by Gena Reddoch

Created on: April 04, 2007   Last Updated: April 23, 2007

My sons have been living on their own for many years, but I still make Easter baskets for them when I know they will be coming "home" for Easter. The baskets have gotten smaller over the years, but I have a great time putting them together.

Both of my sons are very health conscious, so they don't really eat much sugar. They will, however, indulge in a few extra-special chocolates if they come from Mom.

If I have a nice candid photo of them that was taken in the past year, I might put it in a frame and tuck it in with a few sweet goodies. They especially love photos from family vacations or other holiday gatherings.

When they were starving college students, I often slipped my boys gift cards for gasoline, a car wash, or an oil change. A gift card for dinner out meant a lot too.

Since Easter comes right before summer begins, a great Easter basket for an adult female is a basket which includes a magazine, a beach towel, sun block, lip balm, and a cute pair of flip-flops. You can also throw in a bottle of gourmet lemonade, or if she is old enough, margarita mix.

If the woman in your life is a gardener, give her a water can filled with pretty garden gloves, some flower bulbs or seeds, and some gardening tools.

Women in the family also love gift certificates for manicures and pedicures, facials, or massages. A gift card for a lunch or a movie out with girlfriends is nice too.

Bakers like to get personalized recipe cards, recipe card holders, and unique cookie cutters. You can even throw in a batch of your favorite cookies or muffins (along with the recipe of course). Put them in a mixing bowl wrapped in cellophane for an added touch.

Men who are into polishing cars or motorcycles get a kick out of a water bucket filled with squeegees, wax, tire cleaner, window cleaner and air fresheners.

My oldest son has two children, so a gift certificate for a free day of babysitting by Grandma is an inexpensive gift that benefits us all!

Whatever you decide to do, gear it to the personality or the current circumstances of the individual. They will appreciate the personal touch, not to mention actually getting some use out of your choices!

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