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Step 1
Brainstorm everything you know about the hostess to help come up with an appropriate gift. For example, if you know she is a gardener, bring her a small plant or some colorful gardening gloves. For the proud grandmother, consider an attractive picture frame. For a dessert lover, a box of specialty chocolates will be appreciated. And if you have never met the party hostess, a safe bet is a small bouquet of white flowers (so as to not conflict with the color scheme of the party).
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Step 2
Consider the occasion in order to help you choose an appropriate hostess gift. For example, if the party is a Mexican fiesta, you might want to bring a jar of unusual salsa. For a Halloween party, an amusing toy or decoration, such as a dancing pumpkin, is always fun. A perfect hostess gift for a New Year's Eve party is an attractive calendar for the new year.
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Step 3
Consider asking if there is something you can bring; if a hostess makes a suggestion, then your gift dilemma can be easily solved. For example, if the hostess asks you to furnish a salad, you might bring it in a colorful plastic bowl, which the hostess can keep. Similarly, if you are asked to bring a dessert, bring it on a tray that will serve as your gift. A request to borrow an extra deck of cards or some serving pieces can give you the perfect gift to purchase, since you know these are something the hostess needs.
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Step 4
Avoid overspending on a hostess gift. The hostess gift simply represents your appreciation to the hostess for her invitations and typically is a small expression of your thanks. While an attractive candle is appropriate, a silver candlestick is not. Gourmet food items, such as dried fruits and jars of preserves, are inexpensive possibilities. Homemade baked goods, not meant to be served at the party but to be enjoyed by the hostess later, are an appropriate hostess gift.
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Step 5
Place the hostess gift inside a gift bag so that if the hostess wants to take a peek inside, it will be easy for her to do so. Attach a card securely to the gift so that you don't have to necessarily make a production of presenting it; you might just want to leave it in another room for the hostess to find after the party. However, if the gift is something meant to be used at the party, you might want to announce what it is: "Here's some mixed nuts I thought you might like to serve while we play cards."
