6 Interesting Housewarming gifts for Family & Friends

Moving into a new place is always exciting and fun. When a family member or a friend invites you to their first house warming party, deciding what to gift them can be a little nerve-wracking. You want to find something that they will love and use, something that will stand out from the champagne bottles or house plants that most guests bring.

Well, if you’re looking for a gift idea that is unconventional and sure to please, then here are some picks for you,

A Gourmet Gift Basket

It may not be the most original housewarming gift, but if the products are chosen carefully to match the recipient’s interests and tastes, a gift basket can certainly be appreciated. One of the best ways to find the right basket is to look online. Several vendors offer containers filled to the brim with everything you can possibly imagine. However, if you want to go that extra mile for your loved one, think of getting a decorative basket and make it exclusive by filling it up with special items that they will love. Few ideas include cookies, specialty teas, spices, gourmet pasta, chocolate, gourmet foods, crackers, biscotti, and measuring spoons. You can also get them filled with pampering items like lotions, fancy soap, and bath products.

A Unique plant

Even though a traditional plant is a boring housewarming gift, there are several other plants that can make for a unique gift. For instance, a windowsill herb garden is extremely popular with people who like cooking. These plants provide fresh homegrown herbs as required for cooking. Apart from this, the owners can also relish the tempting scents of thyme, rosemary, mint, parsley, basil, and other herbs, enveloping the kitchen.

An exotic flower plant can also be given as a gift to add a vibrant touch to any house. Apart from this, if the house owner is into beautiful interesting shapes, you can think of a sculpted hardy bonsai plant or even a Feng Shui bamboo plant to bring in good fortune and lots of luck.

Garden Gifts

If your recipient loves to throw outdoor parties or likes to relax in the backyard, gifting them something for the garden makes for a great gift. Some of the presents can include a bird house, a bird feeder, a bird bath, a garden sculpture, wind chimes and even a cozy hammock. If you have a good budget then you can consider paying for a water fountain, customized address sign or a patio fire pit. In case the owners are passionate gardeners, you can also put together a customized gift basket with shears, seeds, fertilizers and plant markers.

Tool Kits

Every home owner needs a handy set of tools for repair and maintenance. In fact, they’ll really thank you for a cordless screwdriver or a state of the art wrench set. These may not seem like the most glamorous presents, but will come in very handy if they require hanging pictures, building bookcases and installing shelves.

Bottle of Champagne

There is nothing in the world that says congratulations like a fine bottle of champagne. To make the gift more lucrative, add a box of gourmet chocolates. Your recipient will love the feeling.

Gift Cards

Some say that gift cards make a great housewarming gift because the receiver can buy whatever they like for their new place.

There are several companies in California that provide thousands of options for housewarming gifts and gift baskets. You can search the web to look through their products and services. Most providers these days have heavy e-commerce websites that allow you to order online. However, make sure the company you choose has a good reputation when it comes to timely delivery and product quality.

Celebrating World Health Day with Healthy Gift Baskets

April seventh marks the anniversary of WHO (World Health Organization) and is celebrated as the World Health Day. This day is only a subtle reminder that we need to take control of our wellbeing and also of those dear to us. Hence, if you have a birthday or an anniversary of a close one coming up this month, consider gifting them a healthy gift basket!

You’re probably asking yourself “How do I come up with something healthy?” Here are a few tips that might help:

Person’s Preferences: Have they been diagnosed with a certain health problem? Are they struggling with their weight? If so, then a standard cheese and meat basket may not be a good idea. You can instead go for healthier options such as particular selections of low sodium, gluten free, low sugar, vegan and organic.

Add Homemade Foods: Baking or cooking for family or a friend allows more control over the kind of ingredients used. One of the best ways to show your love too!

Add Variety to the Usual Fruits: Everyone loves pears, apples, bananas and oranges, but this year, why not add “exotics” such as persimmons, pomegranates, star fruit, cherimoya and rambutan for new flavors. Add a few packets of nuts, a bottle of wine and dark chocolate and you are sure to be remembered the whole year long!

Non-food Gift Basket: There’s no rule that says gift baskets can only contain food. Non-food baskets can be a lot of fun. Depending on what the person loves, there are a variety of things out there. For instance, for the cooking enthusiast consider spoons, spatulas, whisks, a dishtowel, a cookbook, an apron or other utensils/tools.  For a movie fanatic, try movie tickets, collectible CD’s, popcorn and the like. For someone who likes to read gift a magazine subscription, novels, a gift card to a local book store. Similarly, a gardener can be given seeds, outdoor tools, gardener clogs, and the like.

Dried Fruits and Nuts: A box full of dried nuts and fruits are extremely healthy and nutritious, perfect for a group or family to share. The variety can include dried pears, peaches, apricots, prunes, roasted almonds, pistachios, cashews, and the like.

Gluten-free Gift Basket: A basket full of some of the best gluten free products is certainly a great way to promote a healthier lifestyle. From chocolate chip cookies to snacks such as baked potato sticks, apple crunch, brownie mix, red ruby popcorn, chicken noodle soup, and the like, the receiver will be extremely grateful to receive such a large variety of delicious, healthy foods!

Baby Gift Basket: In case if your loved one has recently got a newborn, you can prefer gifting a baby gift basket. You can add products such as organic toys, towels, natural soaps, books, and the like. You can also add in healthy, gluten free, organic snacks for the parents to enjoy.

Flowers: A bouquet of bright flowers can certainly make anyone’s day and cheer them up. Flowers are believed to uplift a person’s mood and elevate depression. Hence, there can be nothing healthier than a bunch of beautiful roses, daisies, or lily’s carefully arranged in a beautiful vase. These certainly make a great gift for women.    

There is an abundance of award-winning gourmet foods and snacks that are low in calories and fat, but full of scrumptious flavor. Your recipients can indulge without the guilt of consuming something unhealthy. There are numerous gift basket makers in California that can help you come up with the best basket for your loved one. The best way to find out about such providers is through the internet.