Christmas Suggestions

Okay, I'm officially looking for suggestions for Christmas gifts. Also birthdays -- there are a flurry of winter birthdays ahead. And I'm a lousy gift giver -- generally helpless and overwhelmed by the task. I have occasional flashes of genius, like last Christmas when I bought a whole slew of different colored wigs and wrapped them up without labelling them, and distributed them randomly to my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents on Christmas morning. Hilarity ensued. But mostly I'm unoriginal and panicky about it, radically inconsistent. I need help.

Here are the things I can offer as suggestions to y'all: tangible objects that make me feel lucky, content, and pleased on a pretty regular basis.

My cozy-warm Uggs. My new teapot, full of Long Life original blend tea. True Love Waits -- an album of Radiohead songs interpreted for classical piano. My soft leather gloves with cashmere lining. A full tub of cocoa butter. The bright orange faceplate for my little cell phone. Warm and fun-colored silk underthings by Mary Green. My mug from Edgecomb Potters. My Linksys wireless card. Salsa Lizano and Bragg's in my cupboard and peppermint Dr. Bronner's soap in the shower. Tanqueray No. 10 and some good scotch now and then. Fluffy and warm smartwool socks for my tired feet. The lovely crystal coral reef made by my crazy friend Chris Heilman. The cool one of a kind lampshades on a couple of my lamps at home. My warm and soft modal sheets. The Essential Rumi.

Your turn.

[Update: Marie suggests a magnifying glass. Excellent.]

Comments

[Dave]

I'm going to be unoriginal and link to Dave Barry's suggested gifts. Some are classic.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/special_packages/gift_guide/7422650.htm

[Autumn]

Gifts I've received that required little effort, but made me happy: gift certificate for a facial, gift certificate for a pedicure, magazine subscription, beautiful photo album, unique journal, hand-made paper stationery, classy crystal candle holders, margarita glasses, a funky martini shaker, AAA membership, Earth From Above book of extraordinary photographs.

Gifts that showed an understanding of my likes and interests: book about the history of my city, art supplies, artwork (an oil pastel piece depicting a part of the Maine shoreline, and a statue of a cat whose eager, ready to play pose reminded the gift-giver of me), craft fair jewelry, fancy moisturizers and face creams, restaurant guide, unique purse, "Hecho en Mexico" datebook, theater tickets, gift certificate to an animal shelter.

Gifts that required much work that make my heart soar: hand-crocheted scarf, box with pictures of my life glued onto it, hand-made jewelry box, calendar with a different collage of photos each month, CD's burned with songs that remind people of me (especially when people took the time to make a CD cover, too), origami mobile.

Gifts I'd love to receive now: How To books on home repair, tools (specifically a sander and a circular saw), jumper cables, warm things (hat, scarf, mittens, PJ's, socks), picture frames, calendar with lovely scenery, soft long-sleeve T-shirts.

[Scheherazade]

Good try, dear friend, but I've already chosen YOUR gift this year!

Nice to see you on the blog. Still looking forward to the debut of yours....

[The Boyfriend]

I've found Gift Certificates for jumping out of planes is always a popular gift...