Have a girlfriend who needs some extra nurturing this holiday season? Perhaps she has been down in the dumps, or she’s been busy taking care of everyone else but herself. Maybe she’s a busy mom, frazzled grandma, or overworked colleague. Here are some gifts to help her pamper herself, just a wee bit. She will thank you for it!

Chocolate spa products from Bella Lucce definitely fit the nuturing bill. They don’t just smell like chocolate, they ARE chocolate! From the company’s website: “Created with golden cocoa butter, organic cocoa powder, real chocolate extract and French cocoa absolute, this luscious range of chocolate pedicure and body products is authentically rich and deliciously decadent…it’s the first collection of chocolate spa products to incorporate real Dagoba chocolate into a range of sensuous, calorie-free indulgences.” Ok, now you’re thinking of nurturing yourself, aren’t you? Remember, you came here shopping for your girlfriends The Peruvian Chocolate Renewing Masque, at $23.50, seems like a particulary pampering gift. The dry, antioxidant-packed masque is mixed with the right item from your pantry (olive oil, milk, honey) to best nourish your skin (instructions included). While the masque is working its magic on your face, you can enjoy the complimentary chocolate coins that come with it!

The Healthy Woman: A Complete Guide for All Ages. This comprehensive women’s health guide comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health.  As a girlfriend gift, it’s a bit on the practical side, we admit. But at 518 pages, it covers all the essentials of women’s health in an easy-to-read format, making it an especially good gift for someone who isn’t used to taking the best care of herself. The Healthy Woman covers a wide range of topics, from heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes, to healthy aging, pregnancy, respiratory health and nutrition. It also includes personal stories, tips for communicating with your doctor, a how-to-guide for reading medication labels and a screening chart. $24.50 on amazon.com.

Circle of Strength Support Sculpture This touching piece from Femail Creations is a celebration of sisterhood, friendship, family and the bonds that strengthen us. “Each original sculpture expresses how the power of love draws together friends and family in good times and bad and makes us stronger with a loving source of support. Sculpture stands over 8″ tall. Handcrafted in the USA.” $59. It might be just the thing to show you solidarity with a special girlfriend or group of friends.

The Woman’s Field Guide to Exceptional Living: Practical Steps for Living a Big, Bold, Beautiful Life! is a lovely little gift for any girlfriend in your life who needs a little encouragement or “me time.” Written by Corrie Woods, an inspirational speaker and retreat leader, it is playful, provocative, filled with practical ideas and lovely to hold. With chapter titles like “Make Your Life a Celebration,” and “Invite Others Over to Play,” it’s perfect for women who choose to celebrate life with their female friends! Each chapter can be read by itself for a short “pick me up,” and at only 5 x7 inches, it can be dropped into a purse, making it a great “lunch break book.” At $14.95, it’s nicely priced and suitable for women of all ages.

Mama Mio Body Products are not just the same old bath and body products. We’re recommending these today because they are stuffed with nurturing, natural ingredients. Apparently, celebrities like Gillian Anderson, Jessica Alba, and Christina Aguilera are fans, according to the company’s press release. But more importantly, *we* are wowed by their thoughtful and luscious potions. In particular, we love the O-Mega Body Oil ($35) (after using it for a couple of weeks now). This super-moisturizing body oil is a blend of jojoba, argan, sweet almond and safflower oils, each carefully chosen for its concentration of Omega 3, 6 and 9s. It has a lovely, light scent, and comes in a non-messy pump package. The company also touts its Boob Tube ($38) as a popular gift item: “Boob Tube is your superhero at fighting sag and droop and keep you heading north to give you a more beautiful bustline.” It’s loaded with good-for-you ingredients, so definitely worth a try!

Finally, looking for a girlfriend “stocking stuffer” or a nurturing gift you can give to several girlfriends? This On-the-Go Remedy Stick from Plein de Vie (French for ‘Full of Life’) is from a new organic skincare line that will focus on women in various stages of their lives. The remainder of the line will launch this year and in 2009. Full of the good stuff and none of the bad stuff, the On-the-Go Remedy Stick is paraben-, formaldehyde-, and phthalate-free. It’s also cruelty-free, toxin-free, and vegan. It is chock full of “pure organic ingredients perfect for: bumps, bruises, scrapes, cuts, sunburn, windburn, rashes, chapped lips, bug bites, mild eczema, skin irritations, diaper rash, itchy skin, massage, and ragged cuticles in a super convenient mess-free stick,” according to the company. This is another product we have tested and loved! A great weapon against the winter winds! At $12.99, it is a reasonably priced, practical AND nurturing gift. In addition, 3% of the proceeds from every On-the-Go Remedy Stick purchased from the website are donated to Equality Now, a charity dedicated to ending violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world.

Oh, we could go on and on! We hope you will enjoy our nurturing gift picks as much as we do! When you buy that girlfriend gift, be sure to mention that you heard about their product at GirlfriendCelebrations.com! Next up: Gifts for Readers