by Sarah Nicole Prickett (@xoxsnp)
You work too much, you’ve made your own life, you have everything you want and all you want is time. Then you get a week off and you have to bus it to your two-horse hometown, fake a life-threatening allergy to mincemeat, and give away really nice(ly wrapped) stuff in exchange for some polar fleece and drugstore chocolate. Do this for a few post-teen years and suddenly, Scrooge doesn’t look like the bad guy no more. But don’t give up on this ensorcelled season of glitter and gingerbread yet, kittens! Instead, make your own holiday magic. And by make, I of course mean buy. It’s just feminism.
Here’s a list of things you “need” if you’re going to have any fun at all this holiday:
One supercalifrazzledazzle party dress. What is the true meaning of Christmas? It’s sharing. Sharing how good you look. All those people you never see the other 11.5 months of the year, mostly because you don’t, in fact, like them? They need to know. Note: This is not to be confused with your New Year’s dress. For that I recommend a flannel shirt because New Year’s is a lie and you should just stay in bed with a bottle of real champagne and make a fun list of ways to survive the coming apocalypse.
Suggested item: this Topshop amazing sequin dress. 
A nice new journal. With a few short winter days off, you might actually have time to feel. ‘Sides, nothing stirs up that old forgotten capacity for genuine emotion, both good and bad, like going to your home—or, even better/worse, your hometown. Girl, don’t keep it inside. P.S. I do mean feelings, not an obsessive list of everything you ate over the holidays. Nobody wants to know that, least of all you.
Red red red lipstick. Because it’s festive? No. Who cares. Because when you kiss your hot third cousin under the mistletoe, you want his fiancee to know. (What? She gave you a Fix Your Booty in 15 Days DVD last year!)
Suggested item: Dior’s Rouge Dior lipstick in “Ara Red”. 
Some insane moisturizer. You’re going to go out a lot, a) because you can, and b) because the alternative is to sit at home eating sprinkle frosting out of the jar and thinking about everything you forgot to do this year, like go to the gym or make one iota of difference to the world. So yes, you’ll go out. And you’ll have one too many novelty cocktails. And you’ll forget to take off your makeup. And the air is dryer than a nun’s you-know-what. Moist. Ur. Ize.
Suggested item: Philosophy’s Miracle Worker anti-aging moisturizer. 
Hot lingerie. You think you won’t need this when you go home for the holidays, but on Boxing Day when you have three shots of Wild Turkey and get in a fight with your mom over the rules of Monopoly and scream “It’s not really about Monopoly, IS IT MOM??!” and slam six doors on your way out and check into the nearest Best Western with your significant other, you will. Take that, parents!
Suggested item: Emporio Armani “Rihanna” bralette in “pearl grey” and matching panty.
A great big cozy (but still cool) sweater. Because right around, oh, December 28th it’s going to feel like you’re starring in The Hangover III except there’s no flattering lighting or exotic location and it’s directed by Lars Von Trier. Bleeeeeeak. Put on this sweater and some Florence and just cry it out, sugarplum, it’s all over soon.
Suggested item: I dunno, something from Opening Ceremony!
Happy hols!
xSNP