For a while there, it felt like I was attending a bachelorette party or wedding every other weekend. I absolutely loved celebrating some of my best girlfriends and now that a lot of the wedding-related celebrations have died down a bit, I find myself missing them (although my wallet certainly does not)!
During my friend Cherayne’s bachelorette party weekend in Miami, a group of my girlfriend’s spent one night at my friend Leah’s in-law’s house in Ft. Lauderdale on our way down to Miami to break up the drive. We quickly realized Leah’s mother-in-law is pretty much the ultimate hostess.
She welcomed us with open arms and a warm smile but went above and beyond with little extra touches all over her house. We had bottles of water and a piece of dark chocolate waiting by our beds at night. We woke up to the smell of a delicious breakfast casserole and hot coffee. My girlfriends and I all told her we felt like we were staying at a bed and breakfast and we really appreciated all of the effort she put into making our stay in her home so comfortable.
With all of the guests we’ve had visit us since Chase was born, I’ve tried my best to make everyone feel at home with the usual necessities: Fresh towels, clean sheets, readily-available snacks and extra toiletries. I keep a big basket of items guests might need under the guest bathroom sink but an article in a local magazine that addressed “Southern Hospitality” made me want to go a step further. None of our guests made us feel like we needed to do more but sometimes it’s fun to put a little extra effort into the small details that might make someone’s stay with you feel a little more comfortable.
And that’s where the Houseguest Welcome Basket comes into play!
Have you ever traveled to a wedding and the bride and groom had welcome bags waiting for guests at hotel check-in? I love thoughtful touches like this and now that my wedding planning days are behind me (tear… I loved wedding planning!), I jump at the chance to revisit things that remind me of my wedding planning days and assembling a houseguest welcome basket definitely took me back!
I had so much fun selecting the items for the basket and made sure to start with the basics: Fluffy towels, shampoo, conditioner and body wash.
For this gift basket, I included Ultra Calming Honest Shampoo + Body Wash and Conditioner from The Honest Company in the Dreamy Lavender scent. Aside from the plus of smelling like a relaxing spa, the shampoo and conditioner are made without potentially harmful chemicals and synthetic fragrances, pH balanced and hypoallergenic, so they’re products I feel good about our guests using while they’re staying in our home.
The Honest Company’s updated bath and body products include four new scents (Perfectly Gentle – sweet orange vanilla // Ultra Calming – dreamy lavender // Deeply Nourishing – apricot kiss // Purely Simple – scent free) and while I figured the lavender scent would be perfect for guests, I think the apricot scent is pleasantly subtle and we’ve been using the sweet orange vanilla shampoo + body wash on Chase daily for months now and adore the bright, clean scent that now makes me want to wrap Chase up in a cozy towel and snuggle him all day long whenever I smell it.
Continuing with the essentials, I included a spare toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and mouthwash in the welcome basket, as well as some tissues, Deeply Nourishing Honest Face + Body Lotion in Apricot Kiss (perfect for the dry winter months) and facial cleansing wipes.
And then it was time for the fun stuff! I made sure to include some non-essential items that will hopefully make our guests smile. Since tasty snacks are almost always appreciated, I added a few bars, dried fruit, dark chocolate squares and peanut butter cups to the basket, along with a couple of bottles of water and a pack of gum.
I couldn’t resist adding a few beauty-related items to the welcome basket, including dry shampoo, extra hair ties (because we all know hair ties and bobby pins constantly disappear into oblivion), lip balm, cotton swabs, a razor and shaving cream.
The next time we have guests in town, I hope this gift basket makes them feel a little more welcome and extra special!
And now here’s your chance to grab some goodies from The Honest Company to enjoy for yourself or to use to assemble a welcome basket of your own for your guests!
The Honest Company Discount + Giveaway
The Honest Company is offering PBF readers 35 percent off their first bundle order on Honest.com through March 15! (The discount may be applied to up to two bundles purchased in a single transaction.) The Honest Company offers a variety of bundles on their site (a convenient way to continually receive favorite products from The Honest Company at your doorstep for up to 40 percent off) and you can choose the products you want to receive in your bundle! (They currently have Diapering, Health and Wellness, Cleaning and Personal Care Bundles.) To redeem this offer, simply click here and use the code PBF35OFF!
I am also self-sponsoring a giveaway for one reader to win a bundle of their choice from The Honest Company! To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment on this post telling me which bundle you would select to receive if you were to win this giveaway! Does the diapering bundle call to you? Are you in need of some new cleaning supplies or personal care (bath + beauty) items? Let me know!
I will randomly select a winner this Friday.
Terms: The 35% off discount is eligible for new honest.com Bundle subscribers only. Limit 1 Promo Code per customer/household. Code must be entered into “Promo Code” section at Checkout. Ends at 11:59 p.m. (PST) on 3/15/2016. Valid for up to 2 Bundles purchased in a single transaction. Cannot be applied to previous purchases, Gift Card purchases or Gift Bundles. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with any other promotion. Terms subject to change at any time.
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Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by The Honest Company who provided products and payment. All opinions are my own. I am personally sponsoring the giveaway portion of this post. I truly appreciate your support!
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I would love a personal care bundle!!
I would love to try the personal care bundle!
Cleaning or bath/beauty
I would love the essentials bundle- I’ve been wanting to try some of the Honest company cleaning products!
Love the post! Makes me think of what an awesome hostess my mom always was when friends stayed with us for the Florida/Georgia football game. I look forward to hosting friends and making the experience special with little thoughtful treats.
I think someone with a baby could benefit from this awesome giveaway (LOVE Jessica Alba) more than me so I’ll try for the next one!
I would love the personal care bundle!
What a great idea! I’d love to get the health and wellness bundle!
I would love to try the bath or the cleaning products!
Fabulous idea! Must get around to putting one together!
http://www.ablondeinanairport.com
I would love the cleaning and personal care bundle!
I think the personal beauty products would be great. I never try anything different.
I would love to win the cleaning bundle! I’m moving into my first house this month & I would love to have safe & sweet-smelling cleaning products.
Thank you for this post! My fiancé’s mom is staying with us for a couple of weeks in June & I would love a gift basket for her.
I have a 3 month old daughter, so diapers are a must! I love the honest company!
Hi Julie! Great idea! I would love to have something like this for my out-of-town guests! If I win this give-a-way, I will get the cleaning supplies bundle because I am trying to transition to more natural cleaning products since i have two dogs!
Megan
Diaper bundle would be great! We love the honest company at our house!
The diaper bundle would be amazing! We are welcoming a new little guy into our house in the next few weeks 🙂
I’d love the cleaning bundle! I could use some new cleaning supplies.
Coming out of a New England winter, I’m all over the health and wellness bundle. 🙂
I would love the bath/beauty bundle. Thank you for the great idea about a guest welcoming basket!!!
My mom does the same thing when I come home to visit! I would love to try the cleaning bundle!
This post reminds me of my own mother! Everyone who stays with her (my husband, friends, family) raves about what an amazing hostess she is. She always has a basket of personal care items in each bathroom complete with contact solution, contact cases, razors, shampoos, conditioners, soaps, face wash, cotton swabs, toothbrushes, and freshly laundered spa-quality towels and washcloths. She goes out of her way to light candles in each room and she always goes the extra mile to make sure everyone is super comfy. It makes me realize that no matter how hard I try, I’m still not at her level, lol! My husband and I have had MANY visitors since we had our sweet girl in December, and while I have gone out of my way to make my guests feel welcome, I know I could still up my game. In addition to personal care items, I try to think of snacks/drinks they enjoy and I make sure to pick them up at the store before they arrive. We recently had my brother in law and his wife come stay, and they are HUGE coffee fans, so I picked up some different flavors at World Market (if you haven’t tried their coffee, you are missing out. They come either whole bean or ground, and they are delicious!!). Thanks for reminding me how important it is to make guests feel welcome.
As far as the bundles go, I would love the cleaning supplies/personal care basket! I hope you have an awesome day. I have been following your blog for years, and I never get tired of reading it.
I would love the cleaning/personal care bundle! I’ve also been dying to try their new makeup — Have you heard anything about it? Jessica Alba’s instagram is seriously one of my faves <3
Would love to win the diapering bundle for my almost-6-month-old daughter! Thanks!!
I would love to try the essentials bundle! Have been wanting to try out Honest products
Ooooh I would love to try either Health and Wellness, or Cleaning and Personal Care! thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to try the Essentials bundle. Thanks for the giveaway!
Although I think the diapers are ADORABLE, I’m glad to say that my daughter is over that part of her life! I’d love the personal care/beauty bundle.
Would love the personal care bundle!
my mom has always done a guest basket when we had a house guest. my beau just arrived for a visit (i’m spending the year in hungary for work) and was surprised to find his bedside table drawer full of the lotion, tissues, listerine and such that he prefers.
he did return the favor by bringing me a bag of coffee from back home 🙂
side note: i’m posting on my budapest adventures on my blog every tuesday
I’d go for the health & wellness bundle!
Definitely the cleaning and personal beauty bundle! When I stayed at an Air B n B, they had all Honest Products in the bathroom and I loved them!
I would definitely like to get the cleaning bundle. Now that we have a puppy I am trying to be very cautious about toxins and smells because I know he is so sensitive.
Thanks!
I would love the personal care bundle. I get a rash all over my body every couple of weeks and I have been looking for some good products that are allergy friendly.
The personal care or cleaning would be fun to try! I could see myself using both often as winter FINALLY turns into spring!!
I would choose the personal care bundle. I got some Honest beauty goodies for Christmas and love them!
Ahhh tough decision! I’d go with either the beauty products or the cleaning products.
Oh my gosh, what a fun idea! I would love to try their cleaning bundle!
I would love to try the bath and beauty bundle!!! I have tried their sunscreen and loved it!
Would love the diapering bundle for our daughter!
I’m due with my third child this July so Diapering bundle for sure! Thanks for this information. I’ve enjoyed their products in the past but didn’t realize you could order these bundles.
I love this idea! So thoughtful and easy to get together for guests. The health and wellness bundle is calling my name 🙂
We’ve started buying Honest products from our local Costco. Love the healing balm that we use as diaper cream. But I haven’t yet tried their diapers so I would choose that bundle.
This is such a sweet idea! I wrote a post. While back on a collection of mini-sized items I regularly keep in our guest bath that has been a hit! Although this basket looks a lot more thought out to be sure.
I’d take pretty much anything with that dreamy lavender scent. That sounds amazing right about now. 🙂
I would love the bath and beauty bundle the body wash scents sound amazing! It would also be nice to have a tube of lotion at my desk to use throughout the day!
Love their diapers!
First off, love your shoes in the bundle pick! I’d choose the Essentials Bundle. My friend hooked me up with a ton of their diapers (love the patterns!) so I’m good on that front for now. I’ve never used their cleaning products and love that they are so baby friendly, as I’ve got a 3 month old 🙂
I would love to receive the personal care essentials bundle- I am always looking for new and safe products to use on my 8 month old son!
I’d love the Essentials Bundle so I could mix and match bath, body and cleaning products!
I would love the cleaning bundle!!!! I recently started using more all natural cleaning products and love the idea!!
I would go with the essential bundle! I love that it would have items for both me and my baby girl! I hear great things about this company and would love to try them out!