Last year, Kate (my colleague and daughter, for those of you who are new) convinced me to do a gift guide. As she said then, I'm more of an anytime, "just because" kind of gifter; I know in theory that holiday season is coming, but that fact doesn't have tremendous bearing on my gift-giving life. That said, I'm glad we did because a) people seemed to enjoy it and b) it was kind of fun to stand around my kitchen and decide which things I actually like (and would be happy to get/give as a gift).