Archive: December 11th, 2007

courtesy Bed&Breakfast.com

While standard gift certificates for books or music are always great, this year we decided to go a little more exotic. So we scoured the web for the best unusual gift certificate options that no one will forget.

Give the gift of a weekend escape. Bedandbreakfast.com lets you purchase gift certificates redeemable at nearly 4,000 B & Bs nationwide with no expiration or blackout dates. They offer several pretty gift card designs, and they’ll even let you create your own by uploading any photo you choose.

Buyyourfriendadrink.com lets you toast any friend with a certificate card redeemable at over 120 exclusive bars and restaurants in New York, Boston, D.C., Chicago, L.A. and New Orleans.

She’ll feel like she really cleaned up this holiday with a gift certificate for maid service from mollymaids.com.

Fulfill every girl’s wish for a great massage or fabulous facial with a gift certificate from spawish.com, which can be used at over 1500 spas across the country.

We just love signaturedays.com. The web service helps you create an extra special day for a loved one in any region of the country by scrolling through hundreds well-selected adventures and activities. You can give everything from an afternoon of wine tasting, to a historic walking tour, or brunch on a luxe sailing yacht.

Andy Johnstone/Pacific Coast News; inset: Splash News Online

Budding stylist Victoria Beckham has picked wardrobes for her pals Jennifer Lopez and Katie Holmes, and has now turned her hand to sprucing up Hollywood heavyweight Jack Nicholson. On a shoot for Parade magazine, shot by photographer Lorenzo Agius at The Beverly Hills Hotel, she clothed the 70-year-old actor in mostly Armani, with a few vintage pieces mixed in here and there. But apparently Nicholson was oblivious to the credentials of his celebrity helper. “Nicholson seems only vaguely aware of who Posh is as she glides around the bungalow, more suitably dressed for evening cocktails than a working shoot — an impossibly short black tube dress, high heels, exquisite jewelery… She looks like an expensive Cuban cigar wrapped in black paper band,” observed writer Dotson Rader in Britain’s The Sunday Times Magazine, where he also published a piece. Despite this, the role was a dream come true for Victoria, who told Larry King last night: “”I used to do styling quite a few years ago,” explained Beckham to a bemused King. “When I stopped, I said the only person I would ever want to style again would be Jack Nicholson, because I am such a huge fan. When the opportunity came up, I jumped at the chance!” And she was not disappointed.”He was everything I expected and more. And …” she proudly announced, “he actually asked if he could buy all the suits afterwards, so he was obviously happy with what I put him in.”

zappos.com

Have you ever looked at your favorite pair of high heels and just wished you could make them shorter for the day? Our friends at FabSugar.com found a pair of heels that let you do just that! Camileon heels have two heights — just click and the heel either retracts or lowers. Ingenious! Click here to read the whole story on FabSugar.com, and click here to buy the shoes for yourself, $353, at zappos.com.

Courtesy DiNeila.com

Planning to escape somewhere tropical this winter? Show off something shiny and new from diNeila , a luxury line of swimsuits, jewelry and lingerie. Brazilian born designer Neila is an expert at her craft, and her feminine line of delicate lingerie and jewelry make perfect presents for yourself or friends. Neila is offering people readers 15% off her beautiful pieces by entering the code “vfp0708″ at check out from now until December 25th.

What we love at diNeila.com:

The leopard panty and matching bra set– bra, $67 with discount, and panty, $39 with discount — is on our holiday wish list!

pearlparadise.com

Whether you are looking to buy for you or a loved one, you can’t go wrong with a strand of pearls. As the world’s largest online pearl company, Pearlparadise.com offers freshwater, saltwater and exotic pearls in tons of different shades and styles. Right now, PEOPLE readers can get 20% off the entire site by entering the code “People” at checkout. The discount code can be used until December 31st.

What we love at Pearlparadise.com:

The White Cultured Akoya Pearl Necklace, $390 with discount $312, is the perfect staple jewelry for any girl.

BAUER-GRIFFIN

Mischa Barton went for a decidedly grown-up look for a N.Y.C. Keds event. Her makeup artist, Nick Barose, describes it as a modern take on a 50’s pin-up, starting with matte but luminous skin. Then he brushed on a shimmery warm Dior Blush in Peachy Keen, $34, using the matte shade on the apples of her cheeks and dusting the shimmery shade to the tops of her cheekbones. He added a little sparkle to the eyes with Clarins Soft Cream Eye Colour in 01, $18 to her lids, brow bones and inner corners of the eyes. Then added a coat of Clarins Wonder Length Mascara in Black, $22, to her lashes, adding an extra coat to just the tips. To elongate her eyes, he lined her upper lashline with Dior Liquid Eye Liner in Black, $30. And for the truly retro touch, he created an intense, opaque mouth by using a lip brush to apply Clarins Rouge Appeal in Scarlet, $22. Barose really made the color pop by dabbing a light reflective concealer around the edges of her mouth.