Secrets to a “Guest Ready,” House in Minutes

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone, promise! 
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It’s no secret that I love to entertain. If you’ve been hanging around here for any amount of time, you’ve probably seen some of the parties that I have designed, and can tell that it’s a HUGE passion of mine.

Oh yes, the frilly cake stands… the fancy-schmancy hors d’oeuvres… it’s all a blast.

BUT… like everyone out there, we don’t always have a months notice before we hear that someone is coming over. If you’re married to someone like my husband… it’s typically,

Oh hey… “so & so,” is going coming by tonight, so we can go over that new “work thang.”

{Ok, maybe I added in the “work thang,” verbiage, because he usually fills that blank in with something completely different every time. 🙂 }

I want to fill you in on secrets to a “guest ready,” house in minutes, to help you prepare for those last minute unexpected visitors…

• Keep the Cleaning Supplies Handy •

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• Have a Spot •

Although I don’t encourage clutter, or a “catch-all,” sometimes it just has to happen. You know? So my way of keeping it under control, is by designating a spot, and making sure it looks “cute.” Yes, really. I’m a bit addicted to wire baskets, burlap baskets, wooden boxes, and the list goes on. If you have a basket, bin, box, whatev… that would be good for that catchall “stuff,”… get it out.

Designate a spot for it, and when needed at the last minute, you can easily put that mail that you’ve been procrastinating going through for a week, those loose little toys that are constantly laying around, and those “things,” that tend to clutter up your house. When you designate a spot for those types of things, it will be easier to remember to look in, when you need to find that lost item, or to remember to go-through when you have time again. Plus, the cutie-patootie bin that you’ve designated will just look like regular ole decor, sitting in your home. That “junk,” will never be noticed.

• Light a Candle •

No, of course you don’t have to do this one. But I do. I always try to make sure I have a super delicious smelling candle, that I can light when need be. There’s just something welcoming about the smell a candle can put off, and even looking at a candle that’s lit on the kitchen countertop… makes me feel “on top,” of things. (Plus… it covers up any horrendous smell you may have going on in the house, that you’re not even aware of. For some reason, people can’t “smell,” their own house. Have you ever noticed that?)

• Fill that Dishwasher •

Now this one, cracks everyone up. When you have a ton of nasty dirty dishes sitting out in your kitchen, and there’s not enough time to wash them all before your guests arrive… here’s my secret.

The dishwasher is your best friend. Shove all of those dirty dishes in to the dishwasher, and I’m not talking like you normally do. (That would take too much time.)  Overlap those dishes, pile ’em on top of one another… just shove ’em. Even the dishes that can’t go in the dishwasher. Later, you can pull it all out and reorganize, or wash it the way you want to, {with the Clorox Pump ‘N Clean if you want} ;). But for now… they’re all hidden, and put away. Wipe your counters down with the Clorox goodies, and viola. 😉

• Only Do What you Can •

Really. Only do what you can. You may be surprised how often people don’t even notice the clutter in your home. I know… I need to practice what I preach. I still run around my house like a mad woman, doing the things I mentioned above, trying to make my house “guest ready.” But I’ve heard first hand from people that have come over, with no notice even…

“Your house is always picked up. Where is all of your junk?”

Are you kidding me rat now? Ha. I have two little boys. Our house is ALWAYS a wreck… but, tuns out, others probably don’t even think it’s as bad as you think it is. So don’t stress. If anything, follow the tips I gave you above, and you’ll feel better when guests come over.

How do you get your house ready at the last minute before guests arrive? I’d love to know your tricks!

Until next time,

XO!