(EDITOR’S NOTE:  We’re extremely happy to have Ms. Louise Du Cray with us aboard the good ship Aggressive!)

A Few Of My Favorite Things :

There’s something special about giving the perfect gift to a loved one, and seeing their eyes light up when they unwrap that weird little something they never knew they’ve always needed in their lives. Just knowing where to look can be the hardest part, so here is a handy compilation of ideas to help you get started. Why not show you care with a bird skull this holiday season? And while you’re at it, maybe a pair of dapper dinosaur socks for yourself? Go ahead – you deserve it.

Binary Winter Press.  You can hardly go wrong with any of the designs over at Binary Winter Press. Cody Vrosh’s scientific sea-life, apocalypse-ready squirrels and caffeinated coffee creatures come screen-printed on flattering shirts, high-quality ties and supersoft scarves. Come for their new line of literary-inspired ties; stay for the unmitigated awesomeness that is Nikola Tesla as Ziggy Stardust.

The Weird & Wonderful.  Everybody has at least one loved one who would be overjoyed to receive a beautifully-framed Goliath beetle or a million-year-old trilobite – so why not show you care with a bird skull this holiday season? Online natural history shop The Weird & Wonderful has a great assortment of taxidermy, fossils and antique medical devices to suit every budget and temperament. (Tender-hearted readers, do beware the ‘Wet Specimens’ collection.)

Lush.  Soap may seem like a humdrum, last-resort type of gift, but Lush has fun soaps you can mold like Play-Doh, and bath bombs shaped like robots, planets and of course, your classic cartoon bombs. I’m excited to try out their new Northern Lights bath bomb, which apparently crackles and fizzes as it changes colors in your bath and scatters little stars – I mean, we may have achieved Terminal Whimsicality here.

Sock Dreams .  Socks are one of those things that nobody really cares about as a child, but (if you’re like me) can’t get enough of as a nominal adult. Sock Dreams has every kind of sock you could ever wish for, as well as stockings, garter belts and assorted accessories. Stripey knee socks, panda socks, socks that say ‘Cheese’, tie-dyed thigh-highs, toe socks with clouds on them — seriously, more socks than you could ever dream up in a lifetime. Bonus points for those of us who have ever looked askance at a pair of so-called over-the-knees: they carry a wide range of stock for larger feet, larger calves and longer legs.

Trixie & Milo [Snake Oil Flask picture].  The slightly left-of-center designs at Trixie & Milo are so much fun, you could probably finish all your holiday shopping right here and be done with it. With coffee mug and flask designs ranging from rockabilly retro to adorably inappropriate, there’s sure to be a perfect match for every best friend, cycling buddy, quirky aunt, or lab partner on your list.