I love the wooden coasters, but buying something for the home is so personal that I wouldn't want to get it wrong. Wine is obviously a safe bet - everyone loves a crisp white pinot grigio, or a gorgeous sparkling chardonnay pinot noir, which in my opinion is nicer than champagne (and just so happens to be cheaper!) - prosecco, too.

Food gifts will always be appropriate - I recently received some gorgeous fig vinegar for my birthday, as well as some flavoured honeys (which I blogged about here, and they are lovely - http://homefluffyhome.blog.com/2012/10/29/hello-world )

I'll start a petition that one group secedes from the other! The pro-token party will be armed with pretty, hand-forged cheese knives but the pro-consumable party will be too drunk to care.

I know it's boring and maybe unoriginal at this point but I always appreciate a bottle of wine b/c I really like trying out new wines and when a guest brings ones, you can find one that they like or inadvertently discover a new brand.
Though I do like those coasters!

I'd welcome the tea towel and coasters anytime but I don't know how I feel about host gifts. We have friends we see quite frequently - I wouldn't want them to feel like they need to bring a gift.

I am in the, "please don't bring me anything, I invited you because I want to see you" group. I do not like wine. I agree that household items are personal, unless you know the person very well and know something small they have been wanting, they will just feel obligated to use or display something they do not want in order to not offend your feelings. I feel badly if I let food go to waste, but I don't enjoy snacking. I know, I am weird and so many people appreciate a nice gift...but I don't understand why it seems that people are trying to make hostess gifts a requirement.

Can Maryland please get with the times and allow the sale of alcohol in grocery stores and Target? (Not that I need help spending any more money at Target.)

Can Maryland please get with the times and allow the sale of alcohol in grocery stores and Target? (Not that I need help spending any more money at Target.)

I take wine, dessert, or a small bouquet of flowers, depending on what's appropriate for the host/day/time of day/event. I feel like buying household items is a little more permanent, somehow. Like, "Hey, every time you see this towel, you can remember the time that I brought you a present just because you invited me for dinner." If that's the relationship you have with your hostess, that's awesome. But it'd be a bit out of place for the kind of invitations I receive. :)

while that key chain is cute, it's a really weird host gift!

I absolutely love the succulents from Waterstone Succulents (on Etsy). I originally ordered 2 of them for myself but last week I ordered 3 more to give to as gifts. They come in all different colors (both the succulent and the planter). Truly unique.

I was surprised last year when the Hostess Gift post sparked such a heated debate. I didn't realize it was such an issue.

I think it's nice when a host or hostess says they don't want a gift but as a practice, i think you should bring something every time you go to someone's house. It doesn't have to be extravagant.

If it's a good friend where you go a lot it should be easy to bring something they like to eat or drink. If it's someone you don't know well then a bottle of wine is neutral enough that it should be appreciated even if the receiver is sober.

Even if a hostess tells you not to bring anything it's still gauche to show up empty handed.

I'm on the side of only bringing perishables, but I have to say that most of these gifts are very nice, and I wouldn't mind getting them! Still though, to be on the safe side, I will always bring a bottle of wine or a small plant. Also that fox keychain is random.

Host gifts are not necessary every time you are invited over to someone's home, but for special occasions, you want to consider it. Wine or some kind of foodstuff if you don't know them like you know family. Otherwise, put some thought into it!

I second the YOU CAN BUY WINE AT TARGET??!! sentiments...... :-) and agree that bringing a token bottle is the least you can do. It also is how I know I'll always have a bottle or two on hand!

Please don't bring me anything I have to dust or find a place for. I'm developing a new philosophy: If someone brings me a gift I wouldn't have bought for myself, I take it straight to a charity shop the next time I get in the car. If you look around my place for the last gift you got me and you don't see it, feel free to stop spending money on such things.
Please bring anything delicious. You know how much I love chocolate.

Wine at Target, sure. I'm in a very conservative state but the (small town ) grocery store has a sign that says 'We're sorry, but we can't sell alcohol before 6am'......and this includes Sunday (it used to be before noon). I guess I'd be on the 'consumables' side. Then the hosts can use or toss without too much guilt.