I don't have an office or desk at the store because I can't stand to be away from the action on the sales floor, so I frequently carry my planner with me. It's a drab old thing, functional but no fun to look at. But all that will change in 2007, when you'll find me with A Song in My Heart tucked under my arm.

Our house probably rivals libraries for the sheer number of volumes we own, thanks to my husband, who is a certified book addict. Even though we don't have any more room in our bookcases, I always pick out a few books for Dan at Christmas. If you love a reader, you should do the same this holiday season.

Instead of just nabbing the latest bestseller, select a book that celebrates your bookworm's passions and interests. Get your sister who is green thumb a book on container gardens. If your brother loves to travel, select a beautiful travelogue on his next port of call.

Most book lovers also appreciate antique or vintage books, both to read and to use in their decorating. Find an old cookbook for your favorite chef, a set of leather-bound history books for the family scholar and children's books for your buddy who is sentimental about nostalgia.

I firmly believe you can never have enough trays. That's why I frequently give these entertaining and decorating building blocks as gifts. You can find fabulous trays to fit everyone's lifestyle and look. How about a playful Lucite tray for your friend's outdoor patio? Or an ornate silver tray she can use in her bathroom to hold toiletries? This year I'm recommending a darling black wooden tray embellished with hand-painted images of birds. This beautiful tray looks perfect as a base for still-life displays, leaning against a kitchen backsplash or on the wall as artwork.

I'm drawn helplessly to these glass works of art because they are so affordable
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