Sweeter than your first date, more decadent than a visit to the spa, and yet, so conveniently packaged that you can take it almost anywhere: The Cupcake.

The cupcake craze has been raging ever since Carrie and Miranda sat on a bench devouring pink-iced cupcakes from Magnolia bakery, talking about their relationship woes. The message was loud and clear: even in times of romantic turmoil, a girl can keep a smile on her face with one of these gorgeous little confectionary delights. Never had one of their famed creations? Well, here’s their address: 401 Bleecker St. And be prepared, on weekends you’re likely to have to stand in line. Yes, you’ll cue for cupcakes (and you’ll enjoy every moment-Buttercream frosting air has shown to trigger endorphins when inhaled in large quantities).

Think the cute and cuddly world of cupcakes seems anything but dramatic? Well, check out the history of the Sex in the City cupcake. Magnolia co-founder, Jenniifer Appel, left the Greenwich Village cup-cakery and headed uptown to midtown- to recreate her signature cupcakes. The aptly named Buttercup Bake Shop, located on Second Avenue, churns out thousands of cupcakes each week. It is the place that out-of-towners who take the “Sex In The City Bus Tour” (that’s a whole other topic) actually get to indulge (they pass by the Magnolia location with a verbal notation and photo op). For more sticky details: nymag.com/nymetro/food/features/14289/index1.html

There have been books written from both camps (Appel co-wrote the Magnolia Bakery Cookbook). In fact, there are a vast multitude of books, websites and even blogs – devoted simply to the existence of the glorious cupcake. (52cupcakes.blogspot.com is a personal fave). And if, like my mother, the only thing you know how to make is reservations, you’re in luck. We live in a city that caters to your every cupcake craving (check out www.cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com).

Now, if you’re ready to get down to baking business, you’ll need a recipe. I recommend visiting cupcakeblog.com.

Next, you’ll need the right tools, including a muffin/cupcake pan and paper or foil liners, mixing bowls, a working oven and plenty of counter space. Yes, we realize that this is Manhattan, which is why there are so many great cupcake hot-spots in town where you can buy your heart’s desire…but somewhere out there is a girl in the city with a few feet of counter space. We just know it!

You’ll need some, ummm, groceries, too. Stuff you hardly ever have on your shopping list when you head to D’Agastinos. Eggs, flour, sugar, milk, vanilla, and uh – real butter. Ingredients will vary recipe to recipe. Just make your list before braving the isles.

If you’re no Julia Child, there’s no shame in going Betty Crocker box style rather than making your batter from scratch. Then you can conserve your time and energy for later; the Frosting phase. Frosting is key and can make or break your little cakes. Everyone has a favorite, but Buttercream seems to stand out as the ultimate topping, regardless of what you’ve cooked up. Personally, I recommend going with store-bought frosting and maybe adding your own finishing touches. A drop of almond extract, some food coloring, or maybe some sprinkles. You can really go girly on these little gems.

Dietary concerns? Well, if you’re a vegan, check out Brooklynite Isa Moskowitz’s new book, “Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World: 75 Dairy-Free Recipes for Cupcakes that Rule.” And mad props to Isa: VegNews named her celebration to all things cupcake Cookbook of the Year. You’ll see why after you try the Tiramisu cupcake.

Babycakes (located on Broome St.) will cater to your every dietary cupcake concern. They offer baked goods that are vegan, sugar free, gluten free, wheat free – but definitely not taste free! Visit them at 248 Broome St. or online at www.babycakesnyc.com.

At Beauty News, we’re all about sharing our sweet little insider secrets, so here’s mine. Trader Joe’s (www.traderjoes.com) makes a Decadent Chocolate Frosting that’s so delectably scrumptious. Visit their Manhattan location, Union Square Grocery, at 142 E. 14th St. and you’ll be hooked.

Now that I’ve got your mouth watering and your cupcake craving gland working overtime, go forth and cupcake!

Picture, if you will, a store full of dresses and you’re looking for the perfect frock for yourself. All shapes, colors, sizes and fabrics. Clothing racks become your enemy; you’re weighed down with an excess of options and nothing that looks just right. Some say shopping is therapeutic, but when the heat is on and you need your dream dress, you just might need therapy when all is said and done. Be it a wedding, work function, meeting the boyfriend’s parents or even your own birthday party, for some getting dressed is more than half the battle.

This season, designers have tapped into these concerns and come up with a solution that is so simple it might induce some forehead slapping. The idea, my friends, is one dress for many occasions. Can it be done? With the right attitude and a closet full of accessories (which I’m guessing you have or are more than willing to purchase), it’s as easy (on the hips) as Weight Watchers cherry pie.

The New York-based clothing designers behind the Purdy Girl line (www.purdygirlnyc.com) have got you covered. And if you wear their new line of frocks, you’ll be covered in 60’s inspired prints, muted tones like yellows mixed with browns and other Purdy prettiness. The founders, sisters Nadine and Corrine Purdy, believe that the perfect dress is one that doesn’t cost a bundle of your hard-earned Washingtons and one that you can “get a lot of longevity out of.”

We all do it.  Behind closed doors, in the privacy of our own homes, millions of women are logging on, signing in, and – yes, dear readers – shopping.  Picture, if you will, a nation of sweaty nerds hunched before their keyboards, clicking feverishly in search of the best bargains and latest fashions.  But in the rush for retail, let’s not forget the perils of the online experience.  It’s a jungle out there, folks.

The Internet is a Mecca of consumerism. Anything you can put a price tag on can be bought. Convenient, yes, but it’s also overwhelming – and a little dangerous. The idea of limitless options sounds appealing, but is it really? I get overwhelmed just trying to pick out a box of popcorn in the grocery store (what is the difference between butter and movie-theater butter anyway?). Then there’s the safety issue. How do you know if you’re handing some Internet slime ball access to your Gold Card?
 
But don’t let all that stop you! Shopping online doesn’t have to be an endless string of clicks and scrolling, wading through bogs of thick search results and a constant stream of ads. Beauty News is here to help, even if you’re no computer nerd.
 
Search engines are your friends. But sometimes they’re crappy friends who use you and have a hidden agenda. Be sure to use an engine that pulls data from a wide range of stores and vendors. Some only show results from retailers who pay to be listed. How to tell? If your searches keep spitting out the same seven or eight online stores, chances are they’re getting a little kickback.

If you’re a Google girl, you’ll love froogle.com, which is Google’s answer to “smart” online shopping. To find virtually anything, simply type in what you’re looking for, hit search and a list longer than Ken Lay’s criminal record pops up with information including the store and price. You can’t actually buy anything on Froogle, or any search engine for that matter, but you’ll be directed to sites where you can make your purchase. Shopzilla.com is another fun search engine that gives reviews and compares prices.

The Internet makes finding discontinued items a breeze. Everyone has that favorite lip gloss or hair gel that hasn’t been around for years. Don’t waste time pushing pins into a Bobbi Brown voodoo doll because she stopped making that eye-popping mascara. Go get it, girl! Many companies sell products they are discontinuing on their Web sites, including Ms. Brown (check out “Bobbi’s Closet”), Lancôme and Estee Lauder.

The stockings are hung by the chimney with glee
But what on earth to get Great Aunt Dee?
You’ve stressed and fretted, frittered and sweated,
But choices are endless while appetites are whetted!

You’ve got more in your brood than Saint Nick has on his naughty and nice list, and not a clue as to what will delight. Here’s some advice to make your wade through the retail bog of the holiday season a little easier.

Stop and smell the roasting chestnuts.
Sure, Santa manages to pull off his amazing gift-giving feat in one night, but he also fits down a chimney and has magic reindeer to help. If he had to ride the subway like the rest of us, this would never happen! So take your time and get it right; don’t pick the first thing you see for the sake of speeding up the process. If you put time and thought into picking the gifts you give, how can you go wrong?

Remember whom you’re buying the present for.
“You must divorce your own personal taste from this gift,” says shopping expert Heidi Wasserman, who was the VP of Sales in the corporate gift division at Tiffany, Inc., Beverly Hills for 10 years and has since launched her own gifting business, catering to clients such as HBO, FOX and Disney, just to name a few (www.heidigifts.com). Wasserman, who describes herself as “the oldest living shopper you’d ever want to meet,” emphasizes that you must keep your target in mind at all times. Sure, that Hello Kitty alarm clock is darling, but just because your little sister is younger does not mean she wants a pink cartoon cat mingling with her English Country bedroom decor. “You want it to be something that adds to their collection – not yours,” says Wasserman.

Become a super sleuth.
“You almost have to become an investigative reporter,” Wasserman says. It’s time to make Woodward and Bernstein proud. Observe your recipient closely. What do they wear? What do they enjoy doing? Pay attention to the subtleties such as what store windows they peer into while walking down the street, and what items they compliment on others. This will help give you a feel what for what they like and would want, without making the obvious blunder of being forthright and asking them what they want (talk about a lack of creativity)!

If it’s someone whom you don’t know very well and don’t spend a lot of time with, this can make the process even harder. Although it may seem cliche, using their profession as inspiration is always something to fall back on. Try to think about what they might need for their job. This does not mean you should give a “World’s Greatest Teacher” magnet. “Choose something that they can use everyday and think of you,” Wasserman says. And if they don’t work, there are always hobbies, sports teams and other interests to consider.

Keep in mind the customs of a foreign country and religion.
You wouldn’t belt out “Happy Hannukah” to your Jehovah’s Witness co-worker, so don’t make a jingle bell jerk out of yourself by giving something sharp (like a set of knives) to an Asian –this symbolizes severing the relationship– or presenting a bottle of Baily’s to a Buddhist (you can’t achieve enlightenment if you’re smashed).

Think classy.
“Quiet elegance whispers good taste,” says Wasserman, noting that logos are a no-go. If it’s got the name of a company, especially yours, pass on. Note, this rule does not apply if the logo is say, Rolex, on the face of a watch. Those gifts have been known to please.

Don’t blow your budget on the present.
“You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a splash,” says Wasserman. If you were too preoccupied in school to learn the lesson in “The Gift of the Magi,” I’ll make it short and sweet: Don’t spend more than you can afford. Otherwise you’ll only have your Dior fur-trimmed ski boots to keep you warm when you can’t pay the electric bill.

It’s all in the presentation, so wrap it right.
“It gives you a higher perceived value that what was spent on the gift,” Wasserman says of the way the present is wrapped. If you haven’t yet learned to wield your opposable thumbs, then let a professional handle it. A messy tape job is just tacky.

And oh yeah, have some fun! “The process is called gift giving, so it shouldn’t be a traumatic experience picking it out,” Wasserman says. So remember, when the lines are long and the salespeople are crabby, wipe that frown off your face, hum a little “White Christmas,” and just stuff it (the stockings, that is)!

Thanksgiving in the twenty-first century is nothing like the original. Try to picture the pilgrims reaching for a box of StoveTop Stuffing or poking at a wobbly tower of canned cranberry sauce. Or think of yourself doing anything close to Puritan. The days of maize and mead are over; bring on the tofurky!

Nevertheless, the basic premise hasn’t changed too much. Thanksgiving is still about being with the important people in our lives. And the fun of it is that in a city like New York that has so many different cultures, customs, religions and people, the norm is challenged even more. For people from all walks of life, there is hope for a happy Turkey Day.

Hosting Thanksgiving can be a Herculean task. Even if you handle this job every year, you’re still bound to be knee deep in kitchen chaos. The more prepared and organized you are, the better. Create a plan of attack and give yourself plenty of time. If you’re rushed, it will show. Try to prepare everything that you can in advance. And don’t be afraid to ask for help, although remember this advice of sages: if you want something done right, do it yourself. Things may go wrong (and they will…remember Murphy’s Law?), but try not to sweat it. Just do the best you can. Chances are, Cousin Bert will forget to bring the yams and you’ll run out of salt. But your guests will have to deal (and if they don’t like it, then they can kiss a big fat turkey butt!).

But if the thought of hosting makes you break into hives, are all thumbs in the kitchen, haven’t been invited anywhere, or just shirk the idea of a traditional holiday, there is another option. Believe it or not, there is a plethora of restaurants that are open on Thanksgiving that ought to cater to your every whim and dietary fancy.

If Thanksgiving is all Greek to you, head Downtown for a Mediterranean morsel at Pylos (128 E. 7th St. between First Ave. and Ave. A; 212-473-0220). Their three-course, $35 prix-fixe menu includes such delectable delights as sweet potato and pumpkin moussaka and pumpkin-greek yogurt cheesecake with a sesame seed crust.

For a vegan meal without the tofurky, try Blossom (187 Ninth Ave. between 21st and 22nd Sts.; 212-627-1144). At $60, their four-course prix-fixe offers meatless-wonders like cranberry pumpkin gnocchi and porcini crusted seitan in a red wine sauce.

You could also go traditional at Times Square Italian eatery Bond 45 (154 W. 45th St. near Seventh Ave. ; 212-869-4545) There are plenty of Thanksgiving specials available à la carte, such as Vermont turkey with sausage stuffing and gravy ($23.95).

And if your looking for something healthy and kosher, go no further than Josies (300 Amsterdam Ave. at 74th St. ; 212-769-1212), an Uptown enclave featuring organic ingredients and free-range meats, including turkey. The three-course prix-fixe menu is $32.95; $17.95 for children.

For more Thanksgiving Day restaurant options, check out New York Magazine’s Holiday Guide.

Facing another holiday season sans ton amour? There’s no reason to wallow! You have a million options at your fingertips. Without shrill in-laws and tedious family obligations, you’re free to do what you want. Take a cruise, stay at home and make fun of the parade-goers, or join a friend for their Thanksgiving celebration. If you’re worried that you’ll be the only singleton there, relish it. Secretly, they’re probably jealous. After all, you don’t have to share your pumpkin pie.

Whatever your situation this Thanksgiving – whether you’re in the city or off to visit far-removed relatives – have a happy day making the most of what you have. Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be about eating turkey and watching giant woodpeckers parade through Manhattan. And it most definitely doesn’t have to be about football. Thanksgiving is whatever you want it to be. So doff your pilgrim hat, grab a warm scarf, and find someplace cozy, friendly, and full of something tasty. Happy Thanksgiving!