Holiday Jet Setting Essentials

Before you take off to visit family here’s a quick guide to how to dress and travel warmly, efficiently and most of all chicly (totally not a word) when running through an airport!

First things first you’ll need a simple outfit that doesn’t require you to take off 20 layers when going through security – yet still catches the eye of the hot young pilot in line next to you.

jet setter by jayers21 featuring circle scarves

1. chambray shirt with white tank top underneath

2. thick black ‘lants’. At this point you may be wondering what these are…they are those super thick leggings that you can wear as pants! Genius, I know.

3. gorgeous pair of tall boots. Pick a pair that are easy to slip on and off, low heel so you can walk fast, and with a tall shaft to keep your leggies warm on the plane.

4. Infinity scarf, watch, studded earrings. -  My mom told me if you leave the house without earrings you may as well be walking out naked. We don’t want to disappoint mama, so pop in a pair of studded earrings that won’t send TSA in a tizzy.  Infinity scarf to keep you warm and double as one of those freaky neck pillows for when you need to cat nap in the middle seat.  A watch – because odds are you’ll want to be on time for your flight.

other travel essentials…that boys will like too

nice carry on tote: longchamp, dooney and burke, and many others make great totes perfect for housing your jet setter must haves! (Men – grab a Murse (man purse) or nice cross body backpack in lieu of a cute tote )

- tablet: iPads were made for jet setting! Leave your clunky lap top at home and just throw this in the bag. Make sure to download your favorite t.v shows and that book you’ve been wanting to read! Also – re-up on your wi-fi so you can avoid those pesky and outrages airport internet fees.

- headphones: a good pair of ear buds can go a long way. I personally don’t think you have to be THAT GUY with the Bose 9000 super duper massive noise canceling headphones – but definitely invest in a nice pair that won’t break down on you half way through the flight.

- snacks: Twizzlers and gum are my choice munchies when I’m on the go. Pick foods that are easy to eat, not messy, share well (food is a great peace offering when having to battle over an arm rest with a complete stranger) and pair nicely with the assortment of sodas offered – because afterall, who doesn’t love a good twizzler and ginger ale pairing??

*If you’re ordering food: Get the cheese plate – Not only will it actually provide some nutrients, but you won’t be elbowing your neighbors as you try to eat that ridiculous triple turkey, bacon, ciabatta mess the airlines call a sandwich.

- cell phone charger: Because nobody wants to land at their destination and have to stand in line to use a creepy pay phone because their cellie died.  Just sayin!

- Common sense and manners: This is the most important – during the holidays people get crazy, like legitimately throw all common courtesy, politeness and general sense out of the window kind of crazy. Being the calm, nice, and mannerable person will go a long way this time of year. A simple please and thank you can get you an upgrade, extra snacks, or best of all, to and fro without any altercations.

That’s all for now! Happy travels loves!

~j.ayers

last second holiday gift ideas for every kind of friend

Time is running out…Christmas is like – now! Don’t show up to another holiday party or meet up with friends/family empty handed! Here are four gift ideas that should cover your entire group of amigos or familia annnnnd they are really nice and easy!

For the intellect – Moleskine notebook: These are my absolute favorite, it’s a smart, classic, quality notebook that anyone would appreciate.  I love the versions with the graphics paper – tres chic! To personalize, write a thoughtful note in the front inside cover!

For the foodie - What I’ve found is that most foodies moonlight as chef’s and are often itching for opportunities to cook for their friends. Gift an adorable apron so that he/she can look legit when flipping, sauteing and tasting in the kitchen!

For the fashionista – A magazine subscription to elle for a lady and Details for a dude. Both are the perfect balance of ready to wear and high fashion,  just like your friend or family member.

For the host/hostess – Monogrammed notecards: Super useful, personal and all around perfect. A simple notecard with the persons first or last initial is just darling and it’s a practical gift they will be dying to put to use. Love. Love. Love.

 Merry, merry Christmas! I hope it’s a great one for you and yours.

~j.ayers

Savvy Travel

Man, I’ve been wanting to write a post like this for awhile now!  So many people think travel is inaccessible, too expensive, or just too time consuming for them. WRONG. ‘He was so wrong.’ (Mean Girls quote, did anyone but my boyfriend catch that?) Since I’ve started working in hospitality I feel like I’ve gotten even more of an inside scoop on how to travel smart and make the most out of each vacation. I’m going to try and narrow this down to 5 very doable tips and even give you options on destinations that are affordable and you maybe never thought of!

Start packing now, thank me later

1. When? September, October, January, February. All great months to travel. Hotels are silent..chirp, chirp (those are crickets). Airports are in desperate need of leisure travelers.  And most of us are sitting around letting each weekend pass us by without a clue on the travel treasures that are available. NO MORE!

2. The Flight – kayak.com  and airfare watchdog.com. These are great sites to use when picking tickets from various airline providers. Because if you want to know the truth, no airlines is going to be undersold! The best deal is to book with the actual airlines and if you have the patience, search for the cheapest one -way tickets and create your own round trip. Why do I have to book through the actual airlines you ask?? Because even if you have to pay $75 more you will at least be able to change your flight as needed. If you purchase from a third party site (Expedia, Travelocity, Priceline, etc.) then you have NO freedom to manipulate your flight arrangements. Gasp! The truth is out.

3. The Hotel/Accomodations – I always skip the big chains and look for a cute boutique property or a cute boutique friends house! A lot of small hotels will give you customer service (and value) unlike any other. Many offer complimentary wine hours, free wi-fi, inclusive breakfast, free valet parking and complimentary transportation to and from the airport. Oh and when booking a hotel my best advice is to call, call, call! Close your lap top (you can do it) and speak with a human. This will almost always get you the BEST rate and if you’re super nice (which you should be) an upgrade. Also, join the loyalty program – seriously the monthly newsletter you’ll end up looking forward to is totally worth the free room nights.

Again stay way from the 3rd party sites with hotels too – because ya know what, a 5 star room for $25 it isn’t worth it. Listen, if you get there and that ‘suite’ is actually a closet facing an alley and the dumpster, with sketchy cable and you’re next to some young newlyweds – moving rooms will be like parting the red sea. Yes, only God can help you now. Hotels are VERY limited in how they can help guests who purchase through 3rd party sites.

4.  The Destination – First of all I have to admit I watch an unhealthy amount of HGTV’s House Hunters International… No, I’m not buying a vacation home in the Alps, I’m looking for places I can afford to visit without spending the next two months eating ramen noodles. Dominican Republic, El Salvador, San Francisco, Costa Rica, Utah, The Carolina Beaches, Bali,  are just a few I’m throwing out there.

5. The Dining – Eat like a local. You don’t have to break bread at Wolfgang Puck’s latest restaurant, find out where the locals go. The best diners, burger joints, sushi places or a restaurant where nothing is in english and locals are everywhere.  After all, it’s about experiencing the authenticity of the city (and not going home broke) and that won’t happen if you’re sitting amongst a slew of tourists at a Fudruckers in Puerto Rico. But if you go off the beaten path you’re sure to leave with a full belly and some good memories.

Bon Voyage peeps!

~j.ayers

Cali Prep

Whether biking to brunch, the farmer’s market or just along the beach on Saturday morning this is a classic outfit with a modern flair.

Colored jeans are a fun way to kick off the weekend!  I can remember having every color of jeans (jordache to be exact) back in the day and swearing I would never wear them again…yeah we see how that went.

Gotta love a comfy t-shirt, quality leather cross body bag for convenience, and a Polo hat for a super cute tomboy look.

Guys it’s time to stop showing up to parties and get togethers wearing just anything! Here are six wardrobe essentials  that will take the thinking of out having style and allow you to look put together without really having to try! Mmm hmm thank me later.

1. Rugby pull over – neat, comfy, eye catching.

2. Fitted polo shirt – make those muscles pop, look crisp and smart.

3. Jeans – Levis are class-ic. Grab a dark wash, not too baggy, not super tight, but fitted. Do not be afraid to get these tailored, they will last you FOREVER.

4. Trucker-ish hat – Slap one on and rock that boyish charm. Perfect for bbq’s with friends.

5. Sneakers – Chuck Taylors, Vans, and Creative Recreations. Keep em clean, fresh and ready to go.

6.Beats  - Haute headphones…need I say more?

~j.ayers

casual friday – work-fit

This month at work we are doing a $5 jeans Friday to raise money for the AIDS walk here in LA.  If you don’t get to wear jeans to work on a regular basis then you know what a big deal this is!  So, for all of you folks like me who only have the pleasure of wearing jeans on Friday’s this work-fit is for you!

Everyone else…I suppose here’s a good look for next Monday

Have a great weekend!

~j.ayers

Online Obsessions

Via an awesome blog who's identity I can't seem to recall

Just a quick post to share a bit of where I get my inspiration from!

Refinery 29 > It’s just an all around great site, with funny, entertaining content and great writers.

Tomboy Style > Embodies my personal style “Tomboy Chic”. Warning – it’s addictive.

Kate Spade Blog > From great tips on entertaining, to travel, cute bikes, and the perfect accessories this is a must read for every lady.

Enjoy loves!

~jayers

 

Cheap Couture…kinda

So this isn’t really couture – that was definitely an overstatement on my part. What it is though is a cheap way to update any piece of clothing! This little tidbit of advice comes from my dear and stylish friend J.R who taught me how to take an average shirt, cardigan, blazer or jacket to the next level.

A few weeks ago I took a trip to LA’s fashion district downtown and spent a few hours perusing shops, finding awesome buttons and just taking in the bustle. I left with about 30 buttons ranging from big silver ones with horses on them (perfect for my blue Express blazer in serious need of updating) to some gold and floral print small buttons that I have already begun to add to an awesome oversized tan blazer I inherited from my mom annnnnnd I grabbed  a blue “silk” (using that term extremely loosely) top that looks super cool with leggings, skinny jeans, tucked into a skirt, shorts, etc.

The top was all of $18 bucks and frankly looked fine but not GREAT. I needed this purchase to look GREAT! So what did I do? I plopped down in a chair, borrowed some needle and thread from my roomie and switched out the buttons (which were 25 cents each – if that). Every time I wear this shirt I get tons of compliments on it.  The simple button switcheroo took this shirt from average to awesome and is now one of my favorite tops!

Try it, You’ll like it, I guarantee it.  What commercial did I steal that from?? Men’s Wearhouse? Who cares – have fun with your wardrobe for next to nothing. Easy, Breezy, Beautiful…Ok I’m done!

~jayers

Solid Advice

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

~j.ayers

 

Fabulous Dahling

For those of you who aren’t 40 yet does this cake not make you want to age as fabulously??

The best part of this is knowing that a girls favorite things stay the same no matter how ‘seasoned’ we get!

Yesssss dahling!

~j.ayers

 

Crazy, Stupid, Donut Love

Here’s the thing. I love donuts. Like really, truly, love them.  For Christmas I got a mini donut maker and I decided it was time to bust it out and make some treats. In addition I remember making donuts from Grand Biscuit dough as a kid and thought I’d try it again to see if they are still as good as I remember. They definitely, definitely were.

The goods:

Batter for the mini donuts!

Grand biscuit dough to make the big donuts and fabulous donut holes!

 

 

 

The final product! I had a blast adding sprinkles, tossing them in powdered sugar, dipping them in chocolate and creating a glaze. Next time I’ll definitely use dark chocolate instead of milk, find a better glaze recipe and make more of the powdered sugar donuts – those were an absolute hit.

I’m so looking forward to making these for a small brunch with girlfriends, or just to bring into the office. I wonder where I can find a cute little box to put these in. I know they’ll make a spectacular hostess gift – omg I’m already picturing a cute pink box with a ribbon and small glass milk bottle to go with!

~j.ayers