well, this is it – happy chrismakkah, everyone!  i’ll be around a bit next week…i’m sure i won’t be able to resist sharing a few after-christmas sales.  but posting will be light, and drinking will be heavy…’tis the season, after all.  

for those of you that are entertaining family and friends, or just needing some R&R this week, i thought i’d leave you with a few words of advice from interior design guru bella mancini on using my favorite jo malone scents to make the world a little less hectic and a little more festive:

• During the holidays, some of my favorite moments are those spent in the silent, early morning hours.  I love to turn on the tree lights, start a fire, sit on the sofa and drink my morning coffee.  Jo Malone’s Fragrance Combining Candle enhances this special moment.  I light it near my hearth, and it illuminates brightly while smelling of sweet holiday scent.

• When holiday entertaining, I place a small bouquet of fresh cut eucalyptus and large white roses on the sink in my powder room.  I then spritz Pine & Eucalyptus Living Cologne, which smells like freshly cut pine trees, into the air and on hand towels.  Voila – the bathroom not only looks gorgeous, but it smells gorgeous, too!

• Before holiday overnight guests arrive, I spritz their bed linens with Jo Malone Acqua di Limone Scent Surround Spray.  Its lime, citrus scent is refreshing and clean.

• The Wild Fig & Cassis Home Candle is my absolute favorite – I adore its wintry, woody fragrance so much that it has become my home’s signature scent!  When staying with my in-laws during the holidays, I love to bring something special from my home to theirs, and this candle is undoubtedly the gift I always bring!

i hope each one of you dear readers has a truly wonderful holiday…whether you’re lighting candles, stuffing stockings, or skipping out to maui!  thank you for a fantastic year, and here’s to much more fun together in 2009!

this is it:  our last holiday gifting post of the year…hurrah!  if you’re still struggling with a few last gifts (like, say, me), skip the generic goodies at amazon and head to the expertly-curated gift list at someone spoil me, where not only are they still shipping today for christmas delivery, but you can score 20-30% off sitewide with code STYLEWATCH.  

my “works for just about anyone” picks are this completely fun build-a-monster kit (yes, it’s for kids, but i’d go nuts for this mr. potato head upgrade!), this ceramic takeout coffee cup (the only thing that could make me give up my daily starbucks), or these decadent chocolate caramel apples.  

or, for something a little more personal, i love this linea pelle tote for women, and this travel alarm clock is the first i’ve seen that manages to be stylish and masculine at the same time.  and this paul smith card case is the perfect thing to try to encourage the man in your life to be a little more trendy.  me, i’m just hoping someone realizes all i want for christmas is a week in my (fantastically comfy james perse) sweatpants.

if you’re still struggling, check out all of the goodies at someone spoil me…you’re bound to find something that fits the bill, all while happily bundled up on your couch.  just stick to that “last minute gifts” list on their site, and you’re home free!