December brought with it cold, bitter weather, lots of face time with families and, which you may have noticed, a distinct lack of posting. And for that, dear readers, we sincerely apologize. But not being ones to focus on the past, 2009 is here with a bang! And with this new year comes a whole truckload of ideas that our staff is working to implement for your guys. This means an increase in Interviews, How-To’s, Personal Stories, and Weekly Listings of cheap events in and around NYC. So keep on reading for our Editors pick of the December blogosphere as we bid adieu to 2008 and welcome the new year with open arms and heightened anticipation.

As a LifeStyler reader, you’re probably hip to a few other budget savvy blogs and websites regarding frugality and shopping. And if you’ve spent any time checking out budget shopping guides, you’ve no doubt come across the musings of The Budget Fashionista. Founded by Karthryn Finney, TBF has built a cult following by becoming the Go-To destination for budget-savvy shoppers looking to stay in style without breaking the bank. Along with showcasing fashionable looks for less, they frequently feature sample sales, interviews with the creme de la creme of the fashion world for style tips, and DIY guides to re-creating runway looks for under $100 (and oftentimes under $60). So with budget consciousness on the brain and the masses flocking to find bargain deals, we couldn’t not pick Kathryn’s brain for some tips on how to keep in style in the workplace for less than you probably spend on your electricity bill.

It’s that time of year when the weather turns crisp and the proud citizens of New York bundle up in their winter gear. But before we head off into the mother of all holiday seasons, let’s take a look retrospective look back at some stories from the past month. Here are some of our favorite posts from around the net, as well as our more popular stories from October in this month’s Mashup.