Skin

I'm just going to come right out and say that I have been lusting after the Clarisonic Skin Care Brush for, uh, over a year now? Maybe more? I never buy it, because the cost is somewhat prohibitive, and while I feel it would be life-changing (face-changing?), I also feel it is important to continue feeding my children regularly, and ensure that we enjoy things such as electricity and heat.

A new year and a new decade always bring a contagious feeling of hope and optimism. This year, I've hitched my hopes on a new trend in beauty: According to Beatrice Aidin of the Financial Times, 2010 will be the year where the Botox craze will finally end.

I am an idiot. For almost five months now, I have been worrying that any national health plan that was passed by Congress would not cover abortion services. It turns out that I have been wringing my hands over the exact wrong thing. What really, really, really scares American women - including the president of NOW, Terry O'Neil - are proposals levy an "almost 5%" tax on critical women's health services: breast augmentations, facelifts, tummy tucks and other procedures. Gasp!!!!

My mom has recently gotten really into DIY beauty products. She's raiding the kitchen for everything from bananas, avocados and honey for hair conditioner to my grandmother's organic rose bush for homemade rose water. And her hair and skin actually look really, really good lately. But most people have trouble wrapping their heads around putting, well, food on the top of their head. But there are a lot of great homemade beauty products that can be prettily packaged and make wonderful gifts. Much better than, say, half an avocado, a couple of egg yolks and a plastic shower cap.

It was hard to write this post without singing The Twelve Days of Christmas (Five Golden Rings!) but I did have a good time putting it together. Herewith, my Twelve Days Of Giving which can certainly be edited down to eight or two or even five, depending on what holidays you celebrate.First: