Dear Santa / Hanukkah Harry: TLB's holiday gifting guide

*Updated

Dear readers,

It seems like it was only an hour ago that I was complaining about the summer's sweltering heat and humidity.  And here we are - much more than an hour later - making our holiday lists and checking them twice.

For me, the November/December "holiday season" always seems to creep up in the form of, say:

• Starbuck's red and white holiday cups
• Reading, on my morning subway commute, that the Grand Central Holiday Fair has already opened
• Or, while inadvertently passing through Rockefeller Center, doing a "double take" when I notice that the space, formerly filled with al-fresco cafe tables and chairs, has morphed in to the world-famous ice skating rink. 

I can't help but ask myself, "Where does the time go?"  And, before we're out of time, I figured that it was only fitting to create a holiday gifting guide.  Over the past few months, I've collected a stack of pages - either ripped out of magazines or printed from my computer - that are filled with items, I believe, are "must haves" for even your pickiest recipient.  From essential cookbooks and entertaining guides - to a millionaire's pool sculpture (hey, a girl can dream!) - I've got all of your bases covered.

Without further ado ... The Lunch Belle's 2010 Holiday Gifting Guide:

~ ~ ~

For the bachelor/ette with a sense of humor

• Someecards' drink coasters

~

For your favorite JAP

• "Chai Maintenance" t-shirt

~

For your gay boyfriend/husband

• "WWBD" t-shirt

~

For the gourmand

The budding culinaire

• Gift certificate(s) towards cooking courses at The International Culinary Center Photo: The International Culinary Center

The foodie

• Bourbon-Coffee-Bacon Caramel Corn 

• Esperanto Restaurant's Spiced Oil  

• Box of assorted macarons (kosher, gluten-free!), Macaron Cafe Photo: Macaron Cafe

The resident entertainer / host(ess)-with-the-mostess

• Colin Cowie's Infused Beverage Pitcher
• Cookbook: Elegant Entertaining: Seasonal Recipes from the American Ambassador's Residence in Paris
• Cookbook: Gifts Cooks Love, Recipes for Giving
  
• Exclusive Montpellier Flutes Photo: Neiman Marcus
• Ramekins, by Mustardseed & Moonshine

Traditionalist

• Paula Deen's cousin's second cookbook: Second Helpings with Johnnie Gabriel

Young girls / mothers of young girls

• Cookbook: Princess Party Cookbook

~

For her

Business / tech girl

• Marc by Marc Jacobs Computer Commuter (in black)

General

• Amanda Brisbane's Orange Poppy Bowl Photo: Neiman Marcus
• "Clarissa" Perfume Bottle, by Juliska Photo: Neiman Marcus
  

Girlie-girl / preppie

• Allover Pearl-Beaded Bolero Photo: Neiman Marcus
• Kolleen knee-high boots
• Kristi ankle boots
• Ruffled Taffeta Jacket Photo: Neiman Marcus
• Twirl Bow Cuff

~

For him

• The sexiest scent: Chic, by Carolina Herrera

~

"Money is no object"

• Dave Chihuly Pool Sculpture

~ ~ ~

Read it & eat...and shop 'til you drop!

The Lunch Belle