<a rel="attachment wp-att-3775" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=3775"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3775" title="Dwelling Spaces" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/DSC08083.jpg" alt="Dwelling Spaces" width="480" height="640" /></a>

For the second time ever here at TashaDoesTulsa.com, coverage of things to do in this city during November and December will be peppered with un-sucky, hyper-local ways to spend your holiday gift money. It's a a part of a little thing called the TDT Holiday Gift Guide.

I'm often asked why I harp on this shop local thing all the time. I have lots of reasons, but I haven't yet been able to package them like they are in this video released today by <a href="http://www.shoptulsa.org/">ShopTulsa, a movement that is taking hold in this city in an effort to highlight why this shop local thing is so important</a>.

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So when you give a gift that's purchased in Tulsa - and yes, any gift that's purchased within the city limit counts, even if it's a pink Snuggie for Grandma that you found on sale at the Wal-Mart at 71st and Memorial - you're also giving the gift of better public services and safety.

And as much as we've been complaining about them lately, Lord knows we Tulsans could use a shot in the arm in the public services and safety departments.

I'll be the first to admit that when you're not in the habit of shopping local, the transition can leave you feeling like a little kid lost in the middle of a crowded mall. It's that "I know what I want but I don't know where to go to get it and I'm cold and alone and I kinda have to pee" sort of feeling. It's not an enjoyable sensation, to say the least.

While there's no Amazon.com-like entite that puts all the gift shopping that's available to you within the city limits in one spot and at one time and accessible from that cushy new mousepad of yours, you have a pretty good chance of getting a good lay of the land if you start hanging around here at TDT and at ShopTulsa.org.

ShopTulsa looks to help you connect with stores and products that can be found within the Tulsa city limits - we're talking everything from Black Optical on Brookside to Walgreens at 31st and Garnett. If buying a gift there will help to light our highways at night, you'll find it at ShopTulsa.org.

Here at TDT you're going to find the showcase of must-have gifts available at Tulsa's locally owned shops and boutiques that you've come to expect out of this crazy little corner of the web. Expect to find little Tulsa-centric somethings for everyone, from that cousin of yours with the t-shirt addiction to the boss who drinks $2,500 Cognac on Tuesdays at lunch to the neighbors dog that once ate an entire bag of dryer lint out of your garbage can.

My advice? You'll definitely want to get something nice for the dog.

You'll also find hyper-local gift lists curated by local celebrities here at TDT. And that's a little something you're not gonna be able to find anywhere else, mostly because I made the celebrity curators sign on lots of dotted lines that I drew on a series of Post-It notes.

The multi-colored kind. In the swirl shape. Those are so cool. Of course, my mother would never buy them for me, but that's another story for another day.

Wanna know something else you're gonna find here at TDT during the 2010 Holiday Gift Guide season? A special deal for those of you who just can't get excited about driving anywhere or shopping in an actual store. A special deal for those of you who like things delivered in pretty boxes straight to your door. A special deal for those of you who have always had kind of a thing for the delivery guy/gal.

You know who you are. And let me just tell you, this is a special deal to get excited about.

But I can't give you the details now. You'll just have to get your shopping money ready and stay tuned for more.