I am not a sweaty shopper. I like to leisurely stew on the gifts I will give, not elbow and shove and sweat my way through my holiday lists. Besides, it can't be good karma to give something I wrestled out of the arms of another in a fit of retail rage. Today, while others plow through crowds, I will test drive a possible gift option––the British mini-series Lost in Austen. I'm an Austen lover myself, and so this story of a Jane Austen fanatic who magically swaps places with Elizabeth Bennet, the heroine of Pride & Prejudice, will be cozy company on this Black Friday ... and hopefully a great gift, too.

The teenager's need for fashion and fun is often said to transcend economic downturns, but a recent retail survey found that teens are cutting back on spending as their parents tighten their purse strings. This might be a good time to talk to teens about saving money, and what better way to casually prompt the conversation than with the sly gift of a Poketo Artist wallet. This cool line of limited edition wallets is designed by emerging artists and illustrators, and the arresting designs will hopefully encourage thoughtful spending. Don't forget to add a dollar for good luck!

Do kids even give teachers apples anymore? Most of the teachers I know get chocolates or "#1 Teacher" mugs, though some have very aggressive class moms who arrange designer handbags as class gifts. (Knew I should have been a teacher). I really like the idea of returning to the simple charm of the un-designer apple, and because I know NYC teachers don't get much of a break to actually eat apples, I'm thinking an Apple Tree-to-Be Kit, with everything you need to successfully grow an apple tree, might be a better alternative.

My aunty Bernie once said "never trust a man who doesn't drink." She offered this as my uncle Brian was singing out on the front lawn, fresh from Lissycasey pub. This advice conflicted with my mother's instructions to "never trust a man who drinks," and my neighbor's "never trust a man" warning. I'm not sure who's right, but to keep the men in my life trustworthy and drinking (water), I will be gifting safe BPA-free stainless steel water bottles this year. Earthlust has such a cool selection of reusable bottles that the advice I may settle on is, "never trust anyone who doesn't drink out of an Earthlust bottle!"

I used to sit in a cubicle, or rather "officle," right by the water cooler, and I hated that people felt obliged to stop for a chat while they drank their water at my sliding door. However bad I had it, I felt worse for my poor neighbors who had not slept with enough bosses to secure a sliding door yet, so they didn't even get the token knock before the unwelcome entry. This cubicle doorbell, with twelve volume-adjustable sounds, from ray gun to kitten and doorbell, is just the thing to put manners on your coworkers!