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Having trouble brainstorming gift ideas for your friends this Christmas (besides those fall-back presents of perfume, gloves, or the much-loved yet overrated coupon book)? Well, here are 13 creative gifts that will let your friend know how much you appreciate her.

1. One of your favorite books. Write in the front why you liked this book, what it meant in your life, and why you think she'll enjoy it.
2. Museum passes. She can play tourist in her own town.
3. Hand-stirred, fragrant soap. The Enterprising Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that provides life-skills development to impoverished women in Chicago, produces an extensive line of natural soaps available in various scents. For a holiday catalog, call 1-800-818-6158 or check out their Web site at www.theenterprisingkitchen.org.
4. Board games. Be sure to set a date when you can challenge her to a rousing game of Pictionary—preferably after the holidays!
5. Take her out for coffee—your treat—and just listen. No interrupting, no planned responses to her statements, no advice! Simply listen.
6. A photo tree. With its base and arms to hold photos, you can display shared snapshots of you and your friend, other happy times, or even Christmas cards. Plus she can constantly change them—every woman's prerogative!
7. Have a cow, man! Or a yak, or a water buffalo, or a goat—your pick. You can help people around the world by purchasing in your friend's name practical items such as animals, wheelchairs, food, or medical supplies. Contact Christian organizations such as The Heifer Project (1-800-698-2511; www.heifer.org), World Relief (1-800-535-5433; www.worldrelief.org), or World Vision (1-800-777-5777; www.worldvision.org) for special holiday catalogs.
8. "Splurging" gift certificates. Not the fast-food restaurant kind—the Crabtree & Evelyn or Starbucks kind. The she'd-never-purchase-this-for-herself-but-her-friend-would kind!
9. A day-spa certificate for her choice of pampering. This is, of course, something you'd need to do with her! There's nothing like a manicure or pedicure to help your friend forget the toys strewn throughout her family room.
10. Your cleaning services. Is your friend hosting a party and panicking because she has too much to do? Show up on her doorstep with scrubbing bubbles and rags for you, plus a bottle of aspirin and a giant-sized chocolate bar for her. She'll name her next child after you!
11. A Friendship Ball. This elegant silver ball ornament designed for passing favors back and forth between friends was created by Alda Ellis, founder of Alda's Forever. Or check out her Friendship for the Cure™ ball that she created in memory of her mom, whom she lost to breast cancer, which contains a body puff bath sponge, a bar of almond soap, and a reminder card for monthly breast self-exams. Call 1-800-253-7627 for a retailer in your area.

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November/December 2000, Vol. 22, No. 6, Page 104

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