Getting Ready For Holiday Guests

The holidays are always great, but getting ready for them can be stressful. I am not sure about your house, but holidays for my family home means a big crowd and lots of overnight guests, especially since we always host Christmas Eve. I have a few suggestions that I hope will help you prepare. Believe me, they will work for you just as they have for me over the years.

1. As with anything, always plan and prepare as much ahead as possible. For our many guests, it always takes a lot of food. So I always start my cooking of vegetables right after Thanksgiving dinner and then set up my menu plan. Once your vegetables are cooked, store them in your freezer and that is a check mark off of your very long list.

2. I usually start my Christmas shopping around May, but I know that has not been possible for many this year. My suggestion would be to have a list of all the individuals that you will be buying gifts for and what gift you would like to give. With the season already in full swing time is valuable. Try shopping online for many gifts. I have found that you can receive free shipping on many items and if the store is not located in your state you won't be charged tax. Therefore, you save more money than if you had gone to the store yourself.

3. For my decorating needs I also start right after Thanksgiving. Christmas is my favorite time of year and I tend to overdo. If you start early it will give you the opportunity to look back over what you have done and fix your decorations for the better, each time.

4. Okay, now it is time to spruce up your home. Below you will find quick links to a few checklist that I have found on one of my favorite websites. Once you download the list I would suggest that you tweak it so that it will fill your needs better.

4. As far as cleaning goes I always like to clean from top to bottom and left to right in a room. That way it will be less likely for you to miss a spot. I like to always leave the guests rooms carpet cleaning for 2 days before expected time of arrival, then the mattress, linens and pillows for the day before. That way the room is much fresher. Just because, I usually leave something a little personal for the guests from me. This year I will leave homemade soaps and maybe facial scrubs, bath salts or bath oils that I have made myself.

5. It would be a good idea to also leave fresh towels and washcloths for each guest in each room. I usually also leave small bottles of lotion, shampoo and conditioner for each room. You know, like a hotel.

6. I am very fortunate that I have my own little baker. Every year one of my daughters takes care of baking all the pies, cakes, muffins and her specialty Coquito, Latin Egg Nog. Delicious! Oh, by the way, it is better to make the Coquito well in advance, a few weeks. It will give the ingredients time to blend, we usually add 1 cup of Brandy or Cognac. If you aren't so lucky to have your own baker, plan ahead at your local grocery or bakery by ordering in advance. That way you know you will have all that is needed for your event.

7. Last but not least, the night before, start setting up your tables, chairs and how they will be arranged in your home, along with all specialty dinnerware and serveware. As you go along, carry some of your cleaning items in a bucket and do some of the last minute dusting and cleaning as you go.

Everything is done and the guests are not there yet. So sit back, look over all your work and relax for the next day of great fun and holiday cheer.

Complete Living room, Bedroom and Dining room checklist

Complete Bathroom cleaning checklist

This checklist is great also. It is a guide to good guest behavior at seasonal festivities . Etiquette Advice for the Holiday Guest

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