7 hostess gifts to keep your invitations coming

An invite to friend or family's summer home for a weekend or meal is one of life's simple and most luxurious experiences. In all cases, a gift of thanks is a necessary display of gratitude and the best guarantee to get a repeat invite!


1. Alessi's blue parrot corkscrew conceals a practical party tool within a beautiful exterior. $54, conranusa.com
















2. Writing grocery lists just seems more fun when your pencils are black-tipped, faux shagreen-wrapped and lined up in a matching look-at-me case. $27/set of six, Dransfield & Ross





















3. Perfect for entertaining, one end of these clever little guys has four pointed tines, ideal for spearing an olive; the other end is a spoon. $9/set of four, Branch Living.



















4. Recycled logo-printed iron sheet lanterns allow you to have warm, unplugged light anywhere you want. $14.95, CB2























5. The rainy-day blues will be chased away instantly when this Gerbera daisy umbrella pops open. $25, Brown's on Fifth





















6. Global Table's sea urchin trays provide an undeniably glamorous way to ferry cocktails out to the patio or to corral objects on a coffee table or bureau. $42/set of 3, Global Table
















7. The Proust Questionnaire is guaranteed cocktail party fun: The book supplies pages of questionnaires to pass among  guests in a Facebook-style (but way more old school) party game; participants fill in their favorite poets, writers, painters and composers, as well as fears, embarrassing moments, etc. Compare your own answers with Proust's, included (in his own handwriting, even). $34, Assouline









Related links on Shine:
For more ways to be a good guest, read Domino's post with tips from expert hostess Kathryn M. Ireland.
And if you're planning to bring flowers, at least pick a bunch that will live for more than a day; learn about cut-flower life spans here.