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#Post#: 74142--------------------------------------------------
Please help me think of an epic hostess gift
By: Gellchom Date: March 6, 2022, 4:06 am
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We are planning a trip that led to us asking good friends if we
could come visit them in Philadelphia for a couple of nights
before moving on to another city for an event and then five
nights in NYC.
(Yes, I know, we invited ourselves! But these are dear old
friends, my college roommate who also happened to be a high
school friend of my husband’s, that we haven’t gotten to spend
time with in a while, and we knew that they wouldn’t mind at all
our asking and that they would know we really do want to spend
time with them, not that we just wanted free accommodations in
Philadelphia, where we wouldn’t even otherwise be going at all.
We just had some extra days in our odd travel schedule, and we
will be just a few hours hours from there, so a visit with them
was the most fun way to spend them.)
Not only did we get an enthusiastic yes for that, they told us
that they have a tiny place in Manhattan that they wouldn’t be
using the days we were there and that we were welcome to use it!
We certainly hadn’t been fishing for that; we had no idea that
they had it. That is going to save us well over $1000 in airb&b
as well as restaurant meals, especially breakfasts.
(Fortunately, we were able to get a full refund from the airb&b
we’d booked.)
Needless to say, this all calls for a MAJOR gift. I’m thinking
fruit of the month club, or something with cooking (she loves to
cook and post about it on Facebook), or some of-the-month club.
I’d just do a few months of Jeni’s ice cream Pint Club, but she
has some health issues I need to explore first.
We will also bring gifts for her two grandbabies and make a
donation to a charity they like.
Okay, I’m looking forward to hearing your ideas!
#Post#: 74143--------------------------------------------------
Re: Please help me think of an epic hostess gift
By: Rose Red Date: March 6, 2022, 6:10 am
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I'm thinking about gift ideas and will make a separate post
later, but my first thought was no to fruit of the month unless
you absolutely know they will welcome it. Monthly gifts of fruit
can be a burden.
A one time basket of fruit, crackers, cheese, etc might be nice.
Googling comes up with beautiful arrangements. Harry and David
has a variety of baskets.
#Post#: 74145--------------------------------------------------
Re: Please help me think of an epic hostess gift
By: jpcher Date: March 6, 2022, 8:42 am
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Just off the top of my head . . . do you have old photos from
way back when that you could put together in a nice frame? Maybe
a history/story of your friendship? Maybe not as grand pricewise
of what you were thinking but it would come from the heart, and
it could be just part of the gift.
You said she enjoys cooking. What about some sort of cooking
class? or an Experience gift? After all they are, in essence,
gifting you a vacation so I think something in kind would be
more on the reciprocal line.
HTML https://www.xperiencedays.com/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Xperience%20Days%20EXACT&utm_term=xperience%20gifts&utm_content=Xperience%20Brand%20Terms
I think that an of-the-month club is a bit on the impersonal
side.
P.S. It might be helpful to us if you gave more likes/dislikes
of the gift recipients.
#Post#: 74146--------------------------------------------------
Re: Please help me think of an epic hostess gift
By: bigbadbetty Date: March 6, 2022, 11:56 am
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Since you are coming from Israel, are there any foods (that
could travel) that you can find easily in Israel that would be
difficult to find in Philly? I like to cook and that is what I
would want (along with how to use it if it isn't obvious). I am
also a sucker for international snack food.
#Post#: 74147--------------------------------------------------
Re: Please help me think of an epic hostess gift
By: STiG Date: March 6, 2022, 11:57 am
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If she enjoys fresh cut flowers, you could talk to a local
florist to provide an arrangement each month.
I read a story once about someone who arranged for this for a
relative in a retirement living situation. They gave the
florist a $ amount, but gave them carte blanche on arrangements
they wanted to provide and when it would be delivered. So if
the normal delivery was the second Saturday of the month, in
May, they could postpone it until the next week because of
Mother's Day, for example. They were free to use whatever
flowers they had so if they had leftovers from a wedding, they
could use those. It ended up that the arrangements were almost
always worth well over the designated price because they were
using flowers that would otherwise go to waste.
I also like jpcher's idea of some sort of experience gift for
them.
#Post#: 74148--------------------------------------------------
Re: Please help me think of an epic hostess gift
By: Gellchom Date: March 6, 2022, 3:28 pm
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These are great ideas!
I also thought of crocheting them a beautiful afghan. If I get
started on it right away and hustle, I can get it done in time
to bring with us. (Luckily a good yarn store is right
downstairs in our building.). That would be more personal, too,
and it’s for both of them. That plus treating for a great meal
out plus grandchild gifts plus a donation.
And of course an invitation to stay with us on their next trip
here!
#Post#: 74151--------------------------------------------------
Re: Please help me think of an epic hostess gift
By: Rho Date: March 6, 2022, 9:02 pm
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Cleaning service for tiny place in Manhattan after you leave in
addition to other Thank Yous. Will you be traveling in the next
five weeks? Something special for Passover such as Schmura
Matzo?
#Post#: 74154--------------------------------------------------
Re: Please help me think of an epic hostess gift
By: Hmmm Date: March 7, 2022, 7:57 am
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Do her grandchildren live near here? Matching customized aprons
would be cute. There are also monthly subscription boxes that
are focused on kids that she might like doing with them. My
niece did one called Eat2explore that she really liked. I think
she was 4 at the time. Each month had a different country theme.
#Post#: 74157--------------------------------------------------
Re: Please help me think of an epic hostess gift
By: Gardensgrey Date: March 7, 2022, 10:55 am
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I gave 9”x13’ Pyrex casserole dishes to my nieces for Christmas,
etched with one of their late father’s favorite recipes, in his
own handwriting. They were thrilled. If you search “personalized
casseroles” on Etsy, you will see that there are many types of
dishes, pie plates, platters, etc. that are offered. The vendors
can even remove the lines, if on a recipe card.You get to
approve the proof. If your friend likes to cook, she might
appreciate receiving a favorite handwritten recipe from you.
Very unique.
#Post#: 74161--------------------------------------------------
Re: Please help me think of an epic hostess gift
By: Gellchom Date: March 7, 2022, 3:52 pm
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Oh, great ideas! Thank you all so much.
For sure we will have the place cleaned when we leave. I’ll ask
her who they use, or at least do a thorough job ourselves. I’m
not sure they’d love our hiring a stranger as a surprise.
I really love the idea of the matching aprons and cooking
subscription a lot. But the only local grandchild is only 1
1/2. Otherwise that would’ve been perfect. I didn’t know about
that; I’ll keep it in mind for future gifts.
I’ll check out the personalized casseroles. That’s another
terrific gift I didn’t know existed.
I started an afghan tonight, so that will be part of it.
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