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Things I Love – #18
Here are some of my recent Amazon purchases.
I love having these airtight storage jars decorating my kitchen counter. I now have three jars holding dried citrus, but soon I’ll be switching them out to hot cocoa, marshmallow bits and crushed candy canes (see below.) I like the borosilicate glass because it’s clear, light and strong. However, KKC has many less expensive storage jar options, if you prefer.
I have patio lights in my backyard all year. I have one set on the arbor by our back gate and another behind the couch on our patio. I love looking out at night and seeing the lights glow in our yard. Note: Instead of buying replacement bulbs, it’s cheaper to buy an extra string and steal bulbs from that string. Also, I have had squirrels chew through a cord before, so keep the extra cord even after you’ve used all the bulbs.
The Capri Blue candle scents are AMAZING! Stock up on these for January after you’ve burned all your pumpkin spice and Christmas candles. They smell like summer and will help get you through the winter gloom. If you don’t love the hot pink above, click here for more fun styles and colors. The Volcano scent is one of my favorites. Note: I also love traveling with this metal tin.
These plaid jackets are really cute. I do think they run a little small so check the measurements and if your dog is close to the next size, definitely size up.
My face is already feeling dry and winter is just starting. Incorporating a face steam into your routine once a week will help purify and hydrate your skin. Make sure you buy a gallon of distilled water to have on hand for your steamer – the minerals in tap water will clog up your steamer.
This is quite the bargain. 100 gift tags and 100 feet of twine for $6.99! I recently made gift bags where I folded over the top of the bag and used a hole punch to make two holes, then I tied the bag shut with twine and added a gift tag. These would also look great if you want to do a more rustic Christmas gift wrap. Consider tying in a sprig of evergreen or seeded Eucalyptus to give it a personal touch.
I recently put together Hallmark movie gift bags for my girlfriends (see bags and tags above) with hot cocoa packets, crushed peppermint candies, dehydrated marshmallow bits (these taste like the marshmallows in Lucky Charms) and Hallmark movie bingo cards from Etsy. Note: the containers of crushed peppermint candies and dehydrated marshmallow bits are huge! Consider Christmas and/or hostess gifts with three canning jars – one filled with homeade hot cocoa (super easy recipes on Pinterest), one with marshmallow bits and one with crushed peppermint. Throw in a tin of homeade cookies (or peppermint bark if you want to use up more of the crushed candy) and this is a gift anyone would love to receive.
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Favorite Hostess Gift Ideas
If your hostess gift is in a gift bag, consider a short note or at the very least a gift tag. If the gifts aren’t opened until after the event, your host won’t have any idea who to thank for the thoughtful gift.
Specialty candy / chocolates: a special little treat for the hostess to enjoy after the party.
Breakfast: your host will appreciate a fresh loaf of breakfast bread or muffins to enjoy the morning after the event.
Candle or room diffuser: unless you know specifically what kind of scent your host likes, select a mild scent.
Flowers: almost everyone loves flowers, but the last thing a hostess wants to do is leave her guests to find a vase and arrange flowers. Consider a seasonal flowering plant: jasmine, poinsettia, azalea, etc. Or consider sending flowers the following day with a thank you note.
Alcohol: bring something your host enjoys (wine, bourbon, scotch, Baileys.) It doesn’t count as a hostess gift, if it’s something you want to drink during the party.
Pet treats: consider bringing the family pet a container of healthy treats or a new toy.
Thank you note. It doesn’t have to be a hand-written note (although a handwritten thank you note truly warms my heart and is usually on my bulletin board for weeks, if not months, like the card at left), but make sure to send a text or e-mail message to your host within 24 hours of the event.