NOW THAT the CDC says vaccinated persons can mingle and entertain, your friends with houses out of town likely have a long list of folks desperate for an invitation. Should you be lucky enough to snag a coveted weekend, make sure to charm your hosts with a thought-through token of your appreciation. To save you time and to go easy on your Venmo account, we’ve found eight charming gifts for under $60 to help you stand out in the crowd. Doing the dishes will also help, of course.
1. Magic Fingers
On the surface, toaster tongs may not seem the sexiest gift. But before long, your hosts will be wondering how they ever lived without them. No more crisped digits or knife-assisted bagel retrievals with this beautiful pair made of a single piece of bent oak. Nokka tongs, $45, finnishdesignshop.com
2. Pretty Produce
Build your host a photogenic still life by filling this 1980s-inspired enamelware colander with farmstand fruit and giving her the whole thing. Its artful, 1980s-inspired pattern riffs on the work of Italian design cadre the Memphis Group, whose colorful furniture and objects of that decade are highly collectible. Kapka Flashback Colander, $56, darlingspring.com
3. Earthy Cleansers
Each bar of this three-pack of woodsy-scented soaps takes its fragrance from a national park. Redwood is scented with juniper and fir needle; Acadia withscotch pine and rock rose; Zion with sage and sabino cedar. Produced in collaboration with the National Parks Project, 5% of each sale benefits forest conservancy. Looks good, does good, smells good. National Parks Soap Set, $40 for three, ursamajor.com
4. Striking Matches
These vintage-print-covered matchboxes from homey-gift hero John Derian bring a classy kick to lighting up citronella candles and barbecue briquettes. Matches, $4 each, johnderian.com
