From Cider to Succulents: 12 DIY Gift Ideas for the Hostess

We love this Napa Valley wine for the taste and the mission: to share wine and give hope. One Hope has donated more than $7 million to organizations that provide access to clean water, hunger relief, health research, and education. It's the gift that really does keep on giving.

Raise a glass to your new neighbors — and a chilled one at that! A wine cooler paired with your favorite bottle, like this award-winning Los Vascos Chilean wine, is the perfect way to toast to their new digs.

Bottle Opener

Jump-start the new homeowners' herb garden with this ceramic container with a dedicated slot for the accompanying scissors.

For the serious chef, this beautiful set of four dinner knives is seriously a cut above the rest.

Give coffee lovers a subscription to this coffee-of-the-month club, offering single-origin coffee from more than 50 countries.

Gift bourbon fans these Woodford Reserve mixers for an Old Fashioned, Mint Julep, and Whiskey Sour and they will no doubt by delighted.

This is hands-down our favorite pan to cook with. Think fry pan, saute pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan, non-stick pan, spatula, and spoon rest ALL IN ONE!

For the mover who has everything — you can be sure they don't have elegant fringed cocktail napkins, dinner napkins, and placemats in mix-and-match hues.

Kick this housewarming classic up a notch with these glass jar candles. Once the candles are all used up, the various votives make amazing catchalls.

A lot of stuff gets tossed during a big move, like plasticware from the kitchen. That's where you come in, replacing old, stained bowls with gorgeous platters like these that are sure to add a punch of color.

Take a very simple housewarming gift idea, a cookbook by one of our pals Tieghan Gerard, and vastly improve the presentation by wrapping it in a tea towel or cloth napkin.

Game on! This Chess and Checkers set in Pendleton style is the perfect gift for friendly game nights.

Pals need a design assist? Help them create a place that feels like home with inspo from the McGees!

For major plant inspiration, Hilton Carter is the most lovable plant guy with all the care and styling tips.

Your friends will LOVE this gift. After a long day of lifting boxes, a little pampering is all they'll want (and need!)

Pehr Pom Set of 3 Canvas Bins

Xilli Salsa Macha (Set of 2)

Bring over a bag of chips and this salsa macha set and be the most popular guest in the room.

LA-based restaurant restauranteur Jessica Kaslow shares her vision of delish and healthy meals in this wonderful cookbook. This gem is sure to inspire your friends to get their creative cooking on.

So much to do, so little time! Let your friends know you're thinking about them during the big move with a cute pad that'll keep their priorities in order from A to B.

Find more gift ideas on our Pinterest page!

This article has been updated.

Additional reporting by Theresa Gonzalez

Coffee Advent Calendar ($89): Treat your favorite coffee drinker to 24 specialty coffees from around the world with this stylish advent calendar.

Library Card yellow mug ($12): Kick it back old school with a library card-inspired mug for your bookish coffee drinker.

Copper Cow Coffee Classic Vietnamese Coffee 5 Pack ($13): Get your caffeine fix in only 90 seconds with this on-the-go pour-over Vietnamese coffee, complete with sweetened creamers.

Stan's Donuts & Coffee Lovers Gift Pack($75): Enjoy this Chicago favorite (coffee + donuts) with a signature Stan's coffee mug.

La Colombe Workshop Sampler Gift Box ($30): Gift six light to medium roasts for *almost* every day of the week.

Kona Coffee Vegan Candle($22+): Love the smell of coffee? Fill your home with the scent anytime with this soy wax candle from Etsy. Also available in a Chai Latte. Order up!

UpCircle Coffee Body Scrub ($16): Buff away dry and dead skin with this coffee body scrub with shea butter, peppermint and eucalyptus oils.

Stojo Pocket Cup ($12+): Reduce waste by carrying your coffee cup with you. Whether you're purchasing coffee from a local shop or grabbing a cup from your machine at home, this collapsible cup is a great choice for coffee on-the-go, from 8 oz to 24 oz.

Big Island Coffee Roasters Classic Espresso Bites ($24/3-pack): This bite-size espresso gives you two ways to enjoy Hawaiian coffee. Either pop it in your mouth for a creamy pick me up or melt it in hot water for an espresso-to-go.

Coffee and Everything Bagel Ornaments($26): All I want for Christmas is...more coffee.

Emoticon Coffee Mug & Stickers ($15): Whether it's a good day or bad one, you can express how you're feeling with coffee.

Sunshine & Coffee Tee ($35): Save Lands plants 12 trees for every tee, all ethically sourced, printed, and shipped in the United States, sold.

Yes Plz Coffee + Zine Subscription ($17): Get sourced beans from around the world and a weekly arts and culture publication with this beans + zine subscription.

Coffee Neon Light ($75): Let coffee be your guide with this neon steaming cup of coffee.

Mistobox Coffee Subscription ($11+): Give the gift of a monthly brew featuring 590 coffees from 52 roasters.

Soma Brew BottleBrew Bottle ($40): Don't let your hectic schedule deprive you of a quality brew. This on-the-go brew bottle allows you to brew coffee or tea during your commute. Pour hot water over ground coffee, put on the lid and you're good to go. Leave it in the fridge overnight for cold brew in the morning.

Daily Harvest Gift Box ($75): Give the gift of worry-free lattes or morning smoothies with a Daily Harvest gift box. Simply dump the ingredients into a blender, add your favorite base and you've got a cold brew + almond smoothie.

NY Coffee Lovers Gift Pack ($59): When you can't get on a plane for a cup of NY Joe this sampler is the next best thing.

Dr. Mills Electric Dried Spice and Coffee Grinder($26): Grind your favorite beans, spices, nuts, and grains in seconds.

Covergirl Exhibitionist Lipstick Cream, Coffee Crave ($6): Rich and smooth just like a cup of good coffee, Covergirl's Coffee Crave is a great color for any season and time of day.

Retro Coffee Sweatshirt ($34+): This is the perfect sweatshirt to espresso your love for coffee.

Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug ($120): Keep your coffee at just the right temperature and control it with your smartphone.

YETI Rambler Stainless Steel, Vacuum Insulated Tumbler ($30): For the days where you're literally being held together by coffee grounds.

Iced Vanilla Latte Coffee Gummy Bears Coffee Cup ($8): Coffee lovers won't be able to stop eating these coffee-infused gummy bears from Sugarfina. Enjoy latte-flavored sweetness with a tiny kick in each bite. It's a great blend of coffee and candy.

Cuisinart Perfectemp Coffee Maker($100):This coffeemaker self cleans and can hold up to 14 cups of coffee. Need we say more?

Bonavita Interurban 1.0L Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle ($120): This kettle can be adjusted in one degree increments. When it gets all steamed up then it shouts, tip it over and pour it out — over your favorite coffee.

Casetify Coffee Time iPhone CaseCoffee Time iPhone Case ($45): Hello, it's your latte calling.

Coffee Scoop Clip ($5): Never lose your coffee scoop in the bag again.

Pour and Simple Graphic Tee ($25): What's better than a classic black tee? A classic black tee with coffee mugs on it, of course.

Saipua Soap Coffee Mint Soap ($19): Wake your body up with this organic coffee + mint soap. Your skin will thank you later.

1950's Retro Style Coffee Maker ($200): For the nostalgic coffee drinkers, flash back a few decades with this retro-style machine.

Burst Sonic Toothbrush Rose Gold Edition ($100): Give someone back their smile with an electric toothbrush guaranteed to keep the coffee stains away.

Barisieur Coffee Brewing Alarm Clock ($445): For the people who must be lured out of bed by the smell of coffee, try this coffee brewing alarm clock.

Coffee Poster ($23): Add some decor to your place so visitors will know that home is really where the coffee is.

Ratio Eight Coffee Maker ($500): This simplified yet chic coffee maker gives you a great cup of coffee with the touch of a button.

Bright On Teeth Whitening Kit($67): Don't let coffee stains get in the way of your beautiful smile. Remove unwanted stains 3x faster than strips with this year supply Bright On kit.

Smashmallow Dark Chocolate Dipped Cold Brew ($5): If you like marshmallows and hot chocolate, you'll love these dark chocolate cold brew marshmallows.

Highwire Steeped Bag ($3): Steeping isn't just for tea. Keep a few of these in your bag at all times and you'll never be without coffee. All you need is hot water and you're good to go.

Winky Lux Coffee Kitten Palette ($25): Mask those sleepy eyes with coffee-themed eyeshadow palette.

Handheld Milk Frother ($12): Be your own barista and make cafe-inspired drinks at home with this milk frother.

Nespresso Essenza Plus ($229): This chic and compact coffee machine can squeeze onto any counter space. Perfect for the one-and-done coffee drinkers, this machine also has a reordering system that allows you to refill your capsule supply with the touch of a button.

Jcoco Chocolate Arabica Espresso ($8): These chocolate espresso candy bars make great stocking stuffers, but probably a good idea to not hang them over the fireplace.

Nitro Flash Brew 12 Pack ($47): For the nitro brew fans, try a 12-pack of Verve's flash brew coffee.

Instant Americano Mushroom Coffee Mix ($20): NeuRoast's instant americano comes with five superfood mushrooms to help you focus your energy.

Granita di Caffè Body Scrub ($34): Scrub away the day with Jordan Samuel's body scrub.

Bodum Caffettiera French Press($25): This colorful french press is the perfect gift for design addicts too.

Cold Brew Coffee Cocktail Set ($24): Remix your cold brew into boozy cocktails with this gift set.

Coffee + Donut Earrings ($22): Name a more dynamic duo than coffee and donuts.

Atlas Coffee Club Subscription ($60-$240): Travel the world one cup at a time with this coffee club subscription.

DIY Doodle Mug ($24): The perfect coffee mug to get you through a morning Zoom meeting. Each mug comes with two markers for doodling and writing down ideas.

Follow us on Pinterest for more gift ideas!

This article has been updated from a previous post. Additional reporting by Theresa Gonzalez.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Don't Fall For "Perfect Families" On Social Media

The first VERY important step to having a joyous holiday season when you're going it alone is to stop believing the narrative that others' family situations are perfect, Eichler says.

"Remember people only post a moment in time, and only the moments when they look their happiest and best."

In addition to the fact that everything you see on social media is curated for the 'gram, it's also important to remember that by focusing on what others have and you lack, you risk failing to see the great things at play in your own life.

"These holiday periods can become a time of focusing on who and what we don't have, rather than who or what we do, and can cause a negative spiral into depressing and dreadful feelings of inadequacy," says Eichler.

Gratitude is the reason for the season, after all. So instead of only seeing the negative, try some gratitude journal prompts to help you focus on what's actually really wonderful about your life right now.

Make An Effort To Deepen New Connections

While it may seem like everyone has friends and family to spend time with during the holiday season, that doesn't mean no one is available for deepening a blossoming relationship or new friendship.

"Make a list of people you can or would like to connect with, and try to reach out to at least one of them," advises Eichler.

Reaching out doesn't have to mean a big plan or an hour-long conversation. Even a quick text letting a friendly coworker know you're thinking about them can go a long way toward deepening the relationship and moving it in the direction of closer friendship.

Don't have an acquaintance in mind? Then it's time to make new acquaintances. What's more in line with the Christmas spirit than attending a Meetup or event full of people eager to make new friends?

"Join groups with similar interests to yours, such as hiking, baking, or games. Push your boundaries and be brave - you might find new people who have much in common with you."

Give Back

The holiday season is a great time to focus on giving back to your community, and coincidentally, acts of generosity and kindness are known to reduce loneliness and help people feel happier. One study found that knowing a few of your neighbors and doing small acts of kindness for them — such as cheering them up, listening to them, mowing their lawn, providing advice about local business recommendations and job opportunities, and chatting over the fence — was statistically correlated with feeling less lonely and having a lower risk of depression.

Helping out elderly neighbors can be a particularly gratifying way to give back.

"Notice older lonely people in your neighborhood or community who might have no family at all, and offer to help them," says Eichler. "These can become mutually meaningful connections, and help you 'adopt' a grandparent."

Connect With Others Online

Finally, use the Internet for its highest and best purpose: to connect people. Whether you're using Meetup to find in-person events, digital forums for having conversations about special interests, or programs like Circle for getting support from others in your situation, the opportunities to create new connections are practically endless.

"There are many interest groups that can be found digitally, where or any person can connect with others in the same life stage, going through the same challenges, or who would like to explore the same interests," Eichler states. "Meaningful connections can be formed easily in these circumstances. The Internet enables us to find and connect to people all over the world who fit this, and to whom we can become more easily attached, as we are able to find people with the exact interests that energize us."