Kara Hinshaw - Home Sweet Home

Making a trek to the grocery store is much more manageable when you know what you’re looking for. With a plan for meals, you can easily map out what you’ll need to grab before the company pulls into the drive. Be sure to ask your guests if they have any dietary concerns and ask them for recipes or help in the kitchen if those restrictions cause challenges. Take an inventory of what items you still need and update your list as the date approaches. Remember to include drinks and snacks in addition to meal items. Also remember to take large pieces of frozen meat, like turkey, out a few days before so they have adequate time to thaw. STEP 2: CREATE A MEAL PLAN

STEP 3: DEEP CLEAN

There’s a reason professional organizers and house cleaners are slammed in the last few months of the year. This is the time when people realize they need some deep cleaning done. If you’re tackling the task yourself, don’t wait. Instead, wipe down the ceilings and soffits, clean the corners of the floors, and scour the fridge. Once you’re able to give the high- traffic areas some extra attention, you’ll just need to maintain things rather than stressing over when you’ll find the time for the deep clean. With limited time, focus your energies on the kitchen, bathrooms, guest quarters, and living room. If you have the resources, it’s the perfect time to hire extra hands. Reach out to professional organizers and house and carpet cleaners. Or ask family, friends, and community members if they know anyone looking to make a bit of holiday money. Have helpers move furniture, sort items, clean, or even prep food.

STEP 4: MAKE SPACE

You want your guests to feel welcome, so give them plenty of space to make their own. Start by clearing off the coat rack or moving items from the coat closet elsewhere. Leave empty hangers so guests have a place to hang coats. The same goes for the shoe rack and drawers or hanging space in the guest room. If you have a guest with special dietary needs, clear out a section of the fridge and label it with their name too.

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November 2024

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