sweet little gift #14: a library of ideas for your brilliant friends.

For you, my lovely readers, who read lots of different things and are so kind to read Well Hello, Chicago. While these books maybe aren't that little, I know most of us don't mind if our bag is a little heavier if it means we can travel with a book (or two). . .Here are a some great books to give in 2009. . .

For the artist or photographer in your life. This book looks so rad. The Contact Sheet, by Steve Crist. $26.37 plus shipping from Amazon.

For all of the writers you're surrounded by, because we can all always use more inspiration (plus, the title's just cool). The Paris Review Book for Planes, Trains, Elevators and Waiting Rooms.

$10.88 and up plus shipping, from Amazon.

For all of your basketball and sports admirers alike, this book is bringing sport and poetry together and shhhh, don't tell, but I think it's gonna change the world. Losing Season, by Jack Ridl. $10.88 and up, plus shipping, from Amazon.

Because now that we've all read My Life in France by Julia Child, we're left yearning for more. . .The Sweet Life in Paris: Delicious Adventures in the World's Most Glorious and Perplexing City by David Lebovitz. $16.47 and up plus shipping, from Amazon.

And finally, a children's book for the big kid in all of us, because, in the end, that's one thing that Christmas is absolutely about. Sparkle and Spin: A Book About Words by Ann Rand and Paul Rand. $10.85 plus shipping from Amazon.

And, I'd like to say that of course I'm all about supporting your local bookstore, so I'm sure many of these books are available there. I just wanted to attach the Amazon links to be thorough :)

Thanks so much for reading through all the Sweet Little Gift ideas for 2009! I had so much fun putting this together, and I'm surely sad to see it end. xo.

sweet little gift #13: the most beautiful tea in the world.

Another for you mother because she always advocates for peace not war, and calms you down when you call her freaking out, and, when you're home, she greets you with a cup of tea in the morning even when you tell her she doesn't need to make any.

$14 plus shipping, Kyoto Tea from Tay Tea

sweet little gift #12: the raddest socks you've ever seen.

For your amazing 10 year old cousin who does hip hop moves in her living room, takes train rides into NYC with her dad so that while he goes to work, she can go to a writing class, and is always finding ways to feed the world with her inner-hippie, veggie-eating queen self.

$28 plus shipping, Wovenplay Socks (grey with framboise ribbons), from Sweet William, Ltd. (note: they only have them available for ages 4 and younger, so these probably wouldn't fit her, but I couldn't help but talk about them anyway)

(found via For me, For You)

There are only two more Sweet Little Gift's left! Thanks so much for reading! xo.

sweet little gift #11: magnetic backgammon travel set.

For your man friend (yes, again) because you're traveling by plane and by train this holiday season, so this will make you feel like you're living in a cool retro film, and even though he beats you in every game you play, you love him anyway.

$12 plus shipping, Magnetic Travel Backgammon, from Restoration Hardware

sweet little gift #10: a vintage picture frame with one of your old favorite baby photos.

For your boyfriend's wonderfully sweet mother, who can hold a great conversation and listen better than most and misses her son always, but holds him very close.

$14 plus shipping & cost to print baby picture, Vintage Brass Frame, from Portugese Vintage

sweet little gift #9: a handwritten letter along with some vintage stamps.

For your friend who traded in her pink blackberry for an ordinary old cell phone, and wants to make the world a better place through bringing real letters back.

$5.50 plus shipping for stamps, in addition to stationary, 1963 Mint Stamps, from Kenmore Stamp Co.

sweet little gift #8: ballet dahlias.

For your sweetest baby cousin, Delia Mae, because she sure doesn't need anything to make her more cute, but when you see or hear the word dahlia, you think of her, and wish you lived closer so you could hug her all day long.

$14.50 plus shipping, Ballet Dahlias in 3 colors, from Emersonmade

sweet little gift #7: a rockin' wine tote.

For your friend whom with you can rock the best life chat, and who always brought wine to your dinner parties when she lived down the block, and now when you cook, you still sometimes think you can call and invite her over even though you live 1,000s of miles apart.

$12 plus shipping, Map Tote, from Velocity Art and Design

(found via Design Sponge)

sweet little gift #6: the most true to the heart t-shirt.

For your super stylish aunt who in the midst of raising 4 kids, finds time to dream about changing the world. And after having moved 7 + times with babies in tow, still calls the midwest the best home there is.

$25 plus shipping, Midwest is Best T-shirt, from Megan Lee Designs

sweet little gift #5: aloe vera shaving soap for dudes.

For your favorite man on earth who is too good for that stuff full of chemicals from a can, and who deserves to have nothing but the softest skin.

$10 (free shipping!), Mohle Aloe Vera Shaving Soap, from DWR

sweet little gift #4: a headband full of whimsy.

For your friend full of sass who is in her first year of teaching and directing lots o' plays, because if her students get to dress up all the time, why can't she celebrate with a little flair on closing night, too?

$18.50 plus shipping, Pauline Feather Headband, from kaang.

sweet little gift #3: a package of knots.

For your friend who called you last week to tell you she can't see when she looks at her ring finger because there's some bling there, so now she can celebrate by tying knots (literally).

$10 plus shipping, Knuts for Knots kit, from the Curiosity Shoppe

sweet little gift #2: a mini-vintage wallet.

For your super hip mother who spends hours walking around antique flea markets in the summer and always finds way better things than you ever could, who's also dreaming a big dream of sailing away to Paris for weeks at a time. . .

$22 plus shipping, small toffee leather French purse wallet, from pinguim.

sweet little gift #1: a teeny tiny 2010 calendar.

For your friend who sits at her desk all day while in the back of her mind dreams inspiring dreams, plans trips with you, and has the best ideas for festivities with you and your friends. . .

$16 plus shipping, from kitty roger's etsy shop.

sweet little gifts.

I'm not going to do too much in the way of Christmas gifting this year due to a tight budget and starting to pay back grad school loans in December, eeps! Besides that, Johnny and I are traveling to NYC for the holidays so we're telling ourselves our real gift is going to be spending time together in one of our favorite places. Furthermore, what I DO bring to gift has to be small, since we'll be living out of a suitcase for 12 + days. . .

With this in mind, I'll be posting tiny little gifts for giant-hearted people throughout the week. Please stay tuned. . .

P.S. The focus is not "on the cheap"; instead, the focus is on gifts that support good businesses, causes, the environment, the handmade movement, and most of all, love. xo.

photo via East Side Bride