Last-minute shopping: Christmas will self-destruct in 5, 4, 3...

In just a few short hours, you will admire Aunt Edith’s aluminum Christmas Tree. You’ll secretly feed her cat, Mr. Whiskers, chunks of fruitcake under the table and silently disapprove of your sister’s boyfriend, the one with the spike through his nose.

But wait, you still don’t have presents, do you? Don’t panic. You have options. Here are some suggestions to load your Santa sack, just in the nick of time:

For your mom
Hit Target for a nice picture frame. Dig through your old scrapbooks for a silly personal photo. Remember when you got soaked on the Disney World water ride and it looked like you wet your pants? Frame it up. She’ll love the memory.

For your nephew
If anyone will appreciate the cold, impersonal feel of a gift card, it’s the cold, impersonal teenager in your life. Don’t try to buy him a Miley Cyrus CD. He’ll think you’re a hopeless nerd. Get him a gift card instead. Several Web sites, like Amazon.com, Restaurant.com, and Barnesandnoble.com offer gift cards you can e-mail or print instantly.

For your boss
In these difficult times, nothing says you care like a straight-up bottle of booze. Visit your local grocery store for some nice wine. Package it in a decorative wine bag with ribbon. To really suck up, throw in a miniature box of Godiva chocolates.

For your sister
Be honest. You have five unwrapped bubble bath-sachet-candle gift sets under the sink from this year’s white elephant parties. Dust one off and let it ride.

For the random person you probably forget existed until dinner
Don’t knock the drug stores. Many are open late and full of weird, wonderful gizmos. Think water filter, garden gnome or Designer Imposter perfume. Aunt Edith will love some Lady Stetson.

~ Deal Diva Stephanie

Photo: Keanu makes it out alive in the last second! Times files.