{"id":7303,"date":"2017-05-02T06:00:46","date_gmt":"2017-05-02T10:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/?p=7303"},"modified":"2023-05-09T10:31:49","modified_gmt":"2023-05-09T14:31:49","slug":"creative-hostess-gift-ideas-easy-diys-offering-gratitude-summer-dinner-party-hosts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/2017\/05\/02\/creative-hostess-gift-ideas-easy-diys-offering-gratitude-summer-dinner-party-hosts\/","title":{"rendered":"Creative Hostess Gift Ideas: Easy DIYs Offering Gratitude at Summer Dinner Parties"},"content":{"rendered":"

“I have only to break into the tightness of a strawberry, and I see summer\u2014its dust and lowering skies.\u201d – Toni Morrison<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\"dinner<\/a>
Savory summer bites | Photo courtesy Unsplash user Brooke Lark<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the sensations of summer loom on the horizon\u2014the blooming of roses, strawberries making their way to the stands at the farmers\u2019 market, spring sweaters staying put in the closet and being replaced by sundresses\u2014I begin to daydream of summer dinner parties. <\/span><\/p>\n

As with each new season, my favorite part of summer tends to revolve around gatherings, time spent sharing meals and stories with friends and family. In the warmer months, the options for dinner party dining are plentiful, from tables inside adorned with fresh flowers, to picnic blankets on the lawn, to twinkle-lit decks and patios. <\/span><\/p>\n

When I receive a summer dinner party invite, I like to be prepared with some creative hostess gift ideas that feel genuinely thoughtful. From a s\u2019mores kit, to a treat yourself lounging bucket, to a picnic basket filled with goodies, here are three of my favorite gifts I like to bring along with me to summer parties. But, more important than the gifts themselves, are the feelings I hope they leave behind: contentment, gratitude, and a little bit of self-indulgence. <\/span><\/p>\n

A Make Your Own S\u2019mores Kit for the Sweetest Hostess<\/h4>\n

The tradition of s\u2019mores is one I\u2019ve loved and looked forward to every summer since I was a kid. Whether I\u2019m roasting marshmallows at the beach or around a backyard bonfire, it\u2019s still the sweetest-smelling dessert I\u2019ve ever made. And, as they\u2019re usually reserved for the summertime, they\u2019ll forever remind me of the season of sand, sea, and sun. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"s'more<\/a>
S\u2019more summer, please | Photo courtesy Etsy seller FavorBoxParty<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I love putting together seasonal cookie kits as gifts (a mason jar filled with layers of flour, sugar, and Halloween sprinkles in the fall, anything green and red for winter, and pastel colored M&M\u2019s in the spring), but in summer, I step out of the box, and the jar, and wrap up the makings for ooey-gooey s\u2019mores.<\/span><\/p>\n

They\u2019re fun to have on hand for last minute camping or beach trips, and they don\u2019t require any time on the recipient\u2019s end spent measuring ingredients or sweating over an oven when it\u2019s hot outside. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Ingredients List:<\/b><\/p>\n