I attended a jewelry party last week and the hostess had set out a card reading Only 14 Shopping Days Until Christmas! Uh, what? Her reasoning is that most of us don't have time to do any shopping during the week and we wait until the weekend. There were 14 weekend shopping days until Christmas. Now there are 12. No matter what winter holiday you are shopping for, it's time to start thinking about what we're going to buy and for whom. You can't go wrong with a mobile device: it's portable, it's techy (which usually means it's sexy), and it's handy.

What to get that deeply geeky special someone? Yes, we geekettes can be quite particular about our entertainments and enjoyments. What to do? Here are some possible tips: Geeky t-shirt Most people won't get it, and that's the point, isn't it? Cafe Press has quite an assortment. Price: $23.99

If you've got a history lover on your holiday list, the blogosphere has a lot of great suggestions for gifts, priced for any budget. Here's a top ten list of good ideas, including with some of my own:

In our family, I have involved my kids in fundraising activities from the time they were old enough to walk.  Whether I'm raising money for Cambodia or Creative Commons, I try to include them in some way.  We have dinner table discussions on why it is important to support causes, particularly programs in Cambodia like the Sharing Foundation.  My kids have posed for photos in t-shirts, emptied their piggy banks, helped me make fundraising videos, contributed clothing or other items to drives at school, and have attended lots of fund raising events.

I have a confession: I haven't started my Christmas shopping yet. I know! Can you believe it? But I've been thinking quite a bit about shopping, particularly how you can work Black Friday, which is the traditional start of the Christmas holiday season (do you hear that, retailers who started playing carols in the stores on NOVEMBER 1?). Are you ready to shop? Let's talk strategy.

Even the most organized traveler, that person in your life who seems able to pack and go in absolute comfort every single time doesn't have it all. Just yesterday, my darling husband handed me a purple silk bundle that contained a super handy travel item: A silk sleeping bag liner, a double, even, for those romantic camping weekends. With that in mind, here's a list of a few thing that travelers can't have enough of, don't know they need, or won't spoil themselves on because they're saving their pennies for that next big adventure. For travelers in transit:

‘Tis the season to treat the ones we love to a little something-something that will bring a smile to their face – or a WOW to their lips. If you’ve got a film buff on your list, you’re in luck. I’ve got a great list of gift ideas to help you bring a little movie magic to your favorite fan of the silver screen.

As I might have mentioned, my life for the last few weeks has been focused on the holidays. Holiday food, holiday traditions and of course, holiday shopping. It's just one big holiday around here, wooo holidays! Since I have been thinking so much about the holidays while working at BlogHer, I have a pretty good jump on my holiday shopping list. Nice, eh?

Christmas is coming, and if you're like me, you are wracking your brains for interesting and unusual gifts for family and friends and teachers and co-workers and possibly a little something to reward yourself for all that wracking. You deserve it, you know. If you are REALLY like me, you are also praying for a shopping alternative that does not require braving the mall or a series of chain stores. Yes? Then I have the answer for you: the on-line auction.

Don't want to spend your Saturday afternoon battling shoppers at the mall?  Neither do I.  Beat the crowds and uncover some great finds online--for everyone on your list.  Now, who are you shopping for?

It's that time of year again; peace on earth, good will toward man, and shopping as a marathon sport. Right? Not necessarily.