Photo by: lopolis

We’re taking a holiday break to spend time with our family and friends.

We wish you all a safe and happy holiday season from our ConstantChatter family to yours.

We will be back Monday, January 5th. In the meantime, don’t forget that it’s not too late, you can still enter to win many of the products in the 50 Days of Giving contest extravaganza.

12/21 - PAMPER YOUR DOG HOLIDAY PACK

Time to treat your dog like the spoiled pup that he is with this pampering package including a bag of Yummy Chummies Dog Treats, the sweet smelling Tropiclean Luxury 2-in-1 Papaya pet shampoo, Evanger’s Whole Chicken Thighs for dogs, and 3-pack Sticky Sheets to pick up all that loose pet hair in one pass.  Perfect for your favorite dog lover.

12/22 - CLOSET CONTROL BOOK

Wardrobe consultant to the stars, fashion journalist, and style guru Barbra Horowitz is on call for a little clothes therapy. With expert guidance and extremely practical how-to’s, Horowitz shows how simple it is to send your fashion-happiness quotient into the stratosphere. She outlines the personality traits common to all clothes hounds, describes her unique fashion philosophy, and introduces her core concept of “eco-selfishness:” working with what you already have to get what you really want by revamping, recycling, and reselling. Throughout, there are easy instructions for restyling clothes along with sidebars packed with streamlining tips and case studies of real-life wardrobe renovations. Plus: the book includes a full-length DVD of a real-life closet therapy session!

12/23 - MIXED ROCK CD PACK

For the music fan in your life, check out these three acclaimed acts: Alice Smith, Johnathan Rice and Framing Hanley.  Your sure to find a new favorite song in this mix of CDs.

photo: strawbleu

If you’re anything like me this year you’ve been so pre-occupied with other things that the holidays probably snuck up on you.  Well have no fear, there are plenty of last minute holiday gift ideas out there that go beyond gift cards and a bottle of wine (not that there’s anything wrong with either!) and you still have plenty of time to get it all done.

In the past, we offered up some DIY approaches to the holidays with personalized photo coasters, glass etched bowls and decoupage picture frames.  This year let’s focus on easy gifts you can mix up in your kitchen.

• Fudge, candy, breads and cookies - you’ve already done the baking and the cooking, why not share the wealth.   Rachael Ray has a recipe for fudge that cooks up in 5 minutes.  You can’t beat that.
• Soup mixes - you supply the pasta, the seasoning, beans and a pretty jar and they supply the meat and broth.  Quick, easy and perfect for the winter.
• A booklet of some of your favorite recipes - You know you have them, those recipes that friends ask you for over and over.  Why not print them up, bind them and share them with your friends.  Be sure to package it with a sample or two
• Bottle your own cocktail mixers - a little something extra to bring along with that bottle of vodka.  Apricot Ginger Fizz, oh my!  Gotta love that Martha!
• Bath & body treats - a couple years back we posted some recipes for bath oil, sugar scrubs, bath salts, and more.  They’re so quick and easy to make and most don’t require more than a quick trip to the pharmacy.
• Don’t forget the dogs and cats - how about some homemade dog treats or some homemade cat treats?

For still more quick and easy ideas, check out the Food Gifts section of AllRecipes.com or just do a search for “food gifts”

And just because it really is one of the easiest things I think I’ve ever made, I’m including Martha Stewart’s No Knit Scarf even though it’s not something you’d likely be making in your kitchen (but who am I to judge).  It took about 3o minutes to make once I got the hang of things.  I made one for my sister-in-law and another for a girlfriend and both wear them all the time.  It’s perfect for those not-so-chilly winter days.

If time completely runs away from you and you do decide to go the gift card route just be sure to take into consideration some of RetailMeNot’s basic do and don’ts - especially with so many store closings going on these days.

Join Shay Pausa in today’s Daily Dish on SheKnows.com, for a preview of the next episode of What to Wear - Office holiday party tips!  Keep it office appropriate; not too short, not too tight, not too lowcut.  Jazz up that day to day office wear with a punch of color and some more flashy accessories.

Everyone has a travel dream. For many it is hitting the road for an extended time, either here or abroad,
But many also dream of that great family summer getaway. But how many people actually get from the dreaming to the doing for that great trip? Here’s a list to inspire you to go live your personal vision of a road trip dream.

BRAINSTORM WHAT YOU WOULD WANT TO DO ON YOUR TRIP
Get everyone in on the act! Consider all the possibilities – they’ll be time later to narrow it down. The best ideas usually come from lots of ideas being tossed around. Consider how long you can be gone – really think about it, it may be longer than you initially think. Can you work on the road? Home school for awhile?

PICK A THEME OR TWO
Once you have identified all the ideas you might enjoy doing, there is a sad reality: you can’t do it all. So organize those groups of ideas into a “theme” for your trip. Maybe it is seeing some national parks, or seeing baseball games in major-league stadiums, or working on your photography skills. The ideas are endless depending upon your family’s interests. Be sure to pick some things that each person really wants to do.

RESEARCH YOUR IDEAS
Now the fun begins. To further refine your ideas, get on the Internet and browse, order visitor guides from the locations you plan to travel in, buy some books about your destinations, talk to people who share your passions, subscribe to some online “newsletters.” Get excited, get motivated to go and again – get everyone in on the fun.

ENLIST FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Even on a two-week family vacation, there are things left behind that need tending to. Watering the plants, feeding the animals, checking on aging parents, and the list keeps going. Let people know you are going to be away and get folks to help with these chores – and more.

DECIDE ON YOUR MODE OF TRANSPORTATION
More research is in order. What kinds of places do you want to stay? Do you want to move every day or stay in one spot for awhile? How important is it to have lots of your belongings with you? Do you have a suitable vehicle? Consider renting an RV or large SUV just for the trip. All of these issues will influence your choice of transportation.

DEVELOP A BUDGET TO MEET YOUR GOALS
Few of us have the luxury of unlimited travel funds, so at some point you’ve got to figure the costs out. We’ve developed a cool spreadsheet to help with that.

MAKE LISTS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO LEAVE ON YOUR TRIP
The longer the trip, the bigger the list. There is so much to think about that it may seem overwhelming. You begin to doubt that you can make it happen. But you can. Just take a deep breath, and work through it step-by-step.

PICK A DATE TO LEAVE AND START WORKING TOWARD IT
This is VERY important. Once you have a real date to leave, everything will begin to fall into place and your trip will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. People will help you; you will have a special theme and trip to plan on. Then, before you know it, you will be on your way.

CONSIDER EMERGENCY PREPARATION
You can never really “plan” for emergencies – or they wouldn’t be emergencies! But you do need to think through things like insurance, medical and even legal issues in case something should happen along the way. Make sure someone at home has pictures of all of you (and you of each other), a description and picture of your vehicle and stay in touch with someone every day or so. Remember, no one knows you there, or will miss you if you don’t arrive at your destination – unless it is the relatives. Prepare and forget about it – don’t obsess.

SAY GOOD-BYE AND HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE!
The work is done and the date is drawing near. Let your friends throw you a going-away party or two if you are going on an extended trip. Take pictures and exchange e-mail addresses in order to stay in touch. Give them your website or blog address, so they can follow your travels. Wave good-bye and embark on the journey of a lifetime!

Excerpted from Live Your Road Trip Dream: Travel for a year for the cost of staying home ©2004-2008 Phil and Carol White. If you’ve liked what you’ve read here, be sure to enter for your chance to win Carol and Phil’s Roadtrip Dream Book Pack.

12/14 - TINY LOVE GYMINI MUSICAL KICK & DISCOVER MAT

When Tiny Love first introduced the Gymini, the company could not have anticipated that 15 years later it would become the most essential gift at baby showers around the world. Tiny Love Gymini offers baby an engaging and feature-rich developmental environment. The portable kick pad, with its engaging mirror and touch-sensitive effects, is a detachable, stand alone component that is as conveniently useful out in the yard, in baby’s crib or in the car as it is on the Gymini. Fun accessories dangle on the flexible overhead arches, encouraging baby to uncover a wealth of sounds, colors and textures.

12/15 - ELF ON THE SHELF

“The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition,” is the answer to the age-old question of how Santa really knows who’s been naughty or nice.  The story is about the legend of a pixie-elf who visits homes and reports back to Santa each night.  Each book comes with its very own elf that children can name and register at elfontheshelf.com.  This year, the Elf on the Shelf is launching a new, 3D interactive North Pole that families can enjoy for countless hours while they eagerly anticipate the holidays.  Perfect gift for any household with kids.

12/16 - AUTOGRAPHED SCIENCE BOOK PACK

Janice VanCleave knows how to make science fun.  This holiday season she’s put together a package with two two hands-on autographed science experiment books, packaged in a red totebag as an extension of her “Janice VanCleave’s Big Book of Play and Find Out Science Projects.”  This is a great gift for the inquisitive student or science teacher.

12/17 - ROADTRIP DREAM BOOK PACK

Don’t dream any longer, make it happen.  Take your show on the road.  “Live Your Road Trip Dream” is loaded with valuable and practical advice to help you plan the extended road trip of a lifetime for the cost of staying at home. This award-winning, information-packed, how-to guide includes worksheets, budgeting tips, helpful resources, checklists, and trip-tested advice – everything you need to know for planning that long, rambling, care-free trip you’ve always dreamed about.

12/18 - MD SKINCARE EZ4U 4-in-1 FACIAL TREATMENT

Finally, a high performance skincare regimen in a pocket-size package for those seeking rejuvenated skin throughout the day! In less than 20 seconds, a simple swipe of this handy towelette will effectively cleanse, repair, firm & moisturize skin. Unlike any other towelette on the market, EZ4U provides the convenience of 4 skincare products (a cleanser, toner, wrinkle fighter and moisturizer) in one portable pad. Applications are individually wrapped to ensure portability and preserve the potency of advanced ingredients. Refresh throughout the day or as needed for best results - perfect for individuals on-the-go. A great gift for that frequent traveler or gal on the go.

12/19 - THE GREEN BEAUTY BOOK

Go green and get gorgeous. The promise of beauty is as close as the drugstore aisle—shampoo that gives your hair more body, lotions that smooth away wrinkles, makeup that makes your skin look flawless, and potions that take it all off again. But while conventional products say they’ll make you more beautiful, they contain toxins and preservatives that are both bad for the environment and bad for your body—including synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, and even formaldehyde. In the end, they damage your natural vitality and good looks.

Fortunately, fashion writer, nutritionist, and beauty maven Julie Gabriel helps you find the true path to natural, healthy, green beauty. She helps you decipher labels on every cosmetic product you pick up and avoid toxic and damaging chemicals with her detailed Toxic Ingredients List. You’ll learn valuable tips on what your skin really needs to be healthy, glowing, and youthful. Julie Gabriel gives you all the information you need to go green without going broke and become a more natural, healthy, and beautiful you.

12/20 - SALT PIG

We’ve heard about salt cellars and admit to being a little skeptical about The Salt Pig, but we tried it and thought you should to. Once you own one of these, you can’t live a day without it. Fill the mouth with salt and place in an area where you enjoy cooking. Salt is conveniently ready for you to use in a nice-looking vessel. The dome shape and clay keeps salt dry, even during the most humid of summers. Designed and hand created by Lynne Killion, a potter in Birmingham, Alabama.

Are you looking for inexpensive ways to decorate this holiday season.  The Party Goddess has some ideas to share with you…

Think Like a Beatle - Or at least his wife. Currently Yoko Ono has a “Wish Tree” project installed in cities around the world because when she was a child in Japan she used to write wishes for the coming year and leave them in the temple. Why not create your own wish tree? Cut out squares of paper and pre-string them. Invite guests to write their wishes for the new year on a card and place them on your tree (or in a vase). Then, when the holidays are over, save the cards and put them in a scrap book to whip out the following winter.

Get Personal - Place card holders should be fun and festive enough to glam up the table while also letting guests know where they will be sitting (think individual snowflakes, ornaments or even mini evergreens tied with beautiful ribbon scraps and each person’s name).

Collect it Yourself -Take a nature walk and pick up fallen branches, evergreens and pine cones. Take interesting branches and evergreens and “flock” them using the store bought canned stuff or spray paint pine cones silver. Don’t forget to use spray adhesive to add a little extra glittery fascination. Create a centerpiece or buffet decor with what you found and adorned.

Re-Purpose What You’ve Got - Tired of your old holiday gear? Why not just switch it with a neighbor? You deliver two boxes of ornaments or supplies to them and they deliver two boxes to you. That way the house will feel totally festive and no one has spent a cent!

Or Just Reorganize Your Manpower - Don’t feel like switching with a friend? Then why not simulate your own version of Trading Spaces? Pull out all of your usual holiday decorations and have a few close friends or family members decorate your place using your own stuff (then of course you do the same for them!) Tuck things in unexpected places like the bathroom windowsill or even the counter of the master bath. You’re guaranteed not to get stuck in your same old holiday decorating rut.

Remember that we all have so much to be thankful for so put on a big smile and go out and spread some holiday cheer. I promise, you’ll feel a million times better!

These lifelines are brought to you by The Party Goddess! Hip, cool events from concept to completion. They’re L.A. based but always happy to travel.  Check out their blog for ideas that you can do at  home.

Photo by fdecomite

Are the things that are taking up your time really what you want?

What is it that you want out of life right now? A successful business? A romantic partner? An organized home? A vacation?

Are you living a life that reflects what you want for yourself and what you value? Not sure? Try this:

Grab a piece of paper, a journal, or open up a new document on your computer. Ask yourself, “what’s taking up my time?” Make a list. Here is an example of things you might include: work, time with your spouse or kids, time with other family, time with friends, volunteer commitments, spiritual development, errands, home improvement, etc.

Examine your list. Your list reflects who you are - but is that who you want to be?

What do you want for your life? Do you wish you could adopt a dog, yet you have a schedule that keeps you away from home 18 hours a day? Do you share with your friends how much you want to have a “special someone” in your life and yet you don’t leave room for dating? Or maybe you are already in a relationship, but you aren’t taking the time to cultivate and nurture it with your partner?

Take time to carefully plan out what you can scale back on or cut out entirely so that you can create room in your life for the things that you want. Go to the next step: now that you have created the time, what else do you need to do to bring those things into you life?  Just because I took two weeks off from work does not mean that I have the resources to take a trip to Argentina. Most likely I’d need to put in more hours at work for a short time, curb any unnecessary spending, apply for a passport, and so on.

While it can be nice to fantasize, wouldn’t you love to turn those flights of fancy into reality? How can you turn these things you want into tangibles? How can you get your time to reflect your values and the things you really want?

• Decide what you really want.
• Figure out what you need to do to get what you want.
• Turn that list of things you need to do into goals and priorities.
• Create milestones and deadlines for your goals.
• Tell people you trust about what you want to create accountability and support for yourself.

You won’t get what you want by sitting around on your butt all day - unless what you want is more time to sit on your butt. Dream about it, but make sure you back those dreams up with actions. We’re given 24 hours in a day. Leverage your time and create the life you want.

Alaia Williams, founder of One Organized Life, began organizing out of a passion to help others feel better about their environments. She created One Organized Life out of a desire to help people get a handle on areas of their lives that were in chaos.  For more information or thoughts on the organization process, check out her blog.

12/7 - YOGA FOUNDATIONS WITH HILLARY RUBIN DVD

Yoga Foundations with Hillary Rubin is a great DVD, perfect for beginners and those who already do yoga.  In a class environment, you’ll learn how to stand on your feet with confidence, get stronger through transitions and breathe with greater awareness. In a class environment, discover how to: stand on your feet with confidence, get stronger through transitions and breathe with greater awareness.  The I Am Not A Mess™ Series is a new approach to yoga DVDs, offering yoga not just as fitness, but as an all-encompassing set of holistic tools for creating a healthier lifestyle. Be sure to check out Hillary’s yoga podcasts.  Perfect for the yoga lover or someone considering giving yoga a shot.

12/8 - EUFORA URGENT HAIRCARE GIFT PACK

Eufora’s Urgent Repair Treatment set is a great way to rescue hair from winter’s wrath.  Harsh winter weather can leave hair feeling brittle and dry.  Pamper your hair with Eufora Urgent Repair Shampoo and Urgent Repair Replenishing Treatment. Both are based in certified organic aloe vera gel and are completely eco-friendly – in fact, the shampoo was developed with the assistance of an Elle Magazine beauty editor and is 100% biodegradable. I’ve been using Eufora’s Curl’n Defining Solution and their Curl’n Spray Revitalizer and can’t rave about them enough.  One of the products for styling curly hair, it leaves your hair soft to the touch.

12/9 - PEVONIA BOTANICA SPA CARE FOR HIM SET

Let Pevonia Bontanica rescue your favorite guy from his active lifestyle, daily skin aggression from shaving, photo-damage and the absence of a skincare program.  This can all quickly take their toll on his skin.  Get his instead to integrate a simple yet effective regimen to visibly preserve a youthful, recharged appearance. Let him empower his skin to fight the aging process while preventing razor burn, sensitivity and folliculitis. Select phyto-extracts and anti-aging elements such as: Caviar Extract, Portulacca, Green Tea, Ginkgo Biloba, Vitamin C & E, and Arnica, powerfully address your skin’s unique needs.  Just the sort of thing to pamper your guy.

12/10 - BABY MONKEY ONESIE

Baby Monkey’s line of onesies and tee shirts are not only adorable, they’re also unique with their Feng Shui-inspired designs and printed on 100% organic cotton.  They would be great gifts for eco-conscious families, Feng Shui & yoga practitioners as well as your favorite new mom.

12/11 - 6-MONTH SUPPLY DROPPS LAUNDRY DETERGENT

What Would Santa Use to Wash His Beloved Red Suit?  This holiday season, many shoppers will be looking for gifts that give back. Dropps - the new, super-concentrated, Eco-friendly liquid laundry detergent that comes in convenient, dissolvable “toss-and-go” packs—is the perfect stocking stuffer for people seeking new and simple ways to go green and reduce their personal footprint on the environment.  Dropps are biodegradable and NPE- and phosphate-free, and dropps is the only liquid laundry detergent packaged in 100% recyclable PETE packaging. dropps offers a convenient way to protect the environment — the highly concentrated formula is made without the water that traditional laundry detergents needlessly waste. As a result, less packaging and less fuel are required to transport Dropps.  Perfect for anyone that’s tired of schlepping their laundry detergent to the laundromat week after week.

12/12 - BOCA BETH BEGINNER BILINGUAL SPANISH BACKPACK

Boca Beth fun bilingual products for children ages birth on up through ten.  Boca Beth make it easy for parents and teachers to introduce Spanish right alongside English with music and movement fun!  You’ll no longer question if you can give the gift of a second language to your child.  What a fun and educational gift for your little nieces, nephews or dear little ones.

12/13 - WHISK(E)Y, RUM AND THE AMERICAN BAR BOOK SET

Once again, Abbeville Press brings us the perfect collection for the bar man in your life.  The world has fallen in love all over again with rum. Now among the world’s top four spirits, rum sales continue to increase steadily. Its popularity notwithstanding, this is the first full-color reference book to detail the history, various production processes, and manifestations of rum. Rum is the only full-color, illustrated guide to the history, subtle varieties of style and flavor, and the culture surrounding one of the world’s favorite beverages.

Featuring more than 1,000 entries, hundreds of illustrations and an impressively detailed text, Whisk(e)y is the ultimate handbook for whisk(e)y lovers. The intriguing history of whisk(e)y is woven throughout, as is the most up-to-date information, including the most recent developments in the industry and a complete listing of brands and companies by country. With so much information, and more than 500 charming illustrations by Günter Mattei, this handsome volume is a must-have for all whisk(e)y lovers.

This “bar bible” provides recipes for mixing the perfect drink, classical or exotic, and offers tips on serving it correctly. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just relaxing with a cocktail, let world-renowned bartender Charles Schumann be your guide to mixing masterful libations. American Bar—the most authoritative cocktail book ever published—provides all the information the cocktail lover or professional bartender needs to serve up the perfect drink.

5 Things You Should Do to Get Ready Ready for the Holiday Party Season Now

It’s December second, which means that the holidays are NOT HERE YET thankyouverymuch.  You have PLENTY of time to finish your shopping (or start! if you’re like me).  You also have plenty of time to get ready for that New Year’s party you go to every year, the one where everyone comes all dressed up and looking great.  The one that you always rush into feeling frazzled and disappointed by your outfit and your hair and your lipstick.  THAT party.

Here’s a thought: if you start planning NOW, New Year’s Eve — or Christmas Eve or Boxing Day or the last night of Hanukkah or whatever it is you celebrate — won’t catch you off guard.  Here are five simple things to do now, before the rush starts, so that you can sit back and enjoy the holidays in style.  And — bonus! — none of these things costs much, and all have benefits that will last beyond the party.

Get a haircut, and maybe some color too. Book your hair appointment now, because if you do not, I guarantee that you will wake up on the morning of your office party/girls’ night out/flight home and think ‘My hair looks horrible!’ Or, even worse, you’ll see the photos after the event and wonder why no one told you that your roots were a COMPLETELY different color from the rest of your hair.  Need hair help?  Peruse the archives at Hair Thursday for advice and tricks.  Sarah knows hair.

Try one new makeup trick or strategy. Smoky eye, false lashes, berry red lips — go all out this season!  A new dress might not be in the budget, but I’ll bet you can do something special with your makeup, possibly without buying anything new at all.  But practice now, when you’re not rushing to get out the door.  Keep in mind, though, that you only want to do ONE dramatic makeup thing at a time — if you work the smoky eye, keep cheeks and lips neutral.  I really want to do the false eyelash thing this year, and I’ll be using Amalah’s classic Smackdown post as a guideline.  Wish me luck.

Have a manicure. If you’re really in the mood to pamper yourself this holiday season, get a manicure; in most places, a mani is less than $20, including a generous tip (and it’s the holidays, so be generous!).  To make your manicure last longer, choose a sheer shade that won’t show chips or dings.  And make an effort to maintain your pretty hands — wear gloves, both when you’re cleaning up in the kitchen and when you’re out in the cold air, and slather on the moisturizer. Kyl at The Beauty Couch has some simple tips to keep your hands looking great.

Test your outfits. What will you wear to all those functions?  Think, in particular, about days where you will be going from one thing (work, say) to another (cocktails with friends).  Do you have a versatile black skirt and a pretty sweater?  How about a great pin or earrings you can add when the workday is done?  And a clutch you can carry instead of your big tote?  Then you’re all set!  In need of accessories?  Look at places like Target for good bargains; the idea is to be prepared, not to spend a lot of money.

Reuse, renew, recycle! In the mood for a new dress, but not sure you should be shopping for yourself this close to the holidays?  Go green and shop your closet!  Look for pieces that you can make over, either by altering them or by mixing them up with something unexpected.  I recently fell in love with a very pretty taffeta party skirt at J. Crew, but couldn’t justify the expense for something I would only wear once or twice this season.  But then I was poking around in my closet and rediscovered a full-length taffeta skirt I bought almost ten years ago for a black tie function and wore ONCE.  I’m having it cut off to wear this season — the total cost will be less than a third the SALE price of the J. Crew skirt, and I’m sure I’ll wear this recycled skirt more than once.

Are you going anywhere big this holiday season?  What are you wearing?  And what are you doing to get ready?

Susan Wagner writes about style at ParentDish and about everything else at Friday Playdate.  She’s planning to wear her “new” taffeta skirt for Christmas Eve dinner with the extended family.