The above photo was taken at the 5 Under 35 shindig thrown by the National Book Foundation, and shows me talking to the brilliant and currently Parisian writer Dinaw Mengestu. BUT REALLY it shows my sparkly and wonderful Ban.do, which got me thinking, perhaps I should tell you what to buy for other people.

1. Hair Accessories

I am physically incapable of doing anything zippy with my hair itself, so I am forced to rely on outfits like Ban.do, which make glorious and funny little jobbies for you to clip into your hair. They always make me feel glamorous, and people love to talk about them, and when Maira Kalman came to BookCourt, she took a picture of me wearing one, so there's that.

2. Books

This is an obvious one, but here are some books I've read recently that are perfect gifts for anyone with a sense of joie de vivre: Rosamond Bernier's Some of My Lives, Grace Bonney's Design Sponge at Home, or maybe just the first 300 books published by NYRB classics, if you're feeling flush.

3. Sweets

Madison, Wisconsin's premier chocolatier (yes, there are several, and she really is the best) Gail Ambrosius ships anywhere.

4. Hope for the Next Generation

A donation to Girls Write Now in the name of someone you love is always chic, always fits, and will make you look both erudite and philanthropic.

That should get you started. More as the month progresses, and I spend more and more time fantasy-shopping online.

love and presents,

Emma