We give gifts to family and friends to make them happy. Nothing will make them happier than a gift from the heart. These gift ideas are inexpensive and thoughtful. Get your kids involved because they like making people happy, too.

RAVE RECIPES. Write your best recipes - the ones relatives rave about - on recipe cards or type them on a computer. Put the cards in an inexpensive recipe box and typed recipes in a notebook. Tie measuring spoons, a miniature whisk, or rubber scraper to your gift with ribbon.

CHAFFEUR SERVICE. Loves ones and friends who don't have a car or no longer drive will appreciate your chaffeur service. Type or write a gift certificate for this service: This gift certificate entitles ________ to personal chaffeur service when needed. Ask your kids to glue magazine pictures of cars to the certificate or draw car pictures with markers.

MIX IT UP. Busy family members and friends will appreciate cooking shortcuts: baking mixes, soup mixes, gravy and sauce packets, and so-called helper meals. Put these products in a large gift bag or basket purchased at a discount store.

FAMILY STORIES TAPE. Every family has funny and touching stories. Record some of these stories and give them to family members. Label the outside of the tape with the date and names of people who shared the stories. Add a pocket-sized tape recorder/player if you wish.

BEAUTIFUL BOOKMARK. Ask your kids or grandkids to draw pictures on heavy paper that has been pre-cut to bookmark size. You may decorate your own bookmarks with quotes that would have special meaning to your loved one or friend. Punch a hole in the top of each bookmark and tie on a ribbon or small tassel. This simple gift will be used again and again.

SPRING FEVER. Plant four bulbs in a clay pot. These bulbs can be narcissus, tulip, iris, etc. Have kids decorate the outside of the pot with permanent markers. (Make sure the room is well ventilated.) Put a clay saucer under the pot and stick a fabic bow (on a pick) into the soil. Include growing instructions with your gift.

JAR OF JOKES. This is a perfect gift for your children's friends. Wash a plastic peanut butter jar and lid in hot, soapy water and dry well. Type jokes from a joke book or jokes your kids have created on the computer. Print out one set of jokes for each gift you're giving. Cut the jokes apart, put them in a jar, and screw on the lid. Tie a bow onto the jar and instructions: Take one joke from this jar each day. This idea may be adapted to a Jar of Friendship or a Jar of Hope.

PHOTO MONTAGE. Gather photos that your family member would appreciate, such as photos of their pet, candid shots of kids and grandkids, photos of his or her favorite place, photos of flowers and trees. Insert these photos into a montage frame, available at discount stores.

MAGAZINE EXPRESS. Do you subscribe to an unusual magazine, such as a magazine about knitting, or building boats, or trips on freighter ships? Gather back issues of the magazine, tie them with a big red bow, and give them to your local library or nursing home.

A POSTCARD A DAY, DEAR. Do you know someone who is recovering from surgery, is homebound, or struggling with chronic illness? If so, this is the perfect gift for them. Buy a batch of postcards and send one to your friend each day. Your messages may be humorous, hopeful, personal news, or quotes.

COFFEE BREAK. Bake a batch of biscotti and put them in a wide-mouth jar. Put the jar in a gift bag and add ground or instant coffee, a measuring spoon, an inexpensive frother from Ikea, and chocolate covered coffee beans. You may also make a tea break gift.

WEEKLY PHONE CALL. Got a kid in college, a loved one across the country, or friends you see only once a year? Type or print a gift certificate for weekly phone calls from you. Decide on a convenient time for the calls when you give them your gift.

HOMEMADE FOOD OF THE MONTH. Give relatives and/or friends gift certificate for monthly food from your kitchen: bread, cookies, soup, casseroles - whatever you're good at and love to make. This gift from the heart will make them happy all year long.

FAMILY COOKBOOK. Ask relatives to send you their favorite recipes. Type these recipes (one per page) and comments about them, such as, "Do you remember when Uncle Bob got everyone up at 2 a.m. to taste this soup?" Insert each recipe in a plastic page protector. Put the recipes in a notebook and glue a family snapshot on the front.

ART FROM THE HEART. This gift is for kids and from kids. Kids' art is more creative than any coloring book. Buy a variety of art supplies - markers, water colors, gel pens, stickers, pinking scissors, special paper punches, glue sticks, and glitter glue - and put them in a large box. Add drawing paper, water color paper, and a picture frame for that budding "Monet."

Copyright 2005 by Harriet Hodgson

Harriet Hodgson

Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 27 years. She is a member of the Association of Healh Care Journalists and the Association for Death Education and Counseling. A prolific writer, she is the author of 25 published books and hundreds of print and electronic articles.

Hodgson has written about parenting, recycling, sexual harassment, aging, Alzheimer's disease, caregiving, communication, nutrition, physical activity, weight management, anticipatory grief, and many other topics.

She started out as a teacher and earned a B.S. with honors from Wheelock College in Boston, MA. She went on to earn an M.A. in Art Education from the University of Minnesota and did additional graduate work. After spending a dozen years in the classroom Hodgson changed careers and turned to writing.

All of her writing comes from life experience. Hodgson has talked about her experienes on some 150 radio talk shows, including CBS Radio, Minnesota Public Radio, WCCO Radio and "Coping With Caregiving," an Internet-only radio program broadcast worldwide. In addition, she has appeared on dozens of television programs/stations including CNN.

Hodgson is a Past President of the Wing of the Aerospace Medical Association. A past president of the Minnesota Medical Association Alliance (MMAA), she represented MMAA members on the Minnesota Medical Association Health Care Reform Task Force. She is an active community volunteer and all of her volunteer efforts focus on health.

Hodgson is cited in "Something About the Author," "Who's Who of American Women," "Who's Who in America," "Who's Who in the World," "The Dictionary of International Biography," and "Contemporary Authors," published by Gale Research.

Hodgson lives in Rochester, Minnesota with her husband, C. John Hodgson. She enjoys learning, travel, antiques, singing, and spending time with her twin grandchildren.