Holiday Gift Guide - The Don Draper Man

For less than $100 this Johnnie Walker Sampler can be yours - or it can be a gift you give someone (I don't care either way, it's not like I make a profit off promoting this bad boy). In a sleek case, and with gorgeous bottles, this little pack is perfect for your man, or your dad, or maybe your brother. Pretty sure there is someone in your close circle of friends who would want something like this. Hell, if no one you know wants it, buy it for yourself and at your next gathering do an impromptu tasting. Something tells me it would be a rocking good time!

Tis the Season... To Avoid The Ugly Xmas Sweater Party

So I am going to make this easy; I despise Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties. I think the are lame, unoriginal and uncomfortable. First and foremost let's get something straight, anything with ugly in the title, just seems silly to me. It is a hateful word, and it means that someone who made this sweater (or wore it before you got it at Good Will) has ugly taste? Or that anyone - your 88 year old grandmother let's say - wears ugly things? Plus, is the Holiday Season about ugliness? No, it is time to celebrate, be thankful for the year that is passing and hopeful for the one about to begin. It is also about being around loved ones, having amazing food, giving presents and hopefully (if you're with me) drinking massive amounts of champagne! How on earth am I to sip bubbles wearing something like the above photo? This is a trick question as there is no answer because I would never be drinking my favorite champagne out of my new flutes with flamingo's on my chest.

Sorry for the rant, but I have really strong feelings about this alleged theme. Why not have a Sparkly Christmas Party? Or a Dazzling Christmas Party? Should we not all be wearing something gorgeous to ring in the new year and praise the yule tide? For me the answer is plain and simple; boycott the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. Or, if you have to attend one, wear the prettiest thing you've got hanging in your closet!

Holiday Gift Guide - The Foodie

If you know someone who loves food, wine, dining and cooking, Williams Sonoma is the store to go to for their Christmas gifts. I was there this morning and let me tell you, the flag ship store on Union Square in San Francisco should be a national monument. I am telling you, that place not only looks like you walked into a culinary dream, but smells as though Giada DeLaurentis is cooking somewhere in the rafters. Between candles, cooking utensils, books, wine, Peppermint Bark Cookies and much, much more, this is the place to pick up anything and everything for the kitchen and its surrounding counterparts. The book above, on one of my very favorite subjects - cheese - can be yours for $29.95. Add in a basket of crackers, cheese, cutting board and a bottle of wine, and you have got yourself a nice little present to hand out come Christmas morning.

Holiday Gift Guide - The Eco Chic Gal

This bag is so much more than Earth Mama Chic, it has a fabulous back story that will make you want to get it for your Chanel and Pearl wearing friends as well! Rachel Roy was so distraught by the recent floods in Pakistan - and more importantly the 10 million children it affected - she is personal donating $20 for every bag purchased. The proceeds from her donations will go to the UNICEF's disaster relief fund. Not moved yet? Check out more at her website. And I mean, how cute is this thing? Adorable! Get me to a Farmer's Market wearing that ASAP. 

Reese's Star

Reese Witherspoon recently got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and boy did she look the part! With her children and co-star Bruser from Legally Blonde on hand, Reese accepted the 2,425th star on the Walk of Fame. I kind of want to give her another star just for looking so gosh darn adorable! Polka dotted Dolce and Gabana with peep toe Jimmy Choos? Sign me up!

Holiday Gift Guide - Food Fashion Friends

Nope not a list of my 3 favorite things on earth (minus my boyfriend)... but the title of a new book by Fluer Wood. Fluer - I just learned - is a fashion designer and passionate at home chef (which I think translates to: likes to cook at home... your guess is as good as mine). Anyway, the book is gorgeous, thick, colorful and useful (I flipped through it at Anthropologie yesterday) and would be an amazing gift for someone who loves the objects mentioned in the title. Or if you are sending something my way... I would not be opposed to this as a Christmas gift at all! :) You can order it here for $49.99 plus tax and S&H. Not for me, but for anyone who is like me... hint, hint!

Black Friday and Cyber Monday

According to some reliable sources - Huffington Post, San Francisco Chronicle and iGoDigitial - sales were up over the weekend for most retailers! This is good news seeing as how we are all still in a wee bit of a coma from the recession; a shopping coma that is. I am happy for the retailers of the world who are able to now move past the toxicity that shoppers (depressed shoppers might I add) brought into their establishments. Perhaps now we can look at shopping in a more realistic fashion. It is not something that has  to be done, but something that is fun to do. I for one love getting gifts for my loved ones, but I never let it stress me out, because that takes away the fun of it. And let me tell you, working above Macy's Union Square San Francisco has shown me that many people felt shopping was a daunting task; it was like they walked in looking as though they had to take out the trash... in their underwear... while it was snowing... I mean, it should not be painful! So cheers to the retailers and their successful weekend of consumerism!