Posted by Christy Pastore

I absolutely love Bath and Body Works! Especially this time of the year when they have so many wonderful, fun products, as well as a variety of limited fragrances. This year is no exception--from the classic Vanilla Bean Noel to the new festive Pomegranate scent--Bath and Body Works is offering an entire line of wonderfully tempting treats called Temptations. Bath and Body Works also makes the perfect gift for friends, family and even the office Secret Santa.

There are four decadent tempting treats: Twisted Peppermint which is a cool, invigorating mixture of mint, white sugar, and just a hint of rich vanilla. Wickedly Hot Chocolate captivates your senses with the smells of melted dark chocolate, rich hazelnut liqueur and freshly whipped cream. Spicy Gingerbread tempts you with the aroma of blended spices and candied orange. Last but not least, Crazy Carmel Corn serves up a delicious blend of melted butter, rich caramel toffee and creamy vanilla. Products available are body lotion ($8.00), shimmering body cream ($12.00), body scrub ($12.00) and three-in-one which is a body wash, bubble bath and shampoo combined into one product ($12.00). All products are available at www.bathandbodyworks.com or at your nearest Bath and Body Works store!

In my own personal opinion, Jennifer Aniston, Charlize Theron and Kate Beckinsale all have one thing in common - a great butt! Each of them look like they spend no less then a 5 days a week at spinning classes to get that great shape to their derriere. However, I'm here to tell you it is possible to have a great ass wihtout having to take up residence at the gym. And here is one way to firm up that flabby thing "behind you."

Connect an ankle cuff to a cable pulley at its lowest position and slide it around your left ankle. Stack 10 or 20 pounds of weight onto the cable and kneel on all fours about a foot in front of, and facing, the machine. Make sure your left knee is centered with the cable and your head is in line with your spine. After doing 2 or 3 sets of 12 to 15 reps, switch the cable pulley to your right ankle and repeat the movement. Contract your abs and bring your left knee toward your arms, without rounding your back. There should be some tension on the cable in this position. As you extend your leg, think of leading with the heel to fully activate the hamstrings. If you are a beginner to this movement, try this same position without a pulley to get a feel for the movement and then you can add the pulley into the movement later. For more exercise tips visit www.shape.com.

Maneater Threads is an online women's boutique carrying a well-edited selection of the hottest up-and-coming, independent, and hard to find designers. Many of Maneater's designers are celebrity and stylist favorites, such as Geren Ford, Rami Kashou, Kara Janx, Mike& Chris, and Burning Torch. Maneater Threads has a huge sales section with items up to 70% off, and free ground shipping on all orders. Use the exclusive A Socialite's Life discount code ASL06 at check-out for 25% off storewide, including sale items.

Here are a few items that Maneater Threads carries in their store and online! If you have any questions about the styles, sizes or any shipping questions for holiday delivery call Tanya and her staff at Maneater Threads and they would be happy to assist you!

Happy Holidays From Maneater Threads!!

Leave it to engineering students to test the friction levels of athletic socks! For those of you who have experienced the stinging and burning sensation and then suddenly that becomes "OUCH!" then you find yourself staggering to the nearest bench to check out your new blister, oh what fun! Not so much but workout interruptions like this is what inspired the students at University of Missouri - Columbia to put the socks to the test!

Ten different athletic socks were tested and they tracked the hot spots (what would eventually become a blister) using an aluminum mold to imitate a real foot in motion. Socks made with 75 percent Coolmax (a polyester blend often used in athletic wear) and 25 percent stretch nylon provided the best protection against friction. Here are two pairs of socks that will help aid in the prevention of those annoying blisters. New Balance Lightning Dry tab socks ($9.00 for two pair) www.newbalancesocks.com. Under Armour Heatgear No-Show ($10.00 for two pair) www.underarmour.com .

The holiday season brings about a ton of social situations--what with the shopping, parties and activities--you're constantly surrounded by people! This holiday season, in anticipation of time with friends and family, use this as an opportunity to look your very best. However since this is such a busy time of the year, you might not have all time in the world to prep for your special gatherings, so here are a few simple make-up tips to update your look so that everyone thinks you spent hours getting ready to look gorgeous!

The base for our make-up is our skin during the winter months the air is dry so be sure to take care of your skin. Washing your face twice daily and applying a light moisturizer at night or underneath your makeup will help rejuvenate your complexion. Also avoid getting wrapped up in the holiday stress to avoid breakouts.

More on glamming it up after the jump.

On Friday at five o'clock, we're out the door for our weekly two-day vacation and for most of us, the rules that we followed during the work week seem to go out the window. There are parties, happy hours, family functions and just being on-the-go that all contribute to falling of the healthy-eating wagon. If your slim-down routine takes a backseat on the weekends, here are some tips on how to regain control.

One of the most common problems is that we tend to graze all weekend long. Without a structured schedule, whatever food is within arm's reach is what we tend to go for. Try this: on Friday during your lunch, take a few minutes to review your weekend plans. Identify any problems that you may encounter--like maybe a baby shower on Saturday. You know there will be food there and you're not sure how can you avoid overeating. Make sure to start your day by drinking plenty of water and always eating a healthy breakfast. And right before you go, eat a piece of string cheese, a handful of grapes or a yogurt. This way you have something in your stomach, but can still allow yourself to indulge in a small piece of cake!

OK, I know what you're thinking: "She just told me to eat breakfast, have a snack and fill up on water? That seems like a lot of food, plus I'm going to eat when I get to the party! That's crazy!" But, according to a study conducted at Saint Louis University, women who ate a big breakfast such as eggs and toast or whole wheat waffles, consumed 400 less calories over the next 24 hours opposed to those who consumed only a bagel and cream cheese for breakfast.

Holiday Shopping Tip Of The Week:

FRIENDS & FAMILY DISCOUNT! Send to your beauty-junky friends, guys with style, or anyone who might want to get a deal on holiday gifts. Also, don't bother messing with crowds at the malls and fighting for a parking space. All you have to do is visit this site and you will find something for everyone on your gift list this holiday season. Copy & paste this link into your browser to get an additional 20% off all orders today Wednesday November 29th!!

What exactly is a "ruddy complexion"? Plethora or a ruddy complexion is characteristic of PV and results from the marked increase in red blood cell production. There are few things that you can do for this type of imperfection. Dermatologists recommend that you use yellow- or green-tinted makeup to hide red highlights, without looking heavily made-up. The other option is to have some of the ruddiness and blood vessels lasered away. Current technology makes this rather simple, safe, and not too expensive (in the few-hundred-dollar range.) But, if you're thinking low-tech, here are some options for you.

I found two products that came highly recommended. The first is LaurEss Mineral Enhancer Organza. LaurEss mineral enhancers can correct uneven tones, liven up a dull complexions, or counteract ruddiness. This product is a sheer yellow, light-as-air enhancer with a soft matte finish. It is available for $18.00 at www.amazon.com.

More on how to get rid of that ruddy complexion after the jump.

In the movie The Sweetest Thing, Christina Applegate's character looks into the mirror and holds her arm straight out to the side and shakes it while asking the question, "What is this?" What it is, is the "mud flap" that hangs off your arm, as I like to call it. Yikes! How can we get rid of that?

It's a lot simpler than you might think. Here are a few tricks to try to help sculpt and tone your arms in no time, while (believe it or not) giving your abs a workout at the same time.

For the following exercises, use light weights (3 pounds max), doing two sets of 10 reps of each move. Complete the workout three times a week on nonconsecutive days, and you'll be armed and dangerously sleek in only three or four weeks. You may find yourself in need of a license for the guns you'll be sporting.

The Fighter Pilot - This exercise will work your shoulders, as well as your obliques and back. Begin by standing with your feet hip-width apart, knees bent, a weight in each hand, arms down. Bend forward slightly at waist; extend arms to sides at shoulder level, palms forward. Rotate torso left. Let arms follow; look at left hand (as shown). Return to center; rotate right to finish rep.

More on how to get amazing arms after the jump.