‘Tis the season … for shopping headaches and annoyances.  Yes, folks, the holiday gifting season is upon us.

I love my family, I do.  But finding gifts for my “no drinking, no dancing” born-again in laws?  Impossible for this wine-imbibing city girl.  Tracking down the right baby gift for my friend’s new daughter?  The only time I ever look at baby items is when I’m trying to figure out if my cats will fit into infant clothes (don’t judge me, I work from home – the hours get boring). 

And while I scoot through the infant section of my local department stores at light speed, I do need to find a little something for my friend’s wee one.  So I was thrilled to discover Funkoos, a great little start up company offering something no one else seems to be able to:

High quality, 100 percent organic baby clothes featuring mom-approved details like enclosed embroidery.  Even better, the company is dedicated to fair trade compensation for all of its employees, and gives money back to the environmental charity One Percent For The Planet.

DING!  We have a winner.  Just check out how adorable this is:

Super cute little patterns (like the monkeys on the boy’s outfit) and super soft, breathable cotton.  My friend will be so pleased that her little one will be sporting such stylish, green baby clothes.

You can see the entire line at Funkoos.com.

That’s one difficult present down.  Up next?  The fun-unloving in-laws.

Page Six is reporting:

THAT Sarah Palin‘s agents are seeking a beauty endorsement deal, pitching cosmetic companies to capitalize on her “lipstick on a pit bull” catchphrase.

For the love of all that is beauty, please let no one take her up on it.  But if someone has to, I’m willing to bet it’ll be Mary Kay Cosmetics – that brand makes a mint pandering to middle America, and this would be right up their ally.

Origins is at it again … Find out how to get a complete starter kit – for FREE – after the jump!

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Lady Gaga at the 2009 MTV VMAs

Look, I’ll say it: fashion and entertainment has long been in need of a Lady Gaga character.

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If you’ve ever been both enthralled and repelled by something (like Lifetime movies), this blog is for you.  It manages to be horrifying (someone conceptualized these shots?!  And someone else PAID for them?!!), awesome (in a train wreck way) and completely funny.

Check out Awesomely Bady Engagement Photos, and thank your lucky stars that you haven’t drunk enough of the bridal Kool Aid to think these are a good idea.

I love the Lifetime Movie Network – it’s truly a guilty pleasure.

So it’s with great regret that I have to report that they’ve dropped the ball on this one. And – of all people – JIMMY KIMMEL came up with the greatest Lifetime Movie concept ever: Kate Is Enough: The Kate Gosselin Story, starring Kathy Griffin and George Takei.

I, for one, am beside myself with anticipation over the upcoming film version of the beloved classic Where The Wild Things Are.

I understand the trepidation many are experiencing – this is a beloved children’s classic, one of the very few books almost everyone has read (and have cherished memories of).  In a world where Bridget Jones’ Diary qualifies as literature, WTWTA is truly a masterpiece – a book where art, story telling and imagination collide.

So how will that translate on screen?  Only time will tell, but the trailer gives me hope (and, frankly, goosebumps).

It’s a personal post, so it’s all after the jump.

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The Black Forest Cake, my absolute favorite cake of all time

It’s my birthday, and because it’s been an unexpectedly hectic few days leading into today, I don’t have a new post.  So I’m subjecting you to a birthday version of Cravings, Longings and Desires.

My Favorite Cake

The black forest cake you see at the top of this post is, in my humble opinion, the best cake in the entire world.  Possibly the universe.  Dark chocolate, a very, very light frosting (almost like a freshly whipped cream), and just dripping with succlent, ruby red cherries.  I could seriously eat an entire cake.

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Princess Jasmine in today's Middle East

Who hasn’t wondered how the Disney Princesses would have fared today, or what comes after “happily ever after”?

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