The Hostess Post

The College Girl's Guide to Entertaining

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Gift Of The Day: iPhone Stand

If you're still using your alarm clock, I think it's time you joined the rest of us here in the year 2014. iPhones have replaced most of our useful tools like a calculator, a calendar, and even an alarm clock.

These docks add a chic, yet minimalist approach to an alarm clock with a groove to set your iPhone in and use on the daily. Made from all natural materials in the U.S., this dock is compatible with iPhone 4, 4s, 5, and iPod touch.

iPhone dock, $15.00, etsy.com

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Gift Of The Day: Frenchie Thank You Notes

These cards make great gifts for the girly and sophisticated friends in your life. Handmade in Pasadena, Pei Pinney's cards have adorable illustrations that will cheer up any mailbox. (French Girl Thank You Notes, $4.50/each, pei-design.com)

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Your Guide to 2014 Planners

In order to start any semester on track, it's important to stay organized. More importantly, this planner should be something you're proud to don as your must-have school accessory. Here are some 2014 planners worthy of classmate envy.

For the creative thinker, the Vintage Year planner has blank pages in between dates for doodling and illustrating. It's also undated, so you can start this planner any time of the year!

Vintage Year Planner Diary, $22.50, thelittlehappyshop.com

This 2014 daily planner was designed by San Francisco graphic designer, Julia Kostreva. She combines her own minimalist design along with high-quality materials to create a planner that makes you feel like you're carrying a paperback novel.

2014 Daily Planner, $24.00, juliakostreva.com 

This planner functions as a folder, a desk calendar, a to do list, and others. Made in Japan, this planner is for the business-minded student who needs as many calender visuals as possible. With each weekly/monthly page, you have lined notebook pages for thorough planning. 

Mark's 2014 Magnet Notebook Calendar, $18.00, omoionline.com

For the more "spontaneous" students, this planner is dateless and can be started any time of the year. So if you missed that weekly study group or forgot about that research paper, it even has a boxed checklist area for daily/weekly tasks. (It's also the cheapest on this list!)

The Pattern Weekly Planner, $7.95, mochithings.com

If you were that student whose handwriting everyone envied, this planner gives you the opportunity to make a planner almost like your journal. With daily note areas, it's an easy legible space to take notes throughout the week.

2014 Daily Planner, $24.00, etsy.com

If your school bag is already cramped enough as it is, you may need to take stock in a planner that will be a compact and tidy space you only wish your bag could be. Enter the classic Moleskin. In colors from classic black to firehouse red, you can choose your favorite and let the notebook do the rest.

2014 Moleskin Weekly Academic Planner, $20.95, papersource.com

If mantras are your thing, then let this planner dictate good luck for you this year. Made with recyclable paper and soy ink, this spiral planner has "This is my lucky year" inscribed on the cover.

2014 Horseshoe Weekly Planner, $20.00, sarapinto.com

Hope you enjoyed my list of chic planners, pin or tweet your favorites with #TheHostessPost

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Gift Of The Day: Beyoncé Mug

Unless you've been living under a rock, Beyoncé's newest album downloads crashed the iTunes server when she surprised fans by leaking a set of all new songs and videos.

Another trend she's got everyone hooked on? The lyrics to her "Flawless" single: "I Woke Up Like This". Surprise a friend or roommate with this mug to show her (or him) just how much of a rock star they are. Bow down, bitches. (Beyoncé Gold Mug, $15.00, Etsy.com)

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Gift Of The Day: Dim Sum Votive Holders

When lazy trumps cooking, college girls are grateful for take out. These little guys make a great gift for a friend who shares the same love for Asian cuisine. The plus is, you don't have to worry about throwing them out after a week. (Dim Sum Votive Holders (set of 3), $24.99, dotandbo.com)

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Gift Of The Day: Wine Revival Drops

Remembering to cork last night's pinot with your favorite wine stopper can happen to all of us. Made from all natural ingredients, just use a couple drops and voila! Your wine is revived. So good it's got winemaker's stamp of approval.(Wine One One, $12.49, restorationhardware.com)

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DIY Get Well Soon Kit

With east coasters facing record freezing temperatures, it makes it hard to keep a healthy immune system. Flu season combined with students traveling back to school breeds catching colds. Surprise a friend or roommate with this Get Well Soon package!

What You'll Need: 

a mug (use one from your kitchen or buy one) 

Kleenex travel pack = $1.04

a napkin

Ricola cough drops = $2.99

an oven

Chapstick = $1.99

Metallic Sharpie (or regular Sharpie) = $1.89

Herbal Tea = $3.20

Total = $11.11

Step One: Rinse mug in warm water to flush out any dust.

Step Two: Let mug dry upside-down on paper towel

Step Three: Let mug rest still on its side to write steadily

Step Four: Let dry for at least one hour

Step Five: Place mug on pan and bake for half an hour at 350 degrees (Doing this will seal the ink to make your mug art dishwasher safe)

Step Six: After letting the mug cool down, fill with gift items

You want the herbal tea to be caffeine-free, but also acknowledge that each tea has a purpose.

Tazo Rest & Calm are great for sleep solutions because of the rose petals and chamomile.

Tazo Refresh has mint which is a natural stomach soother (also great for hangovers!)

Traditional Medicinals Ginger Tea helps with digestion and body aches

Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat has licorice and other immune booster ingredients while acting as a soother for sore throat 

A well-crafted kit includes a container that can double as something useful, like a mug!

Helpful Hint: Get creative and pick a colorful theme, like yellow, and use dominantly yellow items like chamomile tea in a yellow wrapper, a lemon, etc.

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Gift Of The Day: Copper-Plated Serving Set

The perfect mix of polished and rustic. This serving set is perfect for gatherings where showcasing the meal is just as much a part as eating it. Copper-Plated Serving Set (also available in 'gold'), $24.00, anthropologie.com

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Gift Of the Day: Mason Jar Cocktail Shaker

Because mason jars just make everything so much cooler.

Virginia boys Eric Prum and Josh Williams of W + P design understand the Southern comfort nostalgia that defines the mason jar, which is why they developed this mason jar cocktail shaker. Ideal for mixing drinks and storing in the fridge, this gift is a classy cover-up for whatever jungle juice concoction brewing in your home. 

Mason Jar Cocktail Shaker, $29.95, williams-sonoma.com

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Gift Of the Day: Recipe Cards

For those of you who are trying to expand your culinary talents, record your best recipes on these illustrated cards. To give as a gift or to log your several attempts of making the perfect chicken parm, these will make you proud that you decided to cook your own meal instead of ordering out.

Recipe Cards (set of 12), $16.00, pushingpapers.bigcartel.com

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Gift Of The Day: Balsam & Fir Scented Gift Set

For those who are buried up to their ears in snow during the east coast blizzard, or, if you're like me and live on the west coast and crave the scent of fresh fir trees, this is the gift to covet. 

Etsy shop sweetpetula creates small batch bath goods made with natural ingredients. This gift set includes a hand poured soy wax candle (so it won't release any bad carcinogens into the air) made with fresh fir essential oil, and a shea butter soap bar. 

Balsam & Fir Shea Butter Gift Set, $19.80, etsy.com

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Wine Stoppers For Every Kind Of Girl

The perfect wine accessory is a must-have for every college girl's kitchen. Wine stoppers not only preserve your wine, but they're a creative addition to the bottle. Gone are the days where storing empty wine bottles was considered "art". Instead of decorating like a hoarding alcoholic, you can showcase your wine with a personalized touch of the perfect wine stopper (for under $30).

Cape Jasmine bottle stopper, $10.00, bhldn.com 

Amethyst Crystal Wine Stopper, $30.00, etsy.com

Animal Wine Bottle Stopper, $16.59, firebox.com

Peace Hand Bottle Stopper, $24.00, jonathanadler.com

Winged Bottle Stopper, $12.95, shopterrain.com

'Cold' Faucet Handle Wine Stopper (also available in 'Hot'), $28.00, shop.nordstrom.com

Skull Bottle Stopper, $7.99, worldmarket.com

Bottoms Up Bottle Stopper, $15.47, amazon.com

Ceramic Wine Stopper, $16.00, etsy.com

Alice In Wonderland Wine Stopper, $15.00, etsy.com

Horseshoe Wine Stopper, $22.00, furbishstudio.com

White Wine Bottle Stoppers (set of 3), $19.99, worldmarket.com

Poptop Wine Stopper, $10.00, yankodesign.com

Hope you find a way to cleverly dress up your wine bottles!

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Gift Of The Day: Bits & Bobs Tin

Stick to your New Year’s resolution of staying organized using these clever ‘Bits & Bobs’ tins. ($24.99, www.seejanework.com)

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DIY Confetti Poppers for New Year's Eve

Use your leftover Christmas wrapping paper to create these confetti poppers for your New Year's Eve party tonight!

What You'll Need (makes 2 poppers):

leftover wrapping paper 

a paper towel roll

gold string = $1.99

scissors

Scotch tape

confetti (gold stars) = $.69/pack (2 packs)

Total = $3.37

Step One: Cut paper towel roll in half

Step Two: Wrap each roll like you're wrapping a present 

Use approximately a 8" X 15" piece for each roll, making sure the roll is centered

Step Three: Twist one edge of the roll

Step Four: Tie with string

Step Five: Pour one confetti pouch into the roll

Step Six: Repeat Steps Three & Four

Voila! You have your popper!

Step Seven: Simply untie or twist off one end to unveil the confetti

Enjoy these poppers for tonight's New Year's festivities! Tweet or pin your creations with #TheHostessPost

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Gift Of The Day: Lucky Bamboo Plant

Chinese New Year tradition savors the gift of a bamboo plant in order to bring luck and happiness into the home for the upcoming year. The number of stalks represent different wishes for the gift recipient, but more than anything, bamboo serves as an air purifying plant for the home. Use this modern arrangement as a gift for this New Year's Eve. (Lucky 7 Metallic, $32.00, easternleaf.com)

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All Things Champagne!

Celebrating some of my favorite things inspired from the bubbly that will be popping off 2014.

1. For Resting Your Drink

Champagne Is Always The Answer Coaster, $18.00, cincinvintage.com

For Bedazzling Your Phone

Gatsby Gold iPhone & iPod Skin, $15.00, society6.com

For Starting A Conversation

"But first, champagne" typography print, price upon request, Etsy.com

For Shedding Some Light

Festival Lights, $36.00, shopterrain.com

For Drinking Like Gatsby

Coupe Champagne Glasses (set of 2), $12.00, etsy.com

For Something Sweet

Gold & Coral Wedding Favors, $12.00, Etsy.com

For Spreading The Word

Best Is Yet To Come Card, price upon request, papersource.com

For Instagram Party Prowess

Holiday Photo Props (set of 6), $16.00, Etsy.com

For Carrying Your Bubbly

Champagne Wine Tote, $15.00, maptote.com

For Adorning Your Walls

Happy New Year Banner, $24.00 (was $48.00), anthropologie.com

For Getting The Booze To The Right Place

Metallic Swirl Straws, $6.00, bhldn.com

For Providing An Atmosphere

Voluspa Maison Noir Crisp Champagne Candle, $27.00, nordstrom.com

For A Party Upgrade

Silver Sand Tassel Garland, $35.00, etsy.com

For Welcoming 2014 With A Bang!

Deluxe Sparklers (set of 8), $16.50, shoppigment.com

Hope you enjoyed this list! Keep pinning your champagne inspiration in Pintrest with #TheHostessPost

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Gift Of the Day: 2014 Postcard Calendar

Welcome the year 2014 with some organized wall art. These adorable patterns make for the perfect addition to your dorm wall, kitchen refrigerator, or office desk.

Handmade from The Stationery Boutique in Fort Collins, Colorado, each monthly page can be cut in half to double as a postcard. 

Pattern & Post Card 2014, $30.00, Etsy.com