ID.



Bettina Square Tote Bag This is like a purse and carry on in one, so you won't have to do that thing where you shove your third bag into your second to show you only have two carry ons when you get to security. It has 5 credit card slots and pen holders and a groovy floral lining.



Kate Spade Union Square Travel Opus Because we're determined to get something from the Kate Spade sale and who doesn't love a bag that would make Kermit proud? The nylon zip top bag would make a great beach bag, too.


Marc by March Jacobs Tote This bag will looks just as chic when you're walking around the city as it does on the plane. Marc, you've done it again!


The DVF Tiger Box Bag We get it. Not everyone loves color. But if you're going with black, at least mix it up with a sexy pattern. Meow!

Hostess Gift: Map Plates

We've never actually bought anything from SkyMall, but we're kinda tempted to get these Map Serving Plates. Our guests will be so impressed when we serve spaghetti Bolognese on Italy, weiner schnitzel on Germany or a spread of cheeses on France. Each country measures from 6-10" wide, 10-15" long and costs $14.95.

Need other hostess gift ideas?

Nightlife Concierge New York

Not sure where to go with the girls this Thursday night? Check out Deluxe Experiences, a new, complimentary service that helps you narrow down all the myriad NYC nightlife options and even helps get you past the velvet ropes faster.

You tell Deluxe Experiences what you're looking for--a club, lounge restaurant, etc.; what part of town you want to be in, what night you're going out and how many people you're hitting the town with. Based off of your preferences, the site suggests a handful of bars or clubs that fit your criteria, like the Hudson Sky Terrace (above) at the Hudson Hotel. The site also gives helpful info like how hard the door is and what you can expect to spend.

Deluxe Experiences is expanding to cover the Hamptons and Atlantic City later this summer.

Need advice on getting past the velvet ropes? Read our post on how to get into a club.

A Peek Inside MakeupBag's Carry On

One of the first bloggers we met was Erika from Makeup Bag. Ever since, she has been one of our favorite. She's motivated by her undying passion for lip gloss, nail polish, mascara and more and is also one of the nicest girls you could ever hope to meet. We were dying to know what she had in her carry on when she took off for Hawaii for an extended trip.

The carryon I use is a Briggs & Riley garment bag. It's a few inches wider than most airlines allow, but so far I haven't had any issues sneaking it on. Turned sideways, it fits perfectly in an overhead bin, and it's the perfect size for a 2-3 day business trip.




Packing for me is a complete nightmare. I always wait until the last minute and then waste time obsessing over my toiletries for hours, organizing tubes and bottles and transferring lotions and creams into travel-size containers (my biggest fear is being stuck without an essential beauty product). Then I freak out because when it comes time to throw my clothes in the bag (usually 46 minutes before my plane takes off!). I then realize that all my clothes are in the dirty laundry. And then I cry. (I'm so predictable.)

In my carry-on, I always bring a scarf. My favorite of late is this White + Warren cashmere travel wrap that I got as a gift:



Hand cream and lip balm are also a must. My favorite hand cream of all time is Jurlique Citrus and I almost always have a Cherry Chapstick on hand. (Cherry is the flavor my middle daughter insists on having, so to make things easy, it's the only one I buy anymore!) I am also obsessed with MAC Tendertones but I ran out a few months ago. I'm hoping they'll be back this summer!


Lately I realized I need essential nail tools in my carry on. A stray cuticle or snagged nail without the tools to take care of it will pretty much make me crazy the entire flight! For this reason, I bring along my Mehaz cuticle nippers and a Tweezerman file.


I'm also not without a thick face cream and a facial mist. I'm sure my fellow passengers think I'm ridiculous, but I try to avoid being too obnoxious by misting the facial spray into my (sanitized) hands and pressing my hands to my face (Clinique has a great facial spray, as does Caudalie). After I spritz (or press) I apply my thick face cream. Creme de la Mer is a tried and true favorite and a teeny sample size jar lasts me 2 or 3 flights.


As a beauty blogger, I never leave home without my Nikon D50, Blackberry and MacBook Pro. Along with these come essential cords, wires and chargers. It's quite cumbersome but I wouldn't have it any other way. If I couldn't connect to my virtual world, I might really go CRA crazy.

Tomorrow I leave for Kauai, where I will be spending most of the summer, and I am prepared to beat myself at my own game this time. I'm headed to Fed Ex this morning where I will ship myself a refrigerator-size box of beauty products (what? is that too much?), which alleviates my need to obsess over serums and eye creams and will hopefully allow me to focus on packing the right outfits. I might not even cry.

We hope you're having a great time, Erika! And that you haven't run out of beauty products! If you do, let us know, and we'll send reinforcements!

ChapStick True Shimmer-Product Review - ChapStick True Shimmer

We have been wearing ChapStick’s new True Shimmer lip balm for the past few days and are converts! The best part is the smell/taste. It is available in Botanical Berry, Tropical, Peppermint Rush, and Blended Fruit Sherbert. The Fruit Sherbert is the best smelling one by far! It goes on very smooth, softens and moisturizes lips, and keeps them looking healthy when the summer sun tends to dry out skin.
Our only complaint is that it adds a shine, which ordinarily we like, but this is glitterier. If you put it on without a mirror, you might be walking around all day with random sparkles all over your face. This is also bad for whoever you might be kissing!

NadaDada Motel

We always redecorate when we get into a hotel room, stashing room service menus, clearing the desk pad and moving the Kleenex box to make room on the bathroom counter. However, we've never gone as far as the artists in Reno's NadaDada Motel's instillation do. For the third year in a row, artists have moved into the Town House Motor Lodge and El Cortez Hotel, cleared out the room and made art happen.

That's Cindy Gunn, above, who transformed her room into a garden of sea anemones to draw attention to global warming.

To read more about the NadaDada Motel, check out today's NYTimes.

Airline Fees

Confused about which airlines are charging fees to check bags and score that coveted exit row seat? Or how much it will cost you to book that awards ticket you thought was free? So are we! Thanks to USA Today for compiling this handy and up-to-date list of airline fees. We hear it took an intrepid reporter a week to compile!

Hotel Missoni Edinburgh

Combine one of cities we adore the most with one of our favorite designers and no surprise: The Hotel Missoni in Edinburgh is top on our list of must-visit locales. The 136-room hotel is on the corner of George IV Bridge and the Royal Mile, just steps from Edinburgh Castle in what is already one of the most walkable cities we've ever visited. With the Missoni designed rooms, bathrobes and toiletries, we wouldn't blame you if you never wanted to leave your hotel room at all. But then you would miss all those adorable Celtic boys, some even pulling a "Real Scotsman" in a kilt.


The hotel promises "the warmth and passion of an Italian home." And no Italian home would be complete without a fab restaurant. The Cuccina and Bar Missoni serves Italian specialties on Missoni flatware so gorge, you'll want to slip a bread plate into your purse (We would NEVER advocate you try that.)


Hot on the heels of the Hotel Missoni Edinburgh are the Hotel Missoni Capetown, scheduled to open in 2010 and Hotel Missoni Jebel Sifah, scheduled to open in Oman in 2012. See you there!

LL Cool J - I Touched LL Cool J's Pec!

First, a little background. I'm a pec girl from way back. In high school, I always enjoyed copping a feel off my guy friends. (I wish one of them was a regular JSG reader and could confirm that fact.) There's just something that turns me on about a tight pec. It's ok if a guy has a slight paunch, but any hint of a man boob and I'm running to the door.

When we were in Grand Cayman, I was reminded of the my passion for the pec. Right before this photo was taken, I did, in fact, grab Eduardo's chest. Eduardo was our adorable waiter at the Ritz and we had been flirting shamelessly with him all day. After several mojitos, it made sense to rest my hand on his pec for the picture (plus, it was my birthday). Well, Eduardo reacted with surprise at my unsolicted feel, so that's why you see my hand lower in the photo, on his equally lovely abs.



Fast forward two weeks. I attended the Fashion Delivers Pay It Forward event at M2. Fashion Delivers is a non-profit that was founded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to collect unwanted, leftover product to distribute to those in need. LL Cool J was the host of the evening. After seeing other girls take photos with LL, my friend Felicia and I decided we wanted one with him, too.



Being so close to LL and feeling his biceps was a little too much for me to handle. I've seen the posters from SWAT and knew what was hiding under that t-shirt. Fortunately, I remembered my lesson from Grand Cayman and asked LL if I could feel his chest.

Well, he took my right hand, slid it under his jacket onto his left pec, saying, "Go ahead. They're real."

Ladies, I'm happy to report they are in deed real. They're made of steel, rock, platinum, diamond, whichever is the hardest. I went weak in the knees and started hyperventilating.

Our assistant editor Ava tells me LL frequently eats at the Benihana in Long Island. When you see me staking it out, you'll know why!

Spray Tanning Accident

It may look like our feet were hennaed in preparation for a Moroccan wedding, but our strangely colored tootsies are actually the result of a spray tanning accident. While we've experienced our share of self tanning problems, this is the first serious issue we've had with our beloved spray tanning booth. Annie used a California Tan booth at Beach Bum prior to her latest beach trip. Best we can tell, they hadn't wiped the booth clean before she got in there. Can you say G-R-O-S-S!?!

The upside is, sand is a natural exfoliator, so after many, many, many long walks on the beach, her feet were back to normal after two days.

Next time, we're going back to an airbrush tan!

Ritz-Carlton Cancun: On Our Radar the Ritz-Carlton Cancun

There's nothing better than hanging out with your girlfriends by the ocean, unless of course you're in a cabana. We spent the better part of our vacation in Grand Cayman inside a luxury cabana and couldn't have been happier.

This summer the Ritz-Carlton Cancun is offering the Beyond Beach package which gives you the use of a hand-built beach front cabana with a cabana butler and a personalized sign designed by an in-house graphic artist that will let everyone know who's inside.

The $349 per night rate includes a guest room with views of the Caribbean, daily breakfast for two, a beach bag full of amenities, and a farewell gift (we know what it is--and it's super cool!). Valid May 1st through September 30th, 2009.

We look forward in indulging ourselves with a cabana on our upcoming trip to the Ritz-Carlton Cancun. We'll let you know all about it!

The Hangover in Vegas

We're equal opportunity here at JSG--we appreciate the value of a good guys' trip as much as we cherish our girls' getaways. We want our men to go out and bond with the boys, get stupid drunk and play black jack til 5 in the morning. We don't even ask how many lap dances they got.

Of course we're pretty sure they've never gotten into as much trouble as the guys did in The Hangover, a hysterical, over the top recount of a bachelor party gone bad in Vegas. The movie was a little slow getting started, but once it got rolling, it was pee-in-your-pants funny. The photos at the end are by far the best part, so be sure to stay for all the credits.

Last time we went to Vegas, we stayed at Caesar's Palace, where The Hangover was filmed. Next time we go, we're upgrading to a villa for sure--just like the guys in the movie. And next time may come earlier if we win the Hangover Sin City Giveaway, courtesy of Harrah's. It includes a two-night trip for four to Caesar's, roundtrip airfare and a $500 food credit (We recommend using that puppy at Rao's for meatballs). Enter to win the Hangover Sin City giveaway yourself!

One Dress, 24 Looks

We're embarrassed to admit, that we have a dress quite similar to the above, but never realized it could transform into so many different styles and looks. The Butter by Nadia wrap dress is perfect for packing as it can go from day to night with just a twist here and wrap there. Click on over to SpaWeek to see the full variety of styles of this versatile dress.

Heat Rash Cure

One of the downsides of spending time at the beach is that we occasionally get a heat rash on our chest. That was until we learned how to prevent one. After a particularly bad case of heat rash in Mexico a few years back, we asked Dr. Doris Day, our dermatologist, for advice on a heat rash cure. She informed us that heat rash is actually an allergic reaction and suggested we take an OTC antihistamine, like Zyrtec, in the morning pre-beach or other sun exposure.

Well, we did this on both our recent trips to Grand Cayman and Barbados and it worked like a charm! No ugly red bumps, no prickly heat.

Obviously, we're not doctors, so we can't promise it will work for you. But it's worth asking your own derm what she thinks. Of course, just because you get a rash, doesn't mean you can go without sunblock!

Peru - Travel Guide - Peru

Today’s guest post comes from one of our very dear and most well traveled friends, the amazing Samantha Dark. Sam is a week back from Peru and hasn’t stopped talking about it yet. Here’s what she has to say about her trip:

For as long as I can remember I’ve shuffled around a mental list of all the places I want to visit. And for a while Machu Picchu in Peru, the lost ancient city of the Incas, has been at the top. So with another milestone birthday looming ahead, my girlfriend, Stephanie, and I recruited a handful of others to join us on an adventure to hike the famous road less traveled.

Getting to Peru
The evening of June 3rd we gathered at New York’s JFK airport equipped with new backpacks, hiking boots, hats, fleece sweaters, and other equipment and personal items, mostly purchased at the eco-friendly and socially conscious Patagonia store. Our flight on LAN airways was painless. We obtained our flights using mileage and so reclining in business class and with the welcome influence of Ambien, the 7-hour flight seemed like 10 minutes. We changed flights in Lima.

Arriving in Cusco
We arrived safely at our hotel, The Royal Inca, in the city of Cusco, the sacred capital of the Inca civilization and the official start to any journey to Machu Picchu. Legend has it that the famed Inca Manco Capac found Cusco in the twelfth century and its legacy is appreciated through magnificent stone walls, bustling markets and cobbled streets all nestled at the base of the picturesque south-east Andes mountains.

Because Cusco is one of the highest cities in the world at 3,399m above sea level, we were advised to spend the first day here in order to acclimate. So, the day of our arrival, our group of three guys and three girls strolled leisurely through the narrow paved streets sampling the food and haggling over trinkets of arts and crafts. At night during the off-season in June the temperature dips down to a chilly 40F. Bundled in hats, sweaters and fleece jackets, we dined at a traditional restaurant in the Plaza de Armas, or Main Square, complete with Peruvian music and dancers. It was the perfect end to our first full day. We were all comfortably tired, acclimated, and super psyched for the next day’s adventure towards the magical lost land of Machu Picchu. Yet all the anxiety I had about my upcoming birthday (the next day) felt was swept away by the excitement of the trek ahead, relishing in the joy of old and new friends.


Headed to Machu Picchu!
After my friends gave me the obligatory birthday congratulations at breakfast, we met our friendly Inca guide, Romulo, at 6 a.m. and embarked on the 2-hour train ride to the base of Machu Picchu. There are many options to get here, the most challenging being a 5-day trek from Cusco where hikers camp in tents along the way. But, with a limited amount of time for vacation, our group was content to have Romulo carve out a two-day agenda of sight-seeing and trails that promised to keep us away from the crowded tourist traps, yet still capture the magic of the area.

Because the Peruvian authorities set the limit to 500 tourists per day in order to preserve the ruins from wear and tear, we were required to purchase our passes months before our trip. It’s worth nothing that a trip to Machu Picchu needs to be well planned out, but I’m happy to report that there are many efficient, trusty Peruvian tour operators that speak fluent English and are well equipped in modern technologies.

The early train to the base of the Machu Picchu took about 2 hours and as we got closer, we peeled away layers of outer clothing as the sun started to dart through the windows. The country side rolling by was breathtaking. The tiny villages, rural farming enclaves and dominating mountain range had us clicking our cameras and switching seats in order to take in the best views along the way.

When the train pulled in to the station, a posse of locals descended on us selling water and other items. We politely escaped them to reach the base of the trail and immediately begin the 2.2 mile hike up a zigzag path of ancient stone steps. Romulo explained this was the path archeologists used when the area was initially excavated. There is no knowledge of why Machu Picchu became abandoned. It was introduced to the outside world in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, a Hawaiian explorer, who stumbled upon the ruins while being guided around by locals. Since then many other ruins have been discovered yet the proper function of them remains sketchy.



After a much-needed break for lunch, we began a second trek along a leafy jungle route to the Gate of the Sun, the old stone archway that welcomes the setting sun into the valley of the Inca. This historical gate unveils the first awesome sight of Machu Picchu below, with the familiar rows of terraces and stonewall relics often seen in photos. Among the thickening bustle of tourists we snaked our way towards the ruins and spent the day deciphering the various masonry techniques, living habits and religious beliefs of the lost Inca. It’s true that many people come to this site in search of spiritual nourishment. But our group gravitated towards the physical challenges and historical relevance this place offers. For me, I’m just relieved to get this big birthday over with in such a memorable way. And Machu Picchu has been ticked off the list. But my list is still long and hopeful, and being a single girl in the city, next year I’m thinking maybe Argentina?

Photos courtesy of Trevor Potts

Kiehl's Travel Kit: Father's Day from Kiehl's

It's not too late to get your father something purposeful for Father's Day this Sunday, June 21st. Whether he's a "heading to the cabin for fishing" kind of dad or a "cruise the Greek islands" dad, he'll appreciate this complete men's travel kit from Kiehl's. For only $24.50 it has shave cream, face wash, shampoo, no-shine lip balm, and (our fave) the Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. All of these are under the 4 oz. TSA limit and they come in a small EVA travel bag. Come to think of it, we could have used this for our last trip. Happy Father's Day!

Available at Kiehl's stores, department stores, or Kiehls.com.

Best Nail Polish - OPI Polish

Back in April, we were complaining about the cold weather and opted for a coral nail polish to cheer us up. Well, now that it's June and still cold and rainy we've had to up the ante, because coral just isn't cutting it anymore. Our newest nail polish of choice for days that are supposed to be warm but aren't is Sephora by OPI's Mermaid to Order. Just looking at the iridescent aqua color instantly brings us back to our lounge chair in Barbados. Banana daiquiris, anyone?

Father's Day at the Epic Hotel

Celebrate your dad on Father’s Day the way he would like it – as a big kid and a king! Kimpton’s EPIC Hotel located in downtown Miami is promoting a Summer Playground package, starting at $199 per night, which includes deluxe overnight accommodations, $25 food & beverage credit, and complimentary in-room movie and popcorn.

Before we even tell you what else you get, just remember how much your dad deserves this! As soon as he walks in he can try to win a free upgrade by playing Rock, Paper, Scissors (how much fun does that sound!?) He will enjoy daily complimentary Sangria Happy hour and participate in summertime games such as Wii golf.

If they want to grow up and get out, they can take pleasure in dining at delicious restaurants, smoking in the cigar bar or drinking strong cocktails. He can eat his fill of premium seafood, followed by magnificent views from the pool deck, which is ranked in one of Travel + Leisure’s top eight favorite rooftop bars in the U.S. If they want to chill out, they can relax in the spacious guestrooms, watch golf on the LCD flat screen TVs, go online on the in-room computers or workout in the fitness center.

The complimentary Summer Playground amenities and hotel package are available for travel through September 7, 2009. Reservations can be made at www.epichotel.com, and entering PLGD in the rate code box, or by calling 305-424-5226 and requesting the Summer Playground package.

Tory Burch Summer and Pre-Fall

It’s usually pretty hard for me to get out of bed on a rainy morning but when given the chance to meet Tory Burch and check out her Summer and Pre-fall collections, I awoke bright-eyed and ready to head down to her store in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. Tory shared with us the exciting news that she's launching a makeup line in 2011! For now, here’s a rundown of my fashion favorites:

Nashe Messenger: Tory actually arrived wearing this sleek messenger in white! I adore the mix of silver and hard materials around the Tory Burch logo.


Amber Sandal: An ideal summer flat that matches literally everything.

Naomi Pump: The perfect summer into fall heel. I love the mix of textures combined with the gold detailing.

Lee Lee flat: A nice update to the ever-so-popular Reva flat. I love the mix of metallics with snakeskin and suede.

Matthias Satchel: A classic combination of ivory and caramel mixed in with some light snakeskin for an edgy-ish look.

Metallic Reva Clutch: I’m loving the chain on this chic clutch. It’s perfect for a summer night out.

Budget conscious? Here are my picks for the best Tory Burch steals for your next jet-setting vacation with the girls:
Coated Cotton Small Cosmetic Case: After studying abroad in Venice, I’m pretty obsessed with gondolas. This print is fab and the bag is perfect to tote all of your makeup must-haves on your next vacation.

There’s also a SHIRT to match that, while not cheap, would make an amazing addition to your summer wardrobe.

Flip Flops: So luxe, so cute, so perfect for the beach. Not your ordinary flip flop…

Stitched Tote Bright: Buy this now! Marked down to $315 from $525, this bag is my favorite SALE item that you should get, um, yesterday.

It also happens to be one of Tory’s faves as well…

Want a sneak peak of Tory Burch's Fall '09 line?

Special thanks to Jamie for attending the breakfast for us! Especially as it was so early in the a.m.!

Jimmy Choo at H & M this Fall

We're suckers for a great designer collaboration- like Mulberry for Gap or Thakoon for Target; but this is our favorite yet: Jimmy Choo is coming to H & M on November 14th. The collection includes shoes, handbags and accessories for women and men.

"Jimmy Choo will bring to H&M a sophisticated, fashion forward, accessible and glamorous collection – the perfect party pieces to buy now and then wear out that night!” Tamara Mellon, Founder and President, Jimmy Choo, on left pictured below.

“We adore Jimmy Choo’s shoes and bags. They are glamorous and sexy, and they add instant style to the simplest of outfits. I like the way we have worked with clothes to accessorize the shoes and bags rather than the other way around. This collaboration is particularly exciting because it’s our first shoe designer collection. It’s a joy to be able to offer top end designer shoes and bags of excellent quality to our customers.” Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor, H&M, pictured on right of model below.

The Jimmy Choo collection will be available at 200 H & M stores worldwide. We're going to run for the studded shoe that Tamara is holding.

All pictures courtesy of H & M by Magnus Magnusson.

DKNY Intimates: Packing New for Your Girls' Trip

Last time we went away with our girlfriends, the four of us shared one room. We might not do so if we didn't know each other so well and relish in spending all our time together. One drawback (at least if you see it that way) is a lack of privacy. We'd definitely rib the girl that was wearing worn out underwear. For this reason alone, isn't it worthwhile to pick out a few new pieces before your next girls' getaway? Take is from us, your SO won't mind either.

Try Donna Karan intimates (like the set pictured above) for the selection of feminine bras and panties which are available at Nordstrom's, Macy's, and Bloomingdale's nationwide.

One lucky reader who signs up for our newsletter by next Friday, June 26th, will win a Donna Karan or DKNY set. Enter to win here:

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Nantucket on Sale

We've wanted to go to Nantucket ever since Wings and the adorable Tim Daly. Now we can go for less, thanks to RueLaLa's 48 hour sale. The site is partnering with the White Elephant Hotel Residences to offer deals on packages to the resort. And if the spirit of Tim Daly isn't enticing enough, note that the hotel made Conde Nast Traveler's Top 100 hotels in the 2009 readers' poll.



Let us know if you need an invite to the member's only shopping site!

Aveda Sun Care for Your Hair

Aveda introduced a new three step hair care set that protects hair through the summer. Aveda was eco-conscious long before it was trendy and this new system follows that ideal by incorporating natural ingredients with a tropical aroma in earth friendly packaging.

Step One: Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil is a lightweight spray that is water resistant and lasts 16 hours to protect your hair from sun and environmental factors. The Hair Veil protects your hair from color fading and drying out in the sun.

Step Two: Aveda Sun Care Hair and Body Cleanser rinses off chlorine, salt and product residue from hair and body. Kudos to Aveda for creating a 2-in-1 product, which is perfect when you're packing for a getaway to minimize your load.

Step Three: Aveda Sun Care After-Sun Hair Masque is a conditioning treatment that you leave in for a few minutes after washing to moisturize your hair post sun exposure.

Find these products at Aveda stores and salons nationwide or Aveda.com.

Eco-Friendly Bags

Here’s a great idea for anyone in need of a gift. We recently got one at a bridal shower and love their many functions and the overall message! Everyone was excited because they all got a different bag that matched their taste. They can be good for anything from bringing home groceries to giving dad a father’s day gift to toting your goodies to the beach on a girls’ vacation. Envirosax are eco-friendly, adorable bags that fold up to a palm-size bundle but can carry a load. You can choose from a number of styles or you can customize your own bag to whatever you’d like it to say! They come in different sizes and fabrics (cotton, bamboo, polyester, linen, hemp). They even offer a wine bag! Invite your friends over, have a drink, and save the environment! Plus, Envirosax donates a percentage of its sales to charities and non-profit organizations that benefit the environment. Prices range from $7.95 to $37.95 for a pouch of 5.

Gap Does Khaki

If you're in NYC tomorrow morning, drop what you're doing at 10:30 A.M. and head over to the Gap on 54th and 5th for an exclusive trunk show with Alexander Want, Vena Cava and Albertus Swanepoel. They're the designers participating in the latest Gap Design Editions, this time focusing on Khaki.

We may need to hustle ourselves down there to score this Vena Cava dress.

The line will be available online on June 17 at Gap.

Reese Witherspoon Avon Frangrance: In Bloom

If you love Reese Witherspoon as much as we do, then we’re sure you’ll be happy to hear she is partnering with Avon to launch her own fragrance, In Bloom. The scent “combines a delicate femininity with a seductive allure and a mysterious beauty” – that pretty much sums up our nights out! Reese said a Magnolia tree in her backyard was the inspiration for this scent, which combines the smells of Georgia peaches, tea leaves and crisp greens, star gardenia, magnolias and night-blooming jasmine, cashmere woods, hypnotic florals and amber wood crystals.

You will be able to get your hands on the fragrance in two sizes November: a 1.7-oz. eau de parfum for $34, and a 1-oz. limited edition version for $59. A body mist, body lotion and shower gel also will be available for $15. It seems as though everything she touches turns to gold, so we will be sure to try out her new perfume.

Blue by Eric Ripert in Grand Cayman

Usually on our girls' trips we head straight to the nearest steakhouse to find the boys. But on our trip to Grand Cayman, we were celebrating Annie's Birthday so we decided to treat ourselves with an OTT, decadent dinner at Blue by Eric Ripert at the Ritz Carlton, where we were staying.


Eric Ripert is the yummalicious chef of New York's Le Bernardin. We were tickled to hear Eric hangs out at Calico Jack's when he's in Cayman, just like us. Le Bernardin is consistently one of the top rated restaurants in NYC. Having dined there before, we had an inkling of what to expect--fresh seafood with unexpected twists like lobster with curry and tuna with foie gras.

We decided to sample the "Blue" tasting menu, which features local specialities, over the "Classic Tasting Menu" that is the exact same in NYC. We may go to the same restaurants as we would at home, but we do want to be at least a little adventurous.

The menu featured:
Conch
Trio of Conch Ceviche

Wahoo Paillard
Grapefruit and Fennel Vierge

Mahi Mahi
Roasted Mahi Mahi; Bok Choy, Red Pepper Chutney, Shrimp- Ginger Emulsion

Cobia
Sautéed Cobia; Escabeche of Pumpkin and Local Peppers, Warm Lemon Vinaigrette, Red Pepper Oil

Tuna
Pan Seared Yellowfin Tuna; Componata, Fried Artichoke

Chocolate
Trio of Chocolate; Warm Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Pot au Crème, Malted Chocolate Ice Cream


The chef generously contributed four or five extra courses (we lost count), so by the time we were done, we had each eaten enough to feed a family of four. Our favorites were the tuna--it was so meaty and peppery it could have been a steak; the scallop that was an extra and the warm chocolate cake that was so beyond delicious and yummy inside, it was essentially a soufflé.

Suffice it to say the next night, we skipped dinner in favor of cocktails!

Hostess Gift

If you're lucky enough to get invited to crash at a friend's beach house this summer, be sure to bring along a fab gift. Here are two that you could bring us if you come to visit from Uncommon Goods.

These fun Fortune Cookie Soaps not only look good enough to eat, they smell delish, too. They come in scents like sweet tart martini, rain shower, candy addict and oatmeal cookie. Each has a fortune inside.


Put it together with the Chopstick Soap Dish, offer to pay for Chinese food the morning after (nothing cures a hangover like wonton soup) and you'll be a shoo-in for a repeat invite next year!


Our pick for the eco-conscious hostess is these Recycled Windshield Glasses. Made of a car's old windshield, you can now finally get drunk and save the world!

David Beckham for Emporio Armani Underwear

For our on-going quest to give our readers what they want (okay maybe it's what we want), here's the dish on Mr. Beckham's latest endorsement. David Beckham unveiled the new Emporio Armani Fall/Winter 2009 campaign at Selfridges Oxford Street in London. The image above covers the building's entire front facade. No word yet; but we'd like to see this in Times Square.

Giorgio Armani said of his friend, "David has a great sense of style and is an inspiring role model – this is what makes him the perfect partner for Emporio Armani underwear. I am very excited that David Beckham’s new campaign image was unveiled exclusively in his home country and where better than at such an iconic retail destination as Selfridges."

Don't Forget to Enter...

Need a new outfit for summer? We're giving away a $100 JNY.com giftcard and a signed copy of Lloyd Boston's Before You Put That On

Enter before Monday in our Jones New York giveaway!

Jackson Hole: On Our Radar Jackson Hole at Half Price

If you are looking for a mini summer getaway, we think you might have just found it. For three days only Jackson Hole Resort Lodging is offering their entire inventory, from studios to rustic log homes, at half price for the summer. In order to receive the discount you must book between June 15-17, 2009. Some of the to-do’s of Jackson Hole are exploring the Grand Teton National Park and hiking their trails, riding the new Aerial Tram, hiking along the Teton Crest Trail, enjoying scenic views for lunch, and a bit of a night life. After a long day of outdoorsy activities, you can indulge at incredible spas and delicious meals. Added bonus: the guy to girl ratio is great. (Trust us, we know firsthand!)

Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman - The Most Beautiful Spa on Earth

While we wouldn't call ourselves jaded, it does take a lot to impress us. So trust us when we tell you that our jaws flat out dropped when we entered the Silver Rain La Prairie Spa at the Ritz Carlton in Grand Cayman, designed by Carl D'Aquino & Francine Monaco of D'Aquino Monaco. That's the entrance way above. The decor "Celebrates the healing energy of water in all its forms," according to the hotel's website. The closest comparison we have is the The Bathhouse Spa at The Hotel in Las Vegas.


That's the spa's waiting area, above. The picture doesn't do it justice. The walls are a silver-pearl and the curtains are a mohair-shag type blend with fleck of silver. We imagine this is what heaven looks like. Little treats are offered, like fruit and dried fruit, teas and a selection of infused waters--mint was our favorite. Our only gripe with the waiting area is that it is unisex. (We prefer not to see hairy men in too-small robes while waiting for our treatments.) Fortunately, the waiting area was large enough that we were able to find a quiet corner.

As for the treatments, you can choose from a range of massages, including a caviar massage or a hot stone massage; a range of wraps that also incorporate caviar and other marine biology that La Prairie is known for; baths or a number of anti-aging facials that all feature La Prairie products. We opted for a mani, because our nails were in desperate need of some TLC. Our manicurist was the lovely Georgia, who explained that the polish is Essie, specially packaged and selected for LaPrairie.

The spa's gift shop offered the best shopping we found on the island, with sweet jewelry, fashionable beach tops and dresses and a bag we're starting to regret not buying.

If you can't bear to tear yourself away from the beaches of Grand Cayman, you may also opt for beachside massage in your private cabana. Request Caleb or Matthieu and you won't be disappointed.

Anne Hathaway at the Tony Awards

We loved loved loved the way Anne Hathaway looked for the 63^rd Annual Tony Awards Sunday night. Her hair was elegant yet simple, giving her dress most of the attention. Nexxus Salon Hair Care gives us easy steps to recreate this beautiful look.

1. Use a medium-hold mousse, such as Nexxus Mousse Plus, on smooth, dry hair to help support the structure of the style.

2. Create a deep side part and pull the top section of hair to one side, while you work on the back section.

3. Twist hair back into a basic French Twist and secure with bobby pins.

4. Pull the front section back, sweeping over the twist and pinning in at the top of the twist, while leaving the ends loose.

5. Set with a finishing spray, like Nexxus Maxximum, for a strong hold that will last all night long.

For her makeup, celebrity makeup artist Julie Harris used Lancôme Modèle Sourcils in Naturel to shape and define her brows. She then applied Lancôme Artliner in Noir to her upper lash line. For Anne’s eyes, Julie coated her lashes with Lancôme Hypnôse mascara for extra volume and to complete the look.

Hair Salon Discounts

Haircuts can really hurt a girl’s budget, but we have good news! The Umberto Salon in Beverly Hills is bringing back the Cutback, a promotion that was originally introduced during the economic struggle in the 1980s. New or existing customers can get a cut and blow-dry for the reduced price of $65 by a stylist. For those of you too busy to schedule an appointment, this is available on a walk-in basis.

Even Ted Gibson, the most expensive haircut in the country at $950 has seriously decreased his price for the sake of everyone’s wallet. At his Fifth Avenue salon (shown above) he launched “Recessionista Tuesdays”. Every Tuesday, anyone can come into the salon and the Ted Gibson team will offer haircuts, single color processing for $75 and blow-outs for $40. If you are located in DC, the same deal is offered on Wednesdays.

You don’t have to sacrifice good hair because of the economy. Besides, you wear it every day, so it’s worth every penny!

Update: Catherine Malandrino and Frédéric Fekkai are teaming up to offer an exclusive day of shopping, cocktails, and hair consultations from the Fekkai Melrose Artistic Stylist. Based on their French style, you will feel as though you stepped into a European salon. Guests will also enjoy 30% off full price merchandise for the afternoon and a Fekkai gift bag with a purchase valued at over $100. This will take place Thursday, June 11 from 12PM to 4PM at Catherine Malandrino Maison, 651-653 N La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Ritz Carlton Discounts

If our recent posts on Grand Cayman has you ready to pack your bags, you'll want to take advantage of the special deals from American Express and the Ritz Carlton. When you stay at a resort property, you get 3 nights for the price of 2. When you stay in the city you get 5 nights for the price of 3. The offer is good through September 30, 2009. Check out Ritz Carlton's website for more details.

Grand Cayman

Our most recent Grand Cayman trip proved that sometimes the best trips are left to chance. When our trip to Mexico was canceled because of swine flu, we were left scrambling less than 3 weeks before our departure date to plan a new trip. (Read why we decided to go to Grand Cayman for our girls' getaway.) That's us above: Annie, Hope, Lauren and Meg.

Because we knew very little about the island, our expectations for the trip were very low. Going there, about the only thing we were expecting to see for sure is gorgeous beaches. And Grand Cayman delivered on that--we've never seen such crystal clear water.

Our expectations for the nightlife were tempered. We were warned each and every night was a bad night to go out, possibly the worst in the week ("Saturday? Saturday is a bad night to go out," said the club level concierge at the Ritz Carlton. "Sunday? Sunday is the worst night to go out," said our manicurist at the La Prairie Spa.) But there is an upside to having low expectations: Every night we ended up having way more fun than we expected!

Our worst night, in fact, was Friday night, which was rumored to be the best. We stayed at the Ritz Carlton bar that night, which was sort of like being on a cruise ship. We saw all the same people we saw at the beach and pool earlier that day, and we knew we would be seeing them again the next. We had a much better time when we went to the local bars, particularly Calico Jack's, which isn't more than a tiki hut on the beach. That's Meg helping Marty the bartender pour Jagermeister shots.

There was something so refreshing to the anti-scene trip. In South Beach or Vegas, there's always the worry "Are we at the IT club tonight?" In Grand Cayman, we knew wherever we were was a party, because we were there with our friends.



Watch our video for the highlights, then check back later for more specifics on our trip!






A special thanks to Lauren for being our honorary JSG photographer!

Summer Hair Keratin Treatment

With temperatures today at 90 degrees and high humidity, it's safe to say we're in full frizz fighting zone. Hope tried a Keratin treatment a couple of week ago, which falls in the "if nothing else works give this a try" category:

I call my hair naturally frizzy not curly or wavy but somewhere in between (see my before above), especially in the summer. The Keratin treatment took three hours and was similar to getting a perm. For those of you that were too young for an 80's perm, that meant applying nasty chemicals to your hair then rolling it onto curlers. In this case, after the chemicals are applied, they combed my hair straight and let it sit for a while.

It took all the curl out of my hair. Even though I can still use a curling iron if I want waves, I've been wearing it straight because it's a welcome change. It cuts down on the drying time which is a big advantage. Unfortunately my hair still needs styling, I don't like the way my hair looks if I let it dry naturally, it's a little stringy and the ends still have some frizz.

The biggest drawbacks were the perm smell which totally grossed out my fam; and the price which ranges from $250 to $400 depending on the length of your hair. Keratin treatments are not supposed to damage your hair the way Japanese straightening treatments do or traditional relaxers do by using harsh chemicals and stripping your hair. Instead it adds a conditioning layer to your hair that lasts from six weeks to four months depending on how often you wash your hair. Gradually you wash away the Keratin like you would hair color. Any damage to my hair remains to be seen, for now it is smooth and even stays frizz free when I'm out in the elements. Here's a picture of me (on right) with Lauren on our recent girls trip:

I found Salon Michel in McLean, Va. through Spa Week's Monthly Special Steals and Deals section. They have a nationwide selection of salons. Check there for deals on a range of services like hair care, tanning, waxing, facials and more.

For more on the Keratin Hair Treatment, see our Q&A with the specialist at the Warren Tricomi salon.

See Before and After Photos from our reader Brazilian Blowout contest courtesy of NYC's Concept Salon.

Jackie Warner's Sky Lab

Generally the only heavy lifting we do on a trip is getting our wheelie bag into the overhead--and that's only when a chivalrous gent isn't around. But we're among the millions of women who have a crush on the ultra-buff Jackie Warner of Bravo's Workout show. We're ever so slightly tempted to sign up for her next SkyLab that our friends at Spa Week told us about. Are you in?

Jones New York Giveaway

A few weeks ago, Annie had the pleasure of interviewing style guru Lloyd Boston for her new website, 15-Minute Fashion and Beauty for About.com. She left majorly crushing on Lloyd, who is as charming as he is knowledgeable. Lloyd's fashion credits are as broad as his smile; he's the host of Closet Cases on the Fine Living Network, the author of Before You Put That On and the official Jones New York "Style Guy."

We're super excited to offer JSG readers a chance to win a $100 Jones of New York gift card to use on JNY.com and a signed copy of Lloyd's Book! To enter, simply register for our soon to be launched newsletter below before Monday June 15. If we won (of course, we won't, since that would be cheating), we would put the gift card towards this pink ombré dress.


Want to know what Annie and Lloyd talked about? Check out 8 Key Pieces for a Summer Wardrobe on About.com.

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EsteeLauder.com Gift With Purchase

It’s always fun to receive a gift with purchase, especially when it contains products you actually want! With any purchase of $39.50 or more from Esteelauder.com, you will receive an amazing $100+ worth of free products--ones that are tailored for your skin type and coloring. You can choose a 14-day supply from Estee Lauder’s best-selling moisturizers (Time Zone, DayWear Plus, Hydra Bright, Resilience Lift Extreme) and then choose a color collection for your skin tone. There is plenty to choose – lipsticks, eye shadows and glosses, in an array of colors. Every gift includes a sample of Aerin Lauder’s Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia fragrance and a City Square cosmetics bag.

For that amount of money you can certainly get plenty of great products! But hurry up because the offer is only available until June 14th or while supplies last.

Nacho Figueras and Polo Blue

Here's a little eye candy for your Sunday morning. Argentinean Polo player Nacho Figueras was named the new face of Ralph Lauren's Polo fragrances, which is very apt as Nacho sure knows how to work a blue Polo!

Hotels That Allow Dogs

In the spirit of our recent pet post, we decided to let you in on a few other hotels which are “pet-friendly.” The Muse Hotel lets both you and your pet indulge in luxury and relaxation. If you have a problem, see Ginger, a cute and classy Teacup Pomeranian, the director of Pet Relations.

If your pups truly want to be catered to, bring them to the Soho Grand in NYC, where many celebrities bring their beloved pets. The bellhops carry doggy treats on them at all times. If you don’t own a pet but have a soft spot for them, try the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch where you can adopt a dog for a nice mountain hike. Don’t think going on vacation means having to forego quality time with our furry friends. We have dogs too and we know what it means to leave them at home!

Barbados - On Our Radar - Barbados

We just got back from Grand Cayman on Tuesday, and the rainy, gray, cold weather that has taken over the East Coast has us suffering from the worst case of PVD (Post Vacation Depression) ever. You know what we're talking about--it's that sad state when you get back from a week or a few days spent on a gorgeous beach, sipping banana daiquiris for breakfast and nights spent giggling with your girlfriends only to face an inbox with 473 unopened emails, a pile of laundry and grumpy S.O.'s.

The only cure we've found to date? Take another trip, pronto. So when Annie was invited at the last minute on a trip to Barbados, courtesy of the Barbados Tourism Board, she didn't think twice before saying yes.

Barbados has been on our radar for a while. We're attracted to it's 70 miles of beach coastline, weather so perfect that it's guaranteed (should it happen to rain while you're there, you'll get $100 a day back); and history and culture. It's the only country George Washington visited--he vacationed there with his brother in 1751. Considering we grew up in the same county in Virginia that George called home, we're always comfortable when we know he gave his seal of approval to a place. As for culture, rum was invented here and cricket and polo are played on the island.



We'll be staying at Mango Bay, a 76-room resort in the center of St. James. After spending last week at the lovely, yet large 365-room Ritz Carlton in Grand Cayman, a boutique hotel holds extra appeal.

Jet Blue starts service to Barbados in the fall from JFK--to celebrate the new route, it's offering $99 one way tickets (works out to $280 roundtrip with taxes) if you book between now and June 17 on flights from October 1 to November 14.

LVMH Bike In Style Challenge

We're avid cyclists, so we totally relate to Renaud Dutreil, chairman of LVMH North America, when he says, "There is one big dilemma for bike commuters. It is style. There is simply very little bikewear out there that allows you to go fashionably from the street to the office."

Um, Renaud, the street to the office is only the start of the problem. No woman wants to go to brunch, the farmer's market or even across the street in those tight a** shorts. We've fantasized about creating a line of sleeker cycling clothes for years and are please that LVMH is on the case.

LVMH sponsored the "Bike in Style Challenge" in partnership with F.I.T. where they asked students to design a poncho, jacket and travel bag for cyclists. The winner, Jessica Velazquez, will have her designs developed into a prototype, but there's no plans to produce them just yet. Those are her sketches shown above.

Our questions: Why weren't shorts part of the line? Though we appreciate that the tops are long enough to cover our bums, the shorts are the main reason we hate our cycling gear. Yes, we know, that they have to be that way for function, but can't anyone come up with a better solution? And what happened to the helmets? Helmet head is another serious downside to the sport.

At least we can bicycle while on vacation!

Win a Trip to the Caribbean

One thing we've learned from all our girls' trips is that our guys are much happier when they get to vacation with us every now and then. Well, boys, you'll be the first ones we call if we're lucky enough to win the Caribbean Couples Escape Contest, sponsored by Spa Week and Pevonia Botanica. The winner gets a 7-night trip for two to LaSource in Grenada (shown above), including airfare, all their meals and unlimited booze, plus a year's supply of Pevonia skincare.

Visit Spa Week to enter.

Manuela Testolini and Altru Candles

We went to the Altru Event last week, hosted by Manuela Testolini, the Founder and CEO of Gamillah, the parent company of Altru – an interior fragrance collection. Not only is Manuela so beautiful it seems unfair to everyone else in the room, she is also extremely altruistic, which is where she came up with the name Altru (makes it hard to hate her!). A portion of all sales goes to a non-profit organization she created called In A Perfect World that works to inspire and empower children to become strong leaders.



The fragrance collection consists of candles and incense which smell amazing! Even more special is the packaging; elements which make you feel as though you are in another country. The best part is that they are eco-friendly. You can pick them up at Neiman Marcus, Henri Bendel and ABC Carpet & Home, for $15-$65. We have the “Appreciation” candle smelling delicious next to us--it's an exotic blend of Tahitian tiare, daffodil and white freesia.

We've had the pleasure to work with Manuela before--when she let us look inside her carry on bag.

Eliza B: Perfect for Your Pedicure, Custom Flip Flops from Eliza B!

Do you know Eliza B?

Two years ago on a cold winter day at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge Maryland, we came upon a great pair of flip flops in the resort wear shop. They were Eliza B’s with that cute palm tree logo.

After two years of regular wear, it was time for a new pair, so in March, we began the search. Eventually we found a store in the DC Metro area, and spent a Sunday afternoon in the quest for the perfect pair. Sadly, and with little help from the salesclerk in the mostly empty boutique, we decided to make the purchase online.

At the online store, we found the charming story of Eliza B. and how she formed her company. Then, we discovered all of the great styles, and colors and even better, discovered that we could design a custom pair for the same price. Consider the choices: the color of the sole, the wedge height, the various ribbons for base and accents, the peanut (toe piece)! The ribbon choices are an astounding collection of 200 stripes, dots, flowers, braids, argyles, and paisley, as well as summer icons such as sand dollars, whales, palm trees, and golf tees.

Eliza B. has added to the collection, and custom totes, belts, and skimmers can also be created in the custom shop.

Here’s the best deal – the custom designs are the same price as those in the regular catalog. And outside of the peak sales season, there’s a good chance you’ll find an online coupon. In March we found a $10 off coupon.

Have fun with sandals and other goodies from Eliza B.!

Our friend and guest blogger, Luanne, is a super woman: one time PTA pres and currently an international olive oil tradesman, not to mention witty blogger in her own right. Thanks for the scoop, Luanne! Find more insights on her blog: The Slippery Stitch.

Fairmont Hotels: Raise the Ruff

As well as being beautiful and luxurious, the Fairmont Hotels have added an adorable component to their chain. At select hotels, dogs have been added to the hotel staff. They are available to meet and greet the guests, go for walks, or simply to play. This is great for those who have trouble parting with their furry family members before vacations. Now you can get a dose of your pet without having to return home!

Some of the dogs have been trained by the Guide Dog Foundation, so they are trained to be helpful, well-behaved, and loving. So far the hotels who have taken part in this cute idea are the Fairmont Tremblant, The Fairmont Copley Plaza Boston, The Fairmont Waterfront, The Fairmont Acapulco Princess and The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. As for bringing your luggage to your room, you’ll have to resign to the less furry bellboy.

Poolside Spa Treatments

One of the perks of jetting off to Vegas is obviously the glowing tan we get from that desert sun! However, it takes a lot of work and sweat - literally sweat, to get that golden glow. The Palms Hotel now offers us amazing spa treatments while we bask in the hot sun. How does the “Stone Cold Cocktail” (cold stones applied to the face in order to melt away tension and stress) sound? Perhaps you might want to try the “Lemon Ice” (gentle face massage with lemon balm and frosty ice cubes) treatment. These range from $45-$95 for either 20 or 25 minutes, depending on the treatment.

For those of you who choose to stay out of the sun, you can indulge in either sunless tanning or tanning beds in order to return home bronzed and beautiful. The Drift Spa is offering 2 for 1 tanning deals, so now you don’t have to worry about sleeping in and missing the sun: You can party with your girls late into the night, roll out of bed at 3, and still look as though you baked by the pool.

Sample Sales New York City

It's that time of year again! We don't usually post on New York City sample sales because there are so many, and, well frankly, there are other sites that do it better than we can. But when two of our favorite designers host sample sales, we can't help but dish the deets.

Diane Von Furstenberg was one of the first sample sales we've ever hit--and spoiled us for everything else. The selection is amazing, the prices are fab (if memory serves, dresses are $150) and we did once meet DVF while she was shopping her own sale! The prices usually drop on Friday, but your first choice dress or skirt may be sold out by then. Here's hoping the frothy creation above will be one of the picks.

Diane Von Furstenberg Sample Sale: 260 5th Avenue between 28th and 29th Streets. Tues: 9-6:30; W 10-8; Thurs 10-7 and Fri 9-3



We're also partial to L.A.M.B's handbags that start at $150 at the L.A.M.B. sample sale, including the Cambridge Satchel ($150, above) and the Moneague tote ($195, below). The L.A.M.B. Sample sale is at 145 W. 18th Street between 6th and 7th Aves. from 10-8.



Happy Shopping!

Shopping Concierge - Cynthia Rowley Charleston

One of our long time favorite travel secrets is to call the local Prada store for advice on the hottest restaurants and clubs. We're updating that--at least for the next time we're in Charleston--and changing it to the Cynthia Rowley store.

The store has a Charelston Style Hotline. The style hotline, according to Emalie Adcock, the PR person for the Charleston Cynthia Rowley store, "caters to those looking for styling advice, garment care questions, new items in the store, happenings around town (i.e. restaurant openings, art exhibits, etc.). We consult the New York office for lots of our inquiries and sometimes, Cynthia will even answer an email herself."

Some of they common questions the store has received include:

"I'm going on a first date tonight. What do I wear to look sophisticated yet fun?"

"I'm from the south and have a 5:00 wedding in Boston. I've never been to New England for a wedding. What is the norm wedding attire up North? Can you make some suggestions?"

"Do I have to wear a suit to a job interview? Can you make some suggestions for alternatives. I hate suits -- especially in the summer!"


To contact the hotline, call: 843-577-8013, email: Charlestonstylehotline@cynthiarowley.com or join the Cynthia Rowley Charleston Facebook Group and post questions to the wall. Emalie says they are regularly on the email and facebook page during work hours so they're pretty quick to post answers to questions, new looks and happenings around town.