Little luxuries are all around us if you know where to look – be it a bright red lipstick that makes you feel like a movie star on a Monday morning, a mini-facial that makes you glow inside and out, or a book that takes you to the other side of the world. These tiny everyday gems are anxiously waiting to be discovered by you and wrapped with a bow, and each chapter of the LLGG seeks to deliver a new morsel of inspiration to you and your holiday season. Fancy shmancy is out; it’s those legendary “small packages” that hold the key to a perfect season of giving.

Chapter 11 and gifts for your significant other… and no, no one’s going bankrupt! To bring you the best in couples gift recommendations, I consulted with Dating and Relationship Expert Andrea Syrtash for inspiration. Her newest book “He’s Just Not Your Type (And That’s a Good Thing)” will be coming out in April 2010. Until then, enjoy these picks that hopefully are your type.

Andrea Says: Gifting an experience is the BEST gift a couple can give to each other. Book a candlelit massage, return to your first date spot or hire a chef to make you a special dinner at home. Take a cooking course together. Creating a unique memory is often more meaningful than a material gift.

1. Rather than using your creativity to reminisce with a scrapbook of your best Kodak moments, cater a brand new memory to cherish for scrapbooks (or Facebook albums) to come.

Andrea says: Create a spa at home. Buy your date bath oils and massage gels with a gift certificate for a service performed by you.

2. Nutcracker Sweet 3-in-1 Body Wash, Bubble Bath and Shampoo, available at bathandbodyworks.com – Was $10, now $5

Infuse festive holiday spirit into your bathtub with this nutty-scented reminder that you have a fun, snowy Friday-night-in ahead of you.

Andrea says: Buy a gift based on a goal you have together. For instance, if you’ve always wanted to travel to Spain, buy some items you may need for your trip or enroll you and your partner in language lessons.

3. Spanish Vocabulary Challenge by William Fleig & Cathy Wilson, available at learningthings.com – $7.96

In between language lessons, challenge each other grade-school style.

Andrea says: The key thing when you are buying a gift for your partner is playing into his or her passions. If he’s passionate about golf, but him cuff links with golf clubs, accessories for the game or a round of golf on a new course. If she loves music, gift her love songs that make you think of her on iTunes.

4. Fame Monster by Lady GaGa, available at Tower.com – $8.99

Men… if she doesn’t have the CD already there’s a good chance she wants it.

5. Golf Inspired Mousepad, read more here - $16

He’d probably enjoy a real round of golf more… or Apple’s new touch mouse. But you get the idea.

6. Love Baseball by Bergino, available at Vivre.com – $25

If your special someone is passionate about both baseball and loving you… what better way to hit your holidays out of the ballpark?

Why not book a couples massage or a day at the spa? As far as couples gifts go, this is about as good as it gets. Save 20% on your gift by purchasing a SPA WEEK® Gift Card and then booking your treatment at one of our fantastic day spas. They’re redeemable nationwide for massages, facials and beyond. Couples paradise.

Little luxuries are all around us if you know where to look – be it a bright red lipstick that makes you feel like a movie star on a Monday morning, a mini-facial that makes you glow inside and out, or a book that takes you to the other side of the world. These tiny everyday gems are anxiously waiting to be discovered by you and wrapped with a bow, and each chapter of the LLGG seeks to deliver a new morsel of inspiration to you and your holiday season. Fancy shmancy is out; it’s those legendary “small packages” that hold the key to a perfect season of giving.

What a year this has been! Chapter nine is dedicated to a few of the things that helped shape the culture of 2009.

1. Tweet Tweet, available at Twitter.com – $0

Can you just imagine how many millions of holiday wishes will be spread on Twitter this year? A Tweet might not cut it for dad or a close friend, but for the rest of your Twitterati, why not tweet individual special link that embodies your holiday wish for them?

2. Graffiti Love Hearts Flip Mini HD Camcorder by David Arquette & Courteney Cox, available at TheFlip.com – starting at $149.99

Flip Cams have revolutionized blogging and social media, and this one just happens to be the coolest one out there. A perfect gift for the internet star-to-be! (Not in that way.)

3. Ernie Kids Long-Sleeved Tee by by Morfs Brand, available at Barney’s – $75

Between Sesame Street’s huge 40th anniversary this year and Michelle Obama making her debut among the puppets, Bert, Ernie, Elmo, Oscar and the gang have made a huge comeback. This shirt’s for kids, but a Sesame Street gift this year is appropriate for recipients of all ages.

4. iPod Nano that shoots video, compare all at apple.com – starting at $149

Remember when the Nano first came out and nobody could believe how tiny it was? We’re pretty much over it now… just in time for Apple to throw in camcorder capabilities. Another Apple gift idea: get them an App for their iPhone or iTouch.

5. Anything from Barneys because their holiday campaign was so brilliantly 2009

Last year Barneys’ holiday theme was Peace + Love, which was so fitting with the downturned economy for a company that sells ridiculously expensive gifts to focus on the spirit behind the presents and keeping it joyous. Now– economy shmishonomy. We’re sick of hearing about it, and Barney’s outdid themselves perfectly with their Witty holiday theme. Shop the whole holiday book– hundreds of little luxuries on the verge on big luxuries, and you’ll feel wittier just turning the pages.

6. Team Edward/Team Jacob necklaces, New Moon for BP, available at Nordstrom.com – $24

The Yankees may have made their mark as World Series Champions, but there are two other wildly fanatical teams that have taken 2009 by storm. The Twilight/New Moon saga has spawned a world where diamond necklaces might not stand a chance to symbols of love like these.

7. Give The Beatles.  Beatles Rockband, explore their website. The other items, Beatles 1 and the Apple a Day onesie, available at Beatles online superstore, TheFest.com – $18.50, $20 respectively.

Just yesterday, it was announced that the Beatles 1,  the Beatles hits compilation released in 2000, has sold 11.5 million copies making it the #1 album of the DECADE.  Imagine that– a band that’s been broken up for 40 years is still #1.  Beatles Rockband and all remastered album releases swept the world on 09.09.09 and was embraced by an entirely new generation of Beatles fans; even babies love the fab four. There is just no stopping them!

Something else that’s also more 2009 than ever before: prevention. The spa is an invaluable source of wellness that has been acknowledged more than ever. Treat someone to a $100 SPA WEEK® Gift Card, on sale for just $80 this holiday season. They’re redeemable nationwide for massages, acupuncture, haircuts, pedicures, med spa treatments and more. The card is flexible and never expires, and will make quite the present to enjoy the present… and the future.

Little luxuries are all around us if you know where to look – be it a bright red lipstick that makes you feel like a movie star on a Monday morning, a mini-facial that makes you glow inside and out, or a book that takes you to the other side of the world. These tiny everyday gems are anxiously waiting to be discovered by you and wrapped with a bow, and each chapter of the LLGG seeks to deliver a new morsel of inspiration to you and your holiday season. Fancy shmancy is out; it’s those legendary “small packages” that hold the key to a perfect season of giving

When life is busy and then gets even busier, you realize there is truly no greater luxury than time. Time to sleep, time for the spa, time to cook breakfast, time for yoga, time to catch up on your DVR… are there ever enough hours in the day? And then there’s the big one: time for family and friends. If time has gotten away from you, give the symbolic gift of time to someone you’d like to spend more of it with. Then, make plans and make it happen!

1. Beatles HELP! Alarm Clock, available at TheFest.com – $25

This everything-Beatles website has 11 clocks to choose from – a way to say to an old Beatles fan friend, “Heyyy, remember that time…” 

2. TIX Led Clock, available at ThinkGeek.com – $39.99

A geeky, endearing way to say: “Let’s leave the cryptic morse code communicado in our past.”

3. Eco-Friendly Water-Powered Clock by Bedol, available at bedolwhatsnext.com – $16

All it takes is water, and BAM- this clock is friendly. Say: “Shall we go for a swim, or can we make time to be friendlier without the water?”

4. To:Ca Wood LED Clock, available (on backorder as of 12/6) at coolstuffcheap.com – $146.89

A way to say you miss them and haven’t changed. “I’m still I’m still Jenny from the block!”

5. Gear Clock Modern Time, available at coolstuffcheap.com – $61.89 

It’s been a while since you’ve made time to each other. Say: “It’s time to get our butts in gear.”

6. Clock Coffee Table, available at coolclockshop.com – $355.99 

Gather round the big clock in the middle of the living room, rest your wine, tell stories around it… nothing says “Gooooood times” quite like it.

7. 3D Neon-Diner Roller Girl Clock, available at generationstore.com – $54.99

In the 1950s, neon had transformed the American roadside into a magical, luminous wonderland. Now this retro clock would be great at transforming a friend’s kitchen. A perfect way to say: “I wanna Winnebago down the American roadside with you and stop at every single diner like it’s 1952.” Or something like that.

Or, perhaps instead of watching the clock tick by any longer, why not get a $100 SPA WEEK® Gift Card for each of you, and then book an spa appointment together? $100 cards are on sale for just $80 this holiday season, and they’re redeemable nationwide for facials, massages, acupuncture, haircuts, pedicures, med spa treatments and more. The card is flexible and never expires. And, with a gift like this, neither will your friendship.

Little luxuries are all around us if you know where to look – be it a bright red lipstick that makes you feel like a movie star on a Monday morning, a mini-facial that makes you glow inside and out, or a book that takes you to the other side of the world. These tiny everyday gems are anxiously waiting to be discovered by you and wrapped with a bow, and each chapter of the LLGG seeks to deliver a new morsel of inspiration to you and your holiday season. Fancy shmancy is out; it’s those legendary “small packages” that hold the key to a perfect season of giving.

It’s that time again when you ask yourself: what in the world can I get him besides a sweater or a tie? So we ventured out, scouring all the coolest and most classic must-haves in grooming, and made a list of our man-obsessions.

Now we all know that less is never (really) more when it comes to your presents, but because we are expecting Santa to be swamped, we narrowed down our search to five ideas for the men in your life – whether they could use a little help, or they already know how to be the best man.

1.    The Power Shave Set created by The Art of Shaving, available at theartofshaving.com – $150

This is the ultimate gift for any dude who loves a smooth shave. The company is responsible for starting the revolution in men’s grooming back in the 90s and it’s still the best-selling men’s brand. So if you live by their motto “Prepare… LatherUp!… Shave… and Moisturize” you will be guaranteed to have the smoothest baby face on the block.

2. The Men’s Kit by Ole Henriksen, available at Sephora.com $70

This kid the perfect way to make sure that during the holidays you’re not only cleanly shaven, but blemish free. Ole is one of my favorites, so you know I had to include this on my list. This kit features some of their top-selling products which are both practical and super user-friendly.

3. Collector Edition Fragrance Sampler for Him, available only at Sephora.com – $75

This a kit featured at Sephora allows you to experience the 7 top-selling fragrances and then pick your favorite to get the full sized bottle. This is ideal for those picky people who can never make up your mind which cologne to choose. This allows you take it home, try it on and feel it out without feeling rushed. Perfect for you and your best friend who doesn’t want to wait in the store while you try and make up your mind.

4. Send him for a Beer Rinse at Erika Fleishman’s A Men’s Salon in New York City – $20

Now we know that typically he reserves the beer for his liver, but here in the big apple we have gotten quite crafty. Promising shine, volume and some cleansing action, this treatment has garnered a lot of praise from us New Yorkers. The best part: they’ll allow you to pick your beverage of choice: Guinness, Sam Adams or Corona?

For those men who are hardest to buy for, we saved the best for last. Why not get him a $100 SPA WEEK® Gift Card – it allows him to choose whatever type of grooming he feels like! $100 cards are on sale for just $80 this holiday season, and they’re redeemable nationwide for facials, massages and even more festive treatments. The card is flexible and never expires. Now that’s a handsome devil!

Contributing Editor: Kaitlin Stafford

Little luxuries are all around us if you know where to look – be it a bright red lipstick that makes you feel like a movie star on a Monday morning, a mini-facial that makes you glow inside and out, or a book that takes you to the other side of the world. These tiny everyday gems are anxiously waiting to be discovered by you and wrapped with a bow, and each chapter of the LLGG seeks to deliver a new morsel of inspiration to you and your holiday season. Fancy shmancy is out; it’s those legendary “small packages” that hold the key to a perfect season of giving.

Not that there’s anything wrong with a big santa sweater around the holidays– by all means, wear him loudly and proudly! But chapter five brings you five entirely different sweaters that would each make a festive gift with all the holiday bells and whistles, minus the potential of fitting in at your Ugly Sweater Party next week.

1. Pazza chevron striped cardigan by Diane Von Furstenburg, available at Lynku.com – £98.00 (it sold out everywhere in the US)

For that North Pole look without the elfy aftertaste, a red and white wide-striped sweater like this can carry you through candy cane season and beyond.

2. Knitted Lurex Crop Jumper by Topshop, available at topshop.com – $74

I hope you’re not allergic to oxymorons, because cropped sweaters are HUGE this winter. This little Topshop number has just the right amount of metallic holiday shine.

3. Sienna sweater by French Connection, available at frenchconnection.com – on sale for $69.99

A playfully sophisticated way to give a green sweater.

4. Sequinned Boyfriend Sweater by Joseph, available at my-wardrobe.com – $693

A sweater with a party built in. It’s a splurge, but for the right recipient, a gift they’ll never forget.

5. Rib Neck Batwing Cardigan by Ted Baker, available at johnlewis.com – £89 (you didn’t know sweaters could make you do math)

A red sweater that defies all red-sweater stereotypes.

Would you rather stay away from pre-determining someone’s reaction to a festive sweater altogether? Give the gift that doesn’t involve any thread count or decisions at all – send them for a relaxing spa treatment of their choice this holiday season. $100 SPA WEEK® Gift Cards are on sale for just $80, $150 cards are on sale for $120, and so forth. They’re redeemable all year round at spas nationwide, and they never, ever go out of season.