Vosges chocolate was at the forefront of the ongoing (and wonderful) bacon renaissance, and they continue to innovate. This year, there’s   bacon chocolate chip mix ($12), bacon caramel toffee (also $12), a flying chocolate pig ($8), and a $62 gift set. Original Mo’s Bacon Bars, in milk and dark chocolate, are $7.50. Mini bars are available for $2.50. Mix and match 6 bars for $12.50. Stack ‘em, wrap ‘em in a ribbon, and give them to your                                                                         foodie friend. Sweet.

Bubby’s Matryoshkas Measuring Cups, $14.99 at ModCloth.com

This is definitely something other people you know can use. Whether for one clean sweep or 6 months of weekly service (and anything in between), giving the gift of housekeeping is sure to be appreciated by busy mothers, stressed-out couples, and all-around slobs. Contact local cleaners beforehand to get an idea of what it will cost–many even offer gift certificates. Then, write a card informing the recipient of their gift. Their eyes will be as sparkling as their hardwood floors.

2. Compartmentalized container (like this one from Organized Living, but also available at most craft stores), decorated by your child and filled with pens, paper clips, rubber bands, push pins, etc. A lot of teachers will tell you that homemade gifts are the best. Then again, a lot of teachers won’t.

3. A teacher can only have so many shower gels, desk calendars and coffee mugs. And any teacher will tell you that apple-shaped gifts should be outlawed. Why not give the gift of charity? Donate to a charity you think the teacher would appreciate, or donate books or software to the classroom in the teacher’s name. You might also ask the teacher what supplies you can donate to the class, since many teachers spend a lot of money out of their own pockets for classroom supplies.

4. Give a “movie night” theme gift. Pair a theater gift card or a short-term Netflix subscription with some specialty popcorn or candy.

5. If the teacher seems to like plants, buy a small plant and attach a drawing or note from the child telling the teacher what she means to him. At the bottom, write “Thanks for helping me grow.”

Be sure to check our other Gift Lists.

Audra writes. . .
I need a Xmas gift idea for my sister. She is 31 years old and the mother of a two-year old. She lives on her own with the baby, loves to clean, loves to have great hair, and likes jewelry/earrings, shoes, pocketbooks, etc. Very girly-girl.

After an e-mail exchange with Audra, I learned that her sister truly does love cleaning. (When can she come over and clean this cesspool I call home, I wonder?) I suggested buying Sis this Dirt Devil Kone Cordless Hand Vacuum ($27.97 at Amazon). It’s almost like a Transformer, only instead of transforming from Shia Labeouf’s car into a warrior robot, it transforms from a stylish work of art into a handy hand vac.

Pair the Kone with some Lavender Home Perfume from L’OCCITANE ($23). Because what good is a clean home without the calming aroma of lavender and vanilla?

2. Desert Inspirations Ponytail Palm Bonsai Tree ($49.99, FTD.com)
A tiny little tree. Unfortunately, no tiny little coconuts. This is either a really good idea or a terrible, terrible idea. I’m going to go with “entertaining conversation piece.” It’s just this feeling I have.

3. Zingerman’s Superior Scone Sample ($35, Zingerman’s)
Six scones (two each of three different flavors), plus little jars of preserves and honey. ‘Cause, you know, there’s no place like scone.

4. The Deep: The Extraordinary Creatures of the Abyss ($29.70, Amazon)
Coffee-table book filled with stunning photos of creatures living six miles below the ocean’s surface. Or, you could buy them a really fancy submarine.

5. A personalized photo book from Snapfish
You pick the prints and the layout, add captions, and Snapfish will deliver a professional-looking book starring your parents’ loved ones. (Hopefully, one of them is you.) Starting at $4.99 with abounding options: a leather-covered 12×12 book, for example, starts at $49.99

Be sure to check out the rest of our Gift Lists.

I’m dealing with multiple out of town families…. All transplanted new yorkers. Modest budget, we are in a recession. No, really, just a gift to say, hey –thinking of you. In years past I’ve done juniors cheesecakes, cannoli’s from little italy, family board games…. That sort of thing.

Beth, when I first read your request, all I could think of was pancakes. I think I probably wanted pancakes at the time and secretly thought I could sneak onto your gift list, recommend a tasty breakfast gift box, and enjoy my ill-gotten flapjacks in the comfort of my kitchen nook with no one ever knowing. Then I realized I am not the pancake equivalent of the Hamburglar, and there are easier ways to go about satisfying a breakfast craving.

And yet, I stay with my original thought: pancakes. And syrup. Maple syrup. Real maple syrup. It may not sound like much of a gift, but that’s because you’re probably used to grocery store, synthetic syrup. But the real thing is a true treat. My suggestion: Head to your local Whole Foods or other gourmet or health store. Find a bottle of 100% maple syrup you think is pretty and falls within in your price range. Then, add a package of gourmet pancake mix (AKA do NOT gift someone with a shake-it-up box of Bisquick) and perhaps a copy of  the book If You Give a Pig a Pancake. Fill a box with that pretty colored crinkly paper, and send. There. You’ve just treated your friends to an amazing wintertime breakfast. And if any of them are longing for a more New York-centric gift, perhaps remind them of the mysterious syrup smell that occasionally descends upon the city that never sleeps.

The coffee brews directly into a travel mug, perfect for those 8:30 classes. Add a pound of coffee to sweeten the deal.

By the way, hearing the term “Brew and Go” totally makes me think of The Sound of Music. You know, in Edelweiss, when Captain Von Trapp sings, “Blossom of snow, may you brew and go? Brew and go forever.” Oh, wait. That was “bloom and grow.” Live and learn. And do click on that Sound of Music link to watch a YouTube video of John Denver and Julie Andrews in a rare duet.

2. iPod Shuffle, $50

Yes, they may already have a bigger, prettier iPod. But these lil’ guys are great for working out and traveling.

3. Darts! Calendar 2009, $10.19

With magnetic darts and 12 different boards (one for each month, see?).

4. The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2008 , $11.20

Collection of news stories, fiction, police blotters, and more hidden gems of writing.

5. Pail of 6 Christmas chocolate-covered fortune cookies, $12.50

Non-Christmas options also available.

Not available this year: Turkey and Gravy. No, seriously, that used to be one of their flavors. Of SODA.

$5 for single-flavor bottles of 4, exclusively at Target stores.

2. Star Trek Interactive Tribble, $19.99

3. Santa Dreidel, $4.95

4. Chumps Mini Series Art Toys, $7.95

5. Zombie Haiku book by Ryan Mecum, $9.99 (No, really. It’s an entire zombie story told in Haiku form.)