Holiday Guest Tips 101

     My philosophy is: People are more important than things...which segues to the motto: People sometimes add minor blemishes to things like my dining room table, and those blemishes add... CHARACTER (thanks, Sheri, for that liberating perspective). My one young grandson's grimy handprint is immortalized, with his Christmas 2012 imprint forever located on the lower portion of my master bathroom's full-length mirror. If Hollywood can do it, so can I. It is charming and priceless.

     This Thanksgiving, with 2 grown children visiting at the same time for 4 nights, bringing 1 husband, 2 young grandchildren, and 2 dogs, my philosophy was keenly tested. When possible, I attempt to be flexible with my family and guests. Here are a few easy and practical ideas we recently used for our young-&-older, long-distance, extended-stay guests:
 

• Breakfasts: Ask, ahead of time, your company's eating preferences for breakfast: cereal, caffeinated drinks (tea, coffee, soda), and juice. For example, my brother preferred crockpot steel cut oat cereal, which made four mornings of breakfast a breeze (click for recipe): Crockpot steel-cut oats. Scrambled eggs and smoothies are also hardy, easy preps.
• Contain baby items: To keep my daughter's baby items handy and contained in the kitchen (medicines, formula, etc.) pretty countertop storage helped to easily move her items during busy food prep. This worked great for Thanksgiving morning.

  

  A container/basket for moveable storage

  
• Washing baby bottles: For bottle items to be safely washed, purchase an inexpensive dishwasher bottle -top & -nipple protector and a bottle scrubber. Keep it stored under the kitchen sink as a helpful, year-round dishwasher tool.

  

  Dishwasher bottle -top & -nipple protector

• Sippy Cups save the home: Sippy cups are rug- and furniture-savers. A set is stored in my cupboards.
• Pack-'n-play sleeping nursery: Own a pack-'n-play and be creative but safe with baby's sleeping quarters. (Disclaimer with just two of innumerable safety precautions: make sure there is no possibility of items falling on baby or reached by baby, AND we carefully mounted my daughter's baby monitor for continuous safety and clear viewing...to repeat, use wise caution for your precious bundle). I gladly performed 3:00 a.m. bottle feedings 2 of the 4 nights. My daughter was able to easily monitor baby the other 2 nights from her room.
• Visiting dogs: 

  

  Dremel Rotary Tool for dog's nails & crafting

  To protect our wood floors and furniture, I own a handy Dremel rotary tool for my son to trim his dog's nails when they arrive (it's great for small craft projects throughout the year). Our son brings a large crate for two dogs to be contained overnight in our utility room.
• Dogs, cont'd:

  

  Four Paws pooper scoop

  We own a Four Paws brand pooper scoop for the backyard; and, because our backyard isn't fenced-in, two stakes with tethers. The pooper scoop helps keep our shoes clean for backyard activity, and after their departure, a backyard trunk can store the leashes & a few grandchild toys. For barking emergencies, the nearby Petsmart reasonably saves the day with peace-providing pet-sitting.
• Dining Flexibility: Our round dinette table's leaf is hidden under a nearby couch. It is super handy for retrieval or storage when expanding or compressing the table.



Ikea sugar dispenser

• Miscellaneous: Ikea's inexpensive sugar dispenser is a hit for my son-in-law's Dunkin' Donuts Hazelnut coffee fixes. With a mere tilt, it dispenses 1/4 teaspoon of sugar; no measuring required. To see a helpful way to display tea bags and other kitchen ideas, simply click this link: Kitchen organization tips

 
      In no way do I strive to be a Martha Stewart nor the ideal hostess, but thoughtful touches, here and there, are amazingly appreciated by guests.