8 LIFE DECEMBER 15, 2006

Whenmy son becameold enough to help[with the baking], wedget towork right afterThanksgivingdevotinga day to dough,another to decorating.Gale Gand, the executivepastry chef at five restau-rants in Chicago, includingTru, and the author ofChocolate&Vanilla

Five top chefs show you how to create the sweetestand most spectacularform of holiday cheer

DessertWonderland

COVER AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY KIRSTEN STRECKER FOOD STYLING BY SUSAN SUGARMAN INTERVIEWS BY JOANNE CHEN

Cupcakes requireno forks, theyre just the

right size for some-thing so richand sweet,

andbest of alltheyll save you

room to try all theother holiday treats.

AllysaTorey, the authorofAtHomeWithMagnolia:ClassicAmericanRecipes

FromtheOwner ofMagnolia Bakery

1. LOS ANGELESTO JOSHUA TREE AND BACK

Strange things grow inthe desert east of L.A.:

Martian-looking Joshua trees, Seussiancholla cacti, golf-playing nonagenarians.With L.A. traffic in your rearview, use PalmSprings as your off-ramp into Joshua TreeNational Park (www.nps.gov/jotr). Therugged wildlands 92 miles of paved roadmake it the ultimate scenic drive, but totruly appreciate its eerie beauty, youve gotto pull over. Two prime stops: the ChollaCactus Garden, to see its namesake resi-dents, and Keys View, to take in the SantaRosa Mountains (and, on a clear day,Mexico). Back in Palm Springs, bed downat the cozy Pepper Tree Inn (doubles from$119; www.peppertreepalmsprings.com).Next morning, catch the nearby PalmSprings Aerial Tramway, which rocketspassengers 5,873 feet up the slopesof Mount San Jacinto ($21.50 per person;www.pstramway.com).PERFECT TIMING: Cool, windless nightsmake this desert ideal for stargazing. TourJoshua Tree on the Saturday before a newmoon, and join the monthly star party atthe Hidden Valley Picnic Area, where ama-teur Galileos offer celestial tours for free.

240 MILES

BE PREPAREDTO STOP

Among the odditiesto be found on aroad trip from L.A. toJoshua Tree Na-tional Park are the65-foot-tall CabazonDinosaurs (Dinny,left, and Mr. Rex),which roam the earthoff Highway 10, nearPalm Springs.

PERFECTWEEKENDSAHEAD

Spring is the time to hit the road and take one of Americas mosteye-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

*Based on the fuel efficiency of Americas most popular passenger car, the Toyota Camry

PHOTOGRAPH BY AMANDA MARSALIS

ByDavidHochman

PortraitsbyKarinaTaira

JANUARY 27, 2006 LIFE 11

L ikemostwomen in over-drive, HeatherGraham

knows that theweekends are forrecharging. Now 35 but still aswide-eyed and luminous as aVermeer painting, Graham findsthat herweekdays are a bluras she juggles the samework-lifeissues that bedevilmost thirty-something singles. Theres herdemanding tightrope-walk ofa job (shes in almost every sceneof her bubbly newABC sitcom, Monday,9 p.m.). Theres that lingering,elusive soul-mate question (herprevious beaus include actor-director Edward Burns and

director-producer Chris Weitz).And, of course, theresmakingtime for friends, working out,

and household chores. SowhenFriday rolls around, Graham,

whos as perky as she is polished,knows exactlywhat to do. I

cant wait to turn off on theweek-ends, she says. I dont have to

look like anything for anyone, orbe in a goodmood, or fixmy

hair. In away, its very rebellious.If I want to be in bed for twowhole days, I can.How else

doesGrahamget themost outof herweekends?Heres her

agenda for a sexy, satisfyingandsometimes silly48hours.

nights(and27otherwaysTVsnew darlingmakesherweekendsgreat)

Heather Grahams

PHOTO

CREDIT

H LTheGreat

OOn-the-GoGadgetEven if his idea of the great outdoors is the backyard, helllight up at the sight of this glow-in-the-dark,water-resistantclip-onwatchwith a compass (at Eddie Bauer; $50).

Warming TrendIts just not Christmas without cozy pajamas. Thesestunningly soft flannels, available in 28 fun prints, comewith amatching gift bag (at Victorias Secret; $50).

G ot aholidaygift list thats amilelong?Dontdespair:BeforeyouhittheshopsorWebthisweek-

end, peruse our guide to the perfectpocketbook-friendlypresents forthestyl-ishmom,handydad,gracioushostess,curi-ouskid,andeveryoneinbetween.(Dontbesurprised if a fewof these thingsmake itontoyourownwishlist!)Butthatsnottheonlywaytoscorebigthisseason:Youcouldwin two tickets to London or one of theitemsonthesepagesbyenteringLIFEsfirstannual Gift Guide Giveaway (turn topage10fordetails).Eitherway,yourholi-dayshoppingjustgotawhole lot jollier. >

ANDHOWYOU

CANWIN

TWOTICKETS

TOLONDON . . .

ANDEVERY-

THINGELSE

YOUSEEHERE!

NOVEMBER 24, 2006 LIFE.COM 9

PHOTO

CREDIT

YDLI Gift Guide

The FlashJunior shutterbugs can takeup to60 shotswith theFisher-PriceKid-ToughDigitalCamera. It has an easy two-eye view-finder and isPC-andMac-compatible (atToys RUs; $60).

Cup of CheerPorcelainmugs in a rainbowof colorsmake a festive, all-purpose gift; personalize thembyadding apackageof therecipients favorite coffee or tea (atAnthropologie; $8 each).

Nice IceNomatter her age, diamonds are a girls best friend.Thispav-diamondpendant set inwhite goldoffers sophisticatedbling at a budget-friendly price (atKay Jewelers; $100).

By Rima Suqi * Photographs by Spencer Jones

A

2 LIFE MONTH XX,

PHOTO

CREDIT

P HOTOGRAPHER CREDIT

I aFunny

Girl

How

ByDavid

Hochman

Became

JuliaLouis-Dreyfus looksbackon the family,friends, and fourth-gradeplay thathelped shapeher comedyCoverandphotographsbyKarinaTaira

Taking StockI just got throughMyNot Favorite Year.

There have been a few, and 2006 is onmy list.It was a not-favorite year, says Zellweger.

Rene RevealedBy Josh Young Cover and photographs by Sheryl Nields

Afterayearofheartacheandtabloidheadlines,ReneZellweger looksaheadtothefuture