Smart is the New Pretty: Holidating

Oh yes, it’s time to start the countdown to the holiday season. Along with all the shopping, soiree’ing, and snowmen building (okay, maybe not)- there’s also probably some holiday smooching in the plans.

Groupon has acquired OpenCal which will help you to “schedule” all of your impending appointments. [TechCrunch]
But perhaps you are only interested in keeping track of the 25th of December. Here are five free apps that will help you do just that. [Mashable]
Facebook is counting down too… but they are counting the most popular status trends of 2011. [Mashable]
Speaking of status updates. I hear you’re headed out on a first date. Having trouble trying to figure out what to wear? The new PickWhichPic app allows you to call your friends in for reinforcement (and is free until Christmas).
Realize that you hate everything in your closet? The Poshmark app will help you clean out your closet and make a little cash. [Refinery 29]
Hopefully your date is in advertising… cause you may want to avoid dating investment bankers. Okay, not all of them. Just this one. [Gawker]
You may, however, want to start dating your lawyer. Free legal pads, anyone? [Gawker]
And in case your date does go well, here are ten recipes for the most perfect pancakes. [HuffingtonPost]
Then you can write a poem about how much your enjoyed your date on Opuss, you creep. [TechCrunch]