You probably have an overachieving friend who's planning a party on top of a million other obligations. Somehow she manages to get it all together, but it doesn't leave her much time to primp. Which is a shame because a hostess should look stunning -- not stressed -- at her party. Help her out by giving her a gift certificate before the party for a blowout from a salon like Drybar (which specializes in them) or any salon in your area that offers the service. This way, even if she leaves everything else to the last minute, her hair will still look fabulous.
When you're invited to a friend of a friend's party and you have no idea what the hostess would like, soap is a safe bet. After all, everyone uses it -- and pretty ones like these look great in any bathroom. Plus, they're inexpensive enough that you can buy a variety of scents -- everything from Violet and Tuberose to Poppy and Chili Pepper -- so she's bound to like at least one of them and can re-gift the rest.
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For the stressed-out hostess of a kids' holiday party
The gift: A healthy frozen meal
After corralling a group of children all hopped up on sugar cookies and candy canes, the last thing this hostess wants to do is cook. So help her out with a ready-to-serve meal. You can make almost anything as long as it's easy to freeze and reheat, but we especially like this Turkey-Spinach Lasagna recipe from "Cooking Light." Lasagna is ideal for freezing and reheating, plus the turkey is a healthier option than beef and the spinach gives you fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin A, which helps promote moisture retention for healthy skin. To make it as a gift, just assemble the lasagna but instead of baking it, freeze it. Then give it to your busy-mom friend with a fresh baguette and baking instructions.
If you're lucky enough to have a friend that invites you to stay at her cabin for some snow-day fun, repay the favor with a gift set perfectly tailored to her needs. This outdoor collection has an SPF 30 lip balm, SPF 30 sunscreen, an SPF 15 moisturizer, an SPF 50 sports spray, and shower and bath gel to relax sore, tight muscles.
This toilet bowl deodorizer (think Febreeze for the can) is one of those things that no one would buy for themselves, but everyone secretly wants. Plus, it's the perfect thing for your funny pal to set out for future guests. Of course, Poo-Pourri is not something you can give to just any hostess. You'll want to save it for a friend you know well and one who will get that this is a joke gift (but a useful one nonetheless).
Were you taught to never go to someone's house empty handed? While Miss Manners says this isn't a rule per se (she's more of a thank-you-note-after kind of gal), a hostess gift is still a nice gesture. Especially after you've taken over someone's couch for a weekend, raided her fridge, and accidentally spilled wine on her formerly pristine sofa.
Now, your first thought may be to go the traditional (read: boring) route with your gift. You could buy a houseplant, but she'll feel guilty when it inevitably dies. Or a scented candle, but her bathroom's already full of them. Or perhaps a bottle of wine, but really, her couch can't take any more stains. A better option? One of these unique gift ideas.
We've scoured the Internet to find the best, most creative hostess gifts. There's something here for every occasion, from a co-worker's cousin's party where you barely know the hostess, to a weeklong stay at your best friend's house.
Of course, giving a stellar hostess gift is only one part of being a good guest. Miss Manners has a few other tips:
1. Offer to help clean any messes you make while there, but if the hostess insists on doing it herself, stay out of her way. 2. Don't overstay your welcome. If you simply dropped by, keep the visit to 20 minutes. If you came over for a meal, head out about a half hour after the meal. 3. On a longer visit, entertain yourself from time to time. Don't expect your hosts to constantly provide you with things to do; they would likely love a little peace and quiet while you visit a museum on your own.
To show your hostess with the mostest appreciation, stock up on these unique gift ideas -- then watch the invites to more parties start pouring in.
