You don't have to be heartbroken to get it.

January may be the most popular month for breakups, but December doesn’t seem far behind, at least for celebrity splits. Two longtime Tinseltown twosomes have their divorce lawyers on speed dial this month. According to TMZ, Sean Pean and Robin Wright-Penn are divorcing after 11 years of marriage. They have two children. And Mummy star Brendan Frasier and his wife Afton Smith are calling it quits after nine years of marriage. The couple has three children. No word on reasons for the split or who will maintain custody.

So what gives? Why the divorce in December? Too much togetherness during Christmas? Does the idea of spending another year with their s.o. send them into an emotional tailspin? Regardless of the reason, and I’m sure add’l details will surface soon enough, I hope these soon-to-be exes will take a page from Reese & Ryan’s post-divorce playbook (rather than Britney’s) and handle the split with dignity and respect for their exes.

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Lisa Steadman, a.k.a. The Relationship Journalist™ is the creator and editor of BreakupChronicles.com. She's also the author of "It's a Breakup, Not a Breakdown."

Whatever you’re doing today, whomever you’re with, I hope you have a very merry Christmas! And in hopes that you’ll have an even happier new year, I wanted to offer you one last gift idea.  It’s actually a gift for the coming year.  Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably feel like you’ve heard plenty about global warming. Maybe you feel inspired, maybe you feel helpless.  Either way, the following are some ways you, the savvy single gal, can go green in 2008 in hopes of helping the climate crisis:

Rethink your commute
It may not sound sexy, but cutting down on the time you spend in your car in traffic by yourself is the sexiest thing you can do for the environment! Look into public transit, rideshare, or if possible walk or bike to work. P.S. - Cute guys ride the subway!

Bring your own reusable bags when you shop
Check out Reusablebags.com for the many different reusable bag styles. Some are super cute, like the b happy bags and the gourmet insulated lunch totes.

Buy local
Shop at your local farmers’ market. Though the offerings can be more expensive, you can generally count on a higher quality product—and the entire purchase price goes directly to the farmer. Buying any goods produced locally saves energy by reducing the fossil fuels needed to transport food and other items across the country and around the globe.

Recycle
You’d be surprised how many things you can recycle! Not just aluminum cans and paper. Find out more!

Change the thermostat setting and install energy saving devices
Setting your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer can translate to substantial savings on your utility bills. When incandescent bulbs burn out, replace them with longer-lasting, low-energy compact fluorescent bulbs.

Buy and use non-toxic cleaning products in your home
Non-toxic cleaning products save money, time, and improve your indoor air quality. I happen to love Begley’s Best!

Donate (instead of throw out) old clothes and other items - even cell phones!

Give money to green causes
Organizations like Heifer International are known for their conservation efforts.

Even if you just make one or two small changes in the new year towards going green, you’ll make a difference. Plus, it feels great to give back! Nothing makes a savvy single gal look sexier than when she feels good about herself!

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Lisa Steadman, a.k.a. The Relationship Journalist™ is the creator and editor of BreakupChronicles.com. She's also the author of "It's a Breakup, Not a Breakdown."

You may or may not have heard about today’s gift idea before. But I gotta say, I love the idea! BagBorroworSteal.com understands just how important a handbag is to a savvy single gal (or any woman for that matter). This ingenious service allows you to order the designer handbag of your desire (think Hermes, Prada, Louis Vuitton), use it for as long as you like, and then return it for a different designer handbag as you wish! All you pay is a monthly fee. You can even create a Wish List so that once you’re done with your current clutch, your trendy tote is ready, willing, and able to be yours! Love that!

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Lisa Steadman, a.k.a. The Relationship Journalist™ is the creator and editor of BreakupChronicles.com. She's also the author of "It's a Breakup, Not a Breakdown."

In addition to gift giving, holiday parties, and mistletoe kisses, the end of the year brings about much self-reflection, especially as we stare into our over-stuffed closets and utter the famous phrase “I have absolutely nothing to wear!” Wouldn’t it be great to say sayonara to that tired phrase? Well, in 2008 you can — and without breaking the bank on a new wardrobe.

Enter Closet Control, a smart, savvy, stylishly-designed book by wardrobe consultant to the stars, fashion journalist, and style guru Barbra Horowitz. With expert guidance and extremely practical how-tos, Horowitz shows how simple it is to send your fashion-happiness quotient into the stratosphere. She outlines the personality traits common to all clothes hounds, describes her unique fashion philosophy, and introduces her core concept of “eco-selfishness:” working with what you already have to get what you really want by revamping, recycling, and reselling. Throughout the book, there are easy instructions for restyling clothes along with sidebars packed with streamlining tips and case studies of real-life wardrobe renovations. Plus: the book includes a full-length DVD of a real-life closet therapy session — it’s like having a personal wardrobe consultant in your very own closet!

What I absolutely love about Barbra’s approach to a woman’s wardrobe is that it’s not about how much you spend or who you’re wearing, but how you can breathe new life into your closet with a little creativity and green-mindedness. So ladies, if you’re sick of staring into your closet and feeling defeated, 2008 is your year to take closet control!

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Lisa Steadman, a.k.a. The Relationship Journalist™ is the creator and editor of BreakupChronicles.com. She's also the author of "It's a Breakup, Not a Breakdown."

And because no single gal’s holiday gift list would be complete without a little something from the naughty list, the following are a few valuable resources to help stuff your single gal stocking this year:

BootyParlor.com - I happen to love, love, love this site! They make sexuality fabulous.  And just because you’re single, doesn’t mean you can’t be sexy.  If you’d like to be discreet, order any number of fun toys including Sex Toys for Beginners, The Rabbit, as well as of this collection of single gal exclusives.  And it’s not just sex toys — there are great books including Sex For One: The Joy of Self-loving, sexy clothing (you don’t need a man to look saucy between your fabulous sheets!), and more. Or, if you’re more daring, book a Booty Parlor Party for you and your gal pals.  What a great way to start the new year!

Here are some other sites that offer single gals a plethora of adult play things:

Xandria.com - featuring the intriguing Cloud Nine, the sure to please Astro Ride, and more!

EdenFantasys.com - featuring an impressive array of dual action, g-spot, and other pleasure-inducing toys!

Ladies, it’s almost 2008. And as a savvy single in the new millennium, oftentimes our pleasure lies in our own hands (literally!). Why not give yourself the gift of sexual self-satisfaction on the 9th day of Christmas? It’s nothing to apologize or blush about. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy! After all, sex for one can be h-o-t!

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Lisa Steadman, a.k.a. The Relationship Journalist™ is the creator and editor of BreakupChronicles.com. She's also the author of "It's a Breakup, Not a Breakdown."

One of the benefits of being single during the holidays is that your wallet stays a little fatter than it might with an S.O. (significant other). With no one to buy the latest techie gadget or beer-of-the-month club membership for, no in-laws to trek across the country to visit, and no expensive romantic getaway to fork over your hard-earned cash for, you can enjoy a more fiscally fit holiday season. And that’s not all.

On the 8th day of Christmas, it’s time to give yourself the gift that keeps on giving — financial security in 2008. No, it’s not as flashy as some Divine Diamonds bling or as decadent as a Do Something Different single gal vacay. But it is the smartest gift you can give yourself for the new year. Having said that, I wanted to share with you the well wishes I recently received from my fave banking institution ING Direct:

When you are thinking about your plans for 2008 think about this:

• Save. Save much more than you spend. Spend $5 per day less than you did this year. That’s more than $1800 you’ll have in your pocket in 2009.
• Simplify. Find ways to make everything you do a little easier.
• Check. Check your mortgage to see if it’s within your means. Never let someone talk you into a mortgage that you can’t afford.

I thought this was great advice! So as you reflect on your goals and dreams for the coming year, factor in financial fitness. Whether that means investing more in your 401(k), broadening your investment portfolio, buying your first home, or just spending less at Starbucks so your savings account grows faster, go for it! You’ll thank yourself in the years to come!

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Lisa Steadman, a.k.a. The Relationship Journalist™ is the creator and editor of BreakupChronicles.com. She's also the author of "It's a Breakup, Not a Breakdown."

Initially, I wasn’t planning on including any bling on the must-have list during The 12 days of Christmas for the Savvy Single Gal. Just as I’m not a Gentlemen, spend 3 months salary on the ring of her dreams kind of gal (my engagement ring is an heirloom from my side of the family), I’m equally skeptical of the Single women of the world, raise your right hand campaign. It just feels like forced consumerism to me.

But then I attended my annual holiday afternoon tea with the girls last weekend and my thinking changed. Between scones, mint tea, and gift exchanging, one of my g.f.’s blinded me with a dazzling piece of bling. On closer inspection, we discovered she was wearing an incredibly unique diamond ring (on her right hand). When several of us complimented her, she confessed that it was her Christmas present to herself and that she got it at every woman’s fave ring store Tiffanys. It was a bit of a splurge, but she decided she was worth it. And of course she is!

So that got me thinking. Maybe single women want a little bling during the holidays. That led me to do a little research and discover Divine Diamonds, a company whose founder created the first diamond ring for single women. The Ah Ring was originally created for confident and joyful single women to show the world they’re available (A) and happy (h). Worn on the pinkie, it’s stylish, sexy, and blingtastic! Even Oprah loves the Ah Ring.

So ladies, if you happen to be eyeing some bling this holiday season, give yourself permission to splurge. You deserve it!

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Lisa Steadman, a.k.a. The Relationship Journalist™ is the creator and editor of BreakupChronicles.com. She's also the author of "It's a Breakup, Not a Breakdown."

When was the last time you took an honest-to-goodness vacation?  And no, I’m not referring to a trip to see the parents, or one of your many dutiful trips to be yet another bridesmaid.  I’m talking about a full-fledged single gal vacation complete with passport, adventure, and relaxation.  Chances are, it’s been too long.  That’s all about to change.  On the 6th day of Christmas, you’re going to start thinking about your next great escape.  There are no excuses for not giving yourself the gift of a vacation in 2008.  And to get started, I found the perfect website. 

DoSomethingDifferent.com will help you plan your perfect getaway and even arrange your vacay activities.  Want to do something adventurous?  How about hot air ballooning in Australia or great white shark cage diving in Cape Town?  If that sounds a little scary, try something less adventurous/more memorable.  Like a Big Apple helicopter tour.  Or whale watching in Vancouver.  There are also plenty of relaxing getaways like a Napa Valley wine tour or a Bali sunset dinner cruise.  All you have to do is open your mind, pick a spot on the map, and let DoSomethingDifferent.com do the rest.

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Lisa Steadman, a.k.a. The Relationship Journalist™ is the creator and editor of BreakupChronicles.com. She's also the author of "It's a Breakup, Not a Breakdown."

Today’s gift ideas for the savvy single gal are all about passing it on.  After all, it’s easy to just buy something, wrap it in a pretty package, and hand it to a recipient. And when it comes to buying gifts for yourself, it’s even easier to get lost in simply being selfish and self indulgent (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). On the 5th day of Christmas, it’s time to think about gift giving in a whole new way.  It’s time to think about buying gifts with intention, whether they’re for you or someone else.  The following are a few ideas that will hopefully inspire you to do something nice for yourself today, as well as for someone else…

HeartIsHot.com
I recently stumbled across an amazing gift idea at HeartIsHot.com.  Here’s how it works.  You purchase one of these amazingly gorgeous unique heart art pieces made of 100% recycled stained-glass and engraved with a version of the flower of life symbol. When the item arrives, you can keep it or pass it on.  The heart is not only beautiful but contains healing properties.  But again, it’s not the gift itself that’s so meaningful.  The purpose is to eventually pass the heart along to others, and track its journey around the world. It’s re-gifting at its finest — and with a purpose, to show how interconnected we all are.  Love that!

BetterPresent.org
Want to pamper yourself while helping others?  At BetterPresent.org you can do just that by donating money to a variety of worthy causes including:

• help protect endangered animals for just $20
• help protect a tiger for $35
• help an impoverished village for $30

If you’d like to help out in your own community on the 5th day of Christmas, contact a cause near and dear to your heart and ask them what they need this holiday season.  Whether it’s donating toys and clothes to a homeless or battered women’s shelter, serving food at your local food bank, or helping out during a rescued animal adoption day, there are plenty of opportunities to give back and feel good — today and always!

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Lisa Steadman, a.k.a. The Relationship Journalist™ is the creator and editor of BreakupChronicles.com. She's also the author of "It's a Breakup, Not a Breakdown."

With the holidays in full swing, chances are good that you’re overdoing it. From racking up charges on your credit card to lugging all those shopping bags filled with presents for friends, family, and other people’s kids, you’ve probably got knots in your neck. Maybe your hands are hurting from writing all those holiday cards. And your feet just might be sore from those killer boots that make you look so chic but pinch your toes. Fear not, my fab and fearless friends! On this 4th day of Christmas for the savvy single gal,  help is just a phone call away.

Yes, your gift idea for today is all about relaxation. So whether you have a fave spa in mind or need to do some research to find a spa nearby, today’s the day to make an appointment or two for Y-O-U. Suggested activities include:

• A de-stressing manicure to rescue your brittle nails during the cold and dry winter weather
• A soothing pedicure to prettify your toes and massage away your aching feet
• A detoxifying facial or body scrub to release old toxins and chemicals
• A deep tissue massage to work out those holiday-induced stress knots
• A new cut, color, and highlights just in time for all those holiday parties

Regardless of what spa treatments you choose, be sure to take some time to relax, rejuvenate, and rejoice in all that is fabulous in your single gal life. And if you like, invite your girlfriends to join you on your day of bliss. Either way, enjoy!

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Lisa Steadman, a.k.a. The Relationship Journalist™ is the creator and editor of BreakupChronicles.com. She's also the author of "It's a Breakup, Not a Breakdown."