I’m kind of bracing myself for probably the loneliest holiday ever… all of my family is either out of town or celebrating with in-laws, friends all have other plans and to top it off we have houseguests that have worn out their welcome so I haven’t been all that motivated to do any cooking at home, we would wind up with it being just us and the annoying houseguests and that would be pathetic. So my husband and I have decided to just get out of the house, take in a movie and go out for Thanksgiving dinner. I’m trying my damndest to make sure we have a good time, even though it’s been an awfully tough year for us we still have a lot to be thankful for.

Eleanor Roosevelt Jacqueline Kennedy Hillary Clinton and I am expecting Michelle Obama to wind up replacing one of these names.

Let’s see… a cardboard cut-out of a woman who speaks in cautious platitudes and who stood by her man while he decimated the Constitution, started an illegal and immoral war, plundered our economy for the sake of lining his corporate cohorts’ pockets, destroyed all the good will we had from the rest of the world and is arrogant and dense enough to think that history will exonerate him? Uh, yeah, won’t be rushing out to buy that book… I cannot wait for us to be able to put all the Bushies far behind us.

Indeed an equal opportunity website :) Thanks. I just want to pipe in with one more suggestion, while Kiva is great please also consider Oxfam America Unwrapped, speaking as a (struggling) business owner whose obnoxious clients are used to receiving disgustingly indulgent Christmas presents from their vendors I have decided that the very rare few who have made it on to our list this year are going to get a camel or a cow or 100 trees planted in their names :) http://www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com/home.php

Thank you so much for your insight, Carol, so very well said.

Very funny the cuff links remark, DeBurca, I have to agree… I have to admit that when I looked thru this list the first thing I thought was uh-oh, I can just hear all the cracks that are going to pile on about money, or lack of it, and I was a bit torn. Whenever we get these “gift guides” that are more tailor made for Mary Wells than for most of us part of me enjoys the voyeuristic walk on the other side, another part of me reminisces about the days when I used to spend stupid money for things (purses and home decor being a particular weakness) and then another part just kind of finds satisfaction in knowing that I’ve learned that although I undoubtedly do require beauty in my life I now know that beauty does not have to equal “expensive”. As for what Wowowow is or was supposed to be I found myself pondering that very same issue a couple of days ago. I have to say I am somehow disappointed that things have turned either superficial or angry for the most part. I was so excited when I first heard about the site and the women who were behind it because I had not yet found a website community that reflected who I am and the things I deal with in my life and so far I’m not sure that this is it either. Don’t get me wrong, it’s one of the best sites I visit and I’m certainly not giving up on it but when we spend more time in pissing matches rather than exploring what it means to walk this earth as a woman of a certain age and the whole ball of goods that goes along with that I do find myself pining for what I was hoping this was going to be.

Hi, Flora Dora! You know, I have pretty sensitive skin myself and the Clairsonic comes with two brushes, one for regular and a softer one for sensitive skin, I’ve only used the soft one so far. I have never responded well to Retin-A, made me peel and my skin got all red and blotchy, so I don’t know… I’m 51 and have very few lines as well, and I’m overweight which I somehow rationalize that keeping my face plump helps me look younger, haha! ah, what the mind can do :) And I love all the girly things too, anything that feels smooth on the skin, smells great, can let me play with colors on my face and enjoy how great I can look in the span of a 2 by 2 inch mirror, I’m all over it, nothing wrong with a little escapist fun sometimes.

OK, just having washed my hands after reading the Sunday NYT and slathered on some StriVectin hand cream I think I’m in the right mind frame for this one- My best beauty tip? well, my pragmatic suggestion is the Clairsonic face brush, yeah it’s kinda pricey ($120.00) but it works beautifully to cleanse and exfoliate your skin and make it prime for any moisturizer you chose to use (which I think are more similar than the manufacturers care to have us all know, some are just better for sensitive skin that others but they all do basically the same thing IMHO). The Clairsonic is like a power toothbrush for your face, leaves your pores cleansed and tightened and ready to soak up moisture. I’ve been using it for a couple of years and have noticed more positive results with it than from any of the fancy face creams I’ve ever used. BUT, all that being said, no amount of buffing, slathering, make-up, botox, fillers, etc., can do for your looks what a simple smile and an act of kindness can do for true beauty :)

Did any of you guys hear Paul Begala when he was asked to comment on the fact that 64% of Republicans want her to run in 2012 and he said “Yeah, and 100% of Democrats do too!”. I personally would rather never have to hear that shrill squawk of a voice of hers but if that’s who the Republicans want to bank on for their future….

OK, needless to say I wholeheartedly agree about the Bernese :)

I’m listening to news reports from Spain right now (my husband is from Barcelona and we catch the news there every night) and I am beaming with pride about what they are saying about our country and about our new President, he has infused a tremendous amount of optimism into the world, I am so happy.

OK, I say a Bernese Mountain Dog, the sweetest animals I’ve ever encountered, not to mention how beautiful one would look running around the White House, hehe.

Mugsy, I’m still holding out hope for the correct result on Prop 8, it is a stupid downer on such an otherwise wonderful night. Goes to show you that even though the country has achieved a whole lot there’s still a long way to go…

I’ve got my son and a few close friends coming over, not a huge group, 12 adults and 4 dogs :) all smart, caring, and cautiously optimistic people. I keep alternating between giddy happy dance moments and completely gripped by fearful paralysis, ugh! I cannot wait till it’s called for Obama and am so looking forward to finally getting our country back!

NP- you are so right on the money with your list! my first thought was Burke Williams, though I haven’t tried the Salt Glo their Hunter’s Retreat is close to heaven, my one deviation that list is that I’ll never get any kind of kick out of a treadmill :)