It’s about this time each year that our vitamin D levels
reach annual lows, and we start aching for sunshine. As the mercury peeks over
the 50 degree mark I’m itchin’ to start grillin’ with friends!! After six
months of winter we need the friendship, the outside perspective, and the
laughs that come with hosting friends.
reach annual lows, and we start aching for sunshine. As the mercury peeks over
the 50 degree mark I’m itchin’ to start grillin’ with friends!! After six
months of winter we need the friendship, the outside perspective, and the
laughs that come with hosting friends.
But sometimes it’s hard to feel like the hostess-with-the-mostest when the house has been so…lived
in…all winter. May I suggest we rebel against that notion, and consider a
few simple gifts we can offer our friends and ourselves.
in…all winter. May I suggest we rebel against that notion, and consider a
few simple gifts we can offer our friends and ourselves.
Gift
1: Sooner Rather Than Later
1: Sooner Rather Than Later
Photo by David Pickett, License |
I’ve been haunted by the words, “Let’s get together soon!”
I’ve either offered them or nodded in hearty agreement. But ‘soon’ becomes
‘sometime’ becomes ‘sorry-to-hear-you’re-moving’. Be brave and ask your friends,
“How about tonight?”
I’ve either offered them or nodded in hearty agreement. But ‘soon’ becomes
‘sometime’ becomes ‘sorry-to-hear-you’re-moving’. Be brave and ask your friends,
“How about tonight?”
Gift
2: Simplicity
2: Simplicity
When your friends answer affirmatively, breathe slowly and
repeat these three words: Three. Ingredient. Menu.
repeat these three words: Three. Ingredient. Menu.
·
Popcorn, butter, salt.
Popcorn, butter, salt.
·
Graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows.
Graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows.
·
Biscuits, butter, honey.
Biscuits, butter, honey.
·
Milk, coco mix, marshmallows.
Milk, coco mix, marshmallows.
·
Crackers, cheese, pepperoni.
Crackers, cheese, pepperoni.
·
Coffee, cream, sugar.
Coffee, cream, sugar.
It doesn’t have to be dinner. They probably don’t want to
give their kids the “polite-bite” speech either. So agree to after-dinner-snack
or dessert. If you’re feeling really
brave, free up your evenings with a Saturday morning toast buffet: a stack of
toast, butter, cinnamon sugar, peanut butter, jam, hazelnut spread. You
probably won’t even need to go shopping!
give their kids the “polite-bite” speech either. So agree to after-dinner-snack
or dessert. If you’re feeling really
brave, free up your evenings with a Saturday morning toast buffet: a stack of
toast, butter, cinnamon sugar, peanut butter, jam, hazelnut spread. You
probably won’t even need to go shopping!
Gift
3: Spot-Clean Only
3: Spot-Clean Only
With all the time you’ll save not shopping and cooking, your first joyful response may be, “Now I’ll
spit-shine the house.”
spit-shine the house.”
I used to think hospitality was a house-cleaning
performance. When company arrived I had to repress the impulse to twirl in my
kitchen, swing my arms toward my gleaming countertop, and sing, “Ta-Da!”
performance. When company arrived I had to repress the impulse to twirl in my
kitchen, swing my arms toward my gleaming countertop, and sing, “Ta-Da!”
Resist that urge.
I once arrived at a tired friend’s house and was greeted
with the words, “I didn’t really clean.” And she hadn’t.
with the words, “I didn’t really clean.” And she hadn’t.
Guess what. I wasn’t worried about my boys leaving toys
out, because toys were everywhere. I wasn’t worried about crumbs because the
floor hadn’t been swept yet. And because I was so mentally unencumbered, we caught
up on ten months of life in two hours.
out, because toys were everywhere. I wasn’t worried about crumbs because the
floor hadn’t been swept yet. And because I was so mentally unencumbered, we caught
up on ten months of life in two hours.
Gift
4: Shoes On
4: Shoes On
Since you haven’t swept or vacuumed you won’t mind that
your guest’s toddler is vehemently opposed to removing her musical, sparkling,
light-up, princess shoes at the door. Slip on your flip-flops and allow your
friends to forego the fit and discipline.
your guest’s toddler is vehemently opposed to removing her musical, sparkling,
light-up, princess shoes at the door. Slip on your flip-flops and allow your
friends to forego the fit and discipline.
Sometimes hospitality means breaking the “rules.”
Gift
5: Solo Cups…and plates.
5: Solo Cups…and plates.
If napkin rings, dessert forks and chargers do not
absolutely energize you, use paper. Insulated cups for cocoa, coffee filters
for popcorn, paper plates for everything else. You and your guests will be
relieved. No broken dishes, no washing, no filling the dishwasher (it’s
probably still full anyway). And you’ll have plenty of time to offer the sixth
gift to your guest.
absolutely energize you, use paper. Insulated cups for cocoa, coffee filters
for popcorn, paper plates for everything else. You and your guests will be
relieved. No broken dishes, no washing, no filling the dishwasher (it’s
probably still full anyway). And you’ll have plenty of time to offer the sixth
gift to your guest.
Gift
6: Sitting
6: Sitting
Sit down. You don’t have to scurry around the kitchen
refilling, washing, and wiping. There were only three ingredients, remember? Clean-up
comes later. For now, just sit. Listen. Talk. Enjoy your friends.
refilling, washing, and wiping. There were only three ingredients, remember? Clean-up
comes later. For now, just sit. Listen. Talk. Enjoy your friends.
Gift
7: Smile
7: Smile
When you’re enjoying yourself you naturally smile. Your
genuine smile says, “You are delightful! I’m so thankful you braved my mess, my
life, my simple hospitality.”
genuine smile says, “You are delightful! I’m so thankful you braved my mess, my
life, my simple hospitality.”
So when your furniture is overturned for the Nerf Gun
Apocalypse, Legos are lodged in the carpet, laundry is oozing from closets, and your cupboards lack anything
Pinterest-worthy, instigate a tiny little rebellion. Invite the children to the
basement “fort,” close the closet door, pop some popcorn and invite those friends
into your lived-in life.
Apocalypse, Legos are lodged in the carpet, laundry is oozing from closets, and your cupboards lack anything
Pinterest-worthy, instigate a tiny little rebellion. Invite the children to the
basement “fort,” close the closet door, pop some popcorn and invite those friends
into your lived-in life.
And maybe you will both recognize the greatest gift is the
gift of each other.
gift of each other.
Disclaimer: I
recently ran a couple of these gifts through the test lab, namely “Sooner
Rather than Later” and “Spot Clean.” I discovered there may be some embarrassing
(but hilarious!) consequences.
recently ran a couple of these gifts through the test lab, namely “Sooner
Rather than Later” and “Spot Clean.” I discovered there may be some embarrassing
(but hilarious!) consequences.
A few weeks ago each of my boys invited friends over. Even though we
are in the middle of a do-it-yourself sheetrock mess, I reminded myself of the
“Sooner Rather than Later” gift, and we invited them anyway.
are in the middle of a do-it-yourself sheetrock mess, I reminded myself of the
“Sooner Rather than Later” gift, and we invited them anyway.
On the way to our house I started thinking I should try to minimize the trauma of my
“Spot-Clean”—which in reality was “Not Clean”—and said to our little guests,
“Just so you know, we’re in the middle of some construction, and the house is
kind of messy.”
“Spot-Clean”—which in reality was “Not Clean”—and said to our little guests,
“Just so you know, we’re in the middle of some construction, and the house is
kind of messy.”
Both kids were so polite and parroted those spectacular words:
“Oh! It’s ok. It’s fine. Our house is too…” Wow. My kids have super nice
friends. I hope they keep hanging out with us.
“Oh! It’s ok. It’s fine. Our house is too…” Wow. My kids have super nice
friends. I hope they keep hanging out with us.
When we walked into the house, I heard
Levi’s sweet friend say, “Wow. I didn’t think it would be this bad.”
Levi’s sweet friend say, “Wow. I didn’t think it would be this bad.”
Sadly, this is not staged. As you can see, we are still able to walk between the open tool box and space heater. |
So there is an honest confirmation on the state of our
house. And I had them over anyway.
house. And I had them over anyway.
I originally thought they could all play outside, but it
was terribly cold and windy so I sent them to the basement.
was terribly cold and windy so I sent them to the basement.
Remember that whole Bingo Tumbler Brain conundrum? It
always seems to involve laundry. As they descended the stairs, I spied twelve
loads of clean laundry still waiting to be folded since…a while ago. I ran downstairs with the boys and started folding while Levi and Friend played Legos
nearby.
always seems to involve laundry. As they descended the stairs, I spied twelve
loads of clean laundry still waiting to be folded since…a while ago. I ran downstairs with the boys and started folding while Levi and Friend played Legos
nearby.
Suddenly I heard snickering, and Levi whispered, “She
hasn’t even noticed.”
hasn’t even noticed.”
Hmmm…noticed
what?
what?
I look up to discover that sometime this week, the mounted
bucks hanging on the basement walls have had their antlers decorated with
various…ummm…undergarments. And with the cluttered chaos, I had never noticed.
bucks hanging on the basement walls have had their antlers decorated with
various…ummm…undergarments. And with the cluttered chaos, I had never noticed.
So if you should choose to give these unconventional gifts,
be forewarned: your children may be the ones enjoying it most.
be forewarned: your children may be the ones enjoying it most.
kcooper says
Absolutely love it, Shauna!! I used to always apologize because I'm never the housecleaner many of my obsessive friends are, (the tail-end of generations of women whose identities were connected to their house-keeping abilities.) Eventually, I decided I shouldn't have to say anything if there is a little dust or clutter. (Rebellion must run in our family.) I admit I still find myself apologizing once in a while. However, I agree with your philosophy 100%, and I don't think I've lost any friends over it either. In fact, I know even those hyper-cleaning friends feel comfortable here. Thanks for espousing a wonderful truth!
shauna says
Thanks for reading, Kay 🙂 I used to apologize for all the mess, but when someone apologizes to me for their mess it makes me feel like I've made them uncomfortable. I know I am more relaxed as a guest when I'm not worried about leaving footprints in the freshly vacuumed nap of the homeowners carpet!!
M. Fahrenholtz says
Oh man, you always make me think or giggle. (I'm assuming you know what my response today was.) I agree that if we're going to spot (or not) clean it's best not to apologize for it. It's hard to stop seeking that pulled-together look, but a relief to be able to accept that life is messy and enjoy it that way! Thanks for being brave and sharing this. 🙂
shauna says
Giggling and thinking…can't usually have one without the other 🙂 Down with apologizing for messy houses!! If I was running for an elected position, that would be my platform 🙂
M. Fahrenholtz says
Oh man, you always make me think or giggle. (I'm assuming you know what my response today was.) I agree that if we're going to spot (or not) clean it's best not to apologize for it. It's hard to stop seeking that pulled-together look, but a relief to be able to accept that life is messy and enjoy it that way! Thanks for being brave and sharing this. 🙂