Jessie Loves: 15 Hostess Gifts That Won't Get Shoved Into A Drawer

"Don't walk in with both arms swinging!"

My friend Ami has a saying from her grandma, “Don’t walk in with both arms swinging!” — meaning you should always be carrying something in your hand to gift when you go to someone’s house. I love this expression and think of it when I’m headed to visit for a drink, a dinner, or a weekend stay. “Should I bring a gift?" The answer is always yes.

A handmade arrangement from my garden I recently brought to a friend’s house

Since hosting and visiting season is upon us, I thought I would put together a list of good hostess gifts, organized in order of how much time you have to prepare — from a trip with lots of advance planning (the best because you can get something really special — even personalized) to less than an hour to scramble for something.

Do you have a go-to hostess gift? Please let me know!

YOU HAVE A MONTH:

Custom Pillowcases

I noticed that uber-fancy hotels will often embroider custom pillowcases for their guests (this has never happened to me, but I’ve read about it). Why not do the same? I just got these for my daughter for her birthday. You could write their name (i.e. “The Murphys”), the nickname they call their house or each of a couple’s names. Your host will be so touched.

Underwater Weaving Baskets

This giant basket is a perfect and extravagant gift. I usually advise against decor items because sometimes it’s hard to get the style exactly right to be something your host would like. But if you think they would like this (I know I would!) it’s such a special gift. And everyone has odds and ends they need to bring up the stairs.

A Gjusta Pantry Box or Sqirl Jam Set

If you have a little time, I like to order gift boxes from Gjusta or Sqirl, these super delicious places in LA. So good! (You could bring a nice loaf of bread with the jam).

A Personalized Dog Bowl by Emma Bridgewater

Pet owners are suckers for anything related to their pets. I have a custom mug on my desk from this brand and I love it so much. How cute to get a dog bowl made for your host?

YOU HAVE A WEEK:

A Pie Carrier + Homemade Pie

I love to make something as a gift because it shows care and genuine gratitude. If you have a sewing machine, this is super quick to make (and reversible!!). I used leftover scraps of really nice fabric I had but probably better to use some that’s less precious. This is the sewing tutorial I used.

Here’s the pie recipe I would recommend — my mom’s apple pie. The key is to slice the apples extremely thin. This is the best pie in the world, and I don’t even like apple pie otherwise. I also think it’s nice to just gift a store-bought in this carrier, or just a pie alone! I use store-bought pie crusts when I make this and it is so fast.

Sabre Bottle Opener + A Six Pack

Here’s a trick… buy a few beautiful Sabre bottle openers to have on-hand for gifts and give them with a six pack. My preferred drink is beer (Modelo FTW) and I would love to get this gift. Sabre has so many gorgeous colors to choose from and everyone could use a lovely bottle opener.

Our Apron

The cutest apron for any friend who loves to cook. We’re currently sold out, but Jack’s Wife Freda will have them available on their site in September!

Flamingo Estate Gift Set

No one has prettier packaging than Flamingo Estate. Their gift sets of hand wash, a candle and a bar of soap are so gorgeous. This gift is fail safe. Everyone will love it. And they can use the pretty box to store things afterwards.

Pool Floaty + Air Pump

If your hosts have kids, this gift is a crowd pleaser. Here’s the key: you have to gift it with an electric inflater to make it easy on the parents. Otherwise this gift could end up a punishment. I like these striped rings (Petite Pommes has the chicest colors!).

This swan is so big and fun, too:

(My dog Peanut many years ago as a little puppy for scale).

This air pump is less than $20.

Perler Beads

Another easy, cheap gift for kids is a big tub of Perler beads (or as we call them, melty beads) and some templates. My kids used to spend hours working on these. I also liked to bring them on vacation when my kids were little because every hotel room has an iron. (Also a good idea to print out some templates of characters or things they might like to make). The patterns below are available on Etsy (I searched for “kawaii perler bead pattern”).

YOU HAVE A DAY:

From Lucie Cake

One of the most elegant items you could ever bring to a gathering is a gorgeous cake by From Lucie. I love buying things from brands and people who are nice. Lucie is SO lovely, kind and down to earth. She has always been a big supporter of LR. She’s even wearing our shoes in her upcoming cookbook! (These beautiful cakes are available on a first come, first serve basis for day-of. If you have more time you can order further in advance).

Tennis Gifts

For a friend who loves tennis I would pop into the local bookstore and get this new coffee table book all about beautiful tennis courts around the world.

And if I had a little more time, I would get these cute tennis swizzle sticks to put in our drinks (my friend added lobsters too for her ‘Lobs and Lobsters’ dinner).

YOU HAVE AN HOUR:

Flowers From The Garden

One of the gifts I bring most often is a small arrangement using flowers from my garden. I use old glass sauce jars or even pretty ceramic yogurt tins for the vases. A little florist tape creating a crosshatch pattern across the top of the jar keeps everything in place. I like when my gifts are creative and show care put into them. (If you don’t have a garden, flowers you arrange from the deli will work just as well). Some arrangements I recently brought to friends’ houses below.

I’ve also read you shouldn’t bring flowers as a hostess gift because then the host has to go scrambling for a vase. But if you bring the flowers IN a vase and already arranged, it’s a gift that will be well received.

Wine

A bottle of wine is easy in a pinch, especially if it’s pretty to look at. This bottle has such a cute drawing of a puppy on it that it feels very special.

Or this collab bottle from Wölffer x NARS is so beautiful, everyone will love it.

Add a little ribbon bow et voilà! (I think adding a nice bow makes a wine gift feel like less of an afterthought. I like ribbon from Studio Carta).

A Potted Plant

I like this gift because it’s one that keeps on giving. Pop by a garden center or even a deli if you’re in NYC. Plant in a ceramic pot, or better yet, pre-order some lovely scalloped planters to have on hand for this very purpose. It takes two seconds to repot.

Five Things I’m Loving This Week:

1. This true crime book my brother sent me which is beautifully written and right up my alley. I devoured it in two days (saying “devoured it” is probably a contender for one thing I hate —- ha! But that’s the only way I can describe it).

2. These striped shorts I’ve been living in — wearing them out to fancy events, to the tennis place in LIC, and even wearing them to bed. Comfy and roomy. My kind of item!

With our jelly flip flops

With my red Devon sandal and an Underwater Weaving tote.

Also been wearing these a lot. Love the soft insole and the lift they give! Plus the vibe.

3. I asked my friend Liz Libré of Lewis for her hostess gift suggestions because she is the most thoughtful gift giver I know. Among the lovely things she suggested are: a box of Bon Bon Swedish candies (the packaging is so elegant), homemade margarita mixer (which you can drink with or without alcohol), pretty paper napkins and Lewis pouches (love these new lobster ones!). Lewis made a special discount code for my readers. You can shop their collection at 15% off with the code JESSIE15

4. I love how gorgeous author Coco Mellors always looks in LR. She is so stunning, inside and out! Here she is in our crochet skirt and cage sandals.

5. Giant, wild arrangements from my garden. I still kind of suck at gardening and it gets unruly really fast. But the arrangements I’m able to create make me soooooo happy.

And One Thing I Hate:

I hate the inevitable comments I will get online about my bunions. As a fairly (aka extremely) self-critical person, this is oddly something about me that really doesn’t bother me. But it has been known to bother others. Bunion pride!