Sometimes it’s the little things that mean so much. Like inventive hostess gifts brought to the party held by your stylish friends, or the gifts you bring to the family or friends that have you in their home over the holidays. Just saying thanks isn’t necessarily enough.

Absolutely Delicious

Bring the Dessert

Kiss My Bundt has been voted best cupcakes in LA (that’s how good they are –that they beat cupcakes). Skip the cupcakes and go one step trendier with a bundt cake. Large Cakes (Big Ol Bundt) is $32. Price for 2-day shipping option is approx $18. So, you’re looking at about $40 to get a Big Ol Bundt shipped, www.kissmybundt.net

25 layer crepe cake for $50 from www.charlestoncrepecompany.com

Breakfast Success

How many times can I say YUM? Three bread trio includes Pumpkin bread, White chocolate caramel walnut and classic Banana bread. It seems Oprah is a fan. Bread Trio for $28 from www.hannahbananabread.com

Bringing a bottle of wine? Choose a $40 wine and cheese pairing from www.pastoralartisan.com

Gift cards- While cheese platters and wine are great hostess gifts according to a recent survey, 79% of shoppers plan to buy a gift card.

Give a Williams-Sonoma gift card and pair it with whimsical holiday cookie cutters, a sweet apron, the cookies and add in a recipe card of your favorite baked sweet. Snowflake Cookie Cutters, $12.50, Gingerbread Apron, $18

It seems almost impossible to get together during the holidays so make a date in 2010. Give an American Express gift card for $25 or $50 to treat your friend to a day out or gift a restaurant card like Cheesecake Factory and give it with a 2010 calendar journal with dates already marked letting her know that you are ready and willing to party.
Calendar Journals, $16

For The Home

A sleek and stylish way to serve up some chips and dips. And now the hostess doesn’t have to fuss in the kitchen to give you sishes to serve up the snacks. Ceramic servers are oven and microwave safe for reheating and dishwasher safe. B. Smith Chip and Dip 3-Piece Serving Set. Available at www.bedbathandbeyond, $29.99

Porcelain salt & pepper wells for $24, www.globaltable.com
Fancy salt and peppers like Himalayan pink salt and Des Moines pepper, $9-$14 from www.cubemarketplace.com

Picnic Time cheese boards from $25 to $35 from www.kohls.com

Bring along the acoutrements for your hostess’ favorite drink. All she needs to create the perfect martini. Cocktail shaker, $15; two glasses, $6; apple martini, $3; olives, $3, cocktail book, $8 -Total $35 all available at TJ Maxx

Personalized linen cocktail napkins, set of 6 for $20 from www.wisteria.com

Dress a table in winter whimsy. Nordic embroidered napkins, set of 4 for $30.60 from www.wisteria.com

Personalize It

We all seem to forget the personal touch of a handwritten card and when we do we usually don’t have any cards in the house. Instead of writing your hostess a thank you note, give her personal thank you notes as a gift. Set of 15 for $35-36 from www.minted.com.

Give your stylish hostess a new pair of silver earrings to wear to her next invite. And package them in a pretty ceramic catchall that can hold other small jewelry or a chic, inexpensive clutch.

Silver earrings, all $25 each from Sam’s Club
Butterfly and dragonfly mini jewelry catchall, $16 each at Anthropologie
Pink blush clutch, $13 from Charlotte Russe

Lambie robe for $49.50 from www.bathandbodyworks.com

Get all wrapped up. Give one to five different people or all five to your hostess. Five big, soft scarves for $29 from www.wisteria.com

This is a game they can tote along on all their travels. A leather travel backgammon set that comes in three color variations and top it with an elegant gold monogram stamp. Travel backgammon $50 from www.mrsmonogram.com

For the family or friends that just adopted a dog, or just the ones that treat their pooches like kids, treat the dogs to tres cool toys and the hostess to rocking T-shirts to express her love. Your gift makes a donation to The Rescue Train, an animal rescue organization.
Jax and Bones dog toys for $14, www.jaxandbones.com
Cuter to Neuter, Puppies Rock, Mutt Lover T-Shirts, $20-$35, available at www.therescuetrain.org