Like most every other blogger in the blogdom I’m taking part in this quarter’s bloggy giveaway carnival. Oy. Do you think I could have fit the word ‘blog’ into that sentence one more time? Probably not.
Since I’m the kinda gal who gives gifts that I’d enjoy receiving I’m giving away one of my favorite gifts to get: a gift card.
Starbucks. Ten smackaroos. Yours for the winning.
Unfortunately for you I’m also the kind of girl who appreciates a contest more than a sweepstakes. So a simple “pick me, I heart Starbucks” left haphazardly in my comments won’t win you this prize.
What will? Give me an idea for a creative hostess gift. It’s random – I know. We’ve been invited to a party though and seeing as how we’re sort of hurtin’ in the friends department I want to make a good impression. Ya know, so we’ll get invited back and all. Heck, if it’s a good enough gift maybe some of the other guests will be envious and invite us over just to score a hostess gift of their own. I’m not above bribery.
Have a look around while you’re here. Thoughtful comments on one or two other posts will definitely improve your chances of winning. I’m partial to the “My Faves” posts over there in the right hand column…
Thanks for stopping by my spot!
*****Edited to add that I will choose a winner Thursday, Jan. 29th at 7:00 Central time.*****
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I love Spiffy Spoonz! I use them often for gifts such as these….the pie server is a great gift idea.
http://spiffyspoonz.com/
Thanks for the chance….
Megret
musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com
I’m a total “mix in a jar” type gal – I buy a nice reusable container at Target or Wal-mart, layer the mix ingredients, tie a ribbon around it – wonderful, consumable and practical!
-Candle
-Diffuser
-Body Spray
-Maybe one of those tranquil sprays for the pillow case…
I’m not very good with this stuff. But hopefully this helps.
I think the best hostess gift is a little gift basket with some travel size items and candy.
Thanks for the giveaway!!
dlfrx(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
Buy some tealights or votives in pretty colors, and some coordinated cellophane wrap, thin ribbon, a basket, and a candleholder. Lay out the candles on pieces of cellophane and then roll them up like a “cracker.” Tie the ends with the ribbon. Fan these out in the back of the basket and set the candleholder in front of them. These have been very well-received when I’ve done them! Have fun!!!
I often make some homemade treats or bread and put it in a basket wrapped in a cute dishtowel.
I usually go for a bottle of good wine. A reisling is usually a good bet. Maybe tie a cute dishtowl around it or something.
My father makes the best Cinnamon Roasted Almonds. Everyone loves them! They make the greatest Hostess gifts. You can order some through my SIL at her Etsy shop, Completely Nuts:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6343014
And, if I win, please send the gift card to my dear SIL in Michigan!
Deborah @ Comfort Joy Designs
comfortjoydesigns.blogspot.com
comfortjoydesigns{AT}gmail{DOT}com
First of all, love your blog design. I’m partial to food & drink for a hostess gift. It can be used during the par-tay, or they can hang on to it for later. Otherwise I wonder if I’m matching their decor, or if I’m giving them something they’ll just pass on at a white elephant exchange later. Who needs that stress? I love a riesling myself. Maybe some chocolates? MAYBE A STARBUCKS GIFT CARD????
A bottle of wine is always good, or candles (unscented), or I’ve gotten some wine charms that I really loved!
My BFF recently bought her first home.
As a gift I purchased a Large Copper Ice Tub and filled it with Amber Wine Glasses, a bottle of Wine, Gourmet Crackers, a variety of Cheeses, Kitchen Towels to match her decor and various Wine Accessories.
It was really a Gorgeous Gift !
Thank you so much for offering this wonderful giveaway !
I’d always appreciate a fun kitchen towel or two as a gift.
I wish I could claim this idea as my own, but one thing I’ve enjoyed giving is antique serving ware with a matching food item. A jar of fancy olives with a little fork. some kind of yummy jelly(homemade?) with a serving spoon, etc….
Thanks for the chance!
I actually have two ideas for hostess gifts because I’ve lived in two seperate/different areas of the country and things are different…(make sense??)
I am originally from the Chicago area (an hours drive) and if I were still living there, I’d give flowers either potted or a bouquet…why? I haven’t a clue…it’s just what I would do there
Seeing as I live in NY, we give food…it’s always nice to have something from the bakery, so we iether bring a cheesecake or rugalahs….why? I haven’t a clue LOL!
I would say maybe a nice little potted flower or something to warm up a house in the winter time?
Thanks for offering it!
princesslimey (at) gmail (dot) com
Do they have kids? If so, how about a basket with a game and some microwave popcorn? Or I always think that flowers and/or a bottle of sparkling cider is really nice.
a bottle of wine will rarely be a bad idea for a hostess gift. same with flowers. a house plant is nice, but you have to have the right person to give it to, otherwise some people get intimidated. but wine or flowers tend to be customary, classy, and still give you room to be creative.
I would think a jar candle in a gift bag would be a great gift
Not very original but I like to give them gcs. If they are just moving in they can always use a card to Lowes or Home Depot.
Good luck and thank you!
I’m more of a small houseplant or cut flowers person, but I recently received a gift called the hostess set. It came with a medium tray, a pack of cocktail napkins, and a spreader (small blunt knife). I really like it.
Thanks!
I keep it simple and something I’d like to get as well- a pretty bouquet of flowers (can pick up nice ones inexpensively at Trader Joes or the grocery store). Add a cute ribbon for extra splash of color.
I think a lot of it depends on how much you know about the hostess… if you don’t know, you’ll have to go with something generic that everyone likes… but if you can find something out about her before you go, then tailor it to her. Does she like to cook? Then maybe a little basket of spices… Does she like wine? (In my house, you can never go wrong showing up with a bottle of white wine)… Does she have a green thumb? When I moved into my house, a friend brought-over a lavendar plant. It has since grown and been split into two pots and every time I look at them I think of her…
The important thing is that it is something that she will use and enjoy and not something that cost a lot of money (frankly if someone came over to my house for dinner and gave me a gift card I’d be a little weirded out… but plants and wine and little baskets of stuff seem okay… guess I’m just weird).
I think it’s nice to bring a gift for peoples kids or dogs. Kids might like a small toy and dogs might like bones. Thanks!
I know what I enjoy receiving. I like to get the cute little jars with dry mixes in them. You know the ones that you put together from scratch and the recipient only has to add the liquid and bake. They are fun to get and the giver can keep her favorite recipe a secret (unless she wants to include the recipe).
Anything for the Kitchen such as a small appliance or Dish towel set w th pot holder and a stationary set for good measure. Thank you kindly! skyxsky27(at)gmail.com
My idea would be these.. they’re fun and combine the baking and candle giving ideas–but also work if the person getting the gift is a baker :)
My idea would be these.. they’re fun and combine the baking and candle giving ideas–but also work if the person getting the gift is a baker
the tale of celestial poo is too funny…my fav line is:
Jeff turned towards the direction of her pointed finger when what to his wondering eye should appear, but a suspended dung pile from Cassidy’s rear.
that is just classic! thanks for the laugh! now as to the hostess gift…
instead of the traditional bottle of wine, you could bring a bottle of Jack Daniels. that’s sure to liven up any party! but if they don’t drink (my life makes me drink occasionally) how about an aloe plant. an aloe in the kitchen is not only attractive, but a handy first aid for burns. I have one right by my sink. Sunburned kid? grab an aloe leaf, cut that sllimey thing open and rub ‘em down! thanks for the great givaway!
~Cindy
I love the Mix in a Jar ideas. Or if you can afford it- a gift basket with edibles that dont require her to serve it that night.
jill(dot)watkins(at)gmail.com
Nothing beats a good bottle of wine!
Well as you’re meeting new friends, how about making up a little basket of goodies from around the world that are new to you too? Do you have any ‘World Market’ stores in your area? You can find preserves, cookies, pretzels, dips, sauces, wines, nuts, coffees, candies and oodles more stuff from other countries – just something a little different to try maybe?
I love your story about the broom guy – that would have made my day!
I love the idea of monogrammed hand towels! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Melissa
camdensmommy@gmail.com
I love making up a small basket with things like teas,coffee,local grown honey and great little gifts that are grown . Thanks
matternu@aol.com
A good gift depends most of all on what the recipient likes – but if I do not know, I’d get her a nice potted plant, say an orchid, and a box of good chocolates – say Godiva, Lindt truffles, Mauna Loa chocolate covered macadamias, or something like that.
I would go to Panera and get some yummy treats.
A cookie basket is super nice…or a basket full of new dishcloths and handtowels…or candles…all make a wonderful gift!
Thanks
Angie
Sometimes I give away homemade jam. Almost every loves it. :)
How about some dip mixes with a cute serving bowl and and spoon.
what about a fun board game? That could encourage game nights at each other’s houses?
I have never done a hostess gift. But if I knew they were into something then I would steer toward that. Say wine people I would bring wine with some fun wine charms.
Into animals then maybe some gourmet treats for their pets
Into spas maybe a cute baskets of home spa products.
Enjoy your evening.
As a side note your daughter inspires me. My daughter with ds is 3.
thanks.
Around the holiday’s I bring some of my ornaments. For a new homeowner I usually give an aloe plant.
I little gift basket with kitchen utensils, baked goods & chocolates!
My favorite hostess gift to give is a container full of homemade hot chocolate. Nothing tastes as good as a little hot chocolate on cold mornings.
Thanks for the chance to win!
BroncoMom.is.ann@gmail.com
For something unique, you could make a gift basket with only things that begin with the first letter of their last name. So if their last name started with “C,” you could make a basket with cookies, chocolate, cheese, crackers, and cabernet. It would be fun and memorable! :-)
One of my favorite hostess gifts was a basket of muffins for breakfast the next morning so I wouldn’t have to think about that during cleanup the next day.
If the party will have kids there maybe bring a fun game for them. Bring a pretty plate (that they can keep you could get it at the dollar store if need be) and fill with snacks (the frozen mini eclairs at Sam’s Club are great hits).
amelia2007b(at)yahoo(dot)com
How about something home made? Like brownies or cookies. Or maybe some candles, everyone loves candles!
I subscribed to your RSS feed, and read and commented on This Child and In Which I’m Shamelessly Bragging posts. I enjoyed both those posts.
I’m not very creative, but my suggestion is a neutral scented (such as clean linen) reed fragrance diffuser.
txhottie_86 at yahoo dot com
I read your 100 Things About Me post and I decided to make some hostess gift suggestions based on information from that.
Here we go – how about…
1. A home-made sweet like a loaf of banana bread and a small container of home-made cream cheese spread (maybe cinnamon and honey?), and a nice spreader for the cream cheese. Their breakfast the next day is all done.
2. Since you are into healthy eating, how about a home-made fruit basket? We have a year-round farmer’s market that is fun to go to and their prices are much, much cheaper than the supermarket’s. You could recycle a basket (maybe spray paint it?) and fill it with fresh fruit, some nuts in their shells, and a cute hand-held nut cracker. Their healthy snacks are ready to go!
3. You talked about liking pizza. You could make them a home-made pizza basket with an inexpensive new pizza pan, a bag of crust mix and a jar of sauce (either purchased or home-made on those 2 items), a fresh veggie or 2 (onion, bell pepper?), a protein (Parmesan cheese, or sausage, etc) , and maybe a hot mitt or a pizza cutter. You could sit all the items on the pizza pan like a tray.
4. Is your hostess a cook? How about a couple small pots of fresh herbs? Plants are always a high note during the winter time! And she can cook with them later. (Or maybe the host can cook with them later!)
5. You said you liked board games. Is there an adult board game or one with dice or dominos that your host and hostess might enjoy? Maybe one that is rather unusual? Check at an upscale toy store or hobby store for unusual ones of these.
6. This one is an extra. If you have a picture of your host or hostess or of their children (if they have any) what about a framed picture of one of their family members or a group shot of them? People always like photos of themselves.
7. Last one – lucky seven! If you know a hobby or special interest of the host or hostess, how about a gift related to that?
8. Nope, here’s one more … I remember you also mentioned wine in your 100 items. You could give them a bottle of wine from a place they have been, or a place they would like to go ( Australia, European country, etc) and maybe a travel book to go with it.
I hope you like my creative hostess gift ideas. (Be sure to remember the extra ones for all those other parties you will be invited to attend!) All best wishes to you!
I
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