Crab Their Attention

Where did we stash those beach towels, and has anyone seen the sun hats? We’ve never been so excited to purchase a tube of sunscreen. While vacation may be weeks away, it’s a welcome change to think of traveling, gathering, and staying someplace other than home. We are ready to set sail, and gifts that encourage a free spirit are riding a wave of popularity.

How do you inspire guests, colleagues, and clients to feel the wind at their back, share the excitement of exploring new destinations, or celebrate the thrill of charting a different course? To create the right gift, there’s more than one way to crab their attention. For those who find joy on the shorelines and calm with every lap of the waves, we can relate. There’s no need to go overboard in design; a simple reminder of the leisurely pace of the shorelines will do.

If the water’s edge is a favorite place to relax, anchor your gifts with a nautical flair. Choose colorful cups, handwoven towels in blue, or a vivid blend of red and white. Include the scent of an ocean breeze or the calm of a Sunday sunrise over the surf. Add a seashell or colorful trinket (we found these anchors at a little shop on the Eastern Shore) as a fun accent. For those who enjoy the Chesapeake, the taste of Old Bay seasoning in Mouth Party’s Chesapeake caramels is always a big hit. The unique flavor brings sweetness with a hint of spice in each bite. For a personal touch, tuck in your favorite crab dip recipe, or put crab cakes on the menu with a recipe printed on a kitchen towel. To finish, bright ribbons of yellow and white or regal blue complete the wrapping.

As you look ahead to welcoming summer guests, hosting team outings, and sending client thank you gifts, a nod to beloved destinations can make a big splash.

Ready for a Road Trip?

If the weeks ahead call for travel plans with family, get ready to pack your bags and bring the comforts of home into any guest room. It all starts with tucking your trusted go-to favorites into your bag. Like a modern-day Snoopy blanket, keep yourself cozy and calm while you’re on the road.

We’ve pulled together some of our personal favorites to help get you started:

Pack small flannel or cotton drawstring bags to keep things safe, and organized. Soft and flexible, these bags allow you to group similar items together so they’re easy to find and remove as needed. We use some for artisan pieces and others for a quick shoe change when we’re on-the-go.

Are you trying to balance a beverage while packing the luggage, digging for snacks, or petting the dog who’s along for the ride? If you’re like us, there’s bound to be a spill or two along the way. PIck a cheerful cotton hand towel, in a fun graphic or colorful print, for an easy clean and wash. (And for those of us who can hear a pin drop a mile away, these are also handy to fold between items and eliminate pesky rattles coming from the back of the car.)

Whether you’re on or off the trail, clip a bell onto your carry bag or backpack for a subtle jingle as you move about your journey. The sound of a jingle brings a smile and a reminder that jolly is good no matter what the season.

Stash away a few books and magazines (remember those?) for when the screens get tiresome and you want to turn real pages for inspiration. Matthew McConaughey’s book, Greenlights, described as “outlaw wisdom,” is out if you enjoy personal stories, or I Am Every Good Thing, for the young reader, encouraging us to look for the superheroes in our midst.

Warm up the evening with a sip of spirits to share. You’ll be the hit of the evening when you pull a stylish flask from your bag. We know travelers who like to make sure their preferred evening sipper is close at hand at the end of the day when the fireplace starts to roar.

Raise a glass to the host with a surprise just for them. Bring along a little something to say thanks. Wrap up a small cutting board engraved with their initials, tie a ribbon around coasters to set the mood for entertaining, insert a hand-woven tea towel into a ceramic mug to brighten their day, or give a hand-crafted tumbler and wood carved bottle opener. A thoughtful gift is always well received.

Be intentional about traveling with what makes you comfortable; favorite playlists, movies you’ve seen a hundred times and still love, things that are soft to the touch. And when it comes to bags, the feel of worn leather, chunky handles, zippered compartments, side pockets, it’s the small things that make the journey more fun. And filling the bags with your favorite treasures is the best part.