Top Ten Gift Ideas for Busy Woman

Today's woman has a jam-packed schedule. Whether she's a stay at home mom running kids from gymnastics to swimming to music class or a business executive making mergers by day and dinners by night, the busy woman rarely takes time to think about herself. These 10 holiday gift ideas for busy women will help you show her how much you appreciate the energy she puts in to every day. This holiday season, give the busy woman in your life an excuse to paper herself, the perfect item she doesn't have the time to find, or just something to make her life a little easier.

1. Pre-Made or Custom Scrapbook

Busy women are no different than any other woman in that they love to look at pictures. Reminicing over baby photos, reliving holidays past, and hearing the stories of their heritage bring out the emotional side to any woman. Unfortunately, the busy woman often doesn't have the time or energy to create the memory album or scrapbook that allows her to pull out those pictures at any moment. Today, a number of companies are creating scrapbook kits with the busy woman in mind. Consider buying a kit that comes with all the necessary pieces and instructions and can be assembled with photos in under an hour. For those women who won't even be able to find that hour, look for a pre-made scrapbook. These books come with the layout pages already created - all you have to do is add pictures. Keep in mind, however, that the road to poor gift giving is paved with good intentions. If the busy woman in your life isn't likely to even take the time to put the pictures in a pre-made album, grab the pictures and do it for her. Or, contact a company like Scrapbooks By Design who will take your photos and create the entire album for you - designed specifically to compliment your pictures.

2. Calendar or Day Planner

Does your busy woman need a little extra help keeping all the aspects of her life organized? There are many paper and electronic day planner and calendars on the market today that are designed specifically for a certain type of busy woman. Busy stay-at-home mom? Try the Mom's Family Calendar. Each Day has a separate box for each member of the family so Mom can keep track of her schedule as well as the schedules of all the others in her home. Busy business exec? Consider splurging for an electronic organizer that can go wherever she goes. Whatever kind of planner or organizer you buy, add that extra special touch by taking the time to go through and write in all the important birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays for her before you give it. The extra time and thought will show her how much you care.

3. Spa Treatment

Every busy woman dreams of having an entire day to herself where someone else focuses on pampering her. For most busy women, that idea stays right in the realm of dreamland. She doesn't think she has the time (or possibly money) to spend a day on herself. Besides, if she were out of commission for a day, who would watch the kids, cook dinner, check over the business reports, and make sure the conference calls all go off without a hitch? Pamper the busy woman in your life this holiday season by buying her a gift certificate to a local spa. Not sure what spa or treatments she'd like? Check out SpaWish - a gift certificate service that can be used at thousands of local spas across the country. With that pre-paid day of pampering in her hand, she will have a much harder time coming up with all the reasons why it can't work. Want to go the extra mile? Set up the entire day for her - contact her office assistant to make sure all work details are covered for the day, hire a babysitter for the kids and promise to take everyone out for pizza that night. The more daily details you have taken care of for her, the more able she'll be to really relax and enjoy her day.

4. Slow Cooker and Cookbook

From the stay-at-home mom to the single exec, busy women are often rushed and stressed when it comes to dinner. Often, the best laid dinner plans take a back seat to other activities and she ends up eating a frozen dinner over the sink or throwing a pizza in the oven for the third night in a week. Slow cookers can be a busy woman's best dinner date. The dinners are easy to prepare - just throw all the ingredients in - and require no maintenance - turn it on and let 'em cook! If your favorite busy woman already has a slow cooker, consider buying her a slow cooker cookbook. There are many on the market designed with recipes that require little to no prep work. Add a personal touch by including a few gift certificates to her favorite restaurant or some handmade certificates promising that you'll cook dinner - redeemable any time.

5. MP3 Player or Satellite Radio

The woman on-the-go needs her tunes just like the rest of us; however, she doesn't have the means or ability to carry around all her CD's. Instead, pamper her this holiday season with an MP3 player or portable satellite radio. Make sure whatever you get, its portable and not easily lost. Consider adding a few accessories such as a carrying case, automobile adapter, or extra battery to make sure the gift doesn't become more of a burden than it's worth. Whatever type of portable device you decide on, be sure to include a way for her to add music. For a satellite radio device, include a year's subscription; for an MP3 player, include a gift card that allows her to purchase music. Also consider taking the extra time to upload some of her favorite music or CDs on to the device before you give it to her - that extra thought will go quite a ways in showing her how much you care.

6. "Of the Month" Club Subscription

Unlike a book or CD club that requires a membership and the hassle of returning unwanted materials, an "Of the Month" subscription is ready to go from start to finish at the time you purchase it. You decide what kind of subscription you want and when you want it to start. Then, each month at the specified time, the company sends your busy woman the next item in their package until the subscription expires. She doesn't have to do any added work and the gift keeps giving throughout the year. There is a huge variety of "Of the Month" subscriptions available - wine, flowers, candles, cookies, teas, coffee, etc. - so you are guaranteed to be able to find the perfect subscription for any woman in your life. Subscriptions are also often available at varying increments - 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months - so you can also find the right subscription for your budget.

7. Gift Basket

Like "Of the Month" subscriptions, gift baskets are a great way to personalize your gift to your special woman. The options are as endless as your own imagination. You can purchase pre-made gift baskets at a number of online retailers - from spa baskets to coffee and goodie baskets. Or you can create your own basket and tailor it even more specifically to the woman in mind. Does your busy woman love music? Make up a music basket with a few of her favorite CDs, an iTunes gift card, a trivia book on her favorite band, and some item of memorabilia. Have a stay-at-home mom who loves baking on your shopping list? Create a basket with favorite family recipes, a recipe card holder, a few fun and unnecessary baking utensils, and an apron. The best part about gift baskets is that the items inside are often useful, but unnecessary. Your busy scrapbook woman doesn't need the latest die cut alphabet, and she probably wouldn't spend the money on it herself, but she'll love getting it from you!

8. Gift Cards for online stores

Today's busy woman doesn't often have time to scour the mall the way she did a few years ago. Today, much of her shopping is done online - and little of it is done for herself. Play to her love to shop while acknowledging her limited time by getting her a gift card that can be used online. Make sure it's for a store that she'll buy something for herself and not spend it on the kids or a few things for work. Gift cards are often considered an impersonal gift so if you are especially close to the busy woman in your life, combine a gift card with another gift that comes from the heart - or make it part of a gift basket you've created just for her.

9. Fun Desk or Automobile Accessories

What woman doesn't like a little frivolous fun? The busy woman spends much of her time at her desk or in her automobile. This holiday season, look for a few fun and frivolous accessories that add a little spice to these two potentially boring places.

10. Jewelry

It's considered an old standby for a very good reason. Every woman - no matter her age, her lifestyle, or background - loves to get jewelry. If all else fails, this traditional and classic gift will get you through every gift-giving season!

These 10 gift ideas should give you a great starting place when buying for that busy woman in your life. Show her how much you appreciate her with any gift, but be sure to follow it up regularly by telling her in person. With any gift you give, be sure that your gift comes from the heart and you'll be sure to win her over again and again.