By Alyssa Shapiro, Glamour magazine

With all the festive events filling your social calendar these days, we see no reason not to show off some serious leg with a pair of fabulous party shoes. Tis (almost) the season, ladies! You'll stand out with these major heels-each one can be yours, for 100 bucks a pop or less. Now that's cause for celebration!

Tipping is a tricky subject - and never more so around the holidays, especially this year, with the economy still dragging. These pointers will let you know how much ca$h to fork over for whom, and when it's okay to show your appreciation with a warm batch of cookies.

By Gabrielle Frank

Rule #1: Who You Should Shell Out For, and How Much
Anyone you deal with on a regular basis - such as your hairdresser, personal trainer, cleaning person, and package delivery guy. The right amount should equal what you ordinarily pay them per appointment or visit. For example, if you usually shell out $50 for a wax, that should be your end-of-the-year tip to your waxer.

Related: 4 Money Questions You Must Ask Your Guy

If you're going through lean times this year and can't afford to give your stylist $200, the price of your usual cut and color, tip what your paycheck allows but include a note that says something along the lines of "your service is just as great as last year,

You voted: From classic to contemporary, these colognes top your list




1. Yin and Yang

You always "want to get closer" to men who wear "fresh and warm" Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme.

Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme

"Crisp" Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio Pour Homme reminds you of "hot guys and summer vacation."

Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio Pour Homme

"Rugged and rough" Old Spice makes you "smile," and you "love the new commercials."

Old Spice

"Citrus-based and woody," Hermès Eau d'Orange Verte "smells like a rich guy."

Hermès Eau d'Orange Verte

You buy the "addictive, fresh" Chanel Allure Homme Sport for your boyfriend so that you can "steal a spritz every morning."

Chanel Allure Homme Sport

Want more sexy options for the man in your life? Click here to see which fragrances suit his style best.

Read More From ELLE

When it comes to gift giving, it's the thought that counts...unless you're thinking about gifting one of the worst gifts we could find this season. Check out 29 more terrible gifts.

What's the worst gift you've ever received?

MORE FROM MARIE CLAIRE:

• Great (Budget-Friendly!) Gift Ideas
• 10 Most Popular Haircuts of All Time
  
• 20 Secrets Men NEVER Tell Women
• 30 Dates That Spice Up Your Relationship
• Looking for More Health Tips? Subscribe to Marie Claire!

By Janet Taylor McCracken, Bon Appétit

Tis the season to bake (and eat) cookies. Check out our slideshow of 31 all-time holiday favorites--one for every day in December.

Before you dive into day one, the Bon Appétit Test Kitchen has some tips on baking, storing, and shipping cookies (because nothing says "it's the thought that counts" like delicious DIY gifts):

Balance Sheet: Most ovens have hot spots, which can result in uneven baking. To minimize this, reverse the baking sheets halfway through. Move the sheets from the top to the bottom oven rack, and turn the sheets from front to back.

Chill Out: Putting cookie dough on a hot baking sheet will cause the dough to spread. Be sure that the sheet is completely cool before you add the dough. Feeling impatient? Carefully place a hot baking sheet (using an oven mitt, of course) in an empty sink and run cool water over it.

Freeze Frame: All of the cookies here can be frozen for up to three weeks. You can thaw the cookies at room

photo credit: Bob HiemstraSure, you could just hand over a gift, but why not present your presents in a more creative way?
by Vanessa DiMaggio and Sarah Humphreys

This is a fact: It's woefully easy to get overwhelmed by the prospect of purchasing-or making-holiday gifts. But don't let that suck the joy out of the actual act of giving itself. A gift exchange should be fun; with the right approach, it can also be imaginative, rewarding, and, yes, even a way to cut back on presents. Holiday party planners, etiquette experts, and readers share strategies for making a gift exchange more memorable.

Make Gift-Giving More Surprising

For Friends and Family:

• Start a rotating gift box. Anna Baldwin, a reader from Arlee, Montana, does this with her three best friends from college: She fills a box with locally made, low-cost items-one for each friend-and a personal note, and mails it off. The first friend takes out a gift, puts in three of her own, adds to the note, and ships everything on to the next. The box

By Lindsey Unterberger, Glamour magazine We asked our friends at GuySpeak to help us compile this year's what-to-get-a-guy holiday gift guide. Here, their top picks for what to get the guy you've been dating for a month, a year or longer. No more Christmas-present stress, Hanukkah gift mayhem or gen

These simple recipes are impressive enough to give as gifts. Who doesn't love something homemade on the holidays?For more holiday recipes, visit Babble.