I'm happy to say that I finished up all my Christmas shopping on Wednesday evening. Now I just have a bit of wrapping to do this morning. But if you are still in search of a gift or two, here are a few thoughts that have been swirling around my head this holiday season about what makes a great Christmas present.
1. Books - We always have lazy afternoons on Christmas Day, after opening presents and feasting on a big brunchy meal (with champagne). So after the wrapping paper has been crunched into a trash bag, and your dad has stoked the fire, and you've made yourself a cup of tea, it's so nice to curl up on a soft leather sofa with a sleeping dog and a new book. I try to always ask for at least one book, whether it's a cookbook, a photo book, or a novel, so that I'll be almost guaranteed have something interesting to flip through on Christmas. But if it's not my own, someone in the house will have something new to read. Note: this year I am giving at least one book on Christmas Day.
2. DVDs - As the day turns to night, we usually find ourselves together in front of the fire. And heaven help us that we don't have to watch football! Sometimes we turn on an old movie, like Meet Me in St. Louis. Last year my dad received the HBO series The Pacific and the whole family watched the first several episodes together in the dark. I find war stories so hard to see, sometimes, but Todd and I ended up getting pretty hooked. In fact, the final weeks of my pregnancy last winter are defined in my memory by late nights on our sofa, devouring every episode of The Pacific and Band of Brothers after my parents had finished with them. A couple years ago I gave Todd Season 1 of Mad Men, just so that we could watch it at the cabin over the holidays. Note: this year I am giving at least one series on DVD because I want to watch it on dark, Christmas nights. Self-serving, maybe? But I think it will go over well.
3. Edibles - Food is always a great gift, especially homemade treats or specialty items that we wouldn't necessarily buy for ourselves. Carter and Maggie have historically done this really well. One year Maggie gave us her pancake mix and now that's all we eat (I've been mixing up her recipe ever since, I mean). She also has given tall jars of granola (also my standard recipe these days). And in the past Carter and Maggie used to make the most delightful gift baskets laden with homemade bread or pie, artisan bacon, grainy mustard, local honey, hand-mixed spice rub, etc. Charlottesvillians, I like to buy specialty food items at Foods of All Nations or Feast. Note: this year I have already gifted several jars of Jam According to Daniel. And many bags of my favorite cookies.
4. Photographs - This one is kind of a no-brainer if you are a) a photographer or b) a parent. This year I am both. In the past I have given framed and matted prints of my photograpahs, though sometimes I find this gift to be tricky. You have to be pretty certain that the recipient actually wants one of your photographs, or else you look like an ass cocky person. If you give the gift of art and it's prepared to hang on the wall, you want to be sure that the person to whom you are giving your art actually wants to hang it on their wall. Otherwise an awkward situation arises. Either choose a really neutral, crowd-pleasing image, or give it to your parents because they'll love most anything. And if it's a photograph of your child, the gift is pretty much guaranteed to be a hit with all family members and honorary aunties. Note: I am giving at least one photograph of my child to at least one person this Christmas.
5. Unique Find - The gift of something unique and found is hard to come by at the last minute, except that sometimes your desperation to find a gift leads you to unusual places (like a thrift store, or even a jumbo discount shop) or opens your eyes to a different kind of gift. This year Bean gave me a perfect example of a unique find: A lobster tea cup.

Uniquely found at an antique store and perfect for me because sometimes I drink my tea from my collection of mis-matched china cups, and even more perfect because it has a big red lobster painted on one side and fisherman in his boat on the other and the whole thing screams of Maine, discovery, quirkiness, and being known and loved. Well done, Bean! She also pointed out that it has a slightly masculine feel so that when Todd has tea with me he can use the manly cup. (Whatevs, I'm drinking from the lobstah). Note: this year I did scrounge up a couple of unique finds, but none of them is quite as cool as the fine china lobster tea cup.
Good luck you last-minute shoppers. Remember, it really is the thought that counts. So if you don't see an item that feels right for your recipient, just write a nice card to tell them how much you love them and wish that person well in the new year. Hugs and kisses go a long way, too.
Merry Christmas Eve and peace to you.