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As much as I enjoy having friends and family over to the house for the Holidays, prepping and hosting can be stressful, particularly in the midst of a very busy Holiday season. Because I tend to be detail-oriented, I can spend a lot of time and effort making sure everything is perfect to the point where I don’t actually have time to enjoy our get-togethers or spend sufficient quality time with my guests. This year, I’ve thought about the areas of planning and preparedness that tend to cause the most stress to come up with simple, feasible solutions.
1. Make a list and refer to it often. In any given moment, there are at least 10 things I’m thinking about with regards to my kids, work, errands, extra-curricular activities and the home. If I don’t write it down, it usually doesn’t get done so I’ve learned to keep a pen and paper in my purse or use the Notes feature on my smart phone to update and manage my to-do lists. It also feels really good to check those items off that I have completed and really does help to alleviate any stress as the list continues to get smaller.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I am notoriously reserved about asking for help because I don’t want to burden someone else who may be experiencing their own stressors. But what I’ve often found is that people, particularly close friends and family members, enjoy helping out and even experience great joy from doing so. If you’re hosting a party, ask friends or family members that you are comfortable with to bring their favorite dessert or share their favorite appetizer.
3. Don’t wait until the last minute to shop, cook, and prepare your home for guests. Once you’ve made your list, mentally make note of any tasks you can complete in the days leading up to your gathering. Any dishes that can be prepped ahead of time will save you from the stress of having to spend the entire day of your gathering cooking. This will also afford you the opportunity to ensure your recipes work and you have all of the necessary ingredients.
4. Strive to keep your home holiday ready through the season. Tidying up regularly will only make cleaning and prepping your home for guests right before your gathering that much more seamless. I like to schedule regular, detailed cleanings every 1-2 weeks and then sweep/mop, vaccuum, and wipe down surfaces regularly so that those tasks don’t begin to accumulate right before a holiday get-together.
5. Add personal Holiday-esque touches with scents and sounds to evoke the spirit of the season. So much of what we remember about the Holiday season is what we experience through our senses. The warm, soft cinnamon roll that melts in your mouth Christmas morning…the sound of Jingle Bells in the background as your children sing and dance…the ornament your child made displayed on the tree. Background music and the sweet scents of the season will make your home warm and inviting.
AirWick recently introduced an exclusive their Good to Be Home Collection of candles available exclusively at Walmart. The holiday scents in particular are enticing and exude the spirit of Christmas. These candles are housed in glass jars and mirrored caps for an elegant look. They look beautiful displayed throughout the home, smell divine, and make wonderful, affordable gifts for guests. You can display one (or more) in a printed gift box combined with a candle lighter and a candle wick cutter if you want to get fancy.
AirWick’s “Good To Be Home” Holiday Scents include Frosted Vanilla Cupcake (my favorite!), Mrs. Claus’ Apple Pie, and Evergreen Adventure and each candle retails for $4.98 each.
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