Wednesday
Dec102008
Williams-Sonoma Holiday
December 10, 2008 Starting today through Friday 12/12, Williams-Sonoma has more than 400 gifts on sale with FREE shipping. Get the popular Original Peppermint Bark for stocking stuffers, or try these super cute Snowman Browniepops (chocolate brownies, enrobed with white chocolate, on a stick!).
For bakers, the Peppermint Flexible Spatula is too cute! It's heat resistant nylon so it's friendly for non-stick pans.
www.williams-sonoma.com
He started out with his peppy "A Better Way" and charmed his way through the act with funny numbers like "Poor Marie" (inspired by Sofia Coppola’s "Marie Antoinette"). The audience loved the lively "Ophelia Underwater." I can't think of a better way to spend a chilly SF evening.
Day will be playing through Sunday 12/14 at Hotel Nikko's 
The 
Check these out and more at 
Meyer Beautiful (My, You’re Beautiful)
Makes 1 cocktail
This is a tart cocktail that explores the complex flavors of Meyer lemons and elderflowers. Elderflowers have a lovely lychee aroma and flavor that marries well with the citrus-floral tones of Meyer lemons. Before you taste your first sip, the sugar, black salt, and lemon zest rim wake up your mouth. Late season Meyers can be rather sweet, so when they lack acid I substitute juice from regular Eureka lemons for half of the lemon juice.
Dried zest of 1 large or 2 small Meyer lemons, for rim
5 tablespoons sugar, for rim
1 tablespoon black sea salt, for rim (optional)
1/2 Meyer lemon, for rim
1 egg white
1 ounce Charbay Meyer lemon vodka
1 ounce vodka
3/4 ounce freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice
1/2 ounce D’arbo elderflower syrup
Baked Candied Meyer Lemon Peels, for garnish
Edible flowers, for garnish (optional)
Place a V-shaped glass in the freezer to chill. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Follow the recipe on page 19 to make Candied Meyer Lemon Peels. Shake off any excess syrup and slice the peels into thin strips. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat and arrange the strips so they don’t touch. Bake for 5 minutes, remove from the oven, and let cool to room temperature. If they aren’t hard and devoid of moisture when cool, bake for 2 minutes more.
Combine the zest, sugar, and salt on a small plate. Rub the Meyer lemon half around the rim of the chilled glass and shake off any excess juice. Dip the glass into the sugar-zest mixture to coat the rim (see page 38).
Place the egg white in a mixing glass (see page 30), seal it up tight with a firm tap, and shake vigorously for 10 seconds, until white and frothy. Add the vodkas, juice, syrup, and enough ice to fill the glass. Cover and shake vigorously for another 10 seconds. Strain into the sugar-rimmed glass. After about 20 seconds, a nice head will form on top of the drink. Garnish with the candied zest, edible flowers, or both to serve.
Recipe and images used with permission from Artisanal Cocktails by Scott Beattie, 2008, Ten Speed Press.
The Ombre Éclat 4 Shades Mysterious Butterfly eyeshadow compact contains four vibrant shades of white, mauve, soft pink and violet. It's a light and pretty look, amidst the dramatic dark colors that are usually popular in this season.
There are two lip gloss shades for the collection. The KissKiss Gloss in 802 Charming Butterfly is a candy pink that is flirty and fun. I like the 803 Intriguing Butterfly, a sexy shimmery violet.
I normally don't like peanut butter flavored chocolates, but the 
For the ultimate chocolate pleasure, the 
Two new shades are introduced to the Pop Gloss Crystal lip glosses - extremely pearly bright pink and mauve with a frosty finish. The 443 Rose by Night is a soft shimmery pink, with pink, gold and white glints.
The Rouge Interdit Shine in 07 Rose Shine is my new fave shiny lipstick. It's the best of both lipstick and lip gloss worlds. The clever purple case is so pretty too.
Vert, an eco-beauty shopping site, offeres complimentary personal shopping services, makeup lessons, and of course, organic beauty gift ideas. Owner Renata Helfman will customize green gifts for all budgets. 
Biotherm Homme has a men's High Recharge skin care gift set for the cutie pie in your life. It contains a cleansing gel, facial exfoliator (yes, men need to exfoliate too!), and a moisturizing concentrate. 
Sundari has a 
Whole Foods has a nifty 
The citrusy Orange & Chocolate Krunchi granola bites are lightly sweetened with honey, brown sugar, and pure dark Belgium chocolate. Packed with Omega-3 fatty acids (from flaxseed) and essential fiber (oats), this is a mini health treat.
For every 1,500 boxes of Khaya cookies sold, a job is created in certain townships of South Africa (where over 70% of all women who are heads of households are jobless). So do your good deed this season and buy these delicious cookies!
For crafting lovers (or sensitive soul-baring writers like me - j/k), Rag & Bone has some lovely handmade journals, baby albums, and accordion scrapbooks. I like the 
For luxe-lovin' beauty addicts, the Sothys Oxyliance‚Ñ¢ collection helps skin regain vitality and protect it from enviromental stressors. 
It's tough to stay on your diet during the holidays, but The Protein Bakery has you covered. Each healthy cookie is packed with 4 grams of protein, has no trans-fat, and is wheat-free! They help keep my stomach happy. I like the Oatmeal White Chocolate Blueberry Cranberry and the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Walnut. 
Sarah Drake has cute letterpress correspondence cards, calling cards, and gift tags. I like the Spring design. All are customizable with different font and ink options. 
American chocolate company Choclatique has some hand-crafted holiday treats: Egg Nog, Cinnamon Bun Bun, or Peppermint Heart. Get their holiday assortment, or order a custom one.
The 