Holiday Host(ess) Guide (part II)

With Hanukkah officially under way and Christmas right around the corner, our calendars are already jam packed with holiday parties. While outfits and accessories might be the priority for big events, for those hosted by friends or family members you may want to turn your mind to how to say thanks to your host or hostess. While a bottle of wine is always easy, we prefer gifting something creative and/or personal. T’is the season after all! Last year we blogged about hostess gifts at a variety of price points (including several DIY options). We’re still pretty big fans of all those ideas, so we’ve simply added a few new items to the list. Happy party hopping!

1) Hostess gift box. Not the creative type? Let the people at Brika do your work for you and pick up one (or several) of their specially designed hostess gift boxes. Too late to order on line? Not a problem – Brika currently has a pop up shop at the Bay.

2) 2014 Calendar. While paper calendars have lost much of their utility, I still appreciate them as a functional piece of art. Last year I picked up two beautiful art print calendars in the Distillery District (I believe they were from Blackbird Vintage) and still have a small 2012 calendar from Labour of Love hanging in my kitchen.

3) A Growler. While a bottle of wine might be readily overlooked, a spunky reusable growler like this one from West Elm is sure to stand out. Fill it with mulled wine or cider.

4) Cocktail syrups or bitters. Help stock your host’s bar with specialty items like ginger syrup from the Drake General Store or some Woodford reserve spiced cherry bitters from BYOB Cocktail Emporium.5) A succulent. Chances are, your host already has a poinsettia. Maybe several. Switch things up with an inexpensive and easy to care for succulent. Bonus points for adding a DIY element (paint the top rim glossy white, tie it with some raffia or twine, or go glam with some gold glitter) to a basic clay pot.

6) Hangover tea. Anticipate the worst (or best, depending on your perspective) and help your host recover the day after with this blend of Yerba Mate, Lemon Myrtle and Lemon Peel by Shared History. Available for purchase at the Drake General Store.

7) Toronto neighbourhood toques. This one’s a no brainer. These hats are awesome. It’s cold. And if you’re going to their party, you know where your host lives. Order them online via Tuck Shop Trading Co.

8) Macarons. Cupcakes are so 2012. Macarons are pretty to look at and easy (i.e. no wrappers or icing) to eat. Grab a box from Nadege on your way to the party.

9) Coasters: Help save your host’s furniture with some funky and festive coasters. I would be thrilled to received these letterpressed gold Cheers coasters from Waiting on Martha, but the options are endless.