Photo by: ThinkstockBy Stephanie Emma Pfeffer
It's easy to assume you're the perfect holiday party guest: You arrive with a smile, watch your alcohol intake and stay far away from the mistletoe. But sometimes your words and actions can irk the host-or other partygoers-without you knowing it. Take small talk, for example. You may think mentioning your upcoming vacation is just conversation, but the topic may rub a fellow reveler the wrong way if she's out of work, says Marley Majcher, owner of The Party Goddess in Los Angeles, CA. "Before sharing your own good fortune, get a read on where the other person is in life," she says. "Listen first and run your mouth later." Below, experts share other common faux pas. Photo by Thinkstock.
1. Arriving without a hostess gift.
Never show up to a house party empty-handed, even if the hostess says you don't have to bring anything, says national etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, owner of The Protocol School of Texas. "Present her with a small, unwrapped token







