On Our Radar: Vacation Rentals

A few weeks back, JSG took a different kind of trip. See, usually we’re the cruise director for our group—making dinner ressies, mapping out the shopping itinerary and generally running the show. This time, we were along for the ride, and we gotta tell you, we kinda liked it.

For starters, we ended up in the sleepy beach town of Anna Maria Island, Florida (about an hour from Tampa). We stayed with our friends in the gorgeous Tidemark Beach resort.


With 14 suites, it was practically built for a large girls’ trip—think reunion with your best college buds. We’re typically the type to bunk up in swank hotels—but the Tidemark had all the amenities of a Four Season and then some: It’s situated directly on the beach and the heartbreaking views (see above), comfy beds, Aveda toiletries, iPod docks and Bose sound system had us longing to trade in our Manhattan digs. The kitchens (below) are fully stocked with everything from pots and pans to margarita glasses and a blender to a full complement of spices, should you get the urge to cook—JSG even fired up the grill one night. (Well, actually our friend J did. As an avowed city girl we have no clue how to work those things.)

The only downside to the property, there’s not a full length mirror in the joint. We found ourselves going outside to look at our reflection in the glass door to make sure our shoes matched. (This isn’t the only new property with this problem, as the Standard New York reportedly is lacking mirrors. Obv a man designed these rooms.) We have it on good authority that this situation is being rectified ASAP.



One of Florida’s top restaurants, Beach Bistro, is conveniently located across the street. According to Wine Spectator it has “one of the best wine lists in the world,” so it’s especially key to be able to walk home. Be sure to try the addictive lobster escargot.

There’s not much nightlife to speak of within easy driving distance, so JSG recommends you bring your own (good friends, good music and lots of booze at the beach always add up to a good time). This trip was an attitude adjustment for us: We’re not about to start trumpeting a staycation, but perhaps a more low-key trip without red velvet ropes and $20 drinks is exactly what we all need right now.

Payless Abaete Gladiators

We have a confession to make: We recently bought our first pair of shoes at Payless. Granted, they are the Abaete Gladiators, which the style divas over Elle and Lucky feature in their February issues. With 4" heels, these babies are so undeniably hot, they may be to blame for some trouble we got ourselves into this past weekend.

But beyond the sexy stillettos, we gotta give props to the friendly and helpful sales clerks at Payless. When the first branch we went to was sold out of our size, the kindly sales girl looked up to see who did have them and even gave us a $3 off coupon for the $38 shoes. In addition, the stores have both carpet and wood on which to test drive the shoes, a complaint which we recently shared with ShoeSmitten. If Payless keep sexy styles like these coming, we may just ask, "Jimmy who?"

Island Michael Kors Bermuda

Much as we would like to get away from 13 degree temps to some island locale each and every weekend, sometimes real life does get in the way, even for JSG. Enter the new Island Michael Kors Bermuda perfume, a scent that "captures that carefree feeling of lounging in a cute bikini at a fabulous destination," said Kors in February's InStyle. With a blend of hibiscus, cassis, passion flower and cedar wood, we really can picture ourselves wearing our madras bikini and sipping a G+T while sitting on the pink sands of Bermuda. Michael Kors Island Michael Kors Bermuda 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray is available at Sephora.

L'Oreal and Trish McEvoy Mascaras

For the past few days, we've been wearing L'Oreal Double Extend mascara. We were excited to get our hands on one of the mascaras that work by fusing around each lash creating tubes. The L'Oreal is a two step process, first you apply a white lash conditioner, then the mascara. The L'Oreal lived up to the promises of lengthening our lashes, they were longer than with any other product, and no flaking or smudging. We have problems with raccoon eyes, and this product stayed put all day long. While our lashes were long and separated, we still prefer the thick feathery look that we get from Benefit's Badgal lash mascara. But another point for the L'Oreal Double Extend is that at night, a few handfuls of warm water and a very light touch were enough to remove the mascara which comes off in tubes. There's no smearing, and no messy towels or pillows. A possible drawback is the application is tedious especially when we're rushing in the morning. Overall we'll keep this mascara in our rotation. Mascara is like lip gloss, it depends on the day which one we feel like wearing. On sale at Ulta for $9.49.

For another look at the tube mascaras, our girlfriend, Meghan, has been wearing Trish McEvoy's High-Volume mascara for six months, loves it, and has been encouraging us to write a review for a while. Like the L'Oreal it stays on all day (and even all night when she's slept in it) and comes off with water and no smudging. She'll apply a coat or two but any more than that and it gets clumpy. Available at Nordstroms for $28.


Curiously, if you research reviews for these two products, you'll find that women either love or hate the L'Oreal Double Extend. The complaints are that it clumps and doesn't thicken your lashes. We could only find one person who complained about the Trish McEvoy product (again the clumping). We suspect that what makes the mascara form tubes and stay put, can have a tendency to clump if the product ages. If you have used one or both, we'd love to hear your opinion.

Atlantic City Train

Atlantic City just might be the Vegas of the East Coast yet. Now that AC has a cool place to stay, it finally has a way for New Yorkers to get into town that does not involve the indignity of that armpit Port Authority to hop on a bus and fight traffic. The long awaited Aces Train begins service this Friday. The train, which runs Fridays through Sundays only, costs $100 round trip and takes about 2:40 minutes. Once you arrive in AC a free shuttle takes you to the Borgata, Caesar's or Harrah's, the same three hotels who are sponsoring the train. Our suggestion: Head down on Saturday to catch John Legend's concert at the Borgota. He's sexy enough to get even the most jaded New Yorker excited for Valentine's Day.