Holy smokes! Is it that time of year already? I hope for me and my family's sake that Santa is real, otherwise December 25 2008 is going to be an unhappy occasion in my house. I'm nowhere near even starting my shopping. Fortunately, Christmas shopping in Leeds isn't such a pain.

One reason for this is that they've put on that Christkindelmarkt again which should help me find some unusual gifts instead of my run of the mill Christmas shopping. In Leeds there's nothing better than wandering around the Millennium Square with a cup of that gluhwein stuff and browsing round all the weird trinkets this place sells.  I usually also wander around the Victoria Quarter. There are so many gorgeous shops there that if I'm not careful me and my credit card may not be friends in the New Year. In fact, I may have to give all the upmarket shops a miss this year - like Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling finances are weighing heavy on my mind.

The problem is I love giving gifts, even if they're just little things, which is why stocking fillers are such a good idea.
But they can be tricky. My mum used to wrap up chocolate bars, but unwrapping a Mars bar never seems particularly festive. But at Haley and Clifford they have the perfect gifts. They've sourced a whole host of Christmas themed treats such as chocolate snowmen and Santas from the Little Chocolate Shop in Leyburn North Yorkshire.

They've also got a handmade German Gingerbread house for £11.90 as well as some festive hampers which always go down well, so much better than novelty gifts that can look a bit trashy.

At least Christmas shopping in Leeds needn't be boring. At Kirkgate Market they've got reindeer sleigh rides, how cool is that!
And at Otley they've got that great Victorian Fair again. You're invited to dress up, but I never do. I like the idea of it though, it feels like shopping in a Dickens novel, rather than just doing your Christmas shopping in Leeds.

If, and that's a big if, I manage to get everyone everything they want I may spoil myself by going to The Light. I love this shopping centre anyway, but I love it even more now that they've put on a great event for Christmas shopping in Leeds. It's called A Night of Indulgence. I know I'll end up here anyway because it's late-night shopping, but there's also a fashion show and loads of other entertainment.