All I want for Christmas is a major life shift, world peace, the end to systemic discrimination, and endless love, but since I can’t have those things, here’s my real wishlist. Oh, wait. I can’t have these things either. Darn the price tags!

1. iPhone 6

I currently have a 4s, which is the equivalent of a flip-phone. I also have man-hands, which makes sending emails dangerous on a small screen. Typos-R-Us.

Isn’t she lovely?

2. Cuff

This smart jewelry isn’t actually available yet, but it can be pre-ordered! I want this in ALL the ways. It’s an activity tracker, it notifies you when you’re receiving an important call or text (even if your phone is in your purse) and it’s an emergency notification system in case you fall and can’t get up! And, it comes in lots of pretty styles!

3. Toms

These. Because they’re high-tops. And, because they’re blue, suede shoes. Elvis wants me to have them. Plus, for every pair of Toms shoes you buy, they donate a pair to a person in need. Bonus!

4. Olay Advanced Cleansing System

Because I’m 43 and still get breakouts and everyone I know who has one swears by it. Everyone I know wouldn’t lie! Right? RIGHT? Excuse me while I sign the deed on this swampland in Jersey.

5. North Face

*swoon* This long parka is my dream coat. I work-out five days a week, sometimes six, and I’m often trotting about town in running tights. My son is always the last kid to exit the building at school pick-up. My butt gets cold and unless I’m in the gym or out for a run, I’d like to keep it covered. Thankyouverymuch.

So there! You can get me everything on my wish list for about $650. Get to shoppin’!

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I didn’t want to contribute to any stampedes at brick and mortar retailers, so I saved my holiday wish list for late in the evening of Black Friday. You’re welcome.

This is what I want for Christmas, or what YOU want for Christmas because I already have it and love it – which means I want more of it.

1. Tretorn Canvas Tennis Shoes – This is strictly a want. I wore Tretorns for many years as a kid and I can still remember the cushiony softness of this shoe. Plus, they’re cute.

2. RoC RETINOL CORREXION MAX Wrinkle Resurfacing System – Okay, so maybe your gift recipient would need to be okay with you acknowledging their sorry skin, but if you know someone who is looking for a good beauty treatment, this is pretty great. I received this system at BlogHer ’13 and it’s done some magical stuff to my face – especially my pores. There, I said it. It’s a little pricey for a stocking stuffer, so I’m including it in this gift guide.

3. iLive Under Cabinet Radio with Bluetooth Speakers – I love to listen to music while I’m in the kitchen. Instead of putting my phone in a bowl or cup to amplify the sound, it would be great to have something that would play my iTunes without the use of dinnerware. I have an under cabinet radio now that gets a lot of use, EVEN THOUGH IT’S A CASSETTE PLAYER. 4. Wii Fit U – I included this on my special needs kid’s list, too. We enjoy it that much. I would love to say that I do only the adult stuff, like yoga, but I can’t stop playing the obstacle course game. Also, the Fit Meter tracks your steps and altitude so I joined a virtual gym community and we’re competing against other players. There’s nothing like a friendly competition to motivate me. Chocolate works, too.

5. Cuisinart Stainless Cookware Collection – We are moving away from cooking with non-stick cookware and though the few pieces of stainless we have aren’t Cuisinart, every other kitchen tool I own that’s stamped “Cuisinart” is a quality piece. We got our Cuisinart toaster for our wedding and while everyone made fun of me for putting a $90 toaster on the registry, it’s lasted for almost 17 years and is still toasting strong.6. Isotoner smarTouch Gloves – I asked for touch-screen gloves last year, too. *cough*

7. Brown Ankle Boots – Because everyone has black ones, so why not stand out. Also, because my brown, pleather ones are all torn up from wearing them so much. If a stacked-heel is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

8. Gap Perfect Boot Jeans – These jeans come in four lengths which is awesome for a tall girl. I have them in regular, long and extra-long and can switch them out depending on whether I’m wearing ballet flats, tennis shoes, or boots. And, they’re mid-rise so there’s no risk in bearing your backside. Again, you’re welcome.

9. Remote Car Starter – Show someone you love them by warming up their car for them. Bonus: You don’t even have to leave the house.

www.viper.com

10. The Home. T. – Getting another Home. T. would mean moving to another state, but for this kind of softness, I’d consider it.

11. The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays – I am not exaggerating when I say that I’ve been complimented on yesterday’s turkey about 20 times. My husband won’t stop talking about it. The recipe came straight from this book and like all of Ree’s dishes, it was easy and delicious.

Disclosure: I received a Home. T., Wii Fit U and Fit Meter for review and Ree’s book as a gift. I, quite possibly, have the best job ever.

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If you are a friend of mine, you know that any time you have an ailment I’m going to suggest apple cider vinegar as a cure. A best friend and proponent of this health potion got me drinking it years ago. Now, it’s a daily habit.

I know a few of you who have listened to me and bought ACV, but I also know that it’s just sitting there, still sealed, in your cabinet. I’m here to say DON’T FEAR THE VINEGAR. Embrace it. Here’s what you need to know, and to be clear, these are my opinions. I’m not a medical expert. I’m a blogger, so if you’re going to try it, please talk to your doctor first.

1. Buy organic, unfiltered, unpasteurized ACV with little bits of fleshy substance called the Mother. I get Bragg. It has all the good stuff you’re looking for in your apple cider vinegar.

2. Drink 1 or 2 teaspoons of ACV mixed with cold water, up to 3 times a day. Bragg suggests you mix in honey, but I don’t like honey in my drinks – not even tea – so I’m sure as heck not going to mix it with vinegar. *shudder* I actually drink mine like a shot. I take 4 teaspoons, straight, with a water chaser, once a day.

3. No matter how you do it, it’s going to taste bad. It’s vinegar, people. Plug your nose and drink it.

4. I take a shot about 30 minutes before a cross-fit workout for a little energy boost. My trainer swears by it, as long as I don’t breathe on him.

5. It’s great for sore throats. Mix a couple of teaspoons in 1/4 cup of water, gargle and swallow. My daughter says it doesn’t help, but I found out that she was only saying that so I wouldn’t make her do it anymore. See #3. For the record, since I made her start gargling ACV for sore throats, she hasn’t had strep. Not in years.

6. A few months ago, I had heartburn so bad that I thought I was having a heart attack. I took over the counter antacids, then switched to prescription antacids, and it wouldn’t go away. I was in so much pain in the middle of the night and I thought I’d try ACV.  I have no idea what made me think of it, because it seems counter-intuitive, but within minutes of drinking, the heartburn lessened. I drank more about an hour later and the heartburn went away completely. Then I found a bunch of people on the Internet who said the same thing. (Note: If you think you’re having a heart attack, don’t drink vinegar. Go to the ER.)

7. Clear up a pimple by dabbing it with a cotton ball dipped in ACV.

8. Do the same thing to treat a sunburn.

9. Though we have never had lice (*knocks on ALL THE WOOD*), I once thought we had lice so I soaked my head in apple cider vinegar, covered it with a shower cap, then wrapped it in a towel and went to bed. The “lice” turned out to be dandruff, but my hair was super shiny the next day!

10. I can’t prove it has done these things for me, but ACV is purported to help lower cholesterol and glucose levels.

So what do you have to lose? Plug your nose and bottoms up!

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When I was 12 years old, my oldest sister told me that I should start taking care of my skin.  I had been washing my face with soap and trying my best to keep it clean, but puberty had other ideas for my face.  Soap didn’t quite cut it.

Ever since then, there has been a fine line between clean skin and breakouts for me.  About a year ago, after 28 years of trying to figure out what works, I finally found a face soap I love.  Only, it’s wasn’t a face soap, it’s was a body scrub, and it’s not cheap either.  Nevertheless, it worked pretty well with my skin type and, at close to 40 years old, I was finally settled on using this product for the foreseeable future.

About a month ago, I was contacted by Sibu Beauty. Founded by a philanthropist and the director of a humanitarian organization, Sibu Beauty products are made from the Sea Buckthorn Berry; a sustainable resource, rich in antioxidants and vitamin-packed.  They asked if I wanted to review their facial cream or their facial cleanser.  I told them that I would be happy to check out their cream, but that I was pretty set in my cleanser ways.

But, a funny thing happened on the way to delivering my product.  Someone sent me the wrong thing.  Instead of the cream, I received the Balancing Facial Cleanser and despite being certain that I would never use another face soap, I gave it a try.

Then something else funny happened.  I liked it.  It’s fine granules exfoliate my skin just as well as my pricey mall brand scrub and because this is a product meant for the face, it’s gentler on my skin.  Oh, and did I mention that it’s $7.00 cheaper?

Yeah, guess who’s set in whole new ways?

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