Have you finished your Christmas shopping? I can honestly answer: No. Rushing around the last minute to find gifts can be exciting, but when the weather is working against you, it can also be a pain. And if you’re lost for ideas on what to get that special person (or what to get that person who randomly sprang a gift on you), fret not.

Here are a few ideas that are fairly cheap and quick.

For the eco-friendly: Reusable tote bag. I’ve written about them before and I’m sure this won’t be the last time they appear in my blog. Tote bags are practical and becoming a necessity in today’s shopping world. Check out Lucky mag’s online tote guide for some ideas before heading to the store.      

For a couple: Restaurant gift certificate. Everyone likes going out to eat. Check out recent restaurant reviews on the Encore Web site. For a bonus gift, if the couple has kids, volunteer to baby-sit while they enjoy their night out.

For those always on the go: Coffee gift certificates. If you know someone who’s constantly running around, chances are that person uses caffeine to fuel his or her energy. So help them gas up by stopping by their favorite coffee spot.

For the sentimental: Pics with frames or a CD mix?. Buy a multiphoto frame and dig out old photo albums with pictures of you and your friend, relative, etc. Or you can compile your friend’s favorite songs from 2007 and burn a CD.

For the partiers: Shot glass gift sets (and a bottle of their favorite drink). Big Lots has great, reasonably priced drink sets (minus the alcohol). Some of the sets are themed, including ones with playing card motifs and pool table items.

If these ideas don’t work, then check out the Sunday business section for more ideas and feel free to post your own ideas below.

And if all else fails, there’s always the old tie and candle standby.

For the past week, I've been soaking up the sun in Charleston, S.C. The beach, 80 degrees and a bikini are my perfect idea of winter.

With all the warm weather, it's hard to remember that Christmas is right around the corner. And when you're on a trip, it's hard to avoid buying all the touristy junk that ends up burried in the back of closets never to see the light of day again (no one needs a magnet, keychain, add your own useless item in here, etc. with the name of a city on it).

While I was in Charleston though, I stopped into a thrift store to scour for some good finds and walked out with a slew of Christmas gifts.

Thrift stores are a great place to find used items in great shape. And the more you visit, the more you can find.

To support local churches, check out the Grey Nuns Thift Shop at 25 Marshall St. in Nashua or First Church and Pilgrim Church also have shops you should check out.

For good charitable causes check out Goodwill in Nashua at 55 High St. or the Salvation Army at the same spot or at 217 W. Hollis St.

Feel free to post other thrift stores in the comments below.

When I mention the infamous wolf sweater, just about any employee at The Telegraph instantly knows what I’m talking about. This is the type of sweater that could win an ugly sweater contest. It is also the type of sweater that can inspire an ugly sweater contest.

For those loyal paper readers, you know which contest I’m talking about. For those of you who are a little less than loyal, The Telegraph is sponsoring a Christmas sweater contest.

The paper is asking readers to submit photos of you or your friends and family wearing your best (or worst) Christmas sweater. You know, the kind with elves, snowmen and Santa on them. (Maybe we can issue bonus points for a wolf like this one below.)

Send as many photos as you like, but make sure to include the names of people in the photos or else the photos will not be considered for the contest. Sorry, Telegraph employees and their relatives are not eligible.

Photos can be sent to lifestyles editor Deidre Ashe at dashe@nashuatelegraph.com or The Telegraph, c/o Christmas Sweater Contest, P.O. Box 1008, Nashua, NH 03061. Include your name, address and phone number with the photos. The deadline is 5 p.m. on Dec. 14.

One person will be chosen at random to win a prize package and will be contacted on Dec. 17. The photos will appear in the paper on Dec. 18.

In the words of our EA, “Everyone has at least one Christmas sweater.” And although I can disprove that theory, I’m sure even some of the top fashionistas have a sweater buried in the back of their closets. So dig ’em out and you just may win something fun in time for the holidays.

That’s not your Rice Krispies talking to you. It’s your skin screaming out for help now that winter is here.

Don’t worry though. Cracked elbows and hands and itchy skin can be defeated if you spend enough time moisturizing. There are several new products out on the market but some of the old ones shouldn’t be forgotten either.

Here are my favorites:

• Nivea soft: This formula is non greasy and leaves your skin super soft. It retails between $6 and $7 and can be found at most drug stores, including CVS, Wal-Mart and Walgreens, or it can be bought online at Drugstore.com.

• The Body Shop body butter and body scrub: I have yet to find a body butter that matches the ones from this store. They are super hydrating, and unlike most body butters, they don’t leave your skin feeling greasy. Technically, body scrub isn’t a moisturizer, but half the secret to soft skin is good exfoliation and the scrubs at The Body Shop have oils in them for bonus hydration.

Both the butter and the scrubs also come in yummy scents. These are a little pricier – the mini butters and scrubs retail for $10 and the larger versions retail for $20 – but you can always try your hand at bidding on the items on eBay. If you don’t mind coughing up the extra cash, there is a Body Shop store in the Pheasant Lane Mall.

• Vaseline Cocoa Butter Vitalizing Gel Body Oil: That’s a mouthful. I’ve never used oil as part of my moisturizing routine until I saw an ad for this one this year. Like the others, it leaves your skin super soft, but there is some grease to contend with when you apply it.

I would recommend using this on days when you have a little extra time to spend in the buff before getting dressed. That way, it has some extra time to absorb. It also leaves the faint scent of cocoa butter behind, which is a great reminder of summer on the coldest of winter days. Vaseline products can be found at most grocery and drug stores or online at Drugstore.com or Amazon.com. It retails for about $7.

Here are two I plan to try before the winter’s over:

• Dove Pro-Age Body Cream Oil: I love the idea of this line, offering skin protection and exfoliation all in one. It retails for about $7 and can be found at most drugstores and grocery stores.

By the way, Dove is giving away a free (you pay S&H) tote that is quite cute if you buy $15 worth of products. Here’s more information. Hurry because the offer runs out at the end of this year.

• Olay Body Age Transform Body Creme Serum: This line also claims to fight the five signs of body aging using vitamin C, green tea and grape seed extracts. It retails for about $7 as well and can also be found at most drugstores and grocery stores.

Feel free to post comments about any of your favorites.