We are going to an afternoon, kids-invited-too holiday party today (we are bringing one kid, the one who is friends with one of the other family’s kids), and I am still trying to decide what to bring as a little hostess gift. Normally I would bring a bottle of wine, and I do think that’s an excellent back-up idea, but for an event that includes kids and takes place in the afternoon I’d wondered if I could think of something a little more familyish. I’d thought we were all set with our idea to bring a box of chocolates from a local chocolate shop, but then I looked around at our own house and I thought probably everyone else is also drowning (happily! but plentifully) in an abundance of treats.
We don’t know the other family well, which makes it more challenging. But also: we’d LIKE to know them better, and we are taking this invitation as an indication that they feel similarly, so it adds a little to the fun of this mission: it would be neat to find something that made them like us more or think we’re cool. *wrings hands friendingly*
Flowers, maybe? I have a bunch of inexpensively-acquired vases, so I could bring flowers in a vase they could keep; or I could bring a potted plant. I’m not saying either of those are cool ideas, but they’re classics, and maybe I should save cool for when they know us better and I can say “Here, I brought you these scented candles someone else gave me, plus a box of the fancier kind of crackers I thought we’d need over the holidays but we didn’t.”
Would coffee be a nice hostess gift? There’s a nearby place that does their own roasting/grinding and sells the coffee in cute overpriced locally-labeled jars. I could choose a couple of jars. What if they don’t drink coffee? What if they don’t drink wine? What if they’re allergic to plants? Now I am getting a little unnecessarily fretful. There is no need to get all fretty here: they will give away what they don’t/can’t use, and they will not think we are dumb for not knowing.
What do you like to bring as a hostess gift? Has anyone brought you a hostess gift that was unusual or interesting or made you think they were cool people to be friends with?
My mom stocks up on bath & body works foaming soap in “kitchen” scents (citrus) and William Sonoma dish towels in neutral colors when these things are on sale. Paired together it makes for a nice, usable hostess gift. Not one that screams “fun gift giver” but useful nonetheless
I love this idea! Kitchen towels wear out, and you can always use more soap.
Least likely to go unused/add to the clutter.
Yes! I received some fancy hand soap and a new kitchen towel and have already used both. I love this idea.
I like the coffee idea – but you could somewhat cover your bases on drink preferences by getting regular, decaf and tea maybe with fancy sweeteners like honey straws and sugar cubes? Not sure if that is overdoing it. One of my favorite presents ever was a local coffee and chocolate bar pairing.
I don’t drink coffee and still would be fine with a jar of nice coffee as a hostess gift- clearly I’m the kind of person who has a party once in a while, so I can always offer it to guests at the next party even if I don’t drink it myself :)
I got a potted plant once as a hostess gift and loved it.
To a mutual friend’s party, another friend brought a little box of spices from a Penzey’s-type place, which I thought was a fresh and fun idea.
The coffee or wine or flowers also sound like great ideas – and chocolates are always a good gift.
I like to browse the entryway at Trader Joe’s. They often have pretty little potted succulents or herbs or fun products on end caps that are in pretty packages for gifting.
Local chocolate shop! It’s different than the wine and flowers. People that frequent local sweet shops are the cool type of people they will want to know better. Also, dips, chutneys, etc.
Not sure if you have time for an amazon order before the party, but something kiddish might work nicely. I saw this particular game on a lot of social media postings over the last week or so – with both tweens and teens.
https://www.amazon.com/S-Players-Inflatable-Reindeer-Christmas/dp/B082BKRLGL
I think Swistle said they’re going today, but Kohl’s and Penney’s have these type of fun toys in their men’s gifty section.
If they celebrate Christmas, we always like to give a fun christmas tree ornament—you can find a lot of cute little felt animal ones around at those stores that sell trinket-y things. We have a felt fox swinging on a tree swing that is the cutest thing and I can’t imagine anyone not wanting it.
Good luck!
I like your ideas and a lot of these too (especially spices). Other thoughts: nice jams, or good oil and/or flavored vinegar. Jams and oils are probably more universally liked- when you know people better, you know if they might have more adventurous tastes (just brought dear friends of ours a bottle of dark cherry vinegar that is so good on salads).
We don’t drink wine, so while I always appreciate the thought when someone brings it, we give it away to my mom or houseguests.
I like dish towels, maybe with an initial on them? Coffee is good too, even if they don’t drink it they probably serve it! I think food and treats are a classic. Have fun!
Flowers or chocolates are always good choices, especially if you include the vase. Here’s why: if they don’t like flowers they can pitch them post party and the chocolates can be shared at the party.
I once got a plant and while it was pretty, I felt bad because I killed it (it was an orchid so it was pretty for the party at least)
Hot chocolate mix, possibly with a couple of mugs! More fun than coffee.
My husband is very allergic to pollen and so whenever someone brings us flowers as a gift, I end up giving them to my elderly neighbour. Which is fine, but maybe not what you intend. The coffee sounds very nice, and I also love the idea above of “kitchen” scented soaps.
I LOVE the idea of flowers in a vase they can keep- either with a note to that effect, or an explanation in person. For potted plants, orchids are nice- a bit more fancy. Or an amaryllis. Those are probably all marked down now, too!
If you think everyone’s overwhelmed with sugar, maybe some fun flavored seltzers or waters, those are popular. Or a bag of clementines, also popular.
Fun salts, spice sets, pretty wooden utensils, artisan coffee and tea, etc. I think something consumable or something super useful is always nice! And worst case, you’ve gifted them something they can re-gift, and frankly that’s sometimes the most useful.
What about a group-friendly simple game like left right center? Small, not bulky, and says “we like fun.”
Yes! I was thinking something like a small game too – though it’s hard to know what they might already have. Someone gifted us Left, Right, Center last Christmas and it was fun and simple.
Might depend on what local stores have available. Ones we have are Sleeping Queens, Love Letter, Saboteur.
I love when people bring us board games and say “We love playing this game as a family, we hope you guys like it too.” We have invited groups of those people back to play said game in the future. Maybe it’s like leaving a toothbrush at a new boyfriend’s house.
I agree- getting board/card games are my favorite as a hostess.
A popcorn basket could be fun–for the kids too. Popcorn already made or microwave popcorn with different seasonings to add to it? Maybe in a big bowl. Family movie nights are fun this time of year, and the novelty of it might appeal to them. :)
This is a great idea!
If you know that they drink alcohol—my go to gift is a bottle of champagne. You can get a very nice California vintage of French champagne (Mumm, for example) for less than $20. Or you can spend $35 and get the real thing! Either way it always feels festive and fancy and I feel like I get an enthusiastic response.
The second most baffling hostess gift I ever received was a full half-gallon of local honey. Which was actually The Best because we didn’t run out of honey during cold season for, like, years. So, can endorse, but you might get initially-baffled looks, which is probably not what you’re going for.
I’d second the clementines (or another fruit that you know will be good). Nuts also often go over well (in-shell pistachios! no-peanut mixed nuts!) now that people aren’t doing as many “fat free” diets. I don’t know whether a pack of conversation starter cards would be good? But yes, a game you enjoy (preferably, due to Christmas Stuff Explosion, a game that does not take up a large amount of space?) would be really fun!
Good luck!
I like flowering potted plants this time of year as in about two weeks when the holidays seem so far, far away, the plant will be blooming through February, at least. A happy reminder of you! A Gloxinia is a favorite . My Nana used to have one on the dining table through the first months of the year.
I am always partial to pomegranates or other slightly indulgent and surprising fruits that can either be saved for the family or shared at the party.
I make jam so I tend to bring people little jars of jam as gifts. (I also sell my extras on Nextdoor for the same purpose.) They are gluten free, so I avoid that potential issue and it seems that most people have a use for it. I also keep bees and everyone seems to be into “local honey” so that has been a popular gift too. I happen to be a person who really dislikes coffee (the smell of it is so yuck to me) and we don’t drink much wine so that tends to pile up around our house. I also have an aversion to most Bath and Body scents (I get really stuffed up if people are wearing a lot of the lotion, maybe it’s an allergy?). I sound like a total PITA but I swear I try not to call attention to those annoying traits of mine. 🙄 I think candy is a good gift too- it’s easy to give away if they don’t like it or can’t eat it!
This is one of those situations where it is WAY too easy to over-think it. My go-to is flowers or wine. Or, perhaps, a dessert that might be shared at the party? Whenever I receive a hostess gift, I am just touched that someone took the time to think of it.
*ugh* my comment seems to have disappeared. Of course, after I hit enter on this one, the other one will show up….
This is the kind of situation that is way too easy to overthink. My general go-to is either wine or flowers/potted plant. A nice dessert that might be shared is a great idea too. I just know that whenever I receive a hostess gift – no matter what it might be – I am touched that the person took the time and the thought to think of me.
Agree with the others who suggested a small board game or card game! I also wonder if you saw a calendar that would be a good gift, since it’s right before the new year? MAybe a page-a-day one that the whole family would enjoy…
I’ve been on the receiving end of a pound of locally roasted coffee and I thought it was an amazing get to know you gift!
Also, I’m dying to know how you’re managing the seasonal twinkle lights, Swistle! I de-Christmased the house the other day and I’m wondering if some NYE lights would be cheerful. Any ideas welcome! I find that leaving Christmas decor up into January sort of bums me out, but I do like looking ahead to other holidays.
I once gave a pineapple with a red ribbon wrapped around it with a little ornament attached. It was quirky, pretty and well received.
I am dying to know what you brought! For our future ponderings, I vote consumable gift like coffee, wine, sweets, small jam/honey/olive oil, or flowers in a vase. In my opinion, if you don’t know them well yet, the last thing you want to do is give them a Job like a houseplant or flowers sans vase. I do not think they will dislike you for it, but I know it makes me feel bad when I kill a gifted plant and I do feel a bit off my game if I have to track down a vase and set the flowers up while I’m trying to host people.
I ended up bringing wine! Other options were more appealing, but I ran out of time for shopping, and I had extra bottles of wine on hand.
This has been the most useful comment section!! I have stored so many of these ideas away for future hostess-gifting.
I generally go the booze route- wine or a bottle of Jack Daniels or vodka (these are things I would drink)- especially if I know they imbibe. If they do not drink (we have Mormon friends), I bring a homemade frozen pie, banana bread or cookies. The other possible route is to bring a gift for the kids in the house- board game, soccer ball, etc- and then send the kids off to entertain themselves (which really is a gift for everyone).
Coffee. Chocolate. Wine and/or Martinellis. No on flowers
, yes to a small succulent. Yes to kitchen soap. Yes to a fun ornament if they celebrate Christmas. Yes to a lovely jam. Or a local goats milk soap or cheese?
Yes, please tell us what you ended up taking! 🙂
Wine! The flower options all looked sad/crummy, and then I ran out of time, and I had extra bottles of wine already in the house.
If it’s someone I don’t know well, I bring something interesting for their kitchen. Basically I go to Target or whatever store I’m near and wander around in the kitchen department until something jumps out at me, whether it’s dish towels or a pretty plate. If it’s someone I know fairly well, I will go to the nearest quirky local shop and buy something tiny and fun and usually fairly useless, and also something I know they use regularly but a fancier version of it. Example: they use foaming hand soap from Target, so I buy them foaming hand soap from Bath & Body Works in a similar scent.
I like you. We fret about the same things
I feel like “I like you. We fret about the same things.” could be the Swistle Fan Club tagline.
Ha! TRUTH!
I am making us all t-shirts already.
One of the most unique hostess gifts I’ve ever gotten was a basket/tin of muffins equal with a note that after a busy day/evening of hosting they thought it would be nice to have breakfast taken care of. I loved it as it was thoughtful, was clear they didn’t intend for us to set the item out to be consumed at the party, and truly, it WAS nice to have muffins the next day when there was still party-related clean-up to do. The thing I normally do is stock up RIGHT NOW on clearance holiday dish towels, ornaments, and fancy paper napkins that I pack away with my Christmas decorations and use as hostess gifts next year.
We often bring fresh-squeezed juice that we buy at our local grocery store. Per volume it’s about the same price as standard, middle-of-the-road wine here (Canada), and we often get an orange juice and a mixed juice pair (orange/strawberry, orange/pineapple/kale/ginger, etc.). We don’t drink and more and more it seems our friends don’t either, but fresh juice is appreciated at all gatherings.