This holiday season, it’s all about being a conscious consumer. Shop at Ten Thousand Villages and you are gifting not only to your recipient, but to the global community as well. All items sold here are unique, handmade and fair trade, and the shop’s mission is to create a better livelihood for tens of thousands of artisans in 38 countries. If you purchase a gift here, you can rest assured that part of the money you spend will go toward food, education, housing and health care for these artisans who would otherwise be deprived. An added bonus: Ten Thousand Villages urges all artisans to use environmentally friendly processes and sustainable resources wherever possible.
Ten Thousand Villages, Cotswold Village Shops. 300 S. Sharon Amity Road, (704) 365-0010

For the Boys:
The Sony Bravia 3.1 Home Theater Soundbar Speaker System with Subwoofer provides an excellent solution for the uptown apartment dweller who likes it loud. You can give the gift of surround sound, without having your giftee lose his or her rental deposit to the landlord for butchering the apartment walls while hanging speakers. This sleek little Soundbar gives the same effect, minus the damage and excess equipment.
www.bestbuy.com. Best Buy, Midtown. 1055 Metropolitan Ave., (704) 333-1032. $299.99

Auto Wall Art – Turn Your Favorite Automotive Photo into a Work of Canvas Art. Snap a photo of your man’s other baby and turn it into a work of art custom-made for him to admire. Take it one step further: Get your booty in the pic and strike a sexy pose. Cars + chicks = happy hubby. No one ever said men were complicated.
www.autowallart.com/, $89-$470

Instant. Foosball. Tabletop Game. If you need more incentive than this, the hours of joy that this simple little wonder will provide are sure to last far beyond the holiday season. Wrap up a six pack of your man’s favorite beer as an added bonus.
Paper Skyscraper, Dilworth. 330 East Blvd., (704) 333-7130. $29.95

Perfect for Mom or the Woman in Your Life:
Heather Moore Framed Charm Necklaces
Custom design a necklace for your honey, with charms bearing your anniversary date or children’s names and birthdays etched in them. Stick to classic silver, make it a silver/gold two-tone, or bling it out with diamonds and sapphires – the possibilities are infinite. Order a charm for each child and craft a gorgeous necklace for Wifey, an elegant gift that won’t break the bank – unless of course you’ve got eight kids, and your baby mama is a diva. But, then again, you’d probably have your own reality show, and could use the money you withdrew from your joint account to foot the bill.
www.heathermoorejewelry.com. $35-$675 and up

Ballet Flats or SwitchFlops by Lindsay Phillips. This is one of those products that will have you repeatedly smacking yourself on the forehead for not inventing it yourself. One shoe, endless possibilities. Now you can give your spouse more prime closet real estate, or simply free up some room for even more shoes.
The Beehive, uptown. Ballet flats: $64, individual snaps: $12; SwitchFlops: $35, individual straps: $12

Spoil your sweetie with a piece of jewelry from Butterfly Jewelry & Treasures, like this bracelet – a stunning faux druze quartz in jewel and earth tones, with dark metal. All of the pieces in this boutique are hand selected and one-of-a-kind. It’s the perfect spot to find accessories that are bold, dramatic and sparkly, just like your lady love.
Butterfly Jewelry & Treasures, uptown. 2 Bank of America Plaza, 101 S. Tryon St., (704) 375-0000. $44.50

For the Kiddies:
Stumped on what to get the little one in your life? Try the “Tickle Me” plant, the potted wonder that moves when you tickle it. Guaranteed to fascinate the kiddies and, by default, is sure to provide hours of entertainment and awe for your stoner cousin. Just be sure to confiscate any matches so no one attempts to smoke this thing.
www.ticklemeplant.com/, Growing Kit, $10.99

Keep your favorite little monkey’s head warm with this adorable Crocheted Mouse Hat, found at Shanalogic.com. The super soft, thick yarn guarantees itch-free wear, and each hat has been crocheted and designed with love by indie artists.
www.shanalogic.com, $35

Experience Gifts:
Stumped on what to get the foodies in your life? Squash the boring idea of yet another cookbook, and sign them up for one of the Chef’s Choice Recreational Cooking Classes at Johnson & Wales University for a hands-on experience with the pros. Select a one-time class you know they’d enjoy, such as “Making the Perfect Pizza” or “Cajun Classics,” or simply purchase a gift certificate so they can choose a class that best suits them. You can even please the wino on your list this year: sign them up for the “Wine & Dine Cocktail Party,” where they can enjoy a multi-station sampling buffet, with gourmet treats paired with specially selected wine. They can get right down to business – no cooking required!
www.jwu.edu/chefschoice/clt “Making the Perfect Pizza,” $125; “Cajun Classics,” $140; “Wine & Dine Cocktail Party,” $135

You were so happy for your BFF when she got engaged. But when you went out that night to Suite to celebrate, you realized that she and her soon-to-be together create a monster with four left feet. It’s your duty as a friend to not let them stumble on their big day: Sign them up for dance classes at Fred Astaire Dance Studio. A “Newcomer’s Package” will get them started with three 25-minute private lessons, one 45-minute group lesson, and one one-hour practice session, all for $50. You’ll be able to breathe a sigh of relief and guiltlessly enjoy your cocktail when they share their first dance.
www.fredastairecharlotte.com; Dance Studio: 2520 N. Sharon Amity Road, (704) 536-6070. Newcomer’s Package, $50

Help your honey relax with a massage at the Wellness Center in the new Ritz-Carlton. Choose from treatments such as Reflexology, Southern Hot Stone, and the Ritz-Carlton Signature to loosen her up after the holidays. Be sure to get her there 30 minutes prior, so she can unwind in the lounge before the appointment.
The Spa at the Ritz-Carlton, uptown. 201 E. Trade St., (704) 547-2244. Massages, $35-$350

Listen up, Sugar Daddies: Want to impress your sweetie and her girls? Treat them to a night at Polished Nail Bar & Spa. They can have their nails done and sip on cocktails while they unwind from holiday shopping and gush about how cute and thoughtful you are. The geniuses at Polished offer a spa atmosphere and feature different drinks every night, which guarantees a chic and fun experience no matter what day you set the appointment. I’d personally opt for a Wednesday – because nothing goes better with a mani/pedi than some seriously good sangria. www.ipolished.com, two locations. South End: 2041-F South Blvd., (704) 954-0004. Meyers Park: 605 Providence Road, (704) 375-3488. Mani/pedi $35.

Your sister loves knitting funky scarves and handcrafting her own jewelry, and everyone she comes across is lining up for orders. But too bad her silly day job keeps her from having the time and money to start her own business. Give the creative one in your family a little push by setting her up with her own personal e-store on Etsy.com, the place to “buy and sell all things handmade.” Here she can easily create her own “storefront,” manage her shop, and network with other artists, all without the painful business startup fees. The folks at Etsy also provide you with your very own URL, eliminating the cost of building a Web site.
www.etsy.com

For the Decoratively Challenged:
What’s better than takeout sushi? Eating your takeout sushi while relaxing on sushi pillows, of course. These cozy cushions, available at Shanalogic.com, are a great gift for the sushi lover with eccentric style and a sense of humor. Choose from “Salmon Nagiri,” “Shrimp Ebi” or “California Roll” – but get them while they’re hot (or cold)! These are made by indie artists, and supplies are limited.
shanalogic.com, “Salmon Nagiri” and “California Roll” pillow, $52 each; “Shrimp Ebi” pillow, $56

Black Forest Cuckoo Clock. You may be all mod in your swanky uptown apartment, but you’re never too cool for a cuckoo clock. This sleek and classy take on an old staple will bring some charm and character to your pad.
www.momastore.org, $450

Know someone who’s stumped when it comes to decorating his space? Gift them the “Designer For a Day” two-day package from Sensibly Chic Interior Designs. A designer will spend the first day helping him assess his space and figure out what his needs are, and the second day taking him out shopping, introducing him to the best places for bargains on home décor.
www.sensiblychic.biz/OurServices.asp

For the Hostess:
The folks over at Thymes have managed to capture everything magical about the holiday season and turned it into a line of scented products called “Frasier Fir.” Between candles, diffusers, room sprays, hand soaps and even cleaning spritzes, your friend and her guests will fall in love with this aromatic and addictive scent – so convincing, no one will ever know her tree is fake.
Paper Skyscraper, Dilworth.  Prices vary based on product.

Help the hostess keep the conversation flowing at her shindigs with these “Chat Plates” from MoMA. Quirky and cute, these could also make for a fun game of “guess what I’m thinking,” especially after guests have greased themselves up on too much eggnog.
www.momastore.org, $48 for set of three

Entertaining is a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it. Introduce your host to Poo-pourri, a new spray from an Austin, Texas-based company that you leave in your bathroom for guests to spritz into the bowl before they do their…business. As the shelf-talker boasts: “You make it a rule not to invite party poopers to your shindigs. But everyone has a crappy day from time to time.”
The Beehive, uptown. 2 oz. $11.98, 4 oz. $16.98

The hilarious book “I Like You,” by Amy Sedaris, is the bible for the person who loves entertaining, sans the “uptight” feel. Take a cue from Amy on how to throw a great dinner party while keeping the mood light and messing with your guests at the same time, a la sticking marbles in your medicine cabinet to embarrass the snoop.
Park Road Books, Park Road Shopping Center. 4139 Park Road, (704) 525-9239. $15.99

Stocking Stuffers & Gag Gifts:
Wanna freak out your loved ones? Tuck one of these Plush Microbes in their stockings; the stuffed “animals” look like tiny microbes, only a million times their actual size. Choose from cutesy characters such as The Common Cold, Mad Cow Disease, and Herpes – because nothing says Happy Holidays like the gift that keeps on giving.
Paper Skyscraper, Dilworth. $7.95

Shake things up a bit this year: Stuff these Peppermint Pecker Mints in your friends’ stockings in place of a boring old candy cane. Why, you ask? Well, why not?
Paper Skyscraper, Dilworth. $6.95

For the Drinker:
Uncle Freddie hates anything that comes close to diluting his drink. Even though he likes it cold, he doesn’t need pesky things like ice cubes sucking up his precious whiskey. Offer him a solution with Whiskey Stones, soapstone cubes that stay cold for hours without diluting. Just pop them into the freezer for a few hours before use, in between the hard liquor and TV dinners.
Paper Skyscraper, Dilworth. $19.95

~ Ali Salvatore