[Holidays 2022] Three Hostess Gifts They'll Love
I always feel grateful when friends, co-workers, and family reach out to invite J and I to a Christmas party. One of my favorite things about this holiday is the ability to be together (second the ambiance (decorations, music), third food and drink, fourth the outfits…. if you were wondering). When preparing to attend I never like to arrive empty handed so I’ll collect items throughout the year to put a quick hostess gift together. The goal is for my gifts to be affordable but memorable, maybe by giving an experience or creating a homemade gift that will help the hostess the next day, when decompressing from a great soiree.
I have been known to give a copy of a favorite holiday movie on DVD or Blu-ray with a pair of fleece socks or a fluffy throw blanket. I know when throwing my own dinner parties I appreciate a guest who brings a specialty drink to share with others. Just the help with mixing cocktails is tremendous when entertaining a home full of guests. So I try to create a basket with all the ingredients to whip up a fun holiday cocktail or mocktail to help out our gracious hostess. If I know that the hostess loves flowers but has a pet I’ll stay away from the poinsettias and instead grab a Santa holiday mug to arrange a small flower arrangement of my own. Once the flowers have been thrown away the mug can be enjoyed. Added bonus if you choose to share a bag or box of your favorite coffee/hot chocolate.
I wanted to make the holidays as stress free as possible so I’ve listed three of my favorite hostess gifts to give.
If you love to share a great gift, what are some fun hostess gifts you like to give? Share them below in the comments!
Wooden Board w/Recipe Book
Of course I have been known to give a great charcuterie duo of board and book or board and cheese knife set, but I also like to mix it up…
Maybe a wooden board with a bread recipe book or a wooden board with a cookie cutter and your favorite sugar cookie recipe attached with a pretty holiday ribbon. If baking or cooking isn’t your hostesses favorite thing to do but interior design is an interest, a pretty board with a small Christmas tree tied to it makes a great beginning to a fun kitchen island, coffee bar, or table centerpiece.
Themed Drink Basket
This idea is always welcomed when I throw a party. Guests are always looking for a way to help a hostess so why not encourage sharing a favorite cocktail. This thanksgiving we entertained soldiers who couldn’t be home with their families, one guest brought the ingredients to make a delicious orange flavored scotch based cocktail. It was a hit and he left everything at our living room bar with instructions so we could enjoy a few more later on. It’s that extra help that can make all the difference to your hostess. So grab your favorite holiday cocktail or mocktail recipe, the ingredients needed, and show up with an offer to whip up something festive!
Coffee Cake on Antique Plate
Now, when the party has died down and everyone has returned home there is always a mess to clean up. 9 out of 10 times part of that mess hangs out on the kitchen counters or by the sink until the next morning. If you are lucky enough to clean everything, you’re up late. Why not give your hostess a coffee cake on a fun antique plate for the next morning? That’s breakfast that they won’t have to worry about whipping up. Instead they can enjoy a cup of coffee and piece or two of cake before taking on the day. I like to collect antique plates throughout the year from places like Habitat for Humanity or my local antique store, grab a paper doily, and slice up a lemon loaf, cinnamon rolls, or holiday bundt cake. Not only is the baked good a treat but they can keep the plate. I’ve had friends pass the plate on with a homemade treat as another hostess gift, hang it on a plate wall for decoration, or keep their plate for entertaining at a later date. Both decisions bring me joy knowing it brings someone else happiness and gives them a moment to rest!