housewarming present for a newly-separated friend

A dear friend of mine recently separated from her "DH" in awful circumstances (he got a job interstate but promptly announces she and their 2 kids were staying in Melbourne AND THEN she found out he was having an affair). She has just found a new rental property - her first home on her own with her boys aged 2 and 6. I really want to give her something lovely and welcoming for a housewarming present. It will be a new start for her so I imagine she will be getting rid of alot of things from the old place that hold memories of her marriage. She is very creative and into pampering type stuff, but I don't want to go with the usual bath salts - she will hardly have any time to herself, now she is a solo parent. Any suggestions, girls???

I would go candles and insence, maybe not so much insence with little ones i spose... maybe a nice candelabra like the ones u see in that dusk store..
she sounds like a strong lady with great friends :)

Anything from Lush, I love their bath bombs or if you are happy to babysit for her, maybe a couple of massage or spa treatments.

Um. Some really nice tea/coffee and a plunger if she doesn't have one, and then maybe a nice travel mug, so she can follow the kids around/watch them outside with her cuppa, and not worry about them touching a hot mug?

Some dvds - tv episodes, so she can watch one or two a night, now that she will be without company most nights? Or a magazine subscription or two?

Clothes vouchers (to decorate her wardrobe!), if she needs to feel attractive/good about herself?

That's all I have for now.

massage and facial treatments.
a few sessions of a house cleaner.
candles
electric oli burner
some nice cushions
picture

Thanks girls, they are all great ideas!

I like the cleaner idea - I think she will really appreciate that one! And the DVDs - she is a big fan of McLeods Daughters - I might find out if she has any of the series on DVD. She is very much a candle person and the manicure/pedicure idea rocks too!

cheers girls!

What a lovely friend you are! I agree with everyone elses ideas. Maybe a magazine subscription? Or what a about a "pamper pack" with choccies, a little bottle of champagne, a magazine or book, scented candle, some little food treats etc depending on what she likes.
The main thing is she will probably be feeling very down about herself so anything that cheers her up or boosts her self esteem is great. I think knowing she has such caring friends will help a lot too.

I might add a bubble blowing machine and some bubble stuff maybe?
you can pick them up for around $20 now and it's a great way to instantly occupy (or distract) the kids.
Plus bubbles always cheer me up :D

A pot of bright, flowering plants for the front door.
If you can afford it, a video doorbell for her security (it will be strange without a bloke around the house for a while).

absolutely anything these ladies have said!

they are all wonderful ideas!

One of the most luxurious things I have been given is huge fluffy white towells (for my own use!) They are something I would never have bought for myself, but I do love them. I feel like I'm at a day spa when I use them. A big fluffy robe might be nice, too...

I was going to suggest some beautiful sheets.
I was given sheets as a gift when I was newly single and it meant so much to me... I was able to throw out some of the sheets I shared with my ex and enjoy my gorgeous new sheets.

I was going to suggest good quality sheets or towels - they are an indulgence, but so nice - and given the circumstances I'm sure she would love not to have sheets/towels that remind her of her very unDH.

thanks for the suggestions girls :)

I scored a soft, teddy-bear-like throw in her fave colour from the reject shop for $18 and my mum gave me some nice soaps, a candle holder and a compass for her oldest boy. The bubble machine is a great idea for the younger one (might have to pick one up for my boys while I'm at it!) Turns out a friend of mine had the same idea so we are going to do a joint pressie and target something for each room of the house - right down to super-lush toilet paper for the loo!

thanks for the suggestions girls :)

I scored a soft, teddy-bear-like throw in her fave colour from the reject shop for $18 and my mum gave me some nice soaps, a candle holder and a compass for her oldest boy. The bubble machine is a great idea for the younger one (might have to pick one up for my boys while I'm at it!) Turns out a friend of mine had the same idea so we are going to do a joint pressie and target something for each room of the house - right down to super-lush toilet paper for the loo!