I have a confession: Christmas kind of stresses me out. I'm sure it does for you, too, but I get really worked up about trying to find the right gift for the right person. Many times, if I can't make the 12/24 deadline (which is often), I just punt and get a bunch of generic-yet-desirable-gifts for everyone.

Now I know why, at some point, my mother started throwing my generic-yet-desirable-gift into a brown paper bag with a red ribbon tying it shut, as she proclaimed unapologetically, "This is the Ethel Chang style of gift wrap. Merry Christmas." Indeed.

Well, maybe this year will be different. Thank goodness, I don't have the office Secret Santa to worry about; if I do participate, I sure hope I get myself something appropriate. I still need to get gifts for some people, so I ran around town trying to find things that might at least make me look like I tried. So today, before you head out to the mall, pick up a copy of the Honolulu Advertiser and turn to my quirky little gift guide in TGIF to help you with your shopping!

Here are some things that didn't make the gift guide due to lack of space:

One of the first things I found was these beach bags at Custo Barcelona at Ala Moana Center. I thought they were funky little placemats at first since they lie flat. But our salesman, Darius, pulled them out like so and voila! Beach bags. Not only are they cool to give and get, they slide easily into envelopes so you don't have to hassle with mailing them to people if you have to. $20 small and $30 large.

For the fashion diva: The Isabelt, which you can get at In My Closet (Pearlridge and Kahala Mall). These are like the clear plastic bra straps, but for holding up your pants. Nowadays people wear their tops untucked, so such a belt helps keep the profile underneath smooth. I bought this myself and it worked, but one caveat: it's so invisible that you might forget you have it on. After using the bathroom one night, I didn't re-buckle it, and the belt hung loosely from my belt loops. Fortunately, they're so invisible that no one noticed. I think. $17.95-19.95.

For the person who wants to look like they have a green thumb: A living vase, exclusively at Whole Foods. These are stylish ways to display and grow bromeliads, which require very little effort for upkeep.

Although they look a little pricey at first glance, note that the plants are carefully planted in an attractive design in sturdy, contemporary planters.

If you want to add that bit of feng shui to your health corner but couldn’t keep the plants alive long enough to reap the benefits, this may be the answer to a prosperous new year. $44.99 to 89.99.

There’s a big movement now to buy local, and Indigenous Soaps are a cool way to fit that bill. These soaps are made in Hawaii and use natural products, so the scents include sage, mama’o, and ‘aina, to name a few. Since they’re small and lightweight, they’re probably good for sending to your friends on the mainland and help them connect to the islands. $8.50 at Blue Hawaii Lifestyle, Ala Moana.

If you know someone who brings the party with them wherever they go, these Reef men’s slippers are perfect. They come in a wide range of strap width, styles, and colors to suit every style, but get this: The underside of each slipper has a beer bottle opener. If someone is so desperate for a bottle opener that they have to carry it with them at all times, perhaps they’re partying a little too much, but maybe they like being the MacGyver of the group. (I'm thinking that reader NKHEA might like this gift, yes?)

These slippers are available in women’s styles, but instead of a bottle opener, there is a drawer in the heel. These are great for hiding your keys when you go to the beach. The drawer also doubles as a surf wax scraper, but we’re told that no one really uses that. $50.50 for men; $46 for women; available at Pipe Dreams Ala Moana & Aloha Tower Marketplace.

One of the dangers of doing this story was that I really did end up buying things. Next door at Lady Footlocker, they're selling this thing called Fit Flops, which claims to tone your legs and make them less dimply. They're probably like the Susan Boyle of footwear--and make me look like Susan Boyle as a result--but once my legs are toned and less cottage cheese-y, I'll have the last laugh.

Finally, one item that didn't make TGIF or the online version: This back massager from The Pressure Positive Company (www.pressurepositive.com). My chiropractor, Steven Rawson, was showing me how this works both as a massager or a back scratcher, and doubles as a handy pair of nunchuks. He's going to kill me when he sees this blog!

So that's the start of my quest for this year's quirky gifts. What else can I get for the people in my life that will be unique? If you have any suggestions, post them here! Preferably stuff that will fit into a brown paper bag--I'll be employing the "Ethel Chang method of gift wrapping" this year.