According to my mother, good manners means never showing up anywhere empty-handed. Leading by example, she buys a ton of hostess presents each year.
Her hostess gift of choice is always a lovely scented candle. Smaller than a wine bottle, but less perishable than chocolates, candles fit snugly into the category of something nice -- which everyone loves --no matter what their decor. Her candle of choice,
Diptyque's Pink Rose candle, comes in a elegant pink frosted glass votive holder. The 50-hour burning candle captures the freshness of an English garden without any of the cloy usually associated with roses. It's the perfect hostess gift, so while you're at it, go ahead and pick up a few extras. The weekend dinner parties are just around the corner.
Price: $52.
Whether you're looking for the perfect final touch for your home bar or simply love antiques and English history, these pub signs available from J. Peterman are truly unique specimens. Each authentic and hand-painted and many still in their original wood or metal frames, the collection includes subject matter going back to the time of Queen Victoria. Some signs represent subject matter commonly used by pubs over the years (such as the swan in this sign) while others are more unique, like the Wilton Arms sign shown here that honors the coat of arms belonging to the local lord. Prices vary from $495-$1895.
