There’s a lot of trafficking in hostess gifts this year, mostly because more and
more people are using the uncertain economy as an excuse to entertain at home.
Game night, a candlelit al fresco dinner party, Sunday brunch, you name it —
hosts and hostesses are coming up with themes, menus, intriguing guest lists and
decor to make their friends and family feel special. Thoughtful guests do their
part by arriving with a trinket to express appreciation for all the effort the
hosts have undertaken to ensure that everyone has a grand time. The ideal
hostess gift should be inexpensive enough not to embarrass the host and it
should be elegantly packaged so that it looks as festive as the party. Some
people run out and buy a hostess gift just days before the special event; others
amass a stockpile of lovely treasures that they purchase regularly and squirrel
away for the right time and place. Either method of accumulating works, as there
are no rules for how and where to buy. But, there are a few guidelines that will
make your hostess gift well received.
FLOWER POWER
A popular option for flower-giving is to put three blooming baby orchid plants
in a rustic basket and hand them to your hostess. Small pots of commonly used
kitchen herbs (basil, rosemary, cilantro, chives) are a reliable choice, too.
Your hostess can set them on the kitchen counter and use them daily.
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