Holiday Gift Guide: Hostess

The holidays are full of events- parties, dinners, gift exchanges, and too many cocktail hours to keep track of. At the center of each of these events is a woman we all love and adore- the hostess. She's the woman that manages to make her tiny one bedroom apartment fit as many friends as possible, while still keeping everyone comfortable. The one that turns her house into a chic lounge, or the one that injects so much Christmas spirit into her home that you'd swear you were in a Hallmark movie. These women go above and beyond all year long bringing people together, so they deserve a gift as amazing as they are! Why not bring a smile to their face or make their lives easier by giving them one of these items? Here are some Christmas gift ideas for the hostesses in your life.

1. Gold Leaf Phone Case 2. Pink Ombre Cocktail Shaker 3. KitchenAid Stand Mixer 4. Paper Mate Flair Markers 5. Celebrate Everything by Darcy Miller 6. Pink Party Straws 7. Keurig 2.0 Brewing System 8. Rose Gold Slate Drink Coasters 9. Meri Meri Birthday Candles 10. Pom Pom Marled Knit Throw 11. Gold Dot Champagne Flutes 12. Fujifilm Instax Mini (Raspberry)

1. Gold Leaf Phone Case - For a hostess that loves throwing glam parties, this phone case is a no-brainer! It'll be sure to put a smile on your friend's face, so maybe she'll be less likely to aggressively text you not to forget the pie.

2. Pink Ombre Cocktail Shaker - To get the party started, every hostess needs to have this adorable ombre cocktail shaker. It's equal parts fun and classy, so it's a perfect mood-setter for the party.

3. KitchenAid Stand Mixer - If your hostess friend is a baker, she'll love this KitchenAid mixer! If you've got a group of friends that want to get her a gift, this is the perfect opportunity to pitch in and get it for her as a Christmas gift since there are tons of sales during the holidays. I've been drooling over these for years. Here's to hoping someone purchases it from our wedding registry! 

4. Paper Mate Flair Markers - I can't survive without my Papermate Flair markers! With all the color options, budding party planners can color-coordinate their to-do lists, make grocery shopping more fun, handwrite a card, or just doodle to pass the time. They make everything a party.

5. Celebrate Everything by Darcy Miller - This book is seriously amazing. The pages are so colorful and full of interesting, useful party planning ideas. It's packed full of inspiration and does not disappoint!

6. Pink Party Straws - I don't think these need an explanation, but I'll give one anyway. They're pink, they're fun and they remind you to party. How can you NOT buy these?!

7. Keurig 2.0 Brewing System - Whether she's staying up late putting the finishing touches on her decor or serving guests, your friend needs a keurig! This off white color will match any kitchen while keeping it classy. She'll also stand out since everyone else has a black Keurig!

8. Rose Gold Slate Drink Coasters - No one likes rings on their furniture. Give your hostess a set of these gorgeous coasters so she can keep her furniture safe- in style. Plus they'd look gorgeous on a coffee table! Cute and practical, what better Christmas gift can you ask for?

9. Meri Meri Birthday Candles - These candles would make such a fun gift for any hostess or party gal! They're pink and glittery, tall and elegant. They're perfect for a birthday or just to make an ordinary meal interesting.

10. Pom Pom Marled Knit Throw - Since the hostess always makes her home nice and cozy for everyone, why not return the favor with this throw? It's soft, warm and has super cute pom poms on the ends.

11. Gold Dot Champagne Flutes - Drinking champagne makes everything an event, whether your hostess is partying it up with friends or laying on the couch watching Friends. At least this way, she can do it with her pinkies up.

12. Fujifilm Instax Mini (Raspberry) - I love instant cameras. I was fascinated with them as a kid in the 90's and still like them today! They capture a memory and print it right then and there. It's the best Christmas gift for a hostess. It'll remind her to live in the moment!

With this holiday gift guide, you can find the best Christmas present for each hostesses on your list. Christmas is the perfect time to tell her thanks for always bringing us together- in style! Which of these items is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!

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What Greece Taught Me About Being a Great Hostess

This summer, I went with my sister and my fiancé to Greece and spent 2.5 weeks island hopping and visiting family for the first time. Even though we had never met before, it didn't seem to make a difference. Distant aunts and cousins welcomed us into their homes with open arms, acting as though they had known us for all our lives. It was such a change from NYC, where you are suspicious of strangers and fear talking to new people, lest they be a weirdo. At first we felt a little awkward, but we quickly learned to love their hospitality. It was nice being part of a big family and meeting new people.

While staying with various family members in places ranging from big cities to tiny towns, we noticed they all had something in common when it came to how they treat visitors. Here are nine lessons I learned about being a hostess. 

1. Treat every guest as if they are your family. To Greeks, everyone is family whether you've known them for 5 minutes or 5 years. They love to open their homes and their hearts to people, always making sure their guests are comfortable. Their favorite thing to do is to feed everyone, so you have to always bring a big appetite!

2. Give your guests lots of options. When we stayed with my dad's aunt, she offered us a pair of her pajamas to sleep in. She opened up her dresser and showed us all the options and urged us to wear whatever we wanted instead of choosing one for us. Even though we had our own pajamas, we were excited to choose from her selection. My sister and I even fought over the same pair!

3. Show guests that your home is their home. In Greece, it's not enough to just tell someone to make themselves at home. You have to show them how they can open the fridge when they want to, show them where items are in the kitchen cupboards, and where the laundry machine is. This serves two purposes- taking some of the responsibility away from the host, and allowing the guests to feel 100% welcome and comfortable. 

4. Always have some fruits and snacks on hand. In Greece, you can't go to someone's house without being offered something to eat. We were constantly offered delicious, ripe fruit. It was an easy thing to serve that everyone enjoyed. It has virtually no prep time, it's healthy, and it can be served on the fly in case you get unexpected guests.

5. If someone is a picky eater, find a way to accommodate them. As an extremely picky eater, I was nervous to have people cook for me. Luckily, everyone was super accommodating. They would order some chicken souvlaki for me, or modify their recipes to make it to my liking. It really helped me to feel at ease! To make your guests feel welcome, ask about dietary restrictions or allergies ahead of time to avoid any surprises.

6. Be open to people even if you don't understand them. My fiancé doesn't speak Greek, but that didn't stop anyone from treating him like family. They would bond with him in any way possible, whether it was sharing a beer or offering him food. 

7. Make a signature dish from your culture. Some people are afraid to try new foods (guilty!) but others can be very curious to learn more about your culture. Pick a dish that's unique but safe and serve it to your guests so that they can get a taste of the local cuisine. Or, if you've got people visiting from out of town, make something that's regional. It can be a city favorite, something locally sourced, or fresh produce. 

8. Always offer something sweet after a meal. In Greece, restaurants always serve you some kind of small dessert or liqueur after dinner. It's a nice gesture that shows your business was appreciated. If you have a friend come over, even just to drop something off, offer them a small treat and a coffee, and have a quick chat before they go. 

9. It's always a good time for a spontaneous dance party. Greeks love to dance, so it's totally normal for them to put on some music and suddenly break into a line dance. It's really fun and silly, and you aren't judged for being bad at it. Next time a friend comes over, try playing something popular, like the Macarena, and burst into giggles as you do the dance.

The main thing I learned from Greece was that any gathering can become a celebration. Next time you have friends and family together, try some of these tips to turn an ordinary dinner into a can't-wait-until-next-time soiree. 

Have you learned any lessons about being a hostess in your travels? What are they?! Leave them in the comments.