Feeling a little distracted from work as the atmospheric holiday insanity spins into hurricane status? Well, make yourself some cocoa, dip into the Christmas cookie stash, and take a little link break!

Baby Jesus Says, "Buy, Buy, Buy!"

What to get those pesky vegans in your life? Check out SFGate's guide to animal-product-free gift giving.

And, don't underestimate the cool-gift goldmines that are museum gift shops.

The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Seattle Times, The Economist, and Amazon.com think they know what's best for the readers on your list.

And Epicurious recommends the best cookbooks of 2004.

Still stumped? Parse through the archives at Mighty Goods. Margaret Mason has impeccable taste and a knack for finding hip and interesting items for all kinds of folks.

Or forget the whole shebang and Buy Nothing.

Make Your Own Dang Gifts, Why Dontcha?

Have your plans to make homemade gifts this year turned your kitchen into your own personal sweatshop? (Not that I would know anything about that, oh no.) Craftster blog has ideas for easy, last-minute crafted gifts.

Knitters: The winter issue of Knitty has arrived to great acclaim. There are patterns for sweaters, scarves, hats, toys, and cozies of all kinds, oh my. And who wouldn't just love to see that knitted uterus under the tree this year?

Don't know the melt-and-pour method from a cable cast-on? Superhero Andrea Scher offers fabulous suggestions as always for independent artists and DIY businesses to check out for handcrafted goodness in her Holiday Gift Guide.

Way easier to work with than construction paper and sequins: The Chronicle offers free holiday cards to download and print.

Now That's the Spirit

Sara at Going Jesus presents a different kitschy, tacky, ill-advised, or just plain ugly nativity set each day until Christmas. The mind reels.

Remember how visiting your childhood advent calendar each day for a new treat or little toy made Christmas come all the sooner? Not really? Neither will Leslie Harpold's annual online advent calendar give you a few extra shopping days, but with a new recipe or story and holiday links every day, it's a fun way to keep up that holiday mojo.

Finally, if you'll be in the Big Apple for Christmas this year (like me), do check out the Manhattan User's Guide's list of 50 things to do in NYC between now and New Year's.