'Tis the Season

People will argue this forever, but I really think girlz are easier to shop for than guys. Since ‘tiz the season and I have yet to really shed any holiday joy (even snow makes me grumpy), I thought I’d compile a little list to prove to you how affordable and limitless shopping for your gf’s or bff’s or female family members can be!

Here is a list, a practical jist of female gift ideas:

· CREATIVE jewelry. Don’t get the standard sparkly necklace this year; try a pair of wild earrings that are pretty, but different.

· Cheese + _________. Let’s say you spot a sweater at a store you know your girlfriend will LOVE, but are scared it’s not a thoughtful or creative enough gift. Pair it with some unique cheese for a specialty cheese shop that she’s never tried before. Women love to be fabulous hosts, and they will be excited to impress their friends with goat cheese from Switzerland rather than cheese wiz with on Saltines their wine. If she is a cheese enthusiast like myself, this is a gold mine.

· Scarf, hat, glove combo. She will feel all warm and cuddly and cutesy with a matching set of winter weather gear.

· A book that she’s never heard of but you know she will enjoy because you know her personality/interests. It will excite her that you’ve been paying attention enough to know she’d enjoy this book without her specifically spelling it out. This would be a great one to go with the cheese!

· Home décor. If you frame a black-and-white photograph of a scene from your lady’s favorite ballet, she will go absolutely bananaz.

· A snuggie. I think you’d probably want to pair this with something else if you’re shopping for your baby, but girls are always cold and they’ve got some really nice body-wrap blankets at department stores right now, and it’s just a cute gift.

· And the curveball—something she’d never expect you to get. Like a really neat kitchen plate you saw at a flea market or mall kiosk. Or maybe if she’s really into exercising, a giant, bouncy resist-a-ball for fun!

· Or, perhaps discuss the possibility of free-gifting or abstract-gifting; I’m getting a little upset that this post is based entirely on spending money because of a tradition that forces us to buy material items for other people, most of whom for which we don’t care that deeply. Or, you know, just get a fun scarf and smile.

I, unfortunately, have grave difficulty when shopping for men. Perhaps our new male contributor should mirror my post with a list for men?!