You probably know some overworked women. They put in a full day on the job to pay the bills, then come home to cook, clean and spend quality time with the family. You can’t help but admire their dedication and hard work. A lovely surprise for such a woman would be a spa gift basket, which would offer her a much-needed chance to relax and pamper herself. Try these ideas to make your own special gift to give to a deserving woman in your life.

Start by searching for an elegant basket. You might want to check out craft stores, discount stores or even a second hand store for just the right basket. Make sure it’s large enough to hold everything that you plan to include. You might even want to paint the basket to match your color scheme.

Now it’s time to pick out the items for your special spa basket. Remember that the main purpose of this gift is to encourage the recipient to relax, so think of things that will transform her bathroom into a sumptuous home spa.

Start with towels: a soft, fluffy bath towel with matching wash cloth and hand towel. Roll up the towels individually and secure each of them with a pretty bow. Now find an aromatic candle in a coordinating color. Place this in the center of the basket, and position the towels around it.

Next you’ll want to add some bath products, again keeping to your color and scent theme. Bath oil or beads, specialty soap and bubble bath are good choices. Also, pick up a bath sponge or loofah for gentle exfoliation. Place these items around the candle, with an eye to balancing shape and size of the various products. You might wish to pick up a pre-made bath set containing a variety of products. Just open up the package and arrange the individual products however you desire.

The latest bestselling book and some relaxing music will make a lovely addition to your spa gift basket. Nothing relaxes you quite like music, and an enthralling book will take your friend’s mind off her hectic schedule and help her unwind.

The spa experience doesn’t have to end when the tub is drained. Add a bottle of body lotion for the icing on the cake. If you’re going all out, add some creams and lotions targeted to specific body parts, such as feet, hands, or elbows.

An extra special touch would be to tuck in a gift certificate to a nearby spa. And best of all, include a written note offering to look after the kids for an evening so she can be worry-free as she enjoys her candle-lit home spa or uses her gift certificate for a relaxing treatment at the day spa.

Your spa gift basket will be a thoughtful, meaningful gift for the hardworking woman in your life. It will rejuvenate her, relieve the day’s stress, and make her all set to head out the door again tomorrow.