In the know: Last-minute gift ideas

Most of us have at least one woman on our gift list who seems to have it all. She's particular, finicky and almost impossible to delight. Yikes, that sounds just like us! This year, surprise her with one of these unique gift ideas that are easy to put together and guaranteed to make her—and us—smile:

The stress case

Who wouldn't love a serenity kit? You can find inexpensive baskets at IKEA or your local Chinatown. Line one with a soft terry cloth hand towel and tuck in a scented candle, linen room spray, bath grains and a luxurious body lotion. Other soothing treats to include: a manicure kit, a calming CD, a sleep mask and chocolates.

The traveller

Frequent flyers could use a pair of slippers to tuck in their luggage. Look for pretty embroidered satin designs in Chinatown or trendy stores across Canada.

Yoga queen

An old T-shirt and gym shorts aren't very comfortable when trying new yoga poses. Almost every clothing company, from Gap to Roots, sells cotton drawstring pants, fitted T-shirts and warm-up jackets that work as well at the yoga studio as they do around the house. She can even wear them during Saturday-morning errands.

Fashionista

Many of us are constantly cold in the winter. That's why this season's hottest accessory—gloves—is a perfect gift idea. Find them in the latest colours (such as hot pink, lime green and purple in fleece, suede and leather) at most stores.

Retro goddess

If she loves retro music, she's sure to get her groove on to Elvis' latest collection of number one hits.

Culture junkie

Delight creative types with a coffee-table book, such as Phaidon's Art Book, and a pair of tickets to your local art gallery.

The dreamer

Liz would love to play the bongos. Lisa wants to learn to cook someday. Most of us have secret dreams of perfecting a skill. Why not indulge your friend's fantasy by purchasing a lesson of her choice?

The nostalgic friend

For something purely sentimental, find a beautiful photo album or scrap book and fill the first few pages with pictures of special moments from the past, saving the empty pages for the future picture-worthy moments you'll share.

Décor damsel

An attractive throw blanket—cozy cashmere or fleece—comes in handy during those cold winter nights. Don't know your friend's colour scheme? Pick a neutral shade like cream, camel, grey or black.

Movie buff

When there's snow on the ground, nothing beats a night in with classic DVDs or videos—anything with Audrey Hepburn is a favourite of ours. Pack the movies in a pretty ceramic bowl with specialty-flavoured popcorn from Kernels and Liz's favourite—white hot chocolate from Second Cup.