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Our Response to Don's "Guys' Perspective" on Girlfriend Getaways

 
Okay, when we mention this business; this Girlfriend Getaway business, our guy friends' eyes light up, and they become almost giddy: "OHHHHHHH YEAHHHHHHHH! So you guys are going to be coordinating, like slumber parties? With girls in SHORTIE-PAJAMAS?! HAVING PILLOW FIGHTS!!!!!"

Please wait a minute, while I finish my eye-rolling.

There, thanks.

I know it is just the utterly predictable Y chromosome driving the fantasies, and THEIR ideas involve a few ahem additional elements and scenarios. But the basics? Kind of sound like a lot of fun.

When I envision it, I think "Hey, I totally have those awesome pink shortie-pajamas. And I LOVE slumber parties - when was the last time I had one of those?" (ed. note: a one-night stand does not constitute a slumber party. No judging)

And the pillow fights? Those sound like a great way to relieve the stress of the workweek, to be quite honest. Yoga-schmoga. And if one of your friends has been a little haughty and full or herself lately, you can use the heavy pillow on her. You know, the one pulled from the leather couch.

In the guys' vision of the slumber party, the night would inevitably conclude with the sprinkler system activating, subsequently drenching the shortie-pajamas, and causing the girlfriends to spontaneously, for no apparent reason, make out with each other.

In my vision, the pillow fighting results in everyone losing at least 5 pounds, necessitating the consumation of 4 wooden-spoonfulls of freshly-mixed cookie dough. To replace the electrolytes...or something like that.

 

Flight to Fabulous: Now Boarding

 

How do you select your Airport Ensemble?

"Airport Ensemble?" you say.

Yes, and you know exactly what I'm talking about. You're going on a trip, and you're packing, and you have to think about what you are going to wear for the Travel Day. Your Airport Ensemble.

My perfect Airport Ensemble really IS perfect. Almost.

Comfortable underwear (start with a good foundation)

Gray Gap tank. "Gray", not "grey". We're not British, kids.

(tank has built-in bra - nothing sucks more than trying to sleep on a flight, in a bra. Side note: everything should come with a built-in bra. "Bra" starts to look funny if you read the word too many times.)

Gray, long cashmere cardigan.

Brown pashmina scarf (can double as a blanket).

Brown leather belt.

Earnest Sewn light denim jeans (these seriously are more comfortable than sweatpants).

Perfect! Except for one flaw. The boots. Tobacco brown suede, stacked heel, side zip boots. The boots look great, and keep you toasty when the airplane is freezing, and are surprisingly comfortable for walking (they have a built-in cushion). However, boots + airport security = potential nightmare. "Please take your boots off, and put them through the machine".



OH for crying out loud.

This is really not a major issue, if you are only going through security once.

However, if you are foolishly flying Lufthansa Airlines, and are unfamiliar with their transit procedures, you will have to go through security once in Zurich, and then twice at Stupid Munich Airport.

The boots? Kind of an albatross. AND then you're sweating, because you're running through the airport, because you had to go through security TWICE, and take your boots off TWICE, and put them back on (tuck the jeans, pull the bottoms down to eliminate bunching, zip...zip without getting jeans caught) TWICE, and then you've missed your flight.

But the boots are fabulous. FABULOUS. Now, take your missed-flight meal voucher and go get a beer, for crying out loud. (Ed note: I was crying out loud - quite literally).

Bottom line: I'm still searching for the perfect Airport Ensemble. Have you got one?


 

Making Air Travel More Like Parochial School

 
"I don't think we covered this enough" is my current personal opinion regarding the September Southwest Airlines dress code debacle. It might also have been Kyla Ebbert's skirt talking.

Have you all heard about this? A 23-year-old student, and Hooters waitress (you know it makes the story better) was nearly refused admittance to her San Diego/Tucson flight, by Southwest Airlines personnel, due to her skimpy Travel Ensemble .
 
 
When I saw this photo, my first thought was "23?"
 
But then I focused on the topic at hand; her ensemble.
 
 
 
This is not good fashion sense, nor does it look terribly comfortable for a flight - of any length - however, I was still startled that this woman would have been singled out for a wardrobe infraction.  I mean, she wasn't even wearing Crocs.

Ms. Ebbert recreated the  outfit for the Today Show, and apparently when she sat down to be interviewed, the skirt became more of a denim belt. But Ms. Ebbert was wearing underwear, so I'm still unclear as to what all the fuss was about.

I'm guessing Britney Spears does not fly Southwest.

What I REALLY wish airlines would enforce is a SCENT code.
 
No B.O. No halitosis. No patchouli. 
 
Let's think a little more about what might be truly offensive in a pressurized aircraft cabin.  Shall we? 

 

Bring Your Sense of Humor To An Upright Position

 

 

The Transportation Security Administration, and the airlines have managed to make travel completely fun-free, with the mile-long security lines, quart-sized bags, and the 3 oz. liquid item business. 

Conversely, a company called Airtoons is here, with their safety procedure t-shirts, to help you enjoy yourselves, even after your electronic devices have been turned off and put away.

 

 

 

In the event of a loss of cabin pressure, shirts like this will help you forget about impending doom.

 

And they have some advice as to what to do when your seatbelts are fastened low and about your waist,

 

 

Anything that helps us deal with turbulence, smelly seatmates,  or dismissive flight attendants is always welcome.  Just promise you won't wear them with Crocs.

On behalf of Holiday Golightly Airlines and the entire crew, I'd like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to see you on board again in the near future.


 

NYC Fashion Week - Why Are We Not There???

 

The Golightly Girls adore the W Hotel, and guess who is offering a Catwalk Package? 

That was a rhetorical question, which we're sure you answered correctly.  We know you're smart.

The W Hotel had a rhetorical of it's own, when it asked "Where will you be Fashion Week?" 

I'm sure they meant for us to shout, in unison "AT THE W IN NYC!", which would be fantastic...

Next year.  Next year. 

Now, if YOU are not up to your dangly earrings in work/family/handwashing delicates/other stuff, and are able to fly off on a whim (we LOVE whims!): 

"Please contact Maya Stanic at the W Hotels of New York, 1.212.726.9534, Monday through Friday, 9AM to 5PM Eastern Standard Time. If you call outside these hours, please leave a message and your telephone call will be promptly returned the next business day."

Aren't they sweet?

If you DO go, please report back!  And please also drool over the Carolina Herrera collection on our behalf. 

 


 

Galapagos Islands Getaway Reminiscing

 
Exotic, no?  Yes!  The Galapagos Islands are spectacular, and unique, and full of incredible wildlife you will not see anywhere else.  To really see all there is to see in the islands, you need to take a cruise.  So we did.
 
And a cruise means you are mingling with the masses a bit, and you're never sure who will be thrown into the mingle.  Kerry and I did a girlfriend getaway there, and mingled, and had a fabulous voyage through Ecuador's best-known island cluster.
 
 
We take our Girlfriend Getaways seriously. 
 
I recently chatted with a woman, we'll call her Jan, since I can't remember her name, who had just returned from the VERY same cruise that we had taken.  The gorgeous boat was the M/V Eclipse, with it's beautifully appointed cabins, and delicious teak decks, and incredibly cheerful and knowledgeable naturalist staff.
 
Are you salivating yet?  Did I mention the pisco sours? 
 
Jan echoed our sentiments of the overall luxury and delightfulness of the voyage, and she then told us that one of her random shipmates was Zandra Rhodes. 
 
Zandra Rhodes: fabulous, outrageous British clothing designer, who used to dress Princess Diana.
 
 
She's a designer!  She dressed Princess Diana!  And she has pink hair! 
 
Lucky Jan regaled us with tales of Zandra's quirky, colorful shipboard ensembles, and sassy personality, and delighted in recounting one particular evening when Zandra brought some of her sketches into the lounge, to share with the group.
 
Are you kidding me?
 
Would you like to know who was on OUR voyage? 
 
An obnoxious group of six retired Florida octogenarians, who were ironically juvenile, and - swear to God - insisted on having SAME SEATS for all their meals.  SAVESIES!  You can't sit here, it's SAVED!
 
I was nearly beheaded by a walker when I tried to sit on one of the lounge couches.  It's SAVED!
 
They paid no attention to the naturalist's lectures, and on one outing, as we sat in a small panga boat, bobbing along through a quiet mangrove, one of the Walking Raisins barked out "Mangroves!  Pfft!  We've got mangroves in Florida!"
 
The Raisins will not be invited on our future Girlfriend Getaways, but we're sending Zandra an invitation right now.

 

Wear-It-To-Travel Wednesday - Cruz & Posh

 

We have designated Wednesdays "Wear-It-To-Travel Wednesday", where we select a celebrity airport photo, and discuss whether or not we could (or should) actually travel in the outfit.  Subject will be graded.  Probably not on the curve.

Today's subject:  Victoria "Posh" Beckham, and her little nugget, Cruz.

 

 

Cruz has the right idea - comfortable jeans and polo shirt, with casual sweater tied around the waist (if you're apple-shaped, try it thrown over the shoulders), just in case the plane gets chilly, along with sensible shoes for running to catch a ridiculously tight connection at JFK.  Or for kicking the seat in front of him throughout the flight.

Miss Lady Beckham, has gone in a different direction here.  The Christian Louboutin platforms, while stunning, are not well-suited to airport sprinting, although they are easy to kick off for the airport security line.  We suppose that is a fair trade-off. 

And unless that dress has a fair amount of lycra-ish material, it is not going to be comfortable to scootch around in, while seated on the plane.  Sunglasses are always useful inside an airport terminal, and helpful for inconspicuously dozing off during the flight attendant's pre-flight lecture. 

The handbag is the perfect size; it will fit under the seat in front of her, and appears large enough to hold Pu-er Chinese fat-burning tea, 3 oz. containers of Body Bling tinted cream and Brazil nut body butter, and any magazine that includes her husband's Armani underwear ad .  Extra points for bringing her own flotation devices, in case of a water landing.  Was that too easy? 

GRADE: 

B+ for Cruz - points deducted for upturned collar, and kicking the seat.

C- for Posh - this is a sharp ensemble for a tea, notsomuch for a trip.


 

Austin's On Fire!

 

After a weekend in Austin, TX, I have yet another reason to indulge my girl-crush on Sandra Bullock.  She makes fantastic relationship choices (Ryan Gosling, and now, happy marriage to Jesse James), entertaining movies (Love Potion #9, Two Weeks Notice), giant donations to charity ($1 million to Red Cross/Hurricane Katrina), and now, she also makes environmentally-safe candles.

Bullock owns Bess Bistro in downtown Austin, and a recent addition to the restaurant is the teensy-tiny case of organic candles, behind the host desk, which are designed to complement the smells of food.

This is one of those ideas I hear about, and then say "oh for crying out loud - how did I not think of that?"  Because when you're cooking, and also want to have the ambience of candles...oh, who are we kidding, I don't cook.  But I do have food delivered, and the food smells typically do not really mesh with many of the candles I have strewn throughout the home.

Miss Sandy,

 

as I'm sure she'd let me call her, after we went shoe shopping together, is also known for being conscientious, and she actually put money into researching a way to create an eco-friendly candle - rather than just use the standard methods that often produce carginogens.

Carcinogens = bad

Candle scents = good

It's some challenging math, I know.

If you're in the Austin area, pick up a Bessence Candle at 500 W. Sixth St. 

And tell Miss Sandy that Saturday afternoon shoe shopping works best for me.

If you're not in the Austin area, but would like to be, stay tuned to HolidayGolightly.com...we're adding the trips soon! 


 

Wear-It-To-Travel Wednesday - Beyonce

 

We have designated Wednesdays "Wear-It-To-Travel Wednesdays", where we select a celebrity airport photo, and discuss whether or not we could (or should) actually travel in the outfit.  Subject will be graded.  Probably not on the curve.

Today's subject:  Beyonce Knowles. 

Ms Knowles is traveling light.  Very light, with just the animal-print purse.  Which seems far too dark and wintery for her breezy summer frock.  And I am fairly certain that she can afford a purse that doesn't completely clash with an outfit. 

Fairly certain, but not entirely.  I mean, sure, she's made millions in album sales, and has co-starred in a number of major motion pictures...and then there are the endorsements...okay, no.  There really is no excuse for carrying a handbag that says "meow", when your outfit is saying "modern cubism piques my interest".

I know the Louboutins are the shoe-du-jour for celebrities, but for airport schlepping?  Really?  And I'm afraid the shiny glow of the shoe's fabric might reflect crazily off a bright window, and temporarily blind the captain.

Airplane cabin temperatures tend to fluctuate frequently.  I am concerned for Ms. Knowles health, and would like her to have some sort of cardigan sweater or jacket, if not a pair of lightweight pants (although not under the dress).  If worse comes to worst, she can always cuddle up to her wig, as it appears to be of a solid weight, and nice long length. 

Grade:

D

This outfit is not well-suited to the temperamental airport/airplane fluctuating climate, the shoes are a distractional hazard, and I am really bothered by the handbag/dress clashing situation.

Extra credit - she is wearing a lovely smile.

Final grade - D+

 

 

Creative Visualization

 

You are barefoot.

The sand feels soft, between your toes.

The breeze is warm.

The waves are brushing the shore.

The air smells like salty sea and coconut. 

 
 
Now...focus on the fruity drink in the photo.
 
Focus...
 
Focus...
 
Focus... 
 
If this isn't working, just go mix up a few fruity drinks in the kitchen.  Sometimes visualization needs a little extra help.
 
Winter Blahs BE GONE!