Wow - 2010 has been a crazy, fun-filled roller coaster ride. Looking back, I've received more blessings than I could have imagined and I learned lessons beyond compare. I played in the ocean, watched supermodels in their natural habitat, shared an elevator with an icon, got Gaga'd for my birthday, did the makeup for a designer's lookbook, received my first facial (really!), sailed around Manhattan with shirtless male models (again, really!), shared way too much, hosted my first event at Fashion's Night Out, had a major fashion orgasm, was a panelist on BlogHer's first fashion panel and was blessed to be in the holiday issue of Ladies' Home Journal.

In 2010 I excelled at my job & I left to work on Style IT full time. I made amazing friends and I lost more than I'd like to admit. I ran my mouth and I kept great secrets. I met celebrities, designers, icons and idols and I learned who they truly are. I loved myself and learned that not everyone accepts my size. I felt embraced by blogging community and ostracized by others. Style IT celebrated it's 4th birthday and I celebrated my 27th.

In 2011, I am committing to those who have stuck by me the most - that means YOU, whoever is reading this. In a strange way, you've been the most honest and the most loyal. You share feedback, both good and bad. You have been there when I was down and you've been there when I was up. I hope that most importantly, you'll join me in 2011. I have special plans for you!

I can't thank you enough for joining me on this crazy journey - and I hope that I've given you half of all that you've given me.

Here's to peace, love & style in 2011!

xoxo

Last night was the annual Fashion 2.0 holiday party, also known as an excuse to get dressed up all fancy-like. It was a wonderful event, filled with colleagues, friends and even my mom joined us for the evening. While attempting to fall asleep one night, I was struck with an epiphany - I finally knew how I was going to wear the dress in the photo above. I'd purchased this dress during my last year in college when I worked at Lane Bryant. It was an online return that sat in the store until it was marked down from $300 to somewhere around $20. When I took it home, I didn't know how I would wear it, but I knew that I had to have it. It came with me from apartment to apartment - I wasn't going to give up. Turns out that a lace shirt, a nude bodysuit and a reason to wear the dress was all I needed!

Rhinestone earrings: Forever 21 (no longer available)

Lace top: Hanky Panky

Velvet dress: ABS for Lane Bryant (no longer available)

Nude bodysuit: Bare Necessities (more on how this came to be soon)

Shoes: Taryn Rose via Loehmann's

Photo by Eileen

For me, the most fun part of the holiday season are the little, unexpected treats that magically end up in my stocking. Sure, the big presents are grand and useful, but there is something to be said for the smallest luxuries that end up being cherished presents for the rest of the year. Until recently, I always thought of L'Occitane as the go-to company for shea butter products, but they offer so much more. If you're looking for last minute treats for the holidays or something extra special for yourself, try these little luxuries from L'Occitane.

Jewel Lip Palette

$26.00 at L'Occitane

In celebration of the new fragrance,  Fleur Cherie, L'Occitane created the Jewel Lip Palette. From the packaging to the gloss, this product is a treat. Is it a pocket watch? Is it a piece of jewelry? Is it makeup? That's all for you to decide. Inside the compact, the pink & bronze glosses contain orange blossom extract - plus, there's a bonus mirror. Honestly, what's not to love?

Pure Shea Butter Apricot Flower

$15.00 at L'Occitane

Last holiday season, I received a quarter sized tin of shea butter. Honestly, I had no idea how handy the tin would be. Since that day, I've carried it with me every day and I've applied the shea butter to heal chapped lips & skin, rubbed it into cuticles, dry elbows and even applied it as a lip balm in a pinch. This season, I'm not messing around - I'm spreading the joy of L'Occitane's shea butter tins with everyone I know. My pick is the Apricot Flower - it's fresh and feminine without being overly sweet or fruity.

What treats are you giving to those you love this holiday season?

Let's be honest - it's no secret that I love Ginger + Liz. They are great gals with a passion for life and color - what's not to love? After a particularly rowdy holiday party last week, I came home to find both limited edition holiday colors, Take A Chill Pill and Big Daddy Cane (above), plus new permanent colors Who's The Boss? and Take It Or Leave It. Needless to say, I ripped open the package and applied Take A Chill Pill's near-holographic silver glitter immediately.

My glitter craving has continued through this week. With it being so close to Christmas, I naturally had to choose Big Daddy Cane. It's more of a pink-red than a true red, with silver & red glitter throughout. The above photo shows the polish after two coats. The color isn't completely opaque, so a couple of coats is necessary to bring a vibrant, full color polish.

What nail polish are you wearing for the holiday?

Thank goodness for mothers. In addition to bringing unconditional love (no matter how long it's been since you've done your laundry) and imported presents (there are some things that you just can't get in NYC), they also come in quite handy for taking outfit photos, even at 10pm on a Monday night. My mother and I spent the evening at a pre-holiday dinner with a dear friend - naturally, we didn't think about the need for an outfit photo until it was completely dark outside. Oh well - that's what a camera's flash is for ;)

Funnel collar tweet coat: Avenue via One Stop Plus

Elbow length knit fingerless gloves: Tracy Reese (no longer available)

Black clutch: Christian Siriano for Payless (no longer available)

Jeweled necklace: Forever 21 (no longer available)

Velvet Boyfriend Shirt: Just My Size

Straight leg trousers: Lane Bryant (no longer available)

Leopard flats: Jessica Simpson

Over the years, I've owned a lot of phones, computers, music players & various accessories that are supposed to make my life more enjoyable by promising to fulfill all of my entertainment needs. So many products, so many promises, so little delivery. Over the past few months, my working style has been in transition as my priorities are evolving. I'm spending as much time at home as I am running around the city and setting up "office hours" at a nearby coffee shop between appointments. These changes have necessitated that I not only adapt my mobile technology, but my home systems as well. That's when I discovered the Acoustic Research ARS2i Sound Dock - things have been much happier ever since.

What I LOVE about this device is that it is capable of so much more than it looks - a hidden gem. In addition to playing music from your iPod/iPhone, you can also connect additional devices through auxiliary input. For me, this means blogging in bed while listening to music or falling asleep while catching up on my favorite tv shows. As an added bonus, the ARS2i can also charge my iPhone, comes with a handy remote, has a built in handle and is complete with a backup battery.

There are similar products on the market (and have been for a couple of years), but after reading product reviews, I was always hesitant to buy them. The majority of complaints were about poor sound quality. To ensure that this product would not be one I would become disappointed in, I put it through an array of tests - from movies where things blow up to music engineered to make you feel the bass in places you never imagined. The speakers didn't fail and continue to impress.

If you don't have a blogger on your list this year, there are many others who would enjoy the ARS2i. In fact, I'm considering getting one for my mom - just don't tell her ;).

The holidays - well, they make me crazy. Not put reindeer antlers on my head or take outfit photos with tacky Christmas sweaters crazy, but obsessively applying Philosophy's Peppermint Bark lip balm and shower with Suave's Peppermint Bliss Shimmer Body Wash crazy.

Infused with peppermint extract and shimmer, this body was is enough to make your mornings jolly and keep you energized for your elf work throughout the day (I warned you - crazy!). Aside from how delightful this body wash is, the price tag is even more delightful. You can snag a bottle of holiday cheer of your very own for $1.99 at drugstores & superstores nationwide. I'm not one to point fingers, but there are similar products on the market that are WAY more expensive.

Bonus tip: Pick up a package of candy canes for a minty hot chocolate treat after you find your bliss. You won't be sorry.