All I Want for Christmas: Fendi B.Mix Tote

Gold Diggin'

StyleScrybe hasn't been gotten into the holiday spirit yet. Maybe it's the recession. I've decided to pull myself out of the funk with a little e-window shopping (read that as lusting and hoping Santa reads this blog). Said e-tail therapy is a lot easier thanks to the "salemail" I get everyday from Shopittome.com. Maybe I'll start gift guides soon (cuz last year's rocked!), but for now, it's all about me me me me me (still one of my fave Mya songs to date). I'm currently coveting Fendi's dark gold leather B. Mix tote. It's size is perfect for this time of year because as I jaunt to and from parties and events I can carry small gifts and even an umbrella on rainy days. The color's what's up too... goes with everything! So Santa, baby, put this under the tree for me... please?

*PS- I think shopping for self was really helpful because now I'm feeling a little jingle bell-y. Stay tuned for gift guides. Smile.

Five, Six, Pick Up... (Gifts for Your Guy)

Santa, Baby

The fireside is blazing bright, and you've decided he's worth rolling your heart's dice. He knows when to be naughty and when to be nice. One thing, though, you can't figure out what gift he'd like. He said all he wants is you, but you know better. You've gotta get him something good- it's your first Christmas together. Plus, his last girlfriend always gave him ties, cologne and such, so you refuse to go there. Don't fret, my pets, I'm here to help you make "Ronny Romance" do his happy dance. Here are five great guy-approved "Love, Your Girl" gifts I found that'll keep the kisses coming (mistletoe or not).

Deep heart, shallow pockets ($)

My homegirl's guy had the nerve to act up a week and a half before Christmas. He's in the process of making up for it, but he's not all the way out the doghouse yet. Another friend is really into her guy, but she's got a big family and can't afford to blow the bank on her beau. If you're in either situation, this $69.99 Kraftware Deluxe Bar-in-a-Box from Target is perfect for you. You'll earn extra points if you give him a bottle of "brown" to go with it. (I'm talking Henny or Remy... none of that cheap crap.)


Money Ain't Tight, But it Ain't Quite Right ($$)

He's crossed his T's and dotted the I's, so he deserves a gift that costs a lil sumthin' sumthin'. These limited edition Lacoste for Kid Robot sneakers will have him steppin' out in style for $175, or fork over $179.99 for a Flip Video Ultra Camcorder to catch all the memories you'll make.

Baby got Bank! ($$$)

If you got a big bonus this year and you're in the mood to share, put a little luxury under the tree with a $200 Hennessy XO Limited Collector's Edition gift set. If you're tired of that raggedy sack he totes to and from your crib, spend the $390 to upgrade him to a sophisticated Samsonite Black Label duffel.

Five, Six, Pick Up... (Gifts for Coworker Claus)

Because Sometimes Secret Santa Sucks

You've picked the name from the hat and realized that a) you don't know the person you're supposed to gift, or b) you know the person and can't stand him or her. Hell, maybe you even like the person a little bit. Regardless, who wants to spend a bunch of hard-earned dough on a co-worker when you have real friends and family to buy presents for? Thank goodness there's a price limit for your office's holiday grab bag. Before you cop the cheesy reindeer socks or contemplate a $10 gift card (c'mon now), try getting something that's actually cool and has some personality. At least this way it'll be easy to re-gift. Here are five gifts I found fall under usual limits of $10-20. BTW, I'll gladly accept any of these if you want to be my Secret Santa :-).

Poppin' Bottles (10 Bucks or Below) For Wendy or Wendel Winelover, little friendly "Carlo" stoppers are a fun "welcome back" to unfinished bottles of vino. A set of two costs $8.50 at Retromodern.com. If your giftee is Mindy Manicure, this $9.95 Essie Winter '07 mini pack from Enailsupply.com is sure to make the "keeper" pile.











Fun & Yummy ($15 is Far Enough) Super Mario 'Shrooms take the mind back to simpler times. Pop of the top and take Sam Sweettooth's taste buds on a tart adventure. $15 at Fredflare.com gets your giftee a set of three. The J.R. Watkins Apothecary Sampler keeps skin butter-smooth and smelling sweet (I swear by this stuff, straight up). Carry-on friendly and made with natural ingredients, it's only $14.99 at Drugstore.com.













Treat your Nose ($20's the Top) Inhale, Exhale let good vibes flow. Ilio Nectaire Diffuser Duos from Target are great for gifting. For $19.99 choose from vanilla bean/ berry cinnamon bark or lavender/ cucumber. If the recipient isn't fond of one scent, there's another choice. Bigger than that, he or she can keep one home and put another in the office. Ain't no fun if the homies can't haaaave none, right?

Five, Six, Pick Up... (Gifts for Cosmetics Connoisseurs)

About Face

There's one in every crew... the girl whose wardrobe is a little blah, but her makeup is always perfect. She doesn't care much about the Christian trinity (you know, Louboutin, Lacroix and Dior), but she sure knows the ABC's of beauty (Anastasia, Bobbi Brown, Cargo, and so on). You and the rest of your gal gang give her fashion goodies every year, but she never seems to wear them (because she's given them to her other friends for their birthdays). This year, stop trying to reinvent the wheel, for once, and give her something she won't have to re-gift. If you're reading this, you've got more of a fashion focus than a beauty brain, so I did the foot- (er, finger-)work for you. Here are five glam-up giftsI found that should fit a variety of friendship (price) levels.

BFF on a Budget ($)

If it's a stocking you're stuffing, spend $5.09 for this set of 8 e.l.f. Hypershine Mini Cell Phone Lip Gloss Charms at drugstore.com, or up the ante a little for a $25 Sugar Cosmetics Zip Kit containing a lip gloss and 4 eyeshadow choices at makeup.com.












Generous Gal-Pal ($$)

Cargo's $45 collection of favorites makes it easy to achieve this holiday season's sophisticated looks. A $108 value, this festively packaged limited edition kit is available only at Sephora. Every face-ionista knows no face is completely "beat" without perfectly bowed brows. Give your homegirl the upper hand with this $75 Anastasia Beverly Hills kit.













Sister-friend with a Surplus ($$$)

If you got it like that, then give like this: Bobbi Brown's limited edition Rose Gold Collection. For $125 your beauty-addicted buddy'll get a glamorous 5-piece makeup set in an exclusive shimmery Beauty Kit.

Shop to Save (Because Saving $$$ is Good but Saving Lives is Best)

There Once Was a Tree...

I think we all know the camp song about "the prettiest tree that you ever did see." Well, on that tree, there was a leaf, (also the prettiest that you ever did see) and it somehow fell into melted 18K gold before ending up on the end of a 30" chain. OK, that's not exactly how this beautiful piece of jewelry came to be, but it's pretty close to the truth. The real deal is that eco-conscious Nugaard Designs dipped dehydrated real leaves off Brazilian trees into silver or gold to create their Flora Collection. Through a partnership with Trees for the Future, a tree will be planted for each piece sold from the collection. Lucky's editors liked the Round Leaf Earrings, but my favorite piece was this necklace I found on delight.com for $87.75. Either choice makes the perfect Holiday gift, (no matter which you celebrate), so this Cyber-Monday, get one for every eco-chic(k) in your life.

Shop to Save (Because Saving $$$ is Good but Saving Lives is Best)

Saks' Holiday Catalog Helps Save Sick Kids at St. Jude's

All I want for Christmas is for someone to Saks it to me! (Please? it'll help ensure medical treatment for a child with a serious illness regardless of his or her family's ability to pay. Plus, I'll be your friend for always. I Promise.) In its first holiday catalog, " Snow or Never," the luxury retailer is offering five exclusive and extravagant gift packages. Available for purchase today, the gifts are based on the fantasies or career hopes of St. Jude's children, as expressed in their artwork, and partial proceeds will be donated to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Now, friends, here are your choices (I don't mind if I don't get #2 or #5:

A Driver's Dream- Own the new Mercedes-Benz SLR Roadster Convertible. Plus, fly to Monaco for the '08 Formula One race and for private lessons at the Circuit Paul Richard Racetrack in Provence, France. Includes flights and VIP accommodations. Cost:$520,000 of which $10,000 will be donated to St. Jude's.

The Rock Star Life- Sit front row at the kickoff concert for Matchbox Twenty's US tour. In addition to meeting the Grammy-winning group and taking home an autographed guitar, you'll get three nights of first-class accommodations and flights for two. Cost: $25,000, of which $5,000 will go to St. Jude's.

Sun, Sea and Spices- Visit Bora Bora and go deep sea fishing with, and enjoy a VIP dinner prepared by world-renowned chef, Jean Georges Vongerichten. Also, enjoy a private tour of Robert Wan's Black Pearl Museum. The $115,000 for this package, of which $5,000 will go to St. Jude's, includes first class airfare for 2 and a night in Tahiti at the luxurious St. Regis Resort, Bora Bora.

Fairytale Weekend- Experience a once-in-a-lifetime weekend in NYC, where you'll dine at the Gramercy Tavern and shop at Saks Fifth Avenue before the store opens. Plus, create a customized ring with Temple St. Claire and formulate your own fragrance with Laurice Rahme, Founder of Bond No. 9. (Didn't they just do a Saks scent?) You and a friend will also fly first class and stay in a suite for two at the Plaza hotel for $60,000, of which $5,000 will go to St. Jude's.

The World in Your Hands- Choose lanmarks, music and figures to customize Saks' musical snow globe. You'll receive 5 to share with friends and family. This is the least expensive option at $3,000, of which $1,ooo will be donated to St. Jude's.

Shop to Save (Because Saving $$$ is Good but Saving Lives is Best)

Africa's the new "black." Along with the whole "green" thing, the continent and its various woes are the collective cause du'jour, and rightfully so. (Let's not forget it's the birthplace of humanity.) So here are a couple of shop ops that let you score some goods and do a little good in the process.

Join EDUN and The One Campaign to Combat AIDS in Africa

Buy one of these $40 ONE Campaign tees, and $10 will be donated to ALAFA (Apparel Lesotho Alliance for Africa), which provides life-saving ARV (antiretroviral) drugs to Lesotho's factory workers and their families. Just like last year, (yep, this is round two and folks are still dying) the shirts are made in Lesotho from 100% African cotton. I know, you're already picturing how you're gonna accessorize and personalize yours, right? Well here's how you get one: click here, bid here for one customized by a celebrity or hit up Nordstrom, which will match the $10 for every shirt sold in the U.S. up to $100,000.

Get a Gucci and Give to UNICEF

It's not here yet, but the holiday season is right around the corner, and once again, a percentage of sales from Gucci's holiday collection of bags and accessories will be donated to UNICEF. 25% of all sales will go to providing healthcare, education, protection and clean water to children in Malawi and Mozambique. Purchasing the keystone piece, the large Frida Giannini-designed Gucci for UNICEF Indy bag at $2350, will sustain the health of an orphan for a full year. The collection will be available from November 15 through December 31st at over 200 Gucci stores and www.gucci.com, so start saving now. Then, go and give some money little Gucci Bag Girl. (Ok, I'm no Lil' Wayne... Sue me)

See, Just because there was a lack of black faces on the Spring '08 runways doesn't mean the fashion industry isn't concerned about us "coluhd" folks right? Sike!