Jennifer Aniston graces the cover of People's Best of 2008 issue with a puppy draped over her shoulders and a smile on her face. It's been an incredible year for Jennifer romantically and personally, and she's ending it with a bang releasing Marley & Me. In the magazine she answers questions from fans, including a cute one about your favorite celebrity pet of the year, Norman. Here's highlights:

• On Norman and Dolly being jealous of Marley: "Oh, play it for me, Misti! Dolly didn't travel to Miami because she is too young at 2 ½, and to put her in a trailer didn't seem fair. All Norman wants to do is just lie at my feet, which is what I like. [The trainers] were strict about letting the Marleys play with other dogs. But there was no jealousy because Norman is very secure. Norman is now 13, but even back [as a puppy] he was as cool as a cucumber. He's just a person in a dog suit."
• On favorite holiday traditions: "My favorite tradition is picking out my tree and then the tree trimming. I just got mine! And there's eggnog, Christmas carols, usually chili, cupcakes. I've cooked the chili – my mom has a great recipe. But now I have a lovely lady cook it because I want people to be happy!"
• On remarrying: "I don't know! I honestly don't know. I'm not against it. Maybe (smiles). Maybe, sure."
• On turning 40: "I'm very excited. I had more of a panic going into 30. I think you realize that it just gets better. When they say youth is wasted on the young, it's so true. Oh my God, what I wish I'd known when I was 30!"
• On getting over bad days: "You just have to love your life. I have my health, I have my friends, I have my loved ones. I'm extremely lucky."

Methinks Feb. 11 can't come soon enough so Jennifer can stop answering questions about her 40th birthday, but of course she answered with grace and her famous sense of humor. As for the holidays, between her chili and John's baking sounds like they've got the makings of some new traditions of their own.

• Barack Obama is Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2008, winning the title against competitors like Sarah Palin, Henry Paulson, and Nicolas Sarkozy. In the interview he talks about the economy and his temperament, and we get to see his old college photos. — CitizenSugar
• Madonna and Guy Ritchie released a joint statement denying the news that Madonna was paying Guy $76 to 92 million in their divorce settlement. Madonna's rep had provided this information, which the couple deemed "misleading and inaccurate." — E! Online
• Elisabeth Hasselbeck received an apology from the White House yesterday when she complained on The View that she didn't get invited to their annual Christmas party. They called her after the show to tell her it was an oversight. — Us Weekly
• Macaulay Culkin and his brothers are all "absolutely heartbroken" about the death of their sister Dakota and have put their acting projects on hold to mourn with their family. — People
• Florida police authorities confirmed that a serial killer named Ottis Toole murdered America's Most Wanted host John Walsh's son in 1981. The crime had been unsolved until now and was the inspiration for John to start the show. — AP

If you want a good star sighting, Staples center is the place to be, and last night's Knicks-Lakers game was packed with celebrity sports fans. The nail-biter of a game made for lots of animated faces but ultimately smiles when the Lakers prevailed. David Beckham sat next to David Arquette, while Leonardo DiCaprio looked a little worried as he stayed fixated on the court. Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale cracked occasional smiles from the front row. Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens were the most energetic as they rooted their team on and cuddled up on their sporty date night.

To see more photos including Spike Lee, Chris Rock, Will Ferrell, and others, just read more

Rachel Bilson stood out in sequins on Monday night, but yesterday she went super cozy from her beanie down to her Uggs for a trip to the grocery store in LA. We haven't seen much of the pint-sized starlet since she's been busy on the set of Waiting For Forever, but it looks like she's back to spend the holidays back home with her family. Rachel might be looking for Hayden under the mistletoe next week, but right now she looks perfectly happy to snuggle up with one of our favorite pets of the year, Thurman Murman.

To see more of Rachel shopping, just read more

Brad Pitt snuggled into his warm jacket and scarf after dining in Berlin yesterday. Looks like Brad will be busy on the set of Inglorious Bastards right until it's time to celebrate with that adorable party of six, but we'd expect nothing less from the hardest working celebrity of 2008. Brad recently opened up about his family's gift-giving system and their plans for settling down. Here's more:

• On settling down in France: "I've been dragging them all from continent to continent lately, so we're going to have to give them a break soon. For the long term, right now, we're choosing France. It's good living there, a really nice way of life. It's a place where the kids can run free and not be hassled – we have a good relationship with the locals, and it's a good base for the family."
• On holiday presents: "We do exchange gifts, although we don't feel any pressure to make them big or expensive gifts. The kids don't ask for big gifts for the reason that they don't see a lot of the American cartoon television, which is packed with all those manipulative commercials for big toys that look so fantastic. When they do see that stuff is when they start asking for the toys, so we figure if they don't see them they won't know they're there. So we have gifts, but we try to keep the money spent to a minimum. The rule is that everyone's got to make something for someone else, you got to put time into it."
• On his children: "I look down at the family and I see our boy from Vietnam, and our daughter from Ethiopia, and our girl's from Namibia,and our son who's from Cambodia, and . . . they are all brothers and sisters, man. They are all the same blood. It is such elation to see them all living together, and getting along together, and to know that we were able to give them a home — in some cases, to give them a life. It's a wonderful thing that we are able to do this because of the jobs we have — and it's a selfish thing, too, because the rewards are extraordinary."

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