New Year's Playlist

Cap off 2011 with this fabulous melange of songs. 

Chambermaid Swing Parov Stelar

Old Devil Moon  Lena Horne

Hip Teens Dont Wear Blue Jeans The Frank Popp Ensemble

Glance Across the Room Beaumont

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? Harry Connick, Jr.

Get the Party Started Dame Shirley Bassey

Auld Lang Syne Pink Martini

Dream About Me Moby

Sometime Around Midnight The Airborne Toxic Event

I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm Yehudi Menuhin, Stéphane Grappelli

Getting Away With It Electronic

That's Not My Name The Ting Tings

Mansard Roof Vampire Weekend

Congratulations (Happy New Year) Pink Martini

What Do You Want From Me Monaco

Private Revolution World Party

Rock Your Baby  George McCrae

Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You Jimmy Somerville

Tropicando Les Baxter

When Midnight Sighs P.M. Dawn

Sing Our Own Song UB40

Take Your Mama  Scissor Sisters

Click here to get to my new ping playlist on iTunes. It's on the right side. 

-CABOO 

"I Am Edward Kimberly"

Dustin Hoffman As Tootsie

Tootsie As Dustin Hoffman In Ishtar 

(Tootsie is a method actress so I had to 

cancel my first choice, Midnight Cowboy)

The classic comedy Tootsie airs tonight at 8 on TCM. Most comedies completely miss the mark but this little gem is just about perfect. 

-CABOO 

I Will Think Deep Thoughts

Paperthinks Recycled Leather Notebooks ($17.95) Kate's Paperie 

These colorful notebooks are perfect for capturing all my moments of brilliance. In 2012, I will be brilliant...and get organized and find the perfect bathing suit. 

-CABOO

Siku Madness!

You Can't Handle The Cute! 

Siku, the most adorable polar bear ever, is all the rage. Check out this ridiculously cute Today show video of the little scamp. 

-CABOO 

Post Snark: Developmentally, human babies are a real snoozefest, whereas animal babies come out ready to entertain. This should be a call to action to all human embryos. They should just stay in the womb until they can pull it together. Take their time until they're more polished. 

Nanas For A Minkey

Monkey Bottle Opener ($36) Maxwell Silver Boutiques 

I spied this must-have minkey bottle opener designed by Tadahiro Baba on House Beautiful online. I'm ba to the nanas for it. 

-CABOO 

Thank You Very Much!

Slightly pretentious thank you notes are key to reminding everyone that your gifts always need to be a cut above the rest. These letterpress cards from Crane & Co. are perfect. 

-CABOO 

Merry Tootmas!

Back at Fabulous Alert Headquarters, 

Tootsie dons a festive scarf for a Tootmas soiree. 

-CABOO 

Bo Readies For The Holidays

First Dog Bo Contemplates How He's Going 

To Eat The New Christmas Tree

Get thee to HGTV and check out the White House all dolled up for Christmas. 

-CABOO 

Bring In 'Da Relatives, Bring In 'Da Hooch

Holiday Hooch Gift Sets 

Time for gift shopping is running out, so heed my advice. Booze. Give them booze. It's usually just a quick dash away and it's something people can actually use...especially this time of year. You're welcome.  

-CABOO 

Post Snark: As a minimalist, booze is all I ever really want if I can't have cash or gift cards. When I tell people this, they think I'm kidding. 

The Afternoon Of A Steiff Fawn

Steiff Fawn ($79.95) Williams Sonoma 

Tootsie might take offense to this as it's so similar in size to her. She's not crazy about other small animals real or otherwise. 

"A joy to find in your stocking or under the tree, this miniature fawn is made exclusively for Williams-Sonoma in limited quantities. Available just for the holiday season, the 5"-high collectible is made in Germany by Steiff, the legendary company that has been handcrafting toy animals for more than a century." Williams Sonoma

-CABOO 

Post Snark: Sadly, when my epic poem 'The Afternoon Of A Prawn' ('L'après-Midi D'un Prawn' as it's known in French) came out it was not well-received. Go figure. 

Hail To The Queen!

Audrey Hepburn DVD Bundle ($54.99) TCM

Loving this Audrey Hepburn DVD gift set sold on the TCM website. It includes the following: 

Breakfast At Tiffany's
Roman Holiday
Sabrina
Funny Face
How To Steal A Million 

These were so covered in Fabulous 101. 

-CABOO 

Gleenethia Gleeks

Go GleeNe! 

Gleenethia Gleeks is what happens when you put NeNe (Linnethia) Leakes and Glee together. On Monday night's Watch What Happens Live Chris Colfer announced that none other than NeNe is coming to McKinley High as the synchronized swimming coach. Worlds are colliding! This little fish is getting her flower petal swim hat ready. 

-CABOO 

Gift To Myself

Three Sheets To The Wind Flask ($25) Catbird 

A perfect gift for lushes, rumpots and ne'er-do-wells. Clearly, I had to have one. 

-CABOO 

Tired Hooker Indeed!

Kathy Grifin's new Bravo special, Tired Hooker, airs tonight at 10. Finally some Christmas snark to cut through all the Christmas saccharine. 

"Before a live, sold-out crowd at the Borgata Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ, the two-time Emmy® Award-winner taps into the latest pop culture craze and offers her own perspective on celebrity divorces including Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries and Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, Nancy Grace’s wardrobe malfunction on Dancing with the Stars and a new fashion alternative Pajama Jeans." BRAVOTV.COM

-CABOO 

The Greatest Gift?

The Greatest Gift

Red Traditional Leather ($55)

Blue Paper Bound ($25) 

Graphicimage.com

The greatest gift is cash money but this is kind of cute and a must-have for It's A Wonderful Life fans. Apparently it's all the rage. 

The Original Story Behind It's A Wonderful Life

"An American classic, now available for the first time as a recreation of the 1943 edition. Almost 75 years ago, the inspiration for what was to become one of our most beloved holiday stories of all time was conceived. With the humble hope for little more than a sale to a magazine for publication, Philip Van Doren Stern set out to sell his short novella without a single instance of success. With little hope of anything at all, he printed 200 copies and sent them out as Christmas cards to friends in the winter of 1943." Graphicimage.com

-CABOO 

Post Snark: It's A Wonderful Life was not intended to be a Christmas movie even though it takes place on Christmas Eve and when it first came out it was not a commercial success. Look at her now! 

Alpine Tootsie

Clearly this is ridiculous as we live in Florida. 

-CABOO 

A Marriage Made In Heaven!

These fabulous colors are coming soon!  

Preptastic! 

Like Astaire and Rogers, Bogart and Bacall, Snoopy and Woodstock, and now Jonathan Adler and Lacoste, some things just go to together. Check out Jonathan Adler's special edition polos for Lacoste. 

-CABOO 

Pretty Birds

History Of Birds By Francois Nicolas Martinet
($51.47) Barnes & Noble

Having recently been given honorary "duck" status from a dover of ducks, I'm over the moon for History Of Birds by Francois Nicolas Martinet...or to put it in my newfound native tongue, "quack, quack, and quack." 

"F. N. Martinet first made his hand-colorized bird lithographs to help identify and classify the various species; they were published in the works of the leading ornithologists of the 18th century. However, they have long since been acclaimed as works of art in their own right. What makes Martinet's illustrations so special is the passion for detail, the coloring, which is especially striking in the bird's plumage, and the realism of his depictions, as he preferred live rather than preserved specimens. Histoire des oiseaux brings together more than 200 bird species in one volume. Not only do these illustrations offer us a fascinating overview, they also witness a period in history as well as documenting the exceptional talent of Martinet. The illustrations are discussed by Antoine Reille, an expert in fauna, and the president of the French Union for the Conservation of Nature." Barnes & Noble Online 

-CABOO 

Chilly Willy Playlist

These songs give me a chill which I need because I practically live on the Equator. Click here for my Chilly Willy playlist on iTunes. 

Walking In the Air Peter Auty

Snowflake Kate Bush

Carol of the Bells The Bird And The Bee

Winter Song Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson

River Sarah McLachlan

Skating Vince Guaraldi Trio

Baby, It's Cold Outside Dianne Reeves & Lou Rawls

Oh No Lavender Diamond

O... Saya AR Rahman & M.I.A.

Cold Song Sting

Chilly Winds Don't Blow  Nina Simone

Wintersong Sarah McLachlan

-CABOO

Get Your Nails Did

Butter London Holiday Glitter Trio ($36) Nordstrom 

I'm kind of obsessed with Butter London's packaging. 

-CABOO 

Bracelet Yourself

Arethusa Coin Link Bracelet ($45) 

Metropolitan Museum Of Art 

I've been looking for a jingly jangly bracelet like the bell-festooned bracelet Rosalind Russell wore in Auntie Mame...the one that ruined Vera's play. I saw this little number in the January issue of Lucky magazine. It's a contender. 

-CABOO 

Gifts For The Erudite

English Majors Get Ready To Tinkle. 

Most Of These Sell On Etsy For $34. 

Daphne du Maurier Sports A Chic Haircut 

F. Scott Fitzgerald Sans Zelda (She's Probably Doing A Liquor Run)

Edith Wharton In An Uncomfortable Looking Dickie 

Barbara Cartland Is Pretty In Pink

Dylan Thomas Dazzles In Houndstooth 

Herman Melville Looking Like The Wild Man From Borneo

I have long since put away childish things, but upon seeing these favorite author dolls from Uneek Doll Design I'm wondering why on earth did I do that. From Jane Austen to John Greenleaf Whittier, the selection is varied and impressive. I would be hard-pressed to choose a favorite. Tarry not. Sylvia Plath and Maya Angelou have already sold out. Oh the horror! 

I caught wind of this fabulousness in an article by Stephan Lee in Entertainment Weekly. 

-CABOO 

Post Snark: I'm seriously considering getting an author doll or two from Uneek Doll Designs. I'd finally have someone to watch Masterpiece Theatre with and ponder life's imponderables, and when they drink too much or try to kill themselves I can put them in the naughty writer's corner. Such fun we would have! 

E-Fabulous E-Cards

Check out Anthro's fab collection of holiday e-cards. 

-CABOO 

Calypso Cravings

Decorative Carlton Plate ($60) 

Sun Ring ($215)

Pom Pom Throw ($60) 

Check out Calypso's Gift Guide. From the Sun Goddess, Jetsetter and Life Of The Party to the Snow Princess and Glam Homebody, they have gifts for every girl. 

-CABOO 

Post Snark: I want my life to be like a Calypso outfit. Easy to the breezy. I also want the glow that really wealthy people have, which is the result of being well-rested. Sigh. 

Man Gifts

Letterpress Kit On Sale For $48 (orig. $75) At Neiman Marcus 

I was thoroughly delighted when I saw this smart letterpress kit. Gifts for men are always a head scratcher. Check out the goods: 

• Simple, sophisticated masculine design.
• 12 cards covering special occasions and 12 envelopes.
• Four envelopes with postage included.
• Copy of A Forgetful Gentleman's Guide to Articulate Writing.
• Stationery made of 100% cotton paper.
• Set comes in a heat-branded hardwood box; 10.25"W x 7"D x 2.25"T.

-CABOO 

Post Snark: If I was a man, I would probably wear a smoking jacket, drink brandy, and have a butler named Higgins. I'd wear black watch plaid, smoke a pipe and listen to excessive amounts of Bach. Such is my plan if I should ever wake up a man. 

New Christmas Playlist!

Check out my new playlist on iTunes. 

The Puppini Sisters Jingle Bells

Michael Bublé Blue Christmas

The Swingle Singers Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No. 8 - Christmas Concerto

The Flaming Lips A Change At Christmas (Say It Isn't So)

Nina Simone I Am Blessed

Wynton Marsalis Blue Christmas

She & Him Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Kermit Ruffins Jingle Bells

Vanessa Carlton Do You Hear What I Hear?

Sheryl Crow The Bells of St. Mary's

Oscar Peterson God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

-CABOO 

Salvatore, Where Y'at?

Big, Easy Style ($22.43) Amazon 

I love me some New Orleans (born there) and I love me some Bryan Batt. He's arguably the most stylish Mad Men actor outside of the show. Sorry Hamm. Check out his fabulous new book, Big, Easy Style.   

"Big, Easy Style showcases rooms that make Bryan smile, with pages of rich photography featuring the work of many designers—and plenty of Crescent City interiors—framed by his own entertaining maxims on color, pattern, collecting, living areas, intimate spaces, and more. 

New Orleans has taught Bryan so much about how to pull together a space that’s fearless and colorful with plenty of panache. With the city as his muse—its strong roots in history, its celebration of tradition, and, of course, the wild festivities of Mardi Gras—he believes that designing a fabulous, livable home that truly reflects a dweller’s passions need not be intimidating." Amazon.com Review

LAGNIAPPE:

Shopping The Big Easy 

Hazelnut (Bryan's store in New Orleans)

-CABOO 

Have A Merry Michael Buble Christmas

Tonight at 8 on NBC singer/songwriter Michael Buble (a Canadian man's Harry Connick Jr.) is turning it out for the holidays. His guests include Oscar the Grouch, The Puppini Sisters, Tracy Morgan, Ed Helms, Justin Bieber, Thalia, Naturally 7 and Kellie Pickler.    

-CABOO 

Post Snark: It's not Judy and Liza but it'll do. 

Nesting Instincts

13 Nest Candles ($98) Saks 

Bamboo, Black Fig & Honey, Blue Garden, 
Grapefruit, Moroccan Amber, Moss & Mint, Orange Blossom, 
Periwinkle Hyacinth, Pink Jasmine, Wasabi Pear, 
Wild Oats & Bourbon, Tahiti Vanille, and Peony Blanche.

6 Nest Candles ($40) Saks 

Bamboo, Grapefruit, Moroccan Amber, 
Moss & Mint, Orange Blossom, and Wasabi Pear

6 Nest Christmas Candles ($32) Saks 

Pomegranate, Mandarin Orange, Pine, Cloves and Cinnamon

'Tis the season for me to hunker down with Tootsie, a blankey, and some baked goods from Fresh Market. The only thing missing from my nesting ritual is a fabulous candle like any of these from Nest. 

-CABOO 

Stuff My Stocking

Lucky Minimergency KIts ($15) See Jane Work 

See Jane Work always has cute gift ideas for coworkers. This emergency kit includes the following office essentials: 

• Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment .017oz
• Dental Floss
• Icy Mint Drops Breath Freshener
• Two Sided Emery Board
• Clear Nail Polish
• Nail Polish remover Pad
• 2 Clear Hair Elastics
• Hair Spray 3ml
• Set of Earring backs
• Stain Remover Towelette
• 3 Strips of Double Sided Tape
• 1 Latex Free Bandage
• Deodorant Towelette
• Sewing Kit with buttons and safety pin
• Tampon
• 2 Advil Tablets

-CABOO 

So Awfully Fond Of You

My special friend, Ella the Duck, passed away earlier this week. I was taking care of her, but really she was taking care of me. She taught me how to keep going even when you're all busted up. I will forever be inspired by her pluck. 

-CABOO 

Books For Fashion Mongers

Survival Kit: Fashion ($150) Assouline 

By Elisabeth Barille, Pierre Berge, 

Mariuccia Casadio and Marie-Andre Jouve 

Speaking on behalf of the clothing rich and cash poor, this boxed set looks like essential reading. The fashion memoires include Balenciaga, Emilio Pucci, Lanvin, and Yves Saint Laurent. 

-CABOO 

No Spiel Needed

Jonathan Adler has the holidays covered. Loving this Doxie Menorah ($120). If he keeps this up, Tootsie and I might have to convert. 

-CABOO