What to Bring? Host Gifts for (End of) Summer Days and Nights

A few summer weekends still remain, and hopefully that means a few more gatherings with friends and family.

It's always thoughtful to bring something for the hosts, whether the event be a weekend getaway, a laid back barbecue, or a glam dockside dinner. Since there's enough time in the upcoming cooler months to be serious and sophisticated, here are a few fun and frivolous gift suggestions to capture the playful vacation spirit of the final days and nights of summer.

Fun and Games for All

Toys, games and puzzles - welcome diversions for every member of the house.

A hand cranked bubble machine! Bubble factory at the Cooper Hewitt Museum.

A hand cranked bubble machine! Bubble factory at the Cooper Hewitt Museum.

Set the mood at bath time with a water activated, Duck Moodlight, from Delphinium Home.

Set the mood at bath time with a water activated, Duck Moodlight, from Delphinium Home.

Complicated puzzles can be frustrating. Keep it fun and silly (but still challenging) with this 1000 piece set featuring classic American junk food. Things I Ate puzzle, via BN.com.

Complicated puzzles can be frustrating. Keep it fun and silly (but still challenging) with this 1000 piece set featuring classic American junk food. Things I Ate puzzle, via BN.com.

A cross between pick-up sticks, jenga, and building card houses, Las Escaleras by MoMA will have you competing as you take turns building an elegant structure until that moment where it all comes crumbling down.

A cross between pick-up sticks, jenga, and building card houses, Las Escaleras by MoMA will have you competing as you take turns building an elegant structure until that moment where it all comes crumbling down.

Playing with a kendama is addictive fun for older kids and adults. This teal and orange set from Sweets Kendamas via Fab is extra happy.

Playing with a kendama is addictive fun for older kids and adults. This teal and orange set from Sweets Kendamas via Fab is extra happy.

Frivolous Functionality

It's nice when presents have at least a small amount of usefulness. These suggestions are all functional while still being frivolous enough to feel gift-y.

Do your hosts really need a shopping tote/cooler? Yes! Especially this faux picnic basket cooler from Time Concept.

Do your hosts really need a shopping tote/cooler? Yes! Especially this faux picnic basket cooler from Time Concept.

Cloth napkins are perfectly functional. Pink embroidered napkins are perfectly frivolous. John Robshaw, via Gracious Home.

Cloth napkins are perfectly functional. Pink embroidered napkins are perfectly frivolous. John Robshaw, via Gracious Home.

Bring beautiful color to a vodka tasting. Multi-colored vodka glasses from Moser via Jung Lee NY. These double as lovely bud vases.

Bring beautiful color to a vodka tasting. Multi-colored vodka glasses from Moser via Jung Lee NY. These double as lovely bud vases.

Bright, high energy, colorful platters platters scream summer. Set of 2, Ziggy Platters by French Bull.

Bright, high energy, colorful platters platters scream summer. Set of 2, Ziggy Platters by French Bull.

A dainty bowl for rings, coins, or the key to the beach shed. An unnecessary bit of sand dollar loveliness from Simon Pearce via Jung Lee NY.

A dainty bowl for rings, coins, or the key to the beach shed. An unnecessary bit of sand dollar loveliness from Simon Pearce via Jung Lee NY.

Paper weights can be hum drum and serious, but this one would make me happy everyday! Hello Sunshine from the Museum of Art and Design.

Paper weights can be hum drum and serious, but this one would make me happy everyday! Hello Sunshine from the Museum of Art and Design.

Need more inspiration and ideas? Check out my pinterest boards plus this.