It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas…(Home Alone 2 Anyone?) Anyway, tonight I was treated to an early Christmas party by my absolute fave brand, Burt's Bees. I know I talk your ears off about how much I love and trust them. You know you love it almost as much as I love them. But back to my Christmas party. I walked into the most gorgeous loft (think the home from Something's Gotta Give and the kitchen from It's Complicated. Heavenly) and was serenaded with Christmas music and handed a spiked cider with a cinnamon stick! Now, for those of you who don't know me well and haven't been to this blog before, I am obsessed with Christmas. Yep, I'm THAT girl who can never wait for Christmas to come. ( I blame it on my heavy Disney upbringing. Disney after all is kind of like a year-round Christmas). The only thing that gets me through my depression after Halloween is over is the promise that Christmas carols will fill every inch of this island and that festive decorations will cover every storefront. So tonight was like, pretty much the best night of my life. And I swear it only got better as I was handed truffled grilled cheese, warm chocolate chip cookies, and mini-greek-salad-in-a-tomato canapés. 

I couldn't resist. I hope you play this video as you continue to read so you can get in the mood for the holiday season. Check out all of these beautiful products this season. It's incredible how Burt's Bees has really expanded into so many arenas. Their lotions and lip balms make the perfect stocking stuffers and their cremes and face washes are the perfect little splurge for yourself!

These were the fresh-baked oatmeal raisin cookies just to give you an idea of how amazing this party was. 

Oh Look, who is that in the mirror? It's moi! In the apartment's bathroom where the products were beautifully arranged just like I lived in this gorge 10 million dollar apartment! 

Here were all the classic Burt's Bees products! 

Look at this gorgeous holiday table! Don't you just wish your living room looked like this!

So here is where things got really good! We were given the most adorns tote bags. They said "Bee Merry and Bright!" I mean what could be cuter!? Then on top of a couple great holiday sets we were told that we could go shopping and fill our bags with whatever we wanted! Christmas party indeed! I swear I felt like a kid in a candy store! I nearly had to restrain myself from wiping my arm across each shelf and making a run for it! But my manners got the best of me and I tried to rein it in. I am most excited for the Acne treatment set that I snagged! Lord knows this adult acne has got to be put to rest before my sister's wedding next week! 

Holler! Check out this token menorah!

OMG! Baby Bee! Could anything be cuter. At first I was disappointed this wasn't in our blogger storefront…then I realized wait, Katie. You don't have a baby. You do not need this. What great timing though to learn about Burt's Baby care after reports came out that Johnson and Johnson's Baby Shampoo contains quarternium-15, which kills bacteria by releasing formaldehyde. So aggravating especially when you know that J&J can make safer alternatives (since in 8 other countries it uses a safer formula since their laws prohibit ingredients like these).

I call the stocking on the right with the Snowmen!

Christmastime with Burt's Bees is the best!!!

For more information about holiday gift sets that will be perfect for those someone special this season visit Burt's Bees online.

This holiday season Burt's Bees is also partnering with One Warm Coat to provide coats to those in need this winter. Join Burt on Facebok (now through December 31st 2011) for a Tacky Sweater Party. When you send in a pic of yourself in a tacky sweater on FB, Burt's Bees will donate $1 to One Warm Coat (up to $25,000). So be naturally nice this season and visit Burt's Bees Facebook page for other sweet giveaways! 

I could not have been happier when mes amis over at L'Occitane invited me to a preview of what they have in store for the holidays this season at their new home on 180 86th street on New York's Upper East Side! I had the grande pleasure to meet brand owner, Olivier Baussan. He founded the company with the purpose to create a company that celebrates and preserves the traditions of his native Provence. The company aspires to be "the worldwide reference for Mediterranean well-being, with unique body, face, and home products". The company values are authenticity and naturalness, respect and responsibility. It was utterly refreshing to hear a presentation like this and not even feel it necessary to have to ask about the product's purity. After listening to Olivier speak it was clear that money was the last thing on his mind. Tradition and heritage top his list of moral musts and he is…well…KILLING IT. The products are formulated with efficacious essential oils distilled using traditional processes.

Olivier spoke in French but luckily had an interpreter to translate his incredible stories. At the rear of the store hangs a photograph of Olivier the day that he founded the brand. He didn't know that it still existed and was so overcome with emotion as he looked at it, recalling the day L'Occitane was essentially started. A photo of him in his traditional French car in the fields on his way to create his first distilled rosemary essential oil. It's clear that this brand is far more than just a cash vache (cow).

On another note, 22 years of French and the only word I could distinctly understand was voiture (car), way to go public school systems. Another satisfied customer!

Olivier continued to regale us with touching stories about trips to Africa where he learned about the brand's signature Shea butter from African women selling it at the open air markets. Since then not only has he become one of their biggest customers but he started an organization to ensure that they get paid properly. He has spent a lot of resources ensuring that traditions are carried on and that the proper environmental harvest processes are respected. He really cares about preserving the essence of each product he produces. Because he is willing to support the traditional ways of farming they can carry it on, which is truly a gift. For example, he planted immortelle in Corsica and created aid to economy that may be more sustainable.

3 Products to get super excited about!

Immortelle: Immortelle is also known as the everlasting flower, because these flowers retain their form and colour when dried (See above). L'Occitane has extracted a precious essential oil from the plant, which has anti-free radical and anti-wrinkle properties. The Immortelle collection offers a complete anti-aging solution for the face. You will be able to find me slathered in this stuff from head to toe chowing on green smoothies to prevent the inevitable aging process.

Shea Hand Cream Have you tried this product yet? It's world renown and I dare to say it could be “life-changing." Shea Butter Hand Creams are sold around the world every 5 seconds! How crazy is that!? They contain 20% real Shea butter, honey and sweet almond extract blended with the light and alluring aromas of jasmine and ylang-ylang essences. This beauty balm glides on and absorbs to help heal, protect, and moisturize dry or dehydrated skin. Anti-oxidizing vitamin E helps nourish.

Délice des Fruits In the south of France, a classic confiserie, called Confiserie Florian, transforms fruits and flowers into mouth-watering delights. This year the limited edition holiday collection will make you feel like you're in a candy store. Délice des Fruits contain sparkling citrus fruits blended with sugar for a deliciously indulgent collection. Délice des Fleurs contain delicate roses and violets to create mouth-watering sweets! My favorite scent was the Délice des Fruits but there is really a scent for everyone in this heavenly store!

You need to stop in to a L'Occitane near you (or the 86th street store, which is a mecca of all things sweet smelling and delicious! You can even get a relaxing mini-facial or foot soak in the back (or one of several other signature treatments)! They have great holiday gifts for any price points so ch-ch-check 'em out!

Moi et Olivier posing in front of the famous picture aforementioned!

Aurevoir mes amis!

Wen hair products have quickly become a cult favorite in the haircare world. I had been hearing about them for a while. In fact, I was sent a bottle a couple months ago and I was not impressed at all. At the urging of the press representative to try it again, I agreed to try the pumpkin edition. I figured, spicy twist for fall? I could try it again. I was told that you have to get used to it, etc. etc. I tried it again thinking that I would be completely disappointed.

I can't believe it. Those crazy PR folks were right. I saw my hair transform before my very eyes. It shines like I haven't seen it shine…well, ever!

Here is the annoying thing about this product, it's a bit pricey, about $32 for a 16oz. bottle. But honestly it really is better than any other conditioner I've tried. One other thing to note is that although your hair will shine like the top of the Chrysler building, (remember that line in Annie? Anyone?) it will get greasier faster than usual. I used to easily go a day or two without washing my hair. Not so when you use this conditioner. After two days my hair is screaming for a hair washing! Oh and you also are supposed to use like 40 pumps of the product, which I found ridiculous. I used a bit more than a normal amount of conditioner and found it to work fabulously. 

This blend of botanical ingredients softens and nourishes your hair and scalp, formulated with chamomile, sunflower seed oil, sea kelp, and pomegranate extract. Available through November 2011. Available for purchase on Chaz Dean's website. 

I just tried the new Lavender Hair & Body Shampoo from Philip B and LOVED it. It's so invigorating! It is a gentle yet present lavender scent that you will want to use over and over! I felt so refreshed after using it!

I love that it's Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) free yet it still works itself into a lather. It protects and preserves your hair color while treating you to a soothing deep clean from head to toe. Philip has formulated a supremely mild blend of botanical surfactants works into to a dense, luxurious lather to clarify your hair, skin and scalp. A potent L-Amino Acid Complex not only strengthens hair but also fights static and leaves your skin silky smooth.

Pick up a bottle today!

Radical Skincare co-founders and creators, Liz and Rachel Edlich, are the daughters of one of America's most famous plastic surgeons and skin wound healing specialists, Dr. Richard F. Edlich MD, PhD. After having been in the skin care industry in Los Angeles for 15 years and creating over 100 products for home shopping brands and celebrities, Liz and Rachel saw the signs of aging in the mirror for themselves and decided to do something about it.

With the help of chemists and scientists, Liz and Rachel were able to identify that the potency in anti-aging formulas diminishes when the ingredients are put into a cream. What makes Radical Skincare different is a proprietary technology, called Trylacel, that suspends and preserves potency. Radical Skincare combines some of the most potent antioxidants like Resveratol, coffee berry, acai berry, grape seed, red wine extract, pomegranate, cranberry, prune, etc. and several other rich vitamins and minerals with an anti-aging peptide cocktail.

Radical Skincare Products claim to:
Increase skin hydration by 66%
Reduce wrinkles by 50%
Even skin tone and reduce age & sun spots
Increase Elasticity and create smoother skin
Reduce under eye dark circles and puffiness

Not your best look, sweetie.

She looks like she sucked all the bubbliness out of her effervescent personality!

Thoughts? 

Even though snow is (luckily) nowhere to be found, bloggers have been being treated to holiday collection previews early this year! Smashbox never disappoints with their fabulous holiday sets.  Holiday is the best time to stock up and save on your favorite Smashbox classics. Holiday actually, believe it or not has already launched. Smashbox was recently acquired by Estée Lauder but it hasn't been Lauderized! The brand has still maintained its signature style that Davis Factor and his brother wanted to maintain. The brand still boasts its Hollywood Glamour! They've been one step ahead in the social media realm and will continue to do so. They are really into creativity and it shows. The Holiday collections are absolutely gorgeous!

Here is Davis Factor giving the bloggers a taste of what we have in store for us this Holiday season!

Online tutorials with Lori Taylor will continue to give you the best makeup lessons and even help you recreate your favorite red-carpet looks. I love these videos because you really get the most of what you bring home.

Smashbox is also reformulating its lipsticks and will be launching these right after Holiday so you will still have something to look forward to after you take down your tree!

I am in love with this color!!!