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Saturday, May 14, 2011

I forgot to add Ben Tramer.

I did this Halloween piece a zillion years ago for a friend's birthday...a friend who, you know. Is into Halloween. I just found it on mah hard drive so I thought I'd share. Sharing is so cool! Click it if you want.

Kiehl's to Partner With Share Our Strength


Now you can feel even better about fighting wrinkles thanks to Kiehl's new Erase Lines, Fill Needs, and Ensure That No Kid Goes Hungry in America campaign. For every customer who even steps foot in a Kiehl's store on today, May 14, Kiehl's will donate $1.50 to Share Our Strength, which is enough to by a meal for 15 kids. If that's not enough, there's even a reward in it for you: a 10 day supply of Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate. What are you waiting for?

Friday, May 13, 2011

Friday the Tatteenth

I don't know about you, but I can't think of a single better way to celebrate Friday the 13th than by posting 15 pictures of Friday the 13th tattoos.

"But Stacie," you say, "Don't you think a better way might be to post 13 pictures of Friday the 13th tattoos? You know, to have the list be more thematically sound?"

"Hmm, you're right," I reply. "I wish I'd thought of that, but it's far too late now!"

Behold...15 Friday the 13th tattoos!















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Wednesday, May 11, 2011

The Bloody Maria


We keep learning about the joys of nuevo Bloody Marys—this week's twist is the Bloody Maria featuring tequila. We never would have thought to make the switch ourselves, but at a recent event for Sauza Tequila, party planner Cathy Riva (above) did just that and the results were delicious.


The Bloody Maria

2 parts Sauza Silver Tequila
2 tsp horseradish
3 dashes Tobasco
3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
dash of lime juice
3 dashes celery salt
fill the rest of the glass with tomato juice
Garnish with celery stalk.

Beach Books 2011

No trip to the beach or pool is complete without a juicy read. Here are our selects for best beach books 2011:



If You Were Here: A Novel by Jen Lancaster. The author of the hilarious Bitter is the New Black and My Fair Lazy tries her hand at fiction in a story that will delight any Gen Xers' heart. The narrator, Mia and her husband, Mac, move from downtown Chicago to suburb Abington Cambs, the setting of many John Hughes' films. The couple settles in Jake Ryan's house from Sixteen Candles, with hilarious results. 


If You Were Here: A Novel by Abraham Verghese
At 688 pages, this sweeping novel centers around a nun and a British doctor she saves and transverses the globe from India, Ethiopia and New York City. It would be perfect for a long plane ride or when you want to feel smart.


The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
If you haven't read this triology, do yourself a favor and buy all of them now. Yes, the book is for young adults, but we don't know anyone who after reading The Hunger Games hasn't devoured Catching Fire and Mocking Jay within two weeks. They're more addictive than crack.

A Paris Wife


A Paris Wife by Paula McLain, the best historical fiction we've read in ages, which describes Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley Richardson, and their years in Paris.

Check back tomorrow for Part Two of our Best Beach Books 2011

Clean Coast Wines

Drink up and give back with Clean Coast Wines. $4 from the sale of each bottle goes to Gulf Coast recovery efforts. Clean Coast offers Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. We love the labels which were designed by LA tattoo artist Richard Queke. Wouldn't this make an excellent summer hostess gift? Stock up so you have some on hand for your Memorial Day BBQ's. Each bottle is $14 and available in select wine stores and on line at www.cleancoastwines.com.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Beach Books 2011—Part 2

Here's Part 2 of our annual beach books list. Let us know if we missed anything!

Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeanette Walls
The author of the stunning Glass Castles is back, this time telling her grandmother's story. It involves such feats as marrying and leaving a bigamist, selling hooch during prohibition, becoming a rodeo rider and other tales that will nearly make you fall off your lounge chair.

The Social Climber's Handbook: A Novel Molly Jong-Fast
If you're a Jackie Collins or Plum Sykes fan, then this is the book for you. The book about an upper eastside housewife who becomes unhinged after the financial meltdown of 2008 is the must-read of the glamaratti.


Summer and the City: A Carrie Diaries Novel by Candace Bushnell
For all the die hard Sex and the City fans comes the lastest installment of the prequel to SATC when Carrie spends a summer in the city with Samantha. Carries first date is at La Grenouille, a fancy French place which makes us guess her date is a bit older. Guess she started that pattern early!




Bossypants by Tina Fey
While we don't have a new Chelsea Handler book to look forward to this summer, we do have this tome from Tina Fey. We're guessing it features less sex and more food, but is just as funny.

Travel Tuesday Links

Overstock.com is now selling vacations packages, including a great deal at the Four Seasons Las Vegas. (Budget Travel)

The top 10 getaways for girls, according to Sherman's Travel. (MSNBC)

Barbie, Shrek, Dora and more are getting their own hotel rooms. (USA Today)

More places to add to your bucket list—the best new hotel list is out (Travel + Leisure)

bonding over furniture

Sometimes you watch a movie and it's such a transcendent thing, it makes you feel so damn happy just to be alive. I AM SO HAPPY I EXIST, you might say, IF ONLY SO I CAN PARTAKE IN THIS FILM. You feel connected to humanity; you remember that we're all together in some way, struggling and thriving during our all-too-brief time on this planet. It's like the feeling embodied by that old Coke commercial; you know, the one about being a hippie and having communal carbonated beverage experiences.

This is how I suddenly find myself feeling about Amityville 4: The Evil Escapes. You know, the one about the evil, possessed floor lamp. I just love that someone came up with that ridiculous idea and wrote it down and passed it on. All the way down the line, people said AN EVIL, POSSESSED FLOOR LAMP? OKAY! to this idea, from the money men to Patty Duke to the TV stations that bought the rights to me and everyone else who bought the DVD or video or watched it on television. We all said YES to the evil floor lamp and cheered loudly when the evil floor lamp went over a cliff and exploded at the bottom.

An evil, possessed floor lamp! This, my friends, is life.

Ellen DeGeneres Crashes a Bachelorette Party in Vegas


Did you catch the Ellen DeGeneres Show last week when Ellen crashed a bachelorette party at the Venetian and Palazzo Hotels in Las Vegas? The clip is a little long—but worth it. Ellen is such a hoot-we think it should be a requirement that she attend every bachelorette party from now on!

Monday, May 9, 2011

American Happy Hour

American Airlines brought back its 5@5 promotion where cocktails and beer are $5 on flights leaving from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. The $2 discount on liquor and $1 discount on beer was popular when American did this last December, so they decided to bring it back. Select flights will have special margaritas all month as well in honor of last week's Cinco de Mayo. Would happy hour on a flight boost your spirits? We'd take the bait!

Bridesmaids: The Countdown Is On!



We know what we're doing Friday night! The countdown is on to the release of Bridesmaids the movie—and this restricted trailer makes us want to see it even more. What's better than a bachelorette party, John Hamm in bed and puppies?

Urban Decay Urban Bride


If you have your own wedding to attend this summer—as a bride, bridesmaid or guest—you'll definitely want to grab this Urban Decay Urban Bride Kit. The kit was created in honor of the movie and contains everything you need to look—and stay—gorgeous on any big day. It includes: 
  • Eyeshadow Primer Potion—we don't bother wearing eyeshadow without it.
  • Razor Sharp Ultra-Definition Finishing Powder—for an airbrushed look.
  • Supercurl Curling Mascara
  •  Lip Junkie Lip Gloss in Midnight Cowboy - to wear alone or over lipstick.
  • All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray
  • Marshmallow Sparkling Lickable Body Powder 
The kit retails for $42 and is available at ULTA and select Macy’s. Or, online at Ulta.com, Sephora.com and UrbanDecay.com.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Memorial Day Getaway Ideas #7--Reader's Choice


After sharing our top ideas, we want to know where you're heading this Memorial Day! Please share in the comments below. As for us, Annie's staying put in NYC because she's traveling the two weekends before and the weekend after and Hope will be at the beach (she just needs to choose one). To refresh you memory, here are JSG's Memorial Day Getaway picks:

  1. Kennebunkport, Maine 
  2. Portland, Oregon 
  3. New York 
  4. Las Vegas 
  5. Sea Island, Georgia 
  6. Iceland

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Memorial Day Getaway Ideas #6--Iceland

Photo courtesy of ThePunkGuy.com

When thinking about where to go for Memorial Day weekend, the idea of jetting off to an island probably crossed your mind, but we're betting it was not this one. But Iceland is closer than you think—five hours by plane from New York and seven from Seattle—and there's lots to do both indoors and out.

Iceland is famed for its Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa. The water is naturally 98 to 102 degrees and is lauded for its healing properties. In addition, you can horseback ride, hike, raft and even play a round of golf.

At night time, you can party in capital city Reykjavík, known for its clubs. Over Memorial Day, the sun will rise around 3:30 a.m. and set around 11:30, meaning there will only be four hours of darkness. You can literally say you partied until the sun rose and not have to make it an all nighter. The weekend also coincides with the Reykjavik Arts Festival, with concerts, plays, operas and more.



Iceland Express is offering a $399 deal from New York, including airfare and three nights hotel through the month of May, but you must book by Monday.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Memorial Day Getaway Ideas #5-- Sea Island, Ga.

Sea Island, Ga.

If Vegas sounds overwhelming and you're looking for a more relaxing vacay for Memorial Day weekend, consider Sea Island, Ga. It's easy to get to, especially from the East Coast by flying into Jacksonville and renting a car for the quick hour or so drive to Georgia. The wide avenues and Spanish moss hanging from the banyan trees will put you in that laid back Southern mood right away.


We'd recommend a stay at the Cloister where guests are encouraged to "do everything or nothing at all." Perfect! If you can gather a larger group of girlfriends, consider renting one of the two or three bedroom villas which have spacious living rooms and kitchens.


When you're there don't miss the Cloister Spa, which is in our top-five most lux spas we've ever visited and we're not alone: Forbes, Mobil and SpaFinder have all ranked very high. It has a curving stream which winds through the huge 65,000 square foot facility.


There are five restaurants on the property and shopping nearby. We'd be lounging by the pool or walking on the beach; but there are also golf courses everywhere, if you're ready to hit some balls. You can expect great weather in Georgia this time of year, so enjoy!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Memorial Day Getaway Ideas #4-- Las Vegas

Cosmopolitan Hotel Las Vegas

We just had a debate over where to spend our next girls' getaway and Vegas ruled the conversation. We all agreed that regardless of when we go or what else we do, we're staying at the Cosmopolitan Hotel (pictured above). We'd request one of their terrace suites with a balcony-- just imagine fresh air in Vegas! We'd also spend some time in their desert-theme Sahra Spa and otherwise enjoy hanging out in the latest, chicest resort on the strip. The Cosmopolitan has a handful of impressive offers including the Book 3, Stay 4 package where your fourth night is free and the Stay Until Sundown package where checkout isn't until 6:00 p.m.- perfect if you like to stay out til morning or have a late day flight home. Both would suit a party filled Memorial Day weekend perfectly.

Liquid, Aria Hotel, Las Vegas

Another good choice would be the City Center with its three impressive resorts: the Mandarin, Aria (its adults only pool, Liquid, is pictured above) and Vdara, a non-gaming eco-swank hotel. With so many resorts interconnected you don't have to take a taxi or hoof-it-in-your-stilettos all weekend. 

XS, Encore, Las Vegas

Wherever you stay in Vegas over Memorial Day weekend, you can expect the pool scenes to be lively during the day, many hosted by celebrity dj's, like at the Encore Beach Club (known as XS at night). Before the Cosmopolitan and the City Center were hotspots, the Wynn and its partner, Encore, were the most glam hotels in town. While the Wynn may have a more mature rep, its opening of Surrender, another inside/outside pool party scene amps up its coolness factor. Look for a full line up of entertainment across all of the Wynn and Encore pools and lounges over Memorial Day weekend.