Last week I wrote a post about how I love all of Elizabeth and James' stuff, but how their clothes are out of my financial comfort zone. You guys started a mini conversation about lines that are overpriced for what you get and, also, those that are worth the dough. Since it's a slow day between Christmas and New Year's, let's continue that here.

As you all well know, there are some things that I can't keep myself from buying. A new alarm clock is not one of those things. Mine stopped working, umm, nine months ago, and I've been relying on my very untrustworthy phone ever since. I don't know what my problem is. My friend Gigi recommended this version from Muji, which she owns, but I'd like one with a radio component so that I can wake up to NPR and B. Spears like in the olden days. When I was growing up, I had this Braun travel alarm clock that was voice activated: You actually told it to shut off the alarm. My mom took it away from me because I was screaming at it while half-asleep, and she didn't think that's how anyone should face the day. I'm tempted to buy it again. Anyone have a model that they love (and that's pretty)?

The opposite of a breath mint is a peanut M&M. A peanut M&M will also completely reverse the alluring effect of any perfume/cologne you might have on. While peanut M&M's are delicious, stick to regular M&M's unless alone or safely out on the open range. Starbursts, or of course breath mints, are even safer.

I just retired the much-loved but totally battered laptop I had been dragging around everywhere for years (some of the keys were so worn in I could no longer read the lettering, and at some point I must have dropped it and it was literally starting to split in two—scary!) in favor of a shiny new MacBook that I'm already completely obsessed with. With that purchase came the question of what to carry it in, and after poking around for a while, I decided on this sleeve by Incase. It's made of durable neoprene with extra padding in the interior to make sure the computer is protected, and it's very lightweight. Design-wise it's pleasingly free of bells and whistles, and it rings in at a very reasonable $34.95. There are a bunch of colors to choose from, though I went with this matches-everything olive green.

As I am planning out my New Year's Eve outfit and wondering how many pairs of tights I could wear and still be able to bend my knees and not appear too cankle-ish, I am really wishing I were somewhere warm and I didn't have to worry about earmuffs, much less shoes. If I was at some tropical New Year's Eve luau, I think I'd want to throw on a brightly patterned strapless dress like this one with flat patent leather sandals and a flower in my hair (I honestly like the idea of this look so much, I might purchase the dress anyway and save it for balmier times).

I am fickle, but I'm fascinated by those who are not. I'm not talking about people who cleave to their Louis Vuitton luggage (though they too are worth discussing, just not right now)—I'm interested in the people who steadfastly buy skincare from a particular company. For example, Faye Chiu, our assistant managing editor, LOVES the preservative-free line Boscia. She has a whole collection. And Emily Hsieh (of Shopgirl fame) is a longtime Dermalogica person—scrubs, night cream, serums, face washes, sunscreens. I asked both of them for their favorites, and both of them started out with "... but it's so hard to CHOOSE." But choose they did:

Emily's pick: "The Daily Microfoliant—it leaves your skin feeling really soft without having to use some hard-core scrubbing action to get it that way. And I love anything that's powder, because it means that's one less liquid to contend with in my carry-on bag when I travel."

... and Faye says: "Boscia Oil-Free Daily Hydration SPF15. I've been using this product for five years! It's super-hydrating but not sticky; some beauty products automatically make me break out, but never this one."

Brand loyalists: What skincare do you have an entire counter full of?

—Cristina Mueller, senior beauty editor

Nothing makes me happier when I'm home in Montana than a new Go International collaboration hitting Target, because it means that I can go and check out all the items in person. That's the one drawback of living in Manhattan—no Targets! I'm particularly excited for the Thakoon capsule collection if only because it's full of cool blue and white ikat-like prints and loads of stripes—and everyone at Lucky loves a stripe.

I've been eyeing this Virginia Johnson shawl for months now, and I think I'm just about ready to take the plunge. It's got a peony pattern that's bold but very feminine, and though it's neutral, it'll add a nice graphic jolt to my mostly solid black cold-weather clothes. I have another wrap of hers, and the proportions are perfect—it's so big, I also use it as a blanket on airplanes. The sheer wool is light enough to serve me well when I drape it around my shoulders in the summer but still keeps me really cozy when I loop it around my neck in the winter. I don't know what I'm waiting for—clearly I'm already sold.

I rely heavily on Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm—an anti-frizz/straightening product—to make my naturally curly hair appear naturally straight. The other day, I lazily never made it to the blow-drying/straightening part and instead let my hair air-dry. Fearing I would be left with a disastrous hybrid of kind of straight but still kind of curly hair, I was more than happily surprised when my hair ended up looking great. The Phytodefrisant relaxed my curls into loose, flowing waves and completely eliminated frizz.

—Emily McCarthy, editorial assistant

It's winter in Montana, for real. And this blanket of whiteness is making me yearn for the tropics. I can't really keep green things alive, but I'm extremely tempted to try to keep this self-sustaining terrarium afloat (only $30!), which I stumbled on by way of Designsponge. And if all else fails, there are these Todd Oldham-designed topiaries, which are equal parts awesome and totally strange.