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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Thank so much for hosting this. I would love to win the cleaning bundle. I have a little guy who is almost one and is always on the move! I am looking to try out more safe cleaning products.
I’d love to try the bath & beauty bundle – I’ve had some poor skin reactions in the past to some products and I’d like to give such a great, clean company a try
I would say the Cleaning bundle would be great!
I’d choose the personal care bundle! I’d love to try their products!
I have heard so many great things about their products! I would love to try their cleaning products! With three little ones running around, I do my share of cleaning 🙂 and would love it if the products I use are as safe as possible for them
I’d love the bath and beauty bundle!
Love this giveaway! I would probably get the diapering or cleaning and personal care bundle. 🙂
One of my New Year’s resolutions this year is to transition to safer, natural cleaning supplies, so I would love the opportunity to try the cleaning essentials bundle!
I would love the Essentials Bundle!
I’ve heard great things about the Honest Company, but have never tried any of their products. I would love to try the Essentials bundle!
The cleaning bundle or the essentials bundle would be nice!
For sure the Health and Wellness bundle, thanks for hosting!
The cleaning products would be great!
I would LOVE the personal care bundle!
PS I ordered two key fobs from your friend’s Etsy that you posted. They’re amazing!
I would love the bath and beauty bundle 🙂
I’m a big sucker for bubble baths and trying out new lotions so definitely the bath + beauty bundle!
The cleaning items or personal care would be my preference. I have heard such great things about this company!!!
I’d love to receive the cleaning bundle, I’ve been wanting to try their products.
Personal Care bundle would be my pick! Love this idea of a guest basket!
I haven’t gotten anything from Honest Co. in a while and I had no idea they had these wonderful new scents! I would love to try the bath and beauty bundle!
Maybe the wellness bundle… I am always looking for high quality supplements.
The diapering bundle has been on my radar for awhile now! Would love to try their products!
I would love to try the personal care bundle!!
I would definitely choose the diapering bundle!
I’ve been dying to try Honest products; they’re so well-reviewed across the board! I’m most interested in the personal care bundle. Thanks, Julie 🙂
I would love the Personal Care bundle! Thank you, Julie!
Personal Care! Thanks:)
I have super sensitive skin and am allergic to a lot of lotions, cream, and laundry detergents. I would probably use the bundle to try a some cleaning supplies and personal care to cover a little bit of everything.
I would love to try the Essentials Bundle! I have browsed the website a few times and really appreciate the ingredients in their products. I have been wanting to try out their shampoo and conditioner!
I am in the market for new personal care products, such as face wash and shampoo/conditioner–so the Personal Care package is the one I would select! Thank you!
Tough decision, but I’d go for the diapering bundle.
Personal care!
I am due in May and would love to try the diapering bundle!
Bath + beauty bundle!!!!
The diapering bundle is fantastic!!!
I would love the personal care bundle! I’ve been slowly but surely making the switch to chemical free products and have already noticed a difference in our general health and wellness.
I would love the personal care line! I’m always looking for ways to be more natural and the Honest Company seems like a perfect company for that!
i would love the diapering bundle!
Would love that Houseguest welcoming basket!
I totally love the idea of making an extra effort for houseguests when they come to stay! I always roll up towels and arrange them in a cute basket along with some mini dark chocolate bars from Trader Joe’s, a pretty soap wrapped in butcher paper and tied with twine, and some mini bottles of water. I would love to try out the cleaning + personal care bundle! Yay!
Would love to try the personal care and house cleaning products.
The Honest Company is absolutely amazing! I have used several of their products, but have never bought one of the bundles before…. So silly, because they are awesome. I would love to try the Essentials Bundle.
I’ve been wanting to try their cleaning supplies bc of my 2yo son!
I would love the personal care bundle! I have been wanting to try Honest Company products! Thanks Julie!
Oh how awesome!! The personal care bundle is definitely calling to me. 🙂 Always looking to try new, natural products that are low maintenance and smell wonderful. Thank you for the cool giveaway!
I have been wanting to try the diapering bundle!
Definitely the diapering bundle for my LO! Gotta make sure she gets the best of everything ! <3. PS I love the houseguest basket. I will have to do that next time we have houseguests for certain!!
The bundle that I need is the diapers but I would choose the cleaning bundle. With two under two I am constantly cleaning and looking for safe products since everything goes in the mouth. (My two year just took up licking the front glass door!)
I would love to try the personal care bundle!!
I would love to win the personal care bundle!! I have friends who are currently pregnant but they aren’t ready for the diaper bundle yet!
Personal care for myself, please. 🙂 Thank you for hosting this giveaway! Good luck to whoever the winner is!