There is nothing like being a guest in someone’s home and feeling AT home. The first time I hosted a family in my new home, I set up everything they could need right there in the area they were staying in. Coffee, tea, a little fridge with fruit and milk, you name it- it was there. I think it came off as…aggressive? “Thanks for coming, but please, please don’t venture upstairs, ok?”
I’ve since learned: your guests may actually want to begin their stay by exchanging pleasantries and gratitude for the lodgings, it may even segue into this thing we’ve coined “small talk”, it even may evolve into a memorable colloquy, and you might even hug at the end.
NOW what I’ll do is create a little “station” in the kitchen. The guests can spend time of their own accord, coffee can be made without that panic WHEN YOU PRESS THE BUTTON AND NOTHING HAPPENS, and everyone is happy.
Here I’ve created a bit of an inspiration station for you- if I used all of these things in their entirety each time I hosted, I would need to go on a yoga retreat. Apples and bananas can serve the same purpose as an elaborate fruit platter and your mother will still be proud if you use plastic cups. Use this as a springboard for ideas- and if you want to come on by, we can also just have some takeout, too.
Utensils:
Plates, cutlery
Napkins
Coffee cups- in mugs or in to-go cups
Drinking glasses
Drinks:
Water- we like ours room temperature
Coffee
Tea pot, tea bags
Seltzer/soda
Sugar, sweetener for tea/coffee
Snacks:
Cookies/meringues/biscotti
Candy
Cereal
Fruit platter- keep cut up fruit in fridge or have out if you know guests will be around at that specific time
Vegetable platter, dip optional- keep cut up veg in fridge or have out if you know guests will be around at that specific time
Misc:
Magazines
Hostess cards- this was a genius idea my sister-in-law alerted me to. Info like WiFi code, address, and important cell numbers are put in the guests’ rooms or at your little hostess station for your guests to have at their fingertips.
Happy Hosting!
-RR
Baked goods: Haymishe Bakery @haymishebakeryto
Hostess cards: Mann Group Design @manngroup
Plates and glasses: Splendid Settings @splendidsettings
Flowers: Crown Flora @crownflora
Photo by Ksenija Hotic Photography @khzen
