Semana de Consejos de Viajar: Compañeros de Viaje

Allen de la película, La Resaca, nos ha enseñado que necesitamos escoger sabiamente las personas del Wolf Pack.  Los compañeros de viaje pueden mejorar o empeorar una vacación.  A veces, no se conoce a otra persona hasta que estén fuera…juntos…sin escape.  Para preservar la amistad y tu experiencia en un sitio nuevo, tienes que hacer algunas cositas antes de invitar tu mejor amig@, novio o mamá a Bangkok.  Son muy sencillas pero igual son absolutamente imperativas.

1.   Nótate las diferencias entre ti y tu compañero potencial de viaje.  Si te gusta vagar por las calles y acostarte/dormirte tarde, a lo mejor debes evitar el amigo que le guste más estructura en la vida.  Igual con el amigo que busque un rendezvous y a ti te interesa más la vista de todo o el amigo que sea prudente y tu eres espontáneo.  Estas cosas no se molestan normalmente pero durante una vacación, pueden ser más problemáticas.

2.  Habla francamente.  Una charla informal.  Hablen de las cosas que les gustan/no les gustan cuando viajen.  Decidan cuanto dinero es necesario llevar (sí, el tema de dinero es difícil pero si hay una gran diferencia entre sus presupuestos, valdrá la pena).  Provean un resumen en breve de lo que quieren hacer durante el viaje.  Si todos entienden y están de acuerdo de las expectativas, el viaje será facilísimo.

3. Empareja los destinos con las personalidades.  Algunas personas prefieren la playa.  Algunas prefieren el campo.  Algunas prefieren la ciudad.  Todo el mundo no tiene el estilo de viajar como un camaleón – entendemos.  Si sabes las atmósferas en donde tus amigos se adaptan bien (o en donde tú los puedes soportar 😉 ), escoge uno de esos destinos.  Por ejemplo, a lo mejor, invitaré Snooki a Miami antes de invitarle a Mónaco.  Dudo que están preparados para recibir a ella en Monte Carlo.

4. No tengas miedo de separarse por unas horas y reunirse.  Aún la gente con mucho en común tiene intereses distintos.  Si este ocurre, hagan lo que quieren hacer separados y encuéntrense para cenar.  Este es algo que deben incluir en la conversación antes de salir, especialmente si estás viajando con una otra persona sola.  Todo el mundo no está cómodo caminando solo en lugares extranjeros.  Avísale antes para evitar la hostilidad.

5.  Empieza con una excursión pequeña.  Si puedes, vete de viaje como una ¨prueba¨.  Una que queda una o dos horas de casa antes de planear otro viaje más grande, fuera del país.  Aprenderás un montón!

¿Quién será tu compañero? 😉

Travel Tip Week: Travel Buddies

Allen from the Hangover has taught us best that we should make wise decisions when deciding who makes The Wolf Pack.  Travel companions can make or break an enjoyable vacation.  And sometimes, you never really know a person until you’re away…together…no escape.  So, in order to preserve some friendships and even your experience in a new place, there are some things to do before inviting your bff, boyfriend or mother to be your wingman as you trot through the streets of Bangkok.  They’re very simple but absolutely imperative.

1.  Take note of you and your potential travel mate’s differences.  If you are one that likes to wander about, sleep late and stay up all night, you may want to stay away from the friend that likes more structure.  The same rule applies for friends that are in search of a rendezvous and you are more interested in scenery, one that is very cautious and you are spontaneous.  These things may not be bothersome on average but are magnified while on vacation.

2.  Have an open discussion.  Nothing too formal.  Talk about the things you like/dislike when you travel.  Discuss how much spending money is required (yes, money matters can be difficult to address but it will be beneficial if your budgets are notably different).  Give each other a brief overview of what all you want to do while away.  If everyone understands and is in agreement of what to expect, the journey will be easy peasy.

3.  Match destinations with personalities.  Some people prefer the beach.  Some people prefer the countryside.  Some people prefer the city.  Not everyone is a chameleon traveler and that’s ok.  If you know which friends adjust better in certain locations (or where you can tolerate them best), choose accordingly.  For example, I would most likely ask Snooki to come to Miami with me before Monaco.  I don’t know if they’re ready for her in Monte Carlo just yet.

4.  Don’t be afraid to separate for a few hours and reunite.  Even those that have the most in common can have different interest.  When this happens, venture out on your own and come back together for dinner.  This potential plan should also be addressed in the pre-departure conversation, especially if you are traveling with only one other person.  Not everyone feels comfortable roaming solo in a foreign place, so in order to avoid hurt feelings, give a little warning.

5.  Start small.  If you are able to test the waters, go on a small trip that is one or two hours away from home before arranging to leave the state/country together.  You’ll learn a lot!

So, who will it be? 😉

Semana de Consejos de Viajar: Encontrando el Vuelo

La estación más viajada llegará muy pronto!  Todo el mundo tiene ganas de viajar pero se puede volver loco durante la planificación.  Esta semana, les damos algunos consejos para que no se sienta así:

Y que se sienta así:

1.  Después de decidir en un sitio, el próximo paso es comprar el billete.  Los sitios mejores del web para comprar un billete siempre están cambiando pero en este momento nuestro favorito es http://www.skyscanner.com.  La cantidad de combinaciones de los vuelos es más alta, te permite buscar con el mapa (si quieres cerrar los ojos y señalar con el dedo a donde viajarás) y lo más importante, provee las resultas más baratas.  Cuando encuentres el itinerario ideal, compra el billete de la página web de la aerolínea si el precio es igual.  Es mejor comprar de la línea porque si hay que cambiar tu viaje, es más fácil y las tarifas serían más baratas.

2.  Cuando estás pensando en las fechas de la salida/llegada, que seas lo más flexible posible.  Los días más baratos para volar son el martes y el miércoles.  También, comprar un billete por una semana entera es menos de comprar un billete por un par de días.

3.  Vuela a aeropuertos cercanos para ahorrar dinero.  Si hay uno que tarda poco tiempo para llegar en coche/tren, podrás gastar hasta $200 menos en el billete.

4.  El día mejor día para comprar un billete es el miércoles.  Los precios son más altos durante el fin de semana y bajan a la mitad de la semana.

5.  Sigue los aerolíneas por los medios sociales!  Siempre anuncian los códigos de promociones y las rebajas por Twitter y Facebook.

6.  Hazlo ya!  Si encuentras lo que te viene bien, cómpralo rapidamente.  No pierdas tiempo buscando algo mejor porque quizás no hay.  La peor situación sería tener el intenerario perfecto a los dedos y se desaparece sin comprarlo.

Buena suerte con la búsqueda 🙂

Travel Tip Week: Finding the Flight

The busiest travel season will be here in a jiffy.  Going on a trip is always exciting but the planning stages can make you go berserk.  This week, we’ll give you tips to feel less of this:

And more of this throughout the entire process:

1.  After you’ve selected your destination, next is pricing tickets.  The best flight purchasing sights are constantly rotating but at the moment, our favorite is http://www.skyscanner.com.  It includes a greater number of flight combinations, allows you to search with a map (if you want to close your eyes and point to choose your next destination) and most importantly, provides the cheapest results.  Once you have found the right itinerary, purchase the ticket from the airline’s website if it is the same price.  The reason for this is, if you must change your travel arrangements, going through the airline is easier and incurs fewer fees.

2.  When choosing departure and return dates, be as flexible as possible.  The cheapest days to fly out are Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  And booking a ticket for a full week is less than a ticket that is for a few days.

3.  Fly into nearby airports to save money.  If there is one that is a short ride away from your destination, you could spend up to $200 less on your ticket.

4.  The best day to book a flight is Wednesday.  Prices are significantly higher on the weekends and decrease midweek.

5.  Social media stalk airlines!  They often announce sales and promotional codes via Twitter and Facebook.

6.  Just do it!  If you find what works for you, act fast.  Don’t wait until something better is available because that may not happen.  Nothing is worse than having the perfect itinerary at your fingertips, then it seeing it vanish.

Happy hunting 🙂

Pinky Rings, Grillz and Chainz. Oh Boy!

Men love their jewelry just as much as women!  Or more?

“The boss” always makes sure he wears at least one necklace.

If you’re living in the dirty south, you know that a man is never fully dressed without his smile….and gangsta grillz!

A true roadway manager is incomplete without his signature piece….his pinky ring!

Every king has got to have some bling bling. How else will everyone know he’s the king??

Princes too.

And if you are the Godfather and are so kind to allow someone to make amends…

The love of jewelry could grow so much, a man might incorporate it into his stage name.  2 CHAAAAINZ!!!

Some men want it simply to complete their swag.

Bling 😉

Global Jewels

Gotta rep’ the world…

Uganda 

Philippines

Antigua

Nigeria

                 

Russia

Kurdish Woman in Russia

Fort Hall Native American Reservation, Idaho, USA

Bali

Nepal

Ecuador

Brazil

Gorgeous, all of ’em!!!

Jewelry Week: Interview with Designer, GG Sirrah

GG wearing her favorite necklace, Charlotte’s Web

Global Lipstick loves all things fashion.  We also have a compelling desire to accessorize, so naturally we are always looking for new sources to feed our jewelry fetish.  Jewels are the icing on the cake that is an ensemble and Ms. Germaine Harris, aka GG Sirrah, is a pro at creating unique “icing”.  She has been independently designing and crafting jeweled art for only three years but has garnered an impeccable collection and customer base.  GG Sirrah.  The name itself is fierce, matching the up-and-coming designer’s spicy sparkle.  This Brooklynite showcases her bold, fantastic personality in each piece to which she lends her name.  When you adorn her jewelry, you are truly blessed with an extension of GG’s heart.

We had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Ms. Harris and got a small glimpse of her life as a jewelista.

GL:  How old were you when you fell in love with jewelry?

GG:  I don’t remember my exact age, I just remember my grandmother wearing all her jewelry and falling in love with how it made her look.  I remember going into her room and putting on all her different pieces and admiring myself in the mirror.

GL:  When did you start selling your jewelry professionally?

GG:  In 2010 I was laid off from my job at Macy’s.  I took that as a sign to turn my passion for making and selling jewelry into doing so full-time.

GL:  What inspires your designs?

GG:  It depends!  Most of the time I can just take one bead, look at it and know how each part of that particular piece will fall into place.  Seeing a design in my mind gets me excited!

GL:  What do you love most about making your jewelry?

GG:  I don’t (she laughs).  Honestly, I don’t actively  enjoy making the pieces.   Sitting down in one place for three hours for me is not fun but I love the end result.  I love to see the joy my customers have when they wear something I created.

GL:  What is your favorite piece of jewelry?

GG:  It’s called Charlottes’ Web.  I didn’t even design it (she laughs).  It’s from a wholesaler that I work with but I love it!  In fact, I wore it (the necklace) to an event where I was a vendor and one of the event planners wanted to buy it off my neck for his wife.  He even offered to pay what I originally paid but I said, “heck no!”  What actually ended up happening was the same wholesaler sent me another one in a shipment.  I called the man and let him know (he could purchase mine) and he said, “Of course, I want it.”  So I brought it to where he lived and he said his wife couldn’t have been more excited!

GL:  What are your favorite materials to work with?

GG:  Precious stones.  No two are alike, which makes no two pieces the same.  That’s why my customers are loyal because they know even if I make 5 of the “same” thing the one they get will be one-of-a-kind.

Check out some of GG’s favorite designs and one-of-a-kind selections!

For work:

Chain and Pearl Necklace

For Play:

Lucite Fluorescent Beaded Bracelet

Wooden, Metal & Horn Pendant Necklace

For the nighttime:

Black & Gold Layered Chain Necklace

You can find all of GG Sirrahs’ BIG, BOLD and BEAUTIFUL jewelry and assecories  at http://www.ggsirrah.com. Also like her on instagram and twitter @ggsirrah.

Jewelry Week: Great Gatsby & Tiffany & Co.

 
      The Great Gatsby was one of my favorite reads in high school.  There’s a possibility I should have been a 20’s baby – just sayin’.  With the release of the Gatsby film, the throwback theme is ever-present and perfect for us that adore its upscale sophistication.  What makes it such a distinctive era is, yes, the jewels.  Diamonds and pearls.  Feathers and tassels.  Headpieces and blinged brooches.  There has not been another decade like it.  Australian costume designer, Catherine Martin, was able to translate the feel of the age of the flapper to the big screen.  The movie’s collection of intricate pieces, provided by Tiffany & Co., can be considered another Gatsby character.

Below, Catherine Martin tells the story of key jewelry selections for the film.

 

So, as we see ladies wearing more of these:

And these:

We’ll think of them:

 

 

Jewelry Week: Sheryl Lowe

The simplest ensemble can be turned into a dazzling number with the right jewelry.  Are you a precious stone-lover, bargain shopper or DIY-er?  Fortunately, you can find the perfect piece in each category.

Sheryl Lowe (right) being interviewed by Global Lipstick friend, Laura Coronado (left).

We’ll start high, with an upper-end selection spawned by a woman that speaks style and motivation through her works.  Inspired by travels, friends and family, longtime make-up artist, Sheryl Lowe, transitioned into jewelry designer.  Her newfound profession is in fact a lifelong passion.  With background studies in design and eagerness to be charitable, the journey began to create an exclusive line of jewelry that also donates to charities for women and children.

Her recent collection is a continued reflection of inspiration throughout her life.  Pieces are named after her friends, family and favorite destinations.  What I found to be most compelling was her use of three elements: Buddha, crosses and feathers.  The mixed presence of crosses and Buddha represent her appreciation for and connection to a being greater than herself.  The feathers are symbolic of what she wants for her friends and other women – taking flight in pursuit of one’s dreams.  This is a designer that is dedicated to making her patrons dazzle, both inside and out.

Feathers, Crosses & Buddha Pieces

Be a feather, take flight 🙂

Preakness Chicness

Philadelphia hosted its annual Preakness at the Piazza, a fundraiser for multiple sclerosis.  The theme: big hats and bow ties, an homage to Kentucky Derby style.  Here are some looks.  

          

^^^cool, abandoned purse^^^ 

   

Stylish and successful cause!