Gift certificates are great. Most people would like a certificate to their local movie house (make sure it’s enough for her and a guest to see at least one movie). Starbucks is always good, even if they don’t like coffee there are always fancy fru fru drinks, iced tea and cocoa, sandwiches and sweets. Trader Joe’s certificates are always welcome. Bookstore certificates are also great. If you give a certificate, wrap it up with a little candy cane or some other type of edible attached to it. Just to make it more pretty and festive, plus then there’s something to enjoy right away.
I like to bake, so making a good quick bread and wrapping it up in some pretty colored cellophane with a bow is nice. Pumpkin bread and Banana bread are good choices. Fudge, brownies and decorated holiday cookies are always good too.
People are real particular about the scents they like so don’t give candles, bath salts or lotions, unless you know for an absolute fact which scents or brands they would like.
Here’s something that might be good too (which could be used for school or home use) a nice collapsible cooler with a cold thermos and a hot thermos included.
And yes, I would give the same thing, or similarly valued, item to the assistant as well.