I love the holiday hustle: family you forgot crowding home, tearing into unasked-for gifts, littering warm wood floors with wrapping paper and invisible emotions.

And, mostly, I love not taking part.

I sit out most every season, enjoying quiet sidewalks below my bachelorette pad, working uninterrupted in the peace on earth usually reserved for hours that are both and neither late night or early morning.

I’m taking this time out to read — oh, Rhett! — and work on projects misplaced on the back burner. I’m editing Bella Bellanca, the teen novel/ecommerce project I’m serializing on Facebook, and I bought more vintage jewelry for Bellanca’s Jewelry Box at an antique mall –

Along with an unopened Playboy Playmate Puzzle. Pressed between the can’s cloudy plastic lid and its sealed canister is a cut-out photo of Miss June of 1968 with writing on the back: Merry Christmas. We love you, Tom.

Obviously, sincerely.

Which is how I wish you happy holidays, however you don’t spend them.

I’ll see you in 2010, Tom.

Hating

I’m sure this Kente Loft Arturo adjustable height table works better than the $500 modern coffee/dining table I’m using. But if you’re going to blow dough, invest in an antique that’ll retain its value or buy something decent and disposable. Why bother with a trendy piece in the middle?

You might apply the same philosophy to men…

Using

I just bought a highly trained dog that’s worth about half of my Porsche (Major Dukes will be major on this blog, but he’s away being taught better manners than most 12 year olds). I think a bag priced higher than my old Upper East Side rent is a good value. And I’ve referred to injectable fillers as slightly pricey lipgloss.

But when it comes to my pad, I’ve the soul of a 55-year-old bachelor: a standing mirror to slant near my bed was an easy buy, but I only got silverware this year and I swear Ikea is overpriced.

I should blush, but I’d rather rationalize it’s good I’ve retained some frugality.

So check this affordable adjustable height table that morphs between a coffee and dining table, and is heavily inspired by Ligne Roset’s “Yo-Yo 2″ table…

Wanting

Great work stands alone, outside of the creator’s context, but doesn’t it make it better than this table was designed in 1932 by Eileen Gray, a bobbed, bisexual bohemian who supported herself by designing ultra-modern, multi-use furniture?

Like her famous glass and chrome E-1027 side table, this Eileen Gray “Menton” table has an adjustable height: you rotate the table to swing between dining and side table heights…

Hating

If you want to brighten, lighten, whiten your skin, don’t do it “holistically” with DDF Intensive Holistic Lightener. Do it with a face cream with an active ingredient banned by Japan and parts of the European Union: hydroquinone (at 8%, it’s magic prescribed).

I’m just describing hydroquinone that way to be provocative: top dermatologists aren’t concerned with long-term use of the skin brightener.

But they are disturbed by my questioning the safety of a lunch-hour boob job I’m considering.

I could get wrinkles worrying…

Using

Despite Garnier using Sarah Jessica Parker’s smoker face to pimp anti-aging cream, I’ve used Garnier cleansing wipes as face wash — they’re travel-easy, eyelash extension-friendly, and available at any drugstore. Then I discovered glycolic acid gives good skin, and I decided I should bathe in it. Before I go full body, I’m starting with DDF glycolic acid cleansing pads. DDF 5% glycolic cleansing pads are some of the few glycolic acid wipes you can use to take off makeup and clean around the eyes.

That means one-step cleansing — followed by eye cream, moisturizer, Shiseido Sun Protection Lotion SPF 55+ for the face, Banana Boat tear-free spray SPF 50 for the entire body, MoroccanOil on my burgundy bob, a cloud of L’Artisan Parfumeur’s Tubereuse, Senna Mineral Mix powder foundation, three shades of gray eyeshadow, gray brow powder, Maybelline clear mascara for the brows, NARS “Super Orgasm” blush, Neutrogena SPF 20 lip gloss, a La Perla or Marlies Dekkers thong, a custom-made wrap coat, a custom-made silk jersey tank dress, four-inch Giuseppes, a discontinued Hermes “Herbag” bag, a hand-etched “K” signet pinkie ring, and sunnies based on the originals Jackie O wore.

Life’s too short for my vanity to outweigh my intelligence.

Yeah, I’m that smart…

Wanting

Though the Diet Depression’s petering out, isn’t it un-PC to blow dough on a foot cream that’s more expensive per ounce than the average American woman’s face cream?

I thought so.

And that’s mostly why I want this DDF 10% glycolic acid pedi-cream…

Using

I’ve sprinkled a few treatments of SensEpil home laser hair removal over three months, and I’ve spent at least a pair of Giuseppes — or my monthly matcha green tea soy latte budget — buying SensEpil refill cartridges. SensEpil can feel as hot as the laser’s flash looks, SensEpil laser hair removal is as loud as my hair dryer, and I hardly get through SensEpil’ing all my limbs before Gone With The Wind is over and I have to stop shouting “Marry me, Rhett Butler” at my MacBook.

But the bottom line?

SensEpil works, and Rhett Butler is a fictional character who fathered a child with a madam whose brothel he funded.

I know, Scarlett was a fool to let him go…

Bag Snob wants you to win Coach holiday gear.
Beauty Snob gives away $1,000 of Bulgari skincare.
Stiletto Jungle features 10 beauty stocking stuffers under $10.
Coquette shows a lighted wedding dress.
The Daily Obsession gives the gift of diamonds.
Allie is Wired shows Taylor Swift’s new straight hair.
Fashion Pulse Daily gives away two bags from Handbag Heaven.
I’m Not Obsessed shows you real vs. steal vs. Reese Witherspoon’s chic.
The Jet Set Girls found affordable YSL holiday gifts.
Second City Style celebrates the 12 days of Christmas (shopping).
SheFinds finds the best grown-up UGGs.
Shopping and Info gives away Ports 1961 $300 gift card.
Stylehive knows it warms somewhere, so check these cute bikinis.
The Beauty Stop covers Rachel Weisz‘s big makeup miss.
eye4style wonders at Terry Richardson’s racy take in the Pirelli calendar.
The Shoe Goddess is in love with Christian Louboutin “Panama” pumps.

SPONSORED BY BOTICCA.COM, HOME TO UNIQUE ACCESSORIES BY INDEPENDENT ARTISTS

Hating

I love the concept of Arosha Luigi Taglia’s “Golden Highway” ring: an abstract, sterling silver skyline dotted with small diamonds winking like skyscraper windows, while an 18K gold highway winds through the city.

I love the idea. The execution? Not so much. I wish it were tinier.

Somehow that reminds me of how I feel about Beyoncé…