Highlights: Store Bought and DIY Gift Guides

Are you done Christmas shopping?  I am…almost.  And to be honest, being almost done is kind of sad, because now I just want to give presents and start opening them.  I have to wait 23 more days?  That doesn’t seem fair.

Despite all my recent gift success, I have not been as successful with completing my final project for the semester.  It ate up most of my afternoon today and will continue to do so until its due date on Wednesday.  Luckily, this week’s highlights don’t need much explanation; if you’re in need of gift ideas there’s a multitude of suggestions below, both store-bought and homemade.

To shopping even easier, Chow divided their 2012 gift guide by price point and category (cookbooks, splurge, stocking stuffers).

Have a gamer in your life?  Mashable has 50 ideas for gamer gifts.

Have a big gift budget?  Food Republic has 20 food gifts to splurge on.

Ice cream is delicious, even if it’s December.  Serious Eats has a gift guide just for ice cream lovers.

Ruth Reichl is kicking off the holiday season with a multi-part gift guide.  Day 2 is reprinted vintage menus that are really cool.

Subscriptions are excellent ways to give a gift that will be enjoyed all year.  The Kitchn rounded up 5 gift subscriptions that your foodie friends might enjoy.

Apartment Therapy posted several gift guides: gifts that give back, state-themed items, photography books,

This year I’m trying to increase the number of DIY gifts I’m giving.  There are so many great ideas out there:

DIY Holiday Gifts – cookies, infused vodka, bottle cozies, candy, etc (Offbeat Home)

Six Simple Gifts to Make Between Now and Christmas – photo cubes,  personalized cards, knit items, meals in a jar, wine jam, vanilla extract (The Simple Dollar)

Simple Bites listed their 20 favorite handmade gifts, plus a recipe for maple spiced candied nuts.

The Kitchn suggests making your own tea blends, as well as a variety of ways to package gifts with personalized beer labels, cute jam packaging, and custom wax paper wrappers.