Gift Guide: Crap! I need another present!

It happens to the best of us.  You get invited to a party last-minute, or you hear that Cousin Barney WILL be at Christmas this year and not backpacking through Argentina.  Suddenly, you need another gift!  No matter how organized you are or how early you start shopping (August!), the sneaky final present can still catch you off guard.

Here are some ideas to save you from potential awkwardness.

Can I just mention how great it is that grocery stores sell flowers?  If you're going to a party, you could bring some for the hostess.  This particular (large) bouquet is $16.99 from Whole Foods.  If there's not one of those by you, Trader Joe's has festive bouquets starting at about $8.99.  Also, Home Depot isn't a grocery store, but they sell poinsettias in several colors for $6.99.

Glass mugs are neutral enough to work for just about anybody.  Pair a couple with a package of a favorite drink and you're all set.  16 oz. mugs from Crate & Barrel, $3.95 each.

Everybody loves candy, and Harry & David has a "stocking" that you can fill with 5 items of your choosing. (No Moose Munch, unfortunately.)  $20.

And last but not least, it's hard to go wrong with an ornament.  Because if somebody is celebrating Christmas, I bet they have a Christmas tree.  This one is Crate & Barrel's updated version of mistletoe, $7.95.

What do you do for a last-minute gift?  Have you ever NOT had one when you really needed it?