When I stumbled upon this infographic of coffee from around the world, I was surprised to see the four varieties attributed to the United States… READ MORE!
Archives for December 2014
How to Create a Comfortable Guest Room for Overnight Guests
Although I received compensation for writing this post, all opinions are my own. Be sure to check out the $500 Wayfair giveaway at the bottom of this post!
I’d like to think I’m a hospitable host. When friends and family came to stay with us in Omaha, I always made sure there were clean sheets on the guest room bed and clean towels hanging in the bathroom.
Of course, there’s more to creating a comfortable guest room than doing a couple loads of laundry. Based on my experiences as both hostess and guest, I have a few tips on how to prepare your house for overnight guests — welcome baskets excepted.
The good news is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money on decorating the guest room. In fact, it’s often best to keep things simple, as your guests may not necessarily share your taste in decor. You don’t want anybody to worry about accidentally breaking a delicate piece of antique furniture or to feel claustrophobic in a room painted black.
You get the idea.
Here’s all you really need to create a welcoming guest room for overnight guests:
A comfortable bed, a set of nightstands, and some lamps for nighttime reading.
A couple of empty dresser drawers, plenty of hangers (and extra space) in the closet, and a full-length mirror for getting dressed.
A throw blanket and fan for guests who prefer the room to be warmer or cooler at night.
A luggage rack isn’t necessary, but it’s a nice touch. It’ll keep suitcases off the floor…and off your clean duvet.
And to prepare the bathroom for guests:
A set of matching towels. Since I typically use two towels when I shower (one for my body, one for my hair), I also appreciate it when a host offers a bath sheet and bath towel (or two towels), in addition to a hand towel and washcloth.
A towel rack to accommodate all of those matching towels.
Extra rolls of toilet paper in an accessible holder so guests don’t have to rummage through your cabinets looking for some.
A toilet plunger. Because shit happens — and guests don’t want to have to ask.
Looking to go the extra mile? Brand new travel-size toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, and mouthwash, and a fresh bar of soap are lovely to leave in the bathroom. In the guest room, a small bouquet of flowers, some bottled water, and a piece of paper with your Wifi password are always appreciated.
Giveaway
I’m partnering with Wayfair to give away a $500 gift card to Wayfair.com. Enter using the giveaway widget below. Good luck!
Holiday Gift Guide: For Babies (The Under 1 Crowd)
From clothes to toys to gear, there are no shortages of adorable baby gifts to be found. Still, I often find it tricky to shop for babies, especially my own. I mean, it’s not like they want anything, nor do they have any idea what’s happening during a gift exchange. But that won’t stop me from wrapping up a special plush friend or the newest “it” educational toy for my boys.
This year’s gift guide for baby includes a few items the whole family can enjoy, including adult-approved nursery decor and a swing to free up mom’s arms for 20 minutes or so. Because a few minutes of alone time is a gift in itself… READ MORE!
My New Favorite Necklace + The Tulsi Project Giveaway
Have you ever been hesitant to share the discovery of a delicious new restaurant or an amazing indie band because you wanted it to be your special thing?
That’s how I felt when learned about The Tulsi Project, a collection of gorgeous hand crafted jewelry steeped in Indian spirituality. However, The Tulsi Project couldn’t stay my little secret, especially since one of the brand’s favorite mantras is may all beings in the world be happy — and I have no doubt their jewelry will make you very, very happy.
You know what else makes people happy? Giveaways… READ MORE!
Holiday Gift Guide: For Him (Husband and Dad Approved)
Shopping for guys can be hard, whether it’s your husband, boyfriend, dad or brother. Hopefully, my holiday gift guide for him can help take out the guesswork. Everything’s been vetted by JB and my father, which means two things: a) I know they’ll like their presents and b) there won’t be any surprises this year… READ MORE!
