Host Gift Ideas
Good Morning Everyone,
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I am a little sad right now. We are normally planning our vacations around this time but due to my recent promotion and my husband’s horribly busy schedule, we are finding it hard to plan a vacation this summer. Plus it is so hard being “married” to our daughter’s school schedule. She goes back at the end of July which gives us only 8 weeks to try to plan something! I tell you what I am getting really tired of it!
So after talking it over with my husband we are considering planning a getaway in October. Our daughter will be on fall break and we have two weeks to get away and hopefully, our schedules will calm down at that point.
Because this is our normal vacation season that had me thinking about staying with friends and family during this time. I always have a hard time trying to figure out what to buy for a host gift. I always like to bring something when we arrive and it is so hard to figure out what to buy our host.
photo credit: Aerin Lauder Instagram
This week during my lunch break I have been flipping through my new Emily Post Etiquette book and landed on the “Twelve House Gift Ideas”. On this page, she discussed that houseguests are expected to give a gift to their host. She said for an overnight stay a bottle of wine is sufficient. If it is longer something more substantial is required.
If the host has children it is also nice if they can partake in it as well. She suggests a box of chocolates or a family game. You can take the gift with you and present it once you arrive or have the gift sent as soon as you leave.
photo credit: Cathy Graham Instagram
Here are the twelve gift ideas that were suggested:
- New best-selling book
- Consumables, such as gift basket of gourmet treats, fruit, or chocolates
- Hand towels or beach towels
- Placemats, napkins, and napkin rings
- Bottle of liqueur or cognac you know your host is fond of
- Sturdy canvas tote bag (monogram optional)
- Two or three unusual kitchen utensils, or a set of nice nesting bowls
- For a golfer, a dozen golf balls
- Set of nicely packages herbs and spices
- Picture frame, with a picture taken during your visit sent later
- Candles and informal candlesticks
- Houseplant in a decorative pot
Great tips right? I will be keeping this list handy. I hope you all have found some ideas for your houseguests’ visits. It is always a wonderful thing to have friends that will allow you to stay but it is also a wonderful thing to be able to bless them with a beautiful gift.
Here are my other blog posts about being a houseguest, see here and here.
Stay elegant my friends!
Tips from Emily Posts Etiquette, page 268
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Hi Mrs, Shockley,
What a lovely post! I will definitely be ordering this book. Books on living an elegant life are my favorites. A vacation in the Fall. That has been a dream for me, especially to travel some place with Fall foliage. I can’t help but to think about the Biltmore in the Fall. That has been on my bucket list since you wrote your first blog on visiting there. I must wait until my 4 year old is a little older. How wonderful that your daughter gets a 2 week break, allowing the flexibility for travel in October. Can’t wait to hear about your Fall getaway.
Talk soon,
Mya
Hi Mya,
Always good to hear from you! You know I love a good book about elegant living. They are always inspiring. I hope you can get to the Biltmore soon. We always enjoy going.
I hope we can get away for the fall. That would be wonderful to me but we will see. We are thinking about New York City again but we will see. I am open to other options.
I kinda squeaked when I saw that Aerin arm chair because the style looks like yours and if you opted to reupholster it with a toile or blue and white floral…omgosh how awesome that would be. It’s a lovely chair. Is it a Louis XV style? An autumn vacation is lovely too. Lake George, NY is a beautiful autumn destination and may not be too far to drive from IN😁
I know! I squealed when I saw the armchair myself. That is the inspiration for mine! It is a Louis XV-inspired chair. I do love them. Oh, Lake George in New York? I have never heard of that. I will have to look into that. Thank you for the suggestion!