We are looking forward to a visit from some of my family members this weekend, so I have been running errands on lunch breaks to prepare to host! Obviously, there are several items you should have on hand when family or other guests come in town. Here are the five things that I consider essential in entertaining:
A Place to Sleep - Whether you have a separate guest room, a couch, an air mattress, a kid's bed, or a floor for your visitors, it is so nice to be able to offer some cozy bedding without breaking the bank. We actually bought these sheets when we upsized our bed, intending to keep them only as a placeholder until we bought "better sheets," but we love them! They are oh so soft and shockingly affordable, and they have held up beautifully over the last year. If you want to go above and beyond, supply a sound machine to drown out your infant's middle of the night wake-ups and keep your guests snoozing.
Wine - Have something on hand to quench the thirst of those parched travelers! For us, that involves a trip to Trader Joe's to peruse their expansive display of delicious and budget-friendly wine offerings. And then stock up on snacks and flowers too!
Makeup Washcloths - If you have ever realized with horror that you smeared your mascara all over your host's nice white washcloths, then you know that providing dedicated makeup washcloths can minimize the stress for your own guests and you! You can avoid the extra laundry time treating makeup stains and your guests can clean their faces without worry. Win-win. There are more expensive options out there, but the ones we have are soft and affordable!
A Guest Book - Seriously though, do you want to bring your hosting game to the next level? Guest book. Boom. This one is dreamy with quotes throughout and empty pages for notes from your visitors...hopefully they leave you good reviews.
A Great Playlist - Music relaxes people and livens up any gathering! I like to start our Google Home with some Dean Martin and it takes over picking other fabulous Rat Pack hits. Van Morrison steps the party up a bit, or throw on some classics like the Beatles or Elton John. Patrick handles the country music selections. Weekend mornings do well with Mulligan Brothers, Beach Boys, Disney (because, kids)...the world is your musical oyster! Just don't forget the tunes!
That's it for this first installment of the Friday Five! Happy Hosting!
Comments