This may be hard to believe, but I don’t know what to cook for Christmas. It’s going to be a small dinner, just a few people, so we want to keep it simple. Last year, it was just Chad and me on the 25th — I cooked a simple lemon roast chicken (from Jamie’s Dinners) and we went out the movies. It was lovely! This year, we’ll be up at our country house, hoping to lure others to join us. Strangely, I don’t think my turkey craving was completely satisfied at Thanksgiving, so I may just roast a small bird. Ideally what ever we make will yield lots of leftovers that we can freeze and enjoy when the baby comes (six weeks!). When I was growing up, my Italian grandparents would often make lasagna. And when I lived in London a couple holiday seasons, I thoroughly enjoyed a pot roast with Yorkshire pudding (there’s a a menu and recipes in Domino for this I may try). I want to start a tradition, one that our growing family will be able to look forward to year after year. Tell me what your traditions are — Do you still go to relatives or do the cooking yourself? What’s on the menu? Links to recipes you love would be appreciated! — Angela M.

If you’re like us, there are still a few names on your gift buying lists to cross off. Here’s Kim B’s wish list to give you some last minute ideas. And you can always see more of her finds at her blog, All That and A.

Vilac’s Piggy Bank (I know it’s for kids, I still like it), $30.

Tea cups at Charles and Marie, $20.

Enzo Mari’s Timor perpetual desk calendar, $170.

Crispin and Basilio’s gorgeous hooded blazer, $500.

Present and Correct’s alphabet poster, $36.

Canon Pixma MP530 Office All-In-One Inkjet Photo Printer, $178.

A Le Crueset 6-piece set, $420

Stone Bath Mat at Viva Terra, $59.

See all of our contributors’ wish lists by clicking here on our giving category!

Never mind Christmas — are you ready for your New Year’s Eve festivities? Just think how great those cocktail nuts will look in this midcentury silver-and-enamel bowl, made by MEKA of Denmark. Current bid: $10 (hurry — the auction ends Wednesday evening).

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.

Contributor Leah H. had so many things on her wish list, we had to break it into two. Here’s the second half. Click here to see round one, and remember, you can always see more great finds at her blog More Ways To Waste Time

Bento Boxes, $38 each from Plastica. Because using one of these is just so much cooler than packing your lunch in leftover grocery-store bag.

En Gry og Sif Felted-Wool Floor Cushions, $113 each from Danish Bohemia. Because these look like a lot more fun than the beige ottoman we have now.

Koko Birds Plastic Floor Mat, $46 from 2Modern. Because we need something indestructible for the kitchen floor, and this just makes me happy.

Tivoli Model One, $120 at Canoe. Because we’ve been without music in the living room for too long, and this table radio/iPod dock is as great-looking as it is great-sounding.

Leaves Signe Vase by Karin Eriksson, $155 from Lille. Because white pottery with delicate hand-drawn illustration makes me weak at the knees.

Small Ita Blue Agate Trays, $55 for two from Lille. Because they’re gorgeous, and we could serve sushi on them or slip them under a trio of pillar candles.

Tepper Jackson Capri Overnighter, $109, from Flight 001. Because it’s high time I upgraded from mesh beach bags for overnight trips.

Ikebana Turquoise Throw, $200 from Designers Guild. Because it’s yummy.

iRobot 530 Roomba, $299 from Amazon. Because with two kids, two cats, and a dog that sheds like crazy, we need this.

A custom pooch portrait by Jessie Mott, $400 and up from JessieMott.com. Because our dog, Bonnie, is a beloved member of the family.

Looking for more gift ideas? of our contributors’ wish lists, including Allison, Megan, Erica and more!

Our friends over at White Elephant have offered up a special discount for you, Shelterrific readers. From now until December 20th, you can get 10% off their goods by using the code SHELTERRIFIC-BLOG-FAN at checkout! Just enter the code in the “message to seller” section during checkout, and make sure to wait for a revised invoice from them. Among the vintage treasures up you’ll find there: joyous Wooden Blocks, $13.50.

Here’s an eco-friendly wish list from our contributor, Meg Donohue. For more stylish, green living check out her blog, Style Saves the World.

Recycled Aluminum Bark Vase from VivaTerra, $110.

Contemporary World Interiors (coffee table book), $50 at amazon.com.

Organic Cotton Flannel Larch Blanket (Throw) in Grey, at 2modern.com, $72.

Embroidered Organic Cotton Napkins, $34 , at kaightshop.com

TeaPosy Teapot (20% recycled glass), $45, importika.com

Noon Solar GrayMirror Tote (Hemp/Cotton bag w/ solar panel for charging electronics), $250, from earthgirlboutique.com

Stash Organic Tea Gift Set$24.

Kobo Soy Candles, $33, at Sprout Home.

Dr. Hauschka’s Daily Body Care Kit (organic ingredients, 25% of sales goes to nonprofit Heifer Internat’l), $20.

Felt Bird Ornaments (Eco-certified felted wool), $18, from branchhome.com.

Want more Shelterrific gift ideas? Click here to see more wish lists!

Okay, celebrity confession. We love the Beckhams. Victoria just cracks us up — did you see her on Larry King the other night? — she’s actually far sweeter and smarter than all those paparazzi shots make her look. And David Beckham, well, his new Armani underwear ad sort of says it all, doesn’t it? In between all that glamour and gorgeousness they have three adorable boys, Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz. The other day we read on Babble that Posh & Becks and picked up up a $50,000 tree tent for the boys, from the Neiman Marcus Xmas catalog. Described as a new way to “experience nature,” it’s a creation of Dutch designer Dre Wapenaar. It comes with a 9-foot hardwood floor and a round mattress. But perhaps L.A.’s sexiest couple have other things in mind for their tree pod: The catalog recommends you send the kids to granny’s and use the tent yourself. Of course, $150 at R.E.I. and an air mattress could yield the same results.

We were tickled to hear that our friend Anna’s husband, Patrick Townsend, is having one of his designs sold via DWR this season: his signature String Lights, $150. They’re a replica of a set he made from objects lying around as a gift for Anna years ago when they first met (before marriage and two kiddies). This latest version is made from 19 mini bulbs and a plastic coated wire, and can be hung just about anything. Two red bulbs add just a dose of holiday humor, beaming like Ruldolph’s nose in the dark. It’s a modern holiday design that you’ll want to leave up all year long.

I am just a little stressed out that Christmas is only about a week away. We’ve been so busy with work, baby planning, and family visiting, that we have done nothing to prepare for our first holiday in our little river cottage. I know most of it (the tree, dinner, gifts) can come together last minute, and we’ll be able to snuggle down for the week and enjoy. But one thing I think we need to order ASAP are stocking holders to sit on our brick fireplace mantle. There’s no way we can stick a nail in there without doing serious damage, so the only option I can think of are those weighted, often cheezy, holiday hooks. The ones above are from the Company Store. They’re not bad, but I wish I could find something simpler, or perhaps, so kitschy it was funny. I kinda like these woodsy mammals from Cabela’s or these cutesie Snowmen with birds I found on Amazon. What would be great would be just our initials — A & C — but all the letters I’ve seen spell things like J-O-Y or N-O-E-L. Help! Anywhere else I should look? — Angela M.

Our friends at eBay tipped us off to this fun video featuring cutie eBay Design Director Shawn Henderson, who introduces the wonders of Plasti Dip! If you’ve never seen the stuff, it’s a thick rubber like “paint” that you can put on just about anything. Shawn’s suggestions including tree branches (use white for a snow like effect), the bottom of socks (instant treads!) and wine glasses. Best of all, you can buy the stuff for only $5.50 a can. Click here to watch the video and then let us know: What would you Plasti Dip?