Gift Guide 5: Last Minute and Crafty Gifts!

Christmas is almost here, and oops, Hanukkah was over last week! What's a girl who hasn't finished all her shopping to do? We've got your last minute gift finishing touches here!

-Target has some great Burts Bees gift sets in their stores right now. Normally I'm more of a Softlips fan for my chapstick needs, but I've been using Burts Bees Lip Shimmers a lot lately, and I'm loving them. Plus for last minute one stop gift shopping, you can't beat Target-- they have everything! (If you're looking for the gift sets online, Amazon is easier to find them on.)

-Don't forget magazine subscriptions: they're super simple to order, and they keep giving all year. Amazon's a great one stop shopping place for these.

-If you can knit, the bulky handknit hat never goes out of style, and who doesn't like a handknit hat? I'm working on one for myself right now and it's just flying off my needles. If you're looking for a simple pattern, this one from chicknits is straightforward. Plus, hats on 10.5s? Take like two hours. Awesome!

-Have some free time after the holidays? Take them to an event or to get a makeover! A pair of tickets to a show never goes amiss, and makeovers are the most fun when you're with a friend. Most people I know don't really want a ton of stuff they can't use, so giving them the gift of your time can be the best gift of all!

-While a good mix cd takes awhile to craft, the great thing about them is that you can give a great mix to more than one person. Nobody cares! I'm always just happy to get a new mix and hear some new songs. It's cheap, it's easy, and it's a great way to share some of your favorites with your friends. (Just keep in mind what kind of music they like- don't put all poppy upbeat songs on a mix for your friend who only listens to Radiohead and Mazzy Star. That won't go over so well.) Mixes jazz up a small package or basket without spending more!

-And if you want to give something homemade and delicious, here's a recipe for one of my family's traditional holiday cookies. Holly Wreaths are quick and simple to make, albeit messy (but that's half the fun!) Plus, they look fantastic in a package with other gifts- very festive and cute.

Holly wreaths recipe:

You will need:
1/2 cup Margarine or Butter
35 large marshmallows
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. green food coloring
4 cups of cornflakes
red hots
and wax paper.

Melt the margarine and the marshmallows on the stove. Add the vanilla and the food coloring after melted. Then add the cornflakes, stirring until all the cornflakes are coated in the green marshmallow mixture. Remove the pan from the heat and start shaping the mixture into wreaths on wax paper. The trick is to do it while the mixture is still hot. For smaller, denser looking wreaths, roll some of the mixture into little balls and then poke a hole in the middle. Then decorate with the red hots!

Makes around 2 dozen cookies. Everyone likes cookies with their gifts, right? I do.

-And don't forget about the all purpose gift card: Sure, they may seem impersonal, but who doesn't like using them? I know I've never complained about a stack of gift cards under my tree!

Images from amazon.com and allrecipes.com.