http://youtube.com/watch?v=_AtuCLKw6EA

Are you looking for quality holiday tuneage to accompany your hot-buttered-rum conconcting?

Visit my friends Spiraling: http://www.myspace.com/spiraling - I can’t stop listening to their rendition of Do You Hear What I Hear? - and if you stop by their MySpace now, you can also see them performing Feliz Navidad this weekend with Debbie Harry and their performance of Nutrocker by ELP.

Oh, and send them a friend request while you are there! I promise you will be listening as obsessively as I am.

My good friend Joanna Vargas - the most amazing facialist/aestician I’ve ever had the privilege of placing my naked flesh before - is one of three finalists in Daily Candy’s Sweetest Things Awards in the “touch” (spas and services that made us swoon) category.

I really want her to win - so if you can take a second and vote for her, it’d be awesome!

http://www.dailycandy.com/new_york/article/34441/Sweetest+Things+2007+Oh+What+a+Feeling

Have you found the perfect dress to ring in the New Year, but don’t know how to accessorize?

The beauty experts at Makeover Solutions, an online beauty community featuring virtual tools, have been kind enough to share a few tips for readying your most important accessory – your hair!

Whether it’s an understated updo or delicate curls, make sure you start 2008 off with a great hair day.

• Soft Slept in Curls: Running out the door to that holiday bash? Finger comb a palm-full of curling cream throughout hair and flip your head upside down to help add volume and movement. Use your fingers to guide and direct curls into place and your look will be sure to turn heads.

• The Undone Bun: Use hands to gather the hair back to the center of the head and loosely twirl hair around finger and loop hair to form a bun. Make sure you leave some pieces to hang. Spritz some shine spray to the base of the bun and roots for shine for a look to last you all night long.

• Sexy Messy Hair: No time for a blow-out? Go for that messy, but sexy look. Simply spray a heat defense spray throughout dry hair, blow dry on low heat for just three minutes. Use your fingers to twirl different sections to achieve the fully untamed look – no combs or brushes allowed!

• Shaggy Chic: For those with a shorter cut, flip head upside down and vigorously blow dry using your hands to separate strands. When dry, flip head back and use a flat brush to tame the look. Use a putty product to break up the strands and give hair an edgy look

Makeover Solutions is one of my new favorite sites to play on - it doesn’t just stop at hair. All you have to do is upload a photo to see the different looks on your own face – you can even try out different shades of lipstick, eye makeup, blush, nail polish or even whiten your teeth!

Between holiday parties and work, sleep has been a bit of a luxury for me these past few weeks.

But when I *do* sleep, said luxury is indeed appreciated.

Check out this beautiful silky soft charmeuse pajama set, item 30111 in the Shirley of Hollywood catalog.

This elegant PJ set features silky smooth charmeuse, alluring sheer side panels and elegant iridescent bead detail.

I love it! And it’s just the ticket for relaxing with a hot cocoa during your holiday break. (If you get one, that is.) I have one medium, and one large pair to give away - to two winners who can share their best secret for ultimate relaxation. Deadline Saturday, Dec. 22.

Get ready for uber cuteness.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mXfpsQWIRxk 

Are you looking for the perfect gift for mom and dad this season? I hate to break it to you, but no amount of perfume or barbecues will be the Holy Grail that keeps your parents from nit-picking about your relationships or jobs or choice of shoes. The ultimate gift this year is the gift of modern culture… a taste of civilization as we know it. Rescue your parents from their archaic traditions and teach them a thing or two about what is out there.

We present the gift guide for the aging (former or wannabe) hipster.

http://www.sheknows.com/articles/she-knows-parenting-blog/family-fun/800713.htm 

I’m sad to report my birthday ended up fairly lame.

I’ve come to realize the unfortunate reality that our youthful ideal of celebratory parties brimming with balloons and frosted cupcakes and giant bowed boxes never really follow us as we enter into our twenties (and ….gah…almost thirties…)… Thus, we find ourselves disappointed to discover that our birthdays are just another day at just the time we need a reason to celebrate and not reflect on concept of aging. We go to work, we come home, we do our various household chores, and go to sleep. And except for perhaps a special dinner and a snazzy new hair cut, we discover there’s really nothing all that exciting to speak of.

Birthday significance may not be timeless, but there are other ways to capture those meaningful moments.

Muze Clothing features timeless expressions from inspiring works of art that elicit an emotional response. Always relevant, often irreverent, the apparel celebrates culture, humor and the spirit of those wearing it. In ancient Greece, the Muses inspired artists, poets and philosophers. Now, a new art form is created, and we learn…to wear is human.

Check out some of my favorites:

Muze Clothing is available in select boutiques nationwide and through www.muzelounge.com. However, several lucky readers will be getting shirts of their own! We will choose five winners - one grand prize winner, who will get a shirt from Muze’s yet-to-be-introduced Spring line, and four runners up, who will each get the shirt of their choice from the current line.

To win, share - if you were going to create an inspirational, fun, and meanginful t-shirt of your own - what would it say? What design would you envision? Deadline is this Friday, Decemer 21.

PS: Guys, do not feel excluded! There’s sexy stuff for you on the site too!

Shockingly, this one sounds downright hopeful!

(Beware sort of long…)

A trine between the Sun and the Moon in your Solar Return chart this year is a fortunate aspect. It suggests that your domestic and career needs are not in competition with one another in the year ahead. Your inner needs tend to be mirrored by external events, and vice versa. This aspect is very powerful and rewarding. It suggests that you will be on top of your game this year, for the most part, and positive connections with others can be made fairly easily. A comfortable level of personal popularity helps to keep conflict to a minimum. With the ability to handle your emotions successfully, there is less stress on both your mind and body. Your self-confidence and positive attitude will reward you!

With Jupiter conjunct Pluto in your Solar Return chart, an increased need for shared interests with others, as well as for adventurous or risky undertakings, is with you this year as you strive for more personal significance. Benefits may come through those in authority or the government. The year ahead is one of personal growth and expansion–an ambitious time when a desire for success is especially strong. Your ability to sway or persuade others is enhanced. One of the most positive uses of this influence is a drive to better yourself. You might solve a problem that has been in existence for some time, or capitalize upon a resource that was previously hidden. Social or material goals may come into strong focus, and reform could figure this year. Your faith may be reborn or developed strongly now. You might decide to invest your time and energy (and possibly money) into an ambitious new project. You should take advantage of the increased drive this influence brings, but avoid tendencies towards self-righteousness, exaggeration, and obsession. In general, big business, the law, grants, taxes, education, and commerce are well-starred for you this year. Increased influence, faith, and insight are likely in the year ahead.

With Mercury conjunct the Sun, and both aligned with the above configuration, the year ahead promises to be busy and active. Your thinking is proactive and ambitious. You not only think a lot about your ambitions and goals, but you feel the need to act them out. Your ability to express yourself and to solve problems is enhanced this year. You may have opportunities to travel, and matters related to publishing, teaching, and writing should go especially well. You may find that you have the right information at the right time this year. You could also have big ideas and plans. Work, especially in communications, goes well. You can be especially persuasive and convincing in your communications, whether written or oral. Positive trends in trade, business, and communications are likely. Your perceptions are especially acute. You can easily slip into the role of counselor or advisor. You are inclined to do a lot of “digging”, researching, analyzing, investigating, and getting to the bottom of things.

Venus harmonizes with Uranus and Neptune in your Solar Return this year. You have a taste for the offbeat this year, and this energy can bring sudden or unexpected romance into your life, perhaps a scenario that feels like love at first sight. Childbirth is sometimes associated with a Venus-Uranus aspect. With Neptune involved, however, some caution with your personal finances and regarding your social relationships is in order. Most importantly, you should do your best to watch out for tendencies towards self-deception. Things might look too good to be true, simply because you want to see the best. Relationship ups and downs are possible, as this could be a year when romantic mirages are more likely. The “highs” of a relationship may be thrilling, but the accompanying “lows” can be draining. Uncertainty may characterize your love relationships this year. Be careful not to set yourself up for disappointment. The same goes for finances. Because Venus is also in favorable aspect to Uranus, the outcome is likely quite good. However, do try to take off the rose-colored glasses when it comes to new financial initiatives and romance. If you don’t, you could be in for some disappointment when things fail to measure up to your dreams and ideals.

An increased desire to improve your life, and the drive for more success in general, figures in the year ahead. This is a year in which you have the desire to go for gold with determination–your ambition is stronger than usual. You are driven and motivated. It’s a good year for creativity, romance, and big business. Romance is exciting and sometimes downright confusing! Overall, however, the year ahead is likely to be a productive, dynamic, and rich period of your life.

2007 is a Number Four year for you. Ruled by Uranus. This is a year of work and development. It’s “nose to the grindstone” time. It’s a time to deal with practical matters, and it’s not a time to be lazy or especially gregarious. Sometimes, it can be a year that feels hard, monotonous and routine, and/or lonely. Positive new relationships are generally not formed in a Four personal year. Advice - get yourself organized, work to build your resources, keep busy.

2008 will be a Number Five year for you. Ruled by Mercury. This is a year of exploration and freedom. It’s a time when exploration and reaching out to others brings opportunities. It’s a good time to advertise and sell. Surprises are in store, and the routine is broken. This is a year when exciting relationships can be formed, or, if you are already in a partnership, new life is breathed into the relationship. Advice - explore, look for adventure, keep your eyes open for opportunities, mingle.

PS: I am wearing my hot new Double Zero pink sweater dress today! 

New puppy pix: All their eyes are open now!

(3 weeks old!)