Merry Christmas

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas .  Hope you enjoy the holiday weekend and I will be back posting next week.

Lord and Taylor Live Feed Christmas Window Unveiling

One of the most time honored and fun traditions is  seeing  city store's Christmas windows. New York does  them big and everyone wants to get a glimpse. If you're not in NYC though, like many of us,  now you can see the unveiling of Lord and Taylors ( often thought to be the best of the department store windows)  on a live feed. I've got my calendar marked. And just think- no crowds.

 

It all happens tomorrow Nov. 15th between 5:30 and 6PM  at www.lordandtaylor.com/share , the first time ever this has been done.

There will  be performances by Kristen Chenowith and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City

"The theme  this year  is “Share the Joy.” This spring, Lord &Taylor asked customers, friends and family to share their favorite holiday memories and traditions via Facebook and  letters. Inspired by these submissions, the four Fifth Avenue windows will come to life with 12 Christmas scenes set in New York City over the past 50 years. Scenes will include: trimming a tree, holiday party, picking out a tree, taking a family photo, White Christmas, child’s first bike, a big family celebration, Christmas baking, a holiday party overflowing onto a fire escape, Santa’s Christmas, waiting for Santa and watching holiday tv specials. The customer and story that inspired each mechanical window scene will be displayed in the window for viewers to see."

Image is  2008 window scene.

Bath and Body Works Holiday Hand Soaps

These new figural hand soaps from Bath and Body Works are cheery and make great gifts.   Or maybe as a way to get kids to wash their hands more easily ?

They contain Anti Bacterial Hand Soap  in these scents: Vanilla Bean Noel- Snowman, Twisted Peppermint-Peppermint Swirl and Winter Candy Apple- Christmas Tree.

$ 10.00 each

Philosophy Under The Mistletoe Lipshine Holiday Set

I posted much of Philosophy's 2010 holiday sets last week, but I have this one more. The Under The Mistletoe Lipshine Set. The set contains 4 lipshines in the flavors Pepperimint Bark, Candy Cane. Pink Frosted Cookie and Cherry Christmas.

 I doubt you need me to tell you how delish these are, I am partial to the cherry myself with Pink Frosted Cookie  in second.

The packaging is a cute slide out with the 4 glosses set in.  Retail is $ 20.00. For 4 full size glosses that's pretty good. Rev up your gift buying engines. I know it's early but the sets are out this month and tend to sell out fast.

Philosophy Holiday Gifts 2010

How long I've been waiting to tell you about the new holiday gifts from Philosophy and now at last I can.  I have most sets today and one more to show you in a separate post shortly. 

As usual it's a stellar lineup of not just great gifts for almost everyone you know, but ones you'll want as well. I've said before that I can't think of one person on my gift list ( and that includes my dad) who doesn't want/love  the  3 in 1 s .  Philosophy holiday makes gift shopping so easy .  Three cheers too,  for the return of  Cherry Christmas. An absolute favorite of mine. The one new scent I've tried is Gingerbread Girl. You'll see her down the list.

 Some may be exclusives to Sephora or  others. And there are also some  that I don't have on my list.

Melting Marshmallow-  A 4 oz  3 in 1, 2 oz body lotion and lip shine all in Melting Marshmallow scent. $ 22.00

I'm Dreaming of ...

White Pear, White Peach and White Cranberry  3in1s, 6 oz each. $ 25.00

Holiday Greetings-  4 oz. Frozen Butter Cookie 3 in 1 , 2 oz Coconut Macaroon body butter, Pink Frosted Cookie Lip Shine . $ 22.00

Candy Cane- 4 oz foaming bubble bath/shower gel, 2 oz body lotion, lipshine all in Candy Cane. $ 22.00

The Gingerbread House- The Gingerbread Girl and Gingerbread Man each in 8 oz. $ 20.00

The Gingerbread Girl Gift Set- Gingerbread Girl shower/bath gel and body lotion , each 8 oz. $ 20.00

Peppermint Bark-  8 oz Mint Chocolate Candy 3 in 1 and  lip shine . $ 18.00

Holiday Hostess- 8 oz each Sugary Cinnamon Icing 3 in 1 and body lotion. $ 20.00

Warm and Toasty- Double Rich Hot Cocoa,Hot Buttered Rum and Hazelnut Espresso  3 in 1s , 6 oz. each. $ 25.00

 The Gingerbread Man - 16 oz 3in 1. $ 16.00

Hot Buttered Rum- 16 oz 3in 1. $ 16.00

I'm Dreaming of ...White Pear 3 in 1 . 16 oz. $ 16.00

Snow Angel- Snow  Angel scented 16 oz. 3 in 1 . $ 16.00

Candy Cane- Candy Cane 16 oz 3 in 1 . $ 16.00

Silent Night- Soothing Lavender  bath/shower gel. 16 oz. $ 16.00

Heart of the Season- Cranberry 3 in 1 , benefiting the Joyful Heart Foundation. $ 16 oz . $ 16.00.

Glow and Behold- Celestial Citrus  3 in 1 . 16 oz. $ 16.00

The Gingerbread Girl- 16 oz 3 in 1 at $ 16.00. **This one I have tried and it has lots of shimmer and a  very light citrus/ginger scent.

Eternal Grace Fragrance Layering Collection - Perfumed shampoo, Bath and Shower gel 8 oz each, 2 oz Perfumed Firming Body Emulsion and  2 oz spray fragrance . $ 49.50

Philosophy Have a Cherry Christmas -Philosophy Cherry Christmas Shower Gel and Lipshine Gift Set $ 18.00


Head to http://www.philosophy.com/  to buy and see more.

Victoria's Secret Holiday Collection

 All the details on the always cute and fun Victoria's Secret Holiday line. Includes a new addition to the Heavenly line- Heavenly Stardust and makeup in diamond/jewel cut compacts. These all hits stores and online in October.

2010 Holiday VS Giftsets:

Best Of VS Fragrance Set:

For the girl who can’t get enough. This ultimate fragrance gift offers our seven best Eau de Parfum: Dream Angels Heavenly, Very Sexy, Body By Victoria, Victoria’s Secret PINK, Sexy Little Things Love Rocks, Sexy Little Things Noir, and our newest scent, Victoria’s Secret Bombshell. .25 oz. each. $40

The Ultimate Heavenly Gift:

This beautiful box opens to reveal all your heavenly dreams come true. Includes Angel Wash and Angel Touch Lotion, 3.4 oz. each, Eau de Parfum, 2.5 oz. and .25 oz. $58

Secret Garden Splash and Lotion Set:

The perfect pair, times three! Lotion and splash in our top scents: Love Spell, Amber Romance and Pure Seduction. Wear each alone or layer the lotion and splash together for a more sensual scent experience. 4.2 oz. each. $22

Star Bright Beauty Rush Gloss Set:

Six of our award-winning lip glosses in limited-edition holiday flavors housed in a dazzling star-shaped box: Double Truffle, Cookie Kiss, Hottie Cider, Sweet Gleam,Tiny Bubbles and Dandy Cane. $25

New Heavenly Stardust fragrance and The Heavenly Stardust Collection:-
A fruity floral fragrance.

-Top: Wild Red Winter Berries, Strawberry, Tangerine

-Middle: Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Plum, White Peach

-Dry-down: Liquid Amber, Caramel, Touch of Praline, Sensual Woods, Liquid Musk

EDP 2.5 oz.

Sheer fragrance mist 8.4 oz.

Shimmering Body Lotion 6.7 oz

The VS makeup Minight Glamour Collection:

Hypergloss Eye Shimmer-Breakthrough formula suspends shimmer and micro pigments for a multi-dimensional, jewel-like effect. In Night Lights (silver).

Nail Lacquer:

In Midnight Glamour (midnight blue).

Luminous Highlighting Powder- Three shimmering, pearlescent shades come together  for the ultimate, luminous glow. In Starlit.

Deluxe Eye Palette: Create unforgettable eye looks with this versatile palette of stunning Silky Eye Shadows and Gel Liner. In Spellbound (champagne, bronze, dark silver and midnight shadows plus black gel liner).

Deluxe Lip Palette:

Create unforgettable lip looks with this versatile palette of stunning Lipsticks and Lip Glosses. In Temptation (clearsparkle and nude gloss, berry and deep red lipstick)

Holiday Ornaments  ($ 10.00 each) in:

Heavenly, Bombshell, VS Her, Noir, Love Rocks, PINK, Life is PINK Wish, VS Him

Very Sexy Now Collection:

A floriental fruity warm fragrance

-Top: Goji Berry, Bergamot Blossom, Blue Lotus

-Middle: Orange Blossom, Midnight-blooming Jasmine, Succulent Blackberry

-Dry-down: White Amber, Cedarwood, Sensual Musk

EDP 2.5 oz.

Sheer Sexy Mist 8.4 oz.

Shimering Body Lotion 6.7 oz.

 Holiday Shimmer Collection:

The scents:

-Victoria's Secret Bombshell- Silver pink glimmer and a glamorous blend of Purple Passion Fruit, Shangri-la Peony and Vanilla Orchid.

-Dream Angels Heavenly-  Golden glimmer and a romantic blend of White Musk,

Sandalwood, Vanilla and White Peony.

-Very Sexy ®- Silver glimmer and a sultry blend of Vanilla Orchid,Clementine and Blackberry.

-Victoria's Secret PINK:  Pink glimmer and a flirty blend of Artemisia, Neroli

Flower and Peony.

-Sexy Little Things Noir-Golden pink glimmer and an enchanting blend

of Nectarine, Amber and Orchid.

The Products:

Shimmer Mist 8.4 oz.

Shimmer Lotion 8 oz.

Shimmer Powder .42 oz.

Helping Vets at Christmas

Before Christmas , I was happy to be a small part of helping female veterans in the Norfolk,VA area have a happier holiday. My dearest friend The Movie Mommy is a Navy Reserve recruiter and asked me about getting some nice personal items for the ladies. Things like body lotion, shower gel, lip balm. Very basic but not so much to them as all they have is hospital issue . She wanted items that were a bit nicer.

One thing I don't think we think about ( I know I didn't) is that many vets are young women. In the hospital she was collection for, there were younger and older women. In the first picture the young woman not in uniform is a vet at the hosptial.

My friend's recruiting area basically adopted this hospital and it's vets for the holidays. As she said, for many it was the only gifts they might get. ( They gifted the men as well).

Many of the people who helped me to coordinate my end wish to remain anonymous, in the spirit of the holiday, they said, so I can't thank them by name. They know who they are though and so I do thank them hugely. One never expects generosity , and when it comes it's a beautiful thing. I chose to not remain anonymous and post on this to help spread the word and perhaps inspire others, not for any self promotion.

Here are some photos of the day and what a little beauty and a helping hand can do. Chief credit for this endeavor goes to the Navy's Sally Patton and Pamela Copeland who did the bulk of the legwork, pictured in the group photo. Bravo Zulu ladies.

Merry Christmas

Like many of you, I have places to go, presents to wrap and Merry to make. So I'll be off for a couple days. I wish you, my readers, the very Merriest of Christmases.

May all your wishes come true and peace to the world. New posts will resume Dec. 27th.

Photo:the beauty alchemist

Annick Goutal Noel Candle

The Noel candle by Annick Goutal is a holiday tradition. Each year it comes out in time for Christmas and in a new glass design . This year's has gold stars floating all around the glass.

The scent is of a beautifully fragrant live Christmas tree with a hint of citrus. It's not artificial or cloying, not too overdone. Just fresh and lovely, what you'd expect from such a quality fragrance house. The wax is a clear white so it will go with any decor.

The candle comes in a large size that has a burn time of 60 hours( $ 65.00), a set of 5 votives( $ 52.00), and a room spray( $ 46.00).

Available at Saks, Neimans, Nordstrom and more.

* press sample

Printemps Paris Dept. Store Holiday Windows Video

For your viewing pleasure - The Christmas windows from Printemps dept. store in Paris as well as all the initial turning on lighting spectacular. It all looks beautiful as does Natalia Vodianova who co-hosted.

Joyeux Noel a little in advance.


Video:youtube