This dreadful winter weather has me feeling all shades of drab, lackluster, blue and blah. My skin is drier than the Mojave, my attitude is in need of a serious adjustment, and (gasp!) black has become my new signature color (but striped and combo’d with a dazzled bib necklace of course). My resolution for a Happy New You begins now as I dig through my closet for the brightest coat I own, and I’ll be tossing back some vitamin D3 in hopes of a more cheerful tomorrow!  If the winter woe has got you down and stressed out too, then I’ve got some calming solutions for you. Clear out the medicine cabinet and bust out the workout gear for optimal results! If nothing else seems to kick-start our cold hearts, let’s just say we’re having a “major Black Swan moment” and call it good for now.

1. Murad Essential-C Day Moisturizer SPF 30

2. The North Face Aconcagua Jacket in Retro Pink

3. Aquaphor Healing Ointment (dermatologist recommended!)

4. Yogi Green Tea

5. BodyWisdom Yoga For Stress Relief DVD

6. Ugg Bailey Button in Crushed Violets (give your brown pair a rest!)

7. Alacer Emergen-C Multi-Vitamin Cherry Pomegranate Packets

8. Andrew Pollack “Life F’n Sucks: Get Out of Your Slump and On With Your Life“

9. Aura Cacia Lavender Essential Oil (sprinkle some on your pillow at bedtime!)

10. Sonoma Lavendar Salt Scrub

11. Now Foods Vitamin D-3, 5,000 IU

I intended to post a little something about the fun of gift giving and encourage everyone to wear a little a extra dazzle on this jolly holiday; however, Santa arrived very early in the form of a surprise ambush from my Sister! Talk about a San Francisco treat! How kind, thoughtful and successful her family was in surprising our hometown family is the best gift possible! As I head off to my other Sister’s house for yet another surprise ambush (this time I’m in on it!), I can only wish that you too are surrounded by your ‘favorite’ family and friends as well. Merry Christmas to all, and may a Christmas Miracle (in any form) land on your doorstep as well.

1. Nike Air Max Run Lite

2. New York & Co. Sparkle Skinny Belts

3. Lauren Conrad Embellished Wool Jacket

4. Marrikas Egyptian Cotton Bathrobe

5. Clarins ‘Delicious’ Self-Tanning Cream

6. Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

7. Kors Michael Kors Olympia

8. Chloe ‘Chloe’ Eau de Parfum

9. Citizens of Humanity ‘Hutton’ Mid-Rise Flare Jeans

10. Anne Klein Ombre Scarf

11. Apart Epaulet Bateau Tee

12. M.A.C. 266 Small Angle Brush

13. M.A.C. Fluidline

14. Beyond Vintage Sequin Cardigan

15. Ugg Dakota Slippers

Recently I was approached with a style challenge: take an outdated bridesmaid dress and make it modern, wearable and chic. This is the only kind of sport that I know how to play, so I was immediately game to tackle this challenge! Frankly I’m over the ‘LBD’ fixation after witnessing too many unfortunate Audrey Hepburn impersonations. However, this fashion makeover has proved quite satisfying after transforming a dumpy dress  into tailored Mad Men perfection. Here’s the part where I get style shy: I have to present two fab ways to wear the dress on a local tv show. Uh, yikes! This is way unchartered territory and perhaps my biggest style tribulation ever. While I work on my 5.5 minutes of fame, check out what I plan to wear. I figure even if I make a fool of myself at least I’ll be sporting a cute outfit… right? Well, you’ll have to be the judge of that.

1. Cara Accesories Bib Necklace

2. Topshop Shrunken Ruched Sleeve Jacket

3. L’Oreal Elnett Extra StrongHold Hairspray

4. Bare Minerals Matte Foundation

5. Essie Lollipop Nail Polish

6. Forever 21 Instant Glam Ring

7. Forever 21 Square Stone Ring

8. Old Navy Citizen Surplus Cargos (borrowed from my mom!)

9. Calvin Klein Sandie Patent Pump

10. Lucky Brand Shane Sequined Tank

Last night was my annual holiday gathering at work. We don’t have the traditional office party where co-workers get wasted and show their true colors (we save that for private functions), but this doesn’t stop anyone from going over the top. In fact, you’re expected to work it in your holiday best, and it’s a bit of a fashion showdown (this also happens when CEO’s drop in and it’s fantastic!). Of course I rocked my Badgley Mischka vintage dazzler and paired it with the navy corduroy shorts I made a zillion years ago in design school. I toned it all down with basic black and went light on the makeup, yet opted for glam red nails. (Sidebar: nails should always be short and manicured. Long and square tips are all shades of wrong and a serious offense in most cases). Anyhow, in the holiday hustle we forgot to snap a group photo so I don’t have any clear evidence (Mr. D-LD-DF wore white Hugo Boss & Miss Manager would kill me for even mentioning her, but she looked hot in her black mini).  Hopefully this diagram will at least prove my case.

1. IRO Tuxedo Jacket

2. Vince Sequined Crepe T-shirt

3. Anna & Ava Crystal Teardrop Necklace

4. Sephora Glitter Eyeliner

5. Forever 21 Grand Dame Cocktail Ring

6. Deborah Lippman Nail Color in ‘It’s Raining Men’

7. Stuart Weitzman ‘Kilgore’ Booties

8. DKNY Opaque Tights

9. Old Navy Cuffed Cord Shorts

As a kid I was super jealous of kids who celebrated Hanukkah. I mean, hello, that’s like eight days of Christmas and a lot of Peaches ‘n Cream Barbies to be had. I now understand that Hanukkah is not a super-sized Christmas for the lucky kids, but a holiday full of meaningful traditions (note: yummy fried foods!) celebrated with close family. I’m a dreadful cook, bad singer and impatient game player, but I do shop for a living so I couldn’t help but think of a few fun gifts to exchange.

1. The Jewish Museum Lights of Hanukkah Dessert Plates

2. Jonathan Adler Peacock Menorah

3. Arthur Schwartz Jewish Home Cooking: Yiddish Recipes Revisited

4. Golden Cockerel Jewish Rabbi Nesting Doll 5 pc. set

5. Schmaltz Brewing Company HE’BREW The Chosen Beer

6. Lush Cosmetics Fizztival of Lights

7. Modern Tribe Happy Hanukkah Dreidel Cards

8. World Market Kosher Gourmet Gift Basket