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MONIKERS GAME // PERSONALIZED FLEX CUPS // CASHMERE THROW // CAROLINE’S CAKE BITES // CIRE TRUDON CANDLE // PERSONALIZED MATCHBOXES // SEY COFFEE SUBSCRIPTION
Before we left for Deep Creek Lake to stay at Mr. Magpie’s aunt’s lake house, I asked Magpies on Instagram: What are some great hostess gift ideas?
I had already packed up some fancy chocolate and happy hour treats from The Organic Butcher, baked two lemon pound cakes, and wrapped up a new game (this one), as my husband’s family is big into games, and we often pass the afternoons playing them, but was curious what my thoughtful Magpies had up their sleeves.
The answers were brilliant — I had to share:
+”Local consumable pastry/jam/pickled goods/charcuterie.” [Ed. note: For D.C. area Magpies: Mr. Magpie and I love gifting items from the grocery/pantry sections of The Organic Butcher and Bread Furst.]
+”A cookbook from a local chef.”
+”A cozy throw from Barefoot Dreams, ChappyWrap, or Quince. (Quince has nice cashmere ones at a great price!)”
+”LL Bean boat and tote monogrammed with something fun/thematic — e.g., ‘Salt Life.'”
+”Good coffee!” [Ed. note: Mr. Magpie and I love Sey Coffee.]
+”Potted plant or bouquet of flowers.”
+”Covering the cleaning cost for a visit after you leave!”
+”Gift card to their favorite restaurant or movie theater for a date night.”
+”Anything baked / homemade.” (Different Magpies shared the following specifics: Homemade vanilla extract; dill oyster cracker mix; apple cider caramels; Ottolenghi spice cookies; homemade granola; Ina Garten lemon pound cake.)
+”More of a house warming gift than a hostess gift, but for a few friends I have had return address stamps made with their family name and new address.” [Ed. note: I love these return address stickers, too! Etsy has tons of chic options for stamps.]
+”Wine/specialty liquor they might enjoy with a handwritten note on where it’s from / why you picked!”
+”Luxury candles, although scents can be very personal.” [Ed. note: I love to gift the ones from Hotel Lobby and Linnea. For a bigger splurge (longer stay?), the ones from Trudon are exceptional. Mr. Magpie usually gifts me one in my stocking at Christmas and they are just exquisite. I just noticed they’re 20% off here and I’ve never seen them on sale before!]
+”Love to schedule a food delivery to arrive the day after we leave. A favorite is Red Truck Bakery out of Marshall, VA.”
+”Dry pancake mix and dry muffin mix, with instructions.”
+”Bread dipping kit – good olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Tuscan seasoning.”
+”Fancy pool noodles.”
A few other gift ideas: a great puzzle (this brand is so good — we have a few!); notepads from Dear Anabelle or Joy Creative Club and a bouquet of your favorite pens; personalized matchboxes or flex cups; cake bites from Caroline’s Cakes; a spice set from Spice House.
I like to wrap nearly any/all of these items up in cellophane (I usually use these wine bottle cello sleeves – they’re often the perfect size for any smaller item like this, and you can trim if too long!) and tie off with a big double-faced 1-2″ satin ribbon.
Chic gift enclosure options: one, two, three, four.
Post-Scripts.
+Related: what do you keep in your guest bedroom? The comments are incredible and have been used heavily in our home!
+My gift wrap essentials.
+Elegant but easy happy hour snack ideas.
+Some great cocktails to mix up: Mai Tais, Margaritas, Jovencourt Daiquiris.
+Kitchen favorites you might not have.
+We’ve converted all of my recipes into recipe cards that you can download here!