Chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Jack Frost nipping at your nose, spinning the dreidel, lighting the kinara and feasting on turkey and homemade pie—some of the many qualities we all enjoy about the holiday season. However, trying to find gifts for our loved ones often makes us cringe like the Grinch on Christmas Eve. Even worse is the feeling of not knowing where to purchase your gifts. Fortunately, Oklahoma City is just 30 minutes away. If you’re willing to make the trek out of Norman, you’ll find several stores that will make your gift hunting painless and maybe even evoke a Yule-tide carol.

Blue 7

7518 N. May (OKC)

Distance from OU: 30 miles

Estimated time: 40 minutes

Blue 7 is a great place to find gifts for your young, fun and quirky friends or family. While it carries designer apparel for both men and women, what sets this boutique apart is its eccentric garb. The shop carries everything from vegan handbags and cosmetic sets to guitar pick earrings, custom-made stamped leather and vintage charm necklaces. If you’re not interested in apparel, Blue 7 has a variety of picture frames, shot glasses, lamps, books, stationary, candles and plenty of other fun novelty items. The shop’s top-sellers range from photo mobiles to soy-based candles, to a bungee card case. The store also prides itself on offering several inappropriate gift options for those hilarious and random gifts. Gift shopping at Blue 7 will definitely leave you with a smile and your gift recipients rolling on the floor. Irfan Mahmood, sociology sophomore, said Blue 7 is a one-stop shop for his gift purchasing. “No matter who I’m buying for, I can find something for everyone at Blue 7. The humorous gifts they have are great for all my guy friends and little brother, and I can get my sister jewelry or a bag she’ll actually like. Blue 7 is a lifesaver for me during the holidays.”

1 Smart Cookie

12100 N. Rockwell (OKC)

Distance from OU: 40 miles

Estimated time: 48 minutes

1 Smart Cookie is a great place to find gifts for your friends or family. Between its wonderful cookies and fanciful knickknacks, all your senses will be pleased. Although the store carries items such as candles, sculptures, designer T-shirts, tea sets, handmade baby/toddler clothing, home décor and uplifting-sayings wall plaques, the shop’s real stars are its decadent cookies. In addition to selling the cookies individually, the bakery makes cookie baskets and sells its cookie dough, so your loved ones can have gourmet cookies at their leisure. Wes Moody, a freshman from Norman, said he has bought gifts at 1 Smart Cookie a bakers-dozen of times. “Its just such a great idea to give people cookies. Everyone loves good cookies,” he said. “I think the cookie dough is a good gift, especially for my aunts and grandmother. That way they don’t always have to make cookies from scratch.”

The Makeup Bar

7646 N. Western (OKC)

Distance from OU: 29 miles

Estimated time: 36 minutes

Despite the name, The Makeup Bar is a great place to find gifts for both men and women. The shop has become the go-to place for people who want to find the most exciting cosmetic, skin care, fragrance and specialty lines available on the scene today. Buy something for the men in your life they wouldn’t buy for themselves. Great gift ideas for him include: shaving and grooming kits, fragrances, body washes and skin care regimens. For her, while the makeup bar has oodles of products, treat her to one of the boutique’s many services such as a facial or a massage. Overall, the Makeup Bar is an intoxicating beauty experience your loved ones, both men and women, will enjoy. “Everything the shop carries is such good quality but still pretty affordable if you consider the value of what your getting,” said Amanda Bradbury, a freshman from Little Axe. “Gifts from The Makeup Bar make your friends and family feel indulged and taken care of, which I love. I really enjoy buying stuff for my dad there, not just my mom, because he would never treat himself like that. Its just a great shop for gift buying.”

French Cowgirl

4514 N. Western (OKC)

Distance from OU: 26 miles

Estimated time: 34 minutes

As the boutique’s image paints, French Cowgirl is the place to find gifts for all the fun loving, sophisticated women you know. From rhinestone belts to fragrant soaps and lotions, from cheeky cards to cowhide lamp shades, this shop has got it. French Cowgirl is a great blend of refined taste and whimsy with a little bit of spunk added in. Great gift ideas from the boutique include beautiful turquoise stone jewelry sets, a hot pair of cowboy boots or a horseshoe and spur wine bottle holder. No matter what women you’re buying for, gift buying at French Cowgirl will be a honky-tonk of a time. “I’m always able to go into the store and find a completely unique gift for someone that they will love. They really do have gifts for every personality and style of person you know, which is amazing,” said Linda Skariah, microbiology senior. “The best part about shopping at French Cowgirl is that I’m always truly happy with the gifts I give to the special people in my life.”