The gift of health: these ingenious picks will help friends ring in a hale and hearty 2007

Shape, Dec, 2006 by Lauren Wiener

RAISE THE BAR A hostess gift with a twist: Stirrings' Simple Pomegranate Martini mixer and rimmer will make a festive antioxidant-packed cocktail (mixer, $11, rimmer, $6; stirrings.com).

DREAM ON The Homedics SoundSpa sound machine blocks out traffic and other noise with six soothing nature sounds ($60; walmart.com).

HOLDING PATTERN This sleek coffee, tea, and sugar canister set keeps beverage essentials in clear view ($15; containerstore.com).

STRIDE RIGHT Give a fitness-minded mom a Strollometer, a pedometer-like device that accurately calculates miles walked ($46; strollometer.com).

CITY SIDEWALKS Urbanistas will enjoy Chronicle Books' City Walks decks, which contain 50 maps of scenic routes and insider tips ($15 each; amazon.com).

TAKE THE CAKE We bet you can eat just one with Cup-A-Cake's single-serving carrier, which keeps your post-lunch snack intact ($3; cupacake.com).

NEAT SEAT A traveling workmate will appreciate a germ-free journey from PlaneSheets, reusable covers for airplane seats ($25 each; planesheets.com).

IN THE BAG The teeny wheels and hidden handle of Gogogear's Mover and Shaker bag lessen the load of a laptop and files on your back ($250; fredala.com).

* DO-GOOD GIFT Log on to the Alternative Gifts International Web site and choose to help out one of the world's neediest causes, from equipping medical clinics in Bolivia to providing Vietnamese orphans with lifesaving vaccines (altgifts.org).