Finding the Perfect Holiday Gift Baskets

These basket ideas can be used in gift exchanges, or for Secret Santas, as donations to charities or charity auctions. They're also perfect for family and friends!

Relax Basket: Start with a generic basket big enough to hold your goodies. I find mine either at Wal Mart, or Ross's Dress for Less. Start with a big plush towel, or bath robe in a neutral color (or if you're giving to someone specific make it their favorite color). Try white, blues, or greens. You can roll the towel, or use it almost like you would tissue paper, laying it in the bottom and draping it over the side. Next add soothing bath salts, or oil in a complementary color. Put in a bath poof, or a luxurious washcloth.

Add a foot soak, or a face mask. I like to buy them in the sample sized, perfect for one application. Add slippers, a soothing sounds CD, and a good book. Make sure that all are in the same color family, or at least complementary colors. If your basket has a handle tie a thick silky ribbon to it, or if it has no handle tie it around the basket with bow facing out. This gift is perfect for a frazzled friend, or relative! And its generic enough that it can be used in a gift exchange.

Movie Basket: Start with a big plastic popcorn bowl, you might even shop around and find one of those red and white striped pop corn boxes! Start with a comfy couch throw, I find the ones at Wal Mart for about $6 each. Add two or three DVDs, appropriate to whoever will be receiving the gift. Throw in some gourmet popcorn along with some flavor shakers. You might also include a Blockbuster gift card for $10-$15. Add some bottled sodas, and a few big boxes of classic movie candy like Red Vines or Snow Caps and you're good to go! Great for the movie buffs in your life!

Book Lover's Basket: Start with a big basket, layer a comfy blanket in the bottom and add three to five books. Try not to re-gift books unless they are in mint condition, otherwise hit Barnes and Nobles, or Half Price Books for some steals. To make the gift more put together stay in one genre, all romance, all mystery, or all from the same author. Better yet find a series and put the first couple of books in! Add a unique bookmark, a pretty mug and a few packets of hot cocoa mix! Again, add a gorgeous ribbon and you're set! Perfect for young adults, or any age book worm you might know!

Gamer's Basket: Start with a basket, and layer bright tissue paper in the bottom, spread out over the top of the basket. Start with an extra controller (for whatever system the giftee has) and add a cool new game or two. Throw in a gift card to their favorite electronics store, and top off with a few sports drinks in neon colors. This is perfect for the young (and not so young) gamers in your life.

Baking Basket: Start with, that's right, a basket! Add a few pretty dish towels to layer over the backside of the basket. Add some silicon muffin pans, follow with a baking recipe book, a few silicone spatulas, cute pot holders, and a few gourmet muffin or cupcake mixes! This works best if you, again, keep the colors complimentary. Tie with a ribbon, and for a neat touch you can dangle a few measuring spoons from the ribbon. Perfect for the baker, or wannabe baker in your life!

Girlie Basket: Find a funky colored basket in a bright color, red, fuchsia, aquamarine. I've found them at Wal Mart, Ross's and Hobby Lobby. If you can't find one in those colors, try spray painting a light colored basket. Fill with fun colored sheer and silky scarves, or maybe a glittery fun tee. Add a small all in one make up kit, along with a bottle of make up remover. Add three nail polishes, along with a bottle of nail polish remover, include a face scrub, and purifying mud mask. Top off with a few fun hair pieces, and maybe a piece of costume jewelry. Make sure if this is not for your own child, you check with parents to see if their child is allowed make up, and if there are any color restrictions. This is perfect for the pre teen, or teen girl in your life!

Gilmore Girl Basket: For the die hard Gilmore Girl fans out there try this! You can buy Luke's Diner, along with other Stars Hollow, and Gilmore Girl related bags from cafepress.com Fill one of these totes with a few seasons of Gilmore Girls, a ton of junk food (for which the Gilmore's are known!) and comfy throw. Perfect for mom and daughter, or any fan in your life! (Note: this bag will also work for any TV show, cafepress.com has merchandise from nearly every show or movie in history!!)

Man Basket: Find a galvanized tin pail, or beer bucket. Fill with bottled beer, bags of chips, "manly movies" (think Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone) and coupons for girl free afternoons, fishing trips, beer runs, game days, and foot rubs. Throw in a funny tee, and add Hooter's gift certificates so they can fill up on wings!

You can personalize many of these baskets to fit the person in your life. Many are very generic, perfect for Secret Santa at work, or a gift exchange! Good luck, God Bless, and Happy Holidays!