LW2: A couple of things: first, it's tacky to throw a party for yourself. Second, it's also tacky to mention gifts at all, even to mention "no gifts." People don't usually comply, as you noticed, because they're afraid that other people will bring gifts anyway and don't want to look bad by being the only one who doesn't. Third, what the heck kind of friends do you have that they would bring you armloads of squash???