HOLIDAY HOSTESS GIFT IDEAS
Photo: c/o Sugar Paper LA
Don't you just love pretty little packages? Me, too, and especially when they're wrapped with my favorite paper line, Sugar Paper LA. Sophisticated and pretty, these blush, white, gold, stripe and dot papers, ribbons and chic accessories are from their holiday collection at Target and my pick for wrapping hostess, Christmas and Hanukkah gifts this year. Now, for what's inside!
With Thanksgiving just a week away, 'tis the season to be thankful and to think about host and hostess gifts for those who invited you to join their table or event this holiday season. Here are a few of my favorite thoughtful gifts any entertaining enthusiast would be happy to receive and...will remember.
Think about cocktail parties, family gatherings, the annual holiday girl crush party and, the intimate couples dinner with your gang. I’m really, really big on hostess gifts and think there’s nothing better than receiving a gift that was made especially for you.
HOMEMADE GINGERBREAD HOT CHOCOLATE: An adorable gift idea for the family! Fill a "family sized" jar, with homemade gingerbread hot chocolate (recipe below), layer with mini marshallows, peppermint sticks or candy canes, and decorate with some happy holiday ribbon and a gingerbread cookie, cookie-cutter or ornament. I like to add enough mugs for the family and this year, I'm including these sweet Wilton candy cane spoons I found at Michaels. Don't stress if you don't have time to bake homemade gingerbread cookies (that would be me!), I found these adorable little guys at Williams-Sonoma and right around Thanksgiving, you'll be able to find them at your favorite local bakery or market.
HOW TO CELEBRATE EVERYTHING: This book by Jenny Rosenstrach is the perfect gift for any entertainer, mom or mommy. Jenny is the author of the ever popular blog and book Dinner: A Love Story, and New York times bestseller, Dinner: The Playbook. Filled with ideas, recipes, inspiration and humor, this is the guide to turning everyday family occasions and holidays into "rituals" to be remembered. I heart that.
kate spade new york cookie cutter set & kate spade new york recipe box: Fab gifts for your chic BFF's kitchen. The reusable cookie tin is almost too cute and the recipe box is covered in linen and filled with signature ksny recipe cards. You'll want to snag these gifts for yourself.
Pinky Up Tea Set: Create your own gift box with a Teapot, Sugar Spoons, add some Chai Latte Tea or other favorite blends, and you'll make any tea loving hostess happy.
kate spade new york ice cream set: This is the gift for the girl who eats cake for breakfast, because you know there's ice cream involved. And, what cake and ice cream fan wouldn't love these dot ice cream bowls for a stylish spin on dessert.
Popcorn & A Movie: Pair a large popcorn bowl with enough individual popcorn bowls for each member of the family. Fill with flavored popcorn, a specialty salt, (hold the butter!), a holiday movie or movie tickets and you'll be included on the guest list again.
No matter what you gift to say thank you to your hosts and hostess, remember the best ones come from the heart and that happiness is homemade.
xx, deborah
Gingerbread Hot Cocoa Mix
Our favorite recipe by Half Baked Harvest
Makes 12-16 cups of hot cocoa
- 2 cups cocoa powder
- 12 ounces milk chocolate, chopped
- 4 ounces white chocolate, chopped
- 1 vanilla bean, seeds scrapped out
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon flaky seas salt
- 1-2 cups mini marshmallows
Combine all the ingredients in a food processor. If needed, do this in two batches. Process until the chocolate is finely ground and the mix looks like hot cocoa mix. Store the mix in a glass jar or other container with a tight fitting lid. When ready to assemble, fill the remainder of the jar with mini marshmallows, add peppermint sticks or small pieces of candy canes. Label and decorate the jar as desired.