Between the shopping, cooking, and traveling of the holiday season, it’s easy to forget how lucky we are to have presents to buy, families to cook for, and friends to visit. That’s why I always try to give presents that do more than pamper and please my loved ones: gifts that give back to those in need.

Thistle Farms in Nashville, Tennessee offers organic bath, body, and home products handmade by residents of Magdalene, a residential community for women trying to escape addiction and life on the streets. All proceeds fund programs that help the residents of Magdalene learn job skills as well as recover from their ordeals.

Giving presents has never felt so good.

—Natalie Rios, editorial assistant/research editor

Get more ideas for gifts that give back after the jump.

Premium Eco-Care Yoga Mat This new PVC-free yoga mat is extra sticky and 61cm by 183cm. Easy Yoga is a member of 1% for the Planet, so a portion of all their profits is used to protect the environment. Price: $115

Fair Winds Trading Rwanda Basket The sale of these baskets, knit by Rwandan women as part of Rwandan Path to Peace Project, provides food, shelter, and medical care for over 2,500 weavers. Available at Macy’s. Price: $46

Pink Clarisonic Mia The perfect size for cleansing on the go. With every Pink Clarisonic purchase, Clarisonic makes a donation to help fund the fight against breast cancer. Price: $149

More of our 2009 Gift Guide:

• Day 1: Gifts for the Home
• Day 2: Skincare
• Day 3: Fashion
• Day 4: Gift for Men
• Day 5: Food & Drink
• Day 6: Fitness
• Day 7: Jewelry
• Day 8: Makeup
• Day 9: Eco-Friendly
• Day 10: Homemade Bath Products
• Day 11: Books

Editor’s Pick: Eckhart Tolle explains why it’s important to be present in the “here and now” in a way that’s easily understandable, and he makes the “how” accessible to anyone who reads his books.

His latest, Oneness With All of Life ($25) brings his words to life with beautiful illustrations.

—Julie Sinclair, editor-in-chief

Get more gift ideas after the jump.

Living Life as a Thank You by Mary Beth Sammons A book that teaches the reader to cultivate graitute every day. It includes personal stories,  inspirational quotes, and a gratitude tool kit—perfect for the holiday season. Price: $10.85

In the Face of Fear: Buddhist Wisdom for Challenging Times A collection of essays from Buddhist teachers and writers on how to persevere through challenging times. Price: $10.85

More of our 2009 Gift Guide:

• Day 1: Gifts for the Home
• Day 2: Skincare
• Day 3: Fashion
• Day 4: Gift for Men
• Day 5: Food & Drink
• Day 6: Fitness
• Day 7: Jewelry
• Day 8: Makeup
• Day 9: Eco-Friendly
• Day 10: Homemade Bath Gifts

Sometimes the best gifts are the ones you make yourself. And if, like me, you dread the maddening crowds of holiday shoppers, a homemade present is a great way to get in a festive mood in the privacy of your own kitchen.

In keeping with all things Spa-related, here are links to a few easy-to-follow recipes for bath products I found online. I have not yet tried these recipes myself, but if you try them at home, I’d love to know how they turned out!

• Brown Sugar Body Scrub: An all-natural scrub that sounds sweet enough to eat.
• Vanilla and Almond Soap: This exfoliating soap recipe doesn’t require lye, eliminating the risk of alkali burns.
• Milk Bath: Packaged in a simple glass jar, this would make a great hostess gift.

Check our collection of 13 DIY Beauty Recipes for more homemade gift ideas.

—Maria Wakem, senior editor

Image: Caren Alpert

When the weather is warm, there’s nothing more relaxing or enjoyable than sitting outside in the evening with friends and enjoying a glass of wine or a cup of tea. And soft, beautiful lighting can really take the experience up a notch. Although it’s hard to imagine warm weather right now, I want to plan ahead and get one or two people on my list a set of Solar Shoji Lanterns ($79).

These lanterns are charged up by the sun during the day and flip on automatically at night. And, although they look like paper, they’re actually made from a weatherproofed nylon. So they should hold up in bad weather and last quite a long time.

—Stephanie Kinnear, web editor

Get more eco-friendly gift ideas after the jump.

Recycled Rice Tote Bags from Gecko Traders These bags are made from discarded rice bags in Vietnam. They’re totally fair-trade and the perfect size for lugging home all the groceries. Price: $25

Eco Starter Kit from EcoHatchery This EcoStarter Kit promises to help the typical US household cut utility bills by $260 per year and shrink its carbon footprint by 2.5 tons. Price: $97.50

Organic Cotton Herbal Spa Socks Made from organic cotton terry, these spa socks are perfect to slip into after a warm bath. They feature a removable lavender pouch that can be heated or cooled. Price: $32

More of our 2009 Gift Guide:

• Day 1: Gifts for the Home
• Day 2: Skincare
• Day 3: Fashion
• Day 4: Gift for Men
• Day 5: Food & Drink
• Day 6: Fitness
• Day 7: Jewelry
• Day 8: Makeup

Editor’s Pick: There’s nothing better than looking flawless on the go and that’s why I’m hoping to get The Kit by BeingTrue ($75) this Christmas. Perfect for travelers or beginners, The Kit includes two shades of SPF17 mineral foundation (which you can blend to create a custom color), a blush compact, a finishing mist, as well as a retractable brush and a sponge for seamless application. Best of all: the mineral foundation contains Idebenone, an antioxidant that brightens and smoothes skin.

—Natalie Rios, editorial assistant/research editor

Get more makeup gift ideas after the jump.

Jane Iredale Limited Edition Sweet 15 Kit Set includes 15 shadow shades, three Just Kissed lip plumpers, three Blush shades, and a large mirror for easy application. Price: $78

Priti Dark Winter Night Kit This kit include two non-toxic nail polishes—Magic Man Iris and Silver King—a 2-in-1 Top/Base Coat, and 2oz. Soy Remover. Price: $37.50

gloLip Maven Collection from glominerals This kit includes gloLip gloss (in rapture, beloved, and darling), gloHigh shine glaze, gloLip primer and2 gloPrecision lip pencils (currant and raisin). Price: $65

More of our 2009 Gift Guide:

• Day 1: Gifts for the Home
• Day 2: Skincare
• Day 3: Fashion
• Day 4: Gift for Men
• Day 5: Food & Drink
• Day 6: Fitness
• Day 7: Jewelry

Editor’s Pick: After the holidays, everyone starts to think about their New Year’s resolutions, and I’m betting one of the top resolutions is a step towards better health.

Help a loved one achieve their resolution with a chic solution: The Count Me Healthy bracelets ($88). These bracelets help to make tracking daily wellness goals fun and stylish: each one has 12 silver beads on it—which the wearer assigns a value or goal—that are moved to the other end of the bracelet once that goal is “crossed off” for the day.

Some of their recommendations for use are: counting glasses of water a day, counting points on popular diet “point” systems, number of cigarettes (help a loved one quit!), and so on…the list is endless. There are 8 different styles to choose from, including Golf Goddess, Mommy & Me, and Bride-to-Be.

—Veronica Sooley, photo editor

Get more jewelry gift ideas after the jump.

Birdcage Cluster Necklace from Wendy Mink This necklace boasts gunmetal and gold filled charms, and a green onyx coin bead. The chain measures 34″. Price: $145

Glowing Sun Medallion Necklace from Ten Thousand Villages This fair trade, handcrafted necklace comes from Bombolulu Workshops in Kenya. It features a hammered brass disk and dark-stained neem wood on a dark cord and gold-colored chain. Price: $20

7-City Transit Token Charm Bracelet This eco-friendly bracelet is crafted from transit tokens from seven different cities. It also features a sterling silver chain and lobster clasp. Price: $100

More of our 2009 Gift Guide:

• Day 1: Gifts for the Home
• Day 2: Skincare
• Day 3: Fashion
• Day 4: Gift for Men
• Day 5: Food & Drink
• Day 6: Fitness

Nothing dissuades me from my daily run like a chilly winter breeze—when it’s cold, I find it much harder to exercise. That’s why I need to stock my closet with workout clothes that keep me warm, and that’s why I’m putting this Traverse Jacket from Patagonia ($100) on the list of things I’d love to receive this holiday season.

It’s lightweight and not the least bit bulky, but it still offers both wind and water protection (no more using windy, wet weather as an excuse to skip workouts). It even has two zippered, hand-warming pockets and reflective flourishes so I’ll feel safe out running after dark.

—Stephanie Kinnear, web editor

Get more fitness gift ideas after the jump.

Pure Relief T Spheres Organic rubber balls specifically molded for self-massage. Great for relieving stress and treating sore muscles. Price: $30

Nalgene Everyday OTG Water Bottle BPA-free, dishwasher-safe water bottle will fit perfectly in most beverage holders, bike bottle cages, and exercise machines. Price: $9.95

Core Fusion: Body Sculpt DVD from Exhale Spa A total body program designed to tone and sculpt all those hard-to-target places. If you don’t like DVDs, you can also purchase Gift Cards for classes at Exhale Spa’s various locations. Price: $14.99

More of our 2009 Gift Guide:

• Day 1: Gifts for the Home
• Day 2: Skincare
• Day 3: Fashion
• Day 4: Gift for Men
• Day 5: Food & Drink

In addition to being the first carbon-neutral winery in the country, Parducci uses renewable energy, earth-friendly packaging, and sustainable farming practices. Its Sustainable Red ($10.99) is light and very drinkable, and it went wonderfully with my Thanksgiving leftovers. (The label lists pasta, pizza, grilled meats, and cheese as recommended pairings, and a Sustainable White is also available.)

The best part is that you have an instant conversation starter when gifting, making your present that much more thoughtful.

Bonus points: If you want to take it up a notch, pop a bottle in this In Vino Veritas Wine Bag ($7.50) from Restoration Hardware.

Yes, it’s almost as expensive as the wine, but the witty, unfussy design makes it great for all recipients. Plus, it’s reusable—perfect for packaging an eco-friendly gift.

—Natalie Ridsdale, managing editor

Get more gift ideas for foodies after the jump.

Intentional Chocolate Raspberry Triangles Six pieces of pure Hawaiian Vintage chocolate flavored with organic raspberry. The candies are infused with the spiritual energy of experienced meditators that have trained with the Dalai Lama. Price: $19.95

Blueprint Cleanse A nutritional juice cleanse that can be delivered right to your giftee’s doorstep. Choose between a 2, 3, 4, or 5 day cleanse. Price: $85/day (less in NYC)

Winter Solstice Gift Set from Tea Forté This set includes a Solstice teapot and ten infusers of the Winter Collection teas. Two infusers of each blend: Sweet Orange Spice, Winter Chai, Crimson Nectar, Orchid Vanilla and Apple Pomegranate. Price: $35

More of our 2009 Gift Guide:

• Day 1: Gifts for the Home
• Day 2: Skincare
• Day 3: Fashion
• Day 4: Gift for Men

Editor’s Pick: A Professional Shave ($35 and up)

Let’s face it: No one enjoys shaving, although most guys begrudgingly do so several times a week. Consider transforming this chore into a luxurious experience with the gift of a professional shave, available at any of the country’s ever-expanding crop of barber spas.

Aside from allowing him to kick back while someone else does the tedious work, a professional shave also offers the opportunity to address any skincare issues—such as razor burn or ingrown hairs—with an expert.

I have tried and can vouch for the services at The Art of Shaving Barber Spas (various locations nationwide) as well as my personal favorite, the 316 Club Barber Spa in Chicago. Both offer gift certificates and a host of high-end grooming products in their online stores.

Image: theartofshaving.com

—Victor Maze, art director

Get more gift ideas for men after the jump.

Escape Gift Set from ESPA This men’s travel kit includes a Napa leather wash bag, Body Smoothing Shower Gel, Shavemud, and Hydrator. Price: $199.50

The Magic Box from BlackSocks It’s magic. He gathers his old socks, puts them in the box, and sends it to BlackSocks (postage is already paid). The people at BlackSocks count the socks and send the same number of new calf-length socks back to him. The old socks are sent to Texaid, a Swiss textile collection organization, and recycled. Price: $149

Small Zero Messenger Bag in Tweed from Rickshaw Bagworks This brown herringbone tweed messenger bag is made from 100% wool with zero-waste manufacturing. It features a quick-adjust shoulder strap and a velcro flap closure. Price: $55

More of our 2009 Gift Guide:

• Day 1: Gifts for the Home
• Day 2: Skincare
• Day 3: Fashion

Editor’s Pick: As the weather cools, finding the perfect wrap can be quite a task. I’ve been on the hunt for one that looks great with both jeans or a fancy dress, and finally found the Jo Silk Jersey Wrap ($145).

The dye process gives it a very unique look, and the silk georgette underlay provides a special feminine touch that allows it to be paired with dressier items. This is the perfect gift for a friend that loves to travel, as she will only need this one versatile piece to keep her warm on the plane, while lounging during the day, and at dinner in the evening.

Also, Gypsy 05 prides itself on environmental awareness by using organic fabrics, low impact dyes, and water-based printing in every collection, so you can also feel good about this purchase.

If this wrap isn’t within your gift-giving budget, their scarves are a beautiful alternative at only $75.

—Veronica Sooley, photo editor

Get more fashion gift ideas after the jump.

Wonderful Weave Scarf from Original Good This silk scarf is fair trade and woven from hand-spun yarn by artisans in Bhagalpur, Bihar. And it contains no chemical dyes. Price: $29.95

Palmetto Beach Towel by Trina Turk Made from 100% cotton terry with wide pink borders. Generously sized at 37″ x 66″. Price: $58

Maya Funnel Neck Sweater by Stewart + Brown This fair trade sweater is made in China from 100% merino wool. It comes in black, ice heather, and orchid (pictured). Price: $184

More of our 2009 Holiday Gift Guide:

• Day 1: Gifts for the Home
• Day 2: Skincare