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.
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
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