FASHION FRIDAY: CAMO

When camouflage came back in style this fall, I wasn't 100% sure I wanted to get on board with it- I don't think it's a style that looks good on everyone- me included!  But, when I saw this vest at Forever 21, I completely changed my mind.  I love the non-traditional black and white color of it, plus it is heavy and warm and of a really good quality.  I often layer it under my winter coat when I walk the dog on cold days and it really helps to keep me toasty!  Here, I put it over a dress that I bought when I traveled to Iceland (read more about that here) and thought that the bag and necklace really helped pull it all together.  By the way, when we took these pictures it was starting to snow (hence the white stuff in my hair- it's not dandruff- lol! :-)

Vest: Forever 21

Dress: RYK Boutique in Iceland (read about it here)

Leggings: LOFT

Boots: UGG (old similar here)

Bag: GAP (old similar here)

Earrings: Stella & Dot

Necklace: Stella & Dot

Eyjafjallajökull VOLCANO...HOLY COW MOMENT!!!

Silly me, but I just realized the other day that the Eyjafjallajökull volcano/glacier that's erupting as we speak in Iceland, is the same volcano/glacier that I climbed this past November! I kept on hearing the story on the news, but never thought it could be the same exact glacier...until Friday night when I pulled out my Iceland Tour Guide book and sure enough...it is!!! Read more about our Iceland Glacier Hike here. I kept on referring to the volcano/glacier as Skógar instead of its real name: Eyjafjallajökull. Skógar is actually the small Icelandic village located at the south of the Eyjafjallajökull Glacier. (Now you understand my "holy cow moment!!!") You know what else is funny, is that our Glacier Hike Tour Guide, Mio, kept on telling us while we were on top of the glacier that it was supposed to "explode any day now." We asked him how he would be informed if he was on a hike when it started to erupt and he said "he could get text messages on the glacier!" Wonder what his day was like the day it happened? Anyway, I am still in shock that only five months ago, Pierre, Laura, Rich and I were on top of Eyjafjallajökull Glacier...and today this volcano/glacier is causing massive travel problems across Europe and is making global headlines daily!

JSS IS AHEAD OF THE GAME!

Jet Set Smart (a.k.a. JSS) is ahead of the game! Recently, while I was flipping through the April issue of Food & Wine Magazine, I noticed there are two travel articles (one related to Philly and the other related to Iceland) that suggest different restaurants and places for jet setters to visit. Well, some of their recommendations are the same ones that I gave to you guys back in November of last year and January of this year!!!One article is called "Should You Eat Like an Icelander?" and it talks about how Icelanders are some of the healthiest and happiest people on this planet because of their diet. They talk about their food including their fresh grazing lamb, their puffin, their ammonia-reeking fermented shark and their skyr. If you remember, Jet Set Smart was in Iceland in November and tried all of these foods! Click here to read more about it. The other article from Food & Wine is called "Art in Philly," and talks about what to see, where to eat, and where to stay in Philadelphia. What does Food & Wine recommend? Well, that you see the Philadelphia Museum of Art, that you eat at the Village Whiskey, and that you stay at the new Kimpton Palomar Hotel...all of the things I said you should do too! Click here to read more about what Jet Set Smart says. It's nice when JSS is ahead of the gang, and it feels good to know that I keep my jet setters well informed. Stick with Jet Set Smart so you too can be ahead of the gang when it comes to travel and food!

NEW ICE BAR IN PENNSYLVANIA

You may not have to jet set far away to find an Ice Bar anymore. Just 2 &1/2 hours outside of New York City, in Northeastern Pennsylvania (in the town of Mountaintop), the owner of Damenti's Restaurant is putting up a free-standing Ice Bar in the restaurant's backyard. The Ice Bar will have a Pirate Theme and will hold up to about 40 people. It is being made out of more than 50 tons of ice, and will be kept at a chilly 20 degrees so it doesn't melt. The only Ice Bar I've ever been to was in Reykjavik, Iceland. It was a lot of fun! I've heard there are some great ones in St.Tropez, Dubai, Tokyo, Cape Town, Australia and even Portugal. Closer to the U.S.- there will soon be this one in Pennsylvania, there's one in Orlando, Florida, and one is Las Vegas, Nevada. Have any of you guys ever been to an Ice Bar? If so, where?

TOP 3 NEW YEAR'S TRAVEL RESOLUTIONS FOR 2010

My passport got a nice workout in 2009! I was lucky enough to jet set to some fantastic places including Buenos Aires, Argentina-Punta Del Este, Uruguay-Prague, Czech Republic- Toronto, Canada and Reykjavik, Iceland. I am now working on the destination list for 2010 which I hope will be as exciting. I am hoping to travel to many places abroad, but I would also like to get in some more U.S. trips as well. So with the new year almost here, I thought I'd share my personal Top 3 Travel Resolutions for 2010. My mantra is still the same- "travel more, but be smart about it!"

1- Travel to more "Off-the-Beaten Path" Destinations: It's always great jet setting to a big city, but sometimes it's cooler staying in a smaller town just outside of the city. It's a great way to get a better feel for how the locals really live, and it's a smarter way to travel because you can probably get a hotel for half the price.

2- Go Green When Making Travel Plans: Look for hotels that are Environmentally Friendly, or take a train to a destination instead of flying- it's better for the environment and it's smarter because you could end up saving money on your total travel costs.

3- Take More Road Trips: A Staycation is not really my thing- I like to get out there, but it doesn't always have to be by way of an airplane. Sometimes, hopping in the car and traveling to a new city or town can be just as fun- plus, with all the new airline fees, it may be smarter because it may end up being cheaper than flying.

Do you guys have any travel resolutions you would like to share with me? Please feel free to post a comment below...

FASHION FRIDAY: EAR FLAP HATS

When I jet setted to Iceland in November, I noticed that many people were wearing earflap hats to keep warm. Since it was chilly, my friend Laura and I went ahead and each bought a furry earflap hat from the popular store there for cold weather gear- 66* North.Their slogan is "Keeping Iceland Warm since 1926," and they live up to their words. They carry hats, gloves, scarves, coats, etc., and you see people all over Iceland wearing their stuff. My friend Laura and I couldn't resist when we saw almost every woman walking around downtown Reykjavik in one of these hats. It cost about $70USD for one, but we both wore ours the entire trip, and we figured, even if we never wear them again after leaving Iceland, who cares? We've gotten our money's worth.

Well, fast forward a month- and here it is now freezing in New York, and I'll tell you I have not taken this hat off! Walking around the city these days, you will see everyone (women, men, and even kids) wearing furry earflap hats. My sister told me that my 8 year old niece even wants one. So I went on a search to see what cute styles are out there and this is what I found:

1- Free People has this cute Faux Fur Hat: $68

2- TOPSHOP has a couple of cute styles and colors: Around $35













3- Forever 21 has this adorably cute Pom Pom beanie: $8.80
4- Eddie Bauer has a Faux-Fur Bomber Hat: $39.50
5- And for the kids...Gap has this cute Furry Trapper hat: $19.50
(Gotta find this one for my niece before X-Mas!!!)

ONCE AGAIN!

The Editor-In-Chief of Chic Galleria just told me my Aurora Borealis post about Iceland was just published AGAIN...this time in the Chicago Sun-Times! Thanks Chicago Sun-Times for making me smile on a Monday morning!

AURORA BOREALIS

I'm sure by now, by my abundance of posts about Iceland, you can tell that I have fallen in love! The people are warm and welcoming, the country is absolutely beautiful, and it's so close. I cannot wait to return, and I have a perfect reason...to see the Aurora Borealis.The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is created when particles are electrically charged by the sun. Supposedly, you can see the Northern Lights on cold, crisp nights between September and April. We thought that a trip in November would have been the perfect time to see the Aurora Borealis, but unfortunately, we did not see it. We got conflicting information while we were there about the odds of seeing it. Bottom line is, Auroras are difficult to predict with precision- it's Mother Nature's call. So if you go out to see them you need to be patient and hope that you get lucky. You can't know if you'll see the lights until the last minute. We talked to locals while we were there and many said mid-January through mid-March is a better time of year to see them. The air is so cold and crisp during that time, that many Icelanders say you can even see the lights while walking around downtown Reykjavik. I just looked into flight & hotel deals for February, and I see prices starting in the low $400's per person. I'm going to keep my eye on it, because it's very easy to jet set there on a Thursday night and come back on a Sunday...I'll let you know what happens.

ICELAND EQUALS SAFELAND

In this crazy world we live in, safety is of the utmost importance to me when I travel. I have to say that when I was in Iceland, I felt very safe. In fact, Iceland has a relatively low crime rate according to the U.S. Department of State. One thing that reassured me of this when I was there was the abundance of baby carriages with babies inside of them outside of restaurants, coffee shops and stores. This is pretty typical in Scandinavia from what I've heard and read. Mothers and fathers will leave their little ones bundled up in their strollers while they go inside a venue to do whatever it is they are going to do. Nobody ever disturbs the carriages, and no one even seems to notice they are even there- except for the occasional American tourist (that would be me) who is not used to seeing such a thing on U.S. soil. I couldn't help but do a double-take the first few times I saw this, and even snapped a picture of this to show to you all. Could you imagine if someone did this in the U.S.? They would probably be arrested and have their baby taken away from them! It's nice to jet set to a place these days where you can feel so safe.

HOT SHOPPING IN ICELAND

You quickly realize in Iceland, that if men and women take the time to dress up (not in jeans) to head to the bars for the Runtur when it's cold outside, then obviously fashion is important to Icelanders. Shopping is incredibly expensive in Iceland, but it's worth shelling out the extra krona (ISK) for local designers' stuff...their creations are unique and fashion forward.RYK, owned by Kristin Kristjansdottir, off of Laugavegar in downtown Reykjavik is a store that I absolutely fell in love with and wanted to transport back to the U.S. Kristin is a designer who literally makes the clothes she sells in her own shop.She has beautiful tops, dresses, and cute jackets that range in price of about $60-$300USD. I got a tunic that can either be worn as a dress or paired with leggings. I can't say enough about her stuff...and the fact that her little Pomeranian keeps her company in the store while she's working...she's a woman after my own heart. Another trip to Iceland for the weekend just to shop in Kristin's store would not be out of the question for me! She is working on getting her website up and running, but you can check out some of her awesome designs by clicking here, or email her at kristinryk@simnet.isAnother store, which you'll see all over Iceland, is 66* North. Their slogan is "Keeping Iceland Warm since 1926," and they live up to their words. They carry hats, gloves, scarves, coats, etc., and you see people all over Iceland wearing their stuff. My friend Laura and I couldn't resist when we saw almost every woman walking around downtown Reykjavik in one of their furry hats. It cost about $70USD for one, but we both wore ours the entire trip, and know we'll get good use out of them in the wintertime in New York...so they were a good investment!Now, if shelling out a lot of krona (ISK) for clothing is not your thing, then I suggest heading to Kolaportid Flea Market.

It's a Reykjavik institution, open on Saturdays & Sundays (11am-5pm) where you can find second-hand clothing, Icelandic sweaters, antique jewelry, trinkets & art for the home, music, and food. I mention food, in particular, because this is the place where you can try hakarl- rotten shark. Sounds gross? It is! (Just take a look at my face!) It tastes and smells like ammonia. But, it's an Icelandic delicacy- which is usually eaten more as a right of passage (i.e. when you join a fraternity/sorority in college).All in all, there's something for everyone when it comes to shopping in Iceland. Yes, it is still a fairly expensive country to visit, but the U.S. dollar is worth twice more there today than it was just three years ago...so if you can, jet set there soon. You will love Iceland!

BLUE LAGOON

No visit to Iceland would be complete without a dip in the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa that is filled with hot water (38*C) fed from the adjacent geothermal plant.

Believe it or not, the silver plant towers are your backdrop as you sit in the hot steam and cover yourself in white silica mud. The lagoon is filled with hot pots, and the algae and minerals condition and exfoliate your skin- you come out feeling as soft as a newborn baby. You should know that like the other geothermal pools in Iceland, you must shower naked before entering, and also know that the water makes your hair feel like straw...so you will need tons of conditioner afterwards. Nonetheless, it's amazing, we loved it so much that we went at night one day (so cool & romantic) and during the daylight on another day. Also, it's very close to the airport, so depending on when your flight lands or departs, it may be a good time to go.

ICELAND GLACIER HIKE & RUNTUR HIKE

You know the saying "When in Rome...do as the Romans do."? Well, the same goes for Iceland, when in Iceland...do a glacier hike! My friend Laura is definitely the adventurous type and suggested that we go on a glacier hike in Iceland. I agreed, thinking how hard could it be, right? She told me it would be a 2 out of a 5...boy, was I in for a shock! In the end, I'm glad we did it, but only because I made it down unscathed!.Our day started at 9:30am. We signed up to go with a tour group called Arctic Adventures. Our driver and guides name was Mio.There were six of us in total on the hike (including Mio).It took about 2 and 1/2 hours to drive out to a glacier known as Skogar on the south coast of Iceland. The drive was absolutely beautiful, with views of mountains and the Atlantic Ocean along the way. When we got to Skogar, it was raining and windy...great weather for a glacier hike...not! Mio fitted us each for our crampons, gave us an ice pick- which also could be used as a walking stick, and he taught us how to walk both up and down the glacier. Five minutes later, we were on our way to the top! Along the way, we would walk very close to something known as crevasses- holes about 20-30 feet deep.It was scary! You definitely had to watch where you were going at all times. The sight from the top was spectacular.Laura and her boyfriend, Pierre, even ice climbed. They sure are brave!

It was a great experience- and quite a good workout too I might add. It was definitely out of my comfort zone, and Rich felt the same way, but we are so glad we did it!

After the three hour hike, we drove to see Skogafoss waterfall. It's not as big as Gulfoss, but it beautifully topples down a rocky cliff.

After this day...we certainly needed another visit to one of Reykjavik's geothermal pools...and that's exactly what we did. For dinner that night, we wanted something not so fancy, and headed to American Style for hamburgers. Icelanders love their fast food...and American Style is where locals like to go. This place looks like a fast food joint when you first walk in and it acts like one too. You have to go up to the register to place your order and pay, and then you sit down and they bring the food out to you. We had bacon burgers- which come with special sauce on them- and french fries.We washed it all down with a local Viking beer.Since it was a Friday night, we decided to do the Runtur- Reykjavik's pub crawl. the Runtur happens every Friday and Saturday night along Laugavegar- the main street in town. Icelanders dress up and head out to the bars to drink, dance and be merry. The good times last until about 6 in the morning when places finally close. We started our Runtur at Karamba- which is a coffee house by day and a lounge/bar at night.

From there we went to Kaffibarrin- which has the London Underground symbol over the door. Inside, it's really cute and looks like an old house.Next we went to Bar 11 which is your standard bar.The last place on our Runtur was B5- a super sleek spot that has great music and is a good place to dance. Next week, you can read about some of Reykjavik's great shopping and the Blue Lagoon...stay tuned!