Hostess Gifts For All ...

It's a winter wonderland in Atlanta and Marietta received seven inches of snow this weekend.  It was a beautiful sight and so fun to watch the kids enjoy every second of the white gift they were given.  It was a sea of gloves, wet clothes, scarves, snowballs, snowmen and boots and I am thankful for every second.  

With the down time I was gifted I started plotting December on the calendar and realized I was gifted with lots of invitations for the holidays.  Lots of invites equals lots of hostess gifts I need to make happen.  I love coming up with unique things to give to others.  I want them to know how special they are and how much I appreciate and am thankful for their friendship and the request for my time with them.  A special hostess gift can serve as a thank you for having me and your gift to them for the season.  A two for one this time of the year is always a good idea in my book. 

As I sharpied in the party or occasion on the calendar I also wrote down what I would be taking to them.  As I started brainstorming I realized I am not the only one who needs hostess gifts and started working on a gift guide.  I am super excited about these choices and I know they will be perfect for so many on your hostess gift list.  I have divided them up for you based on each individual event.  

For the cocktail party ... 

Who doesn't love to go to a cocktail party?  I know I love putting on my fancy clothes and sipping and eating with others for any occasion.  For the couple that invited us over I have decided to take my favorite snacks along with a fun platter they can use over and over again.  I love serving these yummy cheese straws which are always a crowd favorite.  The tin would look amazing tied up with the tray.  I also love these yummy pecans with pair with anything you can think of and are simply delicious.  I have gathered up all my favorite trays for you to peruse.  

For dinner ... 

This year we were invited over for a holiday dinner and I am thrilled to be included in a wonderful evening I know we will truly enjoy.  I love hosting but even more than that I love being included and this is sure to be the most fun.  Most of the guests will show up with bottles of wine so I need to think outside the box.  I am planning on taking the hosts favorite spirit, which I know to be bourbon.  With my bottle of bourbon I am pairing some fun cocktail napkins they can use after the party to enjoy with their loved ones hopefully sitting around the fire remembering the fun evening.  If you happen to have a friend with a large collection of linen cocktail napkins for the holiday I suggest a great book to challenge their spirit making skills. 

For an ornament exchange ... 

I have two of these on my calendar and since a lot of the same people will be attending both I had to get a little creative.  One of my favorite things to do is to drop off my hostess gift the day or two before to let them use what I have gifted them.  In this case I am taking a fun cheese board and cheese knives to one host who I know needs them and cheese markers to the other.  I had their cheese boards personalized to make it even more special.  Hopefully when they use their boards in the future they will remember the party they threw.

For the girls night ... 

I love a girls night and my girls are truly the lifeline of my days.  I want them to know how special they are to me and how much their love and support and constant prayers support me day after day.  For me nothing says I am thankful for you than a bottle of bubbly.  Something about the bubbles just say special to me and hopefully makes them feel special as well.  I have paired my bottles this year with fun bags and a fun champagne straw I found locally. How fun, right?

Coffee with the girls ...

I have a small group of blogger friends that I adore!  It is so fun to meet real people that you follow and read daily and we are getting together for coffee at a fun location in Roswell. There are three of them coming and I am super excited to gift them one of my favorite hostess gifts. I chose my favorite candle of the season and a fun Christmas pack of matches.  The candle I chose for them is peppermint so I have added in an extra candle to the mix just in case peppermint isn't your thing.  I can tell you this pink candle smells amazing, it makes my whole main floor smell so good!  Clearly they will read this before they receive their happies so I will have to add in a little something as a surprise!

Favorite neighbor ... 

You know the one ... they grab your mail when you are gone, they check on your house and most importantly they help hide all your boxes from the Hubs.  Truly on some day they are your lifeline and you should invite them over for coffee or a cocktail and tell them so.  I think the perfect gift for these crucial people in your life is a live plant in an amazing container.  I would chose either an orchid, a Christmas cactus or a fabulous pink poinsettia.  If the plant doesn't make it the container will and they can fill it with their favorite plant!

Carpool partner ... 

I don't know about you but my carpool partner rocks.  Not only does she help me every single day with shuttling the youngest back and forth to school but some days she even shows up with a muffin for my girl and as far as I am concerned she deserves the world.  For this fabulous part of my life I am gifting her a boxwood wreath with a fun bow.  Trader Joes has the best wreaths and they look and even smell amazing.  Gift your partner one with a fabulous big bow and a handwritten note letting them know how special they are and how much their commitment to you is life altering.  Be honest, you would be strapped without them!

A weekend with friends ... 

We are blessed to be invited to spend one weekend with friends.  I love pulling together something to take with me that will leave a good impression.  In the past I have taken coffee and cute mugs, a great coffee scoop and some insanely fabulous coffee beans and also a great game for us to play and for them to keep after.  This year I have a few things I am planning on taking and I can't quite let you in on that little happy just yet.  I can tell you I would take any combination of the items below.  I truly believe taking something they can use while you are there and something else they can use after you leave is key.  You want to leave them with a wonderful memory of your time together. 

I am ahead of the game after spending today gathering all I need to get my hostess gifts managed.  I ventured out in the very cold temps and hit my favorite boutiques to round up my list.  I am super excited at how prepared I am.  Bring on the events ... I am one very ready girl!!

Happy Sunday!