The holidays are officially here and many of us will be hosting friends and family. If you’re having guests over it’s important to make sure they are properly taken care of. Plus, who doesn’t want to be the best host around? Here are five tips that I think will make you shine as a host or hostess:
Healthy Snacks
For many, the holidays are a daunting few weeks that throw you right off your diet. Having healthy snacks that are easily accessible is a very nice gesture for your guests. While everyone loves to indulge in the cookies and treats that go hand-in-hand with the holidays, it’s really nice to have a healthy option. Veggies and hummus and fruit plates are great ideas for a quick snack.
Equipped Guest Bedrooms
If you are having guests stay over during the holidays, it’s important to make them feel at home. You can do this by making sure they have clean sheets, fresh blankets, a pair of slippers and a stack of clean towels for them. Nothing says happy holidays quite like making your home feel like your guests’ home.
Cook Together
Preparing a meal can be one of the most rewarding things you can do with your loved ones. If you are hosting guests, let them be a part of the meal preparation, even if it means just giving them a small task or two. This allows them to feel connected to the meal and it will only make them enjoy it more.
Bar Full of Bubbly
A great bottle of wine or champagne can make a lovely evening even more wonderful. Make sure your bar is stocked with talk-worthy options this holiday season. One great bottle I recently enjoyed was Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon. If you’re not a connoisseur, someone at your local wine shop is.
Interactive Games
Having a game for kids and adults to interact is a great post-meal activity. Most games induce laughter and joy, which adds to the bonding experience of the holidays. A couple games that come to mind are Imagine If and Catch Phrase. If there aren’t any kids around, Cards Against Humanity is fun, too.
Whether you are hosting or not, I want to wish you a very happy holiday season! Cheers to a great 2014!
[Please note: Unless otherwise stated, none of the above images are mine. Please click on images for attribution].