reLYME

On chilly days, it's often essential to keep your hands warm, while still being able to function. You know, selecting the right key on your key ring, checking your iPhone, giving the bird to someone who cuts you off in traffic, the usual.

One of the sure fire ways to keep your paws toasty is with glittens, a glove/mitten hybrid. They're nothing new, but after wearing off the fingers on my old gloves, and feeling like a dejected bear in my mittens, I've decided to for a pair of merinos from J Crew:

And if $25 for a pair of gloves is a bit out of your price range, because believe me, it's more than likely out of mine, you can try an adorably colorful and thrifty alternative, like these from Forever 21:

Now, go grab yourself a hot chocolate!

Recently, a friend of mine, knowing that I am anti-fur, asked my opinion on whether or not she should buy a vintage fur coat for chilly New York City nights. This got me thinking about faux fur. Maybe it isn't as warm as the real deal, but it's cruelty free, and will warm your shivering bones to their core.

From vest to coat, here are four faux fur options to keep you toasty in cooler months ahead:

Forever21 - Urban Faux Fur Vest, $24.80

Topshop - Leopard Print Faux Fur Coat, $160

Express - Faux Fur Cropped Coat, $168

Fred Flare - Faux Fur Isabelle Coat, $153

With the prospect of a new-home purchase, and getting settled in a new state, I can't afford to be careless with my cash. So, when I saw these booties by Elizabeth and James for $395, I knew there had to be a cheaper way.

I was able to find a comparable pair from Forever21.com for under $25!

It may not be a perfect likeness, no double takes here, but with a savings of over $300, the sensibility is enough to make my feet and my pocketbook sing!

I must admit, I'm a biter. I wish it weren't so, but I've been biting my nails for decades. It's a necessary evil as far as stress relief is concerned. As many times as I've tried to quit, a midterm, essay, work deadline, or (gulp!) credit card statement always drove me back to biting.

I've tried using artificial nails before with no luck. Recently, I tried the new nails from Kiss, Kiss 100 Full Cover Nail. Not only are these little beauties cheap ($5.49!) and easy to apply, but they're durable enough to survive being filed, trimmed, and filed again without popping off!

And I even applied a coat of polish!

Once in a blue moon, one color stands out as a theme for an entire season. As I'm gearing up for the seasonal changes, and flipping through the latest issue of Marie Claire, all I can see is blue everywhere!

Typically, I associate blue with the oceans of summer, but the fashion world seems to be pushing for shades of blue for spring. And I, for one, am not complaining.

My picks below, will help you gear up for spring and get you feeling a bit blue...in a good way!

Alexander McQueen for Target, $80

As a twenty-something, I grew up during what I consider the 'Golden Era of Disney.' I don't know if that's actually the case, that the 90's were the golden era, but the most glorious decade for pop culture, in my opinion, did produce a fashion icon in Princess Jasmine from Aladdin.

Granted, harem pants were around long before Disney decided to play up inaccurate Middle Eastern stereotypes, but Princess Jasmine's blue pair of harem pants brought this style to the forefront of my mind, and I had always wanted a pair.

Of course, now that I'm older, and I see harem pants hitting the runway in living color, I'm not quite sure what to make of them. And even though harem pants tried making their transition to the Western World circa 2007, it's the 2009 runway that seems to be embracing the Persian/Arabic fashions.

Exhibit A:

I haven't done a favorite things list in a while, so I figured that the close of 2008 deserved a list just as grandiose as the year itself. Below, are my choices of Beka's Besties of 2008.

Best New Show: Gossip Girl - The book series turned drama has millions of fans tuning in each week to find out what will become of our conniving Ms. Waldorf and her brooding, arrogant love interest, Chuck Bass. I've never read the books, but I'm loving the show. Especially the style!

Best Album: Kanye West, 808s & Heartbreak - Though I'm not typically a hip hop fan, I'm very much a Kanye fan, and each song on this album promises booty shakin' and finger tappin'. I have yet to find a song on this album that I don't like.

Best Movie: Dark Knight - C'mon, wouldn't you have been the least bit surprised if I didn't choose this movie? As the late Heath Ledger's last iconic film, Dark Knight proves to be the best of the Batman flicks. Even better than my personal fave, Batman Returns. If only I were convinced that hottie, Christian Bale, is well-suited for his role as Batman. (No pun intended).

Best Book: Tori Spelling, sTORI Telling - No, I can't believe it either, but I did actually enjoy this book. Perhaps it's because I love biographies, but Tori's tongue-in-cheek accounts of her past and present make for one interesting read. Plus, I might even appreciate her career a bit more. On second thought, maybe not.

beAUTY

Best Facial Scrub: St. Ive's Invigorating Apricot Scrub - Call me old fashioned, but I'll never stop loving St. Ive's scrubs. And this one is no different. Tough enough to give your skin the exfoliation it needs, but gentle enough to retain skin's moisture, this miracle scrub remains a #1 Best Seller for a reason--it works!

Best Facial Cleanser: The Body Shop's Seaweed Deep Cleansing Facial Wash - I started using this in 2008 after undergoing a constant struggle with facial cleansers. They were either too harsh or too gentle. Not this one. TBS finally hit the nail on the head with their Seaweed line, and this wash cleanses skin without over-drying leaving my face perfectly radiant. Love it!

Best Lipgloss: NARS Lip Gloss in Giza - I love nude lip glosses. This gloss by Nars, who in my opinion is the world leader in lip glosses, gives my pout just what it needs to feel soft and subtly colored. Unbelievably magical!

Best Mascara: Rimmel London's Lycra Lash Extender Mascara in Black - I have short lashes, that definitely need more than just an eyelash curler can give them. Enter, Rimmel's Lycra Lash Extender Mascara. This amazing little tube not only lengthens my lashes, but also curls them big time. The best part? It's pretty darn cheap, too!

faSHION

Best Accessory: Scarves - One of the biggest trends this year was the popularity of scarves. I have always enjoyed wearing them, and thanks to stores like Urban Outfitters and Forever 21 who created lightweight scarves, I was able to wear them year-round.

Best Trend Comeback...It's a tie!: Animal prints - I'm so glad animal prints returned in 2008 (and might stick around in 2009!) From leopard to zebra, these wild patterns made their mark on everything from shoes to accessories, and even handbags.
Welcome back! Also returning this year, Leggings - They never really left stores, but their flame did die down for a bit. The reawakening of leggings in the fall took the guess work out of outfits for me, and kept my summer looks hanging on a few months longer.

Best Figure-flatterer: High-waist - Whether you're a size 0 or a size 20, I've seen high-waist looks dazzle every figure. Although I never could quite find a decent pair of high-waisted pants, I did fancy a couple of black high-waist skirts. When coupled with a belt, it was a match made in fashion heaven

Best T-shirt: V-neck - No, I didn't identify a particular brand with this one, (although thumbs up to my gray American Apparel v-neck I wear just about every other day...ask my bf!), these babies made their appearance in stores and on celebs. And they always look great. I don't care if you're packing A-cups or DD-cups, v-necks seem to look pretty good on most everyone. I snagged them from every store I saw them, and you know what? I was never disappointed! I hope this trend sticks around!

inTERNET

Best Web Addiction: Twitter - If you're not using Twitter, why not? Easier to update than any other social networking site, Twitter has become THE site to use in 2008. Hailed by social media gurus as one of the best ways to expand your brand online, Twitter keeps your followers in the know with what you're doing every second of the day. Like when you're eating a sandwich with pickles and lettuce, or you just broke a nail, or your dog just peed on the carpet, or when you're cell phone rings, or...

Best Fashion & Beauty Blog(s): OK, so I can't quite pick just one so I'm going to give the five blogs I felt were the most innovative in 2008. Ready?

• I am Fashion - Whether it's their eye for beautiful editorial photos or their ability to track down the latest trends, these three prove they ARE fashion.
• StyleIt - Sarah know beauty. Sarah shares her secrets. Sarah's blog was and is a must-read blog.
• Dapper Kid - One part educational, and two parts fashionable, the UK's Dapper Kid knows good writing, and what to do with it!
• Dressed Up Like a Lady - I am always and forever inspired by the sheer style and adorableness that this Cammila embodies.
• Sea of Shoes - With an innate and other-worldly understanding of fashion, this young lady's already got more style street cred than those twice her age.

Best Fashion Website: The brilliant Jennine from, The Coveted not only owns and maintains one of my favorite blogs, but also started up one of the fastest-growing fashion blogging sites on the web, Independent Fashion Bloggers. You can sign up to be a part of the forum, or even get your blog featured as one of the best of the week. I have highly enjoyed this site this year, and I'm lucky to have been featured as a contributing writer on the site. (Look for more in 2009!)

otHER hoNORABLE meNTIONS:

• Swedish Fish (always!)
• Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin
• New York City
• Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man
• Kiss Products
• Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
• Tina Fey as Sarah Palin
• President-Elect Barack Obama
• Britney Spears' return
• My iPhone
• Iron Man
• The Tales of Beetle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
• Wordpress

And finally...
• My economic stimulus check

With only 12 shopping days left until Christmas, I thought it is good a time as any to post my wish list. This year, the economy has taken his (yes, his) toll on the reLYME family. So, we've agreed to simply bake cookies and lay off presents this year. However, a girl can still have a Christmas wish, no? And since I won't get my big impossible wishes--world peace, an end to the economic recession, for all of my friends and family to have faith in something and go vegetarian, or for orphans all over the world to get adopted, I'm going to post my material hopes. Without further ado, I present, a small piece of Beka's 2008 Wish List...and a little something for my puppy:

reLYME Christmas Wish List '08 by reLYME

And what, pray tell, would you like for the holidays?

Lately my style has been evolving into something closer to girl next store, and less like girl-sitting-next-to-Kirsten Dunst-at-runway-shows. (That said, will I ever get to attend fashion week???)

Perhaps it is a quarter-life crisis, as I've been hearing that phrase resound in my ears for months. Or maybe it is my preoccupation with my new job. Or maybe, I'm just tired. I have been wearing less makeup (because I overdid it) and being less trendy (for budget reasons mostly). My style is kind of evolving.

Here's what I wore today:

1. Black babydoll dress (bad angle) with bubble-cap sleeves (H&M)
2. Accessories (Forever 21)
3. Shoes (Thrify!)

I have no energy--and limited funding--to keep with fashion outwardly anymore. Instead, I'll just prefer to brower-window shop online or in magazines. *sigh*
(Is anyone else going through this or am I alone?)

I have always loved fedoras, although I thought that they wouldn't suit me. (I've never had a head for hats.)

They have been making a comeback with celebs like Lindsay Lohan and Victoria Beckham.

These babies are all over the streets of New York. I must have seen a thousand boutiques, street vendors, and New Yorkers flaunting the fashionable fedora.
Ever since I saw Carrie wearing one them in the Sex and the Citymovie,

I've been eying them even more. And so has the world of retail stores.

Below are a few options for those of you thinking of rocking the fedora:

Urban Outfitters, $28

Forever 21, $11

Delia's, $20

So, I'll probably break down and buy one...to make me feel more like a gangster, of course. It's summertime, after all, and hats are always a must. Any thoughts on the fedora???