(photo by joseph o holmes, courtesy of 20×200.com – isn’t it gorgeous?)

dear readers, i’m off for some much-needed rest, relaxation and a big plate of holiday cookies.  i’ll be back with you in the new year, but until then, i hope your trees are trimmed, your stockings are stuffed, and your after-christmas sale shopping is a wild success!

thank you all for making this yet another wonderful year of blogging – really and truly.  have a wonderful holiday!

well, here we are with our last gift guide of the season…i can honestly hardly believe christmas is friday!

if you’ve really pushed it to the very last minute, or you’re just sick of shopping (either way, i hear you), my absolute favorite last-minute gift is a book.  one-stop shopping that still lets you show the person you actually bought a gift they’d like, not just the first thing you saw in the doorway at macy’s (and support a locally-owned bookstore along the way).

and so, to close our gift bonanza this year, i thought i’d show you the books i’ll be gifting this year, as well as the ones i’ve loved best.  one quick tip:  in general, i tend to shy away from fiction for gifting – people’s tastes are just so personal on that front.  i suggest sticking to books with pictures – they’re the books no one ever buys for themselves (but secretly are dying to own).

for the fashion-phile:  when the world in vogue: people parties places arrived on my doorstep, i was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer size of it.  but when i started to browse, my husband can attest, there were many squeals of delight.  if she (or he) is a devoted vogue subscriber, this is like a greatest-hits album from their favorite band.  my hand to god, every photo i’ve saved from vogue in the last 5 years is in this book.  plum sykes in her bespoke three-piece suit.  lauren santo domingo’s wedding dress(es).  sarah jessica parker’s photo shoot at the plaza during its renovation.  all here, often with their original accompanying article from the magazine.  trust me…this one’s guaranteed to elicit a squeal or two from your favorite fashion fanatic.

(the runner-up:  for a budget option-slash-extremely close runner-up, i think scott schuman’s book, the sartorialist, makes an amazing gift for any serious fashion lover, but it’s probably not the best choice for the casual style observer.  see my review here.)

for the interior design fanatic:  if they’re forever prattling on about how they’d love to knock out this wall, put a bay window “right over there,” or use a $300/yard fabric to reupholster your favorite chair, you have a design fanatic on your hands.  my prescription is downtown chic, by robert and cortney novogratz.  it’s the amazing story of a couple that continually adopts and radically renovates unusual urban spaces.  the results are often extraordinary, and the stories are endlessly entertaining and inspiring, including how they found an enormous stained glass rose window in europe, shipped it to america and had it installed on the 4th floor of their latest project.

(the runner-up: if their bookshelves are filled with names like kelly wearstler, michael s. smith and bunny williams, the obvious addition is david hicks: a life of design, a massive new tome chronicling the projects and style of a man widely regarded to be the father of interior design (and written by his son, which results in a really wonderful portrait of the designer).  as the sartorialist is to fashion, this book is to design. it’s not for the casual observer, but – to a devoted fan – this will be a treasure.)

for the chef: if you don’t live in the northwest, you’re probably not familiar with the magic that is the grand central bakery.  and that’s a real shame.  i’ve loved them for so long, i (half) joke they’re the reason i moved back to portland.  they make the most insanely good cookies, breads and pies i’ve ever tasted (don’t even get me started on their monkey muffins).  now that they’ve released the grand central baking book, i feel a little like the evil genius who just got hold of the hero’s magic wand.  if you have a baker in your life, you simply can’t go wrong here.

(the runner-up:  if she’s more of a cook than a baker, i quite enjoyed make it fast, cook it slow from stephanie o’dea, who wrote the book after committing to cook for her family using only a slow cooker for an entire year.  it’s not for someone who’s terribly serious about their chef-ing, but for a friend who cooks for a family every night, thinks rachael ray is fantastic and can’t get enough quick, easy recipes, this is sure to be a hit.)

for the art lover: this isn’t an art book in the most traditional sense, but just about any art fan undoubtedly has a soft spot for architect frank lloyd wright’s brilliant designs.  he also seems to be unusually popular with men, so this is most likely a great choice for the dad or uncle in your life (i know my dad would love it). when i came across frank lloyd wright: the houses, i was utterly stunned by how comprehensive it is – it contains photos of literally every private home he ever designed.  the body of work is astounding, and the book (while ridiculously large in size) is something i honestly think any art lover would be thrilled to own.

for the craftily-inclined:  i am maybe the least craft-prone person i know (okay, except for my mother), but this book had me wishing for a tub of mod podge.  one of my greatest design sorrows is wallpaper.  i continually see designs i fall hard for, only to recall that it’s generally prohibitively expensive, and that’s not even factoring in installation.  it had never occurred to me that i might be able to use some of those stunning papers in other ways, ways that involve less effort, less commitment and less of the ultra-expensive paper itself. wallpaper projects by derek fagerstrom and lauren smith (they of the curiosity shoppe in san francisco, and the ultimate DIY column on design*sponge) has given me so many ideas, even i could turn crafty on you.  well…maybe not.  but for someone who already has mod podge (and some patience, which i also lack), this is the best DIY book i’ve seen in ages.

(no runner-up here…i’m so not crafty, i couldn’t even review two crafty books.)

here’s hoping one or more of these fits the bill for that gift or two (or entire list) you have yet to check off!

heading to the mall just days before the big day terrifies me utterly.  i hate crowds, (most) other people, and the idea of fighting over that last tin of bath salts is just more than i can handle.

that said, it’s almost always a necessary evil.  i’ll sit up suddenly in bed, right around 3 am, and realize i completely forgot a gift for my mother-in-law, or my aunt sally, or…my hubs.  and i’m left with no choice.

for those in the same boat, hopefully this list of mall-attainable finds will help you streamline your search and go a step up from the typical, standard-issue mall gift.

if you’re in need of a wife/girlfriend/person who sleeps in your bed gift, i know bags are a frightening prospect for men, but trust me, this one’s pretty foolproof. i was downright shocked to walk into a coach boutique recently and fall head over heels, but the brooke hobo managed to entirely sweep me off my feet with its light, soft leather and perfect slouch.  it retails for $458, which is actually pretty reasonable in the land of handbags.  and, while i’d never presume to choose a bag for a woman i hardly know, the brooke is as close to universal as it gets.  simple, sophisticated, beautiful and ready for years and years of use.  if you’re stumped on size and color, go for the larger size in red – she can always exchange, but she’ll love that you got something more interesting than black.

for that neighbor/coworker you completely forgot, i happen to adore these mentha lip cordials from c.o. bigelow (available at your neighborhood bath & body works).  the scents are dee-vine, even for someone like me who typically hates scented lip products, because the scent fades quickly and turns into their standard-issue tingly mint, slightly glossy lip balm i’ve always loved. i’m partial to the buttered rum and spiced cider, but if she’s into more dessert-type scents, definitely go for the hot chocolate and eggnog.  $7.50 each, and get one free if you buy two.  i’d keep the freebie.  i’m selfless that way.

and for your friend – the really hip one – i want you to venture somewhere unusual.  a kid’s store called ‘the children’s place’ happens to be stocking the cutest little watch this christmas.  it’s only $14, and definitely sized to fit an adult.  love the orange face, and even love the camouflage (because it’s grey, not green) – i think this would look fantastic with a blazer/jeans look to add some interest.  i would suggest you find a way to repackage it…the box is a little lacking.  try mixing it with a $5 stack of gold bangles from forever 21, and wrap the whole thing as a set – that would be pretty chic.

(incidentally, this would also make an awesome gift for the kid in your life, obviously…how cute would your five-year-old nephew be in this watch?)

i thought these jeweled slippers were the cutest thing when i spotted them in a mall window a while back.  they photograph horribly, but in person, they’re just right – maybe the most stylish slipper i’ve found.  especially now that they’re 50% off, making them $12 at the loft.  sold out online, but my local shop had plenty in stock….i’ll be heading there today to score a pair!  if you can’t find them, this version makes an excellent backup choice, and either way, she’ll be looking incredibly chic on christmas morning.

stay tuned tomorrow for the ultimate last-minute idea:  a guide to my favorite books for gifting this year.

go ahead and forward this post to the man in your life.  i promise he’s not done shopping for you yet.

guys: while i know the prospect of approaching the cosmetics counter a week before christmas is frightening, bobbi brown is as foolproof as it gets.  they do the most amazing job of packaging wearable, neutral shades that really will work on most every person i know.  (translation: i’m eliminating the part of the shopping process in which you stand around trying to figure out whether that particular shade of pink will make your significant other look like a supermodel or a hospital patient in liver failure.)

yes, it’s hard to go wrong with these little sets from bobbi brown.  i’m a sucker for packaging, and these chrome compacts are as chic as can be.  while i’m not a lip gloss person, i know i’m in the minority on that count…many a lid flipped when i showed this glitter lip balm set around among my friends.  personally, i’ve been wedded to the velvet plum eye palette since it arrived.  i’m pretty low-maintenance on the cosmetic front (the facial care is another matter), and this set just sort of handles all of my eye needs. base color, highlighter, accent shadow and even a liner shade – done!  i don’t even have to think about the eye stuff any more, which is sort of a relief.

either of these sets will make the girl in your life exceedingly happy on christmas morning.  you should be able to track these down at just about any bobbi brown counter, which you’ll find  at most department stores (ie, nordstrom, barneys, bloomingdales…you get the idea). at $40 each, they’re great stocking stuffer material…and i know you haven’t even started buying her stocking stuffers yet.

(girls, if these don’t show up under your tree, go out the day after and buy them anyway. they’re that good.)

men are such tricky people to shop for, aren’t they?  we want to get them clothes, and they want video games.  it’s a dilemma for the ages.  but there is one thing i think most men enjoy receiving more than they’ll readily admit, and it’s high quality shaving products.  it’s something they’ll never, ever buy for themselves, but honestly, a great shave can be life-altering (or so i’m told).

i know it feels a little metro to get a guy face products.  but i’ve gotten calls months after the holidays from the (extremely un-metro) men in my life, asking me where i bought “that shaving stuff you got me for christmas”, so they could restock.  i’ve visited their homes and found the bottles, all but empty, strewn around their bathrooms.  they might not squeal with delight on christmas morning, but they’ll use it, and they’ll love it.  really.

my pick this year is the “man’s best friends” set from origins ($37.50).  it’s not complicated, which is key – i don’t think most men are up for a five-step facial program.  just two products (you get a full-size and trial size of each): a shave cream and an after-shave skin soother.  the scent is utterly inoffensive (mostly peppermint and eucalyptus).  and it seems to make my hubs’ skin quite happy.  that’s really about it for the list of “musts” when it comes to men’s products.

oh yeah, this one’s also very last-minute-gift friendly – pick it up at any origins counter, but you can also score free shipping online (through today only) on origins.com.

time to hunker down, dear readers…with only a week left to the big day, we’re getting a little limited with the online shopping opportunities.  sure, the free express shipping offers are imminent, but after last year’s blizzard (which led to closed airports and no packages), i’m taking the road more cautiously traveled.  so, from here on out, i’ll only suggest something if you could pick it up at your friendly nearby megamart.

anyway.  if you’re heading to some wonderful friend’s house for christmas eve, christmas day, or perhaps some boxing day festivities, i know all of my readers are more than thoughtful enough to know they need to bring something.  the question is what.  wine is so cliche, flowers only work if they arrive in a vase (don’t make your hostess stop what she’s doing to arrange flowers!)…what to do?

if you haven’t a clue, nest‘s holiday fragrance this year knocked me off my feet with its festive goodness, and is an easy but thoughtful choice.  with notes of pine, pomegranate, orange, cinnamon and cloves…well, it’s like christmas in wax.  it also comes in a gorgeous flocked red and gold box (yep, just got to say ‘flocked’ on the blog!), making it gift-wrap optional.  and the price point is actually great – grab one candle for $28, or my preference is this collection of six votives for $32.

for those of you tempting fate, neiman marcus still has free two-day shipping on any order – use code NMRUSH.

when this darling little “peace out” keychain arrived in the mail, my mental dialogue went something like this:  ”*squeal* how cute is this?!  i love it!  this would be perfect for my friend A, who’s working a million hours a day lately.  oh wait, but what about for my mom? she’s so stressed out these days.  then again, it seems like something my hubs would love too, maybe i’ll give it to him.”  then i tested it.  ”hmm. i probably have enough gifts for those other people.”  at which point, the “peace out” set wound up stashed in my handbag.

the moral of that long, winding tale?  this gift is so perfectly universal – it works for men (well, some men), women, parents, siblings, friends, coworkers – i’d suggest stocking up on several so you end up with a few leftovers for yourself.  it’s the ultimate “oh yeah…uh, i totally got you a gift too” to keep in your desk drawer/glove compartment.  especially for only $12.50 per set.

the whole concept of this set is stress relief.  the tube contains an herb-infused serum (mostly peppermint) that you rub onto your temples or the back of your neck when feeling stressed.  the little box of mints contains the same herbal blend.  the results are sort of this crazy tingly, refreshed feeling – while i wouldn’t commit to, say, xanax levels of stress relief, it definitely does a good job of taking your mind off your troubles.  weird, i know…but it works!

grab a handful of these at any origins counter (i’m sure you’ve seen their mega-displays at macy’s, for example) – or they’re offering free shipping and gift wrap at origins.com through friday, 12/18.

one of my first rules of beauty gifting is to hand out products that i’ve come to love during the year, or that are perennial favorites of mine.  after all, if i love it, my friends should too…right?

i’m a long-devoted fan of caudalie, particularly their vinoperfect radiance serum, which i’m pretty sure contains actual magical properties.  i’m constantly raving about it to friends, family, strangers on the street…you get the idea.  so, for the women i know that get as excited as i do about really amazing skin products, the caudalie vinoperfect radiance set is a no-brainer.  the set includes a full-size bottle of the serum plus mini bottles of their day cream with spf, night cream and a great mask, all for $79 at sephora (which is what you’d ordinarily pay for the serum alone, incidentally).

which brings me to a nonsequitor about the beauty gift set:  keep in mind that nearly every holiday set out there involves some serious savings over the products sold separately during the rest of the year. so, while you’re out shopping for your near and dear, remember to check out the sets that include your daily regimen – you’re bound to find a steal or two.  ’tis the season to stock up!

editor’s note: excellent news!  the celebutante set is back in stock at benefit’s website…turns out they located a few extras.  grab yours while you can!

to be honest, it’s only been in the last year or so that i’ve really seen the wisdom of the beauty gift set for holiday giving.  i was never a huge fan of it, but lo and behold, when i actually started *giving* beauty sets to my near and dear – each and every gift, to my complete shock, was a huge hit!  my theory is that, since many of us don’t indulge in the really splurge-worthy beauty goodies during the year, a little dose of luxury is incredibly welcome at the holidays.

that said, i have a couple of useful beauty giving guidelines:  i still stay far away from perfume gift sets.  fragrance is a tricky thing to gift, and just because your near and dear loves a perfume doesn’t mean she wants a lotion, body wash and candle to match.  second, look for variety in the contents – no sets of 10 lipsticks or 40 colors of eyeshadow in one palette.  mix it up, give them lots of new things to try…they’ll love you for it.

i’ll be showing off a few of my favorite beauty gifts this week, but can’t resist starting with the cutest ones i’ve seen all year.  i’m inclined to send these sweet little sets from benefit to each and every one of my girlfriends – they’re perfect for friends, for a holiday stocking, and perfect for a teenage girl (no eyeliner or heavy lip shades to abuse):

the celebutante set is my absolute favorite, but sadly sold out literally everywhere online – you’re going to have to venture mall-side to find them (sorry about that).  i did spot a few at my local sephora recently, and it’s also worth checking macy’s.  for $34, you get sample sizes of just about all of my fave benefit products: high beam, benetint, lip gloss, two lipsticks, two eyeshadows (all in beautiful, useful neutrals), dallas face bronzer, annd brushes to match. plus, it all comes in that darling (and highly travel-friendly) box.

i’m always dying to test out benefit’s latest magical face powder, but it’s so hard to choose which one to try!  if you have friends that are the same way, snap up a box of powderazzi this holiday, and their dilemma is solved.  you get coralista (a gorgeous, warming sheer blush), hoola (a fabulous matte bronzer) and dallas (a perfect blush/bronzer hybrid), plus their fab powder brush, all for $30!  you do have to buy it from hsn.com, but it’s a small price to pay (ha!…sorry, couldn’t resist).

oh, and yep, i got samples of these…so i can tell you exactly how cute these little sets really are.  trust me, you can’t go wrong.

as long as we’re talking about my well-documented love for gemma redux, i thought i’d share a little something i’m positively dying to find under my tree this holiday.  these blue agate earrings have had a place in my heart for months now…while some women fantasize about daniel craig (a link well worth clicking, by the way), i fantasize about how and where i’d wear these beauties, and all the people that would stop me on the street to admire them.

aren’t they fantastic?!   sadly, the hubs has already nixed these from my list, so i’m stuck relying on santa for this one.  they’re a little indulgent at $215, but what are the holidays for if not a little indulgence?

santa, if you’re listening…i’m prepared to bargain!