There are so many wonderful places where you can fulfill your holiday gift-giving needs. In the spirit of the season, I’m sharing my favorites with you. If you’re on my list (the gift-giving list, not the shit-list) and you’ve been reading this, please act surprised when you open your present(s).

As you’ve probably noticed, I’m not a big fan of mass-market, no personality crap. Not to sound like Martha Stewart, but I’ve found that there are so many wonderful small businesses, independent artisans, and out of the way places that are just chock full of delightful goodies. High on my list this year is the National Capital Poison Center. T-shirts. Magnets. Stickers. All bearing the festive (and educational) face of Mister Yuck. What could be better?

As your guide to good taste, I’ve decided to begin to compile a holiday gift guide. If you have a lot of cash to blow, I suggest starting with handmade Christmas ornaments from wolfsnare. The note on their site reads “I’ve always had the greatest repsect for the tradition of Christmas, and I’m confident that these treasures will not reflect that sentiment in the least.” Can’t beat that kind of goodwill, not even with a stick. wolfsnare’s Santa.