SANTA LAND AT MACY'S - HO HO HURRY!

If there is a boy or girl in your life who is writing that letter to Santa, you better tell him or her to hop to it and sign that baby already!   It's the 12 of December and Santa is putting the finishing touches on all the presents the elves are making at the North Pole!

Macy's has a direct connection to Santa and they have been helping organize the letters.   Click BELIEVE to visit one of the coolest Santa Claus websites around.   Macy's has all the bases covered!  There have been over 700.000 letters dropped off at Macy's locations around the country.   For every letter received, Macy's will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish foundation (up to $1 Million).  So help your little one get excited for Christmas and help a child in need at the same time!  Look for the red mailbox at Macy's or check www.Macys.com for a store near you.

I caught a glipse of a meeting of the elves in Bryant park this past week!  I think Santa was giving them a big pep talk about all the hard work they are doing!!  The meeting was sponsored by ABC Family - who has some great Christimas programming lined up for Xmas.ELF MEETING - BRYANT PARK

Hope you have been nice!!  For anyone who has been naughty - there is still time to make amends!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING - WARREN HAMLET

WARREN GENERAL STORE IN THE WARREN HAMLETI was in Litchfield County, Connecticut over the weekend to attend the Holiday Open House of the Warren Hamlet.    Made up of Privet House, Vol. 1 Antiques, The Warren General Store, and The Rooster Tail Inn, the little enclave is bustling with life!   What was once a quiet stretch of road between Sharon, Kent, New Millford, & Bantam is now a destination for shopping, eating, antiquing, and lodging!   PRIVET HOUSE IN THE WARREN HAMLET

The snow started to fall on Saturday afternoon as if it were scheduled by a director staging  a Perfect Holiday CALHOUN SUMRALL & CHRISTOPHE POURNYOpen House.   Customers had a great time tasting wine from different regions at each store.  What a talented crowd it was!  I ran into Wilson Henley and Bruce Glickman of Duane Street Antiques, & Calhoun Sumrall of Ralph Lauren.    Susanna Salk and Christophe Pourny were also in the house!  Susanna's latest book - Weekend Retreats is in book stores now. Christophe was sharing the news of the latest project in his busy antique restoration studio.  Pourny is the master of French Polish for NYC interior designers, and his latest project is transforming 12 mahogany doors for a New York City residence.  Everyone was in the mood to start their holiday shopping, and  there are a million good gift ideas at Privet House, from a vintage Rolex watch - to table settings, to a chew toy for your dog. WILSON HENLEY, RICHARD LAMBERTSON, & SUZANNE CASSANO If it has style - Privet house has it!   What started as a weekend project of design guru - Richard Lambertson, Privet house has quickly earned a place on the stylish weekenders and locals Saturday and Sunday schedules.   Lambertson was sharing the exciting news that Privet house has already added a second location in Greenwich, Connecticut.  Vol. 1 Antiques also had a crowd.  Owner Suzanne Cassano has developed a loyal following to her eclectic eye and super smart style!  You will always fall in love with at least one awesome find in her store that you will want to find a home for in your weekend house or even back in the city!  After much shopping and wine tasting, many guests, including myself ended up over at the Rooster Tail Inn for a wonderful dinner.   The Winter Wonderland setting was priceless!  The menu is rustic and delicious.  There are hearty options from land and sea- from Steak to Swordfish.  Husband and Wife Maureen and Cliff Jones transformed this historic property, giving it all the modern conveniences you are used to, while preserving a sense of a warm country inn.

THROW RUGS AT PRIVET HOUSE - LITTLE EDIE STYLEI look forward to many great dinners at the Rooster Tail.   Makes the cold winter weather a little more fun.  If you want the perfect weekend - shop, eat, drink, and then stay!  ROOSTER TAIL INN - SNOW COVEREDWhy not take a drive this weekend?  You can take care of some holiday shopping and enjoy a little R&R at the same time.    Who's dreading the winter?  Not me, now I have plans.  See you at The Warren Hamlet!

For driving directions to the Warren Hamlet from your house, click MAPQUEST for the quickest route.

MODEL BEHAVIOR - ANNA GETANEH & ETHIOPIA

Walking the runways of Paris and Milan is a dream come true for any aspiring model from small towns all over the world.   The life of high fashion must seem even more remote for any boy or girl  from a small village in Ethiopia.   Thanks to model Anna Getaneh,  children who live in this devastated region of the world are benefiting from the glamorous life experience Getaneh calls her own.   Born in Sweden to Ethiopian parents, Getaneh has always had a passion for bringing humanitarian services to this forgotten country.   You might not know her name, but if you follow fashion or read magazines - you know Anna's face.    Getaneh was the staple on fashion runways  from NY, Paris, & Milan in the 90's.  She was a favorite of Yves Saint Laurent's, and many of major houses.   Her incredible cheekbones and exotic, cherubic beauty was a beautiful addition to the all too often lilly white faces on fashion runways.

A whirlwind of fashion shoots, runway shows, and CoverGirl commercials would fill Anna's  glamorous life.   Fast forward a decade and Getaneh has a very different life, although no less interesting and even more fulfilling.   Anna now calls South Africa home, where she is a wife and mother.   She is also the founder of a wonderful children's charity -The Ethiopian Children's Fund. Getaneh has watched her dream of helping the poor children of Ethiopia come to fruition.   Basic needs for a child include a roof over their head, a place to feel safe, and healthy food to eat.   For many children the world over - school is a haven where they can forget the reality of their home life and begin to dream.   In the West, its hard for us to remember just how bad the living conditions are for millions of children the world over.SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN AT THE ECF SCHOOL

If you are looking for a wonderful way to make a difference this holiday season,  the Ethiopian Children's Fund  is a the perfect place to make your gift.  If you log on the website and watch the video of Anna and the School, I promise it will warm your heart.  

For less than the price of a pair of designer shoes ($540), you can provide a child with healthcare, education, uniforms, and food for ONE YEAR!  PLEASE visit the website and help Anna continue to make a difference.   She is not sponsored by the government and the organization is as grass roots as it gets.     100% of your donation goes to the school.    Thank you Anna for making a difference, and for changing these children's lives forever!

ABYU - NEW COLLECTION- OPUS LUMEN

And Bob's Your Uncle - the most unique lighting collection in the business, recently unveiled it's latest collection.  Opus Lumen is a dreamy, iconic group of out of this world lighting fixtures.   Click FEATHER to read all about it and see more images of these amazing pieces!