Gift ideas, plus more characters to get up to 15

last year

We have guests (renters) coming later this month and I always leave a gift. It is usually a bottle of Prosecco, local gourmet salt water taffy, flowers from the garden, specialty soap in all the baths, and "x."

Over the years "x" has been a Malin puzzle, an adult coloring book, a deck of "great wave" Caspari playing cards, and last year a pretty local ceramic bowl (shaped liked a clam?) and local sea salt for it. This family has been here several years in a row and I think they have already rec'd all of those.

It cannot be perishable because it might be there a day or so before they arrive and it could be hot. No gift cards.

Any ideas? Up to ~$100. First one to say it's not necessary gets 5 points off their final grade for the semester.

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Olychick

last year

those cute Maine tote bags reminded me that I recently ordered a couple of these as gifts. They also have a blue crab and a gorgeous Great Blue Heron and other products with the images.

Not sure how soon you need something...these aren't shipping until mid august

https://www.tidehill.com/collections/bags

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Comments (33)

sushipup2
last year
(Do I lose points by pointing our that you can just use the space bar for extra characters?) (Duck and run......................)
deegw
last year
last modified: last year
Salty nibbles? Nuts, olives, fancy crackers, bread sticks ;)

I'm a fan of consumable gifts.
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mtnrdredux_gw
Original Author
last year
OOh, gourmet salty nibbles is a definite possibility; maybe with a note to see cheese in the fridge?
Sueb20
last year
I brought the tomato-scented gardener’s soap as part of a host gift and it was received with more joy than I’d expected! Made in Maine. And such cute packaging.

https://marmalademercantile.com/products/all-natural-gardeners-bar-soap-choice-of-style?variant=49119081431313&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=18288611966&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAABdy6agGYqpuqRvYq0pSMJaPisiq1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI06We5MqxhwMV0VFHAR2wIQQ9EAQYBiABEgI8WvD_BwE
mtnrdredux_gw
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
OMG Sue could that be cuter? Must have. For my pantry annex!

The thing is, als, you did not read the syllabus closely enough.

"specialty soap in all the baths, and "x."

I already have cute soaps for each bath. I need the "x" . 😬
mtnrdredux_gw
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
I was thinking of something like a book of Maine artists but coffee table books are such ...

commitments. I came across this and it is so cute I bought it.

Will not let me post a pic! https://shop.wildsam.com/collections/pursuits/products/maine-coast

I had not heard of this brand. SO great looking!

https://shop.wildsam.com/products/pursuits-collection?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=8bd37f34d&pr_rec_pid=6725415960646&pr_ref_pid=1900466765894&pr_seq=uniform
Olychick
last year
last modified: last year

I have been giving these a lot lately...Georg Jensen freezable ice "cubes" eggs that you can use in wine or other beverages to keep them cold without diluting the drink

eta: finally would let me add a pic. Nordstrom or Bloomingdales they come in a nice little suede like cloth bag that goes in the freezer and the eggs are DW safe. Everyone loves them!

Silver ice eggs
njmomma
last year
Fine chocolates. Who doesn’t love chocolate!
Bunny
last year
I vote for salty nibbles and a great cheese, bonus points for it being local.

Is this the Maine House?
mtnrdredux_gw
Original Author
last year
yes, Bunny,

NJ Momma, the taffy is local and I don't want to to two candies, plus risk of melting in the heat.
Jilly
last year
Mtn, I missed you!

I vote local nibbles, too.

Ok, hear me out, though … if I stay, can I get lobster rolls as my treat? (Plural.)

Did I just get points taken off?
mtnrdredux_gw thanked Jilly
Fun2BHere
last year
Instax camera and vacation journal?

Personalized wine and cheese set?

https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/personalized-deluxe-wine-cheese-tote?_br_psugg_q=personalized%2Bwine
mtnrdredux_gw thanked Fun2BHere
Annie Deighnaugh
last year
How 'bout some local ME goodies especially their blueberry jam...
rubyclaire
last year
last modified: last year
A set of cocktail napkins - linen or paper?
jojoco
last year
last modified: last year
This could be a fun way to "wrap" a gift:

eta that these mugs would be cute with a local nibbles theme:
mtnrdredux_gw thanked jojoco
mtnrdredux_gw
Original Author
last year
That nautical blanket is so cute.

It occurs to me that some of these ideas are more like a hostess gifts... maybe because there usually isn't such thing as a guest gift. Heretofore all the things I do are to be enjoyed during their stay, ie things to eat or use and entertainment, if you will.

On a separate note, I did recall that we stayed at a house once where each bed had a set of (pristine, white) towels per person, and the set was wrapped with grosgrain ribbon. It was so nice. I might have my cleaning person do that.
jojoco
last year
ah, yeah, I *might* have googled "Nautical hostess gifts" followed by "beach house warming gifts.
mtnrdredux_gw thanked jojoco
bpath
last year
Okay, the wildsam book wins. It is exactly what *I* would want. I love stories about the places I’m visiting, a little history, maps! Maybe add some walking trails if there are some, and surely there are. But the wildsam, leather(ette?) binding, Love that.
mtnrdredux_gw
Original Author
last year
bpath
last year
See if they have it in leatherette.

Is it the nice quality paperback, thick, textured?
mtnrdredux_gw
Original Author
last year
IDK, picking it up tomorrow. In the meantime, reminded of two local vendors I like, Daytrip Society and Sara Fitz.

https://www.daytripsociety.com/lantern-press-1000-piece-puzzle-nubble-light-house.html?id=100760078

https://sarafitz.com/collections/notepads/products/whale-weathervane-notepad

Then round it out with local snax.
jill302
last year
Notepad is cute and useful.
localeater
last year
A Seawicks candle, https://shopseawicks.com/products/new-maine-candle

something from FLYN like a cute zip pouchhttps://flynhats.com/products/cinnabun-zip-bag

A Trosko bag

Anything from Festive Fish, https://festivefish.net/collections/all I love her birch trays.
zone4painter
last year
How about an Erin Flett tote bag? Maine made, useful for your guests during their stay, fun design:

https://erinflett.com/cdn/shop/files/ef_carryall_doubledot_sl_ryl_3.png?v=1708463344&width=932
zone4painter
last year
Sorry better link here?

https://erinflett.com/products/carry-all-tote-bag-royal-double-dot
mtnrdredux_gw thanked zone4painter
teeda
last year
last modified: last year
Maybe a gift card to a favorite local business?

ETA: Oops, just saw no gift cards. 5 points off!
Funkyart
last year
I like the idea of a puzzle, game, something to "do" .. that's what made your previous gifts so nice.

The puzzle above is nice .... maybe that and a book set in Maine? or ...

because I just pre-ordered a bunch of limited edition copies of Amy Tan's new The Backyard Bird Chronicles, I have birds on my mind ... maybe a book on local birds

Maybe in the future you could have custom paint by number kits from photos of your views or nearby locations?
Bluebell66
last year
last modified: last year
Such nice suggestions! How about some local honey? Something clever using a map of Maine? A small piece of local, framed art? (I try to buy art everywhere we go.)

I love the "watery" table runner on the left in this link. I have some of her coasters and use them all the time. Table & Bed Runners - Briana Taylor Quilts (btaylorquilts.com)

Have you put "Maine gift" or similar into Etsy?

Notecards: Maine Coast Note Cards With Envelopes series 1. Giclée Prints Available. - Etsy

Kind of kitschy: Lobster Framed Maps Customize Any Town. Lobster Shaped Gift, Housewarming, Closing Gift, Wedding Gift, Customized to Your Location - Etsy
teeda
last year
last modified: last year
I like the suggestions for a nice tote bag. Useful for so many things, especially while vacationing. Here's another option--the original 1901 Maine flag.

Maine flag canvas tote
maddielee
last year
Can’t help you with an idea for a gift, but this is one fun way to wrap it.
deegw
last year
last modified: last year
I was just looking at those bags! One of my DD's nicknames is a play on the word crab and I love their crab version.
mtnrdredux_gw
Original Author
last year
Those are SO cute, but the bags would eat up most of the budget. I went to a local gourmet store nd got a bunch of Maine stuff, and that darn cute book!

Also got local honey.

Love the Erin Flett bag.

Thanks all!

Gift ideas, plus more characters to get up to 15

Olychick

Comments (33)

sushipup2

deegw

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