Outdoor Camp Out Party

 


   When I think of camping...it doesn't give me the cozy feels at all! I am not outdoorsy, nor like being amongst the bugs and wildlife. But a camp out party, I can handle! All the elements of the outdoors, while being very close to a clean indoor washroom and the warmth of your own home. That's my kind of camping!

   So I thought, why not host a few friends over for a fall camp out dinner in the great outdoors. Try to pick a time in the fall where the weather isn't too chilly, but just cool enough that you can wear cozy sweaters or blankets wrapped around you.

   The outdoor space I chose was my own backyard, but you can even take the party to a local park if you wanted. A park with picnic tables makes it a bit easier too. I also kept the party small, just four people, and kept the menu simple too, giving you more time to enjoy your company.

   For the menu I decided on something fun and simple, yet filling and comforting that you and your guests are not wanting more! Chili with fixings, and Cornbread are easy to make, and so delicious. Talk about comfort food! Another great option is Franks and Beans. You could even serve them in a cleaned out tin can, which would be so cute, and camp chic! Here are some ideas of great chili fixings:


          -shredded cheese                     -tortilla chips            -chopped tomatoes or pico de gallo
          -green and red onions              -corn chips               -corn chips
          -pickled jalapenos                    -lime wedges           -ranch dressing
          -corn                                         -sour cream
          -chopped cilantro/parsley         -guacamole

   The cornbread can be either homemade or store bought. It will be delicious either way;  you can also add in some extras such as, cheddar cheese, jarred jalapenos or chopped chives.

Chili fixings!

Use a cute enamel cup to serve the chili in!

 
   All dinner parties have to end on a high note, and that would be with dessert! I did a "Make Your Own S'more" station, and just like the Chili fixings, I put out a bunch of add ins for them to. You cold go really crazy here with some fun add ins, and here I list some ideas for you:

           -peanut butter or other nut butters                     -dulce de leche
           -strawberry or other flavoured jams                  -chocolate squares such as milk, dark and 
           -sliced bananas                                                       caramel
           -nutella                                                              -sliced strawberries
           -regular graham crackers or cinnamon graham crackers, or both
           -can't forget the marshmallows 

 **for a great and easy homemade marshmallow recipe go to www.cookingchanneltv.com, and look up Tiffani Thiesen's recipe! Yum!!

                                                                 S'mores!!!!!

                                                         

   How about a fun game to play while enjoying your S'mores? I found this Camping Bingo game on line at www.makingfriends.com, and thought it would be an enjoyable way to spend the rest of the party. You could even have a few prizes for the winners if you wanted; either way, it's just another fun element to add to the event.

   Another fun element I incorporated in this camp out party is a "DIY Trail Mix Bar". Your guests can make their own by choosing their favourite mix ins, and then take the treat home! Put some brown paper bags filled and labeled with Trail Mix fixings, and have some extra paper bags for your guests to fill up. You could also use tin pie plates to hold the fixings, which you can easily find at the dollar store. That would look really cute too! 

    FIXING OPTIONS:

     -pretzels 
     -cheerios/chex/shreddies
     -chocolate chips
     -dried fruit such as: cranberries, cherries, apricots, raisins, mangoes
     -mini marshmallows
     -peanuts or slivered almonds
     -banana chips
     -coconut chips/pieces
     -popcorn
     -M&M's
     

                                               Cute printable from www.printabelle.com

                     

Paper bags to hold the fixings!

   All great parties need a great drink right? Seeing as how this is a party outdoors during the fall season, something warming and comforting will hit the spot! Try a Hot Toddy or Mulled Cider with or without alcohol. The hot toddy is alcoholic, so if you wanted to do both then keep the mulled cider alcohol free.

   You can easily find some great recipes for both drinks off the internet. I am including this great and easy Mulled Cider recipe from www.foodnetwork.com. (Bobby Flay)

 
       MULLED CIDER

  2 quarts apple cider
  2 cinnamon sticks
  2 whole allspice berries
  2 whole cloves
  1 orange, thinly sliced

 *place all ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer. Serve hot.   (serves 8)

   It doesn't get any easier, or any more delicious than that! I hope this post has inspired you to get outside and host an autumnal party for you and your friends! And if you aren't willing to brave the great outdoors, then bring the party inside; just make sure to have a great time with friends!

Until next time!

~A

Summer Entertaining~Dining Al Fresco

   Aaah summer! Summer days are all about swimming, picnics, camping, vacations and outdoor entertaining! I, personally, am not a fan of summer weather. The heat and humidity does not get along with my hair, nor does it get along with me, but I do love to entertain! So today, I am going to share some ideas for entertaining outdoors with your friends/family.  Recipe and drink ideas, as well as, how to decorate the table, plus a way to keep your cool too, are all on the agenda! I promise it will be stress free and fun!

   I am taking full advantage of the tropical theme here without going too Tikki Lounge. I was inspired by all the pineapples, palm trees and coconuts I saw on the store shelves at the beginning of the summer, although, as I write this, fall stuff is making it's way into the stores now!  But, let's enjoy summer a bit more shall we?

   Now, that being said, make sure you invite your guests a few weeks ahead, as people tend to make summer plans way in advance. Once you have your guest list done, think about what you want to serve at your party. An easy and simple menu, such as snacks and hors d'oeuvres, is a great option. One reason being it can all be served buffet style (which is pretty much my favourite kind of party), leaving you a lot of freedom to enjoy the festivities as well!

   Your menu should include items that can stand the heat and can be served well at room temperature. A cheeseboard might not be the best idea for outdoor summer entertaining, especially if its really hot outside. Now, that being said, I do love cheese, so I had to sneak some in. I would keep it down to one type, such as a firm cheese, and recommend serving small quantities of it, so it won't be out for too long. I think feta is a great option, and I am going to share a delicious recipe for Marinated Feta in just a bit, but in the meantime,  here are some other ideas that are ideal for outdoor entertaining:


      ~olives
      ~pickles
      ~nuts or other snacks like plantain chips and snap pea crisps
      ~pretzels, crackers, assorted breads
      ~dried fruit (apricots, figs or dates)
      ~raw veggies (baby carrots, radishes, blanched green beans, endive spears, celery, peppers)
      ~oil and vinegar (for dipping bread or raw veggies)
      ~hummus (cannot sit out for too long. 4-6 hours; under 4 hours is best)
      ~gazpacho (served in shot glasses or espresso cups)
      ~crostini or tortilla chips for dipping in gazpacho
      ~fresh tomato bruschetta

   The last item, Gazpacho, is perfect for summer parties. It is a tomato based soup that is served cold or at room temperature, and it is a cinch to make, as it all gets processed in a food processor. It is best when made ahead, so you can either make it the night before or the morning of your party. The longer it sits in the fridge, the better the flavours get! My favourite recipe is from The Barefoot Contessa. Her recipe for Easy Gazpacho can be found at www.barefootcontessa.com, or in her cookbook titled "Foolproof".

   Serve the gazpacho along side some tortilla chips or plantain chips for dipping! Serving it in shot glasses or small espresso cups, makes it easy for guests to eat and mingle!

   Next, is the Marinated Feta recipe. I love Feta cheese. It's salty, delicious and can take on any flavours really well. This recipe is so easy, you will probably make it all the time. There are a lot of recipes that call for marinating the feta in a lot of oil, so it is submerged, which is all good, but I prefer to use less oil when marinating it. The taste is still the same, and it just looks nicer!

              MARINATED FETA

    -1 or 2 blocks of feta cheese, (200g each), drained from its liquid and patted dry
    -Spice Mixture ( I use 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon of red chilli flakes and 1/2                            teaspoon dried thyme)
    -good quality olive oil for drizzling
    -salt and pepper to taste

**pat the feta cheese dry with a paper towel; then cut into thick slices
**in a small bowl, combine oregano, thyme and chilli flakes, then top the feta slices with the spice         mixture.
**drizzle the feta with olive oil and sprinkle some salt and pepper on top

   That's it! So easy to make and it's tasty! Serve it alongside some crackers, breads or crostini. This recipe can also be made a few hours ahead.

   Now onto more important things: the cocktail!!  As you may already know from past posts, I love to serve one signature cocktail that can be made ahead and in big batches. It leaves you time to enjoy your party and not have to play bartender. I found an amazing recipe for SPARKLING GRAPEFRUIT SANGRIA from www.thewickednoodle.com. It is easy and so refreshing; perfect for a warm summer's evening! I am not a fan of grapefruit, but I am a fan of sangria, so if grapefruit juice is mixed with alcohol, then it can't be all that bad! :)
Here is the recipe for you:


                               SPARKLING GRAPEFRUIT SANGRIA

    1 bottle riesling (750ml)
    1 bottle Prosecco (750ml)
    2 cups grapefruit juice
    1/2 cup simple syrup or agave
    1/2 cup club soda
    1 grapefruit, sliced

*mix all ingredients, except Prosecco, in a large pitcher or drink dispenser; refrigerate for at least 24 hours
*when ready to serve, add Prosecco
*the original recipe calls for 2 cups of sliced strawberries, but I decided to leave them out.
*simple syrup is equal parts sugar and water boiled until sugar is dissolved.

   Another simple and delicious cocktail option is Lemonade Mimosa! Add homemade or store bought lemonade to a glass and top with champagne, Cava or Prosecco! Easy and oh so good!
 
   I also like to have a variety of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available for guests. If you have the space, try to set up a bar area in another spot away from the buffet table. If you don't, even a small side table or bench can be used, or save some room on the buffet table for adding a tray with the drinks.

   We have a piece of furniture that we used to use in our laundry room, as our now designated outdoor bar/serving table. I placed a seagrass runner on the top of the bar, and used every inch of space that I could.  I love that there are shelves on the bottom that can hold the bottles,  glasses and other bar essentials. Here I chose to use one of the drawers as a towel holder and the other one to hold bar tools. This allows access to everything so your guests can help themselves!

   Make sure you have ice handy to keep your drinks cool all night long. I used a black and gold bowl and added a scoop. The metal in the bowl helps to keep the ice from melting a bit, but you will need to replenish it as needed.

   I also added this gold frame that I found at a thrift store to the bar area. I painted the cardboard insert green to go with the colour scheme, added a quote and voila, a simple DIY! You could also use it as a menu board if preferred.  I used removable adhesive stencils and a glass marker to create the letters. It was way easier for me to do that, then try to write it free hand!

   Little details can elevate your bar too. Patterned paper straws, cocktail stirrers, cute napkins and a set of bar tools with shakers, dress up your bar, and allow your guests creative freedom to be their own cocktail master! Add a few bowls of lemons and limes, along with a serrated knife and small cutting board, and your bar is pretty much set up.

   I like to put bottles of sparkling water out on a tray along with one or two bottles of juice/lemonade as well. Decanting the juices into clear or decorative bottles makes for a pretty display too. All you need is a tag or label attached so your guests know what they are drinking!

   I found a really cute idea to keep my guests cool during the night as well. These all natural mists are fun and so easy to do.  I like to place the filled bottles in the refrigerator to make sure they are extra cold, and then place them in an area that is easily accessible for the guests, like on the bar. Here is how I made mine:

              ALL-NATURAL MISTS

* fill small spray bottles with water ( I found the bottles at the dollar store)
* add julienned cucumbers to some of the bottles, and sprigs of lavender and mint to the others.
* label the bottles and add a little tag or sign where they are displayed

   They really do help to cool off, and cucumber is known for its hydrating properties, so bonus on that one, while lavender and mint are great at repelling insects! Win win! These would also make cute party favours for your guests to take home too.

   Next, setting up your table for a buffet style meal. I used a scarf in a tropical pattern for my table cover. It is an inexpensive option and you have more chances of finding some fun prints. I then placed a few plants in the center of the table. I used plants I already hand on hand so I didn't have to go shopping,  but feel free to use flowers or whatever you like.  I added a few votive holders with LED candles in them to light up as it gets darker.  Think about adding some citronella candles around your backyard too, to keep the bugs away, just don't place them directly on the food table. No one wants the smell of citronella, while they are trying to enjoy their food!

   Because this was a smaller table, I added the napkins and dishes on one end of the table so guests know where to start. The food was easily accessible from both sides of the table, so there is no waiting in line. I used linen napkins with bamboo napkin rings in a basket and placed a few mini terracotta pots with skewer picks on both sides of the table for guests to use.

   I like adding different platters and pedestals to serve the food on, because it makes the table visually appealing, but also gives a bit more room to your table to add more dishes. Here, I used a mixture of black, gold and some wood elements, to compliment the colour scheme.  I used a cake stand for the crackers and added a vase in the middle of it. I always suggest shopping your home for fun and creative serving pieces before going out and buying new ones. You never know what you have until you look for it!

 
   To end the evening, why not give your guests a fun treat for dessert. Who doesn't love a popsicle in the summertime? Boozy Popsicles are an easy make-ahead treat, and there are so many great combinations you can play around with. I guarantee your guests will love them. These can be made without the alcohol as well, and it might not be a bad idea to have a non-alcoholic option for designated drivers. Here are some delicious ideas:

           ~PEACH BOURBON
           ~CITRUS CAMPARI
           ~PINA COLADA
           ~WATERMELON MARGARITA
           ~CUCUMBER, MINT AND GIN

   I could go on, but there you have it! Some simple and fun ideas for your next summer party. Oh and one more thing! Don't forget the music; every party needs a good playlist!  I hope this post gets you excited about entertaining your friends and family in the great outdoors, and enjoying the summer weather a little bit longer!

   Until next time!

  ~A



PRODUCT INFORMATION:

-scarf from www.ardene.com
-leaf platters from www.walmart.ca
-plates and tea towel from www.chaptersindigo.ca
-plastic stemless wine glasses and small black and gold metal bowls from www.loblaws.ca
-large black and gold bowl, terracotta pots from www.dollarama.com
-skewer picks and mini plastic bottles from www.dollartree.com
-drink pitcher, coloured plastic cups (with straws and stirrers) from www.target.com
-bamboo tray from www.varagesale.com
-mini fake plants, clear votive holders, green vase from www.michaels.com
 
 

 

Father's Day Retro Diner Party

   Father's Day! A day where we let the fathers or father figures in our lives, know how much we appreciate them, how much we love them, and how lucky we are to have them in our lives! One way I know how to do that is by having a party to celebrate them and make them feel special.

   When planning a Father's Day party, think about your dad and what he likes, and what reminds you of him. My dad loves the 50's and 60's! The music, the cars, the movies! And to tell you the truth, because of my parents, I love it too! So I thought it would be a fun theme for a Father's Day party, and a wonderful way to take a trip down memory lane!

   A party like this can be as big or as small as you want it to be.  Invite your dad (obviously), father-in-law,  friends who are fathers, grandfathers or father figures in your life! Really anything goes, and the more the merrier!

   First thing is the invitation! A cute and fun retro style invite is the perfect start to your party, and sets the tone for what's to come. If you wanted to take the theme even further, you could ask your guests to dress up for the occasion. How fun would that be? Just make sure to put it on the invitation, and send it out a few weeks before the party!
 
   This simple yet retro invite was a free printable from www.printablepartykits.com, that you can have printed at your local copy centre!

    Next, start thinking about the decor, and take inspiration from the invite to help you with the colour scheme and direction you want your party to go in. Here I went with red as the main focus because my father loves the colour red, but feel free to choose whatever colour you like. 

   Find some old 45's or records and use them as wall decor or even to serve the food on! Thrift stores or your parents basement is a great place to find them! They don't even have to be from the 50's or 60's because you can easily cover up the label with paper.

   Old die cast cars make for great decor too! Just place them around the room or even on the buffet table. You can even find paper cars on www.etsy.com that come in a variety of styles and models and colours. They make great favour boxes too!

   Your local party store would have great items to decorate with too, from balloons, to pinatas, to all sorts of decor to suit your theme.

   Let's move on to the food, which in my opinion, is the best part! You can have so much fun coming up with the menu. Just keep it simple, and think about what you would find at a diner! I found this cute printable on www.etsy.com.

   

         The MENU:

                       -hamburgers and hot dogs (mini or full size)

                       -french fries and onion rings with gravy

                       -club sandwiches

                       -BLT sandwiches or make them into skewers (because even diners can be a bit fancy)

          DESSERT:

                        -glazed and old fashioned donuts

                        -a candy bar 

                        -popcorn 

                        -mini apple and cherry pies with ice cream

                        -milk shakes and DADS Root Beer to wash it all down

   Greet your guests at the door with a cute diner sign such as this one found at www.zazzle.com. You could simply tape it to the door or replicate a real door sign by attaching it to a frame or a wooden board, and attach a string at the back to hang it. Super simple! 

   Why not have some photo props set up at the entrance so guests can take some fun pics before the party starts! It is a lot easier to have them do this at the beginning, so they can concentrate on enjoying the festivities.  An easy background option is to simply hang some wrapping paper or a plastic tablecloth to a door, instead of a fancy backdrop. Or, you could simply have them stand against the wall or a door. 

   Now onto the table set up! I think a buffet is a good idea for a party like this. It gives people the chance to mingle, and go up and get as much or as little food as they want. It also gives you creative freedom to have fun with the set up! Here a check plastic tablecloth was used. I know it's not a fancy fabric tablecloth, but it's supposed to be a diner after all! Plus, any spills are easy to clean up too!

   I found these adorable Late Night Diner images as a free printable from www.vecteezy.com, and I think they would be great as menu cards to identify what was being served at the "diner". Some very inexpensive photo holders that you can find at your local dollar store, can hold them in place. 

   Once your guests are ready for dessert, why not treat them to an old fashioned milkshake to go along with your retro desserts! It can be a fun way to get your guests involved in the party too! Have all the ingredients at the ready and they can create their own! If you can't find a cool milkshake maker like the one in the pic, you can always use a blender.

                                        

   Setting up a coffee station is also an easy serve-yourself option! It can either be set up with the desserts or in the kitchen. Think of finding retro mugs (dollar stores are a good place to start), but paper cups are fine too. A classic vintage coffee pot fits right in with the theme! It also keeps the coffee hot longer so guests can fill up as much as they like.

   Next onto some fun party game ideas to keep your guests entertained! Think about spreading out the games if you are doing more than one. Have a few outside (weather permitting), and some inside. This also gives your guests the option of playing all or just some.

          GAMES:

               -set up tables with retro board games such as, checkers or Parcheesi

               -have a Hula Hoop contest

               -Name That Tune

               -1950"s Trivia Game (see pic below/found this one on www.etsy.com)

               -Twister ( it came out in the 60's but it's still a fun game)  

               -Bingo

                                        

   

   Have some prizes for the guests who answers the most trivia questions right, or for the best Hula Hooper! It doesn't have to be expensive or fancy; chocolate bars, mini bags of candy, mini gum ball machines, or even decks of playing cards, are all fun!

   A fun idea to incorporate into your party is to have an area where guests can leave messages to or about their dads. I came up with the idea of using diner guest checks instead of a traditional scrapbook. Give guests the options to write down a memory or a funny "dad" joke! Near the end of the party they can be read out loud for a laugh or a good cry! :)

   The signs can be made simply by using stickers and paper that matches the theme and added to photo frames. Or if time permits, you can always print out the message too. 

   

   So your guests have been fed, had a great time reminiscing and hopefully a lot of fun too, especially reading those dad jokes! Send them home with a little something to say thanks for coming! A DVD or CD from the 1950's or 1960's, is a really great idea, and keeps the trip down memory lane going just a bit longer! You can find very inexpensive DVD's and CD's at the dollar store or even in certain areas of electronic or department stores. 

   You could always create your own song list and download the songs onto a blank CD for your guests. Photocopy an old pic of your dad or dads attending the party to use as a cover photo for the CD sleeve. Even a photocopied pic from the 50's/60's found on the computer can be used as a cover photo too!

   I hope some or all of these ideas help you throw your dad(s) an amazing Father's Day party that leaves them feeling special and celebrated for the awesome fathers they are! Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time! :)

~A

PRODUCT INFORMATION:

-mini gum ball machines from Sweets Galore in Pickering.

-glasses for milkshakes and red photo frames from Ikea

-Trivia Game, Menu Sign, Open sign printables from www.etsy.com

-Guest Checks from www.printablecashreceipts.com

-Eat sign from www.retroplanet.com   

-Coffee Sign from www.shutterstock.com

-Dad's Diner sign from www.zazzle.com

-coffee mugs from Dollar Tree

-mug rack from www.worldmarket.com

-vintage coffee pot and Bingo game from www.valuevillage.com

-milkshake machines such as the one in the pic can be found                            at www.walmart.ca, www.bedbathandbeyond.ca or at www.amazon.ca

-chalkboard photo props and photo holders from Dollarama

-condiment bottles, french fry holders, paper food bowls with liners, red basketsfrom Dollarama and    Dollar Tree

-bamboo cutlery from www.michaels.com

-napkin holder from www.varagesale.com

  

   

   

   

              

Hostess Gift Ideas

   I really love getting invited to parties, any kind of party actually, just as much as I love throwing them. It's always fun getting together with great friends or family, whatever the occasion. But I think I love giving gifts more! I take a lot of pride in coming up with a fun and creative gift for the host or hostess who has probably gone out of their way to make the party a special event! What's even more fun, is seeing the expression on the face of the person receiving the gift; as long as it is a happy expression!

   Now with the weather getting warmer, more people feel the urge to entertain and have people over. It could be for a housewarming party, a barbecue, game night or movie night! Whatever the celebration may be, and whatever type of party you may be invited to, I will be sharing some really great ideas, that are easy, inexpensive, and fun! Whoever the recipient of these gifts is, I can guarantee they will love them!

   There are your typical go-to gifts that never really fail, such as a great bottle of wine or champagne (given that the host actually likes to drink), or even flowers or a beautiful plant. These are great gifts that will always be appreciated, but maybe think about something a little more inventive and fun! Perhaps something that actually has meaning or a connection to the host/hostess; something that shows you have taken the time to get to know them and their interests! Using the theme of the party to decide on what type of gift to give, will help you come up with something fun and useful too!

   This is a list of gift ideas that I love to give (and would love to get in return hint, hint)!

     *a pasta basket  (dried pasta, jarred sauce, colander, dried italian seasoning, dried chilli flakes,
                                   tea towel, and a pasta spoon; use the colander to hold the items)
     *a movie night basket (popcorn bowl, boxed or bagged popcorn, popcorn seasonings, a couple  
                                          of DVD's, movie tickets or Google Play gift card, candy/chocolate bars)
     *a ceramic pie dish with a favourite recipe and tea towel; you could even bake the pie for them 
     *a brie baker with a couple of brie toppings
     *a basket with oils and vinegars and a loaf or two of bread/crostini crackers, a set of dipping                  bowls,     **flavoured oil recipe to follow**
     *a really pretty bowl with a jar of jam or honey and a small serving spoon; can also add a box of 
       cookies or crackers
     *small cheeseboard with knife set
     *coffee basket, with a few different types of ground coffee, chocolate covered spoons, and 
       biscotti
     *a cute set of cocktail napkins, a container/jar of mixed cocktail nuts, cocktail mixer set
     *a candle wrapped in a tea towel; or do the same with a beautiful jar of hand soap and a hand 
       towel
     *any baked treat: the possibilities are endless as are the containers to deliver them in
     *basket filled with olives, crackers, appetizer plates or small bowls, jarred antipasto mix

                 FLAVOURED OIL RECIPE

              3 Tablespoons olive oil
              1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
              1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
              1/8 teaspoon salt
  *add all ingredients to a mason jar or bottle with a secure, spill proof lid


   Here is a list of other gift ideas broken up into seasons:

          SPRING/SUMMER

      *garden tools, packets of seeds, gardening gloves, a pail or planter
      *drink dispenser or pitcher filled with a cocktail spoon, bottle of wine or other fave cocktail, 
        lemons, oranges, limes, a bottle of simple syrup, outdoor glasses, paper straws and coasters
               (not all of these items need to be added, they are just options)
      *drink dispenser with a condiment set, paper french fry holders, snack holders for hot dogs 
        or hamburgers, bamboo cutlery, paper straws, and food picks.

       



               
           

      *a lantern with citronella candles; you could also add some of the above items to the lantern 
        instead of the drink dispenser
      *BBQ kit: oven mitt/apron, a couple of bottled bbq sauces, small basting brush and pot, a                       seasoned wood plank or wood chips
      *S'mores kit: marshmallows, good quality chocolate, graham crackers, small/medium cast iron
        pan

      
    *in the pics above: drink dispenser, straws, napkins, acrylic stemless wine glasses, bottle of wine
      and citrus.

             FALL/WINTER

      *blanket or blanket scarf, candles, mulled cider packets **recipe to follow**
      *hot chocolate kit: mugs, a few packets of hot chocolate in different flavours, marshmallows,
         cinnamon sticks, or add powdered hot chocolate, mini marshmallows in a mason jar
      *candied nuts either store-bought or homemade
      *gourmet caramel apples in a basket
      *Keep Warm kit: packages of tea, honey, a cute mug or two, or even a small tea pot or 
        tea-for-one set, and hand warmers

                    MULLED CIDER SACHET
    
                 12 cinnamon sticks
                 6 pieces star anise
                 1 Tablespoon whole allspice berries
                 1 Tablespoon whole cloves
                 6 sachets (like the ones used for loose leaf tea)
   *this recipe makes 6 sachets and it can be kept at room temperature for up to 6 months*

           **in the pic above: enamel cups, felt blanket, candle and matches in a mason jar. Add a piece 
                 of sandpaper cut to fit the inside of the mason jar lid, and hot glue to the rim. You can use 
                  the sandpaper to strike the matches! Easy and useful DIY. :)
 

     Use different ways of displaying some of the items too. I love mason jars, as you all know, so add
the marshmallows in a large mason jar for the s'mores; decant the spices for the pasta basket into glass spice jars; decant oils and vinegars for the bread basket into glass bottles with a spout or spill proof lid. All these can easily be found at the dollar store.

   A more traditional take on a housewarming gift is a Bread and Salt basket. It has been around for a long time; how long, I am not sure, but it is a custom that was and continues to be popular in the European countries. It is said that if you were a guest in someone's home, and if you were respected by the hosts, they would present you with the bread and salt blessing. Nowadays, guests usually bring the bread and salt to the hosts home as a way of blessing their new house or saying thank you for being invited into their home.

   The blessing is as follows:

               Bread ~ that this house may never know hunger
       
               Salt ~ that life may always have flavour

   The bread was usually wrapped in an embroidered tea towel and the salt was presented in a salt cellar or container. This is a beautiful idea, and although the bread and the salt were the more traditional gifts given, today guests have also included the following items too.

               Sugar ~ that life shall always have sweetness

               Candle ~ that this house will always have light

               Wine ~ that joy and prosperity may reign forever
 
   Print out the blessings on a paper or write your message in a card, and present it with your gift basket. A very sweet gift that any host or hostess would love to receive. Below is an example of the printed blessing.

  So there you have it; my hostess gift giving guide!  I hope these ideas help you out the next time you get invited to a celebration, and I really hope that you have fun putting them together as much as I do!

Until next time!

~A












PRODUCT INFORMATION:

~ drink dispenser, candle and retro condiment bottles from www.dollarama.com
~ paper straws, blue checked snack bowls from www.dollartree.com
~ napkins from www.homesense.ca
~ bamboo cutlery, paper straws from www.michaels.com
~ clear stemless acrylic wine glasses www.realcanadiansuperstore.ca
~ french fry holders and red checked flag picks from a local dollar store
~ melamine condiment set from www.potterybarn.com
~ enamel cups from www.valuevillage.com