It’s the boxes, wrapping and tissue paper, bags, ribbon, and seemingly endless amounts of tape.It’s the holiday season.But compared to the actual gift-buying process, wrapping presents can seem like a simple task. Picking out holiday gifts for family and friends doesn’t have to be difficult — even simple gifts can be creative and thoughtful. Here’s a list of Technician-approved gifts (including where you can find some steals) that you can find in the Triangle.For the fledgling [writer/designer/engineer/artist]: Moleskine notebooks are a staple among those who want to get serious about writing, design, engineering or art. The brand was used by Hemingway, Picasso and Chawtin, among other famous artists. Plus, it’s sturdy and you can individualize the cover with pictures, drawings or magazine clippings. Throw in a good pen and you’ve got a gift any creative mind would enjoy.For the photographer: Vintage cameras like the Kodak Brownie can be a good addition to the collection of a friend who doesn’t go anywhere without his camera. The cameras can be either in working form, or just used for decoration. You can find this kind, along with many other brands of vintage cameras, in second-hand stores like Father & Son’s. Most prices range from $15 to $45. For the one who’s always complaining about her hair: Salons carry products for almost all hair styles, so take advantage of that selection. Bring a picture of your friend — concentrating on her hair — to a local salon and have the employees recommend products to tame, de-frizz or straighten.For the history buff: This one can be difficult, especially if you’re buying for someone who reads a lot. However, some bookstores carry obscure but interesting non-fiction options most history fiends won’t already have in their bookshelves. Spice up the gift with something unusual, like this figurine of writer Oscar Wilde, $10.

For the one who almost has everything: Think accessories, especially hand-made ones like this scarf from an Asheville boutique. For the one who has everything: Don’t spend money on something your friend already has, or something similar to it. Donate any money you were going to use on a gift to charities or to organizations that reduce one’s carbon footprint by planting a tree or buying carbon offsets. Oxfam America creates “lasting solutions to global poverty, hunger and social injustice” by donating items like cows, school desks and water jugs. For the environmentalist: Eco-friendly items — books about, how-to guides, clothes and notebooks — are exploding more than ever this year. Pair an exploratory non-fiction book with a how-to guide, or with an organic shirt. If you want to branch out, try a solar-powered robot or a portable charger that converts solar power to iPod or phone power.For the logophile: Three words: Scrabble to go. This miniature version of the board game will have word fans praying for a few popular consonants. This one, for $14, is at Restoration Hardware.For your mother: It’s kind of a sad fact, but many jewelry stores are going through hard times as the economy is weak and people are spending less money. This means, however, that these stores are basically giving their products away. These freshwater pearl earrings were $15 at Whitehall Jewelers at Crabtree Valley Mall. The store, which is going out of business, is selling almost all of its jewelry for 70 to 80 percent off. Surprise your mother by foregoing the typical jewelry box and putting it in this box, $12 from Restoration Hardware.For the caffeine addict who’s always running out of money: Gift certificates to coffee shops (Global Village sells some) always help people in need — rather, in need of coffee on a consistent basis.