I’ve spent weeks and weeks bemoaning the fact that Christmas commercials were airing in November. Macy’s has had their holiday decorations up for months. The Starbucks baristas have been wearing Santa hats since the day after Halloween. “It’s not even Thanksgiving yet,” I kept saying. “Why are people already doing their holiday shopping, why are the decorations already up? The holiday season starts after Thanksgiving. That’s the way it goes!!” The early start seriously upset me. And I refused to take part in it. But now, it seems, I have nothing to complain about.

Thanksgiving is over.

We’ve watched the parade. We’ve carved the turkey. We stuffed ourselves with stuffing and cranberry sauce and ate pumpkin pie until we wanted to puke. And then, when the feeling passed, we ate more. The holiday season is upon us. So I better just get in the spirit. Here’s how.

10. Watch a Christmas movie. Everyone has a favorite holiday movie. So what better way to get into the holiday spirit than by watching Tim Allen in The Santa Clause or the Olsen twins in To Grandmother’s House We Go? There’s always the recently made into a musical, Elf, or the kind of creepy but still enjoyable The Polar Express. Everyone has a favorite. Just find yours on YouTube and enjoy.

9. Order a peppermint mocha or a caramel latte. These have been available since the first of November and although I drank my coffee from Starbuck’s Christmas cups I refused to indulge in a peppermint mocha until the day after Thanksgiving. So after I did some cyber shopping, I went out and got one. It was worth the wait.

8. Decorate your dorm room. Don’t wait until you’re back home to decorate for the holidays. Get into the spirit now. Studying for finals and finishing out a semester that should have ended the day before Thanksgiving is depressing enough without prolonging your holiday cheer. So don’t. Hang twinkle lights. Make paper snowflakes. Throw tinsel everywhere. And while you’re decorating…

7. Blast that holiday music. There has to be at least one station in your range that plays annoying, nonstop Christmas music from Thanksgiving until New Years day. Embrace it! Or if you want something a little more specialized, download your favorite artists singing holiday tunes. I’m not going to lie; I’m listening to Kurt and Blaine sing “Baby its Cold Outside” as I type. Glee’s Christmas album is totally worth the $9.99 on iTunes.

6. Drink hot chocolate. Nothing says winter quite like a cup of hot cocoa on a cold, snowy night. Curl up on the couch in your favorite sweats, with a warm blanket and your hot chocolate, topped with whip cream and marshmallows. Mmm. Sounds fabulous.

5. Make a wish list. I know. I know. This is the season for giving, not for getting. But once upon a time your wish list was the most important part of your holiday season. And who’s to say that Santa still can’t use a little help finding you the perfect present. If you hadn’t told him, he never would have known you wanted that Cabbage Patch doll back then, and he won’t know you want those patent leather pumps now. Write a list. Mom and Dad will get it to Santa. They always do.

4. Plan the perfect holiday party. After your brief reunion with your high school BFFs on Thanksgiving Eve you remembered just how much fun you use to have with them. What better way to start off a month of hanging out at home than with the perfect party? Peppermint flavored cocktails and an excuse to eat all the candy canes you want. Do you need another reason? How about an excuse to…

3. Find the perfect party outfit. Every store I step into, every magazine I open, all I see is sparkles. Bright speckled dresses, and black satin, and red silk. My InStyle is constantly reminding me of my need to find the perfect party dress. And frankly, I can no longer resist. I want a pretty dress. And I want one now.

2. Make some break and bake cookies. Around the holidays, baking can sometimes become a mix between an art form and a competitive sport. But if you just want something sugary sweet to indulge in during your movie marathon, try some break and bake cookies. Pillsbusry and Tollhouse make it easy for use college girls, simply break apart the brick of cookie dough decorated with Christmas trees, candy canes, and reindeer, place them on a tray, and put them in the oven. Of if you really can’t wait just break and eat, salmonella be damned.

1. Start shopping. Right now. Right this second. In fact, you should have started shopping already, because everyone else has, and you’re never going to be able to catch up. You have gifts to give. Lots of them. Mom. Dad. Brother. Aunt. Boyfriend. Cousin’s boyfriend. Boyfriend’s cousin. These gifts are not going to buy themselves. And no, you can’t get away with homemade cards and free hug coupons like you use to be able to.

You’ve got to love the holidays, huh?

[Check out Jenn's other musings-in-the-form-of-a-list here.]

After spending money on a lot of products that don’t live up to their promise, I can attest that the following four are definitely some of the best products on the market. If you know what’s good for you (and your kisser), get thee to the mall and stock up on these ASAP:

Lip Buffer: C.O. Bigelow’s Soothing Lip Buffer,  made with aloe extract and coco butter, will make your lips perfectly soft and smooth. If you apply the lip buffer onto your lips and take a warm wash cloth and rub the buffer in, you will not only exfoliate your lips, but you will rub in its relaxing peppermint extract. For $4.99 you can pick up a tube that will last you months and months. Although you can buy C.O. Bigelow products through their website, Bath & Body Works also carries them.

Lip Gloss: Nothing gets better than Yves Saint Laurent’s Golden Shimmering Gloss. This YSL lip gloss stays on for hours, and it actually protects the lips with natural oils instead of drying them out like most glosses do. Each tube of lip gloss has real 24-carat-gold flecks (baller!), which cause extra shine and luster on your lips. Although this lip gloss is expensive – $30 a tube – the quality and 31 different shades make it 100% worth every last cent. 

Lipstick: Every girl should find her color and own a fancy tube of lipstick. And if she’s smart, that tube will be one of the many shades of Chanel Hydrabase Creme Lipstick. Chanel is a timeless classic when it comes to lipstick and after trying it just once, it was easy to see why. The product actually makes your lips feel good and look amazing while making your teeth look whiter and your smile look brighter. (Yes, this stuff really does it all!) With a moisturizing finish to it, you are truly getting your $28.50′s worth.

Lip Balm: Lush, known for its handmade and organic products, has one of the best lip balm products around. For $6.95, you should indulge in the Whipstick Lip Balm. This product lasts like nothing else I’ve ever used. If you are looking for a product to put on before bed that will keep your lips moisturized all night long, this lip balm will do the job. Despite a full night of sleep (and drooling) it’s still on my lips when I wake up. And to top it off, the chocolatey-orange scent and taste is to die for.

So there you have it: the best of the best in lip wear.
Your lips are an important part of your life (from smiles to smooches) so give them the love and attention they deserve.

That being said, I have a few favorite drinks that do really well in cold weather.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate:

This ain’t your grandma’s hot cocoa. (Or maybe it is…) I like to add a few drops (or shots) of Peppermint Schnapps to hot chocolate for an immediate warm-up. Make the cocoa with milk if you like it creamier.

Cinnamon Vanilla Cream:

One day my love of Starbucks and alcohol collided, and this drink was born. I just poured some Cinnamon Schnapps into my Vanilla Crème, and – voilà – an innocuous looking brew. Yes, I did keep it all in the Starbucks container. You can make your own Vanilla crème by warming up milk, adding a drop or two of vanilla extract, sugar to taste, and topping it off with whipped cream.

Hot (Spiked) Apple Cider:

First, you need to find some alcoholic apple cider. It’s probably somewhere between the beer and wine sections. Two bottles is a good amount to start with. On the stove, get it simmering with two cinnamon sticks, a tablespoon of cloves, a little bit of sugar and some nutmeg. What really makes it piping hot though, is the addition of either rum or apple brandy. Be generous, ladies – the apple cider has lost most of its alcoholic content in the heating process.

Hot Spiced Wine:

Hot spiced wine is like Sangria, only warm. With cinnamon and cloves. You start by boiling about a ½ cup of sugar in a ½ cup of water (for a 2 bottle recipe). Once the sugar is dissolved into the water, add the wine and spices. When you feel that the mixture has sufficiently blended, turn off the heat and add orange and lemon slices and either rum or brandy to taste. Vodka works too, and you can get creative with the fruit you choose to put in. It is best if you make it an hour or so before you serve it.

For a more sophisticated cocktail try the Blushing Reindeer, or any one of these being made at the hippest New York bars. Personally, if I’m the one making the drinks, I shouldn’t have to work to get drunk. I leave the creative mixology to the bartenders.

Any of your own favorite recipes that you want to share?

[Always drink responsibly. Photo courtesy of countryliving.com]

It is tasty enough to eat all year round, yet easy enough to whip up for tonight’s family dinner. So, get to it!

What you’ll need:

-Candy canes

-White chocolate (many specialty stores and grocery stores will carry chocolate in large chunks. If not, chips work fine. I prefer to use Godiva chocolate…cuz I’m a baller.)

-Milk chocolate

-A double boiler (this is because when melted in a regular pan, chocolate will burn. If you don’t have a double boiler, fill one pan with water to boil and rest an equal-sized pan on top to put the chocolate in.)

-Freezer paper or regular wax paper

-Cookie Sheet

Get Cooking:

1. Cover the cookie sheet with the freezer paper, taping down the sides.

2. Melt the milk chocolate in the double boiler. If you have large chocolate chunks, break them up a little first.

3. Stir the chocolate while it melts to keep from sticking; when it is nice and smooth use a spatula to spread it over the covered cookie sheet

4. While the chocolate is cooling, place the unwrapped candy canes in a Ziploc bag and crush them into tiny pieces. Side-note: you’ll find smashing the candy-canes to be a pretty good release of holiday shopping stress

5. Next, clean the pot and melt the white chocolate in the same way you melted the milk chocolate. When the milk chocolate has begun to harden (this can be sped up by putting the cookie sheet into a fridge first) it is safe to spread the white chocolate on top.

6. While the white chocolate is still warm, sprinkle the candy cane bits and press down lightly to make sure they stay in the chocolate

7. Freeze the cookie sheet until the bark is hard and easy to break into pieces.

8. Break up and enjoy the deliciousness of peppermint bark!

Bonus: Not only is Peppermint Bark the best winter indulgence, but it also makes a great (cheap, easy, thoughtful) gift when arranged in a cute holiday tin or bag…that is, if you have any left.

Still haven’t gotten your peppermint-chocolate fill? Enjoy your bark with hot chocolate spiked with Ice 101 Schnapps or a Chocolate Peppermintini with this Stirrings cocktail mix!

Happy Black Friday! Are you out soaking up the sales and bitchy soccer moms Christmas Spirit at the mall? Or are you home attempting to digest the 6 pounds of food you ate last night? Maybe you are spending the day with family and friends.

Whatever you are doing, welcome to holiday season! Sure, you may not be able to shop, shop, shop like you usually do this time of year (thank you, Wall Street!), but that doesn’t make it any less glorious! There’s the music! And the movies! And the general good mood of everyone around you. We, like everyone else, loooove this time of year…and we don’t even celebrate Christmas!

What is your favorite thing about the holiday season? We asked our writers and here is what they had to say:

K – NYU: I love going home and catching up with the fam. Sometimes you just need a break from work/studying/life…

Kelly – UMass: My favorite thing about the holidays is watching my family open the presents I picked out for them!

Kathryn S.: Open-bar office Christmas parties! Woo hoo!

Carly – Grinnell: I know this is cheesy, but I live away from home and have for a while now, so my favorite thing is the feeling that comes from sitting in my living room back at home with my dad, my mom, and my brother. It’s just the best.

Lauren – University of Michigan: Holiday sales! (And not for gifts…for me!)

Elizabeth – UC Berkeley: An excuse to belt out Bing Crosby’s entire “White Christmas” CD.

Britt – Northern Virginia Community College: Christmas in a cup from Starbucks. I know it’s awful for me, but it tastes just like Christmas in a cup should taste. For a Grande: 3 pumps Vanilla, 3 pumps Gingerbread, Breve, No water, With whip, 4 pump Chai. Mmmm.

Elise – UCLA: Cinnamon and pumpkin flavored EVERYTHING! And scented candles!

Suzanne – Tulane: The constant replaying of Mariah Carrey’s Christmas song on the radio. “All I want for Christmas is yooooooooooou.”

Alex – Cornell: My favorite thing about the holiday season is candy canes…in ANY way, shape or form. Giant candy canes, candy cane hot chocolate, candy cane bark, candles, wrapping paper. What can I say; I’m obsessed!

Olua: I know I sound like I’m coming straight out of YET another Christmas Story, but I love how happy it makes everybody. Unlike a lot of people I know who share this sentiment, though, I really DON’T want it to last all year long. That ruins the special feeling-of-the-now, don’t you think?

Noa – CU Boulder: Mistletoe. And the Egg Nog milkshake at McDonalds.

Sara – NYU: Taking ridiculous pictures of my boyfriend and me for the “cards” I will definitely “forget” to send out.

Liza – Grove City College: BAKED GOODS! And a license to be totally sappy and cheesy without (too much) judgment.

Sara C – Fordham: Watching “It’s A Wonderful Life” on television with my family. It’s my absolute all-time favorite movie, and it just doesn’t have the same resonance if you watch it in July.

What’s your fave?

While everyone loves a good brownie, a brownie can be made exponentially better by adding peppermint (or peanut butter, caramel, marshmallow… the list goes on).

Mint chocolate brownies are the perfect treat as the weather gets colder, but really, they’re perfect for any time at all. Is there ever a bad time for a brownie?

The Ingredients:

1 stick of unsalted butter

8 oz. of semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped (chocolate chips will work too)

1 cup sugar

3/4 t salt

3 large eggs

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

25 small peppermint patties (my fave are York!)

Getting to Brownie Bliss:

Line an 8 inch square baking pan with aluminum foil with butter on it. This will make the brownies much easier to get out of the pan (the easier it is to get the brownies out of the pan, the sooner you can stuff your face).

Put the chopped chocolate or chocolate chips in a heat-proof bowl and set over a saucepan of simmering water. Gently stir until the chocolate is melted and then remove from the heat and stir in the sugar and salt.

Now whisk in the eggs, cocoa powder, and flour until the mixture is nice and smooth. Pour 1/3 of the batter into the pan.

Unwrap all your peppermint patties and arrange them over the layer of batter. Now pour the remaining batter into the pan, bake for 45-55 minutes at 350 degrees, and consume!

Sound like too much work? You can also make the mint chocolate brownies using a boxed brownie mix. Simply make the batter following the box’s directions, pour 1/3 of it into a pan, layer your peppermint patties, and pour the rest of the batter over. So technically, the brownies didn’t come from a box because you added your own special touch to them.

Now that I’ve had these, I want to make brownies with all sorts of candy bars inside. Snickers? Heath bar? This could get dangerous.

It’s no secret that Starbucks captures both my heart and my wallet.

There is just something about entering those doors on a daily basis that calms my usually antsy self and makes me squirm with delight while I debate over my drink of choice: double tall nonfat, one-pump, white mocha or double tall, soy, no whip, one-pump, pumpkin-spice latte? (Hey, I’m a girl who knows what I like- but I do admit I hate appearing to be high maintenance every time I order!)While I’ve been able to budget my funds to fit in my Starbucks addiction (I just can’t give it up), I often turn a blind eye to the hidden calories that lurk in my green and white cup of java.

Especially with all the delightful super hot and super yummy speciality drinks this season! (hellllo peppermint mocha!)

But now thanks to starbucks.com, you can customize your drink the way you order it (or close to) and see just how much damage you are doing to your booty. Customize your drink of choice by size, milk, whip, etc and calculate… leaving you no room to ponder how you gained that extra pound when you step on the scale.

And prepare to be surprised. Even the “healthier” drinks have some hidden calories but there are a few tricks of the trade to cut the cals and still enjoy your Bucks:

1) Reduce the number of syrup pumps to one or two. A tall usually has three pumps. And if it’s a combined drink like a Peppermint Mocha- then it’s 6! Adding around an additional whopping 200 extra calories! Sugar free vanilla, caramel and hazelnut are other great calorie saving alternatives.

2) Skip the Whip. This should be a no-brainer but if you must have it, make it a treat once in a while.

3) Enjoy the Soy! Starbucks uses vanilla soy milk, and while there a few more calories than skim milk, Soy packs in more protein which will keep you fuller longer and the vanilla flavor makes the need for high calorie syrups not so necessary.

4) Ask for a Short. It’s not on the menu, but your baristas will happily make it for you. It satisfies the craving but is even smaller (and cheaper! bonus!) than a Tall.

5) Stick with the saftey drinks. Iced and hot, tea, coffee, mistos, cappuccinos and americanos are way lower in fat and calories than the specialty drinks…trying making your favorite Caramel Macchiato a weekly treat instead of a daily one.

6) Don’t be afraid to sound like me! A lot of people order things how they come because they feel bad changing it up. Sure I may have to repeat my very specialized drink order a few times, but as long as you are nice about it, your baristas won’t mind, your waist line will thank you and you can feel guilt free sipping on your double tall, ½ caf, no whip, soy, one pump mocha…

Check out the Starbucks nutrition info for the complete info on all drinks, syrups and food.

Reebok must have heard those imagined thoughts (because I certainly never thought them) and created a product that pretty much defies all logic but still probably sells well: the scented sports bra!

For a mere $28.95, your breasts can smell like they just brushed their teeth…or something. What’s the value in having minty fresh boobs?

I guess for the sweaty chicks among us, the minty scent can mask the otherwise offensive odors that may eminate from our chest, right? I mean sports bras and boob sweat go together like Bret Michaels and strippers!

But honestly, I’ve never noticed that boobs may need a little scented boost. So, the only other reason that this unnecessary product could possibly exist would have to be the aromatheraputic properties of peppermint.

Maybe your sinuses need a little clearing out in the midst of your kickboxing class.

Maybe your 10-mile run could use a little spicing up (especially on the streets of Manhattan). Or, maybe you’re just out to catch the eye (or nose) of that dude in the weight room who looks to actually have an IQ of over 50.

Is this stupid product absolutely ridiulous, um, yes. Does it smell good? Mixed with gym sweat…no. But all you hippy chicks on your way to Pilates…enjoy!

And for the rest…I hope you catch that mint-loving jock!