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Call me crazy - never hosted a holiday - gulp
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<blockquote data-quote="susiestar" data-source="post: 482611" data-attributes="member: 1233"><p>You will be fine. Repeat after me: "If they don't think it is clean enough, they can clean it themselves. They are not coming to vsit my house, they are coming to visit ME and each other."</p><p></p><p>Repeat whenever necessary. Make sure the bathroom is clean, there are places to sit, and that there is food. IF you drink wine, make sure there is some. Otherwise, make sure other things are there to drink. Especially coffee or hot tea or cocoa. For a great, EASY way to make the house smell good, toss some apple juice and cinnamon and nutmeg into a crock pot a few hours before they get there - or put it over low-medication heat until it is hot, then keep it at super low heat so it stays warm. FAST, easy, no big mess, and makes the yummy smell the focus, not the dust or lack thereof.</p><p></p><p>Or put a cake in the oven, or even a loaf of frozen bread dough or rolls. there is a reason that realtors advise clients to do this - people focus on the yummy, inviting scent and NOT the lack of perfection. in my opinion perfection is highly over-rated.</p><p></p><p>As long as you are not an big exhausted mess, the house is reasonably tidy, the bathroom is clean, and everyone has fun, the rest of it won't matter. </p><p></p><p>One question - why did your mother invite the extra guests and their dog? Are they coming a great distance to see you, or s this some dog owner thing that I haven't heard of? I am NOT throwing stones, just wondering why because it is something new to me. We only had 1 dog growning up and husband and I haven't had good luck with dogs so we are sticking with cats.</p><p></p><p>Don't worry about trying to do things the Martha Stewart way. Even Martha doesn't do them the Martha Stewart way - she makes her staff do it! Somehow I can't see your dogs making pretty displays of pumpkins and corn for a centerpiece, lighting candles, and making cute little napkin rings - can you??</p><p></p><p>If you are cooking a turkey, do it in one of the oven bags. They make a HUGe difference. I used to do the Joy of cooking thing - Keep a linen towel over the turkey during much of the cooking, basting iwth oil or margarine or drippings every 30 minutes, blah blah blah. Now that DOES make a great turkey mostly. It is just a lot of work and you have a ruined linen or cotton (NOT the fuzzy terry cloth type) dish towel when you are done. The oven bag? SOOOOOOOO much easier. Self basting because the liquid can't evaporate, and it makes a very tender turkey with almost NO mess. Nothing burnt on the pan, etc.... </p><p></p><p>Just remember - HAVE FUN and don't do it all yourself. Put your mom, Matt, and yes, even the guests to work. It can make things more fun for all, and break the ice well.</p><p></p><p>(((((hugs)))))</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="susiestar, post: 482611, member: 1233"] You will be fine. Repeat after me: "If they don't think it is clean enough, they can clean it themselves. They are not coming to vsit my house, they are coming to visit ME and each other." Repeat whenever necessary. Make sure the bathroom is clean, there are places to sit, and that there is food. IF you drink wine, make sure there is some. Otherwise, make sure other things are there to drink. Especially coffee or hot tea or cocoa. For a great, EASY way to make the house smell good, toss some apple juice and cinnamon and nutmeg into a crock pot a few hours before they get there - or put it over low-medication heat until it is hot, then keep it at super low heat so it stays warm. FAST, easy, no big mess, and makes the yummy smell the focus, not the dust or lack thereof. Or put a cake in the oven, or even a loaf of frozen bread dough or rolls. there is a reason that realtors advise clients to do this - people focus on the yummy, inviting scent and NOT the lack of perfection. in my opinion perfection is highly over-rated. As long as you are not an big exhausted mess, the house is reasonably tidy, the bathroom is clean, and everyone has fun, the rest of it won't matter. One question - why did your mother invite the extra guests and their dog? Are they coming a great distance to see you, or s this some dog owner thing that I haven't heard of? I am NOT throwing stones, just wondering why because it is something new to me. We only had 1 dog growning up and husband and I haven't had good luck with dogs so we are sticking with cats. Don't worry about trying to do things the Martha Stewart way. Even Martha doesn't do them the Martha Stewart way - she makes her staff do it! Somehow I can't see your dogs making pretty displays of pumpkins and corn for a centerpiece, lighting candles, and making cute little napkin rings - can you?? If you are cooking a turkey, do it in one of the oven bags. They make a HUGe difference. I used to do the Joy of cooking thing - Keep a linen towel over the turkey during much of the cooking, basting iwth oil or margarine or drippings every 30 minutes, blah blah blah. Now that DOES make a great turkey mostly. It is just a lot of work and you have a ruined linen or cotton (NOT the fuzzy terry cloth type) dish towel when you are done. The oven bag? SOOOOOOOO much easier. Self basting because the liquid can't evaporate, and it makes a very tender turkey with almost NO mess. Nothing burnt on the pan, etc.... Just remember - HAVE FUN and don't do it all yourself. Put your mom, Matt, and yes, even the guests to work. It can make things more fun for all, and break the ice well. (((((hugs))))) [/QUOTE]
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