The Last Minute List

It’s getting a little crazy out there, folks. Crazy, crazy. I haven’t been in any shopping malls, but even the grocery stores are feeling a little panicked. People are staring down at shopping lists with furrowed brows. Have we gotten everything? What are we forgetting? You can feel the stress in the air.

“They do realize stores will be reopening on the 26th?” I joked with a checkout clerk this week. People were shopping like the apocalypse was coming.

“I think they forget,” he deadpanned back.

In case you are one of those people who are stressing about gifts not yet bought, I wanted to put together a last minute list. These are all great ideas—cool experiences that might open up someone’s world in neat and creative ways. They’re all things I would love myself. And they’re all things you can purchase over the computer or the phone, today or tomorrow. No shopping malls involved! So here we go, for those last minute presents—for someone else, or for yourself.

Mondo Beyondo—I’ve mentioned it here before, but I’ve loved the Mondo Beyondo course run by Andrea Scher and Jennifer Lemen. It’s a six-week online class devoted to clarifying and perusing your dreams. That might sound airy-fairy, but I like to think of it as empowering and inspiring. I’ve taken the class twice and have loved the community support and  guidance and examples set by Andrea and Jen (both of whom I’ve gotten to know over the last few years). I love the idea of giving this to someone who might not be entirely satisfied in their current life path, and I think doing this in January (their next class date) is a wonderful way to start a new year. Right now, if you leave a comment on Andrea’s site, you can get $20 off the class.

Superhero Photo—If Mondo Beyondo wasn’t cool enough, this year Andrea started another online workshop, devoted to photography. It’s called Superhero Photo, and while I haven’t taken this one I really want to. Again this is a six-week online course starting in January (creativity in the new year, yay!). It’s aimed at all levels and you don’t need a fancy camera. Andrea writes: “In this course we will find ourselves in that sweet spot where creativity, play and aliveness intersect.” That sounds pretty great to me.

Slice of Life Photo Course—My friend Darrah Parker runs another online photography class that might be more your speed (and starts in February, which might be better for your schedule). Slice of Life focuses on capturing the beauty in your everyday life. It’s not about technical photo mumbo-jumbo, more about developing your eye and your confidence. There’s also a discount on the class if you register before the end of December. Darrah is a sweet and supportive soul, and would make a wonderful guide into a more regular photography practice.

Rachel Cole’s Well-Fed Woman Retreatshop—more on the life-expansion side of things, Rachel Cole, who is a colleague become friend, guide, and inspiration to me, is taking her show on the road and leading mini retreat-workshops in cities around the country. I’ll be telling you more about Rachel in the new year, because she really is a wonderful teacher and coach, but if someone in your life, or even yourself, is looking for a dose of support, guidance, and inspiration in finding what it is that feeds your soul, this would be the best experiential gift I can think of.

Teahouse Studio—Have you heard about Teahouse Studio? If you happen to live in the Bay Area, you should know about this new treasure, opened by a trio of artists as a place for dreaming, community, and creativity. They’re offering a series of classes and workshops and I want to take them all. They are also offering gift certificates. This is a wonderful resource, and some of their offerings may be worth traveling for. What a great vacation—sunny California, art, creativity, cool people. Where do I sign up for that?

Omnivore Books—I’ve told you of this gorgeous cookbook store in San Francisco that I love so much I want to install a comfy sofa and move right in. Guess what, they also offer gift certificates and—even better— a signed cookbook club. Four times a year they will send out a carefully selected signed new release cookbook to the recipient of your choice. What a fun gift that keeps on giving all year round. You can purchase it through their website.

The Book Larder—I haven’t told you about The Book Larder yet, but I will soon. It’s the brand new and utterly delightful cookbook store here in Seattle. I might truly move in here, because they have a demonstration kitchen (so all that’s missing is a bed and desk for me). The kitchen is important, because it allows them to offer cooking classes, both with visiting chefs and cookbook authors, and also with local cooking teachers. You can buy tickets to classes and events online.

The Pantry at Delancey—Another Seattle resource you’ll be hearing more about, The Pantry at Delancey is the new offshoot from Delancey the restaurant. It’s a community kitchen that offers cooking classes, special dinners, and hard-to-find ingredients and kitchen items for sale as well. If you’re looking for a gift for a food-lover in Seattle, they offer class registrations online, and you can buy gift certificates as well. It could be a very delicious new year.

That’s it folks. Here’s to exciting new adventures and opportunities in the New Year.

And if you’re looking for little stocking stuffers or Hannukah gifts for friends and family who like to cook, here is my foodie gift guide from last year: Small, Cheap, Useful. I really love presents you’ll actually end up using.

Stay sane out there, friends. As I told the UPS guy who dropped off a package this morning: “Hang in there. It’s almost over.”