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Will you be entertaining this Christmas?
We host lunch at our home on Christmas Day, which has become one of my most favorite traditions – especially since having kids. We can open gifts at home and then welcome both sets of grandparents and other family members. It’s wonderful.
So as we approach the holidays, I’m all about preparing. Because the more I prepare ahead of time, the better everything runs, the less stressed I feel, and the more I can enjoy the holiday.
If you are preparing for guests too, here are a few of the steps I’m taking to get my home ready for guests.
Plan the food.
Look. It’s just not a holiday party if there isn’t great food. And that’s why I like to plan the menu well in advance. No last minute stress about a missing entree.
And I don’t feel like I have to do everything. If someone offers to bring a dish, I graciously accept. Because potlucks are fun. And less work for me. So then, I can enjoy the holiday instead of stressing in the kitchen.
For Christmas, we’re serving a smoked turkey and ham, rolls, mashed potatoes, veggies and dessert. (Some family members are bringing additional items.)
As I begin pulling recipes, I add the ingredients to my shopping list. (I will schedule a grocery pickup for Thursday, to beat some of the rush and be a little ahead of schedule.)
Plan out seating.
We don’t always have enough seating for all guests at the dining room table. So we have to get creative.
In addition to our dining table, we setup folding tables and chairs. And sometimes, we also resort to seating in the living room, which no one seems to mind. We’re all family here.
Coordinate dinnerware and serving ware.
Don’t wait until the day of the gathering to find your platters, dishes and silverware. Trust me, it never ends well.
To avoid the panic when you can’t find enough bowls and spoons, pull out everything beforehand. I even like to arrange dishes and serving ware on the island to make it super simple on Christmas morning.
And a pro tip – run and unload that dishwasher before the event. It makes cleanup way easier!
Quick clean
A wise neighbor once told me you don’t clean before entertaining because you’ll only have to clean again after.
While I do want my house to be clean for guests, I try not to stress about perfection. Instead, I focus on the quick and easy things that would be noticeable:
- Toilets and sinks
- Countertops
- Floors
It doesn’t take long to get the house ready for guests, because I’m not running a white gloved hand over anything (and neither is anyone else).
Be ready for messes.
There’s never been a gathering at our house that hasn’t seen a mess. With so many people and food and drinks around, there are also bound to be stains.
But it doesn’t steal my joy.
I simply keep a can of Spot Shot®Instant Carpet Stain Remover on hand.
Just vacuum and apply the stain remover to the stains. After only 60 seconds, wipe with a white towel and clean with water. It’s been tried and tested on our rugs in the dining room and living room, where drinks and food spills aren’t rare.
We also recently added a new rug to the living room, just in time for the holiday season. While I love the rug, I don’t want to worry about stains and spills. We eat and drink in there regularly. So having Spot Shot helps me ward off any stains without making myself crazy.
Wanna try it? Click HERE to get a coupon for $1 off your Spot Shot purchase. (Find it at a local retailer near you.)
It just takes a little preparation to make any gathering run smoothly. I’m excited to spend the day with our family members – having fun and making memories.
What do you do to prepare for holiday guests?
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Cory Scott says
Your table setting is gorgeous. The whole house is. I also love that you take a more calm approach to company visiting-our houses are lived in! (Always reminds me of that viral video-NO SIGNS OF LIVING HERE!!! LOL) And I need to try that stain remover! Sounds easy to use!!
Kim Woodward says
Thank you so much! Hope you have an awesome Christmas!
Cory Scott says
Love that you keep it calm before company comes! I’ll have to try that stain remover too!