Q: I have been looking for a metal or plastic umbrella can (or similarly, any tall bins up to 16" high) that can be converted to a seat when not in use. I can't seem to find such a product on the internet. Therefore, I am thinking of using a metal/plastic cylinder can (e.g. the one in the picture by Container Store), but I have no clue where to find the appropriate lid (e.g. a wooden lid). Any DIY solutions? More

Gift: Natural Fun For The Child's Room
Price: $11 - $275

We spent the weekend shopping, and particularly enjoyed visiting Kid-O in the West Village and Acorn Toy Shop on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. Both shops are remarkable and full of unique, healthy things for children. For last minute shoppers you needn't rely on the mail, simply step into one of these stores.

1. Fruit Prints by Enzo Mari (orginally produced in the 1960's) ($250)

2. A Hable Storage Bushel ($275)

3. Simple, Unfinished Wood Music Box ($195)

4. Wooden Tree Houses and Tree Blocks (from $30 at Acorn)

5. Wooden Sword & Sheild ($50)

6. Andrew Lang's Fairy Tale Collection with original black and white illustrations (c. 1900) ($11 ea - 13 books) More

Gift: Bedroom Snuzzely Things
Price: $25 - $258

We're behind in combing through our archives and doing this guide. We apologize. At first we resisted it, but then we we're overwhelmed with the though of how many good things we came across this year. Here's to the bedroom!

1. A Bedside Carafe by Esque ($189)

2. Soft Cozy Throw or Pillow from Variegated

3. A Soft Quilted Coverlet from Utility Canvas ($198-$258)

4. A Jacob Jensen Alarm Clock is what we use at home! ($40)

5. A 30 Minute Hourglass from Environment 337, to see when you fall asleep (@ $25) More

Gift: No Gift (that's the gift)
Price: Priceless

This is an issue that comes up in many families each year. You or someone in your family REALLY doesn't want a gift. Perhaps it has to do with how they feel about gifts or maybe it's just because they hate having to take a whole bunch of well meaning but awful items down to Goodwill in January. This is how one reader put it:

You know that person on your list who says they want "nothing"? MAYBE THEY REALLY MEAN IT... My friends know that I'd rather have hot chocolate with them rather than a box of cocoa in my kitchen. My relatives are another matter... More

Gift: Wine Drinkers Delight
Price: $120 + $75 + $119 + $13

This is a bit of a smorgasbord of great things that center around the pure pleasure of drinking. Each one is a FIND.

1. A case of wine from Jeff Hock at Winesby.com on Jones Street. He has a great small selection of wines that are meant to be drunk, not saved and he delivers within two hours of your call.

2. 8 Riedel O Wine Glasses (stemless). These glasses may not fit in the kitchen cabinet as easily as stemmed ones, but we find them entrancing and unique. Reidel, of course, is a top notch glassmaker. These are high quality drinking vessels. More

Gift: Decluttering Unproductive Relationships
Price: Priceless

This is an idea that comes from Karen Kingston. While not really a gift in the common sense, it is definitely a gift to yourself and a service to your friends in the long run. This is also something that is perfect for working on during the holidays, when personal contacts are at a maximum.

Clear out your flaky friends! ...give some attention to clearing out unproductive relationships in your life. Do you have friends whom it always feels like an effort to talk to or who drain you when you are with them? Do you groan when you know so-and-so is calling to talk to you on the phone? More

Gift: Alex Marshall White Bowls & Platters
Price: From $20

We have a friend in Mill Valley that sends us a piece of Alex Marshall's fabulous, thick, white tableware each year. The last one we received was the shallow square place setting, which we use all the time. We love it because the dishes fit in with almost any style and the idea of a growing collection based on a friendship is the nicest kind of household gift. More

Gift: An UnParty
Price: Priceless

During the peak of the holiday season, breathing room can grow scarce and nerves can get frayed as the calendar fills up and you find yourself juggling work, pleasure, friends, parties, shopping, family and snow all at once. What you need in the midst of all of this is one good night off.

Rather than bailing on a party that you really don't want to go to (and feeling guilty afterwards), give yourself and a friend the gift that keeps on giving: an UnParty. This is how it works. More

Gift: Official AT T-Shirts
Price: $20

Here are two shirts that are perfect for moving your furniture around in (and which will cause stares). Yes, we have finally made and are ready to sell our new AT T-Shirts design by a reader who shall remain nameless until next Thursday. See if you can guess.

These shirts make a great gift and are bound to provide a chuckle when your mother-in-law puts one on. The shirts are top notch. The base is made by American Apparel (the Sustainable Edition) and the printing was done in LA. There are two styles and three sizes (s,m,l). More

Gift: Magnetic Paint & Neodymium Magnets
Price: $40

This is something we discovered a few month ago from our upstairs neighbors. It can TRANSFORM any friend's wall, at home or at the office. It's a DIY project, but totally unique, and something we would love to receive because the elements are obscure.

The first element is Magic Wall Magnetic Paint, which you paint on your wall and then paint over it with any color you like. The result is a highly magnetic layer that STRONGLY holds magnets. More