Hosting House Guests

bunni727

My H's mom and grandma are coming to visit this weekend. I'm really excited for them to be here, and it's the first time they'll be in our home. Do you ladies have tips to make them feel extra welcome?

Also, we are having a dinner at church is on Sunday. Anyone have suggestions on a side dish or dessert I could take, that wouldn't keep me in the kitchen too long Saturday evening? I was planning on peanut butter chocolate chip cupcake, but they take a while and I have to cause a ruckus with the mixer.

itzMS

Are they staying over in your spare bedroom? If so, perhaps a "hospitality kit" in the bedroom (include lotion, small bottle of tylenol, toothpaste/toothbrushes, static guard, febreeze, bottled water, granola bars, etc). Aka anything that they might've forgotten when traveling.
Perhaps a basket of fresh fruit on the table and a vase of flowers in the spare bedroom.

Make sure to have their favorite beverages on hand!

jszmerga

This is my very favorite dessert, its my bff's "secret" family recipe. It is horribly unhealthy but soooo good. Plus super easy to make. I make it anytime I need to bring a dessert. 

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/sopapilla-cheesecake/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=sopapilla%20cheesecake&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page

The recipe says to roll out the crescent dough before putting it into the dish but you really don't need to, just unroll it in the dish and press out to fill the pan. If the link doesn't work its called sopapilla cheesecake, you should be able to find a recipe by searching for it.

bunni727

Actually, we have a teeny tiny house. So they'll be staying in our room and we'll be on the air mattress in the second bedroom, also known as H's closet. I hope that isn't bad form. They usually share a bed when visiting each other.

I have fresh towels and sheets ready to go, and an extra quilt folded at the foot of the bed.

The hospitality kit is a good idea, we always keep extra toothbrushes and things on hand. I have a basket I could put in the bathroom for them. I should probably pick up some plain soap--mine has a scent to it, and so does H's.

They don't drink coffee, but both really like tea. I could make a pitcher of sweet and unsweet, just in case.

I've never made twice-baked potatoes. Recipe?

bunni727

Sounds yummy, thanks! I could pull them out when I first wake up, and put them in the oven after I finish making breakfast. So about the time we get done eating, they'll be ready to go.

TiffanyT816

I think you'll be good with the clean sheets, extra blankets, towels and tea.

My go to recipe is baked brie - it's not necessarily a side but could definitely be a dessert. People always ask me to bring it to parties

Thaw puff pastry - slice top rind off brie and place in the middle of the puff pastry.
Wrap puff pastry around brie. Seal edges and coat with egg wash.
Bake wrapped brie at 400 for 25 minutes or until brown

Melt a stick of butter and brown sugar in a sauce pan. Add dried fruits and pecans (I use the antioxidant blend of dried fruit with cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, etc.).

Pour the fruit/sugar mixture over the brie and serve with sliced baguette

StephJean83

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_hosting-house-guests?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:90207fdc-3bd2-4891-976c-15c33d5f46e8Post:82072e6e-e9db-4b21-8485-fad06d10e975">Re: Hosting House Guests</a>:
[QUOTE]Actually, we have a teeny tiny house. So they'll be staying in our room and we'll be on the air mattress in the second bedroom, also known as H's closet. I hope that isn't bad form. They usually share a bed when visiting each other. I have fresh towels and sheets ready to go, and an extra quilt folded at the foot of the bed. The hospitality kit is a good idea, we always keep extra toothbrushes and things on hand. I have a basket I could put in the bathroom for them. I should probably pick up some plain soap--mine has a scent to it, and so does H's. They don't drink coffee, but both really like tea. I could make a pitcher of sweet and unsweet, just in case. I've never made twice-baked potatoes. Recipe?
Posted by bunni727[/QUOTE]

Giving them the bed is always good form. We have a loft with a futon that my FH made the frame to and it has a pretty decent mattress on it. When my mom and SIL and nephew came to visit, we gave them all the option of our bed, the futon in the loft or the couch and futon in the living room. When my FILs come to visit, we give them our bed. 

I like the ideas PP have said about having extra stuff like tolietries for them in case they forgot. Treat them how you want to be treated when you go visit them. My friend's ILs are vegan so when they come, she buys food and drink they will eat but she hates visiting them because they never offer her the same hospitality.

As far as the food for Sunday dinner a good side dish that you can take is cuccumber salad(the way my FMIL makes it is 1/2 cup vinegar to 3 TBSP sugar mix til the sugar dissolves, add in 1 cup mayo mix that in til blended, add sliced cuccumbers-with or without the skin, and diced red oninons)

AMYM312

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_hosting-house-guests?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:90207fdc-3bd2-4891-976c-15c33d5f46e8Post:97e3bbaa-4494-471d-ad2d-3232180fc468">Re: Hosting House Guests</a>:
[QUOTE]I think you'll be good with the clean sheets, extra blankets, towels and tea. My go to recipe is baked brie - it's not necessarily a side but could definitely be a dessert. People always ask me to bring it to parties Thaw puff pastry - slice top rind off brie and place in the middle of the puff pastry. Wrap puff pastry around brie. Seal edges and coat with egg wash. Bake wrapped brie at 400 for 25 minutes or until brown Melt a stick of butter and brown sugar in a sauce pan. Add dried fruits and pecans (I use the antioxidant blend of dried fruit with cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, etc.). Pour the fruit/sugar mixture over the brie and serve with sliced baguette
Posted by TiffanyT816[/QUOTE]



Oh my gawd this sounds amazing!

Cortney1982

I travel a lot and when I stay with family, nothing makes me more uncomfortable than a house that is not clean.

*An alarm clock so I can see the time in the middle of the night. 
*Nightlight.  When it's pitch dark it's hard to navigate a floor plan I'm not used to.
*Selection of beverages including filtered water.
*Selection of snacks at the ready.  Let guests know what you have available for them and where they are at.
*towels set aside for guests.  I always bring my owl toiletries but having extras in a basket just in case is nice.

TiffanyT816

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_hosting-house-guests?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:90207fdc-3bd2-4891-976c-15c33d5f46e8Post:4631f61c-b2d9-4741-a33c-6f78c442e006">Re: Hosting House Guests</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Hosting House Guests : Oh my gawd this sounds amazing!
Posted by AMYM312[/QUOTE]

Definitely is!!! :)

hoffse

The one thing I always feel awkward about asking for as a houseguest is a bottle of water or a cup for water in the middle of the night. That's something I always try to remember to keep in a welcome basket or else on the bathroom counter so that guests don't have to awkwardly rummage through the kitchen.

hoffse

Oh and if you decide to do sweet tea, be sure to brew it on the stove - none of that crystal light nonesense Everybody I know who makes it uses Lipton's + a lot of sugar (like 1/2-1 cup per pitcher, depending on how sweet you want it).  Make it the night before because it takes about 4 or 5 hours when you take into account cooling time.  Again, everybody I know cools it in the fridge because if you add ice that just waters down the sweetness.

dtbluv

I always put a vase or pitcher of fresh flowers (if there's no allergies) on the dresser when I have guests.  And I agree with pps on the welcome basket.  And, I try to make sure my guests always get our biggest towels, the bath sheet kind.  Most people don't remember to pack a robe, and if they have to travel from the bathroom to the bedroom at all, it is very awkward to do so in a little/normal towel.

Plus the big towels just feel more luxurious.

And if you have pets that usually sleep or go in your room at night make sure their beds and everything are where you'll be sleeping!  I had a friend stay with me and my dog opened the bedroom door and jumped on the bed where she usually sleeps.  My friend woke up and freaked out, because a 50 pound dog jumping on you in the middle of the night is not a pleasant experience.

bunni727

No worries, I've been making tea pretty much since birth. Sometimes if it's just for me I'll do the Lipton ColdBrew, but guests always get the real deal, and sweet enough to walk on

I hadn't thought of the alarm clock and nightlight. I think I have a clock from college under the bed somewhere (we use our cell phones), but I'll definitely put a nightlight in the hall or bathroom, as well as some cups for water.

Thanks, everyone! I feel much more confident now.

Oh, and hoffse, have you tried freezing lemon or strawberry slices? If you like a little something extra in your tea, I've heard it's a good sub for ice. It looks nifty, too; I just like tea flavored tea.

hoffse

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_hosting-house-guests?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:90207fdc-3bd2-4891-976c-15c33d5f46e8Post:f9ce173d-45cd-4671-94d9-72a562b2d999">Re: Hosting House Guests</a>:
[QUOTE]No worries, I've been making tea pretty much since birth. Sometimes if it's just for me I'll do the Lipton ColdBrew, but guests always get the real deal, and sweet enough to walk on :) I hadn't thought of the alarm clock and nightlight. I think I have a clock from college under the bed somewhere (we use our cell phones), but I'll definitely put a nightlight in the hall or bathroom, as well as some cups for water. Thanks, everyone! I feel much more confident now. Oh, and hoffse, have you tried freezing lemon or strawberry slices? If you like a little something extra in your tea, I've heard it's a good sub for ice. It looks nifty, too; I just like tea flavored tea.
Posted by bunni727[/QUOTE]

<div>Haha glad to hear you  make it the right way :)  I went to college with people from all over the country, and a bunch of them would look at me like I was crazy when I told them that crystal light is just not acceptable for sweet tea.</div><div>
</div><div>No I haven't tried that, but I will definitely do so next time I make it.  It sounds delicious!</div>

bburkel

Wow, you gals go all out for your house guests.  When my mom comes to visit, she gets the guest room and has her own bathroom, and I do the clean sheets and towels, but that's about it.  Right now our guest room just has a pull-out couch, but she's fine with that.  We've offered our bed before, and she's happy with the couch.

We don't really have much for visitors other than my mom.  We've had a few last minute people crash after a party... and they get about the same from us.