5 perfect hostess gifts for the holidays
It’s time to check your busy calendar. If travel to family or friends is on your scheduled, and a handful of holiday parties are punctuating your weekend over the next six weeks or so, you need more than a Christmas gift list.
You need thoughtful gifts for your wonderful hosts. Sure, a bottle of wine or a pretty plant would be fine. But why not go beyond “fine” and reach for the unexpected?
We’ve scouted out a few treasures that will be welcomed by most any host:
Fruit:
Fruit Festival Dipped Strawberries, from $79 (plus Cash Back), Edible Arrangements
Frankly, a bunch of flowers are something of an inconvenience for your hosts. They have to find a vase, trim ends, and arrange; nothing anyone wants to do in the midst of a busy party. How about another sort of arrangement? Picture daisies carved from pineapple, with melon slices serving as leaves, and a bit of chocolate studding the masterpiece. Leave it to Edible Arrangements to make a centerpiece that looks lovely – right up until the snacking begins. Fruit Festival Dipped Strawberries, from $79 (plus Cash Back), Ediblearranegements.com
Flowers:
Traditional Christmas Centerpiece, from $49.99 (plus Cash Back), 1800flowers
If you do opt for flowers for your plant-loving friend, resist the urge to simply grab a bunch from the store. It’s a sweet gesture to have an arrangement delivered before the party so it can be used as décor for the holiday table. Check out 1800 Flowers, which offers everything from festive arrangements to food gifts. Consider something like the Traditional Christmas Centerpiece, from $49.99 (plus Cash Back), 1800flowers.com
Gift basket:
Bountiful Harvest Gift Basket, $44.99 (plus Cash Back), Figis
A busy holiday host could always use a block of cheese and a bit of sausage to slice before the big meal. We loved the Bountiful Harvest Gift Basket, filled with goodies like cookies, cheeses, and wrapped dates. Plus, when all the goodies are consumed, your guest has a nice-looking wicker basket in a classic shape; a perfect centerpiece for years to come. Bountiful Harvest Gift Basket, $44.99 (plus Cash Back), Figis.com
Personalize:
Neck of the Woods doormat, $24.99 (plus Cash Back), Personal Creations
Make that gift to your host truly personal by personalizing a piece for the whole family. And what could be more appropriate to the hosts who have welcomed you to their home than a welcome mat? Consider this whimsical Neck of the Woods doormat, $24.99 (plus Cash Back), Personalcreations.com
Cater to their interests:
Laguiole five-piece Cheese Set, $52 (plus Cash Back), Ahalife
Ahalife has a ton of ideas to help you target your hosts’ specific interests. We’re going to mention just one: If you have a couple who loves cheese, order the pretty and surprisingly affordable Laguiole five-piece Cheese Set, made in Thiers, France. Laguiole five-piece Cheese Set, $52 (plus Cash Back), Ahalife.com
