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Michael and I have been settling into our new rental home just fine over the past couple month. It’s amazing how much a move from an apartment to a house can make you feel like a real adult! We’re loving it so far. One of the best things about having more space in our home is that we’re able to host more of our friends and family over without it feeling cramped. Just so you can understand us a little bit more – my husband is an extrovert and I’m an introvert who loves hosting in my own home. You can see how having a space to host others is important to us!
Now that all of the unpacking is almost finished, we’re ready to start welcoming over some friends, both new and old. I love inviting my lady friends over just to hangout whenever we’re both free during the day. You bet I’ll always have the coffee brewed and water out, all ready for great and honest conversation.
[bctt tweet=”6 Simple Tips To Being A Great Host” username=”SummerTelban”]
Today, I felt compelled to share some simple tips to becoming a great host, as I know that not everyone has a knack for it. In fact, I didn’t start to host well until right before marriage. These tips helped me develop my hosting skills and even now, they still help me to focus on what’s really important about hosting: comfortability and connection.
SIMPLE TIPS TO BEING A GREAT HOST:
Prepare Before Their Arrival // Preparation is key to success in anything. Before getting in the groove of hosting friends over, the one thing I would fail at was preparation. I thought that because my friends were coming over just to hang out, that there was no need for me to plan an agenda. While that was true, there were other things I should’ve planned for like: snacks, possible games, painting nails, and more miscellaneous fun activities. If you’re planning a lunch or a special movie night, definitely make sure everything is prepped before your guests arrive. When your guest arrive into an atmosphere that’s calm and not frantic, they’ll settle in right away.
Fill Them In On The Basics // When you’re hosting friends over, be sure to fill them on the basics that they might need to know about. Be sure to point them in the direction of the bathroom and let them know where they can take their shoes off. Even if your friend has been over before, use phrases to assure them where everything is. A good example of this is, “You know the bathroom is right down the hall if you need it!”
Have Snacks Readily Available // Let’s be real, everyone loves to snack! I know I sure do, especially when it’s over good conversation and laughs. One of my favorite snacks to break out are Philadelphia Bagel Chips and Cream Cheese Dips. Friends, these are delicious! Philadelphia Cream Cheese has had my heart since my mother got me hooked on cream cheese back when I was just a kiddo. Needless to say, when I saw these Philadelphia Bagel Chips and Cream Cheese Dips, I had to try them out.
And not to my surprise…I loved them! My personal favorite has to be the Chive and Onion Cream Cheese Dip & Multigrain Bagel Chips. It’s the perfect snack to break out when you have guests over. Philadelphia Bagel Chips and Cream Cheese Dips are sold in portable snack cups that are perfect for convenient snacking at home with friends or when you’re out and about.
When you pair bagel chips with delicious Philadelphia Cream Cheese that is made with real fruit and vegetables, fresh milk and real cream with no artificial flavors…It’s love at first dip!
You can find these goodies at your local grocery store in the refrigerated dairy section. These products need to be refrigerated.
Create A Comfortable Atmosphere // If you don’t have a comfortable atmosphere, you won’t have comfortable guests. During your preparation time, make sure that everything in your hosting space is well-organized and welcoming. You want your friends to step into a space that’s inviting, not one that’s cluttered and a mess. When you create a comfortable atmosphere for others to settle into, you know you’re in for some good conversation.
Keep It Simple // The second you get caught up in making everything over-the-top amazing is the second you’re risking everything to crash. Always keep it simple. After all, you’re hosting your friends or family! They don’t want a huge orchestrated event, they just want to spend time with you! Don’t lose sight of that. Don’t lose sight of why you’re hosting. Always keep it simple.
Relax & Have Fun // The whole point to hosting friends over is to have a fun time together. Don’t get so caught up in the hosting aspect that you forget to relax and have fun. Your friends will remember the great time they had with you, not if you perfected your hosting skills. Sit back and enjoy the time you’re having with your friends!
For more information on Philadelphia Bagel Chips & Cream Cheese Dips, visit creamcheese.com or follow Philadelphia on social media. Philadelphia Cream Cheese Facebook Page | @LoveMyPhilly on Twitter | @SpreadPhilly on Pinterest | @LoveMyPhilly on Instagram
What are some of your best hosting tips? Do you focus on keeping things simple? What do you prep for in advance to friends showing up? Spill your secret tips below! Let’s chat!
Have you tried Philadelphia Bagel chips & Cream Cheese Dips at all yet?
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