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Party Time

It's that time of year again when we invite friends over, so we decided to give you 10 great ideas to make your friends feel welcome.

 

1

 

 

 

 

Fresh Flowers

Always have a vase of fresh flowers on display somewhere in your eating area. It lets your guest know that you care about your surroundings.

2

 

 

 

 

Keep supplies on hand

You will always appear the perfect hosts if you can manage to pull out a bottle of wine and nibbles for unexpected evening guests.

Keep a supply of juice, mineral water and wine, as well as some jars of olives or other such nibbles. Then when unexpected guest turn up, your sorted!

 

3

Music, music and music

Don't ruin your evening by playing the wrong sort of music to your guests. Not everyone loves heavy metal, especially grandparents!

Music is an important backdrop and adds to your evening, think about the music you will play before your guests turn up. Quietly playing music in the background is always a good idea over dinner, it will allow everyone to talk without shouting over the music!

4

 

No plastic please!

They all know you have kids, but don't leave the plastic tablecloth on when friends come over for dinner.

Replace it with a freshly laundered linen cloth. You deserve to treat yourself.

Set up a separate table with a more suitable tablecloth if younger children are to dine with you. They will feel like they are having their own little party too.

 

5

 

Don't poison your guests

As the weather heats up, special care needs to be taken when preparing and cooking food.

Make sure food is covered and put in the refrigerator until needed, then cook thoroughly. Wash hands after handling white meat like chicken.

 

6

 

Lavender at bedtime

You can get them from most chemists (drugstores), they are little pillows of lavender which you slide under  the pillow . Lavender is a restful scent  and is used to relax those wanting to sleep. A special touch for your guest room.

 

7

 

 

Clean the bathroom

Nothing shows you don't care than a bathroom with dirty hand towels, grubby soap and a toilet that smells like a railway urinal!

Take care to clean your bathroom thoroughly. A professional clear tells me, she sits on the toilet and then looks to see if she has missed anything. It is amazing what your guest will stare at while they are sitting there.

And please, put a fresh roll of toilet paper on the dispenser, nothing is worst than being in someone else's house and no toilet paper in sight!

 

8         Quick housecleaning

We would all like to think that our house will always be spotless when guest arrive. But with kids that can sometimes be impossible.

Here are some quick things to make your house look better in less than thirty minutes.

  • Make everyone's bed.
  • Pick up everything off the floor, put it in a large box and get the kids to sort it all out the following day.
  • Open the windows and let nature take care of bad smells.
  • Make sure your dishes are rinsed and stacked, even if you don't have time to wash them. Better still put them into the dishwasher straight after they have been used!

9  Light a candle

For an evening, nothing transforms a home than candle light. A scented candle in the bathroom or at the entrance gives a welcome friends will remember. Just make sure that they are put out before you retire for the night! Don't leave candles or matches around kids.

 

10   Nothing will make your friends feel more welcome than if you are happy and relax. Enjoy your friends company, remember they have come to see you and not your home!
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