Imagine opening a carefully wrapped package to reveal these wonderful patterned chocolates. A first-time collaboration between Commune Design and Valerie Confections in L.A., the chocolates are modeled after Byzantine tiles and packaged in standard tile boxes. The perfect gift for your architect, design assistant or fellow chocoholic.

[1. Commune Design]

A gift guide for the host with the most, who can throw together a wonderful dinner in mere hours and who always welcomes another plate at the table. I particularly looked to find gifts that will add to your friend's entertaining arsenal to be used year after year and that will guarantee you a place at the party for life.

For more host/hostess gifts, check out last year's guide as well as here and here.

1. Cocktail napkins- Pretty napkins for the next soiree. 
2. John Derian round plate- A great little round dish to keep by the foyer to drop keys, spare coins, etc. 
3. Smart candles- Great to have around the house to plop into votives.
4. Spherical ice tray- Larger cubes dissolve more slowly and look great in an old fashioned glass.
5. Astier de Villatte candles- Luxurious scents from the French porcelain company.
6. Vacuum wine stopper- Keeps the last opened bottle of the night good for dinner the next day.
7. Happy goat caramels- For anyone who loves goat cheese.
8. Murray's Cheese pair of the month club- This monthly club takes the work out of guessing which cheese to pair with which accompaniment.
9. Heath bud vase- A classic Heath piece that is perfect for a few small cuttings.
10. Frances Palmer beads rim vase- I adore Frances Palmer's vases for bouquets of anything full and fluffy.
11. Pigeon Toe ceramic wheel ornament- A collectible ornament is a lovely gift that will have a place on the tree year after year.
12. Muscardino party sporks- Utensils that were made for serving little nibbles at parties.
13. Giving thanks table runner- A charming and rustic tablecloth that will adorn the host's table next time you're invited for the holidays.
14. Wooden spreaders- A fun addition to any rustic table.
15. Spruce wreath- A festive gift for a friend's front door.
16. Heath appetizer set- A lovely way to set out snacks for any occasion.

Yesterday morning we baked some of M's banana bread with cranberries and walnuts in a cheery little loaf pan. It's kind of a nice idea actually—to bake a pretty bread, wrap it in wax papers, and place in one of these with the recipe attached.

[1. c. lynn]

 

Like last year, I will be pulling together a few gifts guides for the wonderful people in your life including the aspiring chef and the ever-accommodating host(ess). 

I hope that you'll enjoy them!

[1. the late Domino magazine] 

And finally, here's the host/hostess gift guide. Reward the lovely person who painstakingly prepared the hors d'œuvres just right, remembers how you like your cocktail, and who put you up for the night after the egg nog got to your head last year. These gift ideas are just suggestions and by no means necessary—a bottle of wine or a breakfast snack for the next day will suffice.

Studio Patro tea towels; salt and pepper grinder; taper candles; nickel spoons; polished nickel tray; Frances Palmer pearl fluted vase; Japanese masu cedar cups; Espresso set; placemats; nut bowl; Brushstroke plate; knife sharpener; fresh flowers (in a vase); Savoy Cocktail book; Diptyque Baies room spray

Gardeners and nature lovers are a little bit more difficult to shop for—at least they have been for this city dweller. Many gardeners have their trusty set of tools and methods for getting their beds planted and pruned—and I'm just beginning to pick up a couple pointers for when we have a plot of land to work with. So indulge me as I begin to pull together a wishlist of garden design books as well as a good pot brush or two. Toss into the mix a beautiful Japanese garden bell to ring when lunch is prepared or a lovely orange bird feeder, what eco-minded gift recipient wouldn't start writing their thank-yous in their most flowery handwriting for some of these fantastic garden gifts.

Planting; Frances Palmer black water pitcher; Egg bird feeder; Japanese round bell; The New Encyclopedia of Gardening Techniques; Scottish twin hanging bobbin; Japanese spade; Ben Wolff pots; Pot brush; Eena log tote; Felco #2

I love to travel and I've been fortunate enough to have taken more than a few trips across the pond. Whether it's a eye mask that allowed for REM during a trip to the arctic or an AirPort Express which brought peace to our dual laptop-equipped camp, these travel items will ensure a great addition to any traveling arsenal. Plus, as an added bonus, yours will be the face that pops into your recipient's mind when you've provided the perfect tool for the perfect moment--much like assuming the role of Q to your giftee's 007. Gathered by trial and error throughout our travels, I've selected a few favorite items that will help take the edge off the bumpy, unpredictable, and wonderful road that we travelers live for.

Muji travel bottles; Herban Essential wipes; T3 Bespoke Overnight dryer; Kate Spade Heddy; F1 Go Clean Laundry bag; Frederic Fekkai travel brush; Audio Technica sound-canceling headphones; Luxe City Guides; Tumi T-Tech Carry-on; Stainless Steel RFID blocking passport sleeve; Optical micro laptop mouse; Longchamp Veau Loulonne; Retractable ethernet cable; Apple AirPort Express; Senz Umbrella; Lights out sleep mask; Kate Spade Par Avion; Kiehl's Travel starter kit; Barnes & Noble gift card

Gourmands are easy to shop for! There are plenty of specialty foodstuffs to gift them with that can be easily found on offer from their favorite retailers (Dean & Deluca, Williams-Sonoma, Sur la Table, Crate & Barrel) or you could always gift them with a kitchen staple with a clever twist (a Studiopatró tea towel). My picks for the chef, foodie, and gourmand in your life are sure to please ranging from items they've never seen before (like the grow-your-own-Shitake mushroom log) to others that they've always longed for (Wüstof steak knives).

Eva Solo apple corer; Breville electric citrus press; J.K. Adams Co. cutting boards; Vosges Lunar chocolate of the month club; Round terrine; Boat Street Pickles; Wustof steak knives; Savon de Marseille Extra Pur; Crosscut board; Spice Boy spice grinder; Holmegaard Champagne glasses; Holmegaard hurricane lamp; Brown cupcake liners; French Feasts; Nesting bowls; Shitake mushroom log; Blue Bottle coffee subscription

For everyone recovering from a belly of turkey and pie who wishes to avoid the long lines and traffic this holiday season, I've mapped out some really great online gift guides for some of the gourmands, gardeners, travelers, and hostesses in your life. We'll start with the gourmands and move on to the other three later this week.

[wreath]