that's a wrap

My favorite gift to give this summer is a root beer float kit!  I have given it as a hostess gift and as dessert for a meal train. I included pretty straws, bottles of root beer, and some vanilla ice cream.  You can find pretty paper straws everywhere these days.  I found these chevron patterned ones at Marshalls! If you wanted to add a few more fun details you could include some root beer mugs and an ice cream scoop.  If you have a long distance to travel you could also give a gift certificate for the ice cream too. This is a fun and versatile gift for people of all ages.

that's a wrap

When we were invited to some friends house to dinner we offered to bring dessert.  I decided to combine a hostess gift with the dessert and brought an ice cream sundae bar! I made some homemade blueberry sauce and a crunchy pecan praline topping and tucked them in a cute bucket.  I also repackaged sprinkles, cones, and waffle cups, tucked in some whipped cream, and also brought two gallons of ice cream.  This dessert worked for the adults and the kids and it was an easy and fun dessert and gift to bring.  This would be a wonderful gift for a birthday too!

that's a wrap

We were invited to a pumpkin carving party yesterday.  As a hostess gift we gave them a pumpkin bread mix that I picked up at Trader Joe's.  I "wrapped" it in a Halloween dish towel and tied both ends with ribbon so that it kind of looked like a piece of candy!
We have spent most of today preparing for the BIG storm that is heading our way.  I am really hoping that our Halloween isn't cancelled due to the weather like it was last year.  We will be very disappointed.  Stay safe everyone. 

that's a wrap

This was a gift I gave to some friends who recently retired to the Cape.  I found an anchor beer bottle opener and gave it to them with some Anchor Steam beer.  The note read "fair winds and following seas" for a wonderful retirement.  This would also make a fun summer hostess gift!

cachepots & kisses

This year we gave the pre-school teachers mercury glass cachepots and snowflake ornaments, both from Pottery Barn.  I was going to make some snowball cookies to put inside the pots with a cute snowball poem, but I have been dealing with a nasty stomach bug, a husband who herniated a disc and a son with pink eye!  Crazy.  Anyway at the last minute I decided to put some Hershey kisses in them instead.  The note wished the teachers a Merry Christmas and a Happy and HEALTHY New Year and was signed kisses, and my son's name.  I wrapped the pots in cellophane and tied them with a beautiful turquoise satin ribbon.

ho, ho, hostess gift

We had another really busy and fun weekend.  I was invited to two different houses and wanted to bring a dessert and gift to both so I made these delicious and easy s'more cups and put them on a white ruffled cake stand.  I tied the whole thing up with some cellophane and personalized ribbon and had a yummy dessert and hostess gift in one.  I also went with my mom and daughter to see the Nutcracker.  It was magical and a favorite tradition.  Hope you weekend was filled with friends, family and lots of love too.

that's a wrap

I was asked (at the last minute) to send in a snack for the teachers at my daughter's school during their teacher/parent conferences.  I decided to send in some clementines and peppermints in a pretty glass trifle bowl.  I even added a little extra touch with some special stickers!  This would be a thoughtful gift to bring for your colleagues at work or as a hostess gift during the holidays.  You can also skip the peppermints and include the ingredients and recipe for clementine cosmos!

forcing bulbs

Every year around Thanksgiving I always buy and force paper white bulbs. It is so easy to do and I love having them blooming all over the house at Christmas time. You can use almost any container and all you need beyond that is some small pebbles. I just get them from outside our house or driveway. You fill the container with rocks, nestle the bulbs in, and add a few more pebbles to hold them in place. Give them a drink of water and voila! The bottom picture was an amaryllis kit I found at Target for $10. I planted the bulb and added a pretty ribbon and gave it to someone as a hostess gift. This would also be a lovely Christmas gift for someone.

Last year I made a Paper white themed gift basket for a little girl. You can read more about it here.

boo bark

During the holidays I often like to make peppermint bark. I thought it might be fun to make a Halloween version. I melted white chocolate and spread it in a thin layer on a sheet pan. I sprinkled it with Halloween shaped pretzels, candy corn, Halloween Oreos, and candy corn colored nonpareils. When it cooled I broke it into pieces and packaged it in a white tin. I added some Halloween ribbon and a candy corn ornament to bring as a hostess gift to a party later tonight. This was a simple and delicious project, and one that can be adapted for many different holidays.

good guest

If you are heading to someones house for Thanksgiving this year you might want to think about bringing them a thoughtful hostess gift basket. I filled this one with some Organic "After the Feast" Lentil Soup Mix, leaf shaped votive candles, chocolate covered cranberries, and cocktail napkins with a cute turkey print. Don't forget to include a handwritten note telling them how thankful you are to be spending the holiday with them.