FC BARCELONA

Stiletto Jungle reviews a new must-have accessory for makeup lovers: the Unii Makeup Palette.

Allie is Wired takes a look at the first photos from Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.

Besides sounding rather tantalizing, this Derek Lam at Bag Snob has the look and has oodles of appeal.

Be prepared: Beauty Snob is pretty excited about this! I experienced crazy amazing, plentiful results from ABBA's Pure Detox Shampoo.

Coquette is little obsessed with rose gold and this Marc by Marc Jacobs Jazzy Classic Henry Watch has just the right two-toned mix of metal for spring/summer.

The Jet Set Girls are headed to NOLa for Jazz Fest. Check out what we're wearing!

SHEfinds recreated Victoria Beckham's Royal Wedding dress look to wear through wedding season, and beyond.

Second City Style is loving the 80's inspired brightly hued bag trend for spring!

Shopping and Info loves the Burberry raspberry sorbet espadrilles for summer because it is a sweet treat for our feet.

The Beauty Stop picks three top beauty iPad apps.

On one of our annual girl's nights, our friend Heidi brought—and subsequently left hanging in the closet—so many clothes, we thought the hotel had provided us with them as potential loaners. So the new Berkeley Hotel in London partnership with vintage e-boutique Atelier-Mayer.com makes perfect sense to us. Travel and Leisure reports that the boutique is offering guests with a steamer trunk filled with jewelry and bags for loan during the duration of their stay. So that means the Charles Jourdan baby (above) can be yours for the night. Guests are able to purchase any items they can't bear to part with. Think of all the room you'll save in your suitcase!

Michelin has published its 100th guide on France. This hefty tome, full of the best hotels and restaurants in France, is a necessary reference if you're headed on a dream trip any time soon. For our trip to Paris last fall, we borrowed stacks of books from the library beforehand. Planning a big trip is almost as much fun as being there. Whether you're a Lonely Planet kind of traveler or a Frommer/Fodor's girl, it's helpful to scan through a bunch of books to find all a city has to offer.

Looking for some fun inspiration? We've read a couple of great Paris centered historical fiction books lately: A Paris Wife by Paula McLain tells the story of Hadley Richardson, Hemingway's first wife and their years in Paris, and Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran which gives an insider's look into the French Revolution. It does a great job of bringing to life historical figures like Marie Antoinette, Thomas Jefferson, and Robespierre. Happy travels!

Next week I'm headed to New Orleans for Jazz Fest, and while it's not my first time in the city it is my first time at the music festival. I'm taking my cues on what to wear from the attendees at the recent Coachella and am aiming for casual, hippie chick cool. While my first inclination would be to wear a cute sundress, something about eating crawfish and fried oyster po' boys seems down an dirty and cries out for shorts.

Headed to the Kentucky Derby next weekend but still not sure what you'll be wearing? Start by checking out the Vineyard Vines Kentucky Derby Collection. It includes fashions inspired by the big day including run for the roses and jockey silks dresses, halters and scarves. There's even a mint julep bowtie for the guys (below). The site promises to add more styles in the coming days. Here's hoping a few hats are included as the Kentucky Derby is second only to the Royal Wedding as a day hats are a required!


The Kentucky Derby collection is a available on Vineyard Vines.

Excited enough by the Royal Wedding to wake up at 4 a.m. (or make it an all-nighter for you West-coasters)? Here's where to celebrate on this side of the pond. (USA Today)

Hotel Chatter fills us in on the speculation about where the next Gansevoort Hotel will open. (Hotel Chatter)

Find the best credit card benefit program to fit your travel needs. (NYTimes)

The new airline regulations are a step in the right direction for passengers, but more are needed, say experts. (MSNBC)

Amanda Pressner in New Zealand

We knew The Lost Girls before they journeyed around the world (1 year, four continents, three friends) and have followed the trio's adventures ever since. We were able to pin down Amanda Pressner between trips to Jackson Hole and St. Lucia long enough to find out what's in her carry on. If you haven't read the Lost Girls book yet, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy—it's out in paperback this week!

What type of carry on bag do you use?
I just invested in an Eagle Creek Rolling Tote on that's designed to work in conjunction with the brand's space-saving packing cubes. Using their products allows me to break the rule of laying out everything you need for a trip and taking half!


What are some of your favorite beauty products when traveling?
A company called Lypsyl makes a lip balm with the smoothest. lightest texture--it hydrates without leaving your mouth feeling greasy. I also pack Elena Rubinstein's travel friendly skincare line, including toners, moisturizers and under-eye cream. Most bottles are 3 ounces or less, and are concentrated, so you don't have to use as much (and risk running out during your trip).


What type of music do you like to listen to on the plane?
When trying to relax, I'll chill out to ambient tunes in the vein of Sia, Zero Seven or Cafe Del Mar. But most of the time, you'll find me pecking away on my laptop—in fact, I'm heading back to New York from Jackson Hole, Wyoming and answering these questions in flight!

Any favorite or recent plane reads?
I'm a huge sucker for mindless celebrity gossip, so I'll usually grab a Star or US Weekly, and read that first, before I dig into my copy of InStyle or Lucky...I save fashion mags for flights when I really have time to study them and create "must-buy" lists of stuff that I never end up getting! JSG Note: The Lost Girls book is another ideal plane read!

What type of sweater or wrap do you usually travel with?
I'd kind of forgotten about Eddie Bauer until I popped into one of their stores recently and found a fantastic denim jacket that felt cut just for me. I'm also obsessed with SmartWool's layering pieces (shown), as they keep me cozy whether the plane is boiling hot or freezing cold.



Any favorite plane snacks?
On my Jackson trip, I sampled "Tram Bars" which are incredibly addictive granola and chocolate treats that can replace a meal or two snacks. I bought several to throw in my bag for future trips! I do try to eat some kind of whole food item (yogurt, fruits salad, nuts) when I fly since it can be all to easy to grab an Annie Anne's pretzel or a burrito in the airport and feel kinda gross afterward!

Anything else in your carry on?
See question #1—way too much! I've got a pair of OTBT (Off the Beaten Track) boots that look trendy but are comfortable enough to go for miles and miles by foot in a new city. I also pack a ton of scarves for every trip, because you can literally wear black jeans and tee shirt or sweater every day and change the look of your whole outfit by swapping the scarf. And though its a pain to constantly refill the bottles, I bring small sizes of my favorite curly hair products—its worth it to me to have good hair days on the road.

We love Biolage's Hydrathérapie line and now there's even more reason to pick up a travel set before your next girls' trip:

From now through May 31st, enter to win a trip for two to Costa Rica from Biolage.  Purchase a Rainforest Travel Kit for $9 and you'll receive a unique code for an on-line entry. The travel kit includes two travel-sized Hydrating shampoos and two travel-sized Conditioning balms.

The trip includes accommodations at the 4-star Paradisus Playa Conchal Resort in Guanacaste, Costa Rica for five days and four nights plus roundtrip airfare. It's valued at $5,000! Learn more at www.biolage.com/getaway.

Last week, we had the chance to talk with new Gossip Girl cast member, Tika Sumpter. She was at a Body Shop event promoting the 3-Minute Shower Challenge. Turns out reducing your shower time from  3 minutes to 10 would save 50 gallons of water per shower! If that's unrealistic for you—and hey, no judgments. Long, hot showers are definitely one of our biggest vices—even just shortening your shower time will help. Or try showering every other day when possible.

Another way to make your shower better for the earth is to use a eco-friendly shower gel. The new Body Shop Shower Gels for Earth Lovers are 100 percent biodegrabable and are sulphate, paraben and colorant free. They also come in a 100 percent recycled plastic bottle. The shower gels are available in six delicious scents, including pear and lemongrass and fig and rosemary.

Watch the video above to see Tika Sumpter talk about her involvement in the campaign. Be sure to watch to the end where she reveals who she like kissing better as Raina Thorpe on Gossip Girl, Chuck Bass or Nate Archibald!

What Coachella is to hipsters, the Aspen Food and Wine Classic is to foodies. This year's is June 17 to 19 and features cooking demos, seminars and dinners by top chefs including Mario Batali, Tom Colicchio and José Andrés. Don't worry if you don't know your radicchio from your escarole, it's not too high brow—topics include, "Sexy Vegetable Dishes" and "Grilled Cheese, Please" and there are plenty of wine and cocktail tastings, too.  Nor is lodging astronomically priced—last we checked there were hotel room starting at $52 a night (We don't vouch for its cleanliness or location.)

For more information, check out FoodandWine.com.

Credit:  Mariano Vivanco

Kiehl's is at it again. For this year's Earth Day, the brand partnered with Chloe Sevigny and Michael C. Hall to design labels for the Limited Edition Rare Earth Cleansing Masque. All of the net proceeds benefit Waterkeeper Allilance,  a grassroots advocacy organization with nearly 200 member organizations. The masque detoxifies skin with fairly traded Amazonian White Clay. Check it out in stores or online today.

Just because a ponytail is your go to style when you're rushed, having a bad hair day, fighting frizz or all of the above, that doesn't mean it has to look sloppy. Check out this video with tips from Mika Rummo, stylist at Salon AKS in New York for tips on how to make a ponytail more glam. Pay close attention and you just may recognize that hair model! Watch the video now.

After hosting a successful sample sale that raised nearly $300,000 for Japan earthquake relief, the organizers of Fashion Girls for Japan wanted to do more. To that end, they created this limited edition T-shirt, a take on the classic I <3 NY logo. It's available for $35 and comes in a men's version and as a tote, too. 100% of proceeds will go to Japan Society's Japan Earthquake Relief Fund and Mayor's Fund.

Available on FashiongirlsforJapan.com

As I walked into the theater last night for Sister Act, I spotted more than a few men and women of the cloth, which immediately made me nervous. As a lapsed Catholic, I have a guilty conscience that has followed me into adulthood. Moreover, could I possibly like the same show as priests and nuns? The answer is a happy yes—though I'm just assuming by the rousing standing ovation the show got that the priests and nuns enjoyed the show, too. I think it's a safe bet.

Sister Act was turned into a musical by the original movie's star, Whoopi Goldberg, who is producing the show. She brought in veteran composer Alan Menken to write the songs, which have a 70s, Motown feel. The plot of the musical is similar to that of the movie, Dolores, an aspiring lounge singer, has to hide out in a convent after witnessing her thug boyfriend kill someone. She quickly turns the tone deaf choir of nuns into a must-see, money-making act for the church. The results are charming, toe-tapping fun.

One thing that really struck me is that after seeing shows with a giant Manolo Blahnik, helicopters that land on stage and sinking ships, the set of Sister Act is disarmingly simple. The showiest part is a stained glass window and over-sized Madonna (the Virgin Mary, not the singer). It was refreshing that the show wowed on its plot, songs and dance numbers alone.

It has been a while since I've seen the movie—it came out in 1992, so it's safe to say it was nearly 20 years ago—but I do think a touch of the original charm was lost in the transfer to Broadway. I get that it's a challenge to develop characters in a musical, but some of the depth of the friendships was lost from the movie. In addition, Kathy Najimy stole the show in the movie as sister Mary Patrick, a character who barely makes an impression here. On the other hand, sister Mary Robert in the musical, Marla Mindelle, is adorable with a killer voice.

My tickets were courtesy of Swarovski. I started to fret in Act I that I would have nothing to write about when it comes to sparkly costumes. But rest assured, they're there—I don't want to spoil the surprise.

All in all, I give Sister Act a hearty thumbs up. We left the theater with a smile on our face, humming the final show stopping number. And really, what more do you need from a musical?

Tickets to Sister Act are available online.

I chose the Parker Meridien for a weekend trip to NYC in March. Its location on West 56th between 6th and 7th Ave. made it ideal for shopping, dining, and theater going. The lobby is stylish; and the surprising burger smell wafting through the lobby was a hit for meat eaters like us. The "hidden" Burger Joint serves up burgers and fries for those-in-the-know all day long.   Norma's has a delicious breakfast with french press coffee I'm still trying to recreate and applewood smoked bacon that's so thick and tasty it rivals my favorite served at the Kimpton hotels. Our bill for breakfast each morning topped the $100 mark, so keep that in mind when you're budgeting.

Our room was spacious and way beyond New York standards. The two oversized twin beds and pull out sofa worked well for our party of four. It was a challenge to find a reasonably priced room with much space at all for four. The Parker Meridian's junior suite had two televisions, an eating area and a reasonably sized bathroom.

The rooftop pool had amazing views of Central Park and is open most of the day giving you a chance to take a dip after a long day of wondering around the city.



The shot glasses in the bathrooms were a nice touch, as were the Peter Thomas Roth products:


I'd recommend a stay at the Parker Meridien mostly for its location and style. My only reservation would be the extra charges like $10 for the toothbrush I forgot (hint: there's a Duane Reade across the street); $6 for each of the wine glasses I asked to be sent to the room (I've always tipped on the service; but haven't been charged for using wine glasses before); and the WiFi charges of $12/hour in the lobby or $16/day in your room is always a pet peeve of ours.

If you're curious to check it out yourself, they're offering specials starting in the $300 range. Happy travels!

Anders Overgaard for Harper's Bazaar

We're just weeks away from the most anticipated wedding of the year—no, not that one over in London, Maya Rudolph's in the new Bridesmaids movie. Stars Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper are featured in the May issue of Harper's Bazaar. Check out the hilar video below where the ladies discuss the dangers of drinking and shopping, a problem we know only too well from our own girls' trips. Bridesmaids hits theaters on May 13.

Pixi's Week of Wakeup Makeup has plenty of colors to keep you looking fresh on your next vacay. With 21 eye shadows, 7 cheek powders and 8 lip glosses, you'll find a look for the poolside, an afternoon wine tasting and some late night dancing. The Week of Makeup is only $34 and available on the re-designed www.PixiBeauty.com and at Target.com and Target stores. Here's a peek of the pinks, peaches, nudes and more:

Enter to win a dream trip worth over $100K with five or your friends courtesy of Expedia. Paris, anyone? (Facebook)

Find out the next new hottest destination for this spring/summer. (NYMag)

Getting a tax refund? Book a vacation! (USA Today)

Get the secrets to scoring VIP treatment on the road (MSNBC.com)

When we were in Miami the weekend before last, we enjoyed a pre-flight brunch at Rosa Mexicana. Hope ordered a tomatillo and cucumber bloody Mary that was made table side and was deliciously reminiscent of a cup of gazpacho. The experience taught us that a Bloody Mary can mean more than tomato juice and celery (though there's nothing wrong with the original!).

Designer Zac Posen is ahead of that trend, of course, and created two new cocktails to make the most of Belvedere's Bloody Mary, a vodka with flavors of fresh tomato, black pepper, horseradish, bell peppers; chili peppers, lemon and a touch of vinegar. "Brunch can be fabulous when you have the right meal, cocktail and outfit. I’m an avid fan of any brunch occasion so I’m delighted to be working with Le Caprice to create an irresistible menu to complement the new Belvedere Bloody Mary," Posen said.  The cocktails are available at New York's Le Caprice through June 26 or make them at home with the recipes below:

Belvedere Bloody Mary (shown above)
• 60ml Belvedere Bloody Mary
• 60ml tomato juice
• Dash lemon juice
• Tabasco to taste (optional)

Combine ingredients in a highball glass over cubed ice.
Garnish with a lemon wedge and/or celery stick

Belvedere Pineapple Mary
• 1.5oz Belvedere Bloody Mary
• 3oz Fresh Pineapple juice
• 0.75oz Fresh Lime juice
• 2 bar spoon Simple syrup
• 2 dashes Orange bitters
• 1/8 bar spoon Smoked paprika (hot)
Shake and strain all ingredients into a rocks glass filled with cubed ice.

After the movie and our RPattz sighting with Amber and Dina.

Until last night, I was on Team Jacob. But sitting three rows behind Robert Pattinson at the Water for Elephants' premiere for two hours in the dark of the New York's Zigfeld Theater—and I've seen the light. He's beyond handsome in real life—much more so than on screen—and fills out a white shirt very nicely.

So how was the movie? I read the book and am about the only person I know who wasn't a huge fan. The author of the book is a woman and the narrator, Jacob, (RPattz in the movie), always felt flat and forced to me on paper. On screen that wasn't an issue. Add in a very Marlene Dietrich-esque Reese Witherspoon, gorgeous clothes and a frisky elephant who can't keep her hands off Robert and it makes for a very enjoyable, if slightly slow, two hours. I'm sure this movie will be a huge hit thanks to all the legions of RPattz fans.

Now, back to Robert Pattinson, the person. He seemed nervous while watching the film. (I can only imagine what it's like to see yourself and months of hard work on the big screen in front of an audience!) He ran his fingers through his hair several times, fidgeted a lot and even got up to get his own popcorn (Dina walked by right by him on her way back from the ladies!!). He was at the premiere with girlfriend Kristen Stewart, who is just on this side of painfully skinny--you can see the outline of her shoulder bones clearly. They didn't smooch or even chat much during the movie. I think it's a sign they're not happy together—giving hope to the rest of us!

We also saw Reese Witherspoon at the premiere. She was originally seated behind RPattz, but her handlers moved her shortly after the movie started and we didn't see her again. He's so tall, maybe she couldn't see the screen?

A big thanks to Dove Visible Care Body Wash, which sponsored the red carpet at the Water for Elephants screening and kindly extended my invitation. As Megan from Daily Makeover pointed out, at one point in the movie, Robert Pattinson's character says, "The first thing you notice about a woman is her skin." I've long been a fan of Dove body washes and Visible Care is a new favorite. It really does leave my skin feeling softer and more moisturized after every shower.

We try so many mascaras, it isn't easy for one to stand out. Estée Lauder's Sumptuous Extreme Mascara did just that. It does a bang up job of volumizing your lashes without the usual problems that go with it like flaking and smearing. We took a couple of passes through our lashes to smooth out the occasional clumps. At $23.50, it's more expensive than your drugstore alternatives; but the results are worth it. Lastly, we know packaging is far from the most important product feature, but Sumptuous Extreme comes in a show-me-off gold tube. Look for Estée Lauder gifts with purchase this month at Nordstrom, Lord and Taylor, and Macy's.

This review was based on a free sample.

If all this talk about the royal wedding has you thinking about making a trip across the pond, here's another reason: The newly opened W London - Leicester Square Hotel. The hotel is centrally located near the West End theaters (The upcoming Batman is another reason to head to London this summer) and the shopping on Regents and Oxford Streets.

In the Wonderful rooms the sinks are in the middle, a take on the American trend of putting tubs in the center of the room. (The shower is behind closed doors.) The rooms feature Bliss spa products and iPod docs.


Ready to go? When you book two nights, the third is free. Get ready to call in sick that Monday!

Being of Irish descent, I know the problems of fair skin a little too well. Not only do us lighter skin ladies have to be extra careful in the sun, we're also at higher risk for a skin condition called rosacea, an inflammatory skin condition. The most noted characteristic of rosacea is persistent blushing—even when you're not embarrassed or in the presence of your crush. A flare up of rosacea can be triggered by anything from an intense Zumba class, that glass of pinot noir you had after work or even hot weather.

The good news is that rosacea can be treated and you don't have to suffer alone. April is National Rosacea Month, which was started by the National Rosacea Society to help educate people about the condition. A few facts:

• Rosacea affects 16 million Americans, many of whom don’t know that they have it. 
• Rosecea is often undiagnosed or mistaken for other common skin issues such as sunburn, allergies or acne.
• In addition to flushing, rosacea is characterized by redness, bumps and blemishes on the face.
• Though rosacea is more common in fair skinned women, it can affect women and men of all skin tones.
• While there is no known cure for rosacea, it can be managed through lifestyle changes and medication. If you think something is going on with your skin, head to the dermatologist.

Full disclosure on this post: I’m participating in this contest sponsored by Galderma Laboratories, L.P. to win a trip to the Emmy’s.

Stiletto Jungle is getting set for baseball season with super cute VS Pink MLB team gear.

Are Scarlett Johansson and Sean Penn living together? Allie is Wired covers the rumor.

Bag Snob has a crisp little clutch that's the color of a sandy beach: fab for vacationing or second best, just pretending to be on vacation locally.

These Beauty is Life tweezers at Beauty Snob are incredibly precise and they are also great for putting on fake eyelashes, especially the individual ones.

Coquette is enjoying the Louis Vuitton City Guides 2011 and planning her summer vacation.

Fashion Pulse Daily finds fashion in the kitchen sink, via Christian Siriano's latest creation.

The Jet Set Girls reveal the new Calypso St. Barth for Target line.

Second City Style is wild for rose gold...everything!

Shopping and Info loves the Dsquared2 beige nude chiffon dress from the Runway for weddings this summer.

Want to know what the StyleBakery editors are loving this season? This week, they each share their top 10 favorites for spring.

The Beauty Stop takes a close look at the much talked about Nexxus ProMend Leave-In Treatment.

The Shoe Goddess is always thrilled to find a good deal, and these J. Crew Snakeskin Ballet Flats are chic and affordable!

The latest designer line at Target comes from Calypso St. Barth, that resort friendly label that begs for a beach vacation. We know Calypso for its flowing boho dresses; but this line at Target includes swimwear, espadrilles, totes, jewelry, and even home goods. Dresses run about $40 and totes $20, so you'll be challenged to buy just one piece. Calypso St. Barth is available starting May 1st at all stores and on-line. We can almost hear Target piping in a steel drum band for this opening. Happy shopping!

We'd wear the khaki tunic above ($29.99) and linen shorts all summer. Don't you love the neutrals with a pop of color from the tote and sandals?

This turquoise dress ($36.99) would look great belted or worn loose like here as a beach coverup.

This embroided dress ($36.99) gets props for its crispness. This is the one you'd wear to a bloody mary brunch with your girlfriends.
The dress ($39.99) in this season's hot color (Pantone's Honeysuckle) looks sharp over white linen pants ($29.99).

Annie at the Kentucky Derby with her friend Clint.

Attending the Kentucky Derby is one of the items we've already crossed off our Bucket List--so we can tell you this Hats and Horses package from RueLaLa is definitely worth it! It includes:

• Two First Floor Clubhouse tickets to the horse races at Churchill Downs on May 6 for Oaks Day (3-year old fillies race. Race aficionados often think say it's even more exciting than the Derby.) and May 7 for the Derby.  
• Three nights in a Deluxe Room at the Hyatt Regency, Louisville. 
• Access to an exclusive on-site concierge to assist you with any needs that may arise.
• And more.

The boutique closes on Friday, so act fast!

Those crazy folks over at Astroglide are asking fans to take photos of Astroglide on spring break trips and submit photos. The best one in each of the three categories will win a $100 American Express gift card. The categories are best creative use, farthest away and funniest. We love the ladies above who are getting ready for an Astroglide slip n' slide party. Enter here.

Usually before I head on a weekend away, I schedule a blowout the day before (usually on Thursday) so I don't have to wash my hair all weekend. But I was able to skip it this time around because I had already gotten a killer blowout—on Monday—and my hair still held its style and was frizz-free, even in Miami. That's frizz-free after four days, a 3-hour plane flight, a day at the pool and a boat ride. That's me on the left, above, on Friday night. How impressive it that?

I credit it to the products that were used when I got my blowout, the new TRESemmé Climate Protection Shampoo, Conditioner and Mousse. The products are formulated with olive oil, keratin, UV blockers and polymers to protect hair against humidity, UV rays, static and wind—basically everything I experienced on day four of my blowout. I realize I sound like a commercial for TRESemmé, but these products really are that good!

You'll find Tresemmé products at drug stores and grocery stores nationwide.

This review was based on a free sample.

Prince is playing the L.A. Forum for 21 days—and many tickets are just $25! (Standard Culture)

Still looking for the cool side to Atlantic City? Check out this sweatsuit-free guide to A.C. (Refinery 29)

Think you already know everything about renting a car? This story even had a few tips that surprised us. (NY Post)

San Francisco's T2, home of Virgin America, opened to glowing reviews. (USA Today)

We're just back from our girls' getaway to Miami, where we stayed at the Viceroy in the downtown area.  The best thing about the hotel was the decor--the rooms, lobby and public spaces are light and airy, as befitting the climate, but don't cross the line into austere. The bed was super comfy and the bathroom was enormous.


The pool at the Viceroy is on the 15th floor and while the hotel isn't on the beach, there's plenty of water all around. It's within walking distance from the Epic Hotel and the delicious Zuma, a Japanese restaurant. (We not only saw Lebron James there--turns out our group kept him waiting for his table!) You can see the Mandarin Oriental from the pool.


Our main complaints about the hotel revolve around the pool. While there was plenty of seating, including comfy beds that easily fit our group of three, there are NO umbrellas. While there is plenty of shade, it moves around. So if you want to be in the shade all day, you're going to have to chase it around. Plus, it made hard for all three of us to sit together when one wanted sun and the others didn't.

The other—and—bigger complaint about the Viceroy is that the food, both at the pool and from room service, is really bad. At the pool, it's served to you in a brown paper grocery bag and the food itself comes in flimsy plastic containers. It doesn't taste good either. Sandwiches were dry and salad dressings were bland. On our last day, we went off property to nearby Rosa Mexicana because we all agreed we didn't want to eat our last meal of the trip in Miami at the Viceroy.

The spa, however, was one of the most beautiful we've ever seen. Those are the plunge pools and hot tubs below. The gigantic yellow chandelier is the center piece of the room. Entrance to the spa is free for guests. We didn't have time to experience a spa treatment on this trip.

What else? The crowd at the hotel was a mix--lots of Europeans and South Americans (who made for good eye candy), a handful of families and at least one bachelorette party. The scene at the hotel's Club 50 was a bit too young for our tastes--we're guessing 25 and younger. But the views from the 50th floor are certainly worth seeing.

Let us know if you have any questions about our stay!

Thanks for everyone who helped me pick which Rent the Runway dress to wear on our recent girls' getaway to Miami. Though the Shoshanna Magic Carpet Ride one-shoulder dress was the winner, it wasn't available when I went to rent it. So I opted for the second place winner: the Badgley Mishcka Fifth Avenue Showstopper Dress.  That's me in it, above.

It's definitely a beautiful dress and one that I wish I had in my closet. It was pinker than it looked in the photos, which a reader had told me prior to my renting it. While it probably would have looked better on me were I more tan, it didn't wash me out, like I was afraid it might. I do think the dress would flatter any number of figure types.

That said, I didn't end up wearing it in Miami. It was a little too sparkly for the nights we had planned. And, as my friend Heidi pointed out, it was too covered up for Miami. If the neckline were a little lower or there was less pleating in the front, it would have been sexier and more flattering. As it is, I feel like this is a great dress for your own birthday party or a really special date.

Here's the dress I did go with:
I opted to take advantage of Rent the Runway's promotion to rent a second dress for $25 and also ordered this Halston Heritage La Scala Draped Dress. Its color and one-shoulder style reminded me of the Shoshanna dress I wanted to rent. I was very happy with the dress, though the fit could have been better. (I'm pear-shaped, so had to go with a size up to get it to fit my hips, which meant it was a tad too big on top.) I loved the color and the flowiness of the fabric. It made for the perfect dress for a night on the town in Miami—attention getting and sexy, without looking like I was trying to hard (IMO, at least!).