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icharchivist · 6 years

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perso-rant underneath and at first i intended it to be more light hearted but welp cant dive into myself without digging the bad stuff so just ignore this as rambling.

(idk if the cut works on mobile so as usual blacklist #ichapersonal to skip it , its quite long)

its night and im noisy and all but yknow part of the reason m/lb is such a healing show for me and i rewatch it every couple of days?

i cry everytime M.arinette's family is on screen pretty badly bc i get so envious all the time. i hate my shitty family (and often can relate to A.drien's ressentment) so just seeing such a /healthy/ family being often shown litterally brings me to tears. im like C.hat in the animan episode when he stares at the family picture with a sweet smile (another detail that stupidly make me cry who allowed th i s)

like. i dont relate to A.drien's relation to his family but some of the emotional effects is often a moment of "welp. mood." and being kinda sad /for him/ even if i can feel it for myself too. but then with M.arinette's family everytime they get to be on screen i realize how happy this sort of dynamic makes me and it makes me /so envious/.

like my mom is an artist and an excellent cook but she always barred those interests from me bc it was /hers/ and it was for /her ego/ and this attitude just killed every curiosity i had and remplaced it with a complete unability to care.

i used to bake as a kid but my mom was always shutting down everything i was doing, and if i was asking for help or recieps she would just tell le "it's a secret just watch " and never letting me know tf she was doing so i stopped lmao. everytime ive tried meals since it was only for myself and with a hard mocking from family and mom saying she had a better recieps and i should just let her do so i dont even try it often. (moreeven now that the kitchen is opened to the living room and they're super judgemental when im in it)

i was messing with drawings and paints in her workshop when i was a kid but she would always point out flaws and take my tools to correct it without telling nor showing me how and it killed it, it took me until my 14yo to start doing mindless doodles and then my breakdown when i was about 20 to seriously try back to draw and do art and try different tools (until my right hand made it impossible for me to hold a tool and the failure still feels yknow)

i wanted to sew things and make clothes (at the time for my dolls) but my mom was never letting me touch the tools (that we HAD since not only she made clothes but her mom actually had a fabrique shop. like. right next door. i think it became part of my mom's trauma hating her mom and refusing us to connect with her, more so with what happened when i was 7 and we lost contact with them but still, the damn irony. and i cant remember if my grandma ever let me close her sewing material but i was a damn kid after all) so this is another thing i didnt pursue

i wanted to pick up music (piano mostly) bc my uncle is a musician but my parents never wanted to invest in that because they already gave a piano to my sister (that i wasnt allowed to use) so ye that was dropped lmao

and i started to write when i was about 11 and it was that /one thing/ i didnt need help for from anyone, completely self taught, with my own ways and tools, and my parents were always dismissive of it, never listening to me, always telling me it wasnt important, that i should focus on something else, and after other circumstances that added to that i dropped writting around my 17/18yo and it had been painful to even try to write again since.(i came back to writing around my 20yo a bit before my breakdown but after it happened it started to die out and i felt exhausted and stopped after a few months and since then i've never been able to pick up writing again ay.)

(and im not touching the obsessive elements bc like- the fact she does it for her crush makes it different, but the sort of things she does? taking pictures and putting them everywhere in her room when she hyperfixates, making overcomplicated schedules and such? i litteraly do that with fiction. i made a freaking timeline for this show. i am currently working on organizing codex from d.a and an approval guide for christ sake. and im not talking about my multiple fandom shrines in my room and the fact i legit have one for m/lb made from pictures found on merchs.

or also the fact i have a lot of passions i'd love to share and seeing M. play video games with her dad for exemple makes me so bitter when all i get is backhanded insults from my parents when i bring it up.)

So sometimes i see M. and part of me is just in awe, loving everything about her. the other part of me tho... i feel... a bit robbed? like she's such a creative kid, she's incredible and she inspires me everyday, and i cant help but think how i would have adored her when i was a kid. (im not even kidding, as a kid i requested my mom a costume of black cat for h.alloween and a l.adybug costume for the carnaval. i have pictures of that at my dad's place sadly it kills me. also my room when i was a kid used to be covered with l.adybug stickers like. HELL my mom doesnt care about my interests but last year she bought me a M/LB winter callendar (bc its been years i was mentioning i wanted one, a selfish whim but oh well) and i had a huge double take bc i was certain she didnt remember me talking about this show- and she did not. when i asked her why, she legit told me "because she reminded me of you as a kid with your pigtails your obsession for l.adybugs". like!! i cant even stress how kid!me would have adored this show and especially LB./M.) (the pigtails too this time i have proofs around there i used to carry them all the time until i was bullied for it at school. (bullying at school instead of good friends also adds to the difference in question tbh lmao))

there is something so... weird into seeing the parts of yourself that you cut yourself from in a character, and see that the main difference is because of how the family (and bullies) treated those elements so drastically differently.

my family was always neglectful but differently than A.. the things i relate to with him is how he specifically still holds on hope that his father will do better at least just for one day and his reaction when he's left down saying he's just used to it. and like normal, not every kind of abuse are the same and all but i still relate enough to feel sad.

but M. is always a whiplash of feelings like i could have been this sort of girl in a better environment.

at 13/14yo she was already making stuff up, baking, designing clothes, doing art, she was doing so many things, even forgetting the superhero part. she was being happy being a creator at her pace and with encouragement. at 13/14yo i was starting to show concerning signs of d.epression because i was trying to handle my parents's divorces and the multiple trials that followed that /i/ had to handle by finding middle grounds, allowing some of my father's blackmail to avoid worse, and by litterally having to collect infos from mails everytime to prove against some of his arguments to the judges. and my sister refusing to talk to us for a year, which caused us basically to feel very bad thinking of the eldest sister who ran away from home, and having to handle my father's harrasment and emotional abuse of constantly belittling me (fuck this was the age he legit told me i would probably end up a p.rostitute so ye!!! fuck that!!!) andd the fact my mom was also falling apart from all of it on me and i was always supposed to cheer her up while i was having a hard time in a new school and new environment away from the very few friends i had and again feeling abandonned by my sister which freaking sucks after already had suffered that from our eldest one.

but M. makes me cry every. goddam. rewatch. its like maybe the ultimate wish fufilling story of just how i would have loved my family to be. of how i think i could have turned up.

and that realization hits so badly everytime.

there's a thing with my hyperfixations where i'll always find a way to tie it back to my traumas. i dont know if im pulling straws, or if the things are there. for having watched m.lb when it came out unfazed and only got hit with that realization upon rewatching- i feel it was more me realizing "there is something there that is touching me more than before" and having an introspection to get it.

and i think the difference is that- before my breakdown the characters and stories i related to where the eternal optimistic-yet-damaged "never give up!" type of characters. When things started to go downhill to my breakdown and since then the fictions that talked to me the most were all dealing with guilt coming from toxic environment that werent your fault per se but you pierceved that way. my way to relate were to characters who felt deeply connected to their guilt (peak being c.loud of f.f7 that even topped it with the deadly skin disease making him lose will to live (because ye that happened. still hate to watch out for that so ye), and memories issues, you would have told me at 13yo when i first watched that movie that this would be what i would relate to him about 7 years later i would have laughed at your face.), which translated with pushing people away and self destructing habits.

and i know i watched m.lb the first time around that time, when i was 20/21. and that may be why i didnt feel that. that my concerns were too elsewhere to realize that. That i was too focalized on how i felt like i failed by suddenly breaking under the pressure, having all the things i've kept burried kicking me out at once, and that i couldnt afford to be a burden to anyone. and it translated with me loving characters like that because in most cases their friends ended up reminding them of what was important - and sometimes just getting frustrated about your fav being as dumb as it forces you to pull yourself back together lmao. not always working but it was there.

now im 23. i cut ties with my father for about 3/4 years now, with all the shitty things that ensued out of the last trial where he sued me and his still-happening harrasment (sometimes silly sometimes scary). My mom and step dad are suffocating me more and more everyday. my health had become so disastrous i cant even manage to go school or find a job. And more than ever im frustrated and angry.

and i think it may be a shown of recovery? perhaps linked to therapy? of while i still have guilt of falling apart- /they/ are the reason i fell apart. and I'm yet to have proper apologizes for it. i grew furious at my family. of how much i feel robbed.

lately im so angry at everything i lost, was taken of, stolen childhood all of that- because of my parents, mainly. (hell even the bullying at school - in primary school it apparently started bc of gossips about why my eldest sister ran away from home, and in middle school it was first bc my parents insisted on sending me to private school where i was an outcast. which then had me truly embrassing the outcast persona that had made it impossible for me to be at peace in the two others middle schools i went to. highschool saved my social life tbh).

i think it's therapy and recovery that is making me shift the blame and feel so angry at them. so bitter. and suddenly i see in an innocent kid show a "what could have been". same starting personality, different people to channel this.

and this is. frustrating.

but it makes me love it even more. idk if its driving anything else than ressentment but at least for the time of an episode I'm in a bubble of a.lternative universe where i can forget about my life and feel satisfied at once.

like finding a piece of myself that i deliberately broke and burried to never think about it again, and realize far later how it missed to the whole, and how damaged this piece is now, but still is.

and there is something incredibly healing about that. i would never have thought there would be this much healing out of this anger and yet satisfaction. what a strange feeling.

fiction is funny that way. the things people can get out of it to deal with their own psyche are so different one person to the next.

it's just so weird for me to go from "i relate to the horrors this character went through" to "and fuck those horrors. let me think about what could have been if this didnt happen."

even moreso knowing i had this piece of fiction before and didnt approach it that way. there's a time and a mindset for everything. apparently now was the best mindset for me huh

.......

so ye apparently i cant like something like a normal person and have to go on about how it connects to my deeply rooted traumas lmao.

anyway it's been eating me up for weeks now and it's 4:45am i have absolutly no impulse holding me back. if you sat through this piece of work im sorry. just needed it to get it out of my chest.

i'll go back to hugging my cheap-yet-lifesaving c.laire's l.adybug pillow now

good night o/

#ichapersonal

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arplis · 4 years

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Arplis - News: 50 Housewarming Party Gift Ideas for Brand-New Homeowners

Moving into a new home is a whirl of excitement and anxiety. Around 5.46 million homes are expected to sell in 2020. Thats a lot of people starting a new chapter in their lives and feeling like a nervous wreck!

If youre invited to a housewarming party, your friend or relative is eager to share their happiness with you. Knowing what to bring can get tricky. You dont want to give a dud gift.

New homeowners often find themselves low on funds and overloaded with stress. Housewarming party gifts are the perfect way to help out, whether with decorations or something more practical that they can use every day.

If youre shopping around for ideas for housewarming party gifts, youre in luck. Weve interviewed the top experts in their field and scoured the internet to compile this in-depth guide on housewarming party gifts, broken down into categories for your browsing convenience!

Source: (Ani Kolleshi/ Unsplash)

The tradition of housewarming and gifting

The history of housewarming has its origins in medieval times. Its name stems from (what else?) warming up the house.

In those days, a home usually held a central hearth that heated all the rooms. As a way of celebration and welcome for a newly-moved-in family, the community gathered at the home and lit the fire, warming the house.

The practice of housewarming spans the entire world.

In 1600s France, housewarmings exist as pendaison de crmaillre. This is French for hanging of the chimney hook.

The hook on the chimney of a medieval French home came as the final installation. This hook served as the fixture for a pot to hang from and warm over the fire.

French tradition dictated a house was only officially finished once the chimney hook was installed. Then a chimney-hook party (housewarming party) was held.

The tradition of giving housewarming gifts is a longstanding one that continues even today. Show you care and congratulate a new homeowner with one of our gift ideas.

Gifts to give

Housewarming party gifts are a thoughtful tradition meant to welcome someone into their new home. It can also be the perfect way to welcome a new person into the close-knit community of a neighborhood.

Americans love to give, too. In 2019, we spent an average of $1,000 on holiday gifts alone. Knowing what to buy for a person can get tricky, though.

If theyre a local couple, I like to give gift certificates to breweries. If its a family with children, then something family-oriented, like a badminton set or outdoor games make for great housewarming gifts, says Lisa Gasper, a top-selling agent in Williamsburg, Virginia, who has sold more than 81% more homes in the area than the average agent.

When shopping, take into consideration whether this is the persons first home or if theyre an older married couple moving into a smaller home. If theyre a first-time homebuyer, they usually need the basics still for their house, says Gasper. Older couples are often downsizing, so gift certificates are good in that scenario.

As far as items to avoid, Gasper suggests no adult humor, political statements, or religious items. The last thing you want to do is upset someone with your gift.

Traditional gifts

Here weve rounded up classic gifts steeped in tradition and symbolism.

1. Salt

Salt has held significance and value since ancient times. Once, it was so valuable it was even used as currency. The gift of salt represents wealth.

Bring an artisanal bamboo salt chest ($130) filled with 24 different kinds of gourmet salt to help spice up their cooking.

2. Broom

Some customs say you shouldnt bring an old broom to a new home. This is why a brand new broom makes an excellent housewarming party gift. While the thought of buying a broom as a present may not seem thrilling, who says a broom has to be boring? Bring a handmade rainbow broom ($59.98) thatll brighten a room as its swept.

3. Bread

The tradition of giving bread has both Jewish and Russian origins. Jewish customs say bread represents hospitality. Russian folklore includes a villager presenting dignitaries with bread. Its meant to symbolize the hope for long lasting good health. Offer a bread basket ($65) filled with freshly baked, homemade loaves of bread.

Source: (Ales Krivec/ Unsplash)

4. Knives

Should you buy knives, or is that in poor taste? Superstition states that giving a knife as a present will sever the friendship between you and the recipient.

However, taping a penny to the knife is considered a way around this. The recipient must then remove the penny and return it to you as a way of showing symbolic payment.

Give the new homeowner a set of cosmos knives ($49.95) so they can enjoy space while prepping dinner!Plants

When a person first moves into a home, it can feel empty and impersonal. Thats why plants make a great gift.

Plants give a burst of color to any home, says Alex Gottlob, owner of Gottlob Lawn & Landscape. The business was founded in 1999 and has been delighting Kansans with artful landscaping ever since. He went on to say, A home with plants just feels more inviting.

5. Houseplants

For a houseplant as a housewarming gift, Gottlob recommends either a philodendron ($58) or an airplane plant, also known as a spider plant ($15). He went on to add that both houseplants are well-known for being easy to care for, flourishing indoors in indirect light.

Source: (Joanna Wishard/ Unsplash)

6. Mason jar gardens

Versatile and beautiful, mason jars ($32.99) are perfect for a window-sill herb garden. Theyll dress up any home and provide the recipient with delicious herbs for home-cooked meals.

7. Bulbs

Flowers bring vibrant colors and sweet floral scents to a home. A flower bulb ($13.95) is a great housewarming gift because it lets the recipient enjoy watching the flower slowly grow and bloom. Bring the bulb of some delicate Paperwhite flowers, and the homeowner can enjoy their sweet musk through winter.

8. Flower pots

Every indoor flower needs a container to rest in. Containers are also a practical gift, allowing the recipient to choose what theyll plant in it for themselves. Bring a personalized flower pot ($36.99) so they can show the world who they are.

9. Flower arrangement

A well-done floral arrangement can increase the aesthetic of a room all by itself. Bring a colorful bouquet ($49.99) in a tasteful vase to help the homeowner dress up their home. Every time the recipient sees the flower arrangement and stops to enjoy their aroma, theyll be reminded of the fun they had at the housewarming party.

Food

Everyone loves food, and its a longtime gift staple. Help a homeowner stock their spice pantry and cabinets by gifting something delicious.

10. Wine/beer/liquor

Just as neighbors once brought gifts of food over to a new home to be shared at the gathering, so too did friends bring drinks like wine. Pair a bottle of wine with a rainbow winged corkscrew opener ($15.99) to create the perfect gift set.

Source: (Thomas Picauly/ Unsplash)

11. Olive oil/vinegar

Olive oil and vinegar are timeless gifts. Together they represent good health and well-being. Give the happy new homeowner a cruet to hold their olive oil and vinegar ($18.99).

12. Coffee/tea

Who doesnt enjoy a bit of caffeine? The days are long, and everyone needs a little pick-me-up now and then. Whether its coffee or tea the homeowner prefers as their drink of choice, you cant go wrong with a gift box of gourmet coffee and artisan loose-leaf tea ($46).

13. Gift sets (cookie mixes, etc.)

If you arent certain what kind of sweets the person likes, then a gift set may be the best choice. Show up with a gift set box ($54.99) of cookies, brownies, caramels, and popcorn, and its bound to include something thatll appeal to the homeowner.

14. Something fresh-baked

Who doesnt like cake? The real question is what kind of cake the homeowner might like best. Offer a cake sampler ($42.95) of chocolate mousse cake, carrot cake, cookies and cream cake, and more to treat their tastebuds to an exciting adventure.

Local love

Supporting local businesses helps a community thrive and gives new homeowners a chance to explore parts of their city theyve maybe never seen before.

15. Gift card to a restaurant

Whether the homeowner is a longtime local or new to the city, a gift card to a nearby restaurant is always a great gift.

Moving into a home is stressful and takes lots of work. Therell be nights where cooking dinner feels like too much of a hassle. Treat them to a night off.

If the recipient is single, go with a $25 gift card. If its a couple, choose a $50 gift card to cover the price of a meal for two.

Source: (Nick Hillier/ Unsplash)

16. Gift card for a cleaning service

Things have a way of getting hectic when you move into a new home. Laundry and dusting can sneak up on you and turn into a mountain of work in a few short weeks. Offer a gift card to a local cleaning service to help the homeowner out. Anywhere between $150 to $250 will cover a 3-bedroom, 2000 square foot home.

17. Gift certificate to a spa

Everyone deserves to be pampered every now and then. Moving into a house has a way of stressing you out. Too much stress, and youll find yourself with a stick neck and shoulders or even a headache. Gift the new homeowner a spa trip so they can disappear for a day and relax. Around $100 will cover a standard individual treatment.

18. Gift certificate to a local brewery

Not only is visiting a local brewery a great way to support your community, but its nice to get out and enjoy a few drinks unique to your region. Gift the homeowner a gift certificate to a local brewery so they can kick back and relax with a beer. The cost of beer varies drastically, but anywhere between $20 and $40 will get a few beers and a meal.

19. Local theater voucher

Almost everyone loves movies. In 2019, around 75% of the U.S. population saw a movie at least once. Offer the homeowner a voucher to a local theater so they can get out and enjoy the latest blockbuster. Movie tickets for two are around $20.

Kitchenwares

Every meal starts with common household kitchenware. Help an aspiring chef stock their appliances with these tasteful gift ideas.

20. Cheese boards

Help the new homeowner create the perfect meat and cheese spread by gifting them a cheese board ($55). Go above and beyond and make it a gift set that includes cheeses and meats too.

21. Food storage containers

Sometimes, there will be leftovers from dinner. Or maybe the homeowner will cut up some fruit and need a container to keep it in. Help them out with their kitchen organization and buy some food storage containers ($64.99).

22. Cookbooks

Sometimes its hard coming up with ideas for what to have for dinner. Other times you just feel like experimenting with a new dish. Help the new homeowner out with gathering recipes by giving a cookbook. There are hundreds upon hundreds of cookbooks ($15-$20) out there, so the skys the limit for what you can choose.

23. Kitchen towels

Everyone washes their hands or dries their dishes. Help bring fun and color to the recipients kitchen with a personalized hand towel ($12.95).

Source: (Taylor Vick/ Unsplash)

24. Mugs

When the homeowner wakes in the morning after a long day of moving furniture and boxes into the house, theyll likely need some coffee or tea to help wake them up. Gift a beautiful custom mug with their name on it ($21.58) to add a personal touch.

25. Fridge fresheners

Given all the various foodstuffs that are kept in a fridge, and sometimes how the air can turn stale, a fridge sometimes starts to smell. A refrigerator freshener ($13.99) will keep a fridge smelling brand new and keep bad odors at bay for months.

26. Microwave cleaners

Its normal for heated foods and drinks to splatter inside a microwave. All kinds of stains can build up inside a microwave in a few short days. Gift a microwave cleaner ($6.99) thatll release steam to loosen difficult messes and deodorize smells.

27. Cocktail shakers

Give the new homeowner a cocktail shaker ($21.59) so they can mix drinks like a professional. With a cocktail shaker, they can shake themselves a fun drink. Take it a step further and have the shakers personalized with their last name.

28. Mixing bowls

If the homeowner plans to ever cook, theyll need mixing bowls ($35.99). Choose a mixing bowl set that comes with airtight lids so they can double as containers for leftovers.

For the living room

The living room is one of the more important parts of a home. Its a communal area for friends and family to gather and hang out. Use one of these gift ideas to help a homeowner cozy up their living room.

29. Blankets

Who doesnt like to cuddle under a warm blanket while watching movies or reading a book? Give the homeowner a personalized blanket ($15) to congratulate them on the new home. Have it inscribed with a custom message commemorating their housewarming party to turn the blanket into a memento.

Source: (Kelly Sikkema/ Unsplash)

30. Wall art

When you first move into a home, the walls tend to be a little bare. Help the homeowner decorate by gifting them wall art ($11.99) that is beautiful enough to be a centerpiece.

31. Candles

The symbolism behind a candle is clear. When you light a candle, youre casting out darkness. Its good luck to light a candle on the first night in a new home to help ensure evil stays away. A Sacred Smudge candle ($9.71) will not only add beautiful decor to a new home with its mix of crystals and herbs but also ward off negative energies.

32. Coffee table books

If you know the new homeowner is a bibliophile, then displaying a book with a beautiful cover makes for a perfect gift. Not only are coffee table books gorgeous aesthetics on their own, but theyre also a thoughtful gift. To get ideas, browse these lists on Read it Forward and Brightly for highly anticipated 2020 releases. The average cost of a hardcover book is in the $20 range.

33. Coasters

Theres something extra irritating about the grayish watermark rings caused by sweating drinks. Give the new homeowner a pair of black agate coasters ($23.19) to ward off the pesky stains.

34. Tree ornaments

Many people follow a tradition of buying a new Christmas tree ornament to represent special occasions or mark the passage of a year. Get the homeowner a personalized ornament ($20) to commemorate moving into the new house.

Decorative and home-focused

Its nice to spruce up a home with decorations that are also useful. Help make a homeowners life a little easier with these thoughtful decor pieces.

35. Personalized welcome mat

No one likes the outside getting tracked all over the inside of the house. Not only that, but a welcome mat doubles as a great statement piece. Its one of the first things a visitor will see. Gift the new homeowner a personalized monogram doormat ($19.99) to make it really special.

36. A keychain for their new key

It seems like you can never have enough keychains to hold the dozens of keys you end up collecting over the years. The compass is still as useful now as it was hundreds of years ago back when it was invented in ancient China. Be helpful and gift a useful compass keychain ($21.98) for the key to the new house. Now theyll never lose their house key, nor their way in the world.

37. Return address stamp

Sometimes, its tedious to have to write out your address on an envelope. Even more so if you run a business from your home or need to send out lots of letters for a special occasion. Give the new homeowner a custom return address stamp ($19.54) with beautiful calligraphy and typeset.

38. Door hangers

Like with the doormat, a door hanger is one of the first details a visitor will notice about a home. Gift a gorgeous wooden sign to hang from the door ($55.99) that says Home Sweet Home.

39. House numbers

In all the rush and workload involved with moving into a new home, house numbers to help show the address are often overlooked and forgotten. Give a wooden address sign with a planter box ($49). Itll allow the homeowner to display their address and decorate with plants and holiday themes.

Source: (Ian Kirkland/ Unsplash)Just for fun

Not every gift needs to be practical. Show your fun side by choosing one of these more entertaining housewarming party gifts.

40. Board games

Who doesnt love playing board games? Bring a classic board game as a gift and deliver a bit of nostalgia to the recipient. The average cost for most board games is around $20.

Source: (Micha Parzuchowski/ Unsplash)

41. Kids toy chest

If you have kids, you know the struggle of finding places to store the multitude of toys and stuffed animals. If the new homeowners have kids of their own, give the gift of a toy chest ($75).

42. Pet treats

Our animal companions are as close to us as family. Dont overlook the presence of pets if the homeowners have any. Bring over some delectable pet treats for their cat ($2) or dog ($14), and youll surely be in the furry companions good graces.

43. Bath products

Everyone enjoys taking a luxurious hot bath every once in a while. Its a great way to relax sore muscles too. Give the homeowner some bath bombs ($35) to encourage them to treat themselves with a peaceful soak.

Practical

For the more serious homeowner, this list of down-to-earth gifts will be sure to please.

44. Tool kit

A new home comes with new responsibilities. Repairs will eventually crop up, and then tools will be essential for certain tasks. A tool kit ($59.99) makes a great gift for a new homeowner.

45. Fire extinguisher

Nothing says you care about their safety like gifting a fire extinguisher ($19.98). Itll be one of those gifts the homeowner will hope never to have to use, but be grateful for should the need ever arise.

46. Doorstops

Sometimes, you need the door held wide open while youre busy carrying in the groceries or moving in a large piece of furniture. Hodor from Game of Thrones deserved better, but everyone can agree he held the door like a champ. This Hodor doorstop ($23) is a perfect housewarming gift for the Game of Thrones fan.

47. Bookends

For the book-loving homeowner, a bookend makes a great housewarming gift as a statement piece. A diorama bookend ($169) adds a creative flair to any bookshelf.

48. Grocery lists

Everyone goes grocery shopping. Most of us need a grocery list if we dont want to forget something important. An organized grocery list notepad ($16.25) makes a thoughtful gift for a housewarming present.

49. Calendars

Life can get hectic, and a calendar helps us stay organized and remember important dates. Bring a wall calendar ($23.95) so the new homeowner can track appointments and events more easily.

50. Smart home device

As we move into an increasingly advanced digital age, smart home devices grow more prevalent. Look through these numerous smart home devices and choose the one that best fits the new homeowners for their housewarming party gift. Prices vary drastically on smart home devices, starting at $20 and going up.

Source: (Sarah Pflug/Burst)

A new home, a new beginning

We hope this ultimate guide to housewarming party gifts helped give you several ideas for what to buy for your friend or relative. Buying a home is a huge achievement, whether its your first time or not.

The next time youre ready to buy or sell your home, make use of one of our specialized calculators to help you out. They can help you calculate a budget for a new home, or even determine when the best time of year to sell is.

Once youve done that, be sure to choose from one of our many listed real estate agent experts. Theyre the top in their area and ready to help you find a dream home or sell your house fast.

Header Image Source: (Monkey Business Images/ Shutterstock)

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arplis · 4 years

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Arplis - News: 50 Housewarming Party Gift Ideas for Brand-New Homeowners

If youre invited to a housewarming party, your friend or relative is eager to share their happiness with you. Knowing what to bring can get tricky. You dont want to give a dud gift.

Source: (Ani Kolleshi/ Unsplash)

The tradition of housewarming and gifting

The history of housewarming has its origins in medieval times. Its name stems from (what else?) warming up the house.

The practice of housewarming spans the entire world.

In 1600s France, housewarmings exist as pendaison de crmaillre. This is French for hanging of the chimney hook.

The hook on the chimney of a medieval French home came as the final installation. This hook served as the fixture for a pot to hang from and warm over the fire.

French tradition dictated a house was only officially finished once the chimney hook was installed. Then a chimney-hook party (housewarming party) was held.

The tradition of giving housewarming gifts is a longstanding one that continues even today. Show you care and congratulate a new homeowner with one of our gift ideas.

Gifts to give

Americans love to give, too. In 2019, we spent an average of $1,000 on holiday gifts alone. Knowing what to buy for a person can get tricky, though.

As far as items to avoid, Gasper suggests no adult humor, political statements, or religious items. The last thing you want to do is upset someone with your gift.

Traditional gifts

Here weve rounded up classic gifts steeped in tradition and symbolism.

1. Salt

Salt has held significance and value since ancient times. Once, it was so valuable it was even used as currency. The gift of salt represents wealth.

Bring an artisanal bamboo salt chest ($130) filled with 24 different kinds of gourmet salt to help spice up their cooking.

2. Broom

3. Bread

Source: (Ales Krivec/ Unsplash)

4. Knives

Should you buy knives, or is that in poor taste? Superstition states that giving a knife as a present will sever the friendship between you and the recipient.

However, taping a penny to the knife is considered a way around this. The recipient must then remove the penny and return it to you as a way of showing symbolic payment.

Give the new homeowner a set of cosmos knives ($49.95) so they can enjoy space while prepping dinner!Plants

When a person first moves into a home, it can feel empty and impersonal. Thats why plants make a great gift.

5. Houseplants

Source: (Joanna Wishard/ Unsplash)

6. Mason jar gardens

Versatile and beautiful, mason jars ($32.99) are perfect for a window-sill herb garden. Theyll dress up any home and provide the recipient with delicious herbs for home-cooked meals.

7. Bulbs

8. Flower pots

9. Flower arrangement

Food

Everyone loves food, and its a longtime gift staple. Help a homeowner stock their spice pantry and cabinets by gifting something delicious.

10. Wine/beer/liquor

Source: (Thomas Picauly/ Unsplash)

11. Olive oil/vinegar

Olive oil and vinegar are timeless gifts. Together they represent good health and well-being. Give the happy new homeowner a cruet to hold their olive oil and vinegar ($18.99).

12. Coffee/tea

13. Gift sets (cookie mixes, etc.)

14. Something fresh-baked

Local love

Supporting local businesses helps a community thrive and gives new homeowners a chance to explore parts of their city theyve maybe never seen before.

15. Gift card to a restaurant

Whether the homeowner is a longtime local or new to the city, a gift card to a nearby restaurant is always a great gift.

Moving into a home is stressful and takes lots of work. Therell be nights where cooking dinner feels like too much of a hassle. Treat them to a night off.

If the recipient is single, go with a $25 gift card. If its a couple, choose a $50 gift card to cover the price of a meal for two.

Source: (Nick Hillier/ Unsplash)

16. Gift card for a cleaning service

17. Gift certificate to a spa

18. Gift certificate to a local brewery

19. Local theater voucher

Kitchenwares

Every meal starts with common household kitchenware. Help an aspiring chef stock their appliances with these tasteful gift ideas.

20. Cheese boards

Help the new homeowner create the perfect meat and cheese spread by gifting them a cheese board ($55). Go above and beyond and make it a gift set that includes cheeses and meats too.

21. Food storage containers

22. Cookbooks

23. Kitchen towels

Everyone washes their hands or dries their dishes. Help bring fun and color to the recipients kitchen with a personalized hand towel ($12.95).

Source: (Taylor Vick/ Unsplash)

24. Mugs

25. Fridge fresheners

26. Microwave cleaners

27. Cocktail shakers

28. Mixing bowls

If the homeowner plans to ever cook, theyll need mixing bowls ($35.99). Choose a mixing bowl set that comes with airtight lids so they can double as containers for leftovers.

For the living room

29. Blankets

Source: (Kelly Sikkema/ Unsplash)

30. Wall art

When you first move into a home, the walls tend to be a little bare. Help the homeowner decorate by gifting them wall art ($11.99) that is beautiful enough to be a centerpiece.

31. Candles

32. Coffee table books

33. Coasters

Theres something extra irritating about the grayish watermark rings caused by sweating drinks. Give the new homeowner a pair of black agate coasters ($23.19) to ward off the pesky stains.

34. Tree ornaments

Decorative and home-focused

Its nice to spruce up a home with decorations that are also useful. Help make a homeowners life a little easier with these thoughtful decor pieces.

35. Personalized welcome mat

36. A keychain for their new key

37. Return address stamp

38. Door hangers

Like with the doormat, a door hanger is one of the first details a visitor will notice about a home. Gift a gorgeous wooden sign to hang from the door ($55.99) that says Home Sweet Home.

39. House numbers

Source: (Ian Kirkland/ Unsplash)Just for fun

Not every gift needs to be practical. Show your fun side by choosing one of these more entertaining housewarming party gifts.

40. Board games

Who doesnt love playing board games? Bring a classic board game as a gift and deliver a bit of nostalgia to the recipient. The average cost for most board games is around $20.

Source: (Micha Parzuchowski/ Unsplash)

41. Kids toy chest

If you have kids, you know the struggle of finding places to store the multitude of toys and stuffed animals. If the new homeowners have kids of their own, give the gift of a toy chest ($75).

42. Pet treats

43. Bath products

Practical

For the more serious homeowner, this list of down-to-earth gifts will be sure to please.

44. Tool kit

A new home comes with new responsibilities. Repairs will eventually crop up, and then tools will be essential for certain tasks. A tool kit ($59.99) makes a great gift for a new homeowner.

45. Fire extinguisher

46. Doorstops

47. Bookends

For the book-loving homeowner, a bookend makes a great housewarming gift as a statement piece. A diorama bookend ($169) adds a creative flair to any bookshelf.

48. Grocery lists

49. Calendars

Life can get hectic, and a calendar helps us stay organized and remember important dates. Bring a wall calendar ($23.95) so the new homeowner can track appointments and events more easily.

50. Smart home device

Source: (Sarah Pflug/Burst)

A new home, a new beginning

Once youve done that, be sure to choose from one of our many listed real estate agent experts. Theyre the top in their area and ready to help you find a dream home or sell your house fast.

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