beauty resolutions: let it rain!

It's a new year and one of my top beauty resolutions is to drink more water. It's good for your waistline, your mind, your hair and your skin. The problem is, I need a drink with a little more flavor to get me motivated to stay hydrated. The TalkingRain Beverage Company comes to the rescue with two new, natural options for flavored water: actiVwater, a vitamin-infused versions for health-conscious, active types that offers half the calories of its competitors (only 25!), and twist, a healthy alternative lightly sweetened with organic agave nectar (nothing artificial) for the rest of us (only 9 calories!). The best part: There are plenty of flavors to choose from: Twist comes in Mandarin White Tea, Pomegranate Blueberry (light and fruity), West Indies Lime, Mango Acai, Marionberry, Mandarin, Peach and Lemon; ActiVwater comes in Black Berry, Triple Berry, Pomegranate Berry, Tropical Citrus, Strawberry Kiwi (my fave) and Dragonfruit. It's the best way to get your daily dose of vitamins and supplements. Choose your favorite drinking water from this great selection. Both brands are available nationwide and online at www.talkingrain.com ($1.29 - $1.49 for each 19 oz. bottle).

holiday looks: foot fetish

So you've been on your feet all day...and you're still expected to wear heels all night long at that New Year's Eve party. Don't shy away from your favorite pair of stilettos. Amazing Arches ($6.95 per pair) from Foot Petals will cushion your feet and make you feel comfortable way past midnight, giving footwear that previously didn't work for you a second chance. The extra padding sticks to your shoes and cushions every part of your foot, creating a virtual arch for flat feet and offering much-needed stabilization. The best part: It works with your body's natural shock absorption system to reduce foot fatigue. Go to www.footpetals.com to purchase a pair. But don't check out before grabbing a pair of Heavenly Heelz ($4.95-$18.95) too. They are total lifesavers! I recently went to a store to buy a pair of high heels I was eyeing for months. When I tried them on, my heel kept slipping out of the back of the shoes. Thanks to Heavenly Heelz, I can step out in style once again.

holiday looks: wow brows

The good news: The 'rents have decided to babysit so you can go out on New Year's Eve. The bad news: There's no time for a brow wax in between Gymboree class and diaper changes. For a quick way to look fuzz-free, try Parissa Mini Wax Strips for Eyebrow Design ($8.99). They're the simplest, mess-less, quickest way to clean up your brows in no time flat. Plus, they come with an easy-to-follow guide for face shapes to make brow waxing a snap. Look for them at Target, Duane Reade, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Ulta and online at parissa.com and myperfectbeauty.com. While you're shopping, check out the entire Parissa collection and dare to go bare elsewhere too.

holiday looks: the updo

Running from work to holiday party with no time to spare? Forego the blow-dry and spend $3.99 on the Goody Ouchless Updo Barrette at your local drug store. Available in large or small sizes, this soft, flexible clip gently grips your hair for long-lasting style and comfort. The no-metal hinge and clasp design eliminates hair breakage and the soft plastic means you can lean back and relax. Just gather hair in back, twist it in your hand then wrap it into a loose bun at the back of your head. Clip into place and let front strands hang loose. Now you're ready to party. Go to www.goody.com and pick your favorite clip.

holiday gift guide: the Yidishkeyt tales

Just because Chanukah is over, doesn't mean you can't get your kids this adorable story, The Yidishkeyt Tales: Moishe's Story ($16.99). Written by Erin Verkhovsky Finelli, the book is dedicated to her great grandparents and all other immigrants who journeyed from Kobrin, Russian Empire to New York. It features authentic historical photos and tells the tale of how they met in a lighthearted poem that rhymes Yiddish words (don't worry, there's a glossary in the back if you can't get the gist from the context). Your kids will definitely learn a bit of the lost language, which is a nice change after they spend hours with Dora and Kai-Lan. The story is very kheynevdik (cute) and Finelli's fammily should shep nachas (derive pleasure) from her efforts. Buy it for your kids at www.amazon.com.

holiday gift guide: give annabel karmel

Uggh! I start getting frustrated every day at about 4 PM. That's about the time I have to start thinking about making dinner for the family. All four of us! What happened to the good 'ol days when single-girl-me could go to the movies and count my small portion of popcorn sans butter as my dinner allotment. Now not a day goes by without four tiny eyes staring up at me saying, "I'm hungry. Is dinner ready yet??!" The worst part is, I feel like I know how to whip up a few basics and I stick to them since I don't have much time to start creating new dishes. Thankfully, leading nutritionist and children's book author Annabel Karmel comes through with the book, Favorite Family Meals, and there are enough pages to feed my kids (and husband!) for at least a few months. Not only does she offer delicious easy-to-make recipes--everything from soups and pizzas, to vegetarian dishes and desserts--but she also features plenty of tips, like preventing tooth decay, offering healthy protein suggestions, encouraging weight maintenance in kids and lunch box ideas (there's also a Lunch Boxes and Snacks book too!) Find both, as well as Karmel's other great titles at www.annabelkarmel.com.

holiday gift guide: give Lipstick. Laptops. Life.

The holidays are about inspiration. We are embarking on a new year and are hopefully inspired to have a great one. If you're lacking in that department, pick up a copy of Angela O'Mara's recently released, "Lipstick. Laptops. Life." In it the successful public relations firm owner talks about her struggles to keep her business thriving through a turbulent economy and reveals how she found parts of herself that were lost along her journey of more than twenty years in business. Throughout the pages, readers will learn a valuable lesson: That they may need to climb the corporate ladder more than once. This is way too apparent for many of us who are going through similarly difficult times in our careers and lives due to the current state of the economy. To give yourself an inspirational gift, or buy one for a friend, go to www.lipsticklaptopslife.com or check out www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com.