You’re lucky! If you are going to be visiting friends and family for the holidays this year, it means you will not have to clean, decorate and prepare your own house for company. So it’s always a very thoughtful idea to show up bearing gifts at the front door of the folks who are welcoming you. Whether the occasion is an office Christmas party, cookie exchange, or weekend stay, these treats will bring a smile to your hardworking host and hostess.
Baked Goods
One easy way to thank your hostess is with homemade goodies. Mini-loaf pans are great to create a number of hostess gifts at one time- banana chocolate chip bread or pumpkin bread make lovely, scented gifts. Making homemade peppermint bark or Christmas candy from forms with melting chocolate are creative, inexpensive, yummy ways to show your appreciation. Also, since the hostess is entertaining, baked goods can be served to the guests as an extra homemade treat.
Gift Cards
There are so many adorable ways to present gift cards now. Hallmark stores even have boxes for holding gift cards that play music when you open them! Choose a gift card that is meaningful for the hosts- whether it’s a local favorite coffee shop, bookstore, or manicure salon, gift cards don’t have to have a lot of monetary value to be remembered as a personal, thoughtful gift.
Gingerbread House
Feeling creative? Perhaps no holiday gift creates the pleasantly surprised smile of a hostess better than a homemade gingerbread house. Families can have kids help with decorating- and if you don’t have time to bake the gingerbread- stores now offer great gingerbread house short-cuts, from all-inclusive kits to gingerbread graham crackers that can be used for ‘construction!’ This creates a fun family holiday activity as well.
Other Ideas
If you don’t have a lot of time, here are some quick easy ideas:
- bring a local organic bottle of wine (wrapped in an elegant velvet wine bag is nicer!)
- present a pretty set of holiday spreaders and cheese plate
- find a book about entertaining at the holidays
- give Godiva (or other brand, but you can’t beat that gorgeous gold box) chocolates
- pick out a nice box of holiday thank you cards; wrap with a wired ribbon
- choose a small basket of holiday soaps/lotions for the powder room
- bring a decorative holiday pillow
- pick up a scented holiday candle jar
- pick out a Family Christmas Movie to give
- present a Poinsettia or other potted holiday plant
Whatever you choose to present as a gift to your hosts, they will surely be happily surprised, as well as appreciative that you remembered them while visiting their home.
Read about:
- Creative New Year's Party
- Cheap, Creative Christmas Gifts
- Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas
- Creative Christmas Crafts
Mary McCarthy - Mary T. McCarthy is the blogger at pajamasandcoffee.com and Editor of Chesapeake Family magazine.
