Between barbecues, birthdays, housewarmings and good old-fashioned dinner parties, the summer months are always filled with great reasons to gather with friends and family. When someone else is hosting, enjoying food and company without any of the prep or clean up can feel like a much needed break from the stresses of our busy lives. While hosts are happy to put in the effort needed for you to sit back and relax, it always feels good to show your appreciation! When you want to find a gift that shows your gratitude and suits your host's tastes, it can sometimes be tricky without the guidance of a holiday or specific occasion narrowing down your choices. For when you're just not sure about what to get them, here are our tips to find the perfect thank-you for the hosts of the next summer party you attend! 1. Sharing is Caring What kind of atmosphere are your hosts trying to create for their guests? At a barbecue or casual meal, you can often bring something that will be used the day of the get-together: a bottle of wine, appetizers or a contribution to the dessert menu. This way, you contribute to the party while demonstrating to your hosts that you are appreciative of their generosity. Our line of shareable gourmet baskets, our famous Party Pleaser trays, and our wine or champagne add-ons all make for beautiful, delicious and stress-free contributions that the whole group can enjoy. 2. Know When to Save It for Later At a more formal get-together, sometimes it's best to plan for a gift that won't be used at the party itself. The gathering may have been catered, or carefully cooked and planned, and the hosts may simply want to serve their guests what they had in mind. For this kind of get together, it's often safer to bring a more personalized gift that the hosts can enjoy on their own after the evening has come and gone. Whether it be a gift from our spa collection, an elegant set of luxury chocolates or a smaller more personalized gift basket, we have plenty of options that suit this scenario. 3. It's The Thought That Counts Often hosts may tell you not to bring anything at all - some of us will take them at their word, while others may feel more comfortable bringing something anyway. Neither decision is right or wrong, but the important thing is taking the time to think of a gesture that will be well received. Our gift baskets are designed to appeal to a wide range of tastes, so you can rest assured that whether the hosts are close friends or casual acquaintances, you're not going to miss the mark. Over 35 years of gifting, we've come to know that some gifts simply never go out of style. Pro-tip: send your gift-shy host a thank-you to be delivered the day after their party! They'll be pleasantly surprised and more able to enjoy the gift after the stress and excitement of their party has passed. 4. When In Doubt, Give Us a Shout Whether you're sending a gift to your host before or after, or need to pick up something last-minute to take with you, we've got you covered! We think long and hard about all aspects of a gift so that you can get back to enjoying yourself in good company.  

The months of May and June are two of the busiest of the whole year. Between the coming of spring, Mother’s Day, the end of school coming up, and summer being on the horizon, by the time we get to June we often find ourselves overloaded with plans. We’ve got graduations, soccer games, barbecues, school concerts, and cottage weekends planned, and often once Mother’s Day is over, we breathe a sigh of relief. Because we’re still so busy afterwards, Father’s Day becomes another “to-do” in our schedules, and sometimes we neglect to plan in advance for it.  Father’s Day is a perfect way to slow down our schedules and make time for family, especially our fathers, husbands, uncles and grandfathers.   Many people often get stressed about the effort they must put into Father’s Day planning. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed for this year’s Father’s Day, it can be a good idea to try embracing the holiday as an opportunity to take a mindful rest from your crazy-busy schedule. Use the time to spend with family and those close to you, or even plan a thoughtful gesture for your loved one. Rather than focusing on getting a big or expensive material gift, many people will opt to plan something special like a family barbecue, a day of golf, getting tickets and going to a sports game, or even going to see a long-anticipated movie or musical. Planning a Father’s Day activity is a perfect way to alleviate some stress in all the craziness of the spring and set aside time for family.   One idea that we love is a Father’s Day centred around barbecue. Barbecuing can be daunting to some, but once you get the hang of it, grilling is actually one of the easier ways to make dinner in the warmer months. Barbecuing at this time of year is a great excuse to spend more time outside. Even with the weather getting warmer and sunnier in May and June, it can be hard to find ways soak up the outdoors. Choosing to barbecue dinner is a great way to force yourself to get outside! And, if you’re already out there, why not sit down for dinner at your patio? Getting to spend the evening outside is a great way to calm your mindset, be one with nature, and of course, spend time with your dads!   Even better, grilling makes it easy to entertain large groups. Having a big family barbecue can be as easy as throwing some burgers, veggies, ribs, or hot dogs on the grill, making a few salads, and having a cooler of beer ready to go. Having a family barbecue is a great way to say thanks to dad and show him you care and doesn’t require a ton of work. And, who doesn’t love a good barbecue?   This year, we are so proud of our main Father’s Day gift basket, featuring all the grilling essentials. With amazing spices and rubs from top brands like The Keg, barbecue sauces, and grilling appliances, this basket is sure to be a big help this Father’s Day. If you aren’t a planner and need something last minute, this gift is a great option to give to dad. Or, if you live out of town and won’t get to see your dad, sending this basket in the mail is a great way to show him you care and are thinking of him even though you are so far away.   Or, if you are planning on hosting that classic Father’s Day spring barbecue, this gift basket is sure to be a crowd pleaser. All the products are there to make your barbecuing more delicious and much more convenient. Instead of marinating for hours or making your own spices and sauces, with this basket you will have gourmet barbecue essentials right at your fingertips. This basket makes barbecuing even easier than it already is! So get outside, enjoy your Father’s Day, and find a way to do something special without breaking the bank! Happy Father’s Day!