Blogs

guest blog:

Hello, ladies, Carie here with some more deets on my fabu week in Vegas.

Even though I don’t have any bachelorette plans of my own, I know that I’ll be headed back to Vegas when the time comes. I got so many ideas while I was visiting the City of Sin with my girlfriends.

Let’s start with the most important thing—the spa! Out of all of the over-the-top hotels we explored on the Strip, the Bellagio’s Spa & Salon was my fave. Just standing in the reception area was insta-relaxing. (There was this refreshing minty, rosemary scent. It was so yummy, I didn’t want to leave). Like many spas the one at the Bellagio offers a private bachelorette-pampering party package, which includes custom-designed manis and pedis, aromatherapy oxygen treatments and keepsake photos—all while enjoying champagne and strawberries. But what makes it even more special is that the treatment room is extra large so you can fit your entire posse at the same time. And that’s not all—each of you will take home a special gift bag packed with spa products! A girl can never have too many beauty products. Note: Friday through Sunday the spa and salon are only open to guests of the Bellagio. Spa packages start at $310 per person.

guest blog:

Hi! My name is Carie Wojdyla and I’m the editorial intern here at Bridal Guide. I’m a senior at Rutgers University in New Jersey (go Knights!) and since I’ll be graduating in May, I wanted to have a trip to remember with my best pals for spring break. We decided to try our luck in Las Vegas because we heard it was the adult version of an amusement park. Hello, clubs, spas, casinos, shops and restaurants, galore. And who wouldn’t want to see the spot where so many celebrities let down their guard? (Plus, I’ll admit it—I’m a huge CSI fan. Ever since I saw that episode where Grissom rides the coaster on top of New York, New York I’ve wanted to visit.)

To make our plans, we did what every member of the MySpace generation would, and hit the Internet. We searched all the usual suspects: Travelocity, Expedia, Orbitz and Priceline and found some great packages, but with all of them we could only afford a four-night stay. Then we searched the hotel site, and jackpot! We realized if we booked the air and lodging separately we could get roundtrip tickets from the east coast and a five-night stay at the aforementioned New York, New York for the cheapie price of $550 per person. See, sometimes it pays to shop around. Now, if I only had as much luck at the tables….

global goss. & indulgent item:

It makes me all cringe-y on the inside to even mention this fact, but it is a rare occurrence that I miss the SATC reruns at midnight. And no matter how many times I see Miranda give Steve the Heisman, Big wink and say “Hiya, Kid,” and those four girls down firewater, I mean, Cosmos, I still get sucked in (and care about it all) every. single. episode. And the fact that the series is hitting the Big Screen in May, obvs. points to the fact that I’m not alone. And one travel co. is hoping some gals are sooooo into the City that they’ll get Carried away and hand over $15,000 for a four-day tour of (to quote SJP) “the fifth lady.”

Hosted by Destination on Location, the extravaganza includes chauffeured stops at Barney’s and Pat Field’s shoppe, the Plaza Athenee hotel and the fave brunch spot, Cafeteria (which I may point out is 4 blocks from the Bridal Guide office!). There are also manis, pedis, cocktails and cupcakes at the famed Magnolia bakery. The package (which doesn’t include airfare) can be customized for your character personality: Samantha sex bombs can hit up Babeland , a SoHo sex shop; high-powered Mirandas may take an invigorating run in Central Park and then there’s the shoe shopping…

club wed:

My good friends at Sandals and Susan Magrino got word about my upcoming special day and they sent over these fantastic flowers. Thanks, guys! It totally brightened my mood, espec. since lately I’ve been feeling a bit on planet lonely re: wedding. I placed these beautiful blooms right next to some of my favorites things that I’ve picked up (or been gifted) along my travels.

The hula girl is from—you guessed it—Hawaii. Whenever I’m looking for inspiration, I give her a little hula shake and somehow, it gets my brain into vocab-moving mode.

The small glass is from a souk in Morocco; my career mentor picked it up for me while she was at a fantastic weekend bday celebration in Marrakech and I keep it here to remind me of my goals.

Hanging off the side is a pair of earrings that my boss lady and editor of Bridal Guide, the sweet Diane Forden, gave me for my latest birthday. I turned 25 again while at the Grand Opening weekend party of the Mediterranean Sandals Grande Antigua. And Diane bought them there to remember our fantastic time together. (We hung out with a lot of Z-listers. It was supa!)

travel tip:

Perhaps you’ve read the reports and heard the statistics, and you know what—it’s all true. Lost or missing luggage incidence has risen a whopping 60+% since last year. That’s right, now not only are airlines shoving us “valuable” customers into smaller seats and making us go hungry (Have I mentioned how I refuse to pay $5 for Pringles!?!?), but the fabulous folks in the friendly skies are also messin’ with your personal belongings. And I’m here to tell you it’s all true.

In fact, on a trip to the Med. isle of Cyprus, my bags got lost in both directions! But luckily I employed my Fail-Safe carry-on method. And I was so stylin’ at the welcome dinner that my fellow travelers thought I had dressed from my own (read: home) closet not a lost suitcase.
Here’s what I always carry on:

guest blog:

Hi there! It's Elena from Bridal Buzz. Jenna asked me to guest blog and share the details of my recent amazing trip to the Dominican Republic. Lucky me, I was able to escape a bitter cold New York week and experience Dominican “winter.” All that meant was a little wind and wonderfully sunny 80-degree weather (with nothing more than an hour-long afternoon rain shower one of the four days I was there).

In the DR, I stayed on a brand-new property, Cap Cana. And when I say property, I’m talking 30,000 acres—yes, you read that correctly. Currently, Cap Cana is in its first stage of development, and one of the first pieces of the property open to tourism is the Caletòn Villas, beautifully decorated, upscale “huts” overlooking the Punta Espada Golf Course and Caribbean waters as vibrant blue as I’ve ever seen. This is where I stayed. And, I found out later, this is where Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony stayed just a few months ago—in my exact villa!

club wed:

I’m hereby making a declaration: I, Jenna Bridal Guide’s Global Girl and newest member of the club, do solemnly swear that I will only talk about my upcoming wedding on a need to know basis. I will no longer entertain ridiculous requests, idiotic input or doomsday predictions. Nor will I ask for advice from anyone that has no direct contact with the outcome of My Big Day.

So what’s the dealio? Why am I making such a proclamation? Call it the first in a series of wedding planning walls. I’ve moved past the everyone-is-so-stoked-for-us phase headlong into the everyone-has-an-opinion-that-is-not-value-added phase. And I’m here to tell you, it aint pretty. So, I figure the only way to avoid feeling like this about my loved ones is by zippin’ it. (I actually considered taking someone off of THE list after she pitched a fit or three about not having a plus one. And I started to cry while at work when I felt the pressure from one pal to make my wedding the must-be-invited-to party of the century.)

So that’s it. No more updates on sites, dresses and dishes. And no more: “So what do you think about the fact that we are getting hitched in a church?”

Instead I’m going to try and act as if everything is normal, and I am in no way headed toward Bridezilla counrty. I’m pretty confident this plan will work. What about you gals? Is it easier or more difficult to talk about your wedding?

(ps this declaration in no way means I’m going to stop blogging about my fabulous sparkling day…I mean I’ve got to get the Led out somewhere…..)

global goss. & extravagant item:

Call me what you will (some people use the word prude), but I long for the days when people’s sex lives were their own business; the wonders of double-stick tape were known only to the woman wearing the dress (not the entire red carpet); and ladies of all ages left the house wearing proper knickers. So you can imagine my shock and awe when this fit-for-Charlie Sheen hotel press release popped into my inbox.

It seems that the Ivy Hotel in San Diego (not to be confused with the celeb lunch spot The Ivy) has a room that’s beyond conducive for hosting a bachelor or bachelorette party. And I quote: “Your imagination absolutely cannot run wild enough in this 1275 square foot suite.” And I’m here to tell you they are right on the dime with that assertion. The botique hotel’s Star Suite is outfitted with a 42” HD TV, plush sofas, a fully stocked wet bar and unbeatable city views. But the piece de resistance? Well, that would be the King-sized bunk beds hung from chains and positioned directly in front of a private stipper pole. And did I mention the group-sized shower? Um, yeah, well there is one. And apparently, it turns opaque or not when touched.

I’m going back to read some Austin novels now.

Rates for this over-the-top, I’d-kill-him-in-his-sleep-for-ever-thinking-about-staying-here suite start at $3,400 a night.

club wed:

Last night I was hanging out with my pals, Toberto (AKA Toby and Roberto. Get it? I guess stars are just like us.) It was the first time I had seen them after getting engaged and after ooh-ing and aawwh-ing of the shiny-ness that sits upon my finger, they spilled their news: They too are getting married! But since they’re not sporting rings, they kind of feel like ‘yeah, dude, we getting hitched, but since we ain’t sporting the bling, nobody’s got any way of knowing.’ And well, somehow it feels like it doesn’t count quite yet.

And they’re not alone. The other night Novio asked when he was going to get a band. He said he wants everyone to know that he is off the market (yep, he’s just that cute and that sweet). And he wants to use his hand as a billboard to announce it to the world. Now, I know that the Irish (of which I am one) use the Claddagh ring to show the state of one’s heart (up means you’re available and down equals taken), but short of using his MySpace page to announce his betrothal, how does a guy spread his good news?

I’m wondering, have your guys expressed interest in sporting a piece of engagement bling?

Posted by Jenna at 10:23 a.m.

website watch:

There are a thousand and one ga-jillon travel websites out there, and figuring out which one to trust can be a major time-suck. That’s where I come in.

If you think watching paint dry is the cat’s pajamas, well, you might just enjoy the new TSA blog. That’s right, ladies, the folks at the Transportation Security Administration have joined the blog bandwagon. (Um, does anyone else think this techno-sphere is entering Fonz jumping territory here?)

According to the site, its purpose is “to facilitate an ongoing dialogue on innovations in security, technology and the checkpoint screening process.” The blog is updated weekly and it touches on all the important security line Qs like shoes, liquid and nail clippers. There’s also a topic area called “Gripes and Grins,” which seems mostly to be user comments.

But all joking aside, if you’re planning a trip, please please, please take a look at the site before you head to the airport. Knowing what is allowed on the plane and what’s not will not only make your travel experience easier, but it will also insure that the pro traveler behind you isn’t cussing at you under his breath because you’re beeping due to the fact you forgot to take off your belt. And, really, doesn’t breezing through security make the friendly skies all the more friendly?

Posted by Jenna at 11:02 a.m.