Holiday Gift Guide #3: For The Hostess

Welcome to Gift Guide #3!

In case you're just popping over to the Mix & Match blog for the first time, let me introduce you to this little holiday gift guide series I've got going on. Each Friday for four weeks, I'm sharing some of my favorite gift ideas from around the web - each with a different spin. I kicked the series off with a roundup of gifts from some amazing Etsy shops in support of Small Business Saturday, week two was all about gifts for the home decor lover (at three different price points!), and this week, I've gathered up a bunch of great hostess gifts!

Since we're in the middle of the biggest party season of the year, I figured y'all might be on the hunt for some great gifts for the amazing hosts of those shindigs you'll be attending in the coming weeks. A little something is always nice to bring as a thank you to to them for opening up their home and throwing the party. Of course, a yummy treat or a bottle of wine is always welcome, but I'm guessing that if you're here, you're hoping to find a few items that are a little more unique, right?

And you know what one of the best parts is? These hostess gifts are all under $20, and some are under $5!

Many of them are great to wrap up and give on their own, but I intentionally chose some items that would pair well with the traditional food or beverage gift folks tend to bring to parties as well. You might just win the award for the most thoughtful guest there! Let's get into it.

Thoughtful and Beautiful Gifts For The Holiday Party Host

1 | Voluspa Scented Candle: Voluspa makes some of the most lovely-smelling candles I've ever sniffed. My fave of the bunch? Mokara. They come in several sizes, styles, and price points, so hop around and check out the selection to find the right one for your host.

2 | Striped Tassel Kitchen Towel: You really can't go wrong gifting a good kitchen towel, and this one in mint (or its navy companion) are getting some major styling points. You can also use these to wrap up another small item like a jar of jam or even a wine bottle.

3 | Acacia Wood Cutting Board: This 12" x 16" cutting board is a great size for everyday chopping or for use as a cheese and charcuterie platter. As a bonus feature, this one has grippy feet, so it won't slide around while you use it!

4 | Modern Cheese Knives: These are clearly a great item to pair with that cutting board, but they're also great to give on their own. Everyone needs a great set of cheese knives, and I love the modern look these have. 

5 | 2018 Cactus Desktop Calendar: While paper calendars may not be as popular with the rise of the digital one you can carry in your pocket (*ahem* smartphone), a desk calendar is still a nice thing to have around for a quick reference and it adds a dash of pretty. This shop has lots of good ones, but the cactus one really caught my eye. 

6 | Starburst Ball Ornaments: Ornaments may not seem like the most original idea in the world, but when it's this pretty, you can't help but want to gift it. What I like about these is that they don't have to go into storage after the Christmas tree comes down - they're pretty enough to sit out year round on a bookshelf or on your coffee table.

7 | Mini Succulent Planters: I'm a huge fan of house plants in my own home and they make a great gift. These come as a set of six. My suggestion is to break up the set and gift them one at a time with a mini succulent planted inside.

8 | Felted Monogram Ornament: Yep, I had to include just one more ornament in this round up! A monogrammed ornament feels special and intentional, and while great by itself, it'll also look great tied onto the outside of a wrapped gift!

9 | Rifle Paper Co. Botanical Notebooks: Someone gifted this pretty notebook set to me several years ago and I still love them. The look beautiful sitting out and they're a great size - you can easily pop one in your purse or laptop bag, but it's still large enough to be super useful.

10 | White Ceramic Burro: Have a friend with a bit of a quirky side? This cute ceramic animal might be just the right gift! How can you not love this little donkey?

11 | Pressed Glass Brass Frame: Photo frames are a wonderful gift - they help incentivize us to get some of our favorite photos off of our screens and into real life. I love the unique style of this one, and it's very affordable.

12 | Black Ceramic Nesting Houses: Here's another gift that feels seasonally appropriate, yet can stay out year round. These come in white and natural wood as well, and they'd look perfect paired with other tabletop holiday decor!

13 | Pineapple Bottle Opener: Talk about a practical and pretty gift for the party host! Let's move away from the key chain bottle opener and replace it with this pretty one in brass, shall we? 

14 |  Geo Bottle Stoppers: Like the succulent planter set, this is another great set to buy and break up to gift individually. Tie it onto a wine bottle with a festive bow and you're ready to go!

Happy party-going and hostess-gifting, friends!

I'll be back next week with my final gift guide full of fantastic items you can get last minute!

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