Margaux goes to New Year's Eve Party

New Year's Eve is celebrated around the world--usually involving parties, music, fireworks, and champagne.  It's the one time of the year where you can play up the shimmer and glitter.  This is a great evening dress, and paired with the faux fur shawl provides warmth and style to ring in the new year.

New Year's Eve is day of endings and new beginnings;  it is a time to reflect on the past year, look into the future, and making new resolutions which is a tradition that dates back to Babylonian times (returning borrowed farm tools was a common resolution back then).

Here are some New Year's traditions from around the world:

• Spanish people eat 12 grapes during the last 12 seconds before the new year
• Polar Bear club members dip into icy waters
• Scottish people march with fireballs down the streets
• Times Square drops a 6 foot, 1000 pound Waterford Crystal ball 
• Other US cities drop a pickle, pretzel, a pine cone, and a caged opossum
• Italians used to wear red underwear and get rid of old items by throwing them out windows (an old tradition not practiced anymore)

Happy New Year!

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On the Go Gift Ideas

Here are 10 fun, techy gift items for travel:

1.  Brighton Bell Skinny Sleeve:  a slim laptop carrier that is perfect for the airport and other on the go errands.

2.  Trackstick:  not an ordinary pedometer--connect the USB port and Google Earth, and you have your entire trip mapped out (a visual diary of everywhere you've traveled).

3.  Travel Guard Personal Alarm:  ideal for women traveling alone.  This 100db alarm shrieks with the pull of a cord.  Perfect for dark streets and deserted parking lots.  It also has a motion sensor/alarm for hotel rooms and a LED flash light.

4.  Portable Laptop Lock:  whether on the airplane, coffee shop or poolside, this laptop lock is convenient for short trips away from your laptop.

5.  MacBook Air:  razor thin, lightweight laptop that is great for traveling.

6.  12 Language Global Translator:  enter a word in your language and this translator will speak and show the translation.

7.  Reef Stash Sandals:  great for stashing your cash, credit card, or hotel key while taking a dip in the pool or ocean.

8.  iPhone Mini Battery Pack:  a rechargeable battery pack for on the go.

9.  Kindle:  e-book reader holds 200+ books and weighs only 10.3oz.  Does not require WiFi which means no wireless bills or service plans.

10.  Flip:  this no brainer video camera is easy to use and small enough to throw into your bag to document your everyday life or travels.

Margaux goes to a Holiday Party

The holidays are a great time of the year for its festivities.  Houses lined with bright lights, smell of evergreen trees, jovial Christmas music, excuse to over eat, and quality time spent with family are traditions I look forward to every year.   Another great thing about this time of the year is the holiday socials--where there's a reason to dress up in glitzy outfits and enjoy the camaraderie of friends and family.  Cheers!