2. When my son became
old enough to help
[with the baking], wed
get to work right after
Thanksgivingdevoting
a day to dough,
another to decorating.
Gale Gand, the executive
pastry chef at five restau-
rants in Chicago, including
Tru, and the author of
Chocolate & Vanilla
Cupcakes require
no forks, theyre just the
right size for some-
thing so rich and sweet,
andbest of all
theyll save you
room to try all the
other holiday treats.
Allysa Torey, the author
of At Home With
Magnolia: Classic
American Recipes
From the Owner of
Magnolia Bakery
Dessert
Wonderland
Five top chefs show you how to create the sweetestand most spectacularform of holiday cheer
COVER AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY KIRSTEN STRECKER FOOD STYLING BY SUSAN SUGARMAN INTERVIEWS BY JOANNE CHEN
8 LIFE DECEMBER 15, 2006

3. 1. LOS ANGELES
TO JOSHUA TREE AND BACK
Strange things grow in
240 MILES
the desert east of L.A.:
Martian-looking Joshua trees, Seussian
cholla cacti, golf-playing nonagenarians.
With L.A. traffic in your rearview, use Palm
Springs as your off-ramp into Joshua Tree
National Park (www.nps.gov/jotr). The
rugged wildlands 92 miles of paved road
make it the ultimate scenic drive, but to
truly appreciate its eerie beauty, youve got
to pull over. Two prime stops: the Cholla
Cactus Garden, to see its namesake resi-
dents, and Keys View, to take in the Santa
Rosa Mountains (and, on a clear day,
Mexico). Back in Palm Springs, bed down
at the cozy Pepper Tree Inn (doubles from
$119; www.peppertreepalmsprings.com).
Next morning, catch the nearby Palm
Springs Aerial Tramway, which rockets
passengers 5,873 feet up the slopes
of Mount San Jacinto ($21.50 per person;
www.pstramway.com).
PERFECT TIMING: Cool, windless nights
make this desert ideal for stargazing. Tour
Joshua Tree on the Saturday before a new
moon, and join the monthly star party at
the Hidden Valley Picnic Area, where ama-
PERFECT
teur Galileos offer celestial tours for free.
WEEKENDS
AHEAD
Spring is the time to hit the road and take one of Americas most
eye-popping, jaw-dropping scenic drives. Each of these nine quick and
easy routes will get you there and back on a single tank of gas.*
BY MICHAEL BENOIST
BE PREPARED
TO STOP
Among the oddities
* to be found on a
Based on the fuel efficiency of Americas most popular passenger car, the Toyota Camry
road trip from L.A. to
Joshua Tree Na-
tional Park are the
65-foot-tall Cabazon
Dinosaurs (Dinny,
left, and Mr. Rex),
which roam the earth
off Highway 10, near
Palm Springs.
P H O TO G R A P H B Y A M A N DA M A R SA L I S

4. Portraits by Karina Taira
Heather Grahams
nights
By David Hochman
(and 27 other ways TVs new darling makes her weekends great)
L ike most women in over- director-producer Chris Weitz).
drive, Heather Graham And, of course, theres making
knows that the weekends are for time for friends, working out,
recharging. Now 35 but still as and household chores. So when
wide-eyed and luminous as a Friday rolls around, Graham,
Vermeer painting, Graham finds whos as perky as she is polished,
that her weekdays are a blur knows exactly what to do. I
as she juggles the same work-life cant wait to turn off on the week-
issues that bedevil most thirty- ends, she says. I dont have to
something singles. Theres her look like anything for anyone, or
demanding tightrope-walk of be in a good mood, or fix my
a job (shes in almost every scene hair. In a way, its very rebellious.
of her bubbly new ABC sitcom, If I want to be in bed for two
    Monday, whole days, I can. How else
9 p.m.). Theres that lingering, does Graham get the most out
elusive soul-mate question (her of her weekends? Heres her
previous beaus include actor- agenda for a sexy, satisfyingand
director Edward Burns and sometimes silly48 hours.
11
JANUARY 27, 2006 LIFE

5. By Rima Suqi * Photographs by Spencer Jones
DY
HOLI A
YOU
D HOW
AN IN
CAN W ICKETS
TWO TNDON . . .
TO LO VERY-
AND EG ELSE
THIN EE HERE!
YOU S
The Great
Gift Guide
G ot a holiday gift list thats a mile
long?Dontdespair:Beforeyouhit
the shopsor Webthis week-
end, peruse our guide to the perfect
pocketbook-friendly presents for the styl-
ishmom,handydad,gracioushostess,curi-
ouskid,andeveryoneinbetween.(Dontbe
surprised if a few of these things make it
onto your own wish list!) But thats not the
onlywaytoscorebigthisseason:Youcould
win two tickets to London or one of the
itemsonthesepagesbyenteringLIFEsfirst
annual Gift Guide Giveaway (turn to PHOTO CREDIT
PHOTO CREDIT
page 10 for details). Either way, your holi-
day shopping just got a whole lot jollier. >
The Flash Cup of Cheer Nice Ice
On-the-Go Gadget Warming Trend
Junior shutterbugs can take up to 60 shots with the Fisher- Porcelain mugs in a rainbow of colors make a festive, all- No matter her age, diamonds are a girls best friend. This
Even if his idea of the great outdoors is the backyard, hell Its just not Christmas without cozy pajamas. These
Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera. It has an easy two-eye view- purpose gift; personalize them by adding a package of the pav-diamond pendant set in white gold offers sophisticated
light up at the sight of this glow-in-the-dark, water-resistant stunningly soft flannels, available in 28 fun prints, come
finder and is PC- and Mac-compatible (at Toys R Us; $60). recipients favorite coffee or tea (at Anthropologie; $8 each). bling at a budget-friendly price (at Kay Jewelers; $100).
clip-on watch with a compass (at Eddie Bauer; $50). with a matching gift bag (at Victorias Secret; $50).
9
NOVEMBER 24, 2006 LIFE.COM

8. How
I
Became
a
Funny
Girl
Julia Louis-Dreyfus looks back on the family,
friends, and fourth-grade play that helped shape her comedy
Cover and photographs by Karina Taira
PHOTO CREDIT
vid
y Daman
Bh
Hoc
2 LIFE MONTH XX, PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT

9. Taking Stock
I just got through My Not Favorite Year.
There have been a few, and 2006 is on my list.
It was a not-favorite year, says Zellweger.
Rene Revealed
After a year of heartache and tabloid headlines, Rene Zellweger looks ahead to the future
By Josh Young Cover and photographs by Sheryl Nields