<table> </table> E very time I drive past my neighbor&#8217;s house, I feel a pang of guilt.</p><p>Back when the moving van pulled up, I was brimming with good intentions, eager to select just the right little gift that would tell them how happy we were to have them in the neighborhood.</p><p>A few weeks went by, then a few months and before I knew it, so much time had lapsed that the new neighbors had become old-timers.</p><p>Now their house serves as a powerful reminder for me to never miss a moment when I can surprise someone with a special gift. To keep my new resolution, I&#8217;m going to plan ahead and keep some gifts on hand I can pull out in a pinch.</p><p>If you want to do the same, here are some simple and inexpensive no-fail presents you can use as hostess, housewarming or thank-you gifts.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Petite bouquets in beautiful dishes</span></strong></p><p>I know I&#8217;m a dish-aholic &#8212; I think dishes are the answer to all of life&#8217;s biggest questions. But seriously, a beautiful silver creamer, glass bud vase or ceramic pitcher filled with a sweet bouquet of fresh flowers makes the perfect housewarming gift.</p><p>I was wild about a simple gift I received from a friend: a gilded antique wine glass cradling a solitary rose bud, the stem cut so low that the bloom almost floated.</p><p>I was so crazy about this look that I&#8217;ve copied it hundreds of times. Whenever I have company, I pull out that wine glass, dress it with a tightly pruned rose and use it to brighten my powder room.</p><p>Next time you&#8217;re browsing through a home-decor shop, an antique mall or a flea market, be on the prowl for perfect little pieces you can use as vases.</p><p>How about a sugar dish that has lost its lid, an unusual vase or a small gravy boat? Don&#8217;t worry if you don&#8217;t have a clue about the recipient&#8217;s tastes, because these happy bouquets look perfect in anyone&#8217;s home, whether perched on a windowsill, standing atop a stack of books on a desk or showcased on a bed stand.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">A journal</span></strong></p><p>I love the possibilities presented in a gorgeous blank book, with page after snowy page just waiting to be filled.</p><p>How about giving your new neighbor or friend a journal she can fill with family memories, an account of her latest travels, a sketch of her new garden design, decorating projects she wants to tackle, addresses or personal thoughts. The sky&#8217;s the limit!</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Tasty treats</span></strong></p><p>There&#8217;s nothing like taking new neighbors a home-cooked meal or yummy goodies on their first night in their new house, when their dishes and cooking supplies are still packed away.</p><p>Since I can&#8217;t cook worth a lick, I&#8217;ve had to come up with variations on this home-cooked theme, opting instead for carryout delicacies from a local restaurant.</p><p>If you don&#8217;t want to do dinner, how about filling an inexpensive ice bucket with ice, fresh strawberries and a bottle of sparkling wine?</p><p>Or pick out a unique wooden box and stock it full of candy from a local shop.</p><p>Find a cute picnic basket and fill it with scones, jam and coffee for breakfast, or artisan bread, imported cheese and salami for lunch.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Survival bucket</span></strong></p><p>How about putting together a treasure chest of little gifts to surprise your new neighbors or friends? How about a galvanized pail packed full of home fix-it fare, like a picture-hanging kit, a hammer, an extension cord, wood glue and a tape measure?</p><p>If your new neighbors have young kids, put together a playful plastic pail filled with activities that will keep the little guys busy while Mom and Dad unpack, such as a coloring book and crayons, bubbles, sidewalk chalk and a jump rope.</p><p>If your neighbors are new to the area, fill a basket with brochures and cards from your favorite restaurants, shops, historical sites and parks, then add a city map they can use as they explore.