Could you use a little gift-giving advice this time of year? I figured as much, so I thought I would share some of my time-honored tricks and traditions that are sure to help you this holiday season: • A couple years ago, my brother and I were sitting somewhere when we both turned to each other at the exact same moment and blurted out, “How about we stop giving each other Christmas presents … FOREVER!” It was probably during a drunken fight, but with a quick handshake we cemented the most brilliant holiday tradition ever imagined: the “brother I love you, but ain’t buying you nothing for Christmas” tradition. It’s a way of getting back to the reason for the season, and eliminating at least one person from the shopping list. It works for us and might just work for you. • Speaking of booze, if you need holiday gifts for family, friends and even co-workers, making your own alcoholic beverages can be a real hit. A couple years back I learned how to make Kahlua from my barber. (Listen, if you’re not learning stuff like this during your haircut, find another place for a trim.) Anyway, she made kahlua brownies and I managed to mooch one or two. I walked out of that barbershop stinkin’ drunk and not minding a bit my new Mohawk. Since that fateful day I’ve been making my own liqueurs for Christmas — first kahlua, and last year my own version of Bailey’s Irish Cream. … Continue reading Holiday Gift Giving 101