Ohmigod!!! There are only 10 shopping days until Christmas!! Are you freaking out? If not, way to go. If you are, here are seven tips to make your holiday shopping easier and more enjoyable.

1. Avoid the malls. The malls scare the crap out of me this time of year. Not because of gun toting maniacs (although that is horrible, of course) but because of the parking lots. The mall parking lots are icy, slushy killing fields full of pissed off, frustrated people who just want to go home. It’s a recipe for disaster, or at least a fender bender.

2. Shop outside. There’s just something about fresh air, a little snow and twinkly lights that bring out of the magic of the season.

3. Shop online. Although lots of sites’ shipping deadlines are looming, it’s still not too late. This year, I expect many etailers to do things like automatically upgrade you to express shipping (for free!) the week before Christmas. So take advantage of their generosity.

4. Embrace the line. It’s Christmas and stores are busy. If you insist on shopping at busy times, you’re going to run into lines. You shouldn’t be shocked or pissed off about this. Find a trashy magazine, balance your checkbook or talk to the people around you. Don’t stand there fuming about the line.

5. If you’re going to stand there fuming about the line, then I must insist that you consider doing your shopping on Sunday nights. No one shops on Sunday nights. Seriously. You will miss out on The Amazing Race, but life is full of tough choices, no?

6. Spend less. There’s nothing worse than running around a bunch of stores trying to find something, anything (hey, like the Todd Rundgren reference?) they’ll want just because you need to spend a certain amount of money. Guess what? You don’t have to do this. If anyone really cares how much you spent on them, then you should probably reconsider gifting them at all (unless they’re family – then you’re stuck).

7. Have a cocktail. Nothing makes the shopping experience more enjoyable than taking a break and mulling your lists over a hot toddy, salty margarita or nice, cold beer.