Here’s an idea for a creative twist on the care package. We think hot chocolate says “love from home” better than that old stand-by, caramel covered kernels of corn. And we love Williams-Sonoma Sweet Ground Chocolate (let’s be honest…we love everything from Williams-Sonoma). For an added touch of decadence, we included a frother for whipping the chocolate shavings and warm milk into pure comfort food. Sweet Ground Chocolate, $10.50 and Primo Milk Frother, $19.95, Williams-Sonoma.com

Gourmet (skin) food

 As the days grow shorter, the nights grow colder and we start to anticipate the holidays, our thoughts turn to….well, dry skin. It turns out New England winters don’t just parch our skin, they starve it. And because we like to consider ourselves gourmets, the discovery of Skin Food by Weleda is like finding a five-star restaurant for our hands. The fragrance is a delicious combination of lavender, rosemary and orange, but better still is the luxuriant hydration that leaves your hands totally satisfied. They offer many types of skin products including a line for babies. $17 at shop.weleda.com

Sphere of knowledge

Part-crystal ball, part-aquarium, part-learning tool, and part-work-of-art. That’s the EcoSphere, a glass enclosure that holds water, plant life, and brilliant shrimp, providing a close-up view of how an ecosystem works. It comes in various shapes and sizes, and the average life-span is about two years, but it’s not uncommon for it to thrive past six years. There’s no feeding or cleaning required, and only minimal maintenance. About $80-$500. www.eco-sphere.com.

 The PlasmaCar harnesses the forces of inertia, centrifugal force, gravity, and friction to create … yeah, yeah, whatever — all we know is that our kids love their PlasmaCars, and people always stop us to ask us where we got them. They’re easy to operate — no pedals, no batteries — just moving the steering wheel powers the car forward. Great gift, and added bonus: It gets the kids thinking about alternative energy at an early age. $70. Visit www.plasmacar.com to find a local retailer.

A book they’ll actually read

Nancy Streeter, owner of the Eureka! toy store in Newburyport, predicts “The Klutz Encyclopedia of Immaturity” could be the hit gift of this holiday season. “It’s full of goofy boy stuff — pranks that the male population has been doing since we came on earth,” says Streeter. “I won’t be surprised if it’s under everybody’s tree.” $19.95.

Flower power

 Flowers for a birthday, Valentine’s Day or New Year’s Eve — good. Flowers all year long — great. The folks at Winston Flowers make it easy to give someone the gorgeous gift of flowers every month. And you don’t have to remember to re-order every time. With just one call Winston Flowers will take care of sending a hand-picked, seasonal bouquet. You can choose from three-, six- or twelve-consecutive-month offers. $90 and $120 per month. www.winstonflowers.com

Bali interesting

John Hardy’s design studio is in Bali. You may not be surprised when you see his work. You can see the influence. Hardy arrived in Bali in 1975 and studied silver-smithing techniques with Balinese craftsmen. He first became known as a designer of silver jewelry, but he also works with gold, diamonds and other gemstones. We love this Batu Lava Kawung collection of jewelry — opulent, yes, but not overpowering. Prices range from about $700 to $2,000. You can find his work locally at Neiman Marcus.