Greetings from Southern California, where I write this post! Like most of you I imagine you’re busy running around between households or sprucing up your roost for out-of-town guests and doing last minute shopping and recipe hunting and all the stuff that makes the holidays the holi-DAZE.

I’ve been catching up on magazines and blogs and the latest Real Simple on happiness has really got me thinking. I’ve also been loving cupcakesandcashmere’s “things that make me happy,” plus I’ve been eyeing Jonathan Adler’s new tome, Happy Chic Colors decorating book, so happy is the buzz word for me as I enter the new year.

But first, the parties! As the classic song goes, What are you doing New Year’s Eve?

I’ve got this beautiful and simple hairdo (below) on the brain. It may just be the one I rock on NYE! From Martha, nach.

But even BEFORE all that New Year’s talk: Christmas!

Merry, merry everyone.