With family and friends spread all over the country, it's not unusual for our spare bedroom to be occupied by a visiting traveller. While many people can find hosting guests to be stressful, I absolutely love sharing my home with loved ones. Here are a few things I do prior to my guests arrival to ensure a smooth, stress free visit.
Clean and Spruce
No one likes to stay in a pigsty. I do a deep clean the day before guests arrive: wash the sheets, hang fresh towels, clear out space in the refrigerator in case they bring their own food with them. Then I typically spruce the home up by placing fresh flowers throughout, especially in the guest room, to give our home a bed and breakfast feel.
Bake/Cook Some No-Fuss Food
If I have guests arriving, I take the pressure off of meal time by having quiche, zucchini bread, and other easily reheatable meals and snacks prepared and ready to eat. I also like to make sure to have a big jug of sweet tea in the fridge to ward off any thirst and bake some cookies to have on hand for my guests.
Make a Plan
I typically do a scan of our local weekly alternative paper to see what events are occuring while my guests are in town, in case they are interested in getting out and enjoying one of the many events our town is always hosting. Apps like eventbrite and facebook local are also useful in finding stuff to do in you vicinity. I try to leave the plan open so my guests have ample time to rest and do their own thing if desired.
Prepare a Guest Box
To ensure everyone is comfortable and their needs are taken care of, I like to keep a little box or tray with travel size toiletries and bath goods in the guestroom in case my guests forgot anything. I also like to include magazines and books of poetry for their leisurely perusal.