<p>This is a ‘different’ Christmas for us…Friends invited the 2 of us for dinner since we won’t have any family with us. It’s a lovely gesture which is much appreciated. I’d like to acknowledge it accordingly with a hostess gift. I offered to bring a dish for the meal, but she indicated that she wanted to do the cooking, just wanted us to come and enjoy. </p>
<p>A bottle of wine doesn’t really seem to be enough/adequate. I thought about sending her flowers, but I’m concerned they’ve become outdated. I remember my mother would send flowers the day before the ‘event’ so the hostess would have them for the party/dinner. Is that still appropriate or should I send them afterward?</p>
<p>Ideas?</p>
<p>Nice bottle of champagne festively wrapped, high end chocolate platter or platter of christmas cookies. Maybe she would appreciate someone bringing the dessert course, so you could do some pumpkin pies or pecan pies.</p>
<p>Someone once brought me a wooden box full of a variety of english tea bags for a hostess gift. It was really one of the most practical hostess gift I have ever received. When I have guests and they prefer tea to coffee, I now can let them make a choice from this beautiful box. I have seen them in the tea shops so they are available. </p>
<p>I always love flowers but agree some people are fussy about this sort of gift. I never bring a centerpiece since many hostesses want to pick this out themselves to match their “tabletop”. I have brought a vase of flowers suitable for a kitchen counter or den/living room. I am always careful to bring the flowers already arranged in the vase so the hostess doesn’t have to go to that trouble while she is entertaining.</p>