Top 5 Hostess Gifts

 The holiday season is here which means parties, feasts, and organized get-togethers will be taking place more often than usual.  You may be invited to various happenings and feel that you want to offer your help with dinner entrees, organizing decorations or party set-up.  If your schedule doesn't allow you to help or your host, like many, stubbornly choose to do everything themselves, a gift to offer your host or hostess is a necessity.

(Photo Credit: Viv Mag)

Planning a party is not a small chore.  Time and money goes into every aspect from party food to utensils to decorations.  Whether your hostess delegates items for you to bring, such as a potluck format, or has items catered in, it is common courtesy to bring a small gift as a token of your appreciation.  We know the holidays bring with them additional costs, so keep your purchases down by being creative.

1.       Flowers- Everyone likes flowers; they are cheerful, bright and smell nice.  If you are invited to a Thanksgiving or Christmas party, bring either a potted plant in a holiday coordinating color or an assortment of flowers in an inexpensive vase.  Dress up a store bought arrangement by adding craft feathers, peacock feathers, or pheasant feathers.  The inexpensive assortment will appear more spectacular with the addition of feathers.  Tie a coordinating bow with metallic accents around the vase for even more embellishment.

2.       Homemade Cookies- Instead of spending additional money around the holidays, bake a special treat for your hostess.  Prettily decorated cookies and delicate treats will be the perfect thank you.  Place cookies in a holiday tin or mug to add a simple container to go with your gift.

3.       Personalized Gift Certificates-  Most people possess amazing talents to offer that they can give as creative gifts.  Are you a massage therapist, avid baker, or seamstress?  Create a gift certificate to offer your hostess as a thank you.  Perhaps you can make a simple fleece blanket, or promise a personal massage.  Remember to keep dates open on certificates so that the hostess can schedule the day and time at her leisure.

4.       Coffee Gift Card-  Nothing offers a pick me up after a party such like coffee.  Purchase a gift card to your hostess’s favorite coffee shop.  The great thing about coffee is that it is relatively inexpensive…a $10 gift card will last your hostess two cups of her favorite Joe.

5.       Simple Decoration- Purchase a simple holiday decoration to offer your party host.  A handmade Thanksgiving wreath or a pretty Christmas ornament make for inexpensive gifts that may be used year after year.