To pull together our ultimate gift guides this year, we're asking the experts: YOU! We want to know what gets your party-throwing heart beating with excitement, so tell us: what do you wish to unwrap? From champagne flutes to nut crackers, we'll use your tasty responses to get together a (guest) list of gifts you'd actually love to get.

So party lovers, share with us in the comments: what gifts are on your wishlist? More

To pull together our ultimate gift guides this year, we're asking the experts: YOU! If you're a gadget guru or an app aficionado, tell us: what tech gifts would you be excited to receive? Whether you're itching for the latest tablet or hoping for sweet new software, we'll use your responses to build a list of gifts tech lovers will actually want to get.

So tech-loving readers, share with us in the comments: which tech devices or home appliances do you hope to unwrap this holiday season? More

To pull together our ultimate gift guides this year, we're asking the experts: YOU! If you're here, you're probably a design lover, so tell us: what would you be excited to unwrap? Whether you crave modern and sleek or fresh and funky, we'll use your well-designed responses to put together a list of gifts you'd actually love to get.

So design lovers, share with us in the comments: what things have caught your eye this year? More

To pull together our ultimate gift guides this year, we're asking the experts: YOU! If you're a DIY doyenne or a creative crafter, tell us: what would you be excited to unwrap? Whether you're itching for new power tools or a set of glitter pens, we'll use your responses to build a list of gifts DIYers will actually love to get.

So DIYers, share with us in the comments: what gifts do you hope to get? More

Don't hate me, but I started my holiday shopping in earnest. In June, actually. Partly for practical reasons: every December I'm swamped hunting for bonsai trees, making Krampus switches and tiny snow bottles, untangling my mirror garland, and picking up extra shifts at work. The other reason is that San Francisco summers are often chillier than the winters, so it's the perfect time to cuddle up with cocoa and start checking my list twice. More

Did you manage to send holiday cards out on time this winter? I didn't - I never do! Some years I send "Happy Winter" cards because that buys me a couple of months to get them out, and maybe someday I'll send hundreds of Valentines like Julia & Paul Child did. This year I removed all deadlines, however vague, and made nonsense holiday cards… More

This Christmas, I hosted a vegan potluck at my home. The food was wonderful, but there was definitely far more of it than the six of us in attendance could eat in a day. Excess, even for those who are mindful about it, tends to go hand in hand with the holiday season. Be it extra food, old electronics, wrapping paper, greeting cards, holiday decor or old toys, I would reckon that each and every one of us has something that we need to clear out. More

With all the last minute shopping, wrapping, packing, and cooking going on over the next week don't forget to prepare your traveling entertainment for the planes, trains, or automobiles you may find yourself in... More

I have this thing about gifts. They should either be totally random, but well thought out and never be something the recipient would purchase for themselves or they should be extra practical and be something they truly need but don't have the money to purchase them at this exact moment. For the most part I lean towards practicality and I'm curious, what's the best "down to earth" gift you've ever received? More

There are few moments more thrilling than the ones in which you watch your gift being unwrapped by someone you adore. You study their face, not wanting to miss a moment of their reaction. The light in their eyes will tell you if all your saving/searching/making was worth it, if they understand that you're trying to say with this present, as with all presents: "I think you're wonderful"... More