I still love flowers. If some brings a bouquet I am instantly elated. And if your host does not have

To pull together our ultimate gift guides this year, we're asking the experts: YOU! We want to know what gets your party-throwing heart beating with excitement, so tell us: what do you wish to unwrap? From champagne flutes to nut crackers, we'll use your tasty responses to get together a (guest) list of gifts you'd actually love to get.
Some nice folding down town disney hotels chairs. down town disney hotels I live in a studio and don't have space for a ton of seating for day to day living, but would love some cute, comfortable folding chairs to be able to pull out when I have guests over for a party.
Nothing. I just want my guests to come and have fun and I don't want anything at all except their company. If they insist, a bottle of wine is nice, but truly not necessary. I really think the gift giving is overdone these days.
No gifts, please! I'm trying to keep my small place clutter-free, and your need to bring me "something" doesn't help. Or, bring a simple appetizer or cheese and crackers, something edible that I won't have to keep forever or explain down town disney hotels the absence of next time you're over.
I agree with all of the above: it's not necessary to bring anything, wine or champagne is always good, but a thank you note is best!. As much as I'd like anything home baked, if it needs to be consumed within hours I'd like to be notified (to avoid ending up with two cakes, for example). Something home made that could be stored, down town disney hotels like chutney or jam, would be perfect. Actually, anything that I could keep 'till after the holidays is appreciated. A great book, bath oil, candles, or flower bulbs for spring! Why not?
First and foremost, down town disney hotels I feel like the visit from my guests is gift enough, but I do very much appreciate bottles of wine and classic spirits (not the weird trendy stuff). I do not have a sweet tooth and my husband has become down town disney hotels very health conscious, so either we serve any sweets or baked goods on the spot, or we re-gift them. Sweets are a perennial hostess gift, but honestly I don't like receiving them at all.
Mostly I appreciate gifts that were selected with my husband and me in mind -- memorable hostess gifts from the last couple of years have been pocket sized scrabble dictionary, appetizer forks, dog treats, peppermint scented foaming hand soap for the kitchen sink, caramel champagne, and some smoked cheese. I don't want my guests to feel obligated to bring gifts, down town disney hotels and that sense of obligation is transparent down town disney hotels when a gift is something like candles, potpourri, mini photo frames, oddly flavored popcorn or hot cocoa mix, etc.
A nice fat butternut squash or acorn squash (autumn of course), a basket of berries (summer), or some farm-fresh eggs (the real deal!), fresh herbs like basil, thyme, rosemary, and my very favorite: down town disney hotels garden tomatoes, especially cherry toms
I still love flowers. If some brings a bouquet I am instantly elated. And if your host does not have a proper vase, there is always some vessel on hand that will hold a bundle of blooms. down town disney hotels My most favorite flower arrangement at the recent funeral of a dear friend was three gorgeous white roses tucked into a slender bud vase.
I don't need anything at all, but if you feel like you simply MUST bring something, bring a small side dish (for dinner) down town disney hotels or appetizer that YOU like to eat (for a party). Something that goes away at the end of the event, and that will contribute...
Food is no different. Unless I ask you to bring a specific dish... I generally don't want you to bring food. Not because your food sucks (although…), but because it might not mesh well with my theme (theme is everything people!). Plus you might take away my end of night, food coma induced praise… and that's my life essence!!! Do you want to kill me?
No gifts please. Thank you notes are GREAT. However, if you feel obligated for some strange reason, bring wine, flowers, candles, down town disney hotels food - there is a reason the old stand bys are still around. Oh, and dog treats :-) And I also like it when you bring music you love. If I don't love it, it will still let me get to know you better and therefore is appreciated.
Nice oil - organic down town disney hotels olive from Spain or Italy- really old vinager, exotic and deliciuos pepper, surprising chutney - bref, any kind on delicatessen i long for but dont indulge in. And if you have kid, a piece of art from them specially done for me, that's the best.
I'm with Griffin - an invite down town disney hotels to your place. We host a lot because we enjoy it, but it's weird if someone down town disney hotels has been to your place a ton of times and you've down town disney hotels never been to theirs or they haven't invited you out to dinner.
Otherwise, no stuff. Actually it strikes me as being very 1950s or Southern or something. Wine is nice and a text of "I'm going by the store on the way if you need me to grab anything" has at times been a godsend. Sometimes you just forget something.
Of COURSE your presence down town disney hotels is a present, but if you're asking...those macarons made me click on this post before I even saw what the topic was. Any splurgy, indulgent treat--overpriced pastries, fancy chocolate in a fancy box, flowers, frivolous tea towels, even some perfectly ripe tropical fruit--meets my ideal definition of "gift." As much as a $50 gift card to Home Depot would be practical, it doesn't really say "Here's something you'd never get for yourself--enjoy!" Of course, down town disney hotels that's just me--and having a good friend know that the rose-and-lavender scented tea biscuits are just the right thing for me is a present in itself, so as much as I wouldn't get the same thrill from it, I am happy to give the right recipient that Home Depot gift card if that's what she really wants...
Agreed with many who've posted that I don't expect a hostess gift for a party—I appreciate a bottle of wine, but there's always down town disney hotels so much booze hanging around after a party that it's faintly irrelevant. The only time I guess I actually do think gift-giving is expected is for a houseguest. I always bring a present when I stay with someone else (usually something that's generally handy from a store I like in Brooklyn or wherever else I'm coming from—soap, down town disney hotels dishtowels, a candle, or whatever) and do sort of expect friends coming to stay to pick up a dinner or bring a bottle of wine or something. down town disney hotels But please, no non-consumables!
We usually ask guests who want to bring something for red wine if they prefer it, since we only buy white wine for ourselves. An after-dinner liqueur, enough for all the guests to try out, would be a real treat. A dip, cheese, or crackers that you like. A special down town disney hotels tea or coffee is welcome. Cut flowers are great, especially if they are from your garden. down town disney hotels Do Not bring a live plant as I will kill it and feel guilty. No knick-knacks, as your taste might not match ours. A Christmas ornament would be an exception, because if we like it at all, it will remind us of you each year as we hang it. If we don't like it, we can always regift it. Unless you know us well, know our tastes and our needs, a kitchen gadget wouldn't be a good idea, as it might feel like you thought we weren't sufficiently equipped.
I'd rather just have a thank you note and a happy guest. I have food allergies, so edible gifts are hazardous, and I'm not a big fan of kitchen or home clutter down town disney hotels - I entertain a lot, so if I need it, I already have it.
If someone really wants to bring something, I'd prefer down town disney hotels they just ask if there is anything they can bring. I'd never say no to a nice cheese, a bottle of wine, or a nice loaf of bread if I was sure I could eat it safely.
I don't drink myself, but that's WHY I appreciate gifts of alcohol. Then I have something to serve my guests at the next party I throw. Just because I stopped drinking doesn't mean I'm against serving liquor in my home.
I love entertaining, and I feel like a gift or even just showing up looking dapper or gorgeous shows that you appreciate the effort down town disney hotels I put into the party. A thank you note or text is always very nice too. My friend once showed up to my party several hours early, unannounced, to help clean and make sure I was eating (I get nervous before I have company over). She also brought down town disney hotels wine, which helped me to relax.
Nothing is required, but if you wish to bring something consumables are best: wine, spirits, olives, cheese, jam, a nice candle in a fairly neutral scent (like vanilla), or some other special type of gourmet food the average down town disney hotels person down town disney hotels wouldn't splurge on for themselves.