YumSugar

8 Great Hanukkah Gifts: Night 8

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:55:46 PST

It's the final night of Hanukkah, and the whole BellaSugar team hopes you had a magnificent holiday. If, however, you've been procrastinating on a gift, you've got to get it done. After eight days, the whole "belated" present thing is a whole lot less excusable. So to keep yourself in everyone's good graces, consider this Estee Lauder Michael Kors limited-edition set ($40). It's got all the requisite holiday glitz, a designer name attached, and a whole passel of prettily hued products inside that will work on just about anybody.

Plus, you don't have to wait for it to come in the mail or hope some specialty store miles away has it. Lauder is just about ubiquitous, so chances are you'll be able to get your mitts on it today, and without a lot of hassle. The only catch is that you have to purchase something else along with it, but it could also be viewed as an opportunity to get yourself a little reward for having been so thoughtful.

8 Great Hanukkah Gifts: Night 7

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:20:05 PST

Hanukkah's almost over, but you can make the penultimate day feel just as special as the first with the right gift. Our pick to please even the most discerning giftee is this gorgeous little High Tea gift set ($40) from Mor. The packaging is divine, and the marshmallow-scented hand cream, lip balm, and soap inside are absolutely decadent. You don't even need to wrap this one - everything from the box it all comes in to the soap bar is beautiful enough already. Plus, if you've missed out on gifting until now, it's a pretty way to punctuate the holiday.

8 Great Hanukkah Gifts: Night 6

Miriam Lacey — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 01:05:51 PST

Need a last-minute Hanukkah gift because you've been procrastinating for the last five days? This cute Brrrilliant box ($13) from Lush is as cheap and cheerful as they come. Plus, it's already wrapped in adorable igloo paper tied with icy blue twine, so you don't have to worry about buying ribbons, paper, or tags. If you have a Lush storefront within driving distance, you can get there, get it, and get back long before sunset without a hassle. Inside, there are two nice seasonal treats that are a bargain for the price: a big hunk of Lush's grapefruit-scented Snow Globe soap and a little igloo-shaped jar full of sugar scrub. It's an easy, inexpensive, and most of all excellent gift.

8 Great Hanukkah Gifts: Night 5

Miriam Lacey — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:30:16 PST

So . . . it's Shabbat, and you still need to get a Hanukkah gift. Depending on whether you observe the day of rest or not, this could be a tricky one. The easiest thing is to give an online gift certificate. If you can manage to do it after there are three stars visible in the sky (and given how early it gets dark these days, you won't have to wait long), so much the better. That way, the site does the delivering and no one has to know that you ordered it same day.

Lots of sites have gift certificates available online, including Sephora, Beauty Bar, Red Door spas, and Bliss's website and spas. Of course, if you're not observing the sabbath, there are no such restrictions, and you can always ask a friend to pick something up for you if you're really desperate. But regardless, the online option is one that's easy to give and easy to use, too.

8 Great Hanukkah Gifts: Night 4

Miriam Lacey — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:30:32 PST

Hanukkah is halfway over, and if you're behind on the giving, now's the time to break out surprise luxury gifts. You don't have to spend a ton or lose the spirit of the holiday to impress someone special, though. Our delightful designer present pick is this See by Chloe makeup mirror ($48). The detailing and leather work are lovely, and it looks like something special and beautifully made despite its petiteness. Giving a mirror is also in keeping with the idea of light, which is so important during Hanukkah. Like the candles and gelt, a mirror shines and gleams, reflecting light into darkness and making even the coldest nights just a bit merrier.

10 Traditional & Delicious Hanukkah Foods

YumSugar — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 04:37:55 PST

During this time of year, it'd be hard to overlook the prevalence of fruitcake and eggnog, but there's another important December holiday, Hanukkah, that's replete with fabled history and tradition, too.

Traditionally, dishes for this Jewish holiday are not for the faint of heart. Many of the holiday eats are deep fried in oil to symbolize the oil that miraculously lasted eight days. Cheese is incorporated in many dishes in honor of the story of Judith in the Apocrypha, and other dishes include braised meats and starchy goodies.

While food during the Hanukkah celebration is symbolic and meaningful to those who commemorate it, it's delicious to everyone else as well. Click through for some of the historical dishes of the holiday.

Source: Thinkstock

8 Great Hanukkah Gifts: Night 3

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:10:06 PST

We're in the heart of Hanukkah, and if you're in need of a good thing in a small package for your third gift, look no further. This cute Deepa Gurnani hair tie ($25) is fancy and festive, and it would make any ponytail look polished. It's the sort of gift that doesn't stop being appreciated after the holidays - she'll be using it all the time six months from now, and it'll look just as cute in July as it does in January. A hair tie like this would also be really cute if you made it yourself, and creating something similar wouldn't be too difficult. All you'd need is a glue gun, rhinestones, fabric, a band, and some inspiration. Whether you go store bought or homemade, though, a glammed up hair accessory makes a perfect little gift.

8 Great Hanukkah Gifts: Night 2

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 06:04:54 PST

Hanukkah focuses on lights, but that doesn't just mean candles. The warm gleam of gelt is a big part of lots of people's childhoods, so if you want to give a gift that's sophisticated and pretty but sentimental too, going for the gold is an excellent idea. This pretty solid perfume token ($30) from Bond NYC is a great option that delivers a lot of luxury and festive flair. It's a clever, calorie-free alternative to the usual chocolate coins, and the scent inside is Bond's chic Chelsea Flowers fragrance. Plus, every time she uses it, your giftee will be reminded of delicious treats and holiday nights past.

5 Sweet and Savory Latke Recipes For a Healthy Hanukkah

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:56:03 PST

Happy Hanukkah to those celebrating, and what better way to enjoy the festival of lights than with a latke party? Latkes are pancakes made with shredded potatoes, but you don't have to stop there. Here are five healthy twists on the basic latke recipe. Pair your potato pancakes with sour cream, salsa, or homemade fruit chutney for a satisfying appetizer, but be warned - they're so irresistible, you might make an entire meal out of them.

8 Great Hanukkah Gifts: Night 1

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:25:21 PST

Every night of Hanukkah is special, but the first one is often the most memorable since it kicks everything off. So if you're giving eight small presents, why not start things on a high note and give something a little fancier tonight? We know there are plenty of tapers around already, but this gorgeous black currant and cassis-scented tin candle ($30) from Fringe Studio Sanctuaire is a little different, and it has everything you could want in a gift meant to honor the warmth of the holiday.
After all, during the Festival of Lights, what more fitting gift is there than a beautiful candle? The tin is so pretty that you barely need to wrap it, and the embossed pattern is done in festive blues and golds. Plus, your giftee can always use her new present as a gorgeously scented way to light each successive night's lights (or at least light the shamash). Pretty, appropriate, and surprisingly utilitarian, too.