Do you have people on your list that you wonder what kind of gift to get them? Maybe you want to thank your boss, or a really friendly neighbor. Maybe you have family or friends that you would like to give one gift for the whole family. And don’t forget all the people who bring us into their homes over the holidays for the weekend, a family celebration or even a dinner party. These are the people who we traditionally give a gift basket or a hostess gift. This year, forget the fruit baskets, boxes filled with summer sausage and cheese, and oversized popcorn tins! [Unless it’s Garrett’s, in which case please send some my way!] The LIY team and I [hey, this is Becca] have come up with some creative and thoughtful gift ideas — 3 gift baskets and 3 hostess gifts — that you can easily replicate and are guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone’s face!

The great thing about a gift basket is that you can really make it fit any budget. If you want to spend a little less, opt out of an item or two that we suggest. We erred on the side of more items to give as many ideas as possible, but including every item is definitely not necessary. Want to decrease the cost by even more? Choose a basket that is smaller, so you can add just a few items to the inside — or opt for one of our host/hostess gift ideas. They are on the smaller side and while they work great as a “thank you for hosting me” gift, they also work well as gifts to anyone else!

1. Family Game Night Gift Basket

This basket is tons of fun for the whole family! Include your favorite games, or try something new! The LIY team chose these retro games that remind me of my childhood, but you can add whatever games are most appropriate for the ages and personalities of the family you are giving it to!  We included a chalkboard to keep track of the score and up the competitive spirit! Add to that, snacks and drinks to make the night complete! We love this popcorn & seasoning set and adorable hot cocoa jar. Anyone up for a game of clue? I’ll be Colonel Mustard!

2. Christmas Breakfast Gift Basket

Who doesn’t love a decadent breakfast? For that very reason, his basket works as a perfect gift for just about anyone! The adorable carafe is ready to serve up a piping hot coffee since the kids are bound to wake us up earlier than we’d like! And from the pot holders to the pancake mix to  cast iron skillet, we have added everything necessary for a Christmas morning filled with Holiday Cheer!

3. Relaxing Bath Gift Basket

This day and age, we all lead super busy lifestyles and can forget to take time to ourselves. This basket is the gift of a little “me time”! We included everything needed for the perfect bath! From bath salts, to a face mask and book, this basket is overflowing with relaxation! Light the candle and pour me a glass of wine, I am ready for bath time!

1. Mani/Pedi in a Jar Hostess Gift

This cute jar of goodies is a great hostess gift for the holiday season! Nothing says thank you for letting us crash at your house for the weekend like a jar full of pampering! We added nail tools, foot and hand lotions and pretty polishes to a jar, topped with some cotton balls and tied on a bow! Easy to put together, but oh-so-cute!

2. Cinnamon Vanilla Latte Infused Vodka Hostess Gift

This gift could not be easier to make, but the final product is amazing! Plus you get extra points for gifting something homemade! Just add a few dark roasted coffee beans [like French Roast or espresso], a vanilla bean and a cinnamon stick to a jar. We chose this olive oil bottle for it’s easy pour spout on top. Pour in your favorite vodka and let it sit for a few days to infuse. Don’t forget a tag to label what it is! You can even include a cocktail recipe on the back if you like! Note: You can add sugar crystals to the infusion to make it sweet, or you can achieve a sweet cocktail by adding some simple syrup when you mix a glass!

3. Towel Wrapped Wine Bottle Hostess Gift

This is my go to gift. I use it during the holidays with a festive Christmas towel, but I will gift it throughout the year as well as a house warming gifts or wedding gifts! It’s easy and cheap [wine stoppers are about $6 at Target and tea towels are only $3-4 so really it’s not much more than however much you want to spend on a bottle of wine] —  yet so pretty once assembled. Just choose a tea towel, wrap it around a bottle of your favorite wine. If necessary, use a couple straight pins to hold it in place. Then wrap it up in ribbon and tie on a pretty wine stopper!