Consider these clutches. With one fun exception, they’re under $20 a bag, which makes it far more likely that you’ll have enough cash leftover to fund your evening. Excellent.

Happy New Year, Sweets! You look smashing.

Angie and Lola Clutch with Zippers

$34.99

Target Velvet Large Bow Clutch

$15

Moss Sup Co Black Port Hole Frame

$17

Merona Split Box Clutch

$13

Xhilaration Patent Hinge Clutch Black

$10

Leather Checkbook Clutch

$14

Target Cinched Clutch

$17

And if you’re worried that a gift card isn’t personal enough, have no fear. There are plenty of ways to add a personal touch to any gift card. Check out what Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching did to add her special touch to this Target gift card:

Use Your Imagination – Imaginations are a terrible thing to waste, especially for young minds.  From dress up to play kitchens and baby dolls to magic wands, toys that allow kids to live in a world of their own creation.   The best part is that you can find toys of all price ranges and for all interests.  Some of my personal favorites are small sized kitchen utensils, capes (for super heroes or princesses), and hats.  

No Batteries Required – Not only will you save on the cost of battery replacement, but you may also save some of your sanity.  Puzzles, blocks, Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys and Lego’s are some of my favorites.  They all foster imagination, promote fine motor skills and a number of important preschooler skills.  They are also all fun to play with for both kids and parents.  

Favorite Things – Every toddler has an obsession of the day.  My daughter has an Elmo obsession, and a thing for cows, monkeys and fish.  Finding something special that relates to what they love most is a great way to find the perfect gift.  Even better if it relates in an unexpected way like a toy banana to go with the monkey or a trip to see their favorite thing in person.  

The Theme – Most parent wants to get their kids everything they desire.  Sometimes though you need a little help.  The theme gift is a fun way to get a big effect without doing it all yourself.  I will admit that I stole this idea from my sister-in-law.  My niece got a wonderful toy kitchen from her parents and the rest of us filled it with all of the supplies.  From dishes to pots and pans and in my case a couple of aprons, we helped make it the full package.  I liked the idea so much we’re doing the same thing this year.  

The best gifts are always the ones that are given with love.  No matter how much they cost, or where they come from.  Having been a kid during the last recession, I can safely say that I never noticed that money was tight.  I was just happy that someone thought of me and for the time I had with the people who loved me.  

Amelia McClain is the City Editor of Being Savvy Minneapolis and writes about life as a full time working parent of a toddler at her blogAmelia Sprout.

I prefer things that will look good with a simple bow, so I don’t have to worry about wrapping while I’m frantically throwing my outfit together. I often buy food — favorites include Stonehouse Lisbon Lemon Olive Oil, Poco Dolce chocolate tiles, lavender salt, or Mighty Leaf teas, but I also like to have a few more shelf-stable items on hand.

Aqua Scoop Ice Cream Scoop

$12

Pop by a convenience store on your way over, and pick up a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. Then tie a big bow around the scoop and the ice cream in the car. Voila!

Perfect-Cube Ice Trays

$15

My friend Melissa told me about these trays, and now I’m telling everyone I know. They make perfectly square cubes that are so easy to pop out of the trays, even once the tequila kicks in.

Soy Candle

$7

If you’re living your life well, you can never have enough candles. Classic, useful, and these are even on sale. The trifecta!

Vellum Lampshades Set of 3

$13

Speaking of candles, these little vellum lampshades turn any wine glass into an insta-votive.

Danesco Porcelain Salt Pig with Spoon

$14

Salt pigs are so useful, and almost no one has them in The States. You keep them next to your stove, so you can throw in a pinch of salt or two while you’re cooking. This one comes with a spoon, which I’d probably chuck. If you don’t have a salt pig, order one for yourself too, you’ll use it constantly.

Pretty good for the price of a bottle of wine, no? Order a few to keep in your closet, and you’ll be surprised how often they come in handy. You, my dear, are crazy thoughtful.

I am having the pronounced urge these days to detox from all things electronic, battery-operated, or otherwise backlit. And that goes for my holiday shopping list too.

No doubt Nate would be thrilled with anything with the letters PS and the number 3 in front of it, and my daughters go nutty for demonic dolls imbedded with voice chips that activate when you’re least expecting it. But still, I think there’s something to be said for the good old-fashioned fun found in a classic board game.

I think fondly of the game night we had in my family as a kid, long before there was such a thing as Game Night. We all convened around the big glass coffee table, set up the board, and played until it was well past bedtime while the hot chocolate flowed. As I recall, we never once complained that we were missing some TV show or that our Atari was calling; we were having way too much fun. Unless of course we were playing Monopoly, in which case my dad and my brother always ganged up on me and bankrupted me within like four seconds, then refused to loan me a single white, crinkly dollar bill so that I could stay in the game. Tears ensued.

This is like three years ago, by the way. Monopoly in my house is not pretty.

I’m hoping the friends and family on my list is feeling the same sort of unplugged nostalgia because some of their gifts are going to reflect it this year. Here are a few that I’ve got my eye on:

*If you don’t have a good game of Scrabble (with all tiles still intact) you can’t even begin to call yourself a game-player. Scrabble just came out with a
Deluxe 60th Edition Game although I really am getting all excited and twitchy about the Premier Wood Edition. I’m loving the prospect of sitting down to play an actual game with an actual person, and not some stranger on Facebook who’s claiming to take a phone call while checking his cheating dictionary.

*There is no better $5 gift for a child than Candyland, with Chutes and Ladders a close second. $5! Really! Kids as little as two will enjoy moving their pieces around on the board and playing with the cards, even if they’re too young to really understand the rules. Did I mention $5?

*Okay so Operation doesn’t entirely live up to the no-batteries requirement, but I still love the low-tech fabulosity and the $10 price tag. Kids will love it provided they don’t lose all the pieces under the couch and try feeding the adam’s apple to the dog.

*If your kids are already tic tac toe masters,
Connect 4 is the next logical step. It’s also awesome in that you get to say “Pretty sneaky, sis” every time you release all the checkers, and no one under 30 will have any idea what you’re talking about. That’s okay – just keep doing it. It will be our little secret.

*I didn’t actually discover dominos until I met the inlaws, who were serious domino junkies. Now, I count myself among them. A really nice set packaged in a beautiful burled wooden box makes an original family gift or hostess gift, and will last a whole lot longer than the fruit basket. Similarly, a beautiful backgammon set feels somehow indulgent. Especially when it’s only a backgammon set, and not some multi-game deelio that flips over to become a checkerboard.

*Do you know how hard it is to find just regular old Monopoly? You have to weed through shelves of Bass Fishing Monopoly, Elvis Monopoly, Fantasy Baseball Special Edition Monopoly, Disney Villains Monopoly, the Olsen Twins Goes Shopping on Upper Bleecker Street Monopoly…you only think I’m exaggerating. Traditionalists (like me) will appreciate the time that you take to track down the classic. The new library edition of Monopoly hasn’t changed a bit from your own youth, except that it’s packaged in a more bookshelf-friendly box. To be honest, it’s about time that someone figured out how completely annoying it is trying to fit those old board games on your regular bookshelves.

*Finally, I have to give a shout-out to Risk, which is not only the best ever rainy day killer, it’s also the reason I know how to find Afghanistan on a map. Be warned: It’s definitely not for sore losers. When your opponent is on the verge of world domination, it’s way too easy to slap your hand down on the board and say, “oops!” as all the teeny little armies go flying everywhere. Not that I’d know of such things.

So what am I missing? What are your favorite classic games that I should be adding to my list? And were there any games that made you cry as a kid (or a sensitive adult) or is that just me?

With all the holiday parties on the calendar comes the constant need for simple, affordable and unique hostess gifts. There seem to always be a few standards – bottles of wine, plants, some kind of holiday snack – but why not give something that can be cool and practical? Why not give the hostess with the mostess some … coast-ess? Er…. coasters.

Coasters can be an incredibly useful and unexpected gift, and you can even break them out and use them at the party right when you give them! Here are some you can keep on hand that will suit a variety of hostess personalities and styles.

These Estate Coasters are great for a hostess with a more traditional style. I love that outside of their wooden holder, they look very vintage.

If your hostess has a more modern flair, try these sleek stainless steel coasters.

These photo coasters would work for any hostess, and you can score some bonus points by printing special pictures and inserting them in the coasters before you wrap them up to give.

The crafty gal in me is in love with this set of felt “placemath” coasters. The colors and designs are all kinds of cool, and I love the graphic quality of the mathematic symbols.

Finally, for the music-loving friends, try these Pink Floyd or Beatles coasters.

With all the holiday shopping and planning and general running around, we could all use some fun. Toys aren’t just for kids!

Give mini-marshmallow shooters and Nerf blasters, and the whole family (or the whole office) can run around having a good time. Part of the gift is the time you’ll spend together having fun! If it’s warm enough where you live, get a Super Soaker for the kids and let them water the plants while they play. A Christmas morning home laser tag game is a good way to burn some calories. Do you need any more practical excuses to have fun?

Click on each image to find out more.

I’m not sure why gifts of money get such a bad rap — they’re written off as impersonal; tacky, even. But, for school-age kids to young adults, there’s nothing simpler or more practical. Think of it as a universal gift card, redeemable anywhere, including the bank.

I’ve decided to adopt the same tradition for my nieces and nephews. Everyone’s getting checks from now on. No more haphazardly chosen toys they don’t need. No more wasteful shipping and packaging. And (bonus!) no more last-minute shopping.

Which is not to say gifts of money have to be 100% utilitarian. With a little extra effort, you can turn your cash gift into something more memorable:

Think homemade. If you’re crafty, the world’s your oyster, but even if you’re not, you’ve got plenty of options. A little knitted ornament? A handmade card or box? An “envelope” stitched from a fabric scrap? A small tin of cookies? A few homemade gift labels?

Think humorous. My mother-in-law and I have come up with the silly tradition of giving each other cards that feature ridiculous dog pictures. Heather suggests including a list of crazy ideas for what the money could be used for. What about a hand-lettered collection of your favorite holiday jokes? Or: an annual pair of tacky holiday-themed socks.

Think personal. Include a few photos from shared special occasions to remind the giftee of good times spent together.

Think educational. Tuck the check inside the front cover of a book that teaches basic money management. For kids, consider Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace, Jr.: Teaching Kids About Money!. For young adults, try Please Send Money: A Financial Survival Guide for Young Adults on Their Own by Dara Duguay.

How do you add a personal touch to your gifts of money?

Don’t scramble when your coworker pops in with a bottle of wine or your neighbor drops off a basket of fruit. This season you will be prepared. This season you’ll be ready. This season you won’t break the bank.

Pick up a few of these excellent little gifts, wrap them up, clear out some space in your front hall closet and suddenly you’re not only gracious, you are a genius.

Short White Kira Vase $14.99

Pomegranate and Fig Candle $13.99

John Derian Poinsettia Disc

Bird T-Lite Holder $7.99

Birds On Ribbon Ornament $2.99

Red Tealight Set $12.99

John Derian Card Suits Coaster Set $12.99

Small Mirrored Star $9.99

Pine Votive Holder 3-Piece Set $12.74

Botanical Kissing Ball $9.99

I’ve been steadily doing my Christmas shopping, and am happy with some little nuggets I’ve found while shopping online. My list is slowly dwindling, and I’m feeling the nice holiday buzz that comes from knowing I won’t have to rush around like a madwoman for the next 30 days.

My boy loves sharks and is obsessed with Jaws, which makes perfect sense on a cattle ranch, don’t you think? He’s going to love this shark-themed “archeological” dig, which will eventually unearth a huge shark jaw and make a total mess of my kitchen floor…but who’s counting?

Oh, man. Can anyone guess who this is? It’s Goliath, which my baby (well, he’s four) is going to love since he’s seriously obsessed with the David and Goliath tale from the big book. An old testament action figure? How cool is THAT? But…is Goliath actually…smiling? He never struck me as the smiling type.

My nine-year-old daughter is neat, tidy, and loves nothing more than to have a project that requires her to use her hands in some creative way. She also meticulously marks days off the This scrapbooking kit will allow her to create her own 18-month calendar. This’ll keep her out of trouble for at least a couple of weeks!

Finally, for my oldest child, my firstborn, my eleven-year-old girl, who’s not only 5’6” and already wears a larger shoe size than me, but who’s also gone from pink-loving little girl to discriminating sophisticate (well, sorta) overnight, there’s this awesome bedding:

How awesome can bedding get, I ask you?

I’m thinking I could do all the kids’ bedrooms in this theme.

Think my boys would go for it?

Nah. I didn’t think so.