apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I've yet to see a real gift guide. I've read probably 5 of them (what's wrong with me?!?!?) but all of them have very overpriced, trite or impersonal suggestions.

Yes!!!! A gift guide! I think we would all welcome your take on this topic! Plus, then all your loyal readers will know what to get you!! ;)

...or maybe a store listing for some great gift-gathering?

...or a good list of gift-alternates. Everyone I know has everything they need, so I've decided not to buy things for Christmas this year. Instead, I'm making people scarves, hanging out with old friends and trying to find charities to donate to in people's names, etc. If you can think of other good things to do, I'd love to hear them. I haven't found a good gift for my boyfriend, who really just wants a toy for Christmas.

Maybe some ideas for holiday parties too? I've been trolling FoodAndWine, FoodTV, and Epicurious sites all morning, trying to pick up festive but simple food ideas.

Your idea of a strong drink as soon as they get in is very important. Got any punch suggestions?

I would love four hours for christmas.

If someone offered to help me do something with my apartment for an afternoon - help paint my kitchen, help throw out crap i dont need, drive me to Good Will, or help sort through piles of papers, etc. - I would be forever grateful. It would be an amazing gift!

These arent things you can ask your friends to help you with but they seem so daunting when you have to go it alone. Having someone there to just push the project forward would be so cool ... much cooler than another addition to my pile of too much stuff.