Present dense

Written by Rachel Berman    Whenever I’m invited to one of my friend’s house-warming parties, I struggle with what to bring. A bottle of wine is the easy answer, but it doesn’t win any points for originality. My sister-in-law, one of the best gift-givers I know, solved my problem. When I moved into my latest digs, her present to me — a set of four bowls from Anthropologie — was so great, it’s become my new go-to.

I’ve always gone to Anthropologie for clothes, but since I’ve never been much of a cook or homemaker, I walked right past their home goods section. In the past few years though, I’ve tapped into my inner interior-decorator and am always there looking for great lamps, picture frames, pillows, jewelry boxes, and even knobs to put on my furniture. If you cook (or know someone who does!), check out the adorable measuring cups, aprons, and timers. Even if you’re not a whiz in the kitchen, it’s nice to eat takeout on real plates and bowls. The bowls I have are from the Butterfly Study collection. They have beautifully delicate butterflies and flowers on them, are easy to clean, and happen to be the perfect size for my morning cereal or yogurt. I plan to buy the mugs and plates to finish the set — maybe I’ll even learn to cook so I can fill them with homemade food!

Tanya’s Tip: For a thoughtful gift, buy a gorgeous picture frame (I like the Arrondisement Frames, $28-$36, anthropologie.com). Then put in a photo of you and your friend. Done and done!

(Butterfly Study bowls, $48 for set of 4, anthropologie.com)