Ready to Wrap

Dear Charlie,

The gift giving holidays are rapidly approaching and while I'm fortunate to have many wonderful friends I would like to gift, my wallet is not so fortunate. I would love to make handmade gifts but this season is flying by so I'm afraid this is not the year for crafts. Any pointers where I can get the most bang for my buck, without losing the quality of the gift would be greatly appreciated!

Ready to Wrap! Denver, CO

Ready to Wrap,

Great question, and something I'm sure a lot of us are taking note of this holiday season, given the awesome economy right now.

First off, I would set your budget. How much do you want to spend total? How much do you want to spend per person? Generally, if you get that in place, you'll avoid spur-of-the-moment presents that could end up breaking your bank account.

One of the best ways to get a lot of present for not a lot of dollars is include one main piece with a lot of small trinkets/sweets included.

Since Denver has a boatload of boutiques and retail shops (often offering great sales around Christmas), you can usually pick up unique pieces for friends or family at a lower price. A few favorites: Pandora, Common Era and True Love and Decade, both on South Broadway. If the boutique is too spendy, try Forever21 - they have great knock offs that usually run between $3-10.

Add in some chocolates (World Market has a great selection of foreign treats), some body wash (Bath and Body works offers numerous $1-3 soaps, lotions and lip chap) or something small from Target(scarf, mittens), and you'll have a nice little bag of goodies for your besties!

If you want to skip the crowds and leg work - saddle up to your computer and peruse the world wide web. Etsy.com is a favorite for home-made crafts ($1-$40) and you can usually get great deals on multimedia, books and home goods at Amazon and Overstock.com. Another bonus to buying online? You get to open your order, so it feels like a present unto itself.

Holiday Get-togethers:
- homemade cookies: cheap and fast. get some friends to help decorate - then send them off with their own plate of goodies!
- white elephant party: have everyone bring something from their home to regift! great fun and you may end up with someone really neat you wouldn't have found otherwise!
- christmas potluck: have everyone bring their favorite holiday dish and wallah! instant dinner party.

These ideas should help your gift come across as thoughtful and tailored to each of your friends. Happy shopping and best of luck!

Do you have a question? Have more shopping suggestions for Ready to Wrap? E-mail Charlie!

Pantsless in Park Slope

Dear Charlie...
Recently, I lost a little bit of weight and since then, I've found that I have an awful time finding pants. Part of the problem is I don't know what to look for. When I was heavier, all I needed was something to distract from the man-boobs (lots of loud plaids, cut-offs mid thigh, etc.), but now that I feel good, I want to look good, too.

How should I go about finding the perfect pair?

- Pantsless in Park Slope

Dear Pantsless,

First of all, kudos on the weight-loss. As everyone knows, tackling extra weight (especially around the holidays) can seem like an impossible feat.

Most people who have dropped some extra baggage often have a skewed perception of what their actual size is after carrying additional weight for so long, so it's good to get remeasured so you know what to shop for.

Check out any major retail store that offers men's apparel, and a professional should be available to accurately measure your waist, leg width/length and inseam. If the idea of someone prodding around your legs in public makes you uncomfortable, pick-up your own tape at a local Hobby/Crafts Store (Michael's, Hobby Lobby) and follow these directions.

Once you have all the numbers, you shouldn't have a problem finding your size at any of your favorite stores. If one of the measurements is off, you can always call a tailor and have them alter the pants specifically for your body at a reasonably low price. You'd be surprised at what a difference a little tailoring can make!

It also never hurts to bring a savvy ladybird with you to offer some commentary and we're pretty sure she owes you for all the times you've waited patiently for her to try on 17 different outtfits on your shopping trips. Good Luck!