10 Ways to Make Your Home More Guest Friendly

Having guests in your home for any length of time is often nerve wracking, whether it’s for 10 minutes or for 10 days. Before you find yourself catapulted into a frenzy of worries and stress, take a few minutes and read over these helpful tips. As you keep these 10 actions in mind, you can forget about making every little detail perfect and focus on the things that will matter most to your guests instead:

1. Copy your favorite host/hostess. Think back on all of the people you have visited. Which visits were your favorite? What did the host or hostess do that made you feel so comfortable? What stands out in your mind as the most memorable part of your visit? Whatever makes the top of your list is a great place to start when considering how to make your home more comfortable for your guests.

2. Make sure the bathroom is stocked with toilet paper. Few things are worse than running out of toilet paper at someone else’s home. You can easily prevent this uncomfortable situation by checking the toilet paper in the bathroom before guests arrive and always stocking an extra roll or two in an easy to find spot inside the bathroom.

3. Include some house tips in your welcome speech. When your guests first arrive, you should offer a warm welcome and give them a quick rundown on what to expect during their time in your home. This may be as simple as asking them to remove their shoes upon entry and showing them where to find the bathroom. For overnight or multiple night guests, you can include more information that will be helpful like what time the automatic sprinklers turn on at night, how to handle your playful puppy, where to park, etc.

4. Make the trash can accessible. While you may love hiding your trash can away out of site, this can be problematic for guests. No guest wants to rummage through your home looking for a place to deposit their trash. If you hate the idea of having a trash can out in the open, politely show your guests where to find the most accessible trash can in your home when they first arrive. For overnight guests, leave a few extra empty trash bags in their room. They can use these bags for their dirty laundry, extra trash, etc.

5. Always have cold beverages and simple snacks on hand. Get in the habit of keeping cold beverages stocked in your refrigerator. Even a pitcher of cold water will do if family members remember to refill it. Individual water bottles, juice bottles, cans of soda, and juice boxes are also good options if your family drinks them any way. The key is to stock beverages your family normally drinks; however, by keeping up on your stock you will always have something to offer a guest, even when they arrive unannounced. The same is true for snacks. Keeping a revolving stock of simple snacks in your home will benefit your own family, as well as your guests. Try to focus on foods that are easy to eat and will likely appeal to most of your guests.

6. Offer comfortable seating. While your formal “sitting room” may be the most put together room in the house, this may not be the most comfortable place for visiting guests. If another room in your home is more conducive to relaxing and conversing, invite guests to join you in another room. Depending on the time of year, the most comfortable seating may even be outside. If you don’t have enough seats for everyone, bring in extra chairs or even pillows that guests can use to sit on the floor. If you are expecting overnight guests, read over these tips for planning sleeping accommodations.

7. Inform your guests right away of any pending obligations. Your normal routine may interfere with a visit, especially when guests drop by unexpectedly. If you have an obligation that requires you to leave your home at any time during the stay of your guests, politely notify them of any conflict in your schedule upfront.

8. Fill a basket will small toiletry items for overnight guests. This small gesture will be greatly appreciated as your guests won’t have to stress about asking you to borrow something they forgot. You can use small samples you have collected from your own travels, or purchase small travel size items for $1 or less per item.

Consider the following items:

• toothbrushes and toothpaste
• soap
• shampoo and conditioner
• disposable razors
• shave gel or lotion
• hand or body lotion
• deodorant
• hand sanitizer
• wet wipes
• tissues
• feminine hygiene products (for female guests)
• air freshening spray
• stain removal wipes
• gum or mints
• small water bottles
• simple snacks

9. Plug in nightlights in common areas. Sure your family members have probably mastered moving through your home in the dark, but your guests may not fare so well. Keep nightlights in the guestroom, bathroom, hallways, kitchen, and other common areas.

10. Relax and smile. Having guests in your home for any length of time can be stressful for you and for the entire family. Just remember to relax. When things don’t go as planned take a few deep breaths and go with the flow. And don’t forget to smile sincerely and frequently. Your relaxed attitude and warm and welcoming smile will go a long way in making all guests feel at home.

The Honest Company Review

Since Olivia was born a little over two months ago, I’ve been making a conscious effort to really pay attention to what we put on our bodies, as much as what we put in them. Because our skin is our largest organ, it really does matter what we use. I had always heard about The Honest Company before, but just never really thought about using any of their products because I am so used to just using the same products over and over again. My Husband was the one that actually brought home this laundry detergent for me to try and I absolutely fell in love with it. The scent is so subtle, but it’s there… and I love that! It isn’t overpowering, it’s quite light and lovely. Even though it is more expensive than other brands I buy, it's so worth it.

 

They have so many other products that I want to try now!

 

What products have you tried that you love from The Honest Company?

15 Ways To Improve Your Physical Appearance

Dress: Sassy Sweet Modesty (sold out)

We are all striving to be the best version of ourselves and in doing so, we want to be able to put our best foot forward. Though all of our attention should not be on our physical appearance, it is the first impression others have of us and greatly contributes to our own feelings of confidence and self-assurance. Here are some great ways you can improve your physical appearance, without making drastic changes:

Early to Bed, Early to Rise: Get plenty of sleep to look more rested. Aim for seven to eight hours a night for the best results. Be careful of oversleeping as well. 

Drink Enough Water: When we are dehydrated, we are actually more fatigued and it shows in our skin. In fact, it can even make us look older than we are. Shoot for drinking more water and less of the sugary or carbonated drinks.

Practice Affirmations: Look at yourself in the mirror each morning and repeat to yourself the encouragement you need to get going each day. As mentioned here, having these affirmations can help you have more energy and put that extra pep in your step. 

Exercise Regularly: Be sure to incorporate both cardio and weight training to increase lean muscle tissue and decrease fat storage. This will lead to a more trim physical appearance, not to mention you will have more energy, a better immune system, and greater overall health. 

Reduce Salt Intake: A diet high in salt (often due to eating processed foods or adding salt to foods) can lead to water retention and bloating. Focus on eating fresh fruits and vegetables, along with low sodium foods to counter these negative effects.

Buy Flattering Clothing: Sizes can vary from store to store so focusing on the number on the tag is really pointless. Instead, it should really come down to how an article of clothing fits you. If it doesn’t fit well, it won’t look good. Make a point to buy flattering clothing rather than fixating on the size. 

Smile More Often: Studies have shown that a person who smiles is more attractive than a person who is not smiling. This simple change can work wonders and help others to feel more comfortable around you.  

Be Sun Smart: The sun can do serious damage to our skin. Instead of laying out for hours, lathered in lotions, avoid the sunlight when you can and wear sunscreen when you are outside. Keep a hat and sunglasses handy any time you will be outside for an extended period of time.

Improve Your Posture: Not only is it healthy for your spine, but it gives off a great sense of confidence. Keep your shoulders back, your core tight and your chin raised for better posture and an overall better appearance. 

Practice Good Hygiene: This may be a no brainer, but simply making sure you have showered, brushed your teeth, and are wearing clean clothes can make a big difference in your physical appearance.

Shape Your Eyebrows: For women, having well shaped eyebrows can be a great improvement. While you can go to a salon or spa to have them done professionally, there are plenty of videos and tutorials online for you to learn how to do it yourself.

Keep Facial Hair in Check: Beards are a popular sign of manliness, but an unkempt beard just looks messy. If you have facial hair, take the time to keep it trimmed and neat rather than letting it get unruly. 

Whiten Your Teeth: Should you think your pearly whites could be a little whiter, you might look into teeth whitening, but become discouraged by the prices. There are more economical ways to whiten teeth, such as swishing with hydrogen peroxide, that will yield good results. 

Avoid Tobacco and Alcohol: Both tobacco and alcohol can have a negative effect on our physical appearance, from oral hygiene to quite literally aging us. Look for healthier ways to socialize or cope that won’t wear so hard on you.

Manage Stress: Our stress levels can have an adverse effect on our physical appearance. Yoga, breathing exercises, writing in a journal, and having vent sessions with a friend are all great ways to manage stress.

While none of these suggestions are revolutionary, they can all have a powerful impact on not only your physical appearance, but more importantly how you feel about yourself. Confidence is something that shines through to add an extra glow to any outfit you have on.

Birth Story: Olivia Mae

Hello my lovely readers! I think I have finally found a little bit of time to write my birth story. I have been going back and forth about sharing my birth story on this little space of mine or to just keep it private, but have had so many people wanting to know, so I have decided to fill you in.

Hmmmm....where should I start? 

Let me take you back a few months prior to her birth. I was diagnosed with preeclampsia and was put on bed rest, while being monitored twice a week by a high risk doctor. Don't get me wrong, being on bed rest was pretty great for the first week or so, but then after that I got a little stir crazy. 

My due date was July 18th, but because of my condition I was scheduled to be induced about a month earlier. So we marked it on our calendars and starting planning for that date. Well...lets just say that God had different plans. On Sunday, June 7th around 10:00pm, my heart started to race a little bit. I laid down and tried to relax and ended up falling asleep. Around 1:30am, I woke up to my heart racing so fast that I thought my heart was literally going to come out of my chest. I sat up and took my blood pressure. 170/100

I got a strong feeling like I needed to go to the hospital. I woke up Josh and our little girl and we were headed out the door within less than 10 minutes. 

When we arrived at the hospital, they put an IV in me, put straps around my belly to monitor baby and placed a cuff around my arm to keep an eye on my blood pressure. The nurse told me that she was so glad that I made the decision to come to the hospital. For the next several hours, I just laid there wide awake talking to my Mom and Josh just wondering what to expect and what was going to happen next. Around 1:30pm, a doctor came in with news I was not expecting at all. He gave me two options. To try for a vaginal birth which might risk my health and baby's health because of my condition or have a c-section (say what?!?!) Funny thing is, just that Friday before when I had an ultrasound, she was head down ready to go. Well..over the weekend, she decided it would be fun to flip so she was breach. The doctor told me they could try to do an aversion to see if they could get her to flip, but it would be a 50/50 chance and I would just continue to run the risk of my health and hers. He told me he would give me some time to think about what I wanted to do and discuss it with Josh. I didn't know what to do or think. I was so scared and confused. 

After talking to Josh, my Mom, my nurse who had two c-sections and praying about it, I finally came to the decision that I was going to choose to have the c-section. After choosing that decision, I remember just having a great feeling of peace about it and just knew it was the right decision for me and my baby.

The time is now 2:00pm. I told my nurse that I was going to have the c-section. She scheduled it for 6:45pm. This is when the real anxiety and fear started kicking in. I was so nervous and scared. I couldn't stop thinking about it. Oh yeah!! I forgot to tell you that on this SAME day was Kaelyn's adoption at 3:00pm! Josh had to call the courthouse to see if there was anyway that he could attend and have me conference in. They told him that normally they don't do that and have never done that before, but would make an exception. God is so good! Josh left around 2:30 to make it there just in time. I called in on a conference call and the Judge starting laughing because he and the entire courtroom of friends and family could hear the baby's heartbeat over the speaker phone. He said in all his time in doing adoptions, he has never had to do an adoption over the phone while the Mother was a the hospital ready to have a baby. The call took a little over ten minutes and she was finally ours forever. Tears started streaming down my face. I couldn't believe (and still can't believe) that all of this happened on the same exact day!

Now can you imagine at this point how I must be feeling?? I had so many mixed emotions. Excited, nervous, scared, grateful...you name it I was feeling it. 

The time is now 6:45pm. My nurse comes into my room and tells me its time. As they wheeled me down the hall, I prayed and prayed and prayed to God to calm my nerves. As I entered the surgery room I saw all the "tools" on the table that they were going to use and doctors and nurses running all over talking and yelling out stuff to one another. I took a deep breath and said to myself "okay..lets do this"

They made me straddle the surgical bed, face the one of the nurses and hold her hands tight as they put a shot in my spine. They then laid me down and my entire bottom half of my bottom was completely numb. Then then brought Josh in so he could sit right by my side. The sheet went up. One of the doctors confirmed to make sure that I couldn't feel anything at all. They told me I would feel a lot of pressure and tugging. It was just that. It seemed as if time flashed right before my eyes. All of the sudden I hear the cries of our sweet baby girl and Josh and I burst into tears. Olivia Mae born at 7:34 weighing 4 pounds 7 ounces and 17 inches long. As they brought her around so we could see her, I experienced a feeling like nothing I have before. Its completely indescribable and amazing. With her being 6 weeks early they immediately had to rush her to the NICU and Josh went with them as they switched me to a different bed and took me to the recovery room. 

As I laid there in pain, all I could think about was just how good God really is. Two huge blessings all on the same day. What a sweet special bond my babies with have with one another. Just thinking about it now, how everything happened and felt so perfectly into place brings tears to my eyes. I sure am one lucky Mama! 


 

Little Black Hat

If you know me, you would know that I am a huge fan of hats. I wear hats year round and think that they add so much to any outfit. I was so excited when I was sent this Scala Collezione hat. This hat is well made, comfortable, adjustable and comes in 18 different colors. The brim can be worn rolled up for a fashionable look or down for a casual bucket hat look. I will definitely be packing this hat for our trip to California this November. 

If you are a fan of this hat too, click here and get FREE shipping.

Sedona

A few months back, Josh and I took a weekend trip to Sedona to spend some quality time together as Husband and Wife. We had such a blast. We shopped, went sight seeing, and went to some amazing restaurants. I really wanted to try to the Pink Jeep Tours, but we both decided it probably wouldn't be the best idea being pregnant. I love little short weekend trips like this...especially with the love of my life. 

Flowy Flower Top and Sequin Headband

Happy Monday! Hope you had a great weekend. Mine was good, minus the fact that E got me sick on Saturday with a nasty cold. Sunday was a hang around on the couch kind of day. Today I am feeling just a tad bit better, but not too much. Hoping my work day flies by so I can go home and rest up.
So lets take a minute to talk about this top that I am styling! This probably has to be my new go-to top. I am in love with it and I thank my Husband Josh for picking it out. It comes in two different colors. Dark grey and cream. Josh tried to get me to buy both and I decided to just get the one and another plaid top that I had picked out. I regret that. After wearing it, I think I might just go back and get the cream colored one too now! I love the flower print, and how flowy it is. Its so soft and comfortable. I decided to pair it with black leggings, brown boots and this killer sequin headband which I have worn two days in a row.
How would you style this top?

  Top: Kohls // Leggings: Ross // Liz Claiborne Boots: Thrifted //  Headband: Buckle // Watch: Thrifted // Sunglasses: Ulta

Too Early For Boots?

Today on my way to work, it was the first day I was able to turn the heat on in my car and it felt amazing! AND....I decided to break out my black boots last night to wear to work today. People that live in Arizona.... is it too early for boots? If so...oh well...I am still going to rock them!

Needing these boots, these boots and these boots in my closet asap.

Top: PIF Apparel // Jacket: Thrifted // Skirt: Thrifted // Shoes: Jessica Simpson // Hat: Forever 21

Fashion Friday Link Up

Happy Friday lovely. Today I am so excited to feature Chelle from Discovering Elegance. Chelle is a fashion and lifestyle blogger located in beautiful Vancouver, BC. She loves to write and has such a passion for style so she decided to put both to use and start her lovely blog. She is gorgeous and has great style. She fits very well into the blogging world. Be sure to check out her blog and follow her along on Instagram too!

Be sure to link up your outfits HERE

>>>>>I might just pick you to be featured on my blog for next Friday's post<<<<<

Thanks for stopping by!

An InLinkz Link-up