One of the most pleasant and unique gifts Windy City Times ever received was a package of four frozen gourmet meals that could be delivered at any time. Home Bistro ( www.homebistro.com ) provides such an opportunity for you to treat someone else in the same fashion. Either you or the recipient can select from a cornucopia of items: appetizers, soups, dinners and/or desserts ) . ( Examples of entrees are wild mushroom ravioli with marsala wine sauce and shrimp scampi. ) It's even OK if someone is watching his or her figure; Home Bistro also has an array of low-carb and low-fat offerings.
Spa products from Gayot.com ( see the site www.gayot.com/lifestyle/spa/spaproducts.html ) will help anyone become all that he or she can be, whether it's Hamadi Shea Spray for frizzy hair, Plantagen pedicure products or vegan lip balms. In addition, the site has info on getaways as varied as couples massages and even wine spas.
A gift certificate for a salon isn't a bad idea, either—especially if your relative/friend/significant other has been complaining about his or her hair for months. Places such as Andersonville's Karma ( 1750 W. Balmoral; 773-334-5191 ) , Lakeview's Flashes ( 3740 N. Broadway; 773-472-3355 ) and Boystown's Milios ( www.milioshairsalon.com ) will help anyone's hair look good, and the employees are blessedly unpretentious.
You can just look at all the images showcased at AllPosters.com ( www.allposters.com ) and be entranced—so imagine how hard it is to actually whittle your choices down to a couple items.
If you know someone who hasn't seen the floors in his apartment since he moved in, consider getting him a cleaning service ( at least for a little while ) . McMaid Chicago ( www.mcmaidchicago.com ) will provide a free quote and even provide weekend service. Snappy Maids ( www.snappymaids.net ) , co-owned by lesbian Betty Tsamis and her brother Gus, provides standard cleaning services but also works with pre-screened professionals regarding everything from nanny services to pet grooming.
Shirts Illustrated ( www.shirtsillustrated.com ) , located in Boystown, lets you customize T-shirts, hats and the like. You can't order on the Web site; it is a tool to let you design and come up with ideas. You then e-mail or fax your idea to the company. ( However, don't fret if you can't come up with something creative; you can also purchase pre-printed items. )
Your pets don't know that there's no Santa ( at least as far as we know ) , so Parkview Pet Supplies ( 5358 N. Broadway; 773-561-0001 ) has what you need for Fido or Budgie. You can get toys ( as cheaply as 39 cents ) as well as furniture, foods and other items. Plus, the store's even open on Christmas Eve for that last-minute shopping.
For your friends who are parents of toddlers ( or who are expecting little bundles of joy ) , Wry Baby ( www.wrybaby.com ) is the perfect place to go. This site has everything from The New Dad Kit to T-shirts that read 'I Love My Moms.' Just make sure you get the right item—you don't want a little girl to receive a shirt with 'Someday I'll have a hairy chest' on it.