Another sign of the upcoming holiday season? The holiday party invitations in your mailbox and Facebook notifications. Some holiday party hosts and hostesses ask you to kindly bring something to contribute, but others simply request your company and charm. Don't want to show up to these types of parties empty handed? Here are some relatively inexpensive hostess gifts that anyone would love and actually use.
Who doesn't like candles? Many really love Yankee Candles, but I happen to be a big fan of Bath & Body Works' White Barn three-wick candles. They come in all kinds of seasonal, holiday and everyday scents in beautiful glass jar with either a gold or silver lid. I love the black pepper bergamot, Japanese cherry blosssom and renew & refresh scents. The three-wick candles are $20 each, but keep an eye out for upcoming sales. These candles were on sale for $10 last Black Friday.
Starbucks has some really beautiful products, which would make a great gift for your host or hostess. I particularly like this ceramic gradient rose gold and silver mug for $8.95, but other nice gifts include the Via Christmas Blend ($11.95), Tazo Joy Full Leaf Tea ($4.86), Celebration of Coffee Christmas Mini Sampler ($8.95), 2013 Ceramic Red Cup Ornament ($4.95), and this Gold Electroplate Mug ($8.95).
A popular gift to bring to parties is a bottle of wine. Most people like wine or the hostess can open it and serve it to guests right then. If you choose this route, make your selection a little more special by picking a wine unique to the holiday season. One choice is the seasonal option is Georges Duboeuf's Beaujolais Nouveau -- a fresh, fruity red wine that is the result of a quick fermentation of Gamay grapes. This young red wine is released annually on the third Thursday of November, which is exactly one week before Thanksgiving. It has a different taste and beautiful new label every year. You can find this particular brand of Beaujolais Nouveau at most fine wine and spirits stores and it usually costs less than $20 per bottle. Here is a review of last year's variety courtesy of the blog "A Glass After Work."
Wintertime means cold weather, so why not gift your hostess with something to keep her both warm and in style. I love infinity scarves, especially this cozy honey-comb stitch infinity scarf from Old Navy. It's only $19.94 and comes in a variety of colors, although I would recommend picking a neutral color that will match all of the hostess' outerwear.
Your hostess busted her rump to plan a great party, why not give her a gift to help pamper herself? This OPI Take Ten Mini 10pc nail polish kit contains high-end polish in a variety of neutral and seasonal crowd-pleasing colors. And it's only $24.95.
I absolutely love Lush beauty and body products. They're handmade with fresh organic fruit and vegetables, the finest essential oils and safe synthetics. I have so many favorite Lush products, but I think it's great to give something seasonal as a gift, like Lush's Rosy Christmas set. This set includes rose jam shower gel and Ro's Argan body conditioner wrapped up in pretty floral box. This set is $15.95; Lush has a large variety of holiday gift sets you can peruse.
What are your go-to hostess gifts? Would you consider giving any of these items as small gifts holiday this season?- Nic