Each year I struggle with the handmade pledge as I seek the most appropriate gift for the people on my gift giving list. This year I’m trying to take it a bit more seriously as I order items from artfire and yes, even, etsy. In some cases it’s necessary to order an item from a small business. I ordered a gift for my brother from a small online business as well as part of Christie’s gift from another small online vendor. I prefer, as in real life, to purchase from a mom and pop shop than from a big box store. This is my preference, but sometimes it doesn’t work.

Sometimes getting my brother the weirdest gift I can find requires shopping at amazon.com, after all the only place I can get him a back hair groomer is there or Wal-Mart.