Reading is sexy! This caption comes in a button, mug or t-shirt at Buyolympia.comBuy Olympia sells swag from the coolest artists in the Northwest. It's a small "pop and pop" company with a mere four employees and these guys (the owners) are dolls. They moved from Olympia Washington to Portland last year but I was buying from them for Hello long before they arrived here in PDX on trendy Mississippi Avenue.

Reading is sexy! This mug, bumpersticker and button was always a best seller at my store, we flew through them all the time. What I also like about this mug is that its BPA-free plastic made from 100% corn (not korn). This also means you can use it for kids because it won't break if it falls on the floor. Fill it with some chocolates, a book store gift card, or a handmade bookmark and you can be a proud and clever gift-giver. (And you can try and eat it when you're stranded in your snow bound cabin this winter.)

Sarah Utter has buttons, t-shits, onesies, bags and bumper stickers with sayings like : "Future Librarian, Knitting is Knotty, I Heart Public Transportation" and one of my favorite shirts that Piper wore for quite a while: "No Tattoos... Yet."

While you are there, keep in mind Sarah Utter is one of the many artists featured at BuyOlympia.com. There is a litany of cool shizz here and I could almost do a post everyday based on their site alone.

Please just try to keep in mind this holiday season - quality over quantity. Buy local and buy from real people who can really use your hard earned cash. The prices at Buy Olympia and almost any craft fair around the country are cheap compared to prices for crap you buy at the mall. Maybe you have a hybrid car and are extremely diligent about sorting your recycling but if you want to make an impact on your neighbors, buy your presents wisely and thoughtfully, please!

Super-plus-extra-fantastic-offer: Now through December 10, free shipping at BuyOlympia.com

Other great stores you can buy (online and inline) from in PDX: Reading Frenzy stocks hundreds of hard to find titles, host dozens of literary and art events every year. They publish my favorite clip art book; Crap Hound and the owner, Chloe, is a real live angel."Willpower is overrated", Stephanie Liefeld makes the most amazing variety of choclates - the best in Portland!

Black Wagon has some really unique kids clothes at Blackwagon.com. They are also located on NE Mississippi here in PDX so you visit them and then pop on over to the Buy Olympia Store, called "Land" afterwards. Tell them Nifty Living sent you.