Christmas Wrapping
By Val Porter

Christmas really is a great time of year. No, not the hustle and bustle and the retailers beginning their holiday assault before Halloween. I truly enjoy the gift-giving part of Christmas. I've always loved coming up with ideas for great gifts and I'm not above going to 15 stores to find it if I have to. But gift-giving can put a lot of pressure on you. So I'll offer some tips that I try to follow this time of year.

If your significant other likes sports, that makes things really easy. I gave my fiancé an authentic Troy Polamalu jersey for Christmas two years ago. He bragged to his buddies and wears it almost every Sunday. I've been scouring the internet looking for something just as good this year. But I'm keeping that one under my hat.

Tickets to a game or concert always make great gifts. And if you're lucky, they'll take you along.

Cologne or perfume is too cliché, unless it's specifically asked for. I made the mistake of giving my fiancé cologne that I liked. He never wears it. So sometimes I just open the bottle and sniff it.

If you have a boozer on your gift list, that always makes things easy. A nice bottle of Boones Farm or George Dickel goes over big!

I've received some great gifts over the years. When I was a kid, my parents gave me golf clubs. I used them once. But the fact that I had something that no other girl in the fourth grade had made it an awesome gift!

My brothers also gave me a Los Angeles Rams Jack Youngblood jersey when I was about the same age. I loved that too.

Over the years, I've been given an autographed Sidney Crosby jersey, miniature Stanley Cups and cases of Mt. Dew, which I drink like water, so that worked for me.

I've also gotten some bad gifts over the years…knick-knacks I would never buy for myself from family members who barely know me. But it is the thought that counts, so I'm always appreciative.

Here's my advice. If you're stuck trying to think of a gift for someone and you can't come up with something unique, buy him or her a grocery store gift card. Everyone buys groceries. It might not be exciting, but it's practical and useful and I'd take one as a gift any day!

If they have pets, trust me, they can always use a gift card from a pet store. I told my fiancé we should register at a pet store for our wedding because we spend so much money on our two dogs its ridiculous.

Oh, I've given some bad gifts over the years too. But it was intentional. Once I gave a vegetable steamer to a boyfriend that I really didn't like that much anymore. And yes, it was to send a message.

And that's what you should remember as you do your shopping. Whatever you give, it sends a message. It might be "you could use some exercise," "I really don't know anything about you," "I know you wouldn't buy this for yourself but you could really use it," or the ultimate: "I love you and I really want you to have this."

Happy Holidays.