Top 10 gifts for the holiday hostess

Give beautiful bottled waters
Most of us drink more than our fair share of water over the holidays. Why not pair some beautiful bottles of regional water with a couple of lemons and limes in a gift bag or basket. Choose some unique and colorful bottles that can be used as vases later.

Bake goodies
Make a giant batch of your favourite cookies or squares at the beginning of the season, package them in brown paper coffee bags and add homemade labels for a special touch. If you're not a baker, you can always cheat and use store-bought goodies. Thoughtful packaging can make all the difference to an otherwise ordinary gift.

Indulge your host with hand and body lotions
“I love getting little indulgences or nice versions of things I use every day,” says Milena Zurbriggen, manager at a technology company in Calgary. “Forget the fancy bath fizzes and foams! Who has time? But a nice hand or body lotion that I can slather on brings a little happiness every day.”

Buy your hostess some time
Bring a batch of frozen soup for your hostess to use later as a quick dinner, give a card with a gift certificate for your babysitting or dog walking services – anything that will buy your hostess some well-deserved relaxation time.

Offer recipes from the heart
If your hostess likes to cook or bake, write some of your favourite recipes in a recipe book that she can use and add to for years to come.

Treat the hostess to tasty teas
Give your hostess some specialty teas that she wouldn't normally buy for herself. If you're giving loose teas, add a tea strainer in case she doesn't have one.

Spruce up a bottle of wine
If you know the hostess loves wine, add something special to this standard gift. Wrap the bottle in a lovely cloth bag, attach an article reviewing the wine or a unique wine cork.

Image courtesy of Carolyne Roehm. 

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