MERRY CHRISTMAS, NEIGHBOR! {HOME MADE NEIGHBOR GIFT IDEAS}

Oh, hello Monday!  You're back again!  

Thank you guys for your sweet comments from the first portion of my Christmas Tour that I shared on Friday.  I'm spending today and tomorrow wrapping up my decorating to get the rest of the house ready to show you this Friday for the 2015 Christmas Homes Tours- start here to follow along all week.  And, in case you missed my post last week about my new living room furniture, you might just want to go back and check that out... especially if you'd like to win a gorgeous cowhide rug!  So go ahead and click over to enter.  I'll be waiting for you back here.

'Tis the season for giving, so today I combed my archives to share a few simple ideas with you that would make great neighbor (or even teacher) gifts.  A few of these ideas can be completed in just a couple of minutes, but they're all quite simple and sure to be appreciated by the recipient.   


This winter potpourri can be assembled in a flash and all of the ingredients are from the grocery store.  The house will smell like Christmas in a hurry!

These candied cinnamon sugar almonds could not be easier to make, and I can't quit eating them whenever I do!  They make great party favors too.

When I was teaching third grade in Southlake, TX many years ago, one of my team teachers would make this toffee for us every year at Christmas.  I looked forward to that day every year!  Wrapped in a cello bag and tied with festive ribbon, this is a yummy treat to give.

I grew up making these chocolate covered coconut bon bons with my Mom (I was the chocolate dipper), always at Christmas.  Now they're a favorite of my daughter's, too, and we enjoy making them to pass out to our friends at Christmas.  They freeze beautifully, so this is a good one to make ahead of time and then just bag them up as needed.

If you need an option that isn't a sweet treat, these personalized ornaments are easy to make and fun to give.  

Fill up a mason jar with this trail mix and tie a cute ribbon around the top, and you're set... no baking required!  The only thing that would make it better would be to use holiday red and green M&Ms.  

If you know your neighbors will be hosting a party or overnight guests over the holidays, how nice would it be to take them a cake?  This triple chocolate pound cake starts with a box cake mix and you wouldn't believe how easy it is when you see how pretty it turns out.  And, it's a Southern Living recipe, so you know it has to be good!

The hostess gift basket that I shared recently would also be perfectly suitable to share with a neighbor this season.

Finally, if you're looking for a personalized family gift, try this framed initial art.  You can make one frame with the initial for their last name for less than $10 if you already have a frame on hand or do a bit of thrift shopping.  I always pick up larger frames for a few dollars at the thrift store, and with a quick coat of spray paint if needed you only need a few other supplies for this thoughtful wall art.  

The last thing I do often at Christmas for neighbors is make pans of The Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls to pass around.  I think those are always appreciated (and devoured!).

What's your go-to neighbor gift?  Do you prefer to bake or craft for them?