As you may have read in a previous post, I am a Costco Junkie.  I am lucky to have a store only ten minutes away and am able to go weekly for my Costco fix.  They have great produce, meat and other groceries that we buy on a weekly basis.

Their wine department is fun to scope out and they offer an additional discount if you buy a case (as most stores do).

Christmas Shopping – Costco Holiday Gift Guide 2014

Ah, but buying Costco Holiday Gifts is a whole different ballgame.  By mid-November I like to walk the aisles and see what’s new for the holiday season.

Before you read any further, I have to apologize for the photography.  Between the bright overhead lights and my iPhone camera, I was doomed to have poor quality photos.  Nonetheless, these suggestions are worth the trip to your local Costco.

Costco Holiday Gift Guide – Suggestions for the Host/Hostess

It’s party season and time to stock up on some hostess gifts.  I thought these Belgian Chocolates in the shapes of mini donuts were adorable.

If you are not into Belgium sweets, how about French?  French macaroons have been popular for years.  I found these in an end cap display in the refrigerated section near the cheeses.

If you are serving them at your own party, make sure to bring to room temperature for better flavor.

Costco has done all the work for you by making these delicious white and dark chocolate peppermint bark.

All you need to do is transfer them to a pretty tin, glass jar or gift box.  Even cellophane gift bags would do.  Add a pretty ribbon and you have a pretty and delicious hostess gift.  These are large portions so you can get several gifts out of one box!

Red Pointsettias Offer Great Color!

Costco takes the prize for the jumbo Poinsettias.  They are only $15.99.  They make a great hostess gift but you will want to also grab one for yourself!  I love transferring them to my ceramic pots and they will keep for months.  After Valentine’s day, I’ll be ready for a different plant.

Costco Holiday Gift Guide 2014- For the Ladies

An elegant mesh cocktail evening clutch for only $19.99!  I love the simple style and also like that it has a chain shoulder strap that you can tuck into the purse.  It comes in platinum and black.

Costco’s “Hottest” Gifts

Words cannot express how much I love my Sunbeam Heated Mattress Pad.  We pre-heat the mattress pad while we are getting ready for bed.  By the time I have washed my face and brushed my teeth, the bed is nice and toasty.  This is a great gift for anyone up north that hates to be cold.  I love to sleep in a colder room but want to be warm in bed when I first get in!

Somethings are just too hard to iron or not as convenient.  Every time I am in a store and watch a clerk steaming some clothes before hanging them on the display I think “I need one of those”.  This Conair one is nice and compact and only $27.99.

Costco Holiday Gift Guide 2014 for the Fitness Enthusiasts

I use a Bosu at my gym and love it.  You can do all sorts of exercises on it and its great for promoting balance.  This is a great gift for any fitness enthusiast on your list who likes to work out at home. It’s available for $99.99.

Everyone seems to be counting their steps these days.  If you have someone who would like this type of motivation to get healthy, the FitBit is a popular fitness tool.  It’s $97.99 at Costco.

Costco Techie Gifts

We have all been there where we have either talked too much, taken too many photos or responded to too many emails and our mobile device ran out of juice.  Everyone has a mobile phone or tablet these days so this Portable Power Bank at $29.99 would be a welcome gift.  Take it out of the package and you have a great stocking stuffer.

Speaking of mobile devices, this Sony portable bluetooth speaker for $99.99 is a great gift for anyone that likes to listen to music or podcasts.  I don’t think you can go wrong with a Sony product for good sound.

Costco’s 2014 Holiday Gifts for the Cooks

I had been intrigued with pressure cooking for years but was always afraid to try the kind that you use on the stove.  I had visions of them exploding with food going all over the ceiling.  Several years ago I came across this electric Cuisinart Pressure Cooker ($69) at Costco and loved it from the get go!

For me, an electric pressure cooker was the answer!  Meat comes out so tender and moist and unbelievably fast!  I’ll post more about pressure cooking later but this is one of my favorite kitchen gadgets.

Costco 2014 Holiday Cookbook Selection

For the foodies in your life you can’t go wrong with a good cookbook and Costco’s prices can’t be beat.  Ina Garten’s cookbooks are always at the top of my list.  I am not a fan of hers personally  – – my friend and I met her at a book signing and she was extremely rude.  But I can put my personal feelings aside and highly recommend her book.  I have every cookbook of hers and have made a lot of  great recipes from every one of them.  I just bought this one and can’t wait to dig into it.

Make it Ahead | Ina Garten  $19.99

I’m sure you have seen Mark Bittman on the Today Show.  He is famous for his How to Cook Everything Cookbook which I also have (I’m not only a Costco Junkie but also a Cookbook Junkie).  It’s a nice reference book.  This version of getting food on the table fast would be a great gift for anyone since we all seem to get busier every year.

How to Cook Everything Fast | Mark Bittman, $21.99

For the Gourmet in your life, I have read great things about this cookbook but have not read it and it was sealed with cellophane in the store so I couldn’t preview it.  It may be too gourmet for me but you may have someone who would appreciate it.  It’s highly discounted compared to the specialty shops where I have seen it on display.

The French Laundry Cookbook | Thomas Keller, $29.99

I have always enjoyed Cook’s Illustrated and America’s Test Kitchen.  Their recipes are detailed and they explain the hows and whys in lay terms.  The prices on these books are at great discounts.

Meat Book | Cook’s Illustrated, $24.99

The Make Ahead Cookbook | America’s Test Kitchen, $16.99

The New Family Cookbook | America’s Test Kitchen, $24.99

Cooking School Cookbook | America’s Test Kitchen, $26.99

The Complete America’s Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook $26.99 

 

What great finds have you found at Costco?  Please share in the comments below.  Happy shopping!