Happy first day of gift guides! I’m getting most of this year’s guides up before the Cyber Week deals begin around November 20-ish. A wordier intro to today's gift guide, but in future guides, we will get straight to the point, I promise!!
Here’s the plan: today kicks off with the Host + Hostess Gift Guide. There will be 11 total gift guides, and I'll have 7 of them live before Cyber Week. I'm bringing back Wednesday posts just for November so I can fit it all in! I’ll still be sharing my usual Thursday Lately and Friday Weekend Wish List posts.
I always like to start with the host and hostess gifts. Whether you're attending Thanksgiving, a holiday party, spending a weekend at someone's home, or gathering for a dinner, a thoughtful gift is always a gracious gesture. I also keep a few of these items on hand as they make generous neighbor gifts or small tokens of thanks (for example, when someone helps out with Henry).
I actually have a designated gift shelf where I store things like this, so I’m never scrambling for last-minute presents. It makes the holiday season and the rest of the year feel more organized and stress-free. I learned this tip from my mom and have been doing it my entire adult life. It's saved me many a time!
I put a lot of thought and care into each guide and am very selective about what I include. These gift guides are one of my favorite things to create all year, and I spend months leading up to today editing and perfecting these lists. I am not just tossing random things on these guides. While there are many great items out there, I keep in mind that these are gifts, and some great items can be a little odd to give, such as a bra, underwear, or foundation, which are best given when you really know someone personally.
I don’t accept sponsorships for gift guides on my website, so when you shop through my links, it truly means more than you know. If you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you), and your support helps me keep creating these guides each year. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for trusting me with your holiday gifting!
I included a lot in today's guide. I personally think of host/hostess gifts under $50, so I included mostly under-$50 items, but I also included a few higher-priced gifts, since I tend to gift something a bit more substantial when I am a house guest versus a dinner party guest.
Some items of note...
- One of the easiest gifts to grab, and thankfully under $30 (though, depending on what brands you buy), is this
Sourdough Bread + French Butter + Jam + Holiday Spreaders Set. Who doesn't love waking up the next day to all of the fixings for a delicious piece of toast?! The butter is some of the best I've ever had. You can find it at Whole Foods. Bonne Maman is my go-to for jams, and my personal favorite is the four fruits. I always snag a loaf of sourdough at Whole Foods, but it's even more special if you bake your own!
- One of my girlfriends is an incredible baker, and she loves to share her baked goods with so many. These 'from the kitchen' Custom Gift Tags were so fun to give to her a few Christmases ago!
- The Coffee Table Book is merely a placeholder to inspire. I am a big believer that you can never have too many coffee table books. I was once really stumped on what to get someone I didn't know very well. I knew they loved motorcycles, though, and wouldn't you know it, I found a beautiful Harley-Davidson motorcycle coffee table book! I also love gifting a newlywed couple a coffee table book of their honeymoon, and I write a note inside!
- The
Balsamic Vinegar that's worth every penny and then some. We discovered this in Rome a few years ago and have been loyal fans ever since. When I was in Florence in September, I snagged some, but luckily, you don't have to go to Italy to get it. I am sharing the white label, which is one of their least costly options. For balsamic, this brand is pricey, but it's just soooo much better than anything else. If you want to spend a little more, the red label is incredible (called 3 gold medals), and it is what I typically buy for our house. Though the white label is fantastic, too. I picked up the aged version in Florence, which is very expensive, but in Italy, it's much less, and the aged version is so good, but not something I'd use daily. 
Some items of note...
- I love gummy candy, and as far as candy goes, this
Candy Mix Gift Box is a bit of a splurge, but for under $20, you can make someone who loves gummy candy really happy, because this really is the best!
- These
Nutcracker Taper Candles are under $20! I've seen them in person, and they are SO cute. If you want to take it a step further, a pair of candlestick holders would be the perfect add-on!
- We stayed at the Inn at Perry Cabin a few years ago for Valentine's Day, and on every table in their dining room were these fabulous porcelain
Votive Holders. It turns out they come in so many beautiful patterns. I included a beautiful lattice design, but they have everything from sailboats to dogs, and more.
- I love to give the
Family Christmas Book as a wedding gift, housewarming gift, or baby shower gift. It's unique and something you might not buy for yourself. The book gives you two pages to write notes about your holiday and then paste in a photo or two. I put in our holiday card, too. We have done this for 7 years in our own book, and looking back is so fun and special.
- I think this
Scented Tassel is such a fun concept to place in a powder bathroom or closet. You could tie it onto a bottle of wine or olive oil, too. I think this
Frame Ornament is adorable and another great one to place on a bottle.
Some items of note...
- I love tea and love to try different teas and brands. This
Tea Gift Set is from one of my favorite tea brands, Harney and Sons and has so many of my favorites!
- Back in March, I popped into the cutest little shop in Naples, and there was a dog waste bag holder that was called a 'Barkin'. It looks like a designer bag we know and love. I bought it immediately, and that is what is hanging on Henry's leash. I can't find the exact one that I bought, but this
Dog Waste Bag Holder is adorable. It's a cheeky little gift for the dog + fashion lover.
- I ordered this
Sponge, after my sister and cousin have been raving about it. I'm a big Scrub Daddy loyalist, but they both swear up and down that this is the best sponge!! I always think a sponge is a silly little gift, and adding a little tray, like this
Blue and White Catchall, makes it giftable. If I host many people and have a lot of cleanup, I usually replace my sponge the next day, so I think it's useful, thoughtful, and, best of all, very inexpensive. You can even do a sponge with a mini bottle of dish soap, wrap it in cellophane, tie it with a big bow and pretty gift tag, and you have yourself an under-$10 gift. Half the time, it's all about presentation!
- These
Martini Olives are the best to ever exist. They are so meaty and firm, and the brine is so salty and flavorful. My girlfriend turned me onto these, and I've never looked back. A very inexpensive little gift to give on its own- this is perfect for someone who loves a martini, and maybe you visit their home often and just want to give them a little something. But add in some cute
Cocktail Picks and/or a bottle of vodka or gin, and it's a more substantial gift.
- My sister and I love these soap bricks; I particularly think this
Fig Soap Brick is the best one. I usually don't like bar soap, but this is so luxurious. It doesn't come with anything to lay it on in the shower, and you don't have to have something, but I checked the dimensions of the soap brick, and this little
Lucite Tray should fit the soap perfectly and keep the shower tidier
- These
Tassels are a fun little thing to dress up a bottle of wine, olive oil, or gift! You can add them to furniture pulls, lamp switches, or even a handbag.
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