• About
  • Sponsor / PR
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Houston Mommy and Lifestyle Blogger | Moms Without Answers

We don't have all the answers, but we have all the fun

  • Mom
    • Parenting
    • Mom Life
    • Faith
    • Fashion/Beauty
    • Health
    • Blogging
  • Kiddos
    • Kids Activities
    • Kid Fashion
    • Family Fun
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Appetizers & Sides
    • Sweet Treats
  • Projects
    • DIY & Crafts
    • Home Decor
    • Cleaning & Organization
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
    • Parties
    • Gifts
  • Shop My FAVES

Step by Step Timeline to Get Ready for Holiday Guests

October 3, 2016 By Sara Morris Leave a Comment

Well, folks, it’s October. Halloween is in 4 weeks, Thanksgiving a little while after that. Basically, don’t blink because it’s almost Holiday season. Which means it’s almost time for guests. I know, I know. The thought can be a scary one. Getting ready for guests can feel like a huge burden. There’s cleaning to do, groceries to buy, plans to make, not to mention the mental preparation for having people in your space for the next however long. Even though we do love our friends and family oh so much, getting ready for guests can be rough. So I’m coming at you today with a plan. I’ve got an easy-peasy stress free timeline for you to follow so you’re not rushing around with a toilet brush in one hand, extra towels in the other, ordering grocery delivery 15 minutes before your guests’ plane lands. I want you to break it down into manageable chunks so you can deal with one thing at a time, not stress over everything at once, and still be ready for guests.

Two weeks before arrival: Time to get your guest room ready.

Getting ready for holiday guests

Don’t stress about making it perfect. Now is not the time! If you have a piece of art leaning against the wall to be hung, do that. Clear out extra clutter from the closet. Make sure you have sheets for the bed (but don’t worry about washing them yet), towels for the bathroom, and pillows for their heads. If you don’t have a dedicated guest space, then figure out where they’ll be sleeping whether it’s a kids’ room or the pull out sofa. Either way – just make sure you have linens and somewhere for them to sleep. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but not having to make a Target run the night before they get there for linens is probably a good idea. 

If you do have a dedicated guest room, here are my ideas for taking your guest room to the next level.

One week before arrival: Menu planning.

Getting ready for holiday guests

This is crucial, guys, and trust me – it takes a lot of stress off your plate. I’m an avid meal planner so this is something I do anyway, but even if you’re not, it’s helpful with guests to gather your meal plan before everyone gets here so it’s not 2-4 more people playing “What do you want for dinner? I don’t know. Whatever you want.” game. Choose your meals and leave a couple spots open for meals out to favorite restaurants to show your family. If you have guests over Thanksgiving, I highly recommend making your menu before everyone is there chiming in. This also allows you to grocery shop before hand and get everything you need ahead of time. 

Week of Arrival: House Cleaning

Getting ready for holiday guests

I get it – we all do it. We dread the cleaning and put it off. But with everything else we have on our plates, breaking it up into manageable chunks can really help. When I’m getting ready for guests, I don’t really change up my normal routine (this one) because it uses the little bit every day method, I just save bathrooms for last so they’re freshly cleaned. And get the whole family involved to make sure everyone is pulling their own weight and keeping their own messes cleaned up.

Day before arrival: Wash sheets and towels, grocery shop, relax.

Getting ready for holiday guests

A couple loads of laundry, a quick trip to the store while it’s in the dryer, and that’s it. Don’t stress, don’t start scrubbing your vent covers or wiping down walls. I promise, they won’t even notice.

Morning of Arrival: Quick clean and bake something.

Getting ready for holiday guests

Wipe down the bathrooms really quick, run the vacuum over the floors, load the dishwasher, and bake some cookies (both for the smell and a welcoming snack).

 

Basically, if you didn’t catch a theme here – it’s don’t. stress. If there’s a little bit of clutter, a little bit of dust, if it’s less than perfect, I promise it’ll be okay. Your friends and family are there to see you, not your house. As long as they have somewhere soft to rest their head at night, everything will be just fine. But hopefully this timeline helps you prioritize a little and get your to-do list in check, so you can keep your stress level low. 

So tell me – do you have family coming in this season? Are you traveling yourself? Any star hosting tips you need to share?

Step by Step Timeline to Get Ready for Holiday Guests
0 Shares

Filed Under: Holidays, Home Decor

About Sara Morris

Hey! I'm Sara. I'm a stay-at-home twin mama, married to my middle school sweetheart living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I blog over at SaraDear.com about all things homemaking. In my "free" time (what's that?) I love to organize things, sew, read, watch movies, listen to really good music, and drink coffee. Does that count as a hobby? Sure hope so. I'm so happy to be here on Moms Without Answers!

« Top 10 Funniest Couples Halloween Costumes
My Epic Mom Fail and Why I’m Not The Perfect American Housewife »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hi, friends! I’m Channing. I am mom to 3 amazing girls and wife to my fire fighting hubby, Eric. I loving sharing all things mom life related – recipes, DIY’s, real mom talk, crafts and more! 

Insta-Moms: @momswoa

Instagram post 17951785348338518 Happy 4th from these little cuties. It looks A LOT different this year but we are still having fun.
.
.
.
#happy4thofjuly #happyfourth #fourthofjuly #redwhiteandblue #momblog #houstonmomblogger #momofgirls
Instagram post 17856710153004179 #blackouttuesday
Instagram post 17864637601827512 This is what happens on day number 3,568,743 of quarantine: ice cream sundaes for DINNER. We have been spending endless time together and decided it was time to start a new family tradition, so we picked up the new DIY Sundae Kit from @baskinrobbins! The kit comes with 2 pre-packed quarts of ice cream, 3 toppings, an entire can of whipped cream and cherries! Ice
cream for dinner will now be a weekly staple. The kids are definitely not complaining! It’s a fun day with a Sundae! 
Comment below and tell me your favorite Baskin Robbins flavor!

#QuarantineCreations #IceCreamforDinner #FamilyTraditions #ad
Instagram post 17855065096958471 Some of my #DisneyMagicMoments have been with some special moms in my life! So, I’m playing along and sharing some of these moments with you.

I have spent time with old friends and new and the magic is always there. 
If you scroll back far enough, you will see my first Disney experience and the moment I fell in love with Disney with my own mom! 
I would love for you to play along and share your favorite Disney moments with the moms in your life! Don’t forget to use hashtag #disneymagicmoments! I tag @pixiemousemichelle, @fivefortheroadblog and @mrsblinks! 
Happy Mother’s Day! 😘😘
Instagram post 17873430769680209 Happy Cinco de Mayo! 🌮 What is your favorite Mexican dish?

I could eat Mexican for every meal of everyday! If your looking for the perfect recipes to make for dinner, I’ve got you covered. 
Head on over the the blog for all of my favorite dishes! These enchiladas NEVER disappoint! I promise you will LOVE all of these recipes! 🎉
Instagram post 17885629336528535 May the 4th be with you! We cannot wait for the day that we get to be back at Star Wars Galaxies Edge. Batuu, we miss you! #maytheforcebewithyou #may4thbewithyou #disneycreators #batuu #bluemilk #wemissdisney
Instagram post 17850899390014309 Disney is challenging us to share our first pictures with characters! I had to join in the fun and it was the best trip down memory lane. Disney has been threaded throughout my entire life. I pulled a few of my most favorite memories over the years. From partying in the streets during the most epic dance party and meeting our most favorite princesses to me being a kid at Disney myself. Oh, I also had to add a picture of Cinderella’s Castle. She really is the most beautiful cast member of them all! 
@waltdisneyworld we miss you more and more each day. You’ve brought us joy beyond words and we cannot wait for the day when we get to walk down Main Street USA again! 
Ok, now it’s your turn. Find your old photos of your favorite Disney characters and share the magic. Also, don’t forget to tag me. I want to see all your memories too! 
@pixiemousemichelle @ericaligenza and @prettyprovidenceblog it’s time to share yours!#disneymagicmoments #myfirstdisneycharacter #disneycreators #disneyfamily #disneykuds #disneyworld
Instagram post 17904777073435611 EASY EASTER SUGAR COOKIE BARS! [AD] With Easter looking a little different this year, I teamed up with my friends at @hersheys to create a fun Easter treat using items you probably have in your pantry!
These Easter Sugar Cookie Bars are so easy to make. Store bought sugar cookie mix and cute colorful icing is the perfect foundation for @cadburyusa eggs and @reeses eggs. 
Looking for more treat ideas? Check out the fun recipes at https://Hershey’s.com/kitchen/en_us/home.html

Comment below and tell me your favorite Easter recipes! #cadburyusa #reeses #eastertreats #springdessert
Instagram post 18019712191263346 I’m joining my friend @andhattiemakesthree for #happymondaymemory to share some joy and fun around here!
.
.
.
Let’s take it back to the #happiestplaceonearth and our time in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge! Y’all, I don’t even have words for how amazing it is. And #riseoftheresistance is everything! Check out our video to see for yourself. We miss you @waltdisneyworld and can’t wait to make more memories soon!
.
.
.
Now it’s your turn! Share your favorite memory and let’s spread some joy! #evereveambassador #disneycreators #starwars #disneyhollywoodstudios #stayhome
Follow on Instagram
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

There may be an issue with the Instagram access token that you are using. Your server might also be unable to connect to Instagram at this time.

As Seen On:

Keep in Touch

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Recent Posts

  • Copycat Disney Churro Ice Cream Sandwich
  • Teacher Approved Educational Resources for Kids
  • 20 Fun Things To Do At Home with Kids

Blog Archive

Copyright © 2023 · Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Necessary Always Enabled