It's Moving Day in Montreal!
Sending strength to whoever is schlepping their lives across town today. Under normal circumstances, switching to a new place is exhausting. During a pandemic? I can't even fathom.
Housewarming parties are a natural extension of "pay your friends with pizza for moving your stuff" season. I suspect things will be a little different this year, given social distancing measures and (in my case) a general phobia of sharing confined space with loads of people. But that doesn't mean you need to skip out on celebrating your pal's new milestone!
When you eventually swing by their new place, here are some cute gift ideas to commemorate the occasion. There should be something for all bonds and budgets in this list, so hopefully it'll come in handy for someone out there :)
FOODIE FRIENDLY
1. WINE (duh)
If you drink the stuff, then there is no such thing as having too many bottles of wine in your house! For me, the goal of a good housewarming gift is CONVENIENCE, so I would choose a red that doesn't need to be refrigerated. Consider including a corkscrew with your gift, in case theirs was misplaced during the move. Stokes has a bunch of nice options, but a regular one from the grocery/pharmacy does the trick too.
Bonus: You can also get your friend those little drink markers -- they're great when you're hosting groups :)
2. Good olive oil
I'm always so thrilled to get this as a gift because it's something I rarely (if ever) buy for myself.
Montrealers looking for a huge assortment can hit up Milano's, Capitol, and Cavallaro. My trick for finding the best one? Ask the oldest-looking Italian person on staff for help (joking) (not joking).
Another take on this idea: A fancier balsamic reduction or specialty hot sauce, both are fun alternatives to olive oil.
3. Easy herbs
Look, depending on the giftee, giving someone plant can be straight up rude lol -- it's a lot of commitment to spring on a person!
Herbs, however, are generally super low maintenance. And there's the added perk of EATING them down the road. Two gifts in one ;)
Mint, basil, and parsley are safe bets. You can do one large plant in a terracotta pot (don't forget the drip dish on the bottom), or a more elaborate set-up with 3-4 plants in one container.
4. A trusted cookbook
I love gifting books for any occasion!
In terms of cookbooks, my personal favorite is from Smitten Kitchen. Ottolenghi and Mark Bittman are other solid options.
Don't forget to jot down some well wishes on the inside cover.
5. Oven mitts
Even if theirs didn't go missing in the move, it's always good to have back-up oven mitts for when the old ones inevitably get destroyed. This pair from Crate and Barrel is really pretty and these from Genuine Fred are hilarious.
6. Pints of your fave local ice cream
Look no further than Kem Coba, Les Givres, or Bilboquet. For folks who aren't located in the city, Coaticook is an A+ option and most grocery stores carry a range of fun flavors.
Bonus: Throw in some waffle cones and an ice cream scoop!
7. Cast iron skillet
Okay... Maybe a skillet is 10% less cute than the others ideas on this list lol, but I guarantee your friend will be 150% pumped to get one!
Lodge is the best. They make a wide assortment of sizes at different price points. You can find this brand almost anywhere -- just do a quick web search to find the store closest to you.
Consider adding a little note (or link) on how to keep it properly clean and seasoned.
HOME GIZMOS
8. Cloth masks
Gifting in the Covid era! A new home gets lots of traffic during housewarming season. I'm sure your host would appreciate having a stack of these handy in case a guest forgets to bring their own.
9. Fancy soap
Notice a theme? ;)
You can't have enough soap on-hand during a pandemic, right? Splurge on a something really special (hello Aesop), extra points if you pair it with the matching hand cream.
10. Framed photo
Such an easy personalized gift -- especially if you already have printer-access.
Umbra makes really cool picture frames. (This basic one looks tailor-made for printing out your insta favorites.) Stalk your buddy's social media for a kick-ass photo and voilà!
11. Bluetooth speakers
I have this affordable little guy from Anker and really, really love it. Great for playing music when people are over, or listening to podcasts while cooking.
12. A board game
If your friend intends to host more people than usual in the coming days, now is the time for party games to shine. I like Jenga, Codenames, and Cranium. When in doubt, a deck of playing cards and some poker chips are fun :)
13. A super cute (and FUNCTIONAL) fan
Montreal is creeping toward peak summer heat. If your pal doesn't have A/C -- or even if she does! -- a good fan makes all the difference between comfort and, well, melting away on the sofa. Something vintage-inspired is stylish and crowd-pleasing -- I have something similar from Homesense, their stock is obviously inconsistent but you can still take a look there.
14. Tote bag
A lot reusable bags get purged after you move homes. It's also nice to have a cute canvas tote by the front door, ready and waiting for your next grocery run.
Put a bottle of wine inside, and your tote suddenly doubles as a gift bag.
Wherever your friend moved, chances are there's a local hot spot that sells merch lol. (Here in the Plateau, for example, Lawrence Boucherie and Drawn & Quarterly totes are ubiquitous.) Grab one of those and help your friend transition into their new neighborhood ;)
Baggu also has a HUGE assortment of fun, bright options.
Or... For people who lack car access... One of those roller shoppers are super useful and make for a very thoughtful gift.
R & R
Look, moving can be freakin' nerve-wracking. If your pal is prone to anxiety flare ups, a weighted blanket might help soothe their stress.
These can be pretty cost-prohibitive, though, so pretty throw (like this one from Structube) is a decent alternative.
16. A special candle
Help them set an olfactory tone to their new space. Maison Louis Marie is a faux-Labo brand that passes for the real thing. The fragrance I linked is a really convincing Santal knock-off lol.
Also a big fan of these "neighborhood scents" -- they're funny and, more importantly, smell really great. (Don't tell the Plateau, but Rosemont is my favorite fragrance.)
Make sure to remember a matchbook or lighter!
17. Flowers
Blooms are always pretty, but I actually prefer a bouquet of eucalyptus because, when dried (preferably upside down), you can keep them for a really long time.
Bonus: Put them in a stylish vase :)
18. Makeshift emergency kit
There's a good chance tons of your friend's belongings are still buried in a box somewhere. No one wants to go digging for a bandage when they urgently need one! Find a small hat box or tin (I own something like this) and load it with band-aids, advil, polysporin... Maybe even some CBD oil if you're feeling particularly generous ;)
WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
19. Gift card to a nearby restaurant or café
With all the headaches involved in moving, a gift card will give your pal a necessary worry-free break and some time to breathe. Plus, it gets them out exploring their new surroundings!
20. Personalized map of the neighborhood
This works best if you are very familiar with the area. Print out a map and jot down all the awesome spots you know -- bakeries, coffee shops, exercise classes, parks to read, places to people watch, key bus stops, etc. It can even be done digitally! Save a google map with your collection of pins and e-mail it to your pal.
THE MVP
21. Card with a heartfelt note
Self-explanatory and, honestly, the sweetest gift you can give :)
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Happy Moving Day! Bon courage and congrats!
Image credit (olive oil): Lifehacker Australia
Image credit (tote bags): Bon Appetit
Image credit (candles): Dieline
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