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Hosting guests for holiday parties can be so fun, but also lots of work with cleaning, decorating, and food prep, so I've compiled a list of tips to help you get your home in ship shape! Since sparkly floors are a must, I'm letting you in on my secret for the best mop for the job! And, I can't wait to share how I took a snowman gift bag and a black frame and made them into a fun piece of art/festive holiday decoration!
December at my house means lots of get-togethers! I host an annual Christmas musical recital for my students in my home, along with the beloved Favorite Things Party with some fun ladies that I know and Christmas dinner with friends. Because I don't want to spend the month in a stressed-out cleaning frenzy, here's what I do to make the work much more do-able, while still soaking in the wonder of the season.
1. Set a cleaning schedule. Let's be honest-the holidays are already hectic and stressful enough, so plan ahead and take the tidying slowly, in manageable doses! Baby steps, my friends!
Deep cleaning such as wiping down walls and doors, dusting, cleaning the fridge, microwave and stove can be done ahead of time. Save the vacuuming and sweeping for the day of the gathering. These tasks are quick and can be done in between last-minute food preparations. Also, be sure to freshen the bathrooms by giving them a quick wipe-down not long before guests arrive.
2. Mop the evening before and spot clean the day of. Here's where the "best mop" comes in. Meet my friend O-Cedar ProMist...she's a floor-cleaning life saver.
My tile can't help but sparkle when I put her to use. And, my seven-year-old can attest that this mop can literally make a person forget about a favorite movie or game that could otherwise entertain. No kidding. My daughter got home from school, saw O-Cedar, and became like Snow White, whistling while she worked and getting completely lost in her cleaning bubble. I think she mopped four times that evening, and every day since. And I let her. :)
I took a trip down the cleaning aisle at Walmart and heard the O-Cedar ProMist calling my name. So my home became her home.
This magical button releases the liquid capsule for easy re-fill, and all it takes are 2 teaspoons of cleaning solution (vinegar's a great non-chemical option), the rest being water!
My four-year-old used this lever like he does his squirt guns and then pushed the mop through the resulting puddles, but little did he know he was scrubbing away dirt and spots at the same time. Shhhh...it's our little secret. Refer to #7 on this list. :) Sometimes I don't even have to ask, and help is there. Though a rarity, I love it when that happens!
3. Decorate early. I like to set up my party area (minus the perishable food and breakables, of course) a day early so I have ample time to change or add things and not feel too crunched. Deck the halls with wreaths, trees and ornaments, stockings, candles, and prettily-wrapped gifts days in advance so your last hours leading up to the event can be spent doing other, more pressing things.
Speaking of decorations, I like to keep them simple and inexpensive.
Would you believe that this adorable sparkly Snowman Art came from a gift bag and was made in under 2 minutes? It's true.
I picked up a black frame, some sparkly red wrapping paper and a snowman gift bag at Walmart, cut the red paper to fit in the frame, peeled off the snowman decoration on the front of the bag, transferred it to the red paper, put the frame back together, and ta-da! I've got a very simple holiday decoration that's also a nice conversation piece!
I added a pretty red and white snowflake towel, also from Walmart, as an accent underneath and some silver bells.
4. Plan food that can be prepared ahead and frozen or refrigerated. A few of the dishes will of course need to be served fresh, but things like pies, cookies, cakes, casseroles, and fudge can typically be made early, saving you loads of time on celebration day.
5. Have appetizers/hors d'oeuvres set out and ready to be eaten when guests arrive. Food has a way of breaking the ice! A simple cheese and cracker platter, box of chocolates, or bowl of mixed nuts will tide their tummies over and give them something to munch on over conversation while you're making last-minute preparations.
6. Light a candle or Make Stove-Top Potpourri. Your home will naturally be filled with the aroma of whatever you are baking the day of the party, but an extra scent of a candle, potpourri, or plug-in wax warmer will do wonders for providing a burst of the holiday spirit and greeting your guests with a wonderful welcome when they first enter your home.
7. Enlist help. My kids are young, but they are old enough to dust, set a table, and pick up their own toys. Also, I often call my husband at work and ask him to pick up the fresh bread or drinks on his way home to save me a trip. Don't be afraid to call upon your family to jump in and help prepare for the event in whatever way they can. Chances are, they'll have fun doing it (if it involves spraying and puddles, and unknowingly cleaning the floor). :)
8. Keep it Simple! As long as there's good food to eat, great company and conversation, not much else will be remembered, so don't stress over the little details.
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I hope your holiday season runs more smoothly and is a memorable one, thanks to these pointers!
What would you add to the list? I'd love to hear what you do to prepare your home for guests during this most wonderful time of the year!