Gracious Gifts

When I was little my mother and grandmother always made sure if I was spending the night at a friend's home that they would send me with a small gift for the friends parents. When I ended dance class I was sent with a gift for the teacher. From this I learned that it was the proper way to say, "Thank you", "Welcome to the your new home" or just simply "Your in my thoughts".

If you are going to a garden party or need an inexpensive gift for a gardener here is a quick, cute and simple bucket of joy. -Fill a galvanized bucket from a hardware store with a few gardening basics: seeds, pruners, pretty gloves and a trowel. Take an a seed package that does not have a lot of writing on it, and punch a hole at the top, write the person name to who you will be giving it to, tie it on to the bucket with a pretty ribbon. This will cost around $25.00

For someone that loves to cook - Fill a canvas tote that you can buy from most craft stores with a bottle of fancy olive oil, a few jars of spices, a few wooden spoons and a couple of pretty kitchen towels. The cost of this will be around $20.00

For the new home - Buy a package of inexpensive fragrant bar soap and wrap it in a pretty printed paper. Polish off the look by binding the soap together with decorative copper wire topped off with a bead, then place the stack in a lovely vintage sap dish. Cost about $15.00

Going to go see your girlfriend who lives on the beach for the weekend here is a great idea. Use a traditional bottle of wine, wrap up in a pretty summer scarf, with a pretty bow and gift tag. This will run you about $15.00.

When going to visit a friend on a hot summer day take something refreshing. Fill a glass pitcher with lemons, then attaché a wood spoon with a stylish dish towel to the handle. Include a simple lemon aid recipe that will also double as a gift tag. The cost on this cute idea is around $10.00

When staying a night or a weekend here are to hostess gift ideas, - (1) - In a small basket add maple syrup and then a berry flavor syrup (like huckleberry syrup) next add a special of pancake mix, and last but not forgotten a gift tag. (2) - Muffins, what could be easier for a quick morning breakfast for your hostess? Uses a new muffin pan and add two different types of muffin mix and a jar of fresh honey. Wrap it all together in a gift bag. Both of these are around $15.00 to make.

When giving gifts please remember that it is proper etiquette to take a gift to a party or give as a thank you gift, but it is also important to remember present etiquette.

When giving flowers don't bring then without a vase, this is a hassle that your hostess does not need to deal with at the time of the party. Make sure that they have plenty of water in the vase or have a florist deliver them before the party.

Don't bring food that your hostess will feel compelled to serve that night, she has taken the time to figure out a menu and does not need to stop and fix what you have brought.

Above all don't forget to place a gift tag on your gift, this is not so you will get "noticed" but your hostess or host will be much too busy when all the guests are arriving to notice who brought which gift.