Alida Nugent, Author at 1800Flowers Petal Talk

9 Christmas Decorations for Every Room in Your House

When it’s time to decorate for Christmas, one room usually gets most of our attention — the one where the tree is placed. We also tend to focus on where all the other decorations go, from the holiday village to the Christmas throw pillows to the spice-scented candles. However, we think it’s time to up the holiday spirit and add Christmas decorations all over the house. Not only is spicing up each room with a small decorative element easy to do, but it’ll impress guests and give your home — and your family — an even more festive feel.

These pieces don’t have to be ornate or particularly expensive; adding a well-placed wreath, blanket, or centerpiece in often undecorated spots, such as the bathroom or porch, will do the trick without breaking the bank.

Here are nine of our favorite Christmas decorations for every room of your house. Go on, fully embrace the Christmas spirit.

Front door

Holiday Rustic Evergreen Wreath

A wreath and front door go together like hot chocolate and marshmallows, and this rustic evergreen wreath adds a few extra touches that make it both gorgeous and unexpected. First, it’s adorned with cinnamon stick bundles, which means your home will smell like sugar and spice before guests even step inside. And the faux red berries and farmhouse-style striped ribbon add a chic look to a classic decoration.

Patio or Porch or Terrace or Balcony

Holiday Spruce Tree with Lights

If you have a screened-in patio or covered porch, or any kind of outdoor space (even a fire escape for you apartment dwellers), you can decorate it with its own little Christmas tree. It’s the perfect way to let your neighborhood know you’re in the holiday spirit, and to gather around and enjoy some hot apple cider outside. This holiday spruce has warm winter lights and comes pre-planted in a holiday planter; plus, you can even replant it once January hits.

Bedroom

Festive Throw Blanket with Sherpa Lining

Adding Christmas decorations to your bedroom is usually an afterthought (or missed altogether, as it’s typically for hiding presents and you don’t want to draw attention to it), but why not add a festive touch to the room where you sleep? This fun and cheery throw blanket has a classic holiday plaid print and warm sherpa underside. It’s perfect to curl up under as you snuggle in bed while winding down with Christmas movies or, more likely, some online shopping.

Christmas decorations with a sherpa blanket on a chair.

Guest bedroom

Holiday Tea Gift Set

I stayed at a friend’s house last holiday season, and they set the guest room up like a little bed and breakfast. Not only did they leave treats, such as local chocolate bars, and handmade soap on my pillow, but they also supplied me with a seasonal mug for my morning coffee. Little touches like that make friends and family feel extra special during the season.

This set, with two ceramic mugs, a festive teapot, and a wooden chest filled with four different holiday teas, acts as both decor and a special way to welcome guests to your home. Remember to ask them to leave you a great review…

Christmas tea set with a tea pot, two mugs, and a box of tea bags.

Kids Room

Cozy Bundle Gift for Kids

This gift basket has two fun pieces of Christmas decorations for a kids room — a soft, gnome-covered throw blanket and plush polar bear — and your child will love the added coziness they bring to their room as the holidays roll along. Of course, they’ll also love the extras that come with it, including a tin of hot cocoa and chocolate-covered popcorn.

Christmas towel, stuffed animal, and mug.

Living Room

Holiday Garland

Nothing creates a warm and cozy holiday ambience like a garland draped over a fireplace mantel, and this Christmas decoration features natural pine cones, faux red berries, and noble fir. If you want to make it even more festive, add a strand of Christmas lights or some LED candles around it. But no matter how you decorate this garland, it will surely feel like the centerpiece of the room (and may even outshine the tree).

Christmas decoration garland on a mantel piece.

Kitchen

Raspberry-filled galettes are always a welcomed gift, but it’s the jar these cookies come in that will end up grabbing everyone’s attention. This adorable ceramic jar is perfect for the center of a kitchen island or kitchen table. Made to look like a stack of wrapped Christmas presents, it can be used as a place to store holiday treats — such as your famous secret recipe sugar cookies — for years to come.

Christmas decorated cookie jar with a plate of cookies in front.

Dining Room

Holiday Trees with LED Lights

A dining room table isn’t complete without a centerpiece that ties it all together — especially for a holiday meal. Candlesticks are beautiful, but the ones you’ve been using the past few years have probably burned down to unlightable stubs. Don’t let that get you down. Add a holiday touch with this trio of LED Christmas trees. Each lantern comes in a different shade — evergreen, ivory, and mint — and the star cutouts combined with the lights exude a warm glow. They’re a beautiful way to add more holiday spirit to your next get-together.

Bathroom

Holiday 4″ Poinsettia

My mother always puts a seasonal plant on her guest bathroom windowsill, and it’s such an easy way to add a special touch to a space that isn’t so easy to decorate. This small, bright red poinsettia plant is perfect for that or to add on the side of the sink next to some holiday-scented soap. Plus, it comes wrapped in a felt container that looks similar to the wood on a birch tree.

Christmas decorations with a poinsettia next to ornaments.

The Best Gifts for Your Father-In-Law

Like a wine that’s aged, the relationship with your father-in-law tends to get better over time. As the years go by, he starts to come out of his shell to give you advice, share stories, or simply lounge on the couch and watch sports with. He can act as a second father if you need it, a fun uncle, or even an older sibling who likes to tease you (all in good fun, of course!). And as the connection deepens, you’re going to want to show him how happy you are that he’s in your life — and there’s no better way to do that than with Father’s Day gifts, special birthday presents, or even just because gifts.

When looking for something unique, think about his favorite things: Is he a sports fanatic? Does he like trying new foods? Or is he happiest at home snacking on cookies or drinking a cup of coffee?

Whatever he’s into, show him you know him well with a thoughtful father-in-law gift.

Father in law gifts with a plate of cooked steak. — Preferred Steak Collection

For the fine diner

The steaks in this gift package are wet-aged for 21 days. The Black Angus Cattle is raised in the Midwest, antibiotic-free, and fed a 100% vegetarian diet to ensure the perfect amount of fat marbling. That’s the script to use when you give your father-in-law this premium collection of top sirloin, New York strip, ribeye, and filet mignon. And if he marks big occasions with fancy dinners, trips to farmers markets and butchers for the finest ingredients, or reservations at trendy new restaurants, he’ll be sure to appreciate it.

Father-in-law gifts with a pizza making kit in a box surrounded by ingredients for making pizza. — Pizza Kit with Wine

For the takeout king

There’s the fine dining father-in-law and then there’s the guy who thinks a special dinner is a burger and fries at a restaurant where the staff wear lots of flair and sing “Happy Birthday” off-key in unison. But what about when he actually has to cook something himself? That’s where this kit comes in: Dad-in-law can assemble a pepperoni and a roasted red pepper pizza in minutes, and then serve it up with a glass of vino for a pizzeria experience right at home. And the premium ingredients, such as uncured pepperoni and Sicilian jack cheese, may be enough to persuade him to opt for a fancier venue the next time he eats out.

Father in law gifts with a box of English muffins, and spreads. — Deluxe Berry Breakfast Box

For the early riser

When breakfast at your father-in-law’s house starts before the birds start chirping and the newspaper is half-finished before the sun even comes up…well, that’s just the life of an early riser. If your father-in-law likes to start his day at the crack of dawn, this deluxe breakfast box will be a surefire hit. It comes with a variety of berry English muffins, scones, and loaf cakes. And coffee, of course, which, if your father-in-law insists on the family watching the sun rise together, might end up being more for you than him.

Father in law gifts with a collection of ribs, hot dogs, and roasted corn. — The Tailgate Collection

For the game day fanatic

If Sundays are reserved for the highs and lows of his favorite team or he can’t go five minutes without bringing up the latest win or trade, this tailgate collection will make his game days even better. It comes with four half-slabs of pork ribs, 25 all-beef hot dogs, and 12 steak burgers. (Check out the different kinds of burgers you can make!) This high-quality collection can last all throughout the season — and if his lucky jersey has anything to say about it, all through the playoffs, too.

Father in law gifts with a box of wine and chocolates. — Reserve Pinot Noir and Belgian Chocolate

For the wine critic

Is your father-in-law’s favorite reading material the wine list at every restaurant in town? Is his idea of a perfect day a trek to a winery? Do his weekend errands include a visit to a wine store, where he can talk about the oak in chardonnay and various flavor profiles all day? Then impress him with a bottle of 2018 Reserve Pinot Noir. It even comes with a pairing that will bring out the subtleties of this high-quality wine: a half dozen dark chocolate truffles and a fruit-and-nut chocolate bar. It’s a father-in-law gift that will win you major points with that aspiring sommelier.

Father in law gifts with a box of sweet and savory snacks. — Grand Sweet and Salty Gift Box

For the snack fiend

Most people would be thrilled to receive a tower that’s piled high with snacks, but nobody will be happier about it than the father-in-law who loves to nosh. Sitting down to watch TV? Snack time. Some down time between lunch and dinner? Snack time. Playing cards after dinner? Yep: snack time. This gift box, with savory options like trail mix and crackers and sweet treats like raspberry galettes and cookie bars, will satisfy practically any taste.

Father in law gifts with a box of Cheryl's cookies — Hug in Every Bite Bow Gift

For the sweet tooth

If your father-in-law’s favorite meal is dessert, then cookies will always be the answer. Of course, if your father-in-law has had every sweet treat in the grocery store, convenience store, and bodega, you can’t just go out and pick up a generic box of oatmeal raisin. Instead, opt for this gift box, with three different varieties of buttercream-frosted cookies and three classic chocolate chip cookies. Each one is individually wrapped, so he can savor them without worrying that they’ll get stale. One caveat: You’ll ruin him for life from plain old boxed cookies.

Picture of Celebrations Passport banner ad

Unique Thank You Gifts for Everyone Who’s Ever Helped You

When you want to express gratitude to someone, sometimes a simple “thank you” just won’t cut it. Maybe you want to thank your parents for all they’ve done for you, but there’s no exact card — or one big enough — for that. Or maybe you finally got your new puppy to stop barking every time she hears so much as a pin drop outside, and you know a “Hey, thanks for not going all Cruella De Vil on my dog” to your patient neighbors isn’t nearly enough. Whatever the reason, a really unique thank you gift can go such a long way and is a lovely gesture for the people around you who have made your life just a little (or a lot — thanks, Mom and Dad!) easier.

Mariah Grumet, founder of Old Soul Etiquette and an expert on all things politeness, knows exactly when to give a thank you gift. She says, “It is appropriate to give a thank you gift when someone hosts you or when someone assists you with something that positively impacted your life.”

And if you’re wondering about the unspoken question (ahem, price), don’t worry. As Grumet notes, “The gesture is significantly more important than the price of the item. Quite frankly, price does not matter at all.”

If a kind gesture is what you’re looking for, here are some recommendations for the best types of thank you gifts for all the people you might want to thank in your life.

Your Parents
(who deserve all the thank yous)

Unique thank you gifts with a chest of sweet and savory treats next to two bottles of wine.

Sweet & Savory Chest With Wine

Whether you were the perfect child, a teenager who refused to follow curfew, or a college graduate whose “few months at home” after graduation turned into a few years, saying thanks to the people who raised you is always a good idea. And for those people, we think going all out with a unique thank you gift is appropriate, which is why we chose the gourmet sweet and savory gift box. It comes with a beautiful wooden chest (to store all the things you still haven’t taken from their house yet, such as your preschool drawings and old iPhones), roasted nuts, cheeses, and two decadent desserts — baklava and chocolate cake. Plus, wine — because you know you can still be a bit of a headache sometimes.

Your Significant Other (for something they always do)

unique thank you gifts flowers chocolates

Two Dozen Assorted Roses

Giving a bouquet of roses to a partner or spouse for Valentine’s Day, a birthday, or when you’ve done something wrong is the relationship standard for most people. But what about a thank you for something they routinely do? A bouquet of brightly colored roses could be the perfect gift of appreciation for things like always doing the dishes or dealing with family dynamics during the holidays. That kind of gesture can go a long way the next time you forget to defrost that chicken or zone out when they’re telling you a work story.

A Friend Who You Leaned on Recently

unique thank you gifts Thank You Cookie Gift Tin

Thanks A Bunch Treat Tin

Your friends are there for you because they love you, but sometimes life requires them to be there for you a little more than usual. Whether they talked you through a breakup, looked over your resume, or let you borrow their very expensive stand mixer for easy dinner party prep, letting them know you appreciate them with a unique thank you gift is a nice way to send the love right back. This tin from Cheryl’s Cookies has a fun variety of delicious desserts, including buttercream frosted cookies, fudge brownies, and more, and is the perfect surprise. If you want to go one step further, you can make them a playlist of songs about friendship.

The Nice Neighbor

Thank You Tower of Sweet Treats

A friendly neighbor is worth their weight in gold. From checking on your house when you’re on vacation to reminding you about garbage day or opposite street parking, they’re always looking out for you without being too nosy. A “just because” thank you gift is always welcome, or you can treat them to a gift basket for, say, watering your plants. We like this fun tower of sweets, which contains a little bit of everything, including lemon shortbread cookies, milk chocolate truffles, and yogurt pretzels.

The Eighth Grade
Math Tutor

Pears

I don’t remember a thing about basic algebra, and I’m willing to bet you don’t either. If your child has a tutor who helps them ace a test that you would almost certainly fail, then that person deserves one of the best thank you gifts you can give. But maybe you don’t know a lot about them, save for their extraordinary ability to teach your kid math. That is when a tried-and-true gift like Harry & David’s famous pears come in handy. Grumet says, “If you do not know them well, avoid buying anything specific for their home, such as an art piece, that may not go well with their taste.” These pears are lovely, delicious, and well known, making them a surefire hit.

Someone You Accidentally Inconvenienced

Unique thank you gifts with a tin of different kinds of Moose Munch in bags.

Moose Munch Snack Mix Classic Tin

A babysitter had to clean up your kid’s epic arts and crafts mess (we’re talking glue and glitter). You need your neighbor to cover your patio furniture before a gnarly rainstorm while you’re on your way home from work. Your mom had to pay for the coffee run (again!) because your wallet was in the car (again!). Sometimes, people do nice things for you because, well, you’ve kind of left them no choice. For these occasions, when you need a sweet (and savory) thank you gift that will (hopefully) bring back all their goodwill for you, Moose Munch is the way to go. The mix of popcorn and caramel is sure to make anyone smile, and there are three types of snack mix to try in this pack, including spicy and cheddar.

An Unexpected Host

Godiva Gold Ballotin Chocolates Box

We’ve all overstayed our welcome at one time or another. That quick drop-by that turns into a glass of wine and some charcuterie. Or your child’s playdate runs long and before you know it you’re eating dinner at another family’s house instead of your own. Or your flight back from a business trip gets canceled, so you crash with a friend who happens to live in the city you were visiting. It’s only right you send them something that thanks them. A box of chocolates from Godiva usually does the trick.

10 Best Passover Hostess Gift Ideas

The holiday of Passover (or Pesach) commemorates the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt more than three millennia ago. Passover lasts for either seven or eight days, depending on which denomination of Judaism is observing the holiday. This year, it begins the evening of April 22 and goes until the evening of April 29 or 30.

To celebrate the holiday, Jewish people traditionally have a seder, a ritual meal that takes place on the first night (and, in some branches of Judaism, the second night as well). The word “seder” literally translates to “order,” because there is a specific sequence in which everything is supposed to be done during the meal.

As you might imagine, it takes a lot of preparation to make sure everything during the seder is in place and runs smoothly. This special and joyous gathering often involves a large number of friends, family, and members of the community, and with all the specific instructions and ceremonial touches the hostess needs to consider, she can have a lot on her proverbial (seder) plate.

If you’re attending a seder this year, you’ll want to bring your hostess something that shows how much you appreciate her taking on such a meaningful event in her home. Here are 10 unique Passover hostess gifts that are sure to be celebrated.

10 Passover hostess gifts to bring to seder

Passover Personalized Butcher Block Cutting Board

This show-stopping slab of North American hardwood will wow your hostess with its heft — it weights almost 5 pounds! Every time she uses this personalized board to chop up the ingredients for her famous charoset or slice the brisket for future seders, she will remember your thoughtful gesture.

Mango Wood Egg Tray

Hard-boiled eggs are one of the symbolic items that go on the seder plate, and they’re also eaten during the meal, so this beautiful mango wood egg tray is a thoughtful gift for a host. It will give her a lovely place to set the eggs once they’re cooked while she’s doing all the rest of the prep.

Sunny Bee Pitcher

A pitcher is used to ceremonially wash hands during the seder dinner. While gifting this whimsical ceramic pitcher doesn’t mean you intend for the host to use it during this tradition — it’s always best to let the host use what they prefer during this ceremony — it’s a lovely gift for them to use for future dinners.

Engraved Slate Coaster Set

These sturdy slate coasters are of exceptional quality, and with the personalization option, you can give them a gift that they will cherish as their very own. Additionally, since there are many guests and wine is present at the seder ― four cups are drunk during the meal! ― it’s always nice to have extra coasters around.

Wine Decanter

The wine you drink at a seder usually isn’t of the highest quality, so putting it in a decanter first probably won’t make much of a difference — but that doesn’t mean your hostess won’t appreciate you bringing one of these gifts this Passover. This crystal option holds 40 ounces of liquid and is a striking piece of decor to display anywhere in the home.

Personalized Chip and Dip Serving Dish

A special holiday deserves a special gift, and this beautiful wood platter with a glass serving dish is a wonderful way to thank a host for welcoming you to their home for this sacred occasion. It’s a convenient design and will be used for years to come in many different celebrations, religious or otherwise.

Daisy Napkin Rings

Another present that conjures up images of spring, this happy set of flower-shaped napkin rings are a seasonal and fun gift that thank the host and will add a bright pop of color to their next meal. Another set is available in butterfly shapes, if you think that would be more to their liking.

passover hostess gifts handpainted shabbat candles

Hand-painted Shabbat Candlesticks

Ceremonial candles are lit at the dinner, so gifting a special set of candlesticks would be lovely for future seders, and can be used all year long. This set from Matashi comes with two in your choice of 14 different beautiful crystal designs.

Triple Treat Deluxe Fruit

This beautiful box comes with 18 pieces of perfectly ripe fresh fruit — apples, pears, and navel oranges — for your hosts to enjoy over the course of the week. It’s over 8 pounds of sweet produce picked at their peak, and is sure to be a hit.

Spring Tulip & Iris Bouquet

Flowers are always a beautiful gift for a host, and pairing them with a vase makes this an incredibly thoughtful and convenient option for a dinner. While there is no traditional flower that is associated with Passover, flowers that are in season, such as irises and tulips, tend to be popular, making this gorgeous option one that will be greatly appreciated.