Need some last-minute gift ideas? Asian Fortune is here to help. At this time of the year, local malls and outlets are rife with shoppers scrambling for the gift of the season. Our advice: stay away, and check online. In our search, we came across a number of products also made by Asian Americans. Support your local artists and get shopping!

• Give the gift of sound. Turn your friends onto local Asian Americans, including Carol Bui (see: feature article) and Thao Nguyen. Buy at Dischord Direct, www.dischord.com, $10.

  

• Shave away those unruly strays with the help of a Life Shaver. These elegantly wrapped foaming shaving tablets are a treat for the men in your life, www.thesarutgroup.com, $3.
• Pull a Poketo out of your pocket. Poketo, the international artist collaborative, designed wallets meant to be conversation starters. Read more about the group, started by Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung. online: www.poketo.com, $20.

  

• You can’t do a friend wrong by showing up with a box of all-natural, handmade sweets from Amai Tea & Bake House. The name, “Amai,” means “sweet” in Japanese. Japan is just one of the countries that give inspiration for Amai’s international appeal. Owner\Baker Kelli Bernard and Creative Director Andrew Lin offer Tea Sweets cookies, as well as Champagne and Botanical Brownies. Buy at Dean and Deluca or www.amainyc.com, from $10 to $42.

  

• It ain’t easy going green. So, help a friend. Buy an I’m Organic Tee in a Tote, made of 100% organic cotton in a reusable cotton drawstring tote, $29.99

  

• Your jet-setting friends need a way to keep their iPods safe and clean. Purchase a Gravis Quattro Terminal, the protective cover with an edgy design; www.gravisfootwear.com, $30.

• The Nabaztag Wi-Fi Smart Rabbit can recite the weather, read news headlines and announce the arrival of e-mail. The electronically lit rabbit comes with a microphone in its belly to respond to voice commands. Buy at www.nabaztag.com, $180 or less.

  

• Hear music with heart. When you buy an iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition, Apple contributes $10 from your purchase to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa, www.apple.com/ipodnano.
• Our favorite gift this year: Buy-a-Goat! Buy a goat in your loved one’s name through the World Vision. They say, “a goat provides a family with fresh milk, cheese and added income when they sell offspring, and any extra food at the market. Our best-value, best-selling gift, every year!" http://donate.wvus.org/, $75. These life-changing gifts help families in countries abroad, such as Kenya or Haiti.

  

• Dessert Excuses Plates, Target, $17.99 You won’t need to come up with your own excuses at dessert time with these delightful plates. Set of four.

  

• “Don’t Break the Bottle” wine caddy, futurememories.com, $21.50

  

• A great conversation starter and centerpiece, this clever contraption will be sure to puzzle and amuse your guests as they struggle to free the bottle!
• Santa apron, Red Envelope, $22

  

• Stylish yet practical, this festive little number will add a touch of jolly to any holiday party.

• Heavenly Hands Gift, The Body Shop, $30 Soothe and pamper your hostess’ tired hands with this luxurious kit. Comes with Daily Hand & Nail Cream, Almond Hand Rescue Treatment, Nail Block, and Almond Conditioning Hand Wash, all in a pretty red holiday tin.

  

• Peppermint Hot Chocolate and Handcrafted Marshmallows, Williams-Sonoma, $19.50 and $18.50. This delicious combination made our mouths water. See if you don’t agree

  

• Plum blossom Japanese tea set, EnjoyingTea.com, $39.98
• Tired of winter? Serve tea in style with this elegant tea set adorned with the Japanese symbol for spring. Comes with teakettle and four matching cups

• Make Your Own Gift Basket, SplendidPalate.com, $55. Choose from 11 themed assortments of goodies for your favorite host.
• Holiday Platter with Christmas Cookies, Harry & David, $59.95. These delectable cookies come in # varieties, so there’s bound to be something for everyone.
• Festive peacock mug set, kate spade, $75. These mugs are so bright and pretty, their contents almost won’t matter. Set of four.

  

• Terry Slippers, Old Navy, $10
• Keep Mom’s feet warm this winter with these soft and comfy slippers.
• Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul, bookstores, $14.95

  

• A must-read for moms everywhere. Be forewarned, though, some of these stories are real tear-jerkers!
• Personalized calendar, shutterfly.com, $19.99. Remind Mom daily of some of your fondest memories by displaying your favorite photos on this 18-month calendar.

  

• Lavender fleece heat wrap, greenfeet.com, $26.50. Aroma and heat therapy that come in the form of a soft fleece blanket. Also doubles as a cool wrap.
• Lucky bamboo arrangement, EasternLeaf.com, $25-$45

  

• Give your mom the gift of good feng shui with a beautiful lucky bamboo arrangement! A symbol of fortune and prosperity, lucky bamboo is extremely easy to care for, even for those without a green thumb.
• Dearest Mother Reflection Frame, PersonalizationMall.com, $39.95
• Showcase your favorite photo with Mom in this lovely glass frame which can be personalized with a poem of your choice. $50 and up
• “I Love You” roses-Red Envelope, $65
• Don’t just tell Mom how much you love her orally, tell her florally! These dainty mini roses come in three square pots emblazoned with this sentiment. Available in red or pink.
• Cashmere-lined gloves, Saks Fifth Avenue, $76
• Keep Mom warm in style with these supple leather gloves lined with soft cashmere. Your choice of three colors.
• Ultimate Sea Salt Spa Gift Basket, H2O+, $95

  

• Forget the run-of-the-mill Tickle Me Elmos or Bratz Dolls. Ugly is in! Keep kids laughing with the strangely adorable Uglydolls (www.uglydolls.com). The ever-popular plush doll, created by Sun-Min Kim and David Horvath received the coveted Toy of the Year award in 2006; $20.

  

• DC’s very own Chocolate Moose store provides the sweet for your sweets. Their uncommon confections go by the pound in bulk, www.chocolatemoosedc.com.
• Do you have a camera cow? Snap and roll with this $10 machine, www.thesarutgroup.com

  

• Bring out your kid’s inner artist. The Zolo Mobile comes with 60-plus plastic bodies, wings, balls and other funky shapes. Buy at www.chiasso.com, $36.

  

• New kids on the block. Purchase a set of Soft Blocks: the plush version of its hard-knock wooden predecessors. Each decorated with a picture of an animal and letter of the alphabet, www.uncommongoods.com, $32.
• These supercute slippers are made with 100% wool felt and rubber souls; by Pia Wallen of Sweden, www.sparkability.com, $45

  

• In case you haven’t heard, Nintendo’s much-anticipated and much-hyped Wii gaming system is on the market. Just watch as your kids race Donkey Kong, snowboard, and yes, perform intensive surgery at a flick of a wrist. Virtual magic? It’s actually a motion-sensitive, handheld wireless controller. Buy at www.nintendo.com, $250.