It's almost that time of year again--"The Holidays"--and whether you celebrate Christmas (the cultural or the religious variety), Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, Pancha Ganapati, or any other lovely holiday that I've neglected to mention, gifts are probably involved. In my opinion friends, it's time to get your craft on!Crafting gifts expresses care, makes a smaller impact on our world and our wallets, and just generally makes a person feel hygge. How does crafting promote soulcare?

Whether the feminists in your life celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza, or you just want to give them a little token to show them how much you appreciate their friendship/love, there are tons of great gifts out there. Here are a few of my favorites:

OK, all you beloved BlogHer Lurkers, time to come out and show us who you are in an easy way. And you Regular BlogHer gals,come on in and join! I have listed 5 Holiday questions. Just copy the appropriate 5 into your Comment and type your answer under each question. Show us your holiday self! I have included two memes – one for Hannukah,. One for Christmas. I've answered mine at the bottom just to get you all started. CHRISTMAS MEME 1.Real tree or artificial or treeless? Any special traditions with the tree? 2. Eggnog or Cider or Mulled Wine?

Hanukkah is called “The Festival of Lights”, and is a happy holiday in the Jewish tradition. It is considered among the smaller holidays. It does celebrate a powerful experience, however, the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after it had been seized and defiled by the Hellenic Syrians in 165 BCE. The word Hanukkah means “dedication”.) The story:

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

With eight days of celebration, I sense that Hanukkah must have a relaxed feeling, filled with both tradition and tradition-breaking. Here's a sampling from the food blogs.

When the editors at BlogHer asked me to put together a gift guide for Hanukkah, I was a little taken aback. After all, my child’s Hanukkah list probably looks a lot like any other kid’s wish list. She wants the same toys, books and electronics as her friends, and has the same clothing needs. As for me, I think jewelry is an appropriate gift for any holiday.

Nearing this winter holiday season when stores sell more toys than at any other time of year and during a year when we've heard so much about dangers like lead paint in toys, I've been wondering where can parents find safe toys? Do you wonder the same? Parent News at The Pikes Peak Gazette, a newspaper serving Colorado Springs, Co., offers a standard tip to parents with toy-safety concerns this year:

Our species uses music and dance to express various feelings: love, joy, comfort, ceremony, knowledge and friendship. - Daniel J. Levitin "Dancing in the Seats" The New York Times Now that it has been scientifically proven that shaking one's booty to the groove is healthy for us humans, music should be at the top of gift lists everywhere.  Here then is a guide to some ways to bring the gift of musical comfort and joy to the lives of your loved ones.

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