The day after

Shopping the post-Christmas sales is a bit of a guilty pleasure for many. I mean, after opening a bonanza of brightly wrapped boxes the day before, who can really claim they need to buy anything? Now, if your holiday cache consists mostly of those thin plastic squares known as gift cards, then you can be forgiven. (However, the person who gave them to you will not be. Talk about thoughtless.)

This year, I decided to shop online on Dec. 26 at one of my fave retail sites: crateandbarrel.com. I sneakily thought this would allow me to get an early start since the sale would likely hit the site at 12:01 a.m. I loaded up my cart with goodies and waited for the witching hour. It came and went with no sale. I foolishly went to bed and when I checked the site the next morning just about every item in my cart was "no longer available" online.

This is the price of greed.

I ended up at the mall, where I was able to fight off the crazies and score several rolls of the Marimekko gift wrap.

The new year cometh

Holiday greetings, my dear logettes. I'm sorry I've been away for so long. Vacationing, as it were, on winter break south of the border, er, I mean in South Florida.

The sun was shining, the water was warm, the palm trees were aglow and snowbirds were in swarm. (I was never a poet, but I won't let rhyme be my reason to stop trying.)

Anyways, I'm back bitches. So, what did you get for Christmukkahzaa?

Spring training

Isn't it a little early for daffodils? What about gauzy beach dresses and sandals? Last I checked it was just above freezing outside and my neighbor's yard was full of twinkling multicolor lights. A sure giveaway that this is winter. (I guess the lights could be in honor of Cinco de Mayo, but my neighbor's a pretty traditional guy.)

The catalogs must have their calendar on fast forward, because in the midst of the holiday madness, a little spring sprouted in my mailbox. Spring 2008 -- Be The First to Shop 500 New Styles! How about be the first to freeze to death in next season's margarita tankini!

Seriously, I'm sure this has something to do with "resort" season - that time of year when everyone has a cruise or cabana booked in the Caribbean -- everyone except me. So I don't do resortwear in December. I do cashmere. And layers, lots of layers. Christmas lights and fluffy white stuff called snow.

Spring can wait.

Saturday Shopping List - Foodie edition

If only we all had time to stay at home and bake cookies. Most of us don't. Which makes us mad. But then we eat a stale, store-bought brownie and move on. At the holidays, food gifts are plentiful - lots of pots o gold to go around. But why not go a bit more out of the ordinary in your grub giving? Take a bite out of these tasty items I found in my holiday crop of special order food catalogs.

1. Fanny May Pixies : : Like Turtles on steroids. Chocolate, caramel, pecans. Crunchy addiction that's better to give than receive : : $29.99, fanniemay.com

2. Royal Pears and Honeybell Oranges : : Naturally juicy and oh so healthy. Aim your order to arrive in January when everyone's trying to kickstart their diets. : : Pears at harryanddavid.com; honeybells at ceebeescitrus.com

3. Olive Press Infused Olive Oil : : Olives with a twist. Freshly pressed and grown onsite at their farm in Sonoma, California. Choose from basil walnut or blood orange or liminato or many, many more. : : $18, theolivepress.com

4. Peet's Holiday Coffee : : Peet's holiday blend is eagerly anticipated, but any of their coffees (or teas) would be a good pick. Major Dickason's is my fave. : : $9.95-$12.95 per pound, peets.com

5. Collins Street Fruitcake : : OK. We know all the jokes, but some people appreciate an old-fashioned fruitcake (think grandma). And this Texas bakery delivers the best you've ever not tasted. : : $21.85, collinstreet.com

Welcome to CyberMonday

If you didn't get everything on your list in the 3-day shopping-gasm after Thanksgiving, don't cry, big girl. Dry your tears and head for the computer for today's biggest online shopping day. Lots of free shipping offers, online-only deals and other cyber craziness.

I plan to hit up my favorite catalog sites, just to see what I'm missing. After last weekend, my feet hurt and my credit cards are on life support. But I'm sure you have room in your budget, darlings. So cyber-skidaddle.

Black Saturday Shopping List

I know y'all are exhausted from chasing the early bird around your local mall. After all, "Black Friday" is the shopping holy day - even for log lovers. So I admit to cheating a bit yesterday and heading out to catch a few deals. I won't be fighting the crowds every weekend - I still plan to let my fingers do the walking. And so should you, darling. But now that the holiday shopping season has officially begun, I know how hard it is to resist a little group retail therapy. So here are my five tips for surviving the madness at the malls.

1. Make a list : : Avoid the temptation to browse. Go with a plan in hand and know exactly what you want to get for Sister Suzy, Uncle John, etc

2. Go early in the morning or late at night : : Go home, put dinner on the table, get the kids in bed and then head for the mall around 9 pm

3. Read the sale papers : : And if you want something specific, bring along the flier or clip it out so you can show it to the salesperson to verify price etc.

4. Look for mall rewards : : Some malls offer cash back if you use a specific credit card. It's like free money!

5. Avoid the food court : : This is where the great unwashed gathers to rest their weary whatevers. But not us. We don't need the temptation of Aunt Annie's - after all, we've got fit into a great dress for New Year's Eve.

Saturday Shopping List - Got turkey?

It's time for the Big Eat. To be followed closely by the Big Sleep, as we well know. But with Thanksgiving just days away - are you ready for the in-laws? If you're hosting dinner, here are a few items that may come in handy - in addition to the brandy and other numbing agents. It's probably a little late to order, but there's always overnight shipping. Come on, you know your in-laws are worth it. Well, pretend they are.

1. Silicone prep and mixing bowls : : After all, who hasn't wanted to throw a few dishes on Thanksgiving? This way, nothing breaks and no one gets hurt. : : Chefs, $24.99-39.99

2. Hand-hammered chafing dishes with wrought iron stands : : Keeping the food hot prevents the conversation from getting too cold. : : Grandin Road, $149-$299

3. Mercury glass candleholders : : These are way too pretty to throw - unless Uncle Al pinches your ass again : : Smith&Hawken, $16-$24

4. Cheesecake Party Wheel : : If the turkey burns or, say drops on your significant other's foot by accident, let em eat cake : : Harry & David, $36.95

5. Taffetta holiday plaid wrap shirt : : Hey, a girl's gotta look good even while dishing out the gravy : : Coldwater Creek, $69.50