Hand Massages for All!

Since we're both from D.C. we never miss a chance to vote - especially when it comes with hand massages and cocktails!

Stop by a select W Hotel tonight from 7-9 pm (NYC's 50th and Lexington, Chicago, Dallas and more) to vote for your favorite new scent in the Bliss Eau-lection. Along with getting to make your vote count, the Bliss SpaSqaud will be giving free hand massages and there's a specialty cocktail menu inspired by the new fragrances.

Our pick is the Vibrant blood orange and white pepper--spicy and sweet!

The winning fragrance will be the new in-room amenity in W Hotels around the world later this year.

For more info and to cast your vote, click here.

A Few Words on the Mayflower and the Governor

With our Governor set to resign this am because of his tawdry dealings at the Mayflower in D.C. we want to share a few unrelated recollections about this grande dame of hotels.

When we were growing up, we would always go to the Mayflower for Easter brunch. The highlight wasn't the all you can eat shrimp cocktail or endless selections of desserts including solid chocolate bunnies, but the Champagne that we were served as underage teens. It started us on the road to becoming the bubble-holics we are today.

Many years later, when we were back visiting D.C. we were lucky enough to get to stay in a suite at the Mayflower. We were impressed that it even had it's own fireplace, though it was far, far too warm to use it in the middle of a typically steamy July. We were excited to see our exact room a few months later in the Jerry Seinfeld documentary, Comedian. If it was good enough for Jerry, were pretty sure that it was good enough for Eliot Spitzer, which means we likely stayed in a similar room to where the Governor ruined his career.

One final thought on the issue: We do think prostitution laws should be changed. It's unfair that a woman can be arrested for being a prostitute while a man who uses her service has done nothing wrong, in the eyes of the law. We're pretty sure that 99% of women are only prostitutes as a last resort, while the men who use them chose to use their services. This law smacks of being written by old, white men and needs to be updated.

Next In Line: MAC's Beauty Powder Blush

Considering they've brought back the high waisted jean, and pin straight hair has given way to loose, wavy curls (remember the Melanie Griffith hair at the Whitley Kros show), should we be surprised there's a push in make-up toward an 80's style darker, more defined cheek bone? Our first thought on opening the newest collection by MAC, the Beauty Powder Blush, was how bright the colors were. If you look closer though, the texture is silky soft with a slight shimmer and sheer color. You can use more to build up the dramatic cheekbone, or less for a daytime glow. Let's just hope they don't bring back the perm!



The Beauty Powder Blush is available this month at MAC Stores, department stores, or on line.

Brian Atwood Brings Sexy (Back) to Bally

A curious thing happened recently while flipping through our fashion mags: we kept earmarking pictures of Bally's spring shoes. Bally has always been a quality, classical, but conservative line. Our friend, Connie, put it best when she said her mother wore Bally (no offense, Mother). But this year Brian Atwood has taken over as creative director and brought with him a fresh, new 70's Bohemian chic to the brand. Formally of Versace and still designer of his own line of celeb-coveted heels, Atwood wanted to give Bally an updated look while retaining its reputation for quality craftsmanship (Bally is from Switzerland after all). He used rich leather and bold hardware like metal encased heels and gold studded insoles. We love the Manako (pictured above), a strappy high platform in a light grey, go with everything color, and the Nymona, a rich brown leather sandal with a suede platform.

You can see the rest of the line at http://www.bally.com/, store information is there as well.

Another shoe worthy note: if you haven't checked out Pierre Hardy's line of designer shoes made for the Gap, you should do so before all the sizes sell out. Launched last week, our size was sold out by day two! This was another experiment by Gap to bring in a high fashion designer for a limited collection. Hardy's shoes for Balenciaga can run over $1000, if you can get your hands on them, but at the Gap, prices range from $78 to $98. The gladiators, shown below, are our favorite. They would go great with all the the flowy, flowery dresses out this spring. The shoes are available at select stores and on-line.

Helping Out- One Great Purchase at a Time

This collection of "peace bangles" was created by Miami jewelry designers Mary, Michelle, and Joanne Stone. Proceeds from the sale of each set go to the Bridges Across Borders Cambodia Project. Each leather and 14 karat gold plated bangle has the inscription "peace for Cambodia" on the inside.

The Peruvian designers motto is one we truly appreciate:

to live life to the fullest,

to take risks, to be playful, to love,

to create beauty, and to always

have fun.

- by the stones

For spring, check out the jewel tone colors like fucsia, turquoise and pistachio. You can find them on line at http://www.bythestones.com/.

JSG at LA Fashion Week

Sex was in the air at L.A. Fashion week yesterday: One makeup artist told us he wanted the models to look like they had just rolled around in the hay; at another the inspiration was a girl doing the walk of shame and at a third, the hairstylist told us he was "masturbating" the hair! No surprise then the Pussycat Dolls show is the most anticipated show of the week and Jenna Jameson, self proclaimed Queen of Porn, is unveiling her PETA ad here today.

At Kelly Nishimoto, MAC makeup artist Gregory Arlt says he was going for a windswept romantic look, like a woman had just gotten off a horse or a roll in the hay (shown right). He opted for dark gray eyeliner instead of black, because "it looks dirty, like it has been there for a few days." He created a burnt burgundy lip, which made the model look like "She had just eaten a handful of pomegranates or drunk a glass of red wine."

Another look we loved was Lori Taylor's for Smashbox at the Orthodox show. She did a smoky eye using bronze, Cabarnet, and purple colors to make it look like, "The girl had hung out all night and was doing the walk of shame," says Lori. The lip was a dramatic maroon (like you had been smooching all night) from Icon and Radiant Smashbox glosses.

Finally, at the Whitley Kros show--Omar from GHD used Melanie Griffith's character in Working Girl as his inspiration (pre Joan Cusack cutting her hair). For those of you who are too young to remember-- Melanie's character was the hard working dreamer from Staten Island. The hair was BIG. "It's a good curl gone bad," says Omar. His technique was too advanced for us to create at home, but to simplify: use a small curling iron to replicate the tight curl of the 80's perm, separate the curl at the root and the end by "masturbating" it (basically, tease it), then flip your hair over and run your fingers through it. Here's the part we love: It looks even better the next day, says Omar. Perfect for the JSG on the go!

On Our Radar: Rocky Mountain High

After three great days of skiing Vail and Beaver Creek in 50 degree temperatures and the best snow conditions in 25 years, we were ready for some rest and recovery. Fortunately the day we took off was cold, grey and snowy.

We chose The Bachelor Gulch Spa, located in the heart of America's largest log cabin, also a luxurious Ritz Carlton mountain resort. The spa was warm and inviting, with wood, stone, and water elements that reflected the Rocky Mountains outside. The women's area was spacious and stocked full of amenities and products, no worries if you don't bring your own. It also boasts a hot tub, a cold plunge, a sauna, and a steam room, so you should go early and enjoy these prior to your treatment. The women's only relaxation lounge was peaceful and had plenty of comfortable seating. (We'll never forget a spa visit in Scottsdale where the men and women shared a small, crowded waiting room. Everyone had on the same robe and, let's just say, not only were the robes too small for the men, they didn't know how to sit in them either.) The rock grotto, which is co-ed, is another relaxation room with a large lazy river hot tub. It's a dramatic room that defines the style and feel of the spa (pictured above).

We had the Bachelor Gulch Signature Facial and Revital Eyes and Lip Relief, both of which did wonders for our wind and sun damaged faces. We especially appreciated that our aesthetician didn't pressure us to buy the products she used. Afterwards our fellow travelers commented on how healthy and glowing our complexions were.

The Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch resort has all the extras you would expect including its own chairlift which also services the Beaver Creek and Arrowhead ski areas, Wolfgang Puck's Spago restaurant, the loan-a-lab program (where you can take the resident labrador, Bachelor, for a walk), and smores by the outside fire each evening.

For more information on the spa or the resort, visit the Ritz Carlton website.