With all of the tree trimming, cookie baking and partygoing, there is so much to do during the holidays that it's easy to leave shopping for Christmas presents until the last minute. But by then, the malls and chain stores are usually chaotic and the mere thought of battling crowds is exhausting. Here are some ideas for easy gifts that can be bought locally and require little stress: Go to The Perfect Thing or Marcel's Culinary Experience (in Glen Ellyn) and pick out some pretty bathroom soaps with a matching towel and soap stand for teachers, relatives and neighbors. Go to Bruss Landscaping…

Whether it's to thank them for a job well done or apologize for your child's behavior, teachers should be high on everyone's holiday shopping list. Here are some fun, unique and practical gifts that will help show your child's teacher how much you appreciate them and the job they do.  Homemade Gifts     Making a homemade gift from the heart is always a special way to show someone you care, so this year, get the kids involved with original holiday recipe books written out by your children. Or how about homemade hot chocolate packets and let the kids decorate the packages? Helpful tip: include …

If you need to buy a little something extra for a daughter-in-law, niece, daughter, girlfriend, friend or someone else, here are a few easy ideas. 1. Smart Touch (texting) Gloves Everyone loses gloves, so they're a perfect gift. Smart touch gloves have tech-friendly fingertips that allow for touchscreen phone use. They are sold all over the place and range in price. Target has individual pairs and packs of three, ranging from $7.49 to $16.99.  2. Jewelry (not the pricey kind) Here are some accessories that would make great gifts: stella & dot accessories: This brand is huge with celebrities. …

This could be any guy—a boyfriend, husband, brother, grandfather or, in my case, dad. He has everything he needs and gets what he wants, making him the most difficult person to shop for on holidays. We've tried buying nice things—clothes (some he's even picked out), an iPod he still thinks is broken (he just doesn't really know how to use it, and prefers the box speakers from '94), a watch I haven't seen in years—none seemed to work.  So I started listening a little closer (gee, what a concept) to comments like, "My pillowcases are getting kind of ratty," or, "I've been meaning to print the …