According to some recent data, nearly 74,000 babies, born since 2000, have been given a “Christmas” inspired name. Here’s the list of the top 25 most popular “Christmas Name” picks:

1. Joseph – 28,223
2. Holly – 21,312
3. Faith – 5,183
4. Nicholas – 3,440
5. Gabriel – 3,429
6. Angel – 2,894
7. Christian – 2,567
8. Hope – 2,196
9. Mary – 1,824
10. Emmanuel – 693
11. Joy – 430
12. Ivy – 396
13. Noel – 336
14. Star – 263
15. Robin – 119
16. Berry – 40
17. Brandy – 36
18. Sherry – 32
19. Winter – 31
20. Jesus – 21
21. Happy – 14
22. Sparkle – 5
23. Santa – 5
24. Rudolph – 3
25. Claus – 3

So, the lyrics are kind of sad, but the song is pretty and the video is cool. What do youthink?

Have a cocktail and help fight AIDS tonight! Hotel Monaco is hosting a big Red Ribbon party that starts at 7pm. The fun includes Drag Queen BINGO, karaoke, a live auction, and more! Admission is FREE and includes complimentary appetizers from Red Star Tavern & Roast House! Of course, they will be accepting donations for Cascade Aids Project and $1 from each of these specially created cocktails will go to the cause as well:

* ROUGE – Belvedere Vodka, Grand Marnier, Campari and fresh orange juice shaken with fresh raspberries
* RUBY RED – Belvedere Pink Grapefruit Vodka, Lillet Blanc, fresh grapefruit juice and simple syrup muddled with ginger coins and sparked with club soda
* VS SMASH – Hennessy VS, Grand Marnier, 10yr Tawny Port and lemon juice muddled with pineapple and dusted with grated nutmeg

Sounds yummy, doesn’t it? Parties at Hotel Monaco are always LOTS of fun and tonight’s soiree is certainly benefitting a great cause!
Hotel Monaco Portland, located at 506 S.W. Washington at 5th Avenue, Portland, OR 97204, visit www.hotelmonaco-portland.com or call (503) 222-0001

According to a family & relationship expert, there are 7 major Holiday blunders that your family won’t forget (and maybe won’t forgive), so avoid (if you can):

1. Criticizing a nephew (or niece).
This is the toughest one for me. My daughter was always a model of civility, so little monsters make me nervous! This expert recommends that instead of announcing how you feel out loud, allow his parents to reprimand him. If they aren’t saying anything, just politely pull them to the side and ask for a bit of help.

2. Bringing a smelly, inedible dish.
This is mainly so you don’t end up being the butt of family jokes forever. If you can’t cook, buy something to take!

3. Telling a scandalous family secret.
For every entertaining family secret, there are ten awkward, uncomfortable ones…..trust me, we don’t really want to learn something scandalous about a family member, while we are trapped in a house for hours with them!

4. Arguing with your boyfriend/spouse.
This is another tough one. It’s hard to hide your feelings!

5. Passing gas at the dinner table.
Did this really need to be on the list? LOL! I would think most people would be horrified to be the one who does this, but I guess there are still some outgrown frat boy types who think this is hilarious.

6. Having sex with a relative’s man.
Once again, does this really need to be said? If you share DNA with someone, their man/woman should be off limits all year long, right?

7. Eating and running out the door.
Yes, you have another Thanksgiving to get to….or maybe your family drives you nuts…..but someone worked for a week or more to make this day special, so stick around and enjoy it a little!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

I’m a little suspicious of anyone who is dubbed “man expert”. I mean, really? Does such a thing even exist? haha! Well, on the chance that a man expert is more real than the tooth fairy or sasquatch, I will pass along his advice on what guys do not want you to give them for Christmas. It’s interesting and makes sense….kinda. I’m still having a hard time believing that anyone does not like to get gift cards!

According to an author and “man expert”, stay away from:

1. A gift card…to anywhere

Yes, men are functional creatures and we don’t stand on ceremony. We like gift certificates…as a present from our cousin. Or coworker. But from you? Really? It’s dangerously close to an envelope full of cash, which, even for us, is tacky.

2. Man jewelry

There are about 4,783 problems with this gift. Let’s start with two. I don’t like wearing jewelry. And I’ll worry that you’ve outspent me and I’ll feel guilty. Other than that, uh, thanks.

3. A wok

Unless your guy happens to be a chef, never get him something like a wok or a pancake griddle. It’s a hint that lacks subtlety, and it’s passive-aggressive. How’d you like it if I got you a vacuum cleaner?

4. Tickets to the ballet

Or the opera. Or that hot new interpretive dance troupe. I’m open-minded and I like trying new cultural experiences, but that shouldn’t hijack my holiday gift. That’s like you saying after dinner, “Okay, and for dessert, I’m serving you broccoli!”

5. A “coupon book”

You know the type. “One Free Massage!” “One Hour of Anything You Want in the Bedroom — to Be Redeemed Anytime!” It’s played out. And the coupons for sexual favors? Months from now, when you’re not in the mood, do you really want us to “pay” you with a coupon? Paying for sex is called…well, prostitution.

6. Books from your favorite author

Let’s clear up a big myth about book-giving: When you give me a book — one you recommend — I am doing you a favor, as you’re asking me to spend 5 to 15 hours of my life on this chore. Books don’t cost money. Books cost time.

7. Baby stuff

Whoa whoa whoa. If you’re telling us that we’re about to become a dad, this is not the way to do it. And if we’re already expecting, this isn’t the time or place for “Project Baby” homework. My gift should be about me. (That’s not selfish, is it?)

8. Luggage

It would take many sessions with a psychiatrist to decode this gift. Are you hinting we should take our relationship up a notch and travel together more? Do you want me to hit the road? Do you want me to get rid of my old baggage? Too much to think about.

9. Framed photos

Awwww. A cute photo of us skiing in Aspen. How’d you know that’s exactly what I wanted? A handy rule of thumb: If something can double as a holiday card to our parents, we want as little to do with it as possible.

10. Love

Let’s be honest. The “gift of love” just isn’t going to cut it. Sure, love conquers all, love makes the world go ’round, love’s all you need, yada yada yada, but saying “Love is a gift” is like saying “Kindness pays rent.” Give me something I can unwrap.

Ok….who told him this was a good idea? ‘Cuz they need to be slapped.

A new article came out last week that lists 7 things that women look for in a guy, whether they know it or not. Some of these ( like number 6) are kind of “no duh!”, but others, like the one about us liking scars, are interesting!

1. Both Sides of Him Match

The more symmetrical his face, the more attention a man is likely to get. Studies have shown that Mother Nature makes the most beautiful people match both sides. In research, women are more likely to pick a man with a symmetrical face than not and figures show that people with symmetrical bodies usually lost their virginity much younger and have more sexual partners than their lop-sided pals.

2. His Look Matches Your Mood

Women go for different types depending on what she wants from a relationship at that time. In an experiment which allowed women to control the features on a computer generated face, they said they felt safer with men who also had a slightly feminine look.

3. He Walks the Walk

American human behavioralist David Lieberman says men who walk with a manly stride ooze sex appeal. He notes flexibility is what makes people look young when they walk and looking young is always a winner in the sexy stakes.

4. Beware of the Scar

Studies revealed that women find scarring on men attractive because they connect it with health and bravery. Non-Western cultures perceive facial scars as signs of maturity and strength – but researchers found that Western women also find facial scars attractive.

5. Others Find Him Sexy

University of Aberdeen psychologist Ben Jones and his team tested the impact that the opinions of others has on our perception of beauty. They were shown a video in which the same faces were displayed. Each man was being looked at by a woman smiling or one showing a bored expression. The women were more attracted to the men being smiled at, proving we are influenced by what others think. Men were given the same test but rated those who got approving female glances as less attractive.

6. He is Successful and Good Looking

Tests show that younger women rely more on physical attractiveness than older women who also take wealth, stability, power and faithfulness into account. This demonstrates the good sense of the older woman since studies prove that less attractive men are more faithful and loving than handsome men.

7. And… He Looks Like a Chimpanzee!

A study of the skulls of human ancestors and modern humans found that women like men with relatively short upper faces. Females liked males whose faces were more scrunched proportionately between the brow and the upper lip. According to a study at the Natural History Museum in London, men with similar facial patterns to chimpanzees, are most attractive. Maybe to Englishwomen!

What do you think?

“Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” is such a lie. It doesn’t feel good to have your stomach rumbling, while you try to choke down pieces of rice cake and tell yourself that you aren’t really eating styrofoam packing material. It doesn’t feel good to not have enough energy to ride bikes with your child because you’ve only had 300 calories that day (and are feeling guilty about that). It doesn’t feel good to watch your friends enjoying chocolate birthday cake, while you try to pretend you are too full from the tasteless side salad with no dressing that you had for lunch.

I’ve been skinny at different times in my life. It was a constant 24/7 battle against my own body’s life preservation system and it was exhausting…..and I was miserable. At some point, I gave up on being skinny and just focused on trying to be healthy. I couldn’t wear size 2 anymore, but I felt SO MUCH better! I’ll bet if you asked my family & friends, they would tell you that I became much more fun to be around.

I talked to Danielle Milano, MD this week about her book, “Skinny Is Overrated” and her visit to Portland this Sunday (more on that in a minute). Danielle has a clinic in New York that specializes in helping women live healthy lifestyles. The first step is realizing that your body is genetically designed to be a certain size. You may be bigger or smaller than what your body is designed to be and if you are, you probably feel tired, sick, irritable…..basically miserable most of the time. You’re also setting the stage for serious health problems that could shorten your life and greatly affect the quality of it. Danielle’s program has 10 basic steps to follow:

1) Stop drinking soda (especially diet soda….it confuses your brain and makes you eat more)

2) Exercise by walking every day (if you can do more, than go for it, but this is the minimum everyone should do)

3) Avoid all foods with HFCS (high fructose corn syrup)

4) Avoid all foods with trans-fats

5) Eat foods containing healthy fats every day (Yes to olive oil!)

6) Eat a green leafy vegetable every day

7) Reduce the starches (but feel satisfied by using more of the good fats)

Obtain enough Vitamin D through sunshine or eating oily fish such as sardines

9) Never go hungry

10) Sleep 8 hours a night.

I’m having some technical issues with posting the interview here. I’ll edit it and put it up in several pieces over the next few days. In the meantime, you should know that Danielle has a lot of scientific evidence to back up what she says and a lot of it is eye-opening! You can meet Danielle and hear her speak in more depth about this at Hotel Monaco this Sunday! Tickets are $25, which includes brunch, mimosas and a copy of Skinny is Overrated (a $16 value). All proceeds benefit Dress for Success Oregon. Here’s the link for more info!

Please come back to this blog post on Tuesday for the full interview, but in the meantime, be SURE to check out Danielle’s book, “Skinny Is Overrated”. Of course, if you go to Hotel Monaco on Sunday, you will get a copy of the book to take home.

Katy Perry performed at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show last night and it looks like she gave the models a little competition.

You can see the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on tv November 30.

She was really, really good last night on this duet with Jason Aldean at the CMA Awards. She’s hinted that there are several duets on her new project….maybe Jason Aldean will return her favor? They sound good together!