We are not, we repeat NOT, succumbing to the false allure of the "Staycation". However, we do empathize with those who are choosing to enjoy the offerings of their own backyards, and our backyard is Seattle.

 

Everyone has her own list of favorites, and these are Holiday Golightly's Top 10 Best Things About Seattle:

1) Kerry Park - This is where most of your Seattle postcard photos are taken. The park sits on Highland Drive in the Queen Anne neighborhood, surrounded by multi-million dollar homes, and a sweeping view of Puget Sound and downtown Seattle. On a clear day you can see forever Mount Rainier.

2) Woodland Park Zoo - It's a zoo and a concert venue. It's a zoncert venue. One of these days we will resist the urge to combine words to make nonsensical labels. But Us Weekly will probably not. The zoo is a great day-trip, and a great diversion from "city life". The summer concert series' usually feature some good mellow, folksy artists, which are a nice compliment to your lawn picnic.

3) Greenlake - The 3-mile loop around Greenlake provides an open stretch of uninterrupted workout space for walkers, runners, roller-bladers, and bicyclists. Although we've said it before - the Greenlake bicycling should be left to kids under the age of 11. The lake also offers an actual lake, for rowing and the stray fisherman.

4) University Village Shopping - The city's premiere outdoor mall is a pristine, upscale playground for those in the mood to spend money. If it is raining, grab one of the mall's yellow courtesy umbrellas and continue on about your shopping. Mercer, Sephora, Blue C Sushi, and Crate & Barrel can keep us occupied for hours.

5) Theo Chocolate - A hometown favorite, Theo Chocolates creates organic chocolate treats in zippy, unusual flavors (like Chai!). They are located in the friendly neighborhood of Fremont, and offer chocolate tours. The word "tours" usually conjures up unappealing images of massive groups of badly dressed Septegenarians, but anything that starts with "chocolate" is okay by us.

6) Club Zum - No, it's not a dance club. But you could probably dance there if you wanted. Club Zum is a hip, quirky "modern day fitness mecca" in Belltown that offers the standard cardio machines, weights, spinning classes, as well as a few more creative options like the indoor sandpit, bungee cords, plyometric boxes, and a climbing rope.

7) Lake Union 4th of July Fireworks - okay, this one is fairly specific, and only happens once a year, but it really is one of the best things about Seattle. Lake Union is beautiful in and of itself, but garnish it with a spectacular fireworks display, on a clear night, and you have a recipe for pure visual bliss.

8) The view of Mt. Rainier when driving I90 from Seattle to Bellevue - possibly even more specific than #7, but chances are you can see it more often than once a year.

9) Mojitos at Cactus in Madison Park - Cactus is a solid restaurant, in the Madison Park neighborhood, with tasty offerings in the food arena. Their Mojitos deserve a category all their own. Delicious, refreshing, perfectly concocted, and very, very dangerous. They're so subtle, you forget you're imbibing. Until you try to stand up to use the restroom.

10) Pike Place Market - The most obvious, but also the most warranted. Pike Place Market offers a plethora of sights, sounds, smells and visual appeal with the myriad booths of produce, flowers, cheeses, pastries, you name it. And we can't forget the always-entertaining Fish Guys, who ham things up for the crowds while tossing 12-pound salmon across the counters.

If you are firmly opposed to the Staycation, and do not live in Seattle, we recommend checking it out!

I would love to consider myself an authority when it comes to dressing for travel, however there is still one frontier I have not conquered in the travel-wardrobe realm. By the way, that is totally a place. Travel-Wardrobe Realm. The shopping is phenomenal. The hiccup in my total frontier domination is in finding the ultimate travel shoe.

Shoes for schlepping, shoes for traipsing, shoes for shuffling along a picturesque esplanade. When you're traveling, chances are high that you will be doing a good deal of walking. Walking is one of the best ways to navigate and explore a city, town, village, or neighborhood. I have yet to find the Holy Grail of Travel Footwear, but I'm trying. One pair at a time.

The Manolos, Louboutins, and Givenchys? Notsomuch for the traveling. Or at least, notsomuch for the walking around. The following are known for comfort, and have shown some success with aesthetics, but the elusive perfect combination of the two has yet to be found.

Sofft - these are the closest I have come to ultimate travel shoe, in the form of flats. Patent leather gunmetal flats, which are not only completely comfortable, but are also surprisingly chic-looking. When people compliment me on these shoes, and I tell them they're Soffts, the nice people are always surprised.

Cole Haan w/Nike Air - I haven't purchased any of these for myself, as of yet. I continue to try them on, and clomp around in them, pretending I'm walking on cobblestone streets in some far-off part of Europe. They are not uncomfortable, but I also wouldn't be able to spend an entire 8 hours walking in them. I think my expectations might be a bit high. But that is what happens when you slap "Nike Air" on a pair of shoes. You expect extreme comfort. And unparalleled athletic ability.

Aerosoles - I used to have a pair of these, but then my level of shoe-snobbery hit an all-time high and I won't wear them anymore. This is probably just barefaced foolishness on my part, as they have a number of cute styles, with very flexible soles. I managed to find this surprising pair of Aerosoles boots:

Dansko - These are worn by medical professionals, and those in the culinary field, who have to be on their feet all day, which is a ringing endorsement if ever there was one. I can't get past how clompy and unattractive they are. I still have a pair. I just wish they weren't so clompy.

Born - These are very similar to Soffts, both in comfort and the fact that they use Scandinavian characters (like the umlaut and slash O). My unofficial opinion is if the brand has Scandinavian alphabet characters in it's name, the shoes will undoubtedly be very comfortable. And not entirely unattractive! These sandals look pretty good for "sensible" shoes!

Tsubo - these are fairly close to Danskos in style, but somehow less clompy, and I've actually seen an adorable pair of slingback pumps that the wearer swears she can walk around in all day.

Donald J Pliner - These are my fashionable concession to comfort footwear. Pliner's shoes are stylish, although not outrageously so, and comfortable-ish. They will not feel like little pillows for your feet, the way Borns or Soffts will, but they do look good. Although I don't recommend anything with a kitten heel when you're in Europe. My DJPs were microfiber pumps with a slight kitten heel. En route to Prague castle the kitten heel would catch, repeatedly, in between the cobblestones, and one time I walked right out of the shoe, which stayed put - kitten heel firmly wedged between the stones.

I really missed my Danskos that day.

He looks slightly familiar, WOW he is good looking...you know you've seen him in something...what was it?! We couldn't figure it out either, even after looking "Sean Faris" up on IMDB.

He was, apparently, in a few episodes of "Smallville", and one episode of "One Tree Hill", and...AHA! That short-lived show "Reunion"! That was it! Hey, whatever happened to that show?

We like this Sean Faris. He should be in more things! He's too pretty to just languish in sub-par dramaland! He's underappreciated! Just like Paul Walker!

Oh, and he was also recently in some kickboxing movie that only guys saw. That makes no sense!

Oh, okay, what was the name of the kickboxing movie?

"Never Back Down"?

What's that? It's not a kickboxing movie, but some high school drama about an underground fight club?

Well, whatever it is, it's going in the Netflix queue.

 

HAPPY FRIDAY & HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, FROM THE GOLIGHTLY GIRLS!

There’s something to be said for alliteration, and a goofy group of giggling girls just couldn’t resist the appeal of a Walla Walla Winery Weekend. First of all, I love wine. I love everything that has to do with wine: grapes, wineries, bottles of wine with pretty labels, big oak barrels—you get the idea.

 

 

Secondly, I love my girlfriends, you know, spending time with them, telling fun stories. Thirdly, I love long, extended weekends, traveling with my girlfriends, with the sole intention of drinking wine, where I am not expected to plan any part of it. Just give you a check at the end of the weekend? Excellent!

The drive from Seattle, WA to Walla Walla, WA is not for the casual Sunday driver. I discovered it is roughly a 5.5 hour trip, which left plenty of time to chat, and sing, and for me to bemoan the fact that there are people who say “Walla!” when they really mean “Voila!” Seriously. I’ve heard it more times than I care to count. I realize it’s just because “Voila!” is so widely used (and heard in movies and on television), but not everyone took seventh and eighth grade French, and understands that “Voila” basically means “There it is!” or “There you have it!” in French. I mean, the “Walla” people are using it correctly in context; they’re just using the wrong word. Needless to say, “Walla!” became the exclamation of the weekend. We stopped after 3.5 hours of driving, and exclaiming “Walla!” for our first wine tasting, with lunch, at the lovely Alexandria Nicole cellars. I have almost forgiven them for having run out of dessert wine. Dessert is the most important meal of the day...

Finish the story over at Divine Caroline, where it's being featured in the "Travel" section! Click HERE!

Gisele Bunchen is arguably one of the most beautiful women in the world, and is said to be the highest paid model in the world. She has had numerous lucrative contracts and endorsements, and spent years stalking the runways for Victoria's Secret. She also managed to swipe Tom Brady away from the equally-exquisite Bridget Moynahan.

My guess is, she did not do it while wearing this.

Photo: Most Wanted/Flynet

 

I have seen Gisele in interviews, and she seems like a truly nice person, and I know she has done a great deal of charity work, so we shouldn't be too harsh. But she is a supermodel, and with all the supermodel perks, come the higher supermodel standards. For mere mortals, this is a perfectly serviceable airport ensemble: great bag, cute t-shirt with jacket, comfy jeans, and even more comfy shoes. But for the perpetually exalted supermodel?

 

Forget the standard full-body massage, or the typical spa pedicure. These are the spa experiences that are designed to not only relax you, but also to amaze and impress your friends. Or just gross them out.

Top 10 Crazy Spa Treatments:

1) Fish Nibble Pedicure - this treatment is extremely popular in Japan, and is starting to stir up a feeding frenzy here as well (sorry, couldn't resist). The Yvonne Nail & Spa Salon in the Washington DC area offers this organic treatment, where you soak your feet in a shallow, warm pool for 15-30 minutes while the little "doctor" fish nibble off the dead skin. This sounds a little gross at first, but if you think about it, it's totally natural!

 
2) Beer Bath - Chodovar Beer Spa in the Czech Republic creates a spa treatment straight out of a frat-boys' dream. The client is immersed into a bath, enriched by a batch of active beer yeast and a mixture of dehydrated crushed herbs, for 20 minutes. "The agreeable temperature of the water causes mild and gradual rise of the heart activity and activation of blood circulation in all the vascular system. The bath warms the cuticle and releases skin pores through which, due to moderate sweating, unhealthy substances are scoured away from the subcutis." We would recommend they serve brats and pizza to immersed clients, for supplemental nourishment.

3) Ear Candling - This is an unusual treatment that originated in Egypt around 2,000 years ago. A combination of pressure-point sinus massage and aromatherapy oils creates a treatment that is purportedly very safe and relaxing. The suggested result is that you will have a heightened sense of smell and taste and an ability to breathe and hear better, as well as diminished earwax, migraine headaches and sinus infections, and lessened allergies. Experience the miracle at Elemur Day Spa 56 in New York, NY.

4) Chocolate Fondue Wrap - NOW we're talking! The brilliant minds at the Hotel Hershey have created a number of chocolate-related treatments, one of which is the Chocolate Fondue Wrap. Of course, they don't wrap you entirely in chocolate (which would be my idea), but rather a mixture of healing mud and essence of cocoa. After the Vichy shower rinse, you can go find some actual chocolate fondue, that you haven't been able to stop thinking of since you first read about the treatment.

 

5) Fanny Facial - Put your best cheeks forward. This is a mis-named treatment, in that it has nothing to do with the face. So many of us delight in the fact that we rarely, if ever, have to look at our posteriors.  This treatment may help us embrace the view of the booty. The Smooth Synergy Day Spa in New York offers this process, involving exfoliation, microcurrent therapy, and a spray tan for your bum. The microcurrent therapy allegedly helps reduce the appearance of cellulite and tones your backside, and the spray tan enhances the tone. 

 

6) The Geisha Facial - Write your own memoirs after your Geisha Facial treatment at the Shizuka Day Spa in New York. The facialists use “traditional and natural Japanese ingredients” to make skin vibrant and soft. What might these "traditional and natural Japanese ingredients" be, you ask? Well, if you must know they include nightingale excrement, and we do hope that is the most unpleasant of the ingredients. Apparently nightingale droppings contain natural enzymes that act as exfoliants and skin brighteners, so what you try to avoid in your hair actually makes your face look great.

7) The 24-carat Gold Facial: The Eldorado Hotel & Spa in Santa Fe uses gold to slow down depletion and to stimulates cellular growth. Eldorado means "the golden one" in Spanish, so this is a natural fit. Gold is supposed to calm inflamed areas and lessen the appearance of age spots.

 

8) The Flour Scrub: The spa at the Molino Stucky Hilton in Venice, Italy offers a cheeky nod to the hotel's past, as a flour mill, in the 19th century. The flour scrub is an exfoliating treatment, which uses Indian corn to polish skin. We would like to point out that corn is not the same as flour, but it's Italy and they gave us Gelato, so we won't complain.

 

9) Caviar Facial & Body Treatment: You can now be coated from head-to-toe with caviar at Rome Cavalieri Hilton’s Grand Spa (in Rome, Italy). The spa offers a Caviar Facial and a Caviar Body Treatment, both of which incorporate the skin-firming properties of caviar extract.

 

10) Snake Massage: If you suffer from ophidiophobia, this will not be your massage. For 300 shekels (around $70), clients at Ada Barak’s spa in northern Israel can have six non-venomous, but very lively serpents slither and slide across their aching muscles and stiff joints.  This sounds much more therapeutic than having spiders crawl around on you.  Potato, potahto. 

I have come to the slow, horrifying realization that I adore "statement" jewelry. Like I need another expensive fetish. Sure, a pair of diamond stud earrings are sparkly, but I would ignore the glare of the carats if these pieces were in the same room.

We have previously discussed accessories, but statement jewelry isn't just garnish. Some of the pieces are bold enough to be the main event. Meaning, you could practically wear a pair of jeans and a t-shirt with any of these, and still be considered dressed-up.

 

 

Multistrand turquoise necklace by Bounkit

 

 

Black Volcanic Rock Necklace by Siman Tu

 

The least expensive piece is $275, and the most expensive is $2990. Can you guess which is which? Yes, statement jewelry is not cheap. It's big, it's bold, it's often created from hard-to-find materials, and it always turns heads. The "statement" truly being made, by most of these pieces, is "I spend more on my accessories than you spend on your rent".

Possibly followed by "Neener, neener, neener."

All above jewelry can be found at Vivre.

The 2008 Summer Olympics officially begin today, and we are reminded of enormous drive, steadfast determination, remarkable feats of strength and endurance, world-class athleticism, and the triumph of the human spirit. We are also reminded of Aaron Peirsol - backstroker.

I had completely forgotten about one of my favorite parts of Olympics-viewing: athlete crushes! Aaron Peirsol was one of my favorites in the 2004 Summer Olympics, and I feel almost guilty at my fickle adoration, which seemed to fade the instant the closing ceremonies ended. But the 2008 Opening Ceremonies are today! Aaron! I'm here for you!  Until around August 24.  But still!

 

HAPPY FRIDAY & HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND - FROM THE GOLIGHTLY GIRLS!

 

That Oprah! Always stirring up interest in the hottest trends, and occasionally testing them out herself. Like girls' getaways! Man, she's good. Someone should give her her own show or something...

 

"It's the ultimate girls' getaway! For five days, 60 women join Oprah and her best friend Gayle King for the trip of a lifetime at the Miraval Life in Balance Resort and Spa in Tucson, Arizona. These hard-working mothers, daughters and wives take a break from their everyday routines for a luxurious lesson on putting themselves first."

Oprah gets it. This is nothing new. And now, she's just re-assuring all of us that taking a girlfriend getaway is something we should all do, regardless of what we do or who we are. Oprah & Gayle's getaway included the typical fluffy pampering: Oprah got a Thai massage, Gayle got a pedicure; as well as some fun activities like horseback riding and kickboxing. There was also the requisite nutrition and health assessment and some great cooking and recipe tips.

The getaway also included some "jump out of your comfort zone" activities, designed to shake participants into having all sorts of "Aha!" moments. Women addressed childhood traumas, phobias & fears, AND got to hang out with Oprah. Participants said the experience taught them more self-reliance, and the importance of learning to enjoy each moment of their lives.

Seriously, someone give that Oprah her own show! Read the full story here.

 

Who? Vanessa Minnillo. She is the significant other of Nick Lachey, who used to be the significant other of Jessica Simpson. It's a tangled web, we know. But Ms. Minnillo has a great California style, and is also gorgeous, so she is photographed frequently by the paparazzi.

She is also in "Disaster Movie", which is another kooky spoof, and will probably be somewhat entertaining.

This dress is also somewhat entertaining, and I'm somewhat wanting to propose marriage to it. The maxi-dress phenomenon has swept the country this summer, and they are everywhere. They do not always show up in such a pretty print, with complimentary colors, and I have taken issue with the idea that they are "great for hot weather", but envelop your entire lower body, prohibiting air circulation. But I digress.