Holiday Shopping

I don't want to stress anyone out here, but Christmas will be here in just 40 short days!! Even if you don't do the Santa thing (note: 26 days till the first night of Hanukkah and 40 days until the beginning of Kwanzaa), you are probably not totally off the hook for gift-giving at this time of year, so I thought I would offer some helpful websites that can guide you in finding that perfect gift, plus some alternatives ideas to make this not just a season of giving, but a season of giving back!

Gifts for All Ages
Kids: Lists of the best toys of the year can be great places to start when shopping for the little ones on your list. Checkthe Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Dr. Toy and Parents Choice awards.
At Gifts.com you can shop by age, occasion and even personality. I find this site to be particularly helpful for the teens and preteens on my list!
Adults:For a whole host of unique and quirky gifts ideas for adults on your list, check out this list from Boston.com and the Perpetual Kid website.

Green Gifts
The 2009 Holiday Green Guide offers you a whole list of different companies offering good deals on "green" items this holiday season. You can flip through the book virtually and then connect to each company and make use of the online coupons that are offered.

"Adopt-a-???"
Many national organizations offer the opportunity to "adopt" everything from a polar bear to a star. Many local organizations such as the zoo, offer great programs as well, often providing a small gift and invitations to special "members only" events to the gift recipient.

Community Focused Giving
Looking for a way that you can give back to the community this holiday season?
This list contains information about the best charities to give to during the holidays. You can also contact your local United Way who may be keeping a list of what local nonprofits are in need of. If you happen to live in Washtenaw County,MI, here's our list.

Now get out there and start shopping! But don't worry, if you have started yet, you have about two weeks until you are officially behind!