That said, we do think there is always room for self improvement, and if you don’t know exactly what it is, here’s how to tell when you’ve arrived:  elaney’s Three Signs of a Well Differentiated Individual.  Don’t know what it is about this combo, but if you stumble across someone that does all three – they have their act together.

1.  Doesn’t use artificial sweeter (no diet coke or splenda)
2.  Is finished with their work out by the 7 am hour on Monday through Thursday
3.  Listens to NPR

So sure, we see some good in the arrival of the new year, but we also have mixed emotions about the beloved NYE.  That said, we have faith that a good NYE is possible.  What are your suggestions for the best way to spend the final holiday evening of 2009?

Our spin instructor gave to we… “permission to eat anything we want between December 22nd and January 3rd.”  Yesterday, as our instructor, wearing an orange cycling outfit with a baseball hat turned backwards, was demanding that we all sing outloud to “Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn,” we were thinking about this “license to eat.”   And we were thinking about 1) how different men and women are and then 2) all the delicious holiday food out there!  Smoked salmon and capers on Christmas Eve…coffee cakes, sausage balls on Christmas morning!!  Then honey ham…the list goes on (must spin harder…).  And then we thought about the one classic Christmas food we’ve never had.  Fruitcake.  So here’s a question.  Has anyone ever actually had fruit cake? And since no one has…maybe it would be fun to give Neiman Marcus style!  Look at these cute little cakes all packaged up.  Only $30!

Merry Bon Appetit!

 Neff cupcakes - sights to see!!  Thanks to Snoop, we have a last minute Christmas curve ball.  After he gave these ski hats made by Neff (edgy headwear company) to all the ladies on The View, the cupcake hats are on fire (or should we say overcooked?).  We were given one and had a mixed reaction, but once we found out Elisabeth Hasselbeck is wearing one, we liked it a lot better!  What do you think?  When in doubt do you just do as the celebs tell?

Artichoke and Goat Cheese Bruschetta

18 baguette bread slices, cut on the diagonal about 1/4-inch thick
olive oil
2 jars (6 to 6 1/2 ounces each) marinated artichoke hearts
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley, divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano)
Freshly ground black pepper
6 ounces creamy goat cheese, crumbled

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Brush baguette bread slices on both sides with olive oil and place them on a baking sheet. Bake slices until just crisp, about 3 minutes a side. Remove from oven and leave on baking sheet. (Bread can be toasted 3 hours ahead; cover loosely with foil and leave at room temperature.)

Drain artichokes, reserving about 2 tablespoons of the oil they were packed in, and place them in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Add reserved 2 tablespoons artichoke oil, 1/2 cup of the parsley, Parmesan cheese, and several grindings of black pepper. Process, pulsing machine, until mixture is a coarse puree. (Puree can be prepared 3 hours ahead; cover and leave at cool room temperature.)

When ready to serve, spread each bread slice with a mound of artichoke puree and top with some crumbled goat cheese. (Bruschetta can be assembled 1 hour ahead; leave uncovered, at room temperature.)

1.  Festive materials.  Get a shiny, poofy skirt and you can’t go wrong. Anything gold, silver, or red looks especially festive.

2.  Fun shoes!  High red heels can make an all black outfit look very Christmas-y.  These Stuart W’s aren’t cheap, but Zappos.com had a ton.

3.  Patterned tights.  Get Assets by Spanx from Target.  They are HR Violation cute.

So while [insert interest] of the month is something you associate with a classic Christmas gift, we don’t think you can go wrong (as an aside, elaney + Wine of the Month = luv).  We’ve found a great resource that has a large variety of gifts of the month.  Check out everything from salsa to cheese to bacon to ice cream here!  Fun for all!