nothing says thanks like napkins

Looking for the perfect hostess gift? Or don't know what to bring to meet your boyfriend's parents at their house? Then look no further than a Mariposa napkin holder. Mariposa has a vast selection of adorable options to pick from (and they are always conversation starters!). There is seriously an option for everyone in your life. When my in-laws watched our precious pooch for the weekend, we gifted them a labrador retriever option to say thank you.


Since the base for the holder remains the same, you can give multiple options for the weight that can be seasonal or just plain silly - from dragonflies to flipflops to cupcakes to lobsters. Next time you need a gift to say thank you or nice to meet you, order one of these. They are very reasonable and you can't really go wrong. 

Twisted Napkin Box with Sand Dollar Weight

return to sender

With my nuptials quickly approaching, I’ve been getting some amazing gifts from family and friends. With the gifts, comes thank you notes of course. By now, you probably know that I have a love (or some may some obsession) with stationary. I absolutely had to share my new favorite thank you note companion – a custom address stamp from expressionary.com! Thanks to an amazing sister, my thank you notes have gotten a lovely makeover and I no longer have to write out my address with each note. This is the perfect alternative to getting addresses pre-printed. We all know the downside of pre-printed envelopes – they are expensive and people move too frequently. Then, you just end up with a drawer of envelopes that are useless. We all know that feeling. 

Take a peak at the great selection online, and send the perfect one to a friend at an incredibly reasonable price (and such a huge time saver!). 

three designing women kara stamp $45

caffeine fix

One of the best finds for locals, and tourists alike in San Francisco is Blue Bottle Coffee. With outposts throughout the city, it's hard to not join the hype and wait in line for a perfected single drip coffee or their signature gibralter. Although they now have a Brooklyn spot for east coasters, they are spreading the love even further with coffee subscriptions for those not lucky enough to have a shop within walking distance. This is a perfect gift for anyone who depends on an uber-flavorful cup to begin the day, or who fell in love with the java at first sip while visiting SF. I recently gifted this to my father-in-law with all of the fixings to make a gibralter - including the signature cup which is available for purchase on their site.  

game on

Not everyone can play in the Super Bowl. It does bring out a little bit of competitiveness in me though. Call me dorky, but some of the most fun nights are spent with friends, some wine and good old fashioned board games. Next time you're heading over with the wine or snacks, bring over a game - it's guaranteed to liven up the night. I'd highly recommend Apples to Apples, Catch Phrase (I mean it's an adult hot potato basically) or Scattegories. You can thank me later. Enjoy!

on the rocks

Now that all of the holiday gifts have been given, I wanted to share one of my favorite gifts that I gave that can be great for New Years. When heading to a Christmas Eve party, I wanted to bring the hosts something a little different since I knew that they already had endless bottles for the night. I came across the "two of a kind" engraved double Old Fashioned glasses from Kate Spade. The "his" and "hers" glasses are perfect for a couple that enjoys a little night cap together. I added a set of the whiskey rocks to make the gift complete. 

kate spade two of a kind glasses $50

page turner

You can never have too many books. There is something so simple, yet so perfect about a thoughtful coffee table book. They not only serve as décor, but as conversation starters that represent an experience, a hobby, a love or passion, your personality or even your favorite restaurant. They are perfect for so many different occasions. For example, recently as a thank you gift for my in-laws, we gave them with the French Laundry cookbook – an experience in Napa that we had together that will never forget! There are tons of great options for restaurant cookbooks. If you have a favorite restaurant, do a quick search.  There is a high likelihood that they may have a book available. At our friend’s house the other night, we were immediately drawn to the book on their (amazing West Elm) coffee table. It was playful and perfect - Marcel the Shell With Shoes On, which is based on the online sensation. If you want to relive a memory with a friend from the 80s, you can go the fun route of the Bon Jovi: Blaze of Glory book. You will laugh and probably be thrilled to page through and remember the concerts that you went to (yes, my sister has this and loves it). Another great option is a book that revolves around a hobby or one that represents a passion or fave vacation spot (hiking, architecture, Italy, Brooklyn, etc.). As you can see, there are endless options for the direction that the gift can go. To make the book even more special and personalized, write a note in the front that relates to why you chose the book. I love that so many of my childhood books have adorable notes in them. When possible, go for a hardcover book and check out amazon for great deals! So maybe you can judge these books by their covers...

the meatball shop $28
  

thanking the hostess with the mostest

If you're like me, then you're headed to family and friends for Thanksgiving. You'll show up with an empty stomach, but you'll want to ensure that you're not empty handed. What's appropriate to bring to the host? If you haven't already done so, reach out to the host to ensure that there is nothing that you can pick up or bring for the big day. Suggest things that they may not have thought of. Today when I was looking through the InStyle Gift Guide (which I highly recommend), I came across a very cool brass bottle opener. Since there are many bottles opened on Thanksgiving day, this is a perfect and thoughtful gift. A fun wine opener would also be a great gift. Similarly, unique serving pieces can be a nice complement to the meal. Try something like these metal and wood serving pieces from Nambe. An easy and thoughtful, gift is a beautiful Fall bouquet that can be placed around the house (leave the centerpiece to the host since it's their table). When you arrive, the last thing that you want to do is to create more work for the hostess so either bring it in a vase or take it upon yourself to arrange the flowers upon arrival. If you're going to a house that is always missing the same thing every year (such as a digital thermometer, bread basket, etc), then you can purchase that item and bring it along - the host will be delighted that you remembered!  

Another option is to bring a wonderful selection of teas for the end of the meal. Tea Forte and Mighty Leaf offer beautifully presented options that will go with your favorite pie! And if none of the above work, then pick up a bottle of wine or champagne to show the host how very thankful you are. 

brass japanese bottle opener $65

tea forte tea chest $45