I love Hostess Gifts!! Really – they are fun, easy and can span all price ranges – love getting and giving these! So, of course, there is the standard bottle of wine – it is what you do with it that matters. I was shopping in The Container Store this morning and they have great gift bags but also great gift totes. Deliver it as is or personalize it with your own art work (get out the Mod Podge!), ribbons or ornaments (I have a secret stash of inexpensive Target ornaments for package decorations). Affix the tag to ribbon or write your message on the box.
cookie jar or these elegant dishes. 
The best chocolate (both in presentation and taste) I ever received was from this company, L.A. Burdick, but I have to confess that I did not share with anyone. Before you think too badly of me, my husband does not care for chocolate (I know, almost a character flaw but it works for me!) and the children (almost babies, then, really) were too young to appreciate it and I did confess later. Now they will read about it and know the how mean I was not to share.
Pragmatic Mom likes to give a lemon cypress tree – such a great idea – maybe tuck an instruction sheet in the container, too. I am all for tropical trees and plants – more green, now please!This is an item that I have long coveted – Dean & Deluca’s Spice rack. Cool, modern and a little geeky, which I love, of course. 
It is on the splurge side, so if you want to do this less expensively, pick up nice spices at your favorite local place like Sofra Bakery or you could even repackage supermarket spices in glass containers like these from The Container Store.
The 12 Days of ShoppingI will be posting The 12 Days of Shopping jointly with Pragmatic Mom. Each day, please visit her blog to see the other half of each post. Thanks!Friday, Dec 10: Make Your Own Gifts GRANOLA, Amazing Granola from Nigella Lawson versus Amazing Granola Bars from The Barefoot Contessa
Sat, Dec 11: Kids Make Gifts CRAFT (ModPodge versus Clove Fruit)
Sun, Dec 12: Personalized Gifts: Fancy Return Address Stampers and Personalized Stationery from Pixie Chicago
Mon, Dec 13: Father-in-Law/Dad and Mother-in-Law/Mom
Wed, Dec 15: High Tech/Low Tech
Thu, Dec 16: Hostess/Doing Good and Getting Something
Fri, Dec 17: Sanitation Engineers, Mail Carriers, Hairdresser, Delivery People, Babysitter, Cleaning People, Dog Walker/Dog Trainer
Sat, Dec 18: Husband, Me (Our Own Wacko List)
Sun, Dec 19: Dog/Cat
Mon, Dec 20: Quick Gifts from Whole Foods versus Gourmet Food Store
Tue, Dec 21: ’Cause I Am So Together, Last Minute Home Made Gifts
I love the spice rack and ornament idea from Target is such a good idea. I’ll have to remember that for next year!
I need a file for all of the good ideas from you! This has been a fun project – Let’s do another joint post project soon!
nice post. thanks.