While personal preference varies, I myself like how the French do it: they pretty much always bring something for the host regardless of the size of the gathering. Flowers and wine are always good options, but there are many reasonably priced, useful alternatives. Most of the gift included here are between $10 and $20. Additionally, while a few suggestions are seasonal, nothing puts too heavy an emphasis on the "holiday" timing...because you want to give something that will be used more than one month of the year.
TOP ROW
1. Lemons tea towel by Dear Colleen at To Dry For, £10 (about $15)
2. 3-pack of pocket calendars by Sandra Juto, $8 (You could spread these out to make a small, individual gift that could accompany a bottle of wine, et cetera.)
3. Set of 8 organic shea butter soaps by Lucia, $17.95
4. State cutting boards by AHeirloom, $40
5. Annual Vol. 4 Weekly Planner by Little Otsu, $18
SECOND ROW
6. Alyson Fox for Ink Dish mug gift set from Velocity Art and Design, $25 (for 2)
7. Ornament coasters by Rock Paper Scissors, $8.50 (for a set of 12)
8. Mermaid bottle opener from Fishs Eddy, $14.95 (She could be a good gift from the discerning bringer of a 6-pack.)
9. Soapstone whiskey rocks from Teroforma, $20 (for set of 9)
10. Lumiimarja paper napkins by Marimekko at FinnStyle, $5.95 (lunch size) or $9.50 (dinner size)
THIRD ROW
11. Sweater weather candles from Anthropologie, $18
12. Lumimarja oven mitt by Marimekko, $19
13. Lantern salt and pepper shakers by Jonathan Adler, $48
14. 2011 desk calendar by Snow & Graham, $16
15. Chevron 4"x6" picture frames at Burke Decor, $32
BOTTOM ROW
16. Flourish coasters by Thomas Paul, from Burke Decor, $16 (for a set of 4)
17. Ice Invaders tray by Fred and Friends, $6.44
18. Chicken timer by Pylones, $10
19. Beeswax pine cone candles by PeaceBlossomCandles, $10 (for a set of 4)
20. Donation of a flock of chicks through Heifer International, $20
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Tasteful soaps or hand lotion always come in handy!
I think giving a charitable donation as a hostess gift would come across as very heavy handed and self-righteous. On a holiday, birthday, anniversary or any other present-giving occasion a donation is great. But as a hostess gift? And an example of a French tradition?
"Mon ami, merci beaucoup for hosting a lovely dinner party! Instead of giving you un petit seasonal bouquet, I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you of all the poor people in the world and what a Good Person I am!"
Sorry, that's pure American earnest stupidity.
I love Dear Colleen products!
There has got to be a way for you to modify the layout of the page so that readers don't have to scroll up & down each time they want to compare a photo to it's caption. :/
Personally, I'd like to get a donation gift - but, only if I'd mentioned the charity/cause before (thoughtful thoughtfulness?)...or if it comes coupled with another present (selfish?). ;)
Personally I would find someone giving a donation as a gift to me as wrong. They should WANT to give a donation, not feel the need to for a present for someone else.
I also think "giving" someone a donation in their name is a strange thing. Who says I want a donation given to such-and-such charity in my name? Also, how do you present that to the "receiver"? It does come off as rather self-righteous, in my view.
But then, gift-giving is about thinking of the receiver - so I suppose it depends on the person!