Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Change is good.  That's what the party line is, but, except for a few people I know, for most of us, change is a little scary.  Whether you're changing jobs or relationship status, moving to a new home, or even trying a new hair color, change can bring with it excitement and, by definition, something different, unfamiliar, and maybe a little uncomfortable.  But when the time is right (and you feel it in your gut), change can 
be incredibly positive, even exhilarating. Not a risk taker?  Start small.  Change your commuting route.  Cut back on the caffeine.  Switch from fiction to non.  Spend a weekend  every once in a while on your own, finding out what interests you and makes you happy.  Go from a full face of makeup to just the essentials.  Go back to your natural hair color.  Go grey.  Go platinum.  Go out and shake things up a little.  You never know what will fall into your life.

In with the New

In a few short days the ball will come down in Times Square once again, signaling the end of the first decade of the millenium.  No, really, what?  Where did it go?  The last ten years have shaped all of our lives -- probably no more so than when we gathered as a country during the tragedy of 9/11, the recovery from Hurricane Katrina, the economic woes of this recession, and the history-making election of our newest President.  And as we look to the next decade (maybe that's too big -- maybe just the next year!), we wish for our lives and hearts to be filled with peace and with purpose.  And, of course, a little more love, a lot more laughter, and the friends and family who help us get through it all and make it worthwhile. 

Happy 2010 -- let's celebrate what really counts.

Do you believe?

A classic true story, and one worth repeating. 

This letter was written by 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon to the editor of the New York Sun newspaper in 1897.  It was answered by veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church (answer excerpted here).  Enjoy -- and happy holidays!

 

DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O'Hanlon
115 West Ninety-Fifth Street

 
   

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus.

He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist,

and you know 

that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.

 

Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no  Santa Claus.

It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS.

There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance..

The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

 

Not believe in Santa Claus!  You might as well not believe in fairies!

You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the

chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus,

but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove?  

 

Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus.

The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see.

 

No Santa Claus!  He lives, and he lives forever. 

A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand

years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

   .

Obsession Confession

We all have our obsessions -- from working out to working for a cause, from reading the lastest bestseller to reading to kids, from making the perfect brownies to making the perfect argument for that new car.  Family Circle magazine has a beauty obsession this winter -- OPI Nail Lacquer in Glove You So Much!  According to the mag,  "The search for the perfect holiday nail hue is over -- OPI's deep merlot shade has a subtle touch of shimmer, but no over-the-top sparkles."  A festive way to 'fess up.

Most Valuable Purple

The results are in, and OPI has won an MVP (Most Valuable Product) 2009 award from Redbook magazine  for DS mystery, one of the newest shades of Designer Series Nail Lacquer.  The magazine calls it one of the "pretty products that just make us happy," and says it was "tickled purple" by this "shimmering violet formulated with flecks of diamond dust."  Try it on at opi.com.

 
 

Bib-liography

One of the season's hottest fashion accessories is the bib necklace, crafted of faux gems (or real, if you can) and an instant update to your wardrobe.  Worn with your favorite little dress, the bib makes a big fashion statement and lets you shimmer for not too much jingle!  People StyleWatch loves it to "add holiday sparkle" to your look, and features a range of choices to suit any budget. (Image courtesy shopintuition.com)  Another way to shimmer this season?  People BeautyWatch loves metallic nails, and picks OPI Designer Series Nail Lacquer in DS coronation as a particular favorite.  Infused with diamond dust for extraordinary glamour and glow, this silvery platinum crowned with diamond dazzle is sophisticated, striking, and another instant update to your holiday look!

Gaga for Matte

The always creative, always unconventional, always cutting-edge Lady Gaga (left) turned to OPI Nail Lacquer in Alpine Snow Matte for her mani in a scene of her "Bad Romance" video.  Too out there for you?  Try Matte by OPI lacquers in Russian Navy, Lincoln Park After Dark, or You Don't Know Jacques!  Want to turn up your gaga gorgeousness?  Try Gargantuan Green Grape Matte or La Paz-itively Hot Matte.  

 

Wish Dish

At a book club meeting the other evening, where my friends and I really talk more about our lives than the book, someone brought up the subject of holiday wish lists.  That led to the question of what just-for-you item would be at the top of your wish list.  It could be anything, but it had to be exclusively for you -- a totally decadent luxury.  Around the room we went, and the most wished-for items included:  a Birkin bag, a weekend getaway to Paris, a really big gift card to Bergdorf's, Gisele's amazing body, Demi Moore's seeming ability not to age, a year's worth of Sprinkles cupcakes delivered to your door, first class air travel forever, a standing appointment with Sally Hershberger, orchestra seats to the Oscars, box seats to the World Series, and courtside seats to the Lakers. And the chance to have dinner with Jon Bon Jovi.  (Now you can see why we never get to the book!).  Although most, if not all, of those holiday wishes aren't going to happen, it was fun to fantasize and share them.  Because the truth is, no matter what the gift or even if there is no gift, terrific friends are hard to find.  And that's something worth wishing for.

How Mini Is Enough?

The short answer -- there's never enough.  The longer answer -- four mini Nail Lacquers are the perfect amount.  Especially when it's Mini Merries from Holiday Wishes by OPI.  This so-sweet gift pack of mini Nail Lacquers includes four OPI shades exclusively for the holiday -- bright red Comet Loves Cupid, luscious wine All A-Bordeaux the Sled!, glowing bronze Shim-merry Chic, and silvery charcoal Holiday Glow -- and fits perfectly into a holiday stocking, even your own!  InStyle   says that these four shades "make for a perfect winter rotation."  We say, try it all on at opi.com.

Santa Paws Is Coming to Town

There's cute. And then there's just too cute.  And although that's not really my style, I couldn't resist these adorable Santa Paws holiday puppy slippers (for peeps).  They are a gift when you purchase special holiday packages of OPI Nail Envy Natural Nail Strengthener in Original or Sensitive & Peeling formula.  The perfect stocking stuffer -- and the perfect way to pamper your tootsies after running around all day shopping for others.  Find them and lots of other OPI Holiday Wishes gifts and Nail Lacquers at your professional salon and at opi.com.